JP2011248258A - Karaoke device and karaoke network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a karaoke song which requires predetermined transaction processing to be sung by a user who cannot make the transaction processing and to be recorded as a singing history of the user, without increasing a load on a host server.SOLUTION: A karaoke device KR performs use authentication of each of a plurality of users including a user A and a user B, with a host server 500. With a display 203 displaying a my page of the user A, when the user B is designated as an object person to whom singing information of a karaoke song, which the user A agreed to subtracts points, is given, the karaoke device KR performs the use authentication of the user B with the host server 500, after updating point information of the user A in the host server 500, updates the singing information of the user B and transmits the singing information with the user ID of the user B to the host server 500.

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus and a karaoke network system that can be operated by a user and used in a karaoke network system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a karaoke network system in which a karaoke device uses a user ID to access a host server, authenticates the use (so-called login), and can reproduce a karaoke song. At that time, at the time of karaoke song reservation, by adding the other person's ID to the own ID and making a reservation, the song reserved by the own ID is also associated with the other person's ID, and the singing history is managed individually. Has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-250186 A (FIG. 3A, FIG. 11, FIG. 7, FIG. 11, paragraphs [0055] [0059] to [0061], etc.)

  Some of the karaoke songs provided by this kind of karaoke network system are provided for users who have been authenticated for use, and require certain transaction processing such as user point consumption and billing. There is a specific karaoke song.

  By the way, not all users who enjoy karaoke performance are users who can perform the transaction processing described above. There may be a user who cannot perform the transaction processing due to lack of points or money balance. This user cannot sing the specific karaoke song as it is.

  In order to avoid this, there is a method in which the user requests a reservation from another user who can perform the transaction process. However, in this case, the user who reserved the song is different from the user who actually sang, and information is accumulated as the singing history of the reserved user even though the reserved user is not singing.

  On the other hand, as another method for avoiding the above-described problem, there is a method in which another user who can perform the transaction process transfers points or a money balance to a user who cannot perform the transaction process on his / her own will. In this case, however, the host server of the karaoke network system needs to exchange money balances and points between users. In this case, high security communication such as user permission confirmation is required, which increases the burden on the host server.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke song that can be recorded as a singing history of the user while a user who cannot perform the transaction process sings a karaoke song that requires a predetermined transaction process without increasing the burden on the host server. It is to provide a device and a karaoke network system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application includes an operation unit that can be operated by a user and a display unit that performs a predetermined display, according to user identification information that identifies the user, and a reservation made by the user For a host server storing personal information including user singing information for specifying a karaoke song that has been played karaoke and user transaction history information representing a predetermined transaction process with the user that occurs with the karaoke performance of the karaoke song A karaoke apparatus communicably connected via a network, a karaoke performance unit performing karaoke performance according to an instruction from the operation unit, and a first user and the first user based on an operation of the operation unit A user authentication unit for performing user authentication for each of a plurality of users, including a second user different from the user, and in the user authentication, the user authentication The personal information related to the first user is received from the host server, and the display unit displays the browsing screen related to the first user based on the personal information related to the first user, and responds to the operation of the operation unit. Reserving means for accepting reservation of the karaoke song by the first user, and when the karaoke song reserved by the reserving means is played karaoke by the karaoke performance unit, the predetermined transaction processing of the first user. A notification means for notifying the host server of the approval of the karaoke song, and providing the singing information of the karaoke song in a state where the browsing screen relating to the first user is displayed on the display unit. When the second user is designated as a target person, the usage authentication means performs usage authentication of the second user with the host server. And after the said user transaction history information of the said 1st user memorize | stored in the said host server is updated in the said host server according to the notification in the said consent notification means, the said 2nd user's delivered from the said host server Singing information updating means for updating the user singing information of the second user included in the personal information and the user singing information of the second user updated by the singing information updating means of the second user. User information transmission means for transmitting to the host server together with user identification information is provided.

  In the first invention of the present application, the first user appropriately operates the operation unit in a state in which the browsing screen related to the first user (so-called first user's My Page) is displayed on the display unit, so that the karaoke is performed by the reservation unit. Song reservations are accepted. At this time, when the first user appropriately operates the operation unit, the host server is notified of acceptance of a predetermined transaction process with the first user that occurs during the karaoke performance of the karaoke song. And if a 2nd user is designated as an object person who provides the song information of the karaoke song, the use authorization of the 2nd user will be performed and grant of song information of the karaoke song will be permitted. At the time of this use authentication, the display unit may temporarily switch from the browsing screen related to the first user to the browsing screen related to the second user.

  Thereafter, the karaoke performance unit performs the karaoke song. Accompanied by the performance, the consent notifying means notifies the host server of acceptance of predetermined transaction processing with the first user. In the host server, the user transaction history information of the first user included in the personal information of the first user stored in advance is updated. Thereafter, the user singing information of the second user included in the personal information of the second user distributed from the host server is updated by the singing information updating means, and the host together with the user identification information of the second user is updated by the user information transmitting means. Sent to the server.

  Accordingly, the host server stores the user transaction history information updated by itself as described above in association with the user identification information of the first user, and the user of the second user updated and transmitted as described above. The song information can be stored in association with the user identification information of the second user. Thereby, the update of the user transaction history information of the first user and the update of the user singing information of the second user accompanying the performance of the karaoke song reserved by the first user can be executed.

  As described above, in the first invention of the present application, the user transaction history information of the first user is used to play the karaoke song using the singing information of the second user, and the singing information about the karaoke song is first recorded. It can be reflected and added to the new singing information of two users. As a result, even if the second user cannot use his / her user transaction history information for some reason, the karaoke can be obtained by using the first user's user transaction history information instead with the first user's consent. The user can enjoy singing a song, and the singing information accompanying the singing can be recorded for the second user himself / herself. Thereby, since the width | variety of the karaoke song which a 2nd user can enjoy expands, the serviceability to a 1st user and a 2nd user can be improved. At that time, by authenticating the use of the second user while the first user's browsing screen is displayed, it is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized acts by other users. In addition, there is no need to ensure a high level of security, such as when a part of each user's transaction history information is transferred or exchanged between multiple users, so that the burden on the host server is not greatly increased. .

  Furthermore, by making it possible to use the user transaction history information of other users by obtaining the approval of another user in this way, the utilization of user transaction history information in the entire system is activated. It is also possible to encourage activation of service use by all users.

  In order to achieve the above object, the second invention of the present application includes a karaoke device having a karaoke performance unit that performs karaoke performance, an operation unit that can be operated by a user, and a display unit that performs predetermined display, and the karaoke device. A karaoke network system having a host server communicably connected via a network, wherein the host server stores user identification information for identifying a user and a karaoke song that has been played karaoke according to a reservation by the user. Personal information storage means for storing personal information including user singing information to be identified, and user transaction history information representing a predetermined transaction process with a user that occurs with karaoke performance of the karaoke song, The karaoke apparatus includes a first user and a second user different from the first user based on the operation of the operation unit. Use authentication means for performing use authentication of a plurality of users with the host server, and the host server further includes the use authentication among the personal information stored in the personal information storage means; Personal information distribution means for distributing personal information relating to at least one of the users to the karaoke device, wherein the karaoke device is further distributed by the personal information distribution means of the host server Based on the personal information related to the first user, the display unit displays a browsing screen related to the first user, and the karaoke song reservation by the first user is made according to the operation of the operation unit. Receiving reservation means, and when the karaoke song reserved by the reservation means is played karaoke by the karaoke performance unit, predetermined with the first user Approval notification means for notifying the acceptance of transaction processing to the host server, and displaying the browsing screen related to the first user on the display unit, the singing information of the karaoke song When the second user as the grantee is designated, the usage authentication means performs usage authentication of the second user with the host server, and the karaoke apparatus further includes one or more karaoke devices. A performance music storage means for storing the karaoke music, and a karaoke performance section for reading out the karaoke music from the performance music storage means and performing a karaoke performance based on the reservation of the karaoke music by the first user accepted by the reservation means; And the host server further performs the performance of the karaoke song for which the reservation means has received a reservation from the first user at the karaoke performance unit. After the performance, the transaction history update means for updating the user transaction history information of the first user and the user of the first user updated by the transaction history update means in response to the notification by the acceptance notification means First history control means for storing transaction history information in the personal information storage means in association with the user identification information of the first user, wherein the karaoke apparatus is further configured such that the reservation means is the first information storage means. The user singing of the second user included in the personal information of the second user distributed by the personal information distribution means in association with the performance of the karaoke musical piece received from the user in the karaoke performance unit Singing information updating means for updating information, and the user singing information of the second user updated by the singing information updating means, the user identification information of the second user. And a user information transmitting means for transmitting to the host server, and the host server further transmits the user singing information of the second user transmitted from the user information transmitting means to the second user. The personal information storage means stores second storage control means in association with the user identification information.

  The karaoke network system of the second invention of the present application includes a karaoke device and a host server. User identification information, user singing information, and user transaction history information are stored in the personal information storage means of the host server.

  When the karaoke service is used, the operation unit of the karaoke device is operated, whereby use authentication (so-called login) of a plurality of users including the first user and the second user is performed between the use authentication unit and the host server. Thus, the use of the system by a plurality of users is permitted. Also, personal information related to the user whose use has been authenticated is distributed from the personal information distribution means of the host server to the karaoke apparatus.

  Here, among the first user and the second user who have completed the use authentication as described above, the first user plays a karaoke song using his / her user transaction history information, and the singing information about the karaoke song May be intended to be given to the second user. In such a case, first, the first user appropriately operates the operation unit in a state in which the browsing screen related to the first user (so-called first user's My Page) is displayed on the display unit of the karaoke apparatus. The reservation means accepts a reservation for a karaoke song by the first user. At this time, when the first user appropriately operates the operation unit, the host server is notified of acceptance of a predetermined transaction process with the first user that occurs during the karaoke performance of the karaoke song. And in a karaoke apparatus, if a 2nd user is designated as an object person who gives singing information of the karaoke song, the use authorization of the 2nd user will be performed between a use authentication means and a host server, and the singing of the karaoke song will be carried out. Granting of information is permitted. At the time of this use authentication, the display unit of the karaoke apparatus may be temporarily switched from the browsing screen related to the first user to the browsing screen related to the second user.

  Then, the performance music is performed by the karaoke performance part of a karaoke apparatus. Accompanied by the performance, the consent notification means of the karaoke device notifies the host server of the consent of the predetermined transaction processing with the first user. Then, the user transaction history information of the first user included in the personal information of the first user is updated by the transaction history update means of the host server. At this time, the second user's user singing information included in the personal information of the second user distributed from the host server is updated by the singing information updating means of the karaoke device, and the second information of the second user is transmitted by the user information transmitting means. It is transmitted to the host server together with the user identification information.

  The user transaction history information of the first user updated by the transaction history update means of the host server as described above is associated with the user identification information of the first user under the control of the first storage control means of the host server. It is stored in the personal information storage means of the server. At this time, the second user's user singing information updated and transmitted by the singing information updating means of the karaoke apparatus as described above is transmitted to the second user's user under the control of the second storage control means of the host server. The information is stored in the personal information storage means of the host server in association with the identification information. Thereby, the update of the user transaction history information of the first user and the update of the user singing information of the second user accompanying the performance of the karaoke song reserved by the first user are completed.

  As described above, in the second invention of the present application, the user transaction history information of the first user is used to play a karaoke song using the singing information of the second user, and the singing information about the karaoke song is first recorded. It can be reflected and added to the new singing information of two users. As a result, even if the second user cannot use his / her user transaction history information for some reason, the karaoke can be obtained by using the first user's user transaction history information instead with the first user's consent. The user can enjoy singing a song, and the singing information accompanying the singing can be recorded for the second user himself / herself. Thereby, since the width | variety of the karaoke song which a 2nd user can enjoy expands, the serviceability to a 1st user and a 2nd user can be improved. At that time, by authenticating the use of the second user while the first user's browsing screen is displayed, it is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized acts by other users. In addition, there is no need to ensure a high level of security, such as when a part of each user's transaction history information is transferred or exchanged between multiple users, so that the burden on the host server is not greatly increased. .

  Furthermore, by making it possible to use the user transaction history information of other users by obtaining the approval of another user in this way, the utilization of user transaction history information in the entire system is activated. It is also possible to encourage activation of service use by all users.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to sing a karaoke song that requires a predetermined transaction process even if the user cannot perform the transaction process, and can record it as the user's singing history. At this time, the burden on the host server is not increased.

It is a functional block diagram showing the whole structure of the karaoke network system provided with the karaoke apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a table showing an example of the memory content of a song information database. It is a table showing an example of the memory content of a point information database. It is a sequence diagram showing the control procedure which a remote control, a karaoke performance part, a song information management server, and a point information management server perform. It is a figure showing the example of the music selection screen displayed on the display part of a remote control. It is a figure showing the example of the charge amount acceptance screen displayed on the display part of a remote control. It is a figure showing the example of the singer selection screen displayed on the display part of a remote control. It is a figure showing the example of the user authentication screen displayed on the display part of a remote control. It is a figure showing the example of the music selection screen displayed on the display part of a remote control. It is a table showing an example of the memory content of a point information database. It is a table showing an example of the memory content of a song information database.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The overall configuration of a karaoke network system provided with the karaoke apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the karaoke network system 1 includes a karaoke apparatus KR provided with a karaoke performance unit 100 and a remote controller 200, and a host server 500. The host server 500 mainly includes a singing information management server 300 for managing singing information such as a user's singing history, and a point information management server 400 for managing point information such as a point balance held by the user. ing.

  The karaoke performance unit 100 and the remote controller 200 are connected so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from each other via a wireless or wired network NW1 such as a Local Area Network (LAN). Further, the karaoke performance unit 100 and the remote controller 200, the singing information management server 300, and the point information management server 400 are connected to each other via the network NW1 and an appropriate network NW2 so that information can be transmitted and received.

  The karaoke performance unit 100 includes a control unit 101, a playback unit 102, a display unit 103, an audio output unit 104, an operation unit 105, a communication control unit 106, and a mass storage device 107.

  The large-capacity storage device 107 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) as performance song storage means. The large-capacity storage device 107 stores a plurality of pieces of musical performance data. Note that the performance music data includes Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI; registered trademark) data, which is music data, and video data.

  The playback unit 102 plays back a karaoke song using the performance song data stored in the mass storage device 107. The audio output unit 104 is composed of, for example, an amplifier and a speaker. The audio output unit 104 outputs audio related to the karaoke song reproduced by the reproducing unit 102, singing audio input from a microphone (not shown), and the like.

  The display unit 103 is composed of a liquid crystal display, for example. The display unit 103 displays videos such as moving images, telops, and still images related to the karaoke music reproduced by the reproducing unit 102.

  The operation unit 105 includes a plurality of keys and switches. The communication control unit 106 controls information communication performed between the remote controller 200, the singing information management server 300, and the point information management server 400 via the networks NW1 and NW2. The control unit 101 controls the karaoke performance unit 100 as a whole.

  The remote controller 200 is an operation terminal for the user to perform various operations such as selection of a karaoke song and reservation. The remote controller 200 includes a control unit 201, a display unit 203, an operation unit 205, a communication control unit 206, and a storage device 207.

  The communication control unit 206 controls information communication performed between the karaoke performance unit 100, the singing information management server 300, and the point information management server 400 via the networks NW1 and NW2.

  The storage device 207 is composed of, for example, a nonvolatile memory and stores various types of information. The storage device 207 can store various information included in each user's My Page acquired from the singing information management server 300 after each user is authenticated (so-called login), that is, singing information and the like. .

  The display unit 203 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and performs various displays. The operation unit 205 includes a plurality of keys and switches. For example, the user can display the My Page for each user by appropriately operating the operation unit 205 and authenticating his / her own use while the initial screen is displayed on the display unit 203 (described later). The my page includes singing information such as the singing history of the user.

  The control unit 201 includes a CPU (not shown) and a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. The control unit 201 executes various programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage device 207 while using the temporary storage function of the RAM. As a result, the entire remote controller 200 is controlled. In addition, when the user sings a karaoke song in a state where the use is authenticated as described above, the control unit 201 performs the karaoke song sung on the song history acquired and displayed on the My Page as described above. Process to add.

  The singing information management server 300 includes a control unit 301, a communication control unit 302, and a mass storage device 303.

  The communication control unit 302 controls information communication performed between the karaoke performance unit 100 and the remote controller 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1.

  The mass storage device 303 is composed of, for example, an HDD. The large-capacity storage device 303 stores a singing information database 350 (see FIG. 2 described later). Moreover, the control part 301 controls the song information management server 300 whole.

  Similar to the point information management server 400 and the singing information management server 300, an acquisition control unit 401, a communication control unit 402, and a large-capacity storage device 403 are provided.

  The communication control unit 402 controls information communication performed between the karaoke performance unit 100 and the remote controller 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1.

  The mass storage device 403 is composed of, for example, an HDD. The mass storage device 403 stores a point information database 450 (see FIG. 3 described later). The control unit 401 controls the singing information management server 300 as a whole. Note that the control unit 401 can also perform point subtraction processing for paid content that involves consumption of points during playback (details will be described later).

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents stored in the singing information database 350. As shown in FIG. 2, the singing information database 350 includes a user ID, which is user identification information for identifying each user, related to a plurality of users, and singing information for each user based on a song selection operation for each user's karaoke song. Is remembered.

  The singing information includes at least the song ID of the selected karaoke song transmitted from the control unit 201 of the remote controller 200 and the singing date and time when the selected karaoke song is played by the playback unit 102 and sung by the user. Have. In addition to the song ID and singing date and time, the singing information includes grading history information representing the history of the grading result when the user sings each tune, and other information related to singing and singing. It may be.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the stored contents of the point information database 450. As shown in FIG. 3, the point information database 450 stores a user ID, which is the user identification information, and point information of each user related to a plurality of users.

  The point information constitutes user transaction history information described in each claim, and includes at least a point balance for each user and a last update date and time of the point that has become the point balance.

  Here, the above points will be described. In the present embodiment, the performance music data stored in the large-capacity storage device 107 of the karaoke performance unit 100 includes so-called paid content that requires a financial burden on the user side, that is, charging in advance. Yes. A user who wants to play and sing such performance data accumulates and holds his / her points in advance by performing financial settlement such as cash payment, credit card settlement, electronic money settlement, and prepaid card purchase. Keep it. As a result, when the user selects and reproduces the paid content using the remote controller 200, the control unit 401 of the point information management server 400 starts from the stored point at a predetermined stage (described later) during the performance. The number of points for the paid content (for example, 10 points) is consumed and subtracted. Note that as the point information, in addition to the point balance and the last update date and time, other information such as the entire history of consumption of points may be stored together.

  The singing information stored in the singing information database 350 of the singing information management server 300 and the point information stored in the point information database 450 of the point information management server 400 represent the personal information described in each claim. Constitute. The singing information database 350 and the point information database 450 constitute personal information storage means.

  In the basic configuration as described above, the greatest feature of this embodiment is that the pay content can be sung even if the user does not have points (the point balance is 0), and the singing history of the user is recorded. It is to be able to record as singing information. Hereinafter, the details will be described in order.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing control procedures executed by the remote controller 200, the karaoke performance unit 100, the singing information management server 300, and the point information management server 400 in order to execute the above functions. Hereinafter, the user who has the above points (first user described in each claim) is referred to as “user A”, and the user who does not have points (second user described in each claim) is referred to as “user B”. A case where the user sings the pay content while using the points owned by the user A will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, first, as a premise, both the user A and the user B perform respective usage authentication (login) operations using the remote controller 200.

  That is, when user A performs an authentication operation using operation unit 205 of remote controller 200, remote controller 200 accepts input of user A's user ID (for example, 1) and an authentication password in step SR10A. For this input, an appropriate alphabet key or kana character key or the like may be displayed on the display unit 203 of the remote controller 200 for operation input. Alternatively, using an IC reader provided separately in the remote controller 200, information may be acquired and read directly from the IC card or wireless tag owned by the user A by wireless communication. With this user A authentication operation, an authentication request is sent to the singing information management server 300 via the networks NW1 and NW2.

  In step SS10A, the singing information management server 300 authenticates whether the user ID and password included in the authentication request match, for example, the contents of the user ID and password included in the user management information stored in advance. This user management information is stored in an appropriate location of the singing information management server 300, for example, in a user management database provided in the mass storage device 303 or the like. The user management information may be acquired by the karaoke performance unit 100, and the control unit 101 of the karaoke performance unit 100 may perform the authentication in response to an authentication request from the remote controller 200. If the user ID and password included in the authentication request match those registered in advance, the determination in step SS10A is satisfied, and the singing information management server 300 includes the singing information database 350 of the mass storage device 303. The singing information is read out and transmitted to the remote controller 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the song information of the user A whose user ID is 1 includes, for example, the singing history of the karaoke song with the song ID 785 at 12:30 on March 1, 2010, and the March 1, 2010 The singing history of the karaoke song with the song ID 6841 on the day 12:52 is included.

  As described above, for example, when the user B performs an authentication operation, the remote controller 200 accepts the input of the user ID of the user B (for example, 2) and the authentication password in step SR10B. In step SS10B, the singing information management server 400 authenticates whether the user ID and the password match. If they match, the determination in step SS10B is satisfied, and the singing information management server 300 reads out the singing information of the user B included in the singing information database 350 and transmits it to the remote control 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the singing history of the karaoke song of the song ID 1509 at 12:36 on March 1, 2010, and the singing history of the user B whose user ID is 2, for example, March 1, 2010 The singing history of the karaoke song of the song ID 161 on the day 12:45 is included.

  In addition, transmission of the singing information by the singing information management server 300 functions as personal information distribution means described in each claim.

  As described above, in a state where both users A and B have already been authenticated (logged in), for example, a user B who wishes to sing a karaoke song of paid content as described above (hereinafter simply referred to as a paid karaoke song as appropriate). Requesting the user A, the user A first operates the operation unit 205 of the remote controller 200 to perform an appropriate screen switching operation. Thereby, remote control 200 is based on the singing information of user A already received as described above after step SS10A, and in step SR20, the viewing screen including the singing history of user A on display 203, that is, the user A's My Page is displayed. The user A shifts the display of the display unit 203 to the music selection screen by appropriately operating the operation unit 205 on his / her own page displayed as described above.

  FIG. 5 shows the music selection screen G1 displayed on the display unit 203 in this way. As shown in the figure, on this music selection screen G1, buttons BT11 to 13 representing a plurality of music (in this example, music 1, music 2, and music 3) are displayed. The user A selects the paid karaoke song by operating any of the buttons BT11 to BT13 on the music selection screen G1 corresponding to the paid karaoke song that the user B desires to sing. In step SR30, remote controller 200 accepts user A's music selection reservation and transmits a corresponding reservation signal to karaoke performance unit 100 via network NW1. This step SR30 functions as a reservation means described in each claim.

  In step SK10, the karaoke performance unit 100 receives the transmitted reservation signal, and transmits a corresponding reservation reception notification to the point information management server 400 via the network NW2.

  In step SS20, the point information management server 400 that has received the reservation reception notification determines a charge amount corresponding to the selected paid karaoke song, that is, a point value (subtraction value) to be subtracted, and points of the user A If the balance of the balance and the subtraction value are compared and the numerical value of the point balance of the user A is not smaller than the numerical value of the subtraction value (if the point balance after subtracting the subtraction value is not less than 0), The billing amount acceptance request is transmitted to the remote controller 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1.

  The remote controller 200 that has received the request for acceptance of the charge displays the corresponding charge amount (point value to be subtracted) on the display unit 203 (not shown) and prompts the user A to accept the request. FIG. 6 shows the charge amount acceptance screen G2 displayed on the display unit 203 in this way. As shown in the figure, on this billing amount acceptance screen G2, an ID input box BX21 and a password input box BX22 for inputting a user ID of user A and a billing password (described later) are displayed respectively to indicate the intention of acceptance. The When the user A approves the charge amount, he / she appropriately operates the operation unit 205 to input the user ID to the ID input box BX21 and to input the charge password for charging to the password input box BX22. Do. Thereby, remote controller 200 accepts the charging password of user A together with the user ID in step SR40. This password may be the same as or different from the authentication password. Further, as described above, an operation input of an alphabet key or a kana character key may be performed, or reading by a reader may be performed. In response to the input of the accounting password, the remote controller 200 transmits the accounting password authentication request to the point information management server 400 via the networks NW1 and NW2.

  In step SS30, the point information management server 400 authenticates whether the billing password included in the billing password authentication request matches the contents of the user ID and billing password included in the same user management information. As described above, the control unit 101 of the karaoke performance unit 100 may perform the authentication in response to a charging password authentication request from the remote controller 200.

  If the billing password included in the billing password authentication request matches that registered in advance, the determination in step SS30 is satisfied, and the billing information management server 400 (or the singing information management server 300 that received the notification) may be the singer. The specific request is transmitted to the remote controller 200 via the networks NW2 and NW1.

  The remote controller 200 that has received the singer identification request displays a screen display for identifying (selecting) the singer on the display unit 203 based on the request. FIG. 7 shows the singer selection screen G3 displayed on the display unit 203 in this way. In the illustrated example, a button BT31 for specifying user A as a singer and a button BT32 for specifying user B as a singer, which have been used (logged in) at this time, are displayed. . In addition, users other than so-called registered users who have various information registered in advance in the servers 300 and 400 like the users A and B can be selected on this singer selection screen G3 (for example, “Guest” button May be displayed).

  User B (or user A) operates button BT32 (or button BT31) in order to identify (select) himself as a singer by looking at the singer selection screen G3. Thereby, remote control 200 receives operation of button BT21 (or button BT31) of the above-mentioned user B (or user A), ie, specific operation of a singer, in Step SR45. Thereafter, in step SR47, the remote controller 200 receives the user who has been accepted in step SR45, in other words, the singer, who is displaying the My Page (in this example, the user A in step SR20 at this time). It is determined whether or not it is the same as the display of my page. As already explained, when user B is selected in step SR45 in order to sing the paid karaoke song while using the points owned by user A, user B is in the My Page display state of user A. Since user B is selected, the determination at step SR47 is not satisfied, and the routine goes to step S49.

  In step SR49, in response to the selection of user B in step SR45, remote controller 200 temporarily switches the display on display unit 203 to user B's My Page (ie, the singer's My Page). Then, the user B authentication screen is displayed. FIG. 8 shows the user authentication screen G4 displayed on the display unit 203 in this way. As shown in the figure, on the user authentication screen G4, an ID input box BX41 and a password input box BX22 for inputting the user ID of the user B for user authentication and the authentication password are displayed. User B appropriately operates the operation unit 205 to input a user ID to the ID input box BX41 and input a password to the password input box BX42. Thereby, the remote controller 200 accepts the input of the user ID (for example, 2) and the authentication password of the user B in step SR50. As a result, since user B has already been authenticated (logged in) in step SR10B, a double authentication operation is performed in step SR50. This authentication operation may be either the same operation input as described above or reading by a reader. Note that the above-described step SR10A, step SR10B, and step SR50 function as use authentication means described in each claim.

  By the authentication operation by the user B, an authentication request for the user B is sent from the remote controller 200 to the song information management server 300 via the networks NW1 and NW2. In step SS40, the singing information management server 300 authenticates whether or not the user ID and password included in the authentication request match the contents of the user ID and password included in the user management information, as described above. As described above, the control unit 101 of the karaoke performance unit 100 may authenticate the user B in response to the user B authentication request.

  If the user ID and password of user B included in the authentication request match those registered in advance, the determination in step SS40 is satisfied, and the singing information management server 300 sends an authentication notification that the user B has been authenticated to the network. It transmits to the remote control 200 via NW2 and NW1.

  Thus, the user B has been confirmed as a singer of the paid karaoke song for which the accounting has been accepted by completing the authentication of the user B. In response to the end of user B authentication, the remote controller 200 ends the temporary display of the user B's My Page described above, and displays the display of the display unit 203 on the user A's My Page in step SR60. . FIG. 9 shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 203 in this way. In this example, the screen returns to the music selection screen G5 similar to the screen G1 of FIG. As in FIG. 5, buttons BT <b> 51 to 53 representing a plurality of music pieces (in this example, three pieces of music pieces 1, 2, and 3) are displayed.

  In step SR47, when user A sings a paid karaoke song by himself using the points owned by user A, since user A is selected in step SR45, (user A's my page display state) In step SR47, the determination in step SR47 is satisfied, step SR49 and step SR50 described above are skipped, and the process proceeds to step SR60.

  The karaoke performance unit 100 finishes the performance and singing of the other karaoke songs reserved in the previous order, and when the order of the paid karaoke songs for which the reservation signal has been received in step SK10 comes, the determination in step SK20 Is satisfied and the routine goes to Step SK30. In step SK30, the karaoke performance unit 100 starts playing the paid karaoke song. That is, performance music data related to the karaoke music is read from the large-capacity storage device 107, reproduced by the reproduction unit 102, and output from the audio output unit. The user B who desires to sing the paid karaoke song (or the user A who desires to sing himself) can enjoy singing with a microphone by starting the performance.

  Thereafter, when a predetermined appropriate timing in the middle of the performance of the paid karaoke tune arrives, the determination in step SK40 is satisfied, and the karaoke performance unit 100 sends the point information management server 400 to the point information management server 400 via the networks NW1 and NW2. Then, a notice that the billing timing has arrived (billing acceptance notice) is made. In addition, this step SK40 functions as a consent notification means described in each claim.

  In step SS50, the point information management server 400 that has received the notification accesses the point information of the user A in the point information database 450 stored in the large-capacity storage device 403, and the point of the user A in the point information database 450 Update the value. That is, a point corresponding to the pay karaoke song, for example, 10 points is subtracted from the stored point value of user A (100 points in the example of FIG. 3). This process functions as transaction history update means described in each claim. Then, the subtracted new user A point value is stored in the point information database 450 of the mass storage device 403. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the point balance of the user A is updated in the form of being reduced from 100 points to 90 points. This process functions as the first storage control means described in each claim.

  Thereafter, when the performance of the paid karaoke song is completed, the determination in step SK50 is satisfied, and the karaoke performance unit 100 notifies the remote controller 200 that the performance of the paid karaoke song is completed via the network NW1.

  In the remote controller 200 that has received the notification, in step SR80, the control unit 201 has already received and temporarily stored the singing information of the user B (in the example of FIG. 2, the history of the music ID 161 is the final singing history). Singing history corresponding to the paid karaoke song is added to the new user B singing information. As a result, one song is added to the singing history of the user B for the pay karaoke song (see FIG. 11 described later). This process functions as singing information updating means described in each claim. In addition, when the user A sings the paid karaoke song as described above, the singing history corresponding to the paid karaoke song is added to the singing information of the user A, and the new singing information of the user A And Thereafter, the remote controller 200 transmits a singing information update request of the user B (or user A) corresponding to the singing history adding process to the singing information management server 300 via the networks NW1 and NW2. This process functions as user information transmitting means described in each claim.

  The singing information management server 300 that has received the singing information update request accesses the singing information of the user B of the singing information database 350 stored in the large-capacity storage device 303 in step SS60, and the singing information database 350 User B's singing information is updated. According to the above-mentioned example, as shown in FIG. 11, the singing information of the user B is in a state in which a history indicating that the pay karaoke song with the song ID 454S was sung at 13:00 on March 1, 2010 has been added. Updated. As described above, when the user A sings the paid karaoke song, the singing information of the user A is updated. This step SS60 functions as the second storage control means described in each claim.

  Note that the sequence shown in FIG. 4 is not intended to limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above-described flow, and procedures may be added / deleted or the order may be changed without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the invention. Good.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, even if the user B cannot use his / her point information, the user B pays by using the user A's point information after obtaining the consent of the user A instead. The user can enjoy the singing of the karaoke song and can record the singing information accompanying the singing for the user B himself / herself. Thereby, since the range of the karaoke song which the user B can enjoy expands, the serviceability to the user A and the user B can be improved. At that time, when user B is selected as a singer in the state where user A's My Page is displayed, the user B's My Page is temporarily switched to perform user B's usage authentication again (double authentication). Unauthorized spoofing by other users can be reliably prevented. In addition, since a high level of security is not required as in the case where a part of each point information is moved or exchanged among a plurality of users, the burden on the host server 500 is not greatly increased.

  Furthermore, since the use of point information of another user is activated by allowing one user to obtain the approval of another user in this way, the use of point information in the entire system is activated. It can also promote activation of use.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke network system 100 Karaoke performance part 200 Remote control 203 Display part 205 Operation part 300 Singing information management server 400 Point information management server 500 Host server KR Karaoke apparatus

Claims (2)

An operation unit operable by the user, a display unit for performing a predetermined display,
Have
User identification information that identifies a user, user singing information that identifies a karaoke song that has been karaoke performed in accordance with a reservation made by the user, and a user transaction that represents a predetermined transaction process with the user that accompanies the karaoke performance of the karaoke song A karaoke apparatus connected to a host server storing personal information including history information through a network,
A karaoke performance unit that performs karaoke performance according to instructions from the operation unit;
Usage authentication means for performing usage authentication for each of a plurality of users with the host server, including a first user and a second user different from the first user, based on the operation of the operation unit;
In the usage authentication, the personal information related to the user is received from a host server, and the display unit displays a browsing screen related to the first user based on the personal information related to the first user. Reservation means for accepting reservation of the karaoke song by the first user in response to an operation of the operation unit;
An approval notification means for notifying the host server of the approval of the predetermined transaction processing when the karaoke song reserved by the reservation means is karaoke played by the karaoke performance unit;
Have
When the second user is designated as a target person to give singing information of the karaoke song in a state where the browsing screen relating to the first user is displayed on the display unit, the use authentication means Two user authentication is performed with the host server,
And after the said user transaction history information of the said 1st user memorize | stored in the said host server is updated in the said host server according to the notification in the said consent notification means, the said 2nd user's delivered from the said host server Singing information updating means for updating the user singing information of the second user included in the personal information;
User information transmission means for transmitting the user song information of the second user updated by the song information update means to the host server together with the user identification information of the second user is provided. Karaoke equipment. A karaoke device having a karaoke performance unit that performs karaoke performance, an operation unit that can be operated by a user, and a display unit that performs predetermined display; and a host server that is communicably connected to the karaoke device via a network; A karaoke network system comprising:
The host server is
User identification information that identifies a user, user singing information that identifies a karaoke song that has been karaoke performed in accordance with a reservation made by the user, and a user transaction that represents a predetermined transaction process with the user that accompanies the karaoke performance of the karaoke song Personal information storage means for storing personal information including history information;
The karaoke device
Based on the operation of the operation unit, including a first user and a second user different from the first user, and use authentication means for performing use authentication of a plurality of users with the host server,
The host server further includes:
Personal information distribution means for distributing, to the karaoke apparatus, personal information related to at least one user who has been authenticated for use among personal information stored in the personal information storage means ,
The karaoke apparatus is further configured so that the display unit displays a browsing screen related to the first user based on the personal information related to the first user distributed by the personal information distribution means of the host server. Reservation means for accepting reservation of a karaoke song by the first user in response to an operation of the operation unit;
An acceptance notifying means for notifying the host server of acceptance of a predetermined transaction process with the first user when the karaoke song reserved by the reservation means is karaoke performed by the karaoke performance unit;
Have
In the state where the browsing screen related to the first user is displayed on the display unit, when the second user is designated as a person to whom the singing information of the karaoke song is given, the usage authentication means Second user authentication is performed with the host server,
The karaoke apparatus further includes performance song storage means for storing one or more karaoke songs,
Based on the reservation of the karaoke song by the first user accepted by the reservation means, a karaoke performance unit that reads karaoke music from the performance music storage means and performs karaoke performance;
Have
The host server further includes:
After the performance of the karaoke song received by the reservation means from the first user at the karaoke performance unit, the user transaction history information of the first user is updated in response to a notification from the acceptance notification means. Transaction history update means to
First storage control means for storing the user transaction history information of the first user updated by the transaction history update means in the personal information storage means in association with the user identification information of the first user;
Have
The karaoke apparatus further includes:
The reservation means includes the personal information of the second user distributed by the personal information distribution means in accordance with the performance of the karaoke song received by the first user at the karaoke performance unit. Singing information updating means for updating the user singing information of the second user;
User information transmitting means for transmitting the user singing information of the second user updated by the singing information updating means to the host server together with the user identification information of the second user;
Have
The host server further includes:
A second storage control unit for storing the user singing information of the second user transmitted from the user information transmission unit in the personal information storage unit in association with the user identification information of the second user; A characteristic karaoke network system.

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