JP3522208B2 - Karaoke device characterized by song display by character display panel - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly, to a karaoke apparatus with an improved user interface environment for presenting the user with information on music pieces whose performance has been reserved. About. 2. Description of the Related Art === Configuration of Karaoke Apparatus === A karaoke apparatus of the type that processes MIDI data is shown as a conventional example, and FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the karaoke apparatus. The central control unit 2 includes a CPU, a RAM,
It is a microcomputer including a ROM, and performs data communication with peripheral components via a bus 100 to control the karaoke apparatus 1a. The hard disk drive 3 generates music generation data as the origin of the karaoke accompaniment music described in the MIDI format for many karaoke songs, and lyrics rendering data as the generation origin of the lyrics image drawn in synchronization with the music performance. Are stored as karaoke data. The lyrics rendering data is a character string obtained by dividing all the lyrics characters into appropriate bars, and information such as the display / deletion order of the character strings (lyric rendering sequence), the display position of the character strings, and the like, Each information is described, such as display / deletion timing of the character and color change timing (singing timing instruction) of each character in the character string. [0004] The CD-ROM changer 17 stores a long period of video data (MPEG1 format or the like) from which a mood image used as a background image of a lyrics image is generated.
Is divided and stored in a number of CD-ROMs. One or a plurality of players including a CD-ROM drive device and a video data decoding circuit are built in. The CD-ROM changer 17 includes a central control unit 2
Under the above control, an appropriate CD-ROM is driven by a built-in player to decode video data recorded at an appropriate recording position of the CD-ROM and output as a mood video signal. . [0005] An operation control unit 7 coupled to the remote control receiving unit 4 and the operation panel 6 for receiving a radio signal from the remote control transmitter 5 centrally controls various operation information input from the remote control transmitter 5 and the operation panel 6. Transfer to section 2. === Performance Operation === The central control unit 2 receives, via the operation control unit 7, the music number of the requested music specified and input by the user interface such as the remote control transmitter 5 and the operation panel 6. The music numbers are stored in the RAM in the order of input so that the music numbers are managed as a queue for performance processing. The central control unit 2 picks up the music numbers in the order of performance from the queue, retrieves the corresponding music generation data and lyrics rendering data from the hard disk device 3 and processes them. The music generation data is sequentially transferred to the synthesizer 8, and the audio signal (song audio signal) of the accompaniment music generated here is input to the mixing amplifier 9. The mixing amplifier 9 mixes a voice signal (singing voice signal) input from the microphone 13 via the microphone input terminal 11 and a voice signal of the accompaniment music, amplifies the mixed voice signal, and outputs the mixed voice signal from the voice output terminal 10. I do. By connecting the audio output terminal 10 and the speaker 12 with a predetermined cable,
Thus, the mixed voice signal is output as sound. On the other hand, the lyrics rendering data is processed in synchronization with the processing of the music generation data, a lyrics image synchronized with the accompaniment music is generated, and the bitmap is sequentially developed in the video RAM 14. In addition, the karaoke data is accompanied by video script data in which storage locations of video data to be read are described in chronological order, and the central control unit 2 controls the CD-ROM changer 17 according to the corresponding video script data, The video data is sequentially decoded to output a mood video signal. The video controller 15 outputs a video signal obtained by superimposing a lyric image developed on the video RAM 14 to a mood video from the CD-ROM changer 17 to the video output terminal 1.
6 is output. By connecting the video output terminal 16 and the video input terminal of the display 18 with a predetermined cable, the mood video including the lyrics image is displayed and output on the display 18. === Reserved Song Confirmation Function === The karaoke apparatus 1a displays a song number and a song number of a song whose performance has been reserved and a song whose registration has been registered.
And a function for confirming the status of the reservation (track information display function). The karaoke data is accompanied by song information such as song titles and singer names. During the performance of the song, the song of the next song in the queue is not obstructed by the lyrics display so that the song title is not disturbed. The corresponding song information (song name, singer name, etc.) for all song numbers that are displayed in the queue or in the queue between performances, etc.
Is developed into a bit map in the video RAM 14 and a list of reserved music pieces with a single color screen or mood image as a background is displayed on the display 18. The karaoke apparatus 1a has a numeric display panel 20 for displaying six-digit numbers and displaying music tune numbers.
And a driving circuit (panel driving unit) 19 for the driving. As the numeral display panel 20, a "7-segment type" fluorescent display tube (FLD) that forms a figure of eight with seven rod-shaped segments (pixels) and displays the numerals 0 to 9 by appropriately combining the segments is provided. Can be used. When a music number (six-digit number) of a music piece to be reserved for performance is input by a user input, the central control section 2 transfers a numerical value corresponding to the music number to the panel drive section 19. The panel drive unit 19 lights a predetermined segment according to the combination of the segments associated with the numerical value. Thereby, the number indicating the music number is displayed on the numeric display panel 20, and the user can confirm that the reservation has been accepted by the input music number. The music information display function of the conventional karaoke apparatus cannot display a music list in a queue during music performance. For this reason, during the performance, the input of the user to change the queue by changing the order of the performance or inserting a newly designated music in a certain performance order is not accepted. Even if accepted, the user interface environment becomes extremely difficult to operate because the context of the music in the queue is unknown. When a song number is input, only that number is displayed on the numeric display panel, making it difficult to confirm whether the specified song has been reliably reserved for performance. In many cases, the input of a music number is performed by a remote control transmitter, and a receiver for the remote control signal is provided in the karaoke apparatus main body. However, since a TV receiver is mainly used as a display for displaying a list of lyrics and music pieces reserved for performance, the user tends to point the remote control transmitter at the display. Therefore, when the apparatus main body and the display are installed apart from each other, the designated music piece may not be reserved for performance. Moreover,
Confirmation of a reservation can be done only for a short time, such as between performances. If the music performance is performed continuously, there is no opportunity to confirm the performance. Therefore, the present invention can reliably confirm the reservation state of a designated music piece, check the music piece in the queue at any time, and quickly change the queue, such as instructing or changing the reserved music piece. It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus that realizes an intuitive user interface environment. [0014] A karaoke apparatus according to the present invention has a feature in displaying music titles on a character display panel, and is specified by the following items (A) to (E). It is. (A) A karaoke apparatus that includes a character display panel and control means, and registers a song requested by a user in a queue and manages the order of performance. (B) The character display panel is a dot matrix type. It has a horizontally long display area and is arranged on the front of the karaoke apparatus main body. (C) The control means activates a single-song display mode when a user inputs a requested music, and displays a single-song. Activating the multi-song display mode during a period in which the mode is not activated. (D) In the multi-song display mode, the title of the requested song registered in the queue is displayed on each line of the display area divided into a plurality of lines. In addition to displaying in the order of registration, if the number of registered songs is more than a plurality of lines, each song title is scrolled vertically and displayed. (E) Single song display mode The song title of the requested song that has been input is displayed in one line using large characters over several lines, and when the character string of the song title exceeds the display area, the song title is scrolled and displayed horizontally. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS === Configuration of Karaoke Apparatus === FIG. 2 is an external view of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a front (front) view of the apparatus main body. The karaoke apparatus main body 1b of this embodiment is constituted by a single housing, in which various components mainly composed of a computer are stored. The front surface of the housing is an operation panel 6 including various operation keys, and a horizontally long dot matrix type character display panel 22 is provided in the operation panel 6. In this embodiment, an FLD having a display capacity of 36 × 240 dots is used as the character display panel 22. The appearance of the karaoke apparatus 1b is characterized in that the character display panel 22 and the operation panel 6 are arranged close to each other. Further, a remote control receiving unit 4 for receiving a wireless signal from a remote control transmitter attached to the apparatus main body is also provided in the operation panel 6. The configuration in which the character display panel 22, the operation panel 6, and the remote control receiver 4 are arranged close to each other is an important requirement. Even if the apparatus main body 1b is composed of a plurality of casings, they are the same casing. Shall be arranged in close proximity to the front surface. A video output terminal 16 (FIG. 3) for connecting to a display and outputting a video signal, an audio output terminal 10 (FIG. 3) for connecting a speaker and outputting an audio signal, and an audio signal from a microphone are provided on the back of the housing. Microphone input terminal 11 (FIG. 3) for inputting
For example, various terminals and connectors are appropriately arranged. FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the karaoke apparatus 1b of the present embodiment. This karaoke apparatus 1b employs substantially the same configuration as the conventional karaoke apparatus 1a shown in FIG. However, in the karaoke apparatus 1b, karaoke data and video data are stored in three hard disk drives 3
The video decoding unit 23 decodes the video data and outputs a mood video signal. And
Numeral display panel 20 in karaoke apparatus 1a (FIG. 1)
And the panel drive unit 19 replaces the character display panel 22 and the display panel control unit 21. The display panel control unit 21 includes a video RAM and a driving circuit for the character display panel 22. The central control unit 2 converts a character string to be displayed into image data suitable for the dot configuration of the character display panel 22. The video data is expanded in the video RAM 21. The display panel control unit 21 drives the character display panel 22 by associating the dot configuration of the bitmap image with the dot configuration of the character display panel 22. The operation of playing the music in the karaoke apparatus 1b is the same as that of the conventional karaoke apparatus 1a (FIG. 1) except for the difference in the processing system of the video data. However, the song information display function mounted on the karaoke apparatus 1b displays the song information on the character display panel 22 so that the user can check the songs in the queue even during the performance. I have. Further, by devising the display method of the music information on the character display panel 22, the character display panel 22 having a limited display capacity can easily confirm the context of the music in the queue, and can input a music number or queue the music. A user interface environment that allows the user to intuitively operate even when a change is input is realized. Hereinafter, the music piece information display function in the present embodiment will be described. === Song Information Display Function === The song information display function in the present embodiment has two display modes, a single song display mode and a multiple song display mode, according to the character display mode on the character display panel 22. Have. <Single Song Display Mode> In the single song display mode, when a user inputs a song number using the user interface (5, 6), the song information corresponding to the number is displayed in one line of characters. This is the mode to display in columns. Central control unit 2
Receives the music number input by the user via the operation control unit 7 and reads out the music piece information corresponding to the music number from the hard disk device 3. Then, the character image of the song name described in the song information is developed in the video RAM of the display panel control unit 21. FIGS. 4A to 4E show display examples of the music piece information in the single music piece display mode, and the display transition of the music piece information is shown in the order of (A) to (E). In this example, a display screen when a music number is input by the remote control transmitter and the number is transferred to the apparatus main body is shown. In response to the music number transfer operation, the character display panel 22 displays the order in the queue and the music number on one line (A). In this figure, "4" indicating the playing order is displayed at the beginning of the character string. Then, after displaying the music number for a while, the music title is displayed as music number information corresponding to the music number (B).
When the number of characters included in the song title is large and cannot be displayed in the display area of the character display panel 22, all characters to be displayed are displayed by horizontal scrolling (C to E). === Multi-song display mode === The multi-song display mode is a display mode for displaying music information of a plurality of music, such as music information of music in a queue. The multiple-song display mode is activated in a timely manner, for example, during a period in which the single-song display mode is not activated, or when an instruction to display reserved music is received by user input. Then, for the songs in the queue, the program information of each song is appropriately displayed according to the order of performance. Of course, instead of the automatic start, the multi-song display mode may be started by a user input. FIGS. 5A to 5D show display examples of the music piece information in the plural music piece display mode, and FIGS. 5A to 5D show the display transition. The illustrated example shows a display screen when the multi-song display mode is automatically activated.
First, the music information of the music being played and the next music (the first music)
The song information of the song is displayed in two lines together with the order of performance ("performance", "next song", etc.) (A). Then, the song information of the second and subsequent songs in the queue is automatically displayed sequentially while scrolling vertically (B to D). When the information on the last piece of music in the queue is displayed, the music piece information and the first piece of music piece information are displayed again, and the same vertical scroll display is repeated thereafter (D → A → B →...). When a music number for performance reservation is input, or information on the music currently being displayed in the multiple music display mode is designated by a user input, the corresponding music information is displayed in the single music display mode. In the multiple-song display mode, the song information displayed on the character display panel 22 at one time is not limited to the two-line display as long as the information is displayed in a plurality of lines. === Linking of the music information display function with the user interface === The karaoke apparatus 1b of the present embodiment is adapted to input music to the user to make an interrupt reservation or change the queue. By linking the information display function and the user interface, an operation input environment in which the user can operate lightly and intuitively is provided. Here, an operation input environment linked to a music piece information display function will be described by taking as an example an "interruption reservation" in which a music piece specified by a user is inserted in an arbitrary performance order in a queue. In this embodiment, as the operation of the vertical scroll display in the plural-song display mode, in addition to the above-described automatic scroll method, a method of scrolling one line at a time when a predetermined user input is received is also adopted. FIG.
(E) schematically shows an operation input environment when performing the above-described interrupt reservation using the method of scrolling line by line. (A) to (E) sequentially show screen transitions of the character display panel 22 in response to an interrupt reservation operation. When the user inputs an instruction to confirm the reservation, the music piece information on the music pieces in the queue is displayed in the plural music piece display mode. First, the tune information of the tune being played and the first (next tune) song in the queue are displayed together with the order of performance. At this time, the character portion of "playing" indicating the order of performance of the music is highlighted (A). This highlighted song indicates that it is currently being selected. By this selection state display, the user can confirm the insertion order of the music pieces to be reserved for interruption. When the reservation confirmation instruction is given again, the "next song"
Is highlighted (B). In the next instruction, 1
The line is vertically scrolled, and the portion of "2" indicating the second song in the queue at the head of the character string is highlighted and the user is notified that the song information is being selected (C). In this way, the line is vertically scrolled line by line at each reservation confirmation instruction opportunity, and the music pieces in the queue are sequentially selected in accordance with the performance order (D). And
When a music number in a certain playing order is selected and the user inputs a music number, the music number input in the playing order is displayed and the performance queue is changed (E). In other words, of the performance order of each music piece in the original queue, the order after the new music number is input is sequentially reduced, and the queue is updated. When a user inputs to cancel the performance of a certain piece of music while selecting certain piece of music information, the corresponding music number is deleted from the queue, and the music piece after the deleted music is played. The performance order of the music pieces is sequentially raised, and the queue is updated. === Other Modified Examples / Application Examples === In the above-mentioned music piece information display function, the music piece information to be displayed is the music piece name. Of course, it is not limited to the song title. Any information that accompanies the karaoke data, such as a singer or an author, can be displayed. If music information to be displayed can be selected by user input, music in the queue can be selected and appropriate music information corresponding to the music can be designated and displayed. Alternatively, in the multiple song display mode, vertical scrolling is performed while displaying the song title and other song information in two lines, or the vertical scroll including the plurality of song information and the above-described vertical scrolling of only the song title are automatically performed. It may be displayed while being alternately switched. In the above embodiment, the music information display function and the user interface are linked when the order of performance in the queue is changed by user input. The song information display function can also be used in a queue changing operation other than the performance order changing operation. By using the characteristic that the song information can be checked at any time and that any song in the queue can be freely designated, it can be applied to other functions attached to the karaoke apparatus including the performance function. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-78786 discloses a "song title mask function" that intentionally does not display title information of a song whose performance is reserved.
There is disclosed a technology of a karaoke apparatus provided with a karaoke device. If the music information display function of the present invention is used in the operation relating to the music name mask function, it is possible to change the queue so that the music that has been reserved for publication in the queue is kept private. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the song name mask function, but may be applied to a case where the tempo and key are individually set for each song in the queue. According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, the character display panel is provided on the apparatus main body, so that the tune information of the music in the queue can be checked at any time without depending on the performance operation of the karaoke apparatus. can do. Also,
By arranging the operation panel and the character display panel close to each other,
When the user inputs from the operation panel, various information displays related to the performance reservation can be surely seen. A single-segment display mode and a multiple-segment display mode are provided, and by switching to an appropriate display mode in accordance with the content and number of pieces of music information to be displayed, horizontally long character display with a small display area and display capacity is performed. More information can be displayed more easily on the panel. The use of a small character display panel also contributes to downsizing of the device. When the user changes various settings for an arbitrary song in the queue, the operation for changing the queue can be reflected on the display in the multiple song display mode. As a result, it is possible to change various settings associated with the reserved music by a light and intuitive operation, as well as to change the performance order of each music in the queue. By arranging the character display panel and the receiver of the remote control signal close to each other, the user naturally directs the remote control transmitter toward the apparatus main body at the time of user input using the remote control transmitter. Therefore, the input information is reliably transferred to the karaoke apparatus main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional karaoke apparatus as a functional block diagram. FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when music information is displayed on a character display panel in a single music display mode in the embodiment. Screen transitions at the time of performance reservation are shown in the order of (A) to (E). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a screen when music information on music in a queue is displayed on the character display panel in the multi-music display mode in the embodiment. The screen transition at that time is shown in the order of (A) to (D). FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing screen transitions of the character display panel in response to an interrupt reservation operation in the order of (A) to (D) in the embodiment. [Description of Signs] 1a, 1b Karaoke device 2 Central control unit 3 Hard disk device 4 Remote control receiving unit 5 Remote control transmitter 6 Operation panel 21 Display panel control unit 22 Character display panel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10K 15/04 302 G09G 3/00-5/00 G06F 17/20-17/26

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] A karaoke machine which includes a character display panel (22) and a control means (2), registers music requested by a user in a queue, and manages the playing order. The character display panel (22) has a horizontally long display area of a dot matrix type and is arranged on the front of the karaoke apparatus main body. The control means (2) receives an input of a requested music from a user. When the single song display mode is activated, the multiple song display mode is activated during the period when the single song display mode is not activated. In addition to displaying the song titles of the requested songs registered in the order of registration, if the number of registered songs is more than multiple lines, each song title is scrolled vertically and displayed. In large letters multiline, with displays one line Song request songs for which the input, karaoke apparatus for displaying and horizontal scrolling if the title of the string is greater than the display area.