JP3645211B2 - Music searching method and karaoke remote control device for searching at that time - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for searching for a desired song from a song index database, and more particularly to a song search method and a karaoke remote control device for searching at that time.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The karaoke remote control device with the electronic table of contents function is commercialized as a computer application device having a form similar to a notebook personal computer or palmtop personal computer. The attribute information about the karaoke music corresponding to the karaoke music database in the karaoke device is stored in an external storage such as a built-in hard disk or non-volatile memory and managed as a music index database, and the search keyword input by the user is stored. The database is inquired as a query related to attribute information, and the table of contents information and the music number for the corresponding karaoke music are presented and output. When the karaoke piece that the user desires to play is finally designated, a performance reservation code including the piece number of the piece is transferred as a remote control signal to the nearest karaoke apparatus.
[0003]
When the karaoke apparatus receives a remote control signal for performance reservation, it manages the music numbers included in the signal as a performance reservation queue, and sequentially picks up music numbers from the queue. Then, a karaoke piece corresponding to the picked piece number is played.
[0004]
By the way, a karaoke remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a karaoke remote control device) with an electronic table of contents function is provided with various search modes such as a song title, artist name, genre, age, etc. according to search keyword attribute information given to a song index database. Yes. The age is a search method that uses the age as a prerequisite, such as “a song that was hit in 1980”, and is a useful search mode when you want to request a song that is memorable for the user, such as a nostalgia.
[0005]
However, for some older people, the memories of the memories of my sensual times overlap with the various scenes of the life of the times when I liked and listened to a song. is there. For example, a song that was sung in the school choral contest at the 6th grade of elementary school, a song that was sung loudly on the mountain in the hometown during the fall excursion of the second grade of junior high school, or a school excursion bus for the 3rd year of high school The memories of nostalgic songs, such as that song that everyone sang in, are firmly linked to fragments of the life scene at that time.
[0006]
Therefore, in the conventional age search mode in the karaoke remote control device, when setting the age to be searched, add the year you were born and the past age you want to search to calculate the age to be the search criteria It had to be set and was troublesome. When you remember the age you want to search for in your school year, you must consider the correspondence between school year and age, which is even more cumbersome.
[0007]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention takes into account how humans memorize past events related to age when setting the age as a search condition in a karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function. It aims to provide a configurable way.
[0008]
The first invention is a music search method specified by the following items (11) to (15).
(11) A music search method in which a music index database including age information for each music is accessed by a computer. (12) The computer performs the processes of the first to third steps. (13) The first step is Receiving user input by displaying a display asking the current age or birth age (14) The second step is to display a display asking the user's age or school year at an unknown age in the past to the user. Accepting the input (15) The third step specifies an unknown age based on the current age or birth age entered in the first step and the age or school year entered in the second step, and the unknown age Searching for age information and extracting music The second invention is a karaoke remote control device specified by the following items (21) to (27).
(21) A karaoke remote control device including a music index database, input means, control means, and display means. (22) The music index database stores age information for each music. (23) Input means (24) The control means enables search processing including the first to third processing. (25) The first processing displays a display asking for the current age or birth age. Receiving user input through display means (26) The second process is to display display asking the user the age or grade of the user in an unknown age in the past and accept user input (27) Third The process identifies the unknown age based on the current age or birth age entered in the first process and the age or school year entered in the second process, and searches for age information in the unknown age to extract music To do The third invention is a karaoke remote controller specified by the following matters (31) to (38).
(31) It is a karaoke remote control device provided with a music index database, input means, control means, and display means. (32) The music index database includes a song name, an artist name, and age information for each song. , Storing matter information (33) the input means can accept user input (34) the control means enable search processing consisting of first to fourth processing (35) first The process prompts the user to input a display asking the current age or birth age. (36) The second process uses a display asking the user's age or school year in an unknown age in the past. Prompting the user to input (37) the third process is to display a plurality of items as options on the display means and prompting the user to make a selection input (38) the fourth process is input in the first process Current age or birth age The unknown age is specified based on the age or school year input in the second process, the age information is searched for the unknown age, and the matter information is searched for the matter selected in the third process to extract the music. [0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
=== Configuration of Karaoke Remote Control Device ===
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a karaoke remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus main body 1 is generally a thick panel, and the size of the apparatus main body 1 is such that both hands can be held open when the panel is horizontally long. A liquid crystal display (LCD) 2 is disposed on the front surface of the panel, and a touch panel 3 is laminated on the surface of the LCD 2.
[0010]
There is an infrared transmitter 4 by a light emitting diode (LED) on the upper end surface of the panel-like case, and a terminal 6 for receiving power supply from an external power source when charging a secondary battery inside the main body on the lower end surface, An RS232C standard interface (IF) terminal 5 for data communication with an external computer is provided. These terminal groups are normally hidden from view by a blind cover.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the karaoke remote control device 1 by a functional block diagram. The configuration of the karaoke remote control device 1 of this embodiment is basically the same as that of a computer such as a PC. In the flash memory 12 functioning as an external storage, attribute information such as the song title, artist name, and the singing part of the lyrics is stored in association with the song number for the song that can be used in the karaoke apparatus 1, and the song index database. Has been built. Further, the central control unit 11 which is the main control unit of the remote control device 1 communicates with an external computer such as a karaoke device via the communication interface (IF) 13 of the RS232C standard, and attribute information about the new karaoke music is provided. By downloading and storing in the flash memory 12, the music index database is updated in a timely manner.
[0012]
When the central control unit 11 receives the operation input information from the touch panel 3 via the operation control unit 15, the central control unit 11 displays image data prepared in the internal ROM and a processing result corresponding to the operation input information in the image data. The reflected image data is developed as a bitmap on the video RAM, and the LCD driver 14 is controlled to display and output the bitmap image on the LCD 2. Thereby, the karaoke remote control device 1 provides a GUI environment to the user. The central control unit 11 searches the music index database through dialogue with the user through the GUI, and displays the search result to realize the electronic table of contents function.
[0013]
The central control unit 11 generates a code including the corresponding music number if there is a user input indicating that the music is reserved for performance in a state where one karaoke music is finally presented by the electronic table of contents function. The code is transferred to the LED driver 16. The LED driver 16 gives a modulated signal of this code to the LED 17 to cause the karaoke apparatus to transmit a radio signal for performance reservation.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the top screen 20 displayed when the electronic table of contents function of the karaoke remote control device 1 is activated. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing functions called when various buttons arranged on the top screen 20 are designated. On the top screen 20 are buttons 21 for calling various search methods (new music, singer name, song name, that time, duet, genre) and functions (history, remote control) corresponding to the various definition processes s39 to s46 in FIG. 28 and various buttons 29 for operating the karaoke apparatus during music performance are provided.
[0015]
When the buttons 21 to 28 for the respective search methods and functions are instructed while the screen 20 is displayed, initial screens for the respective search methods and functions shown in FIGS. 5A to 5H are displayed. The karaoke remote control device 1 performs screen transition hierarchically from these initial screens (A) to (H) in accordance with the user's operation input, and finally the music to be reserved for performance reservation in the karaoke device is specified by the user. A remote control signal including the corresponding music number is transmitted in accordance with an operation input for reserving the performance.
[0016]
=== Song title search mode ===
For example, if a search method based on a song name is instructed, karaoke songs are reserved for performance through the screen transitions shown in FIGS. First, the karaoke remote control device 1 displays a 50-sound character palette, and the user inputs the title of the song from the beginning (A). When the song name is entered halfway and the “search” button 31 is designated, the entered character string is referred to the song index database, and the song name and artist name for the corresponding karaoke song are displayed in a list (B). If the number of applicable karaoke songs is large and the song names and artist names for all the songs cannot be described on one screen, they are divided into a plurality of screens, and are displayed in accordance with the instruction operation of the “page turning” key 34. Display a list of screens.
[0017]
When the user designates a music piece that the user wants to request from the list, detailed attribute information of the music piece is displayed (C). When the user confirms the detailed attribute information and then instructs the “transfer” button 35, a remote control signal for reserving the performance of the music is transmitted and a confirmation screen (D) indicating that the performance has been reserved is displayed. First, the initial screen for searching for a song title shown in FIG. 5C is displayed. When the “interrupt transfer” button 36 on the detailed attribute information display screen is instructed, the music number of the music for which the performance reservation is instructed is registered at the head, not at the tail of the performance processing queue in the karaoke apparatus. The reserved music is played next to the karaoke music currently being played.
[0018]
A “return” button 32 on each screen is a button for redisplaying the screen displayed immediately before, and a “top” button 33 is a button for displaying the top screen shown in FIG.
[0019]
=== Year Search Mode ===
The present invention is a search condition setting method for specifying an age as a search condition in a karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function, and the karaoke remote control device of the present embodiment is based on the method of the present invention. It has a search mode (age search mode) that can be set. Hereinafter, the user interface in the age search mode in the present embodiment will be described.
[0020]
In order to search by age as a search condition, attribute information (age related information) related to the age needs to be associated with each song in the song index database. FIG. 7 shows a schematic structure of age-related information in the music index database. The age-related information is, for example, a combination of a specific matter (hit song) and the age (1971) related to the matter, such as “announced in 1970, 1971 hit song”. As the predetermined matters, there are “hit songs” and “red and white song battle appearances songs”, and the ages related to the matters are associated with each other. Of course, there are songs that are not associated with age-related information, and there are songs that have multiple combinations of matters and related age.
[0021]
When the “at that time” button 24 on the top screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 is designated, the age search mode is activated. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the music search process in the “that time” mode. As shown in FIG. 5D, when the mode is activated at that time, an initial screen on which a “check by age” button 41 and a “check by age” button 42 are displayed. FIGS. 9A to 9G show the operation of the age search mode when the “search by age” button is instructed by screen transition diagrams sequentially displayed on the LCD 2.
[0022]
When the “search by age” button 41 is instructed, the screen changes to a screen (a) for directly inputting the age set as a search condition in the Western calendar as in the conventional age setting method (s51 → s52 → s53). On this screen (a), touching the age entry field 51 displays a numeric keypad 54 and accepts a numeric input of the age such as “1, 9, 8, 6” (b). Further, when the entry field 52 for inputting a specific matter as a search condition is touched, a screen 55 displaying the search condition (hit / red and white song battle) is selectable is displayed as a sub-screen (c). Then, when the “desired to search” button 53 is instructed in a state (d) in which necessary items are entered in the entry fields 51 and 52, the corresponding song list screen (e) is displayed in the same manner as the song title search, and from this list. When a specific song is designated, detailed attribute information of the song is displayed (f). When the “transfer” button 56 on the detailed attribute display screen (f) is instructed, a performance reservation remote control signal is transmitted, a confirmation screen (g) is displayed, and then an initial screen of the age search mode (FIG. 5). (D)) is displayed again (s54 to s63 → s51). The operation when the “return” button or the “top” button on each of the screens (a) to (g) is instructed is the same as that in the above-described music title search.
[0023]
On the other hand, when the “search by age” button 42 is instructed on the initial screen shown in FIG. 5D, the age search mode in which the age to be searched can be set based on the current or past age of the user is activated To do. FIGS. 10A to 10H show screen transition diagrams sequentially displayed on the LCD 2 in the age search mode when the “search by age” button 42 is instructed. First, when the “check by age” button 42 is instructed, a field 61 for inputting the current age of the user and a condition input field 62 for specifying the age in relation to the age at a certain past time. And a column 63 for inputting a past age by a description method according to the condition input in the input column 62, and an input column 64 for a specific matter as a search condition in the same manner as the search method by “search by age” Is displayed (s51 → s52 → s64 → s65). When the age input field 61 is designated, a numeric keypad 66 is displayed (b). The numeric keypad 66 is designated to input the current age of the user.
[0024]
After entering the user's age in the age input field 61 and touching the condition input field 62, “10 years old” or the like as a condition for specifying the age at a certain point in time in the past, A selection screen 67 including two buttons of “age” and “school year” when designating by grade, such as “age 3”, is displayed (c). Here, when the user selects “school year” as the age specific condition, “school year” is entered in the condition input field 62, and when the past age input field 63 is indicated, a school year designation key 68 is displayed ( d). A screen in which required items are entered in the input fields 61 to 63 for setting the age, and the search condition (hit / red and white song battle) can be selected by touching the matter input field 64 as a search condition. 69 is displayed on the sub-screen (S66 → s67 → s69 to s71) (e).
[0025]
On the other hand, when “Age” is selected as a condition for specifying the age at a certain point in the past, “Age” is entered in the condition input field 62, and when the past age input field 63 is designated, the numeric keypad 70 is displayed. (S66 → s67 → s68) (g). Then, after a predetermined item is input to each of the input fields 61 to 63 related to the age setting, when the matter input field 64 is touched, a selection screen 69 of the matter “hit” or “red and white song battle” is displayed.
[0026]
When the “desired to search” button 65 is instructed in a state (f, h) in which necessary items are input in the input fields 61 to 64, the karaoke remote control device 1 calculates the age as a search key (s72 → s73). ). For example, if the current year is 2001 and the age is set to “20 years old” and “school year” is set to “3rd grade”, it will be 2001-20 (years) + junior high school 3 years (15 years). ) = Year 1996. Then, the calculated age and information related to a specific matter are referred to the music database, and are displayed as a list screen of the corresponding music in the same manner as the screen shown in FIG. When one specific song is designated from this list screen, a detailed screen of attribute information (similar to FIG. 9 (f)) is displayed, and when the “transfer” button on this screen is designated, the music is reserved for performance. A remote control signal is transmitted. Then, after displaying the confirmation screen (similar to FIG. 9G) for a while, the screen returns to the initial screen (FIG. 5D) (s57 to s63 → s51).
[0027]
=== Other Embodiments ===
In the above embodiment, when the age is set as the search condition, the current age of the user is input. However, the year of birth may be input. Further, it may be possible to select the year of birth or the current age as an input condition for the current age.
[0028]
As a search condition set in the age search mode, more detailed conditions such as a song title and an initial of an artist name may be added.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when specifying the age as a search condition in the karaoke remote control device with the electronic contents and book function, even if the age given to the database as the search condition is not directly remembered, the person is associated with the age etc. Since it can be set based on how to memorize it, troublesome dating is unnecessary. Also, the search will not fail due to a calculation error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function to which a method of an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the karaoke remote control device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a top screen displayed on the karaoke remote control device.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations for calling various search methods and functions from the top screen.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen when the above various search methods and functions are called up.
FIG. 6 shows a process for searching for a karaoke song in the song name search mode in the karaoke remote control device shown by a transition diagram of a display screen.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration diagram of attribute information related to the age managed in the music index database of the karaoke remote control device.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of processing for searching for karaoke music in the age search mode in the karaoke remote control device.
FIG. 9 is a screen transition diagram showing the operation of the karaoke remote controller when searching for music by directly specifying the age in the age search mode.
FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram showing the operation of the karaoke remote control device when searching for music based on the age of the user in the age search mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Karaoke remote controller 2 Liquid crystal display 3 Touch panel 11 Central control part 12 Flash memory 13 Communication interface 17 Light emitting diode

Claims (3)

A music search method for accessing a music index database including age information for each music by a computer,
The computer performs the processes of the first to third steps,
The first step accepts user input by letting the display means display the current age or birth age,
The second step accepts user input with a display that asks the user's age or school year in an unknown age in the past,
The third step specifies an unknown age based on the current age or birth age entered in the first step and the age or school year entered in the second step, and searches for age information in the unknown age to search for music Extract music search method. A karaoke remote control device comprising a music index database, input means, control means, and display means,
The song index database stores age information for each song,
The input means can accept user input,
The control means enables search processing including the first to third processing,
The first process accepts user input by causing the display means to display the current age or birth age,
The second process accepts user input by causing the display means to display the user's age or school year in an unknown age in the past,
The third process specifies an unknown age based on the current age or birth age input in the first process and the age or school year input in the second process, searches the age information in the unknown age, Extract karaoke remote control device. A karaoke remote control device comprising a music index database, input means, control means, and display means,
The song index database stores the song name, artist name, age information, and matter information for each song,
The input means can accept user input,
The control means enables search processing including the first to fourth processing,
The first process prompts the user for input by displaying a display asking for the current age or birth age.
The second process prompts the user to input the display means that asks the user's age or school year in an unknown age,
In the third process, a plurality of matters are displayed as options on the display means to prompt the user for selection input,
The fourth process specifies an unknown age based on the current age or birth age input in the first process and the age or school year input in the second process, searches for age information in the unknown age, A karaoke remote control device that retrieves matter information by searching for matter information selected in three processes.

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