JP3573422B2 - Karaoke device that uses a personal digital assistant such as a mobile phone as a usage tool - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that utilizes a personal portable information terminal such as a mobile phone as a utilization tool, and more particularly to an apparatus that confirms the existence of a personal portable information terminal that has reserved music before performing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a technique of using a mobile phone equipped with a short-range wireless communication function such as IrDA or Bluetooth as a remote control transmitter of a karaoke apparatus (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-148169). This is a technology devised to focus on the fact that many customers with a high mobile phone ownership rate come to karaoke stores, which makes karaoke more accessible and promotes karaoke as a box office. I was able to.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, if each user has a remote control transmitter equivalent, there is no need to wait for others to finish using the remote control transmitter dedicated to karaoke devices, so there is also an opportunity to reserve music performances It is easy to make appointments for playing with ease. Then, the number of reserved songs increases, and it is difficult to know who has reserved in what order, so it is difficult for each person to grasp when his or her singing order comes. For this reason, even if the karaoke performance of the pre-reserved music starts, it is not rare that the pre-ordered person happens to be present. In such a case, the reserved person himself / herself does not miss the opportunity to sing the song that he / she wanted to sing, but also has a useless time for the person present there.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention provides a karaoke apparatus that, immediately before a music performance, confirms that the personal portable information terminal used for the performance reservation is present nearby, thereby confirming that the subscriber is present, and then starts the performance. It is intended to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is basically specified by the following items (1) to (7).
(1) A karaoke apparatus that includes a short-range wireless communication unit and a control unit, registers a request signal in a queue, and manages a playing order.
(2) The short-range wireless communication means enables two-way data communication with a personal portable information terminal in a service area intended for a use place of the karaoke apparatus.
(3) The control means enables the reservation receiving process and the absence process including the first to third processes.
(4) In the reservation accepting process, a request signal including a music piece identifier and a terminal identifier is received from the personal portable information terminal and registered in a queue.
(5) The first process detects a confirmation time of the request signal based on a registration order of the request signal in the queue and a performance progress state.
(6) The second process attempts to establish communication with the personal portable information terminal having the terminal identifier of the request signal that has been confirmed.
(7) In the third process, when communication cannot be established in the second process, the registration order of the request signal in the queue is lowered.
[0006]
The present invention can be carried out based on the above-described matters, with the following matters (a) to (c) added thereto.
(A) The control means enables the absence counting process and the registration deletion process.
(B) The absence counting process counts the number of absences for which communication could not be established in the absence processing for each request signal.
(C) The deregistration process deletes a request signal that has reached a prescribed number of absences from the queue.
[0007]
In the present invention, the third processing is to display an advance notice of deferred registration order and to accept cancellation of deferred registration order, and the deregistration processing displays an advance notice of deregistration and accept cancellation of deregistration. can do.
[0008]
According to the present invention, a notice time of a request signal is detected based on a registration order of the request signal in a queue and a performance progress state, and communication with a personal portable information terminal having a terminal identifier of the request signal at the notice time is performed. When the communication is successfully established, a notification process of transmitting a message notifying that the playing time is approaching to the personal portable information terminal can be performed.
[0009]
In the present invention, the following items (d) to (f) are applied, and an electronic mail can be adopted as the notice processing.
(D) E-mail transmission means for transmitting an e-mail to the Internet is provided.
(E) The terminal identifier includes the e-mail address of the personal digital assistant concerned,
The control unit enables a notice process including a fourth process and a fifth process.
(F) The notice processing detects the notice time of the request signal based on the registration order of the request signal in the queue and the performance progress state, and sends the notice signal to the personal portable information terminal having the terminal identifier of the request signal at the notice time. On the other hand, an e-mail notifying that the performance time is approaching is created and transmitted.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
=== Basic Functions of Karaoke Device ===
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A central control unit 1 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM controls and controls each peripheral component via a control bus.
[0012]
The hard disk device 2 stores a large number of karaoke data including accompaniment music data and lyric data of the karaoke music. When the central control unit 1 receives a performance reservation request via the operation control unit 3, the central control unit 1 registers the music ID of the music in a performance reservation queue stored in a memory or the like, and registers each music registered in the queue. The karaoke data corresponding to the ID is read out according to the order of the request input, and is processed for each song. That is, the karaoke accompaniment music corresponding to the requested music is extracted from the hard disk device 2 and the included karaoke accompaniment music data is transferred to the synthesizer 4 to generate karaoke accompaniment music. The generated karaoke accompaniment music and the singing voice collected by the microphone 5 are mixed by a mixing amplifier 6 and sound output from a speaker 7. The display 8 displays a background image input via the image control unit 9 and a lyric image with a color change of a portion to be sung.
[0013]
The karaoke apparatus also includes a Bluetooth interface 10 which is a characteristic component of the present invention. It comprises an RF circuit and a baseband circuit. The transmitting / receiving antenna 11 connected to the RF circuit of the Bluetooth interface 10 is installed in a karaoke room of a karaoke store. As a result, a service area of a predetermined range in which a communication link with the Bluetooth interface 10 can be established is formed around the transmission / reception antenna 11.
[0014]
=== Basic functions of mobile phones ===
In this embodiment, a mobile phone equipped with a Bluetooth interface is brought into the installation location of the karaoke apparatus and used for music reservation and the like. FIG. 2 shows an internal block configuration of the mobile phone. A microcomputer 21 including a CPU having a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) function and a memory 26 such as a RAM, a ROM, and a flash memory includes an air interface 22, an audio signal processing unit 23, an operation control circuit 24, a Bluetooth interface, and the like. 25 and other peripheral components.
[0015]
In the memory 26, programs and data are registered. In particular, in the flash memory, a terminal ID such as a terminal serial number uniquely assigned to each mobile phone, a telephone number, and personal information of a user are recorded. The microcomputer 21 executes a program for providing a basic function of the mobile phone, and appropriately executes a program stored in the memory 26 in response to an operation input from the key operation unit 27 or a start command sent from the karaoke apparatus. Execute.
[0016]
The air interface 22 receives radio waves from base stations of a mobile telephone network installed in various places, demodulates PCM voice data corresponding to a call voice from the received radio waves, or modulates PCM voice data and transmits it to the base station. Or The audio signal processing unit 23 converts a PCM audio data demodulated by the air interface 22 into an analog audio signal and transmits the analog audio signal to the receiver 29, and a call signal input from the transmitter 28. A transmission signal circuit for A / D-converting the PCM audio data and inputting the data to the air interface 22 and a tone generator for generating a ringtone and outputting the sound to the speaker 30 are included.
[0017]
The Bluetooth interface 25 includes an RF circuit, a baseband circuit, and the like. An RF signal input / output unit of the RF circuit is connected to a transmission / reception antenna 32 via an antenna duplexer 31.
[0018]
=== Performance reservation by mobile phone ===
The mobile phone of the present embodiment is provided with a function for allowing the user to set the operation state of the Bluetooth interface 25. In order for the mobile phone to function as a remote control device of the karaoke apparatus, it is necessary for the user to set a communication standby state by setting the user to a reception standby state (Standby) by this function.
[0019]
The Bluetooth interface 10 of the karaoke apparatus transmits a connection request message (Inquiry) at predetermined intervals in the service area, and determines whether there is a mobile phone in a standby state in a standby state in the service area. You are searching for When a mobile phone in the standby state is brought into the service area, a communication link is established between the karaoke apparatus and the Bluetooth interface (10, 25) of the mobile phone according to the Bluetooth protocol.
[0020]
When the communication link is established, the karaoke apparatus determines whether or not an application program (karaoke use program) that operates on the mobile phone and provides a performance reservation function of the karaoke music exists in the memory of the mobile phone as the communication partner. An inquiry is made by a data packet called an SDP (Service Discovery Protocol) request via Bluetooth. In response to this, the mobile phone writes the contents of the SDP management table storing and managing the registration information of the application program of the mobile phone in the SDP response and returns the content to the karaoke apparatus. The karaoke apparatus checks whether or not the received SDP response has a karaoke use program registered. If the karaoke apparatus exists, the karaoke apparatus transmits a data packet describing an instruction to start the karaoke use program to the mobile phone. Upon receiving this, the mobile phone immediately starts the karaoke utilization program.
[0021]
On the other hand, if there is no registration of the karaoke use program, the karaoke apparatus starts downloading the karaoke use program to the partner mobile phone. As soon as the karaoke utilization program is downloaded, the mobile phone performs an installation process of the karaoke utilization program and starts up.
[0022]
The karaoke utilization program started by the mobile phone displays an appropriate performance reservation screen on the display unit of the mobile phone and receives a performance reservation operation. When the user operates the key operation unit to input the music ID checked from the table of contents or the like and performs a predetermined input completion operation, the microcomputer 21 stores the terminal ID stored in the memory of the mobile phone and the input music. A data packet describing the ID is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus via Bluetooth. The karaoke apparatus associates the received terminal ID with the music ID and registers it in a queue for performance reservation, and returns a data packet indicating that the performance reservation of the music ID has been accepted to the mobile phone via Bluetooth. The mobile phone displays a message on the display unit 34 that the reservation has been accepted. In this manner, the music ID reserved from the mobile phone can be handled in the same manner as the music ID reserved from the operation panel of the karaoke apparatus or the remote control transmitter.
[0023]
=== Confirmation of existence of reservation person ===
In the karaoke apparatus that manages the queue of performance reservations, when the performance order of a certain music piece A approaches, it is confirmed whether or not the reservation person who reserved the music piece A is present. For example, when the performance of the music piece reserved before the music piece A is one minute remaining, the terminal ID stored as a set together with the music piece ID of the music piece A is taken out, and the mobile phone having the terminal ID is provided by the service of the karaoke apparatus. A search is made to determine whether or not the area is waiting in a reception standby state (standby). That is, as described above, the connection request message (Inquiry) is transmitted to search for the presence or absence of the mobile phone in the reception standby state (standby) in the service area, and the reception standby state in the service area is detected. When a communication link is established between the (standby) mobile phone and the Bluetooth interface, an inquiry is made as to whether the terminal ID of the mobile phone is the desired terminal ID.
[0024]
If the terminal ID of the mobile phone that has established the communication link matches the desired terminal ID, that is, the terminal ID of the mobile phone that has reserved the music A, it is determined that the subscriber is present, and the music performance currently being performed is performed. Is completed, the performance of music A is started.
[0025]
=== Change playing order ===
In the above, if the mobile phone that has reserved the music A is not found in the service area, the karaoke apparatus changes the music ID of the music A and the associated terminal ID from the top of the performance reservation queue to the end. Since it is useless to play the reserved music by the absentee, the performance is postponed.
[0026]
Here, a message may be displayed at the lower part of the screen of the display 8 of the karaoke apparatus to notify the person present there that the performance order of the music A is to be postponed. Furthermore, a person who has seen the message display may be able to cancel the change of the playing order. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, “No” is displayed on the screen indicating that the karaoke operation is to be performed later, so that the user can select and input the karaoke device. If "No" is selected and input through a panel or the like, the music A can be played as originally scheduled. In this way, it is possible to cope with a case where a person present there wants to sing in place of the subscriber.
[0027]
=== Other Embodiments ===
Regarding the change of the above-mentioned performance order, it is also possible to change the processing according to the number of absent reservations. That is, even if the reservation person is absent when the performance order of the music A is reduced, the music A is changed to the end of the performance reservation queue up to twice, for example, each time. It is deleted from the queue the third time when it is absent. For this purpose, the karaoke apparatus is provided with a counter (initial value 0) for counting the number of absences, and increases the value by one when the presence of the mobile phone of the reservation person cannot be confirmed. Until the counter value reaches a predetermined value, for example, 3, the process of changing the song ID of the song A to the end of the queue is performed, and when the counter value reaches 3, the process of deleting the song from the queue is easily performed. realizable. In this case as well, it is convenient for the user if a message to the effect of deletion is displayed on the display 8 or the like of the karaoke apparatus or if a selection input for canceling the deletion is made possible.
[0028]
At an appropriate point in time before the order of performance of a certain song A, for example, when a song three songs before the song A starts playing, the mobile phone that reserved the song A displays "3 more songs to your reserved song. It is also possible to display an advance notification message such as "". If you want to display this via Bluetooth, the karaoke device will establish a communication link with the mobile phone that reserved the song A as described above when the point of advance notice comes, and say, "There are three more songs to your reserved song. May be transmitted. The received mobile phone displays a message on the display unit 34 saying that there are three more songs until your reserved song.
[0029]
It is also possible to give the same advance notice using an e-mail via the Internet network. In this case, it is necessary for the mobile phone to notify the terminal ID and the e-mail address when making a performance reservation to the karaoke apparatus. The karaoke apparatus may create an e-mail with the content "there are three more songs until your reserved tune" in the text and send it to this e-mail address. In this case, the advance notice is also sent to the reservation person who is away from the place, so that it is possible to return to the performance at an appropriate time, which is very convenient.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, immediately before the karaoke apparatus plays the music, it is confirmed that the personal portable information terminal that has reserved the music is nearby, that is, that the person who has reserved the music is present. Since no music is played if the user is absent, a situation in which only karaoke performances flow unnecessarily can be avoided, and wasteful time can be saved for anyone other than the subscriber. Also, even if the reservation person is absent, the reserved music does not disappear from the reservation list and the opportunity to sing later comes around, which is convenient for the reservation person who has accidentally left the seat. If you can be informed in advance how long you will play the song you reserved, you will be able to add urgent tasks such as shopping and ordering food and drink in the meantime, You can practice and prepare yourself. In addition, it is possible to allow people who are present in the place to sing in the absence of the reservation person, so it may be an opportunity to unexpectedly sing a song with a different tendency from your own, and you will be there More entertaining for everyone. As a result, the effect of increasing the number of people who easily use karaoke can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal block configuration of a personal portable information terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 exemplifies a message displayed on a display when the order of performance is changed in the karaoke apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central control unit 2 Hard disk drive 3 Operation control unit 4 Synthesizer 5 Microphone 6 Mixing amplifier 7 Speaker 8 Display 9 Video control unit 10 Bluetooth interface 11 Transmit / receive antenna 21 Microcomputer 22 Air interface 23 Audio signal processing unit 24 Operation control circuit 25 Bluetooth / Interface 26 memory 27 key operation unit 28 transmitter 29 receiver 30 speaker 31 antenna duplexer 32 transmission / reception antenna 33 display control circuit 34 display unit (liquid crystal panel)

Claims (6)

A karaoke apparatus that includes a short-range wireless communication unit and a control unit, registers a request signal in a queue and manages a playing order,
The short-range wireless communication means enables two-way data communication with a personal portable information terminal in a service area targeted for a use place of the karaoke apparatus,
The control means enables a reservation receiving process and an absence process including a first process to a third process,
The reservation receiving process receives a request signal including a music identifier and a terminal identifier from the personal portable information terminal, registers the request signal in a queue,
The first process detects a confirmation time of the request signal based on a registration order of the request signal in the queue and a performance progress state,
The second process attempts to establish communication with the personal portable information terminal having the terminal identifier of the request signal that has been confirmed,
The third process is a karaoke apparatus for lowering the order of registration of request signals in a queue when communication cannot be established in the second process. The control means enables the absence counting process and the registration deletion process,
The absence counting process counts the number of absences for which communication could not be established in the absence processing for each request signal,
2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration deletion process deletes a request signal having reached a prescribed number of absent from the queue. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third processing performs a notice display of the registration order decrement, and enables cancellation of the registration rank decrement. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the registration deletion processing displays a notice of registration deletion and allows cancellation of registration deletion to be accepted. 5. The control means enables a notice process including a fourth process and a fifth process,
The fourth process detects a notice time of the request signal based on a registration order of the request signal in the queue and a performance progress state,
In the fifth process, the personal portable information terminal having the terminal identifier of the request signal at the notice time is tried to establish the communication, and when the communication is established, a message notifying that the performance time is approaching is transmitted. The karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the karaoke apparatus transmits the karaoke information to the personal portable information terminal. E-mail sending means for sending e-mail to the Internet,
The terminal identifier includes the e-mail address of the corresponding personal digital assistant,
The control means enables a notice process including a fourth process and a fifth process,
The fourth process detects a notice time of the request signal based on a registration order of the request signal in the queue and a performance progress state,
5. The fifth process according to claim 1, wherein an electronic mail for notifying that the performance time is approaching is created and transmitted to the personal portable information terminal having the terminal identifier of the request signal which has been notified. Karaoke equipment.

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