JP4008918B2 - Karaoke remote controller with electronic contents book function for creating and using a transmission history book - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention searches for a suitable karaoke piece based on a search condition input by a user, accepts a user input for performing a performance reservation for a karaoke piece presented as a search result, and stores the piece of music in a karaoke apparatus. The present invention relates to a karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function for transmitting a remote control signal for reservation.

  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 apparatus is stored in an external storage such as a built-in hard disk or a 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.

  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.

  In a place where karaoke is used, there is a case in which the performance order of karaoke songs once reserved for performance is moved up and played immediately. For example, when the person who reserved the music had to return before the friend before the reserved music was played.

  In a general karaoke apparatus, in such a case, the user needs to operate in the following procedure to advance the performance order. First, by operating the remote control device or the operation panel of the karaoke device main body, the music number of the previously reserved song is input again, and the performance reservation is made in the “interrupt reservation” mode. As a result, the music is registered in the first place in the order of the performance reservation queue, and the music reserved for interruption is played next to the music currently being played. When the user sings along with this song, the user only has to tell the other friends and the store people that there is a necessity.

  Here, since the previously reserved music is already in the performance reservation queue, this music starts to play when it is in the reserved order. Other associates or people at the store operate the remote control device or the karaoke device main body immediately before or after the performance of the music, and issue a “stop performance” command to cancel the reserved music performance. However, this operation procedure requires two operations, and the person who performs each operation is different, which is inconvenient for those who are entrusted with the operation to cancel the performance.

  In addition, a certain karaoke apparatus has a function that allows a user to access a performance reservation queue and modify reservation contents. In the case of such a device, the reserved music list registered in the queue is displayed on the sub-display by successively operating the main body operation panel or the remote control device in a predetermined procedure, and the music to be changed is searched from the queue. . Then, the music is designated, and the order is sequentially moved up or down one by one and moved to a desired order. The karaoke device rearranges the order of the music numbers in the queue according to this operation. Then, the music numbers are sequentially picked up again from the queue after the order is rearranged. Thereby, the performance order is changed.

  However, the function that the user can freely change the reservation contents by accessing the queue in this way is a function added to a limited number of karaoke apparatuses equipped with a sub-display for displaying the reservation contents. Not only that, but also handling multiple functions such as queue reordering, new insertion, and deletion, so the operation is complicated accordingly, such as `` Let's sing songs that were reserved before returning '' The user interface is far from being able to perform necessary operations without difficulty.

  An object of the present invention is to record a music ID in a transmission history list every time a user makes a reservation for music selection using the electronic contents book function, and display a music list recorded in the transmission history list at the request of the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke remote control device that can select and make a reservation from the music list.

The invention for achieving the above object is a karaoke remote control device including the following items (1) to (13).
(1) It is a karaoke remote control device provided with nonvolatile storage means, display means, operation input means, transmission means, and control means. (2) The nonvolatile storage means includes a music index database, a transmission history list. (3) The music index database aggregates music attribute information including music titles and artist names in association with music IDs. (4) The transmission history list stores permutations of music IDs (5). The display means displays information to the user according to the control of the control means. (6) The operation input means is capable of user input related to the display information of the display means. (7) The transmission means is a karaoke device. (8) The control means enables the music selection process in the search mode and the history mode according to the user input, and the first through first music selection processes. (9) The search mode extracts music from the music index database based on the user input of the search condition, displays the music title and artist name, and accepts user input for music selection (10) In the history mode, a list of song names and artist names is displayed in order based on the song ID permutation stored in the transmission history book, and user input for song selection is accepted. (11) The first process is a song selection. (12) In the second process, the music ID is written at the top of the permutation of the transmission history list, and the number of music IDs in the transmission history list has reached the specified number. In this case, delete the music ID at the end of the permutation. (13) The third process is to display a notification that the performance reservation remote control signal for the music has been transmitted.

  The karaoke remote control device according to the present invention includes a music index database in which music attribute information is aggregated in a nonvolatile storage means, and a user selects a desired music based on the music index database in a basic search mode, and the music A reservation remote control signal for reserving a performance can be transmitted. Further, the karaoke remote control device according to the present invention creates a transmission history book in the nonvolatile storage means, and writes the music ID at the head of the number sequence of the transmission history book each time a reservation remote control signal is transmitted. When the user selects the history mode, the music titles and artist names are displayed in a list according to the permutation of the transmission history list, and the reserved remote control signal for the music selected by the user from this list can be transmitted.

  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.

  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.

  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 name, artist name, and the singing portion of the lyrics is stored in association with the song number for the karaoke song that can be used in the karaoke device, and the song index database is stored. Has been built. Further, the central control unit 11 which is the main control unit of the karaoke 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 downloaded and stored in the flash memory 12, so that the music index database is updated in a timely manner.

  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.

  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.

  The central control unit 11 executes processing related to the electronic table of contents function and remote control signal transmission, and also manages the history of music reserved for performance. The flash memory 12 stores a history of karaoke music reserved for performance by the karaoke remote control device 1 for a predetermined number of songs from the latest reserved music, and the central control unit 11 sends a remote control signal for performance reservation. For each opportunity to execute the processing, the music number of the reserved music is stored as a recent performance reservation history, and the oldest music number in the history is deleted.

  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, buttons 21 for calling up 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.

  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.

  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). 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 performs an operation to reserve the performance of the music, 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, the initial screen for searching for a song title shown in FIG. 5C is displayed.

  However, the feature of the karaoke remote control device with the electronic table of contents function of the present invention is not the music search function described above, but the history management function is used to easily perform the performance order of the music once reserved for performance by an excellent user interface. It can be changed to The history management function and its user interface in this embodiment will be described below.

  To call the history management function, the “reservation history” button 27 on the top screen shown in FIG. 3 is designated. The karaoke remote control device 1 accepts this instruction operation and displays the history list screen shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of processing in the history management function. FIGS. 8A to 8D show transition diagrams of screens displayed on the LCD 2 in the course of this processing.

  First, when the history management function is called from the top screen shown in FIG. 3, a list of song names reserved for performance in the past is displayed (a). In this embodiment, the past 100 songs are managed as a history, and a list of eight song names and artist names is displayed on one screen. In the list, the number 40 on the left side of each song name indicates the order in which the performance reservation is made, and the latest performance reservation song is 1. In the initial screen (a), a list of the names of the past eight songs from the latest reserved music is displayed, and when the “page turning” button 41 on this screen is designated, the music that has been reserved for performance in the past is displayed. Are sequentially displayed (s51 to s54).

  When the user designates a specific music from the history music list, the music name display column is inverted. Then, when the “detail” button 42 is instructed, a screen (b) on which detailed attribute information about the music is described is displayed (s55 → s56 → s60). When the “transfer” button 43 on this screen (b) is instructed, a remote control signal for performance reservation including the music number of the music is transmitted, and a confirmation screen (c) indicating that the performance has been reserved is displayed for a while. The initial screen (a) of the reservation history is displayed (s61 → s62 → s63 → s51). When the “interrupt transfer” button 44 is instructed, the music number of the music for which the performance reservation is instructed is registered at the head, not at the end of the performance processing queue in the karaoke apparatus, so that the karaoke music currently being played is recorded. The reserved music is played next.

  Further, the karaoke remote control device 1 performs a process of additionally registering the music reserved for performance as the latest reserved music in the reservation history at the time when the remote control signal for performance reservation is transmitted. Therefore, when the initial screen (a) is displayed again, the music reserved for performance is displayed as the latest reserved music in the history list. A “return” button 45 on each screen is a button for redisplaying the screen displayed immediately before, and a “top” button 46 is a button for displaying the start-up screen shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the “advance” button 47 is instructed after designating a specific music, a remote control signal is transmitted to raise the order of this designated music registered in the performance reservation queue to the first place. In the present embodiment, a remote control signal including the music number of this music, an interrupt reservation command, and a code for deleting the music number from the performance reservation queue is transmitted (s57 → s58). Then, after displaying the confirmation screen (d) for a while, the initial screen (a) is displayed (s59 → s51). Also, when a performance reservation is made by “advance”, the performance history update process is not performed. Therefore, the initial screen (a) is the same as that displayed previously.
The karaoke apparatus may be configured to receive a remote control signal indicating that the reservation order is advanced and update the queue. Accordingly, the karaoke remote control device of the present invention can be realized only by modifying the software as long as it has a function of receiving a remote control signal without providing a sub-display and hardware for displaying the sub display. It can be made to correspond.

The external view of the karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function in the Example of this invention is shown. The functional block diagram of the said Example is shown. The schematic of the top screen displayed in the said Example is shown. An operation for calling various search methods and functions from the top screen is shown by a flowchart. A display screen when the above-described various search methods and functions are called is shown as a schematic diagram. The process related to the song name search function in the above embodiment is shown by a transition diagram of the display screen. In the said Example, the flowchart of the process regarding a log | history management function is shown. The process in the history management function is shown by a transition diagram of the display screen.

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 (1)

A karaoke remote control device comprising a nonvolatile storage means, a display means, an operation input means, a transmission means, and a control means,
The non-volatile storage means stores a music index database and a transmission history list,
The music index database aggregates music attribute information including the music title and artist name in association with the music ID,
The transmission history book stores a permutation of music IDs,
The display means displays information to the user according to the control of the control means,
The operation input means is capable of user input related to the display information of the display means,
The transmission means can wirelessly transmit a remote control signal to the karaoke device,
The control means enables the search mode and the history mode music selection process according to the user input, and enables the reservation process including the first to third processes following the music selection process,
The search mode extracts songs from the song index database based on the user input of the search conditions, displays the song name and artist name, accepts the user input of song selection,
The history mode displays a list of song names and artist names in order based on the song ID permutation stored in the transmission history list, accepts user input for song selection,
The first process transmits a performance reservation remote control signal including the selected music ID,
The second process writes the music ID at the beginning of the permutation of the transmission history book, and when the number of music IDs in the transmission history book reaches the specified number, deletes the music ID at the end of the permutation,
The third process is a karaoke remote control device that displays a notification that the performance reservation remote control signal of the music has been transmitted.

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