JP3772072B2 - Karaoke device that outputs video of spot programs in non-singing sections of karaoke music - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for effectively performing a spot program such as an advertisement program during a non-singing section such as a prelude, an interlude, and a postlude when playing karaoke music.
[0002]
[Prior art]
On the display of the karaoke device during performance of music, a background image such as a landscape image, animation, or CG is usually displayed together with a lyric image synchronized with karaoke accompaniment music for the purpose of improving the mood of the place. Recently, in addition to the background video playback function, information video (such as singing best ten, introduction of newly introduced songs, introduction of recommended songs, etc.) and contracts were commissioned by companies for the purpose of notifying customers. There is also a karaoke apparatus having a function of performing a spot program generated by a system different from a background video such as an advertising video (see, for example, JP-A-11-265189).
[0003]
By the way, such a spot program is basically performed during non-singing sections such as preludes, interludes, and followers between songs or during karaoke performance so as not to hinder singing.
However, if a spot program is performed between songs as in the former case, the performance of the next reserved karaoke song cannot be started until the performance is over and the performance reservations are crowded. Will frustrate customers, especially with time-dated karaoke boxes. Conversely, if the performance is interrupted and the performance is interrupted in the middle, the customer is given a halfway impression.
Furthermore, even if the performance reservation is interrupted, if the karaoke performance is not performed, the customer often looks at the table of contents or is in a group, and the performance effect cannot be obtained sufficiently. There are many.
[0004]
On the other hand, when the spot program is performed in the non-singing section included during the karaoke performance as in the latter case, the smooth progress of the karaoke performance is not hindered, and at least the singer performs the lyrics during the performance. In many cases, people other than the singer are watching the display by following the lyrics, etc., and performing a spot program in a non-singing section is much better than between the songs described above. It is effective.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
It is very effective to perform a spot program in a non-singing section in this way, but since the time zone and number of times in the non-singing section vary for each karaoke song, the spot program is adapted to such a time zone. A certain mechanism is required to perform. In addition, if the performance time of the spot program is longer than the performance time of each non-singing section, the program is interrupted in the middle, giving the customer a halfway impression. Therefore, it is also necessary to perform a spot program having a performance time suitable for the performance time of the non-singing section. In addition, lyrics and background images are usually displayed on the display during a karaoke performance, and the spot program will be staged smoothly and effectively taking into account such trade-offs. There is also a need.
[0006]
This invention was made based on such a viewpoint, and it aims at providing the karaoke apparatus which can perform a spot program effectively on the display of a karaoke apparatus in the non-singing area at the time of performance of karaoke music. To do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is basically specified by the following items (1) to (8).
(1) A karaoke apparatus that includes a storage means, a karaoke performance means, and a control means, and outputs a video of a spot program in a non-singing section of karaoke music;
(2) The storage means stores karaoke data of a large number of songs and a large number of program data.
(3) The karaoke data includes accompaniment music data, lyrics rendering data, and time section information in which the time zone of the non-singing section is described for each song.
(4) The program data is composed of moving images, still images, CG images, and the like, and is data of a spot program in which the performance time is specified, with performance time information attached,
(5) The karaoke performance means synchronizes the accompaniment music and the lyrics based on the accompaniment music data and the lyric rendering data of the designated music, and outputs an audio image.
(6) The control means performs a program selection process and a program output process.
(7) The program selection process compares the time section information of the non-singing section and the performance time information of a large number of program data immediately before the performance of the non-singing section of the music starts, and the performance time of the non-singing section Select a spot program with a performance time that approximates to the non-singing segment,
(8) In the program output process, when playing a non-singing section of music, the program data of the spot program assigned to the singing section is output as video for the performance time.
[0008]
In this invention, in addition to the basic configuration described above, the program selection processing may be configured to select a spot program having the longest performance time within a range shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section and assign it to the non-singing section.
[0009]
In the present invention, in addition to the basic configuration described above, the program selection process selects a plurality of spot programs whose total performance time is shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section and assigns them to the non-singing section, When performing a non-singing section of music, the program data of a plurality of spot programs assigned to the non-singing section may be sequentially output for each performance time.
[0010]
In the present invention, the control means can perform a process of recording the performance frequency of each spot program, and the program selection process can adopt a configuration in which spot programs with a lower performance frequency are preferentially allocated.
[0011]
In the present invention, the program data of each spot program may include priority information, and the program selection process may adopt a configuration in which spot programs with high priority are preferentially assigned.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
=== Schematic configuration of karaoke apparatus ===
A schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The central processing unit 3 is the center of a computer including memories such as a CPU and RAM / ROM. The central processing unit 3 is connected to a communication line 7 via a communication control device 5 such as a modem or TA and communicates with a host device 9 operated by a karaoke company. Karaoke data for tens of thousands of songs is stored in the CD-ROM loaded in the hard disk 11 or the video CD player 13. The karaoke data includes accompaniment music data described in MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) format and lyrics rendering data that is time-synchronously coupled with accompaniment music. Note that the lyrics rendering data also includes timing definition data for matching the progress of the accompaniment music during playback. The DVD-ROM loaded in the CD-ROM or DVD player 15 stores a large number of video data for background video converted into digital data by a compression method such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group).
[0019]
The main body of the karaoke apparatus has an operation panel 17 including a display and a keyboard, and a remote control receiver 21 corresponding to the remote control transmitter 19 is also attached. The operation panel 17 and the remote control receiver 21 are coupled to the central processing unit 3 via the operation control unit 23. When the user performs various operation inputs such as performance reservation by using the operation panel 17 or the remote control transmitter 19, the operation input signal is transmitted to the central processing unit 3 and the response information of the device is displayed on the operation panel 17.
[0020]
=== Basic operation of karaoke equipment ===
The reproduction of music by this karaoke apparatus is performed as follows under the control of the central processing unit 3. When the performance reservation is made by the remote control transmitter 19 or the operation panel 17, the central processing unit 3 registers the music ID of the reserved karaoke music in the reservation table. The central processing unit 3 reads the karaoke data corresponding to the music ID registered in the reservation table, and sequentially inputs the accompaniment music data included therein to the synthesizer. The synthesizer 25 converts the input accompaniment music data into an audio signal and inputs the audio signal to the mixing amplifier 27.
The mixing amplifier 27 synthesizes the input audio signal and the singing voice signal from the microphone 29 and outputs them from the speaker 31. On the other hand, in synchronism with this audio output, the lyrics rendering data included in the karaoke data is sequentially converted into a character string and written into the video RAM 33.
At this time, the lyric character string written in the video RAM 33 is subjected to a color changing process indicating the progress of the song. During the performance of the karaoke music, the video control unit 35 displays and outputs the video signal sent from the CD player 13 or the DVD player 15 on the display 37 as the background video to the lyrics video of the video RAM 33, and the video control unit 35 displays the lyrics video. It is synthesized (superimposed) on the background video and displayed.
[0021]
=== Karaoke data ===
The karaoke data in this embodiment is accompanied by time section information in addition to the accompaniment music data and lyrics rendering data described above. FIG. 2 shows the data structure of the time interval information. In the time section information, the prelude start time, the singing melody start time, the interlude start time, the posterior start time, the posterior end time, and the like of the music are described. These times indicate the elapsed time from the start of the performance of the karaoke music piece, and the time zone of the non-singing section of the prelude, interlude, and follower can be grasped by examining this time section information.
For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the prelude is a section of 000000-018012 (ms), the first interlude is a section of 059175-085654 (ms), the second interlude is a section of 124831-147820 (ms), and a follower Is a section of 1846551 to 200150 (ms).
[0022]
=== Spot program ===
The hard disk 11 stores a large number of program data for spot programs to be performed during the non-singing section, organized by program ID. The program data is one that a serviceman brings a recording medium to the installation location of the karaoke device and stores it, or is supplied by data communication such as a communication line or CS data broadcasting. Note that program data having a short life cycle such as a CM program is supplied to the karaoke apparatus mainly by data communication.
[0023]
The contents of the spot program reproduced based on the program data are various such as a moving image, a still image, and a CG image. Program data is compressed and encoded in an appropriate data format such as MPEG or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) according to the contents. The performance time of the program data is about several seconds to several minutes on average that can be performed in the non-singing section. The program data is accompanied by performance time information describing the performance time of the program data.
[0024]
=== Assignment of programs ===
When the karaoke apparatus reserves a performance for karaoke music, the karaoke apparatus assigns a spot program to be performed during the performance time of each non-singing section to each non-singing section included in the reserved karaoke music. The central processing unit 3 reads the karaoke data corresponding to the music ID reserved for performance from the storage resource, compares the time section information attached to the karaoke data with the performance time information attached to the program data, and compares the karaoke data to the karaoke music. Of the program data whose performance time is shorter than the performance time of each section, the maximum performance time is assigned to each non-singing section included.
The performance time of the program data to be allocated does not necessarily have to be strictly shorter than the time of the non-singing section to be associated. The central processing unit 3 stores the program IDs associated with each other in the memory as temporary data having the data structure shown in FIG.
[0025]
=== Performance of a spot program ===
When the performance of the karaoke music is started, the central processing unit 3 starts measuring the elapsed time from the start. When the performance time of the non-singing section described in the time section information attached to the karaoke data of the karaoke music arrives, the central processing unit 3 plays the spot program associated with the non-singing section. The performance of the spot program is performed by video playback software stored in the karaoke device.
When performing a spot program, the video playback software activated by the central processing unit 3 first refers to the temporary data corresponding to the song ID of the karaoke song being played, and program data associated with the non-singing section. Is read from the hard disk 11, and the spot program is played back by software playback (a playback board such as an MPEG decoder board may be mounted on the karaoke device), and the video signal is sent to the video control unit 35. input. The video reproduction software controls the video control unit 35 to display and output the spot program on the display 37 in a predetermined performance mode.
[0026]
=== Performance mode ===
The performance mode of the spot program is determined by an algorithm incorporated in the video playback software. For example, the spot program is synthesized by (1) background video by superimposing, and (2) only the spot program is displayed instead of the background video. (3) A separate window is displayed in the background video and a spot program is displayed in the window.
Also, as described in the above-mentioned publication, an appropriate area such as a band or L-shaped area is provided in the display area of the background video, and the display is output in the area, or the background video or spot program is appropriately enlarged. In some cases, the image may be reduced and displayed at an appropriate position. In addition, there may be effects such as cuts, dissolves, wipes, etc. at the start or end of the performance of a spot program.
In the case of {circle around (2)}, the background video is not displayed during the performance of the spot program. During this time, the generation of the background video may continue in the background. Playback may start at the end of the program.
[0027]
Note that the lyrics video is basically not displayed during the non-singing period, so the relationship between the video signal of the lyrics video and the video signal of the spot program is not usually a problem compared to the background video, but depending on the production method of the lyrics video For the convenience of singers' timing adjustment, the lyric image of the next singing section starts before the end of the non-singing section. It may be displayed. In such a case, for example, the spot program and the video signal of the lyrics video are combined and displayed and output.
[0028]
=== Control of the number of performances ===
By the way, in the above mechanism, since the spot program to be performed is determined by the performance time of the spot program and the length of the non-singing section, for example, there is a difference in the performance time of the non-singing section included in each played karaoke piece. Without it, it is expected that only a specific spot program will be performed many times, and the number of performances for each spot program will vary. In order to prevent this, for example, the number of performances of each spot program is stored and managed as a history, and when assigning a spot program to a non-singing section, for example, the performance time is shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section and the performance is performed. Spot programs with low frequency may be preferentially assigned so that spot programs are associated with each other so that the performance frequency of each spot program is equal.
[0029]
Further, when the spot program is an advertisement video commissioned by a sponsor or the like, a mechanism for achieving the designated performance quota is required. As such a mechanism, for example, it is conceivable to manage the performance quota for each spot program and to control the performance frequency of each spot program so that the performance quota is achieved while referring to the performance frequency of each spot program. . Also, each spot program may be assigned a priority according to the performance quota, and the program may be assigned so that each spot program is performed at a performance frequency corresponding to the priority attached to each spot program. You may make it collect the charge according to a priority from a sponsor.
[0030]
It is also conceivable to prepare spot programs with the same theme and different performance times, as is done in television commercials, and mix these in storage resources. In this way, a spot program with a length corresponding to the performance time of the non-singing section is adopted from these spot programs, and a predetermined number of performances are automatically secured for spot programs of the same theme. can do.
[0031]
=== Other applications ===
By the way, when the performance time of the spot program already assigned to the non-singing section is shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section by a predetermined time or more, the remaining performance time obtained by subtracting the performance time from the performance time of the non-singing section In addition, a spot program with a short performance time is further associated with the non-singing section, and if the performance time of the non-singing section arrives, all spot programs assigned to the non-singing section are displayed on the display 37 in an appropriate order. If it outputs, a non-singing section can be utilized effectively. In this case, a spot program having the same theme may be repeatedly associated with one non-singing section several times.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the program data of the spot program is stored and managed in the hard disk 11. However, a CD player and a DVD player different from the above-described background video CD player 13 and DVD player 15 are prepared, and these are prepared. The program data of the spot program may be stored and managed on the set CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.
[0033]
The video reproduction software may be appropriately updated by downloading from the host device 9. Thereby, it becomes possible to manage the performance mode of the spot program in each karaoke device from the host device 9, and the video reproduction software can be easily upgraded.
[0034]
A plurality of video reproduction software discriminated by a predetermined ID may be stored in the karaoke apparatus, while the program data is attached with the ID, and the video reproduction software is designated for each spot program. In this way, for example, it is possible to perform a spot program in a performance mode suitable for the contents of the spot program, and it is possible to deal with the request of the sponsor more finely. In addition, if video playback software is randomly selected for each spot program, it is possible to easily perform a variety of effects.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since a spot program suitable for the performance time of each non-singing section is assigned, it is possible to perform the spot program smoothly and effectively without the program being interrupted. .
[0036]
In addition, the present invention is implemented only by changing the software, such as adding time section information to existing karaoke data, preparing a spot program in the karaoke device, and preparing a program for managing the performance of the spot program in the karaoke device. Can be implemented at low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of time interval information according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of temporary data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Central processing unit 11 Hard disk 13 CD player 15 DVD player

Claims (5)

A karaoke apparatus comprising a storage means, a karaoke performance means, and a control means, which outputs a video of a spot program in a non-singing section of karaoke music,
The storage means stores karaoke data of a large number of songs and a large number of program data,
Karaoke data includes, for each song, accompaniment music data, lyrics rendering data, and time section information describing the time zone of the non-singing section,
The program data is composed of moving images, still images, CG images, etc., and is a spot program data with a specified performance time, with performance time information attached,
The karaoke performance means synchronizes the accompaniment music and lyrics based on the accompaniment music data and lyric rendering data of the specified music,
The control means performs a program selection process and a program output process,
The program selection process compares the time section information of the non-singing section and the performance time information of a large number of program data immediately before starting the performance of the non-singing section of the music, and approximates the performance time of the non-singing section Select a spot program of the performance time and assign it to the non-singing section,
The program output process is a karaoke apparatus that outputs the program data of the spot program assigned to the singing section for the performance time when playing the non-singing section of the music. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program selection process selects a spot program having the longest performance time within a range shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section and assigns the spot program to the non-singing section. In the program selection process, a plurality of spot programs whose total performance time is shorter than the performance time of the non-singing section are selected and assigned to the non-singing section,
2. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program output processing sequentially outputs the program data of a plurality of spot programs assigned to the non-singing section for each performance time when performing the non-singing section of the music. . The control means performs a process of recording the performance frequency of each spot program,
The karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the program selection process preferentially assigns spot programs with a low performance frequency. The program data of each spot program includes priority information,
The karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the program selection process preferentially assigns a spot program having a high priority.

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