JP5413109B2 - Program activation authentication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing a license of data such as an application program used in a mixing system configured by a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices.

  Conventionally, there has been a digital audio mixer in which an application program for effect (effect addition) is stored in advance in an internal memory. The application program stored in advance has to be subjected to license management for preventing unauthorized use.

  As a license management method for an application program preinstalled in a digital audio mixer, for example, license data (access key) that permits the activation of an application program to be license-managed is purchased via the Internet, and the purchased access key is used as a mixer. There was a way to record in the built-in memory. One purchased access key was recorded only in one mixer to be a recording destination. The use permission of the application program is given only to the mixer in which the access key is recorded. That is, only the mixer that has recorded the access key can execute the application program through authentication of the access key (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-056216

  In the above-described prior art, one access key can only be used by one device (for example, a mixer) that recorded the access key. This is because the access key is used for preventing unauthorized use of the application program in each device. Therefore, when one application program is executed by a plurality of devices, it is necessary to obtain a plurality of access keys corresponding to each device.

  For example, in a mixing system composed of a console (operation console), an engine that performs signal processing on audio signals, and an input / output device that inputs and outputs audio signals, one function (for example, an effect processing function) is provided for the system. When a single application program is used, a plurality of devices execute application programs according to their types, and the plurality of devices cooperate to provide one function provided by a single application program. To realize. Even in such a case, in the above-described conventional technology, one access key could not be shared by a plurality of devices constituting the system, so that one access key is obtained for each of the plurality of devices. And had to authenticate. For this reason, the conventional technique has a problem that the access key authentication work is complicated in a mixing system including a plurality of audio signal processing devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in an audio signal processing system configured by a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices, unauthorized use of an application program is appropriately suppressed by an access key. In addition, an object of the present invention is to enable an application program that requires authentication of the access key to be executed by a simple operation in any of the system component devices that constitute the system.

  The present invention is an activation authentication device for authenticating activation of an application program in an audio signal processing system configured by a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices, and each of the plurality of system configuration devices is And a recording means capable of recording access key information for authenticating the activation of the application program. In the activation authentication apparatus, an activation instruction means for accepting an application program activation instruction; and the audio signal A detection means for detecting a system configuration apparatus comprising a recording means for recording access key information corresponding to the application program, with all system configuration apparatuses constituting the processing system as search targets, and the access key information by the detection means Recorder who recorded Is detected in any of the plurality of system configuration devices, and if the system configuration device is not detected by the detection means, the application program An authentication control means for ending processing without authenticating activation, and a function of performing signal processing on an audio signal of the plurality of audio signal processing devices when the activation of the application program is authenticated by the authentication control means. An activation authentication apparatus comprising: a voice signal processing apparatus having signal processing start control means for starting signal processing based on the application program.

  The detection means searches the access key information for all system components of the audio signal processing system as a search target. When a system component device having a recording unit that records access key information is detected in the audio signal processing system, the authentication control unit authenticates activation of the application program in any of the plurality of audio signal devices. That is, one access key information can be shared by a plurality of system constituent devices constituting the audio signal processing system. After the authentication of the access key information, the signal processing start control means causes the sound signal processing device having a function of performing signal processing on the sound signal to start signal processing based on the application program, so that the sound signal processing system The function based on the application program corresponding to the access key information can be started.

  Further, the activation authentication apparatus according to the present invention records an access key that records a copy of the access key information detected by the detection means in the plurality of system configuration apparatuses when the authentication control means authenticates activation of the application program. The information copy means and the access key information recorded in each system component device that is turned off when the entire audio signal processing system is turned off or when the system component device is turned off individually. It further comprises an erasing means for erasing the copy.

  After the activation of the application program is authenticated once, a copy of the access key information is recorded in a plurality of system components constituting the audio signal processing system by the access key information copy unit. The copy of the access key information is erased by the erasure unit when the power of the entire audio signal processing system is turned off or when the power of the devices in the system is individually turned off. In other words, a copy of the access key information recorded in each device is retained until the entire system or individual devices are powered off.

  According to the activation authentication apparatus according to the present invention, since one access key information can be shared by a plurality of system configuration apparatuses constituting the audio signal processing system, the unauthorized use of an application program can be appropriately performed using the access key information. In addition to the suppression, there is an excellent effect that an application program that requires authentication of an access key can be started with a simple operation in any of the system component devices constituting the audio signal processing system.

  In addition, when a copy of the access key information is recorded for each of a plurality of system component devices constituting the audio signal processing system, the recording means on which the original access key information is recorded is intentionally or unintentionally removed from the system. Even so, the authentication using the access key information can be continued using the copy of the access key information. For example, when the recording means is constituted by a so-called USB dongle, it is not preferable for the operation of the system to leave it connected to the USB dongle, so a copy of the access key information was used even after the USB dongle was removed. It is preferable that authentication of the application program can be continued. In addition, by recording a copy of the access key information in each device, the access key information can be authenticated in each device. For example, when restarting the application program individually in each system component device, the access key information Authentication using information can be quickly performed by each person.

The block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the mixing system to which this invention is applied. The block diagram explaining the operation | movement of the audio | voice signal processing in the mixing system of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an electrical hardware configuration of a system component device constituting the mixing system shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is a console, (b) is an engine, (c) is an I / O device, (d ) Shows the configuration of the personal computer. The figure explaining the memory content of a USB dongle. The figure explaining the transition of the data until the memory content shown in FIG. 4 is written in the USB dongle. 6 is a flowchart for explaining access key issuance and data writing processing to a USB dongle. The flowchart explaining the installation process of an application program. The figure explaining an application setting screen. The block diagram explaining the structure of the effect process in a DSP part. The flowchart explaining a parameter setting value change process. The flowchart explaining the main starting process of an application program.

  Hereinafter, a mixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Overall configuration of mixing system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a mixing system to which the present invention is applied. The mixing system includes a plurality of system configuration devices (nodes) including a plurality of types of audio signal processing devices (console 1, mixing engine 2, and I / O device 3). In the present specification, among the system configuration devices, devices that share an audio signal line (audio signal) to be described later, such as the console 1, the mixing engine 2, and the I / O device 3, are referred to as “audio signal processing devices”. It is distinguished from a system component device other than an audio signal processing device such as a PC 6. That is, one mixing system is connected to all audio signal processing apparatuses that are connected by an audio network connection, which will be described later, and shares all the audio signal lines, and the audio signal processing apparatuses that share these audio signal lines. On the other hand, it is a group of all system component devices (nodes) connected to a computer network, which will be described later. In the mixing system, a plurality of types of audio signal processing apparatuses cooperate to realize mixing processing for a plurality of channels of audio signals. Thereby, it is possible to construct an extremely large-scale system (having a large number of channels). The system shown in FIG. 1 includes two consoles 1, three engines 2, and three I / O devices 3 as audio signal processing devices. The same reference numerals are assigned to the audio signal processing devices.

<Audio network connection>
The audio network 4 is a ring network formed by sequentially connecting the audio signal processing apparatuses 1 to 3 using an Ethernet (registered trademark) standard network cable. In this specification, connection between audio signal processing apparatuses via the audio network 4 is referred to as “audio network connection (AN connection)”. Each of the audio signal processing apparatuses 1 to 3 connected by AN can transmit the audio signals of a plurality of channels to other audio signal processing apparatuses in substantially real time using the audio signal lines for the plurality of channels provided by the audio network 4. it can. The audio signal processing apparatuses 1 to 3 connected by AN share all the audio signal lines of the audio network 4 (all audio signals communicated using all the audio signal lines). In other words, the AN-connected audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 can transmit any audio signal output from the own device to any other audio signal processing device, and any other audio signal. Any audio signal output from the processing device can be received by itself.

  All of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 (all of the audio signal processing devices connected by AN) that share all the audio signal lines provided by the audio network 4 have a mechanism capable of recognizing the mixing system to which the own device belongs. Have. For example, by assigning a unique system number to the mixing system and storing the system number of the mixing system to which each belongs to the memory of each of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3, each of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 , Can recognize the mixing system to which it belongs.

<Computer network connection>
A personal computer (PC) 6 is connected to the console 1 via a hub 5. In the present embodiment, the system configuration device (PC 6) other than the audio signal processing device is configured so as not to be connected to the audio network. In this specification, the connection between the system component device (PC 6) other than the audio signal processing device and the audio signal processing device (console 1) is distinguished from the audio network connection (AN connection), and “computer network connection (CN connection)”. That's it. The CN connection is a general LAN (Local Area Network) connection. A control signal (control data) is mainly communicated between the sound signal processing device (console 1) connected to the CN and the system component device (PC 6) other than the sound signal processing device. Thereby, for example, the console 1 can be remotely controlled from the PC 6 connected via CN. In addition, a voice signal line is not established in the CN connection. Therefore, no audio signal is shared between the PC 6 and the console 1 that are CN-connected. In addition, it is possible to communicate a voice signal in a general LAN connection (CN connection in this specification) by using a conventionally known voice signal communication protocol such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). It is. However, the communication speed or communication band is extremely slow or narrow compared to the communication speed or communication band in AN connection. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to share an audio signal while securing a real-time property with an audio signal communication performed by an AN connection using an audio signal communication protocol in a general LAN connection. Therefore, in this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which a voice signal line is not established in the CN connection.

  The PC 6 does not share an audio signal line with each audio signal processing device of the mixing system, but is set as a system component device belonging to the mixing system. The PC 6 is set to belong to only one mixing system. As a method for recognizing one mixing system to which the PC 6 belongs, for example, information that can uniquely identify the console 1 in the CN connection is stored in the memory of the PC 6 so that the PC 6 can directly communicate with the CN connection. Good. For example, a MAC address (Media Access Control address) or an IP address is used as information that can uniquely identify a CN connection partner. The PC 6 can recognize the mixing system to which it belongs (the mixing system to which the CN connection partner belongs) by identifying the CN connection partner based on the information that can uniquely identify the CN connection partner. The other party (console 1) of the CN connection of the PC 6 can also store information identifying the PC 6 in the CN connection in the memory and recognize that the PC 6 belongs to the mixing system among the devices connected to the CN. Like that. Therefore, even if the PC 6 is physically connected to an audio signal processing apparatus belonging to a mixing system different from the console 1, the PC 6 does not belong to a plurality of mixing systems.

"Internet connection"
The PC 6 is connected to the Internet 7 through the hub 5, and can communicate various data with the server computer 8 through the Internet 7. In this specification, connecting a device through the Internet 7 is referred to as “Internet connection” to distinguish it from other connections. The PC 6 can access a website provided by the server computer 8 and obtain programs, data, and the like from the website via the Internet 7. In the system configuration of FIG. 1, the console 1 is also connected to the Internet 7 through the hub 5, and can communicate various data with the server computer 8 through the Internet 7.

《Examples of changing the configuration of the mixing system》
In the mixing system shown in FIG. 1, the PC 6 is CN-connected to the console 1 via the hub 5, but the PC 6 may be directly CN-connected to the console 1. Also in this case, as described above, the PC 6 can recognize the mixing system to which the PC 6 belongs by having information (MAC address or IP address) for specifying the CN-connected console 1.

<Outline of mixing system operation>
The console 1 is a system control device that controls the operation of the entire mixing system, accepts various parameter setting operations by the user, and sends instructions (control data) according to the accepted operations via the audio network 4 to other voices. By transmitting to the signal processing devices 2 and 3, the operation of other audio signal processing devices is remotely controlled. The engine 2 performs signal processing such as mixing processing on the audio signal with respect to the audio signal input from the outside via the I / O device 3 based on the instruction given from the console 1. The audio signal processed by the engine 2 is output to the outside via the I / O device 3. Further, the user can monitor various data such as signal processing contents (parameter values and the like) executed by the engine 2 and input / output levels of audio signals in the I / O device 3 on the console 1. .

  The PC 6 can operate as a system control device that controls the operation of the entire mixing system, similar to the console 1, by executing a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software program. That is, the PC 6 operating as a system control device accepts various parameter setting operations by the user, and sends instructions (control data) according to the accepted operations via the audio network 4 to the other audio signal processing devices 2, 3. , It is possible to remotely control the operation of another audio signal processing device.

《Audio signal mixing processing》
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the mixing process for the audio signal in the mixing system shown in FIG. The mixing processing operation shown in FIG. 2 is realized by the cooperation of the console 1, the engine 2, and the I / O device 3, which are audio signal processing devices.

  The analog input unit (A input) 50 indicates an input of an analog audio signal from an analog audio signal input source such as a microphone, various musical instruments, or a music playback device, for example. A digital input unit (D input) 51 indicates an input of a digital audio signal from a digital audio signal input source such as a digital music device. The A input 50 and the D input 51 are configured by the audio signal input function of each of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 (particularly the audio signal input function of the I / O device 3). Each analog audio signal input via the analog input 50 is converted into a digital audio signal for each sampling period and supplied to the input patch 52. Each digital audio signal input via the digital input 51 is supplied to the input patch 52 through necessary digital conversion such as format conversion as necessary.

  The system control apparatus (console 1) assigns the input signal supplied from each input system (A input 50, D input 51) to the input patch 52 and assigns each input channel of the subsequent input channel 53 to the input patch 52. I do. In this specification, “patch” means assigning an output destination to a certain input source (connecting the output destination to the input source). Each output destination can be assigned to only one input source, and cannot be assigned to two input sources at the same time. The user can arbitrarily input a patch setting instruction in the system control device (console 1). In the mixing system, for example, the patch setting can be performed over the audio network 4 like the patch setting for assigning the input signal of the I / O device 3 to the input channel of the engine 2. In this case, the patch setting includes not only the setting for assigning the output destination to the input source but also the route setting of the audio signal communication line in the audio network 4 (setting relating to which audio signal is transmitted on which line).

  The input channel (input channel) 53 is a predetermined plural (for example, 128) signal processing channels, and for each input channel 53, level adjustment, equalization, effect application, etc. are performed on the input digital audio signal. Signal processing is performed, and the processed audio signal is output to the MIX bus 54 in the subsequent stage. The MIX bus 54 includes a plurality of predetermined bus lines (for example, 96), and an output signal of one or a plurality of input channels 53 is supplied to each bus line of the MIX bus 54. Each bus line of the MIX bus 54 mixes one or a plurality of channels of audio signals supplied from the input channel 53 and outputs the mixed result to the output channel 55. The output channel 55 is a plurality of signal processing channels corresponding to each bus line of the MIX bus 54, and performs signal processing such as level adjustment on the audio signal supplied from the corresponding bus line for each output channel 55. These input ch 53, MIX bus 54, and output ch 55 are realized by processing of a microprogram executed by the DSP unit (see FIG. 3 described later) of the engine 2.

  The output signal of each MIX output channel 55 is supplied to the output patch 56. The output patch 56 performs setting to allocate the output signals of the supplied output channels to the output system at the subsequent stage. The output system includes an analog output (A output) 57 and a digital output (D output) 58. The A output 57 converts the digital audio signal supplied from the output patch 56 into an analog audio signal and outputs it to an external output destination. The output destination of the A output 57 is, for example, a headphone, a speaker, an amplifier, or a recorder. The D output 58 digitally converts the digital audio signal supplied from the output patch 56, such as format conversion, if necessary, and outputs it to an external output destination. The output destination of the D output 58 is, for example, an audio device having a digital audio signal input.

  The built-in effector (built-in EF) 59 and the plug-in effector (plug-in EF) 60 are micros for causing the DSP unit of the engine 2 (see FIG. 3 to be described later) to execute an effect imparting (effect) process on the audio signal. Consists of programs. The built-in EF 59 is a program that is pre-installed in the engine 2 at the time of factory shipment. The plug-in EF 60 is an application program added by the user, and is a program that is ready for use after purchasing a license of the program separately from the purchase of the device. The built-in EF 59 and the plug-in EF 60 include micro programs corresponding to a plurality of types of effects.

  The built-in EF 59 and the plug-in EF 60 can be used as a system effector (system EF) 61 and an insertion effector (insertion EF) 62. The system EF 61 performs effect processing on the output signal of the output patch 56 (output signal of the MIX output channel 55), and outputs the effect-processed signal to the input patch 52. On the other hand, the insertion EF 62 is an effector inserted into the input ch 53 and performs effect processing on the audio signal processed by the input ch 53.

  The user can select a desired effect type from the built-in EF 59 and the plug-in EF 60 and assign the selected effect type to the system EF 61 or the insertion EF 62. The DSP of the engine 2 operates based on the microprogram corresponding to the selected effect type to realize the system EF61 or the insertion EF62. Since the DSP has limited resources, the total number of effects that can be used as the system EF and the insertion EF is determined, and the built-in EF 59 and the plug-in EF 60 are allocated to the system EF 61 and the insertion EF 62 within the range of the total. .

<< Hardware configuration of each device >>
FIGS. 3A to 3D are block diagrams for explaining the hardware configuration of each device constituting the mixing system, in which FIG. 3A is the console 1, FIG. 3B is the engine 2, and FIG. The / O devices 3 and (d) respectively indicate the PC 6.

《Configuration common to all devices》
3A to 3D, CPUs 10, 20, 30, 40, memories 11, 21, 31, 41 including ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), computer network terminals ("PC I" / O ") 12, 22, 32, 42 and USB terminals (USB I / O) 13, 23, 33, 43 are connected to each audio signal processing device (console 1, engine 2, I / O device 3) and audio. It is a component common to apparatuses (PC6) other than a processing apparatus. Each component (each block) of each device is connected to the CPUs 10, 20, 30, and 40 via the CPU buses 100, 200, 300, and 400 so that data can be transmitted and received. The CPUs 10, 20, 30, and 40 of each device execute control programs stored in the memories 11, 21, 31, and 41, respectively, and control the overall operation of the device.

  The computer network terminals ("PC I / O") 12, 22, 32, and 42 are interfaces used for CN connection between the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and the system component device (PC6) other than the audio signal processing device. is there. The PC I / O 12, 22, 32, 42 can also be used to connect the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and the PC 6 to the Internet 7. The console 1 and the PC 6 are connected to the Internet 7 via the hub 5 connected to the respective PC I / Os 12 and 42.

  USB terminals (USB I / O) 13, 23, 33, and 43 are peripheral devices that read / write data from / to each of the audio signal processors 1 to 3 and the PC 6 using the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard ( This is an interface for connecting a USB device. Since each of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and the PC 6 belonging to the mixing system have USB terminals 13, 23, 33, and 43, respectively, the “USB” is used for any of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and the PC 6. A “dongle” can be connected. Any of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and the PC 6 can write data to and read data from the USB dongle connected to its own device. The “USB dongle” will be described later.

<< Configuration common to audio signal processing equipment >>
The console 1 in FIG. 3A, the engine 2 in FIG. 3B, and the I / O device 3 in FIG. 3C have audio terminals (A I / O) 14, 24, and 34 and audio network terminals, respectively. (AN I / O) 15, 25, 35 are provided. The audio terminals (A I / O) 14, 24, and 34 are interfaces for inputting and outputting audio signals, and correspond to the A input 50, D input 51, A output 57, and D output 58 of FIG. The AN I / O 15, 25, and 35 are interfaces for connecting the audio signal processing apparatuses 1 to 3 to the audio network 4 by AN. The audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 transmit and receive various data including audio signals to and from other audio signal processing devices connected to the audio network 4 via the AN I / O 15, 25, and 35. Can do.

  In each of the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3, the A I / Os 14, 24, and 34 and the AN I / Os 15, 25, and 35 are connected via the signal routing (audio bus) 16, 26, and 36 of each device. Yes. Between the A I / O 14, 24, 34 and the AN I / O 15, 25, 35, digital audio signals (sample waveform data) of a plurality of channels are transmitted for each sampling period via the signal routings 16, 26, 36. be able to.

<Console configuration>
3A, the console 1 includes a display unit (P display) 17 provided on the operation panel, a panel operation unit (P operation unit) 18 that accepts various operations by the user, and a volume level of an audio signal of each channel. A volume level adjusting operator (electric F) 19 for adjusting the sound level is provided. The display unit 17 is a display such as a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays various information based on a display control signal given from the CPU 10 via the CPU bus 100. The panel operation element 16 is a large number of operation elements arranged on the operation panel. The volume level adjusting operator 19 is constituted by a so-called electric fader (electric F) in which the operation position of the knob portion is electrically controlled by the CPU 10. Further, the A I / O 14 of the console 1 includes a microphone input terminal, a headphone output terminal, and the like.

  The user can set various parameters for signal processing executed by the engine 2, set a patch, and the like using the panel display unit 17, the panel operator 18, and the volume level adjusting operator 19 of the console 1. The CPU 10 generates data for remote control in response to operations of the panel display unit 17, the panel operator 18, and the volume level adjusting operator 19. The memory 11 of the console 1 is provided with a current buffer area for storing setting values of various parameters for remotely controlling signal processing executed by the engine 2, and remote control generated by the CPU 10 in response to a user operation. The contents of the current buffer are updated with the data for use. The contents of the current buffer are transmitted via the audio network 4 to another system component device that constitutes the mixing system, and are reflected in various settings in the other system component device.

<Engine configuration>
As shown in FIG. 3B, the engine 2 is provided with a signal processing unit (DSP (Digital Signal Processing) unit) 27 that performs signal processing on the audio signal. The DSP unit 27 may be configured by one DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or may be configured by a plurality of DSPs interconnected by a bus, and the signal processing may be distributed by the plurality of DSPs. The DSP unit 27 is connected to the A I / O 24 and the AN I / O 25 via the signal routing (audio bus) 26, and the sampling period is between the DSP unit 27 and the A I / O 24 and the AN I / O 25. Each time, audio signals (sample waveform data) of a plurality of channels can be transmitted and received. A simple user interface (simple UI) 28 is a simple user interface including a power switch, an LED indicator for operation check, and the like. The A I / O 24 of the engine 2 includes a microphone input terminal and a headphone output terminal.

  A plurality of channels of audio signals (mainly audio signals input from the I / O device 3) input via the AN I / O 25 and A I / O 24 are supplied to the DSP unit via the signal routing 26 at each sampling period. 27. The DSP unit 27 performs signal processing based on a microprogram on a plurality of channels of audio signals (sample waveform data) supplied from the signal routing 26 at each sampling period. The signal processing performed by the DSP unit 27 includes mixing processing for audio signals (operations of the input ch 53, the MIX bus 54, and the MIX output ch 55 shown in FIG. 2) and effect processing for the audio signals (built-in EF 59 and plug-in EF 60 in FIG. 2). Is effect processing (system EF61 and insertion EF62)). In this specification, mixing processing and effect processing (that is, signal processing for an audio signal) are collectively referred to as audio signal processing.

  Various parameters of the audio signal processing executed by the DSP unit 27 are controlled based on the remote control data (the contents of the current buffer) generated on the console 1. Remote control data generated at the console 1 is supplied to the engine 2 via the audio network 4. In the engine 2, the remote control data is supplied to the DSP unit 27 via the AN I / O 25. The audio signals (sample waveform data) of a plurality of channels subjected to the audio signal processing by the DSP unit 27 are supplied to the AN I / O 25 or the A I / O 24 via the signal routing 26 for each sampling period. Via the A / O 24 and output to a headphone output terminal (monitor output) via the A I / O 24.

<< Configuration of I / O device >>
In the I / O device 3 of FIG. 3C, the A I / O 34 is an interface that inputs or outputs a multi-channel analog audio signal or digital audio signal. The A I / O 34 includes a card having an analog audio signal input function, an analog audio signal output function, or a digital audio signal input / output function, and conversion processing (AD conversion, DA conversion, or digital conversion) required by these cards. (Format conversion)) is executed. The A I / O 34 includes an analog audio signal input terminal for a plurality of channels, an analog audio signal output terminal for a plurality of channels, or a digital audio signal input / output terminal for a plurality of channels. The I / O device 3 takes in a multi-channel audio signal from an external input source via the A I / O 34 and supplies the multi-channel audio signal to the signal routing 36, and receives the multi-channel audio signal taken in from the signal routing 36. Output from the A I / O 34 to an external output destination.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the I / O device 3 includes a simple user interface (simple UI) 37. The simple UI 37 is a simple user interface including a power switch, an LED indicator for operation check, and the like. Further, the I / O device 3 includes another AN I / O 38 (referred to as “second AN I / O” for convenience) in addition to the AN I / O 35. By connecting the network cable connected to the second AN I / O 38 to the AN I / O of an I / O device belonging to a mixing system different from the mixing system to which the I / O device 3 belongs, two mixings are performed. Systems can be linked. “Connecting two mixing systems” means that a part of the audio signal is shared between the two mixing systems, or a state where a part of the audio signal can be shared. However, even in this case, the I / O device 3 belongs only to one mixing system that is AN-connected via the AN I / O 35 and is connected via the second AN I / O 38. It does not belong to another mixing system. In addition, as another configuration example when “two mixing systems are connected”, a configuration is adopted in which all audio signals are shared between two mixing systems, or a state in which all audio signals can be shared is formed. May be. In this case, the two mixing systems as a whole constitute one mixing system.

《PC configuration》
The PC 6 is a general-purpose personal computer and includes a display unit 44 and an operation unit (KB) 45 as a user interface as shown in FIG. The display unit 44 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays information such as various screens based on the control of the CPU 40. The operation unit 45 is a keyboard, a mouse operator, or the like. When the CPU 40 executes the DAW program stored in the memory 41, the PC 6 can operate as a system control device that controls the operation of the entire mixing system, similar to the console 1, as described above.

《USB dongle》
In this specification, the “USB dongle” is a hardware key called “protect dongle” or “security dongle”, and is a small USB-connected storage medium having excellent portability. The “USB dongle” functions as a license management storage device, and as a license management mechanism, any one of the USB terminals of the system component devices (audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 and PC 6) constituting the mixing system. 13, 23, 33, and 43 have a mechanism that permits execution (main activation) of an application program to be license-managed only when this USB dongle is connected. In this embodiment, the USB dongle does not have a mechanism for performing processing such as a CPU. As will be described in detail later, the USB dongle stores a license management memory by associating and storing an application program to be license-managed and an access key (license) for permitting execution (actual activation) of the application program. Functions as a device. In other words, the application program to be license-managed is not permitted to execute (actual activation) before the license authentication (before the access key authentication). The access key recorded in the USB dongle by the process described in detail later is used. By performing the license authentication used, the application program can be executed (actual activation) in the mixing system. 3A to 3D, the USB dongle is not shown.

《Serial number》
In addition, although not shown in FIG. 3, all system component devices (console 1, engine 2, I / O device 3, PC 6 and USB dongle) constituting the mixing system including the USB dongle are unique to each other. Have a serial number. Each serial number is device specifying information for specifying one corresponding device, and the data format is preferably a data format common to all devices. Each system component device constituting the mixing system can specify one device corresponding to the serial number based on the serial number.

<Memory content of USB dongle>
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the contents stored in the USB dongle. As shown in FIG. 4, a serial number 63 unique to the hardware device of the USB dongle is recorded in the USB dongle 70. One USB dongle 70 includes an application program 65 included in an application package purchased by the user, a product ID 66 unique to the application package, and an access key 67 for permitting execution (actual activation) of the application program 65. Are stored as a set of information sets 64 associated with each other. A plurality of information sets 64 (three in FIG. 4) can be recorded on one USB dongle 70. In FIG. 4, numbers “# 1”, “# 2”, and “# 3” are added after the character strings of “product ID”, “access key”, and “program” to distinguish each information set 64. Indicated. The detailed contents of each data will be described later.

  In the present specification, a product of an application program to be bought and sold is referred to as an “application package”. The “application package” corresponds to a group of the application program 65 (“program”) and product ID 66 shown in FIG. The “application program” corresponds only to the application program 65 in the application package. Note that the abbreviation “application” may be used to indicate an application program.

《Purchase application package》
One information set 64 is described below each time a user additionally purchases an application package and obtains an access key for permitting execution (main activation) of an application program included in the purchased application package. The data is written into the USB dongle 70 by the data writing process. FIGS. 5A to 5E are blocks for explaining data transition until one information set 64 (application program 65, product ID 66 and access key 67) shown in FIG. 4 is recorded for the USB dongle. FIG.

  In FIG. 5A, a package sales site 71 is a Web site on the Internet 7 that sells application programs that can be used in the mixing system as application packages (products). The user can purchase a desired application package by accessing the package sales site 71 from the PC 6 through the Internet 7.

  The user can download the purchased application package from the package sales site 71 to his / her PC 6. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5A, the application program 65 and the product ID 66 (data indicated by bold lines in the figure) constituting one application package transmitted from the package sales site 71 are recorded on the PC 6. The storage location of the purchased application package (application program 65 and product ID 66) may be an appropriate storage medium such as a hard disk built in the PC 6, for example. It is assumed that the billing process for the purchase of the application package is performed in the purchase procedure at the package sales site 71.

<< One application program >>
The application program 65 is an application program that adds a predetermined function to the mixing system. In this embodiment, an application program used as a plug-in EF 60 (see FIG. 2) for adding an effector function is assumed. The application program 65 stores all programs for executing or controlling one function of the application program to be executed, here, for example, an effector function, in the mixing system.

  “All programs” includes application installers and application programs used in each system component device constituting the mixing system. The application program used in each system component device is a plurality of types of application programs (device-specific application programs) corresponding to the function type (product type) of each system component device. For example, the screen display GUI used in the console 1 A program (GUI is an abbreviation of “Graphical user interface”), a microprogram used in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2, a screen display GUI program used in the PC 6, or the like. In general, there is no device-specific application program used in the I / O device 3 for an application that adds a predetermined function to the mixing system, but the I / O device 3 has a simple display unit or the like. There may be a GUI program if any.

<< Product ID of one application package >>
The product ID 66 is ID data unique to each individual application package purchased by the user, and includes application program specifying information (application specifying information) for specifying an application program included in the application package. The application specifying information is, for example, an application package name (application name). As the application name, for example, when the application is an application program for effect processing, a name indicating the type of effect such as “Reverb” or “Chorus” can be considered. For the sake of convenience, an application having a common application name is expressed as “the same type of application”.

  Here, since the product ID 66 is ID data unique to each application package, even if the application package provides the same type of application, the entire product ID 66 of each package is different from each other as long as it is a different package. In addition, since the product ID 66 includes application identification information (application name), a part of the product ID 66 of each package (if it is an application package that provides the same type of application, even if it is a separate package) The app name part) is common to each other. Based on the product ID 66, it is possible to specify one application package corresponding to the product ID 66 and to specify the application program 65 specified by the application name.

  The acquisition of the application program is not limited to the method of downloading data from the package sales site 71, but may be a method in which the user acquires a portable recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM) on which the program is recorded. The acquisition of the product ID is not limited to the method of downloading data from the package sales site 71. For example, a portable recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM) in which the data of the product ID is recorded, or a character string constituting the product ID. It may be a method of physically obtaining the information using a paper medium or the like on which is described.

<< Issuance of access key and data writing to USB dongle >>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining access key issuance and data writing processing for a USB dongle. In the following description, an example in which the USB dongle 70 is connected to the USB terminal 43 of the PC 6 and the PC 6 functions as a data writing device to the USB dongle 70 will be described. That is, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 executes the process of FIG. In FIG. 6, processing executed by the CPU 40 of the PC 6 and processing executed on the access key issuing site 72 side described later are collectively shown in one flowchart.

  In step S <b> 1, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 acquires application program specifying information (application specifying information) for specifying an application program to be license-managed (access key should be issued). In this embodiment, in step S1, a product ID 66 corresponding to the application program is acquired as application specifying information. As a method for acquiring the application specifying information, when the application package is downloaded from the package sales site 71 to the PC 6 as shown in FIG. 5A, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 automatically uses the product ID 66 downloaded and stored in the storage medium. Read out automatically. For example, when the product ID 66 is provided in the form of a printed matter (paper medium or the like), a predetermined input screen provided by an access key issuing site 72 (to be described later) is displayed on the display unit 44 of the PC 6 and the input is performed. The user manually inputs the product ID 66 on the screen. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the product ID 66 itself (information for specifying the application package) is acquired as the application specifying information in step S1, but this is not restrictive, and at least the application program specifying the application program is used. A configuration in which only specific information (application name) is acquired (for example, a configuration in which an application name is extracted from a product ID) may be used.

  In step S <b> 2, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 automatically reads the serial number 63 from the USB dongle 63 connected to the USB terminal 43. As shown in FIG. 5B, the serial number 63 (data surrounded by a thick line) read from the USB dongle 70 in step S2 is recorded in the PC 6. By this step S2, the PC 6 acquires device specifying information (serial number 63) for specifying the license management storage device that is the recording destination of the access key to be generated.

  In step S3, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 uses the product ID 66 acquired in step S1 and the serial number 63 acquired in step S2 as a set of information associated with each other to the access key issuing site 72 via the Internet 7. Send. In step S3, instead of transmitting the product ID 66 itself to the access key issuing site 72, the application identification information (application name) that is a part of the product ID 66 is extracted, and the extracted application name and serial number are extracted. A set of information including the number 63 may be transmitted. Furthermore, as another example, new data based on the extracted application name may be generated, and a set of information including the generated data and the serial number 63 may be transmitted. As the newly generated data, for example, data combining an application name and some other data (for example, a user name) can be considered. In any case, it is essential to transmit the combination of the application name and the serial number 63.

《Issue access key》
The access key issuing site 72 is a Web site on the Internet that issues an access key 67 used for license management for application packages sold by the package sales site 71. In step S4, the access key issuing site 72 receives the information (a set of the product ID 66 and the serial number 63) transmitted from the PC 6 in the step S3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5C, the product ID 66 and the serial number 63 (data surrounded by a bold line) transmitted from the PC 6 are recorded as a set of information in the access key issuing site 72.

  The access key issuing site 72 is based on the application identification information (application name) that is a part of the product ID 66 received in step S4 and the serial number 63 (device identification information) of the USB dongle 70 that is the access key recording destination. Thus, the access key 67 is generated (step S5). The generated access key 67 is data configured to include application identification information for identifying the corresponding application program and the serial number 63, and permits the activation of the application program identified by the application identification information. It is what is used. Then, the access key issuing site 72 transmits the access key 67 generated in step S5 to the PC 6 (step S6). The steps S4 to S6 are processes executed by the CPU of the server computer that provides the access key issuing site 72.

<Data writing to USB dongle>
In step S7, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 receives the access key 67 transmitted from the access key issuing site 72 in step S6. That is, the processing of steps S4 to S7 is performed by executing an access key 67 (execution of the application specified by the application specifying information (full activation) based on the application specifying information (application name) and the device specifying information (serial number 63). ) Functions as an access key information acquisition unit that acquires an access key). In FIG. 5D, an access key 67 is created on the access key issuing site 72 based on the serial number 63 and part of the product ID 66 (application name), and the created access key 67 is recorded in the memory 41 of the PC 6. It shows how it is done. At this stage, in the memory 41 of the PC 6, as shown in FIG. 5D, the received access key 67 and each data used for generating the access key (in this embodiment, the serial number 63, the product ID 66, An application program 65) is recorded.

  In step S8, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 specifies the application program 65 and product ID 66 corresponding to a part of the product ID (application name) used to generate the access key 67 based on the access key 67 received in step S7. Then, the identified application program 65 and product ID 66 are extracted. The processing in step S8 functions as an application program acquisition unit that acquires an application program specified by the application specifying information. In this embodiment, if at least the product ID 66 corresponding to the access key 67 can be extracted, the process proceeds to step S9 even if the application program 65 cannot be extracted.

  If the product ID 66 cannot be extracted in step S8, the fact is displayed on the display unit 44 of the PC 6 and the data writing process is terminated. In this case, the data (access key 67, product ID 66, application program 65 and serial number 63) prepared on the PC 6 and the access key issuing site are not written to the USB dongle in step S9 described below. The data (access key 67, serial number 63, and product ID 66) are all erased, and the data writing process ends.

  In step S9, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 extracts the USB dongle 70 specified by the serial number 63 (USB dongle specifying information) used to generate the received access key 67, and the USB dongle 70 having the serial number 63 is When extracted (that is, when the USB dongle 70 is connected to itself), the access key 67 received in the step S7 and the product specified in the step S8 with respect to the extracted USB dongle 70 The ID 66 and the application program 65 are written as a set of information sets 64 corresponding to each other. The processing in step S9 functions as a recording unit that records the access key information and the application program in association with each other in the license management storage device.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5E, the USB dongle 70 records one information set 64 (each data indicated by a thick line) including the application program 65, the product ID 66, and the access key 67. If the application program 65 corresponding to the access key 67 cannot be extracted in step S8, only the access key 67 and product ID 66 are recorded in the USB dongle 70 in step S9. That is, in this embodiment, only the product ID 66 is essential as data to be written to the USB dongle 70 together with the access key 67, and the application program 65 is not essential.

  After the data writing to the USB dongle 70 in step S9 is completed, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 performs all the data (access key 67, product ID 66, application data) prepared on the PC 6 for the access key issuing and data writing processing. The program 65 and the serial number 63) are deleted, and the data writing process is terminated. Also, all data (access key 67, serial number 63, and product ID 66) prepared on the access key issuing site 72 may be erased when the writing process ends.

  In step S9, when the USB dongle 70 corresponding to the serial number 63 (USB dongle specifying information) used for generating the access key 67 cannot be extracted (the USB dongle 70 corresponding to the serial number 63 is connected). If not, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 erases all the data (access key 67, product ID 66, application program 65 and serial number 63) recorded on the PC 6 in order to generate the access key this time. The data writing process is terminated. Further, all data (access key 67, serial number 63, and product ID 66) recorded in the access key issuing site 72 may be erased upon completion of the writing process. When the USB dongle 70 is not connected, not all data is erased, but only the product ID 66 recorded in the PC 6 may be left without being erased.

<Example of changing data writing conditions>
In steps S8 and S9, the configuration in which only the product ID 66 is essential as data to be written to the USB dongle 70 (data writing processing is performed even if the application program 65 is not extracted) has been described. In addition to the product ID 66 as data to be written to the USB dongle 70 together with 67, the application program 65 may be required. In this case, in step S8, based on the access key 67, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 extracts a product ID 66 corresponding to a part of the product ID (application name) used to generate the access key 67; A process of extracting the application program 65 corresponding to a part of the product ID (application name) used for generating the access key 67 is performed. Then, when both the application program 65 and the product ID 66 can be extracted in the step S8, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 sets the extracted application program 65 and product ID 66 together with the access key 67 as a set of information sets corresponding to each other. 64 is recorded on the USB dongle 70. If either one of the application program 65 and the product ID 66 cannot be extracted, the fact is displayed on the display unit 44 of the PC 6 and each data recorded in the PC 6 is not written to the USB dongle. All data (access key 67, product ID 66, application program 65 and serial number 63) and each data (access key 67, serial number 63 and product ID 66) recorded on the access key issuing site are erased and the data is written End the process.

《Access key recording range, etc.》
When the access key 67 is generated using the device identification information (serial number 63) for identifying the USB dongle 70 that is the recording destination of the access key 67, and the generated access key 67 is written in the USB dongle 70, the access key 67 Since the USB dongle 70 is specified based on the key 67, the recording range of the access key 67 (original access key received from the access key issuing site 72) is the USB dongle corresponding to the serial number 63 used to create the access key 67. It can be limited to only 70 individuals.

  The original access key 67 recorded on the USB dongle 70 is deleted only when the user intentionally deletes it, and when the system or device is turned off or the application is stopped. It will not be erased. The case where the user intentionally deletes is, for example, the case where the access key issuing site 72 is requested to delete the access key. For example, when a new access key is newly acquired for an application package that has already acquired the access key 67, the user requests the access key issuing site 72 to delete the existing access key 67. The access key issuing site 72 deletes the access key 67 recorded in the USB dongle 70 based on a request from the user.

  The access key 67 is preferably recorded in a secure area in the USB dongle 70. For example, a USB dongle 70 having two types of storage areas, a secret area where the user cannot see the stored contents and a non-secret area (normal area) where the user can see the stored contents, is used. When highly confidential information (access key 67 and product ID 66) in the information set 64 is recorded in the confidential area and relatively confidential information (application program 65) is recorded in the non-confidential area (normal area). Good. Furthermore, it is preferable to protect the data so that the user cannot refer to the contents of the data recorded on the USB dongle. In particular, highly confidential information recorded in the secret area, in particular, the access key 67 is highly necessary to be protected. Any conventionally known data protection method may be used.

By the access key issuance and data writing processes described above, the PC 6 functioning as a data writing device uses application identification information (part of the product ID 66) for identifying an application to be license-managed, and a license management storage device ( The device identification information (serial number 63) for identifying the USB dongle 70) can be acquired, and the access key 67 generated based on the acquired device identification information and application identification information can be acquired. After obtaining the access key 67, the application program 65 is identified based on the application identification information used to generate the access key 67, and the identified application program 65 and the access key 67 are associated with each other to store the license management. It can be recorded on the device (USB dongle 70).
As a result, the application program 65 and product ID 66 constituting one application package and the information set 64 in which the access key 67 is associated can be recorded in the USB dongle 70 for each application package. License management operations such as association (linking) and arrangement of keys 67 are simplified. Further, since the application program 65 and the access key 67 are associated with each other and recorded in the USB dongle 70, even if there are a plurality of application programs 65 and access keys 67, it takes time to organize data and manage licenses. There is no. Further, for example, while the access key 67 is acquired via the Internet, the application program 65 can perform license management work even if the access key information and the application acquisition path are different, as in the case of acquiring from the CD-ROM. Is hassle-free. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform an application additional recording operation and to obtain an excellent effect that the access key 67 can be acquired in a secure environment such as via the Internet.

  The application program 65 is a collection of a plurality of types of programs necessary for each of a plurality of types of devices constituting the mixing system, and one access key 67 is issued for the package. This also simplifies license management. In other words, the access key 67 (license) can be acquired in a secure environment via the Internet by the issuance of the access key and the data writing process of this embodiment, and the acquired access key 67 (license) can be maintained and the access key can be maintained. The license management work of the application program 65 corresponding to 67 can be performed easily and without any effort.

  In the above description, it is assumed that the PC 6 which is a system configuration device other than the audio signal processing device functions as a data writing device. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 (typically consoles). 1) may function as a data writing device. In this case, the audio signal processing devices 1 to 3 (typically the console 1) functioning as the data writing device are connected to the Internet 7 and the USB dongle 70 is connected to the USB terminal of the device. Then, the data writing process of FIG. 6 is performed.

《App installation》
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing for installing the application program 65 recorded in the USB dongle 70 in the mixing system. This installation process is activated by a device (typically console 1 or PC 6) that has received an installation execution instruction from the user. Here, as an example, a case where an installation execution instruction is performed on the console 1 (when the console 1 functions as an installation device) will be described. Note that the access key 67 is not used in the installation process described below.

  The user inputs an installation execution instruction using the user interface of the console 1. For example, the CPU 10 of the console 1 displays on the panel display unit 17 an installation execution screen in which all apps recorded in the USB dongle 70 are displayed as a list, and receives an installation execution instruction from the user. The user can input an installation execution instruction for the selected application program 65 by selecting an application to be installed from the list display.

  In step S <b> 10, the CPU 10 of the console 1 confirms whether or not the application program 65 designated as an installation target by the user is recorded on the USB dongle 70 connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1. In this step S10, only the USB dongle 70 directly connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1 that is the processing subject is set as a search target.

  If the USB dongle 70 is connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1 and the application program 65 to be installed is recorded in the USB dongle 70 (YES in step S11), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when the USB dongle 70 is not connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1, or when the application program 65 to be installed is not recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to the USB terminal 13 (NO in step S11). The process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the CPU 10 of the console 1 determines whether or not the application program 65 to be installed is recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to each of all other devices constituting the mixing system to which the own device belongs. And wait for a response to the inquiry. The range of the mixing system to be inquired is that all system component devices constituting the mixing system, that is, a plurality of audio signal processing devices (console 1, engine 2, and I / O device 3) connected to each other by AN and the audio signals. This is a range including a system component device (PC 6) other than the audio signal processing device CN-connected to the processing device.

  In response to the inquiry in step S12, each of the other devices belonging to the same mixing system as the console 1 determines whether or not the application program 65 to be installed is recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to its own USB terminal. Search for. Then, the device that detects the application program 65 to be installed responds to the console 1 to that effect. A device to which the USB dongle 70 is not connected and a device in which the application program 65 to be installed is not recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to the device need not respond.

  When the CPU 10 of the console 1 receives a response from the device that has detected the application program 65 to be installed, it recognizes the one device that has made the response as a reading source of the application program 65 to be installed (step S13). The CPU 10 of the console 1 then installs the application program to be installed from the USB dongle 70 connected to its own USB terminal 13 or the USB dongle 70 connected to the USB terminal of the device recognized as the reading source in step S13. 65 is read (step S14).

  Through steps S10 to S14, the console 1 functioning as an installation device searches for all system configuration devices (all audio signal processing devices and system configuration devices other than the audio signal processing devices) constituting the mixing system to which the device belongs. The USB dongle 70 in which the application program 65 designated as the installation target is recorded can be searched, and the installation target application program 65 can be read from the USB dongle 70 (license management storage device) extracted by the search. . In the present embodiment, the state in which the application program 65 is recorded in the USB dongle 70 is the state after the access key issuance and data write processing described with reference to FIG. In this case, the installation target application program 65 is read from the USB dongle 70 in which the information set 64 in which the application program 65 designated as the installation target and the access key 67 are associated is recorded.

  If no response is received from any device in response to the inquiry in step S12 (that is, the USB dongle 70 in which the application program 65 to be installed is recorded is not connected to any device constituting the mixing system). In the case), the CPU 10 of the console 1 ends the installation process.

  The CPU 10 of the console 1 executes the installer included in the application program 65 read in step S14, and installs the necessary application on the console 1 (step S15). As a result, among the application programs 65 to be installed, an application (for example, a GUI program for screen display) necessary for the console 1 is written to the memory 11 of the console 1, and the GUI program becomes executable on the console 1. .

  In step S <b> 16, the CPU 10 of the console 1 inquires of all the other system components that make up the mixing system about the application program necessary for each device regarding the application program 65 to be installed. The “necessary application program” in each system component device is a device-specific application program included in the application program 65 to be installed, for example, a screen display GUI program for the console 1 or a DSP for the engine 2. This is a microprogram of the unit 27.

  In response to the inquiry, the CPU of each system component device that has received the inquiry confirms the device-specific application program necessary for itself (step S17), and the device-specific application program necessary for itself is displayed on the console 1. (Step S18). The device-specific application program requested to the console 1 is a device-specific application program necessary for the device (the device that requests the program) among the application programs 65 to be installed, and is still installed in the own device. This is a device-specific application program. Accordingly, a device in which a necessary device-specific application program is already installed or a device that does not require a device-specific application program (for example, the I / O device 3) does not transmit a request for a device-specific application program.

  The CPU 10 of the console 1 receives the request for the program transmitted from each system component apparatus in step S18 (step S19). Through steps S15 to S19, the console 1 functioning as an installation device extracts a device that requires program installation from all the devices constituting the mixing system to which the console 1 belongs, and the extracted device. It is possible to specify a device-specific application program to be installed every time.

  The CPU 10 of the console 1 extracts the device-specific application program corresponding to the request received in step S19 from the installation target application program 65 read in step S14, and includes the device-specific application included in the extracted application program 65. The program program is transmitted to each corresponding system component device, and each device is instructed to install a device-specific application program (step S20).

  Each system component apparatus that has received the program installs the received program by itself. For example, the console 1 extracts and transmits a DSP microprogram from the application program 65 to be installed to the engine 2, and also extracts a GUI program from the application program 65 to be installed to the PC 6. Send. The CPU 20 of the engine 2 writes the microprogram received from the console 1 into the memory 21 so that the microprogram can be executed by the DSP unit 27. In addition, the CPU 40 of the PC 6 writes the GUI program received from the console 1 into the memory 41 so that the GUI program can be executed. In the state where the installation process has been completed, only the necessary device-specific application program is installed in each system component device in the mixing system, and the application itself is not executed.

The console 1 functioning as an installation apparatus reads the application program to be installed from the USB dongle 70 (license management storage device) by the above-described installation process of FIG. 7, and all the system configuration apparatuses in the mixing system are read. As a search target, a device requiring program installation and a device-specific application program corresponding to the device type are specified. Then, a device-specific program corresponding to the type of the device among the read application programs is transmitted to each identified audio signal control device, and installation of the transmitted device-specific application program is instructed.
As a result, application programs (individually required) are applied to all system configuration devices (all audio signal processing devices and system configuration devices other than the audio signal processing devices) that constitute the mixing system to which the console 1 (installation device) belongs. Device-specific application programs) can be installed all at once. Therefore, in the mixing system, it is possible to easily perform additional installation of application programs for individual system components. In addition, since the USB dongle 70 is searched for all system component devices constituting the mixing system, the mixing is not limited to the case where the USB dongle 70 is connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1 functioning as an installation device. If the USB dongle 70 exists somewhere in the system, the application program 65 to be installed can be read from the USB dongle 70 extracted by the search, and the read application can be installed in each device. Since the access key 67 used to execute (actually activate) the program 65 after being installed is stored in the USB dongle 70 in association with the program 65, the program execution (actually activated) is executed. In some cases, the authentication process of program execution (actual activation) using the access key 67 can be performed smoothly without taking the trouble of searching for the recording location of the access key 67. That is, in an audio signal processing system including a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal control devices, license management of application programs (prevention of unauthorized use) is appropriately performed, and additional introduction of application programs is easily performed. be able to.

  Note that the installation process described above assumes a configuration in which an application recorded in the USB dongle 70 is installed. As described above, the state after the access key issuance and data writing process described in FIG. It is assumed that the access key 67 and the application program 65 are recorded). However, since an access key is not used in the installation process, for example, it is possible to install an application program in the mixing system after purchasing an application package and before issuing an access key and writing data. is there.

《App setting screen》
The application setting screen shown in FIG. 8 is a screen for performing various setting operations for the application installed by the installation process shown in FIG. 7, and can be started on the console 1 or the PC 6. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an application setting screen is displayed on the panel display unit 17 of the console 1 and that various application setting operations are performed using the user interface of the console 1.

  In FIG. 8, the application setting screen has a plurality of virtual rack units 80, and one application can be assigned to each virtual rack unit. In one rack unit 80, the application selection virtual switch 81 is a switch image (hereinafter simply referred to as “selection switch 81”) for selecting one application to be allocated to the rack unit 80. In response to the operation of the selection switch 81, the CPU 10 of the console 1 displays a list of applications installed on itself (console 1) (a list of application names) on the panel display unit 17 so that one application is displayed to the user. Let them choose. The user can select one app from the app list and assign the selected app to the rack. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an application (plug-in EF 60 in FIG. 2) to which an effector function is added is selected.

  The application display part 82 is an area where the application name of the application selected by the user is displayed. FIG. 8 illustrates a state where an app having a “reverb” function is assigned to the uppermost rack unit 80 and an app having a “chorus” function is assigned to the rack unit 80 in the second stage from the top. The input source setting unit 83 is an area for setting the input source of the audio signal to be input to the selected application (effector), and displays information (for example, channel number) that identifies the currently set input source. . The output destination setting unit 84 is an area for setting the output destination of the audio signal output from the selected application (effector), and displays information (for example, channel number) for specifying the currently set output destination. .

<Temporary launch of application>
The selection switch 81 functions as a temporary activation instruction means for instructing “temporary activation of an application”. In this specification, “provisional activation of an application” is an activation state in which parameter settings relating to the application can be received in a state where a certain protection is applied to the execution (main activation) of the application. When the temporary activation of the application is instructed, the CPU 10 of the console 1 sets at least the “bypass parameter” of the DSP section 27 of the engine 2 to turn on the audio signal processing (effect processing) based on the microprogram related to the application. Is disabled and a certain level of protection is applied to app execution (actual activation). This is the operation of the invalidating means realized by the CPU 10 of the console 1. Here, “fixed protection” is to prevent the user from using the result of signal processing by the application. With respect to this “provisional activation”, the state where the protection is released is referred to as “actual activation”. In the memory 11 of the console 1, data indicating the activation state of the application (data indicating whether the application is temporarily activated or fully activated) is prepared. The CPU 10 of the console 1 rewrites data representing the activation state of the application according to the temporary activation instruction and the main activation instruction, or refers to data representing the activation state of the application as necessary.

  The user uses the selection switch 81 to select one application, thereby instructing provisional activation of the selected application. When the provisional activation of the application is instructed, the CPU 10 of the console 1 sets data representing “provisional activation” as the data representing the activation state of the application, and the application (GUI program) for which the provisional activation is instructed. Allocate resources necessary for parameter editing. This is part of the operation of the resource allocation means realized by the CPU 10 of the console 1. For example, the CPU 10 of the console 1 secures an area for recording a parameter group related to the application in the current buffer area of the memory 11, and sets values of various parameters of the application in the area. As a result, the parameter editing function (editor) of the application for which provisional activation is instructed can be used in the console 1, and the setting of various parameters related to the application can be accepted.

  Further, the CPU 10 of the console 1 causes the engine 2 to reflect the state of the current buffer area after various parameter values of the provisionally activated application are additionally set in response to the provisional activation instruction of the application. This is part of the operation of the resource allocation means realized by the CPU 10 of the console 1. The engine 2 sets the set value of the current buffer area in various audio signal processing units (DSP unit 27), and starts the audio signal processing (effect processing). However, at the temporary activation stage, the audio signal processing (effect processing) of the application is protected.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of audio signal processing (effect processing) based on an application microprogram in the DSP unit 27. The input source 91 and the output destination 92 correspond to the input source and output destination of the audio signal set by the input source setting unit 83 and the output destination setting unit 84 on the application setting screen, respectively. The plug-in EF 90 performs audio signal processing (effect processing) based on the microprogram of the application selected by operating the selection switch 81 on the audio signal input from the input source 91. The effect processing parameter values correspond to the values of various parameters set in the current buffer area of the memory 11. The bypass parameter 93 is either a normal path for supplying the audio signal input from the input source 91 to the plug-in EF 90 or a bypass path for bypassing the plug-in EF 90 and supplying the audio signal to the output destination 92. Is a parameter for selecting.

  When the bypass parameter 93 is on, a bypass path is selected, and when it is off, a normal path is selected. When the bypass parameter 93 is ON, the audio signal input from the input source 91 passes through the bypass path (bypassing the plug-in EF 90) and is not subjected to the application effect processing (input source input signal). Are output from the output destination 92. On the other hand, when the bypass parameter 93 is OFF, the audio signal input from the input source 91 is supplied to the plug-in EF 90, and the audio signal subjected to the effect processing by the plug-in EF 90 is output from the output destination 92.

  The CPU 10 of the console 1 sets the values of various parameters of the application in the current buffer area reserved for the application in response to the temporary activation instruction of the application. Set to on. As described above, since the state of the current buffer area in the memory 11 is reflected in the engine 2 in response to the provisional activation instruction of the application, in the provisional activation state of the application, the DSP unit 27 causes the bypass parameter 93 of the application to be changed. Is set to on. Therefore, since an audio signal that has not been subjected to the effect processing by the plug-in EF 90 is output, the audio signal processing based on the application program is not substantially started.

《Edit application parameters》
By temporarily starting the application, the console 1 (system control device) can accept editing of all parameters except the bypass parameter. The CPU 10 of the console 1 performs an operation of selecting an app assigned to any of the rack units 80 (for example, an operation of clicking the app display unit 82 of the rack unit 80) on the application setting screen illustrated in FIG. At this time, the editor screen for editing the parameter of the selected application is displayed on the panel display unit 17 on a screen different from the application setting screen. The user can edit various parameters of the application on the editor screen.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the parameter setting value changing process executed by the CPU 10 of the console 1. This process is started when an instruction to edit (change) a parameter setting value is given on the editor screen, and the edited parameter is targeted.

<When temporarily running>
The CPU 10 of the console 1 refers to the current value of the data representing the activation state of the application, and checks whether the activation state of the application is “provisional activation” or “main activation”. If the data representing the activation state of the application indicates “provisional activation” (NO in step S21), it is determined whether the parameter to be edited is a bypass parameter (step S22). If the parameter to be edited is other than the bypass parameter (NO in step S22), the CPU 10 of the console 1 sets the parameter stored in the current buffer area provided in the memory 11 based on the instruction input by the user. The set value is changed (step S23), and the changed parameter set value is set in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2 (step S24). Thus, the parameter setting value (except for the bypass parameter) is changed according to the parameter editing instruction on the editor screen.

  If the parameter to be edited is a bypass parameter (YES in step S22), the CPU 10 of the console 1 ends the process without receiving an instruction to change the bypass parameter. As described above, during the temporary activation, the change of the bypass parameter is prohibited, and the set value of the bypass parameter is kept on. During temporary activation, the bypass parameter change is prohibited for any parameter editing instruction, not just the parameter editing instruction on the edit screen, and the bypass-on state (the state where the bypass is applied) is maintained. The bypass parameter set during the temporary activation can be changed to OFF only when the actual activation of the application is started.

《When the book is running》
If the data representing the activation state of the application indicates that “real activation” is in progress (YES in step S21), the editing of all parameters including the bypass parameter is accepted. That is, the CPU 10 of the console 1 changes the setting value of the parameter stored in the current buffer area provided in the memory 11 based on an instruction input by the user regardless of the type of parameter to be edited. (Step S23), the changed parameter setting values are set in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2. Thus, the parameter setting value is changed in accordance with the parameter editing instruction on the editor screen.

  As described above, since the “provisional activation of the application” can be performed, the actual audio signal processing (effect processing) based on the application program is performed before the authentication of the application by the access key 67 (before the actual activation described later). The user can be allowed to edit various parameters of the app (excluding the bypass parameter) while preventing unauthorized use of the program with a certain protection that does not start. Therefore, for example, the USB dongle 70 is not connected to any system component device in the mixing system, before the app is fully activated, or an access key is acquired (see FIG. 6). Before issuing the described access key), it becomes possible to perform preparation work such as application parameter setting, and the efficiency of the application parameter setting work is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the bypass parameter is set to ON in both the current buffer area of the memory 11 and the DSP unit 27 during the temporary activation of the application. However, since the temporary activation state is a state in which the audio signal processing is not substantially started, a configuration in which the bypass parameter is set to ON only by the DSP unit 27 at least during the temporary activation of the application may be employed. .

  When the configuration in which the setting value of the bypass parameter is kept on only by the DSP unit 27 at least during the temporary activation is adopted, the bypass parameter is changed in the current buffer area of the memory 11 as a modification example of the parameter editing process in FIG. The control may be performed so that the change is not reflected in the DSP unit 27. That is, when parameter editing is instructed on the editor screen during the temporary activation of the application, the CPU 10 of the console 1 changes the setting value of the parameter to be edited based on the instruction input by the user, and the change After that, it is determined whether the parameter to be edited is a bypass parameter. If the parameter to be edited is other than the bypass parameter, the parameter setting value after the change is set in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2. On the other hand, when the parameter to be edited is a bypass parameter, the setting value of the bypass parameter set in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2 is kept on without reflecting the change result in the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2. Hold.

<Launching the app>
In the application setting screen shown in FIG. 8, the actual activation instruction virtual switch 85 provided in each rack unit 80 is a switch image (hereinafter, “book” for instructing the actual activation of the application assigned to the rack unit 80. This is referred to as a start instruction switch 85 ”. The main activation instruction switch 85 is a main activation instruction unit. The user can instruct the actual activation of the application assigned to the rack unit 80 by using the actual activation instruction switch 85.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the full activation process of the application. When the CPU 10 of the console 1 receives an instruction for full activation of an application using the regular activation instruction switch 85, the CPU 10 activates the process of FIG. 11 for the application. Note that the subject of the processing in FIG. 11 is a device that has received an instruction to fully activate the application, and is not limited to the console 1. Typically, in addition to the console 1, the PC 6 can be the execution subject of the activation process. Further, the instruction to fully activate the application is not limited to the method using the actual activation instruction switch 85, and any conventional method may be used as long as it can instruct the actual activation of one application.

  When the CPU 10 of the console 1 receives an instruction to fully activate the application, the CPU 10 checks whether the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1. The application is authenticated by the access key (step S25). If the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is recorded in the USB dongle 70 (YES in step S26), the application to be activated is authenticated.

  Here, the access key 67 corresponding to the application is an access key including the application name of the application to be activated. Therefore, as long as the access key 67 recorded in the USB dongle 70 includes at least the same application name (access key corresponding to the same type of application), it is issued for another product (separate package). Even with the access key, the application to be activated can be authenticated.

  On the other hand, when the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is not recorded in the USB dongle 70, or when the USB dongle 70 is not connected to the USB terminal 13 of the console 1 (NO in step S26). The CPU 10 of the console 1 advances the process to step S27. Note that “when the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is not recorded in the USB dongle 70” means that no access key is recorded in the USB dongle 70 or is recorded in the USB dongle 70. This is a case where the access key 67 that is being used does not correspond to the application to be activated.

  In step S27, the CPU 10 of the console 1 inquires of all the other system components constituting the mixing system to which the own device belongs whether or not the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is recorded. And waits for a response to the inquiry. The range of the mixing system to be inquired is the same as that in step S12, that is, all the system component devices constituting the mixing system, that is, a plurality of audio signal processing devices (console 1, engine 2, and I / O connected to each other). Apparatus 3) and a system component device (PC 6) other than the audio signal processing device CN-connected to the audio signal processing device.

  In response to the inquiry in step S27, each of the other system components in the mixing system to which the console 1 belongs has an access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated on the USB dongle connected to its own USB terminal. Check if it is recorded. Then, the system component device that has detected the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated makes a response to that effect to the console 1. It should be noted that a system configuration apparatus to which a USB dongle is not connected and a system configuration apparatus in which the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is not recorded in the USB dongle connected to itself does not respond.

  The CPU 10 of the console 1 receives a response from the system component device that has detected the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated, so that the USB connected to any device in the mixing system to which the own device belongs is connected. The access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is recorded in the dongle 70 (the system component device to which the USB dongle 70 that records the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is connected could be detected. ) If the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is recorded in the USB dongle 70 connected to any of the system components in the mixing system (YES in step S28), the access key for the application to be activated is determined. That is, the authentication by No. 67 is obtained.

  On the other hand, if no response is received from any of the system component devices within the predetermined time (NO in step S28), the CPU 10 of the console 1 determines that the authentication has failed and ends the process. For example, if the USB dongle 70 that records the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is not connected to the console 1 or any device in the mixing system to which the own device belongs, the activation is performed. Since the system component device to which the USB dongle 70 storing the access key 67 corresponding to the target application is connected is not detected, authentication fails. When the process is terminated due to an authentication failure, for example, a message indicating that the authentication of the application has failed may be displayed on the panel display unit 17.

  In step S <b> 29, the CPU 10 of the console 1 inquires of each system component device configuring the mixing system whether there is an engine 2 in which the application program to be activated is already installed. The actual activation of the application means that the audio signal processing (effect processing) by the application is actually started. Therefore, the actual activation of the application can be performed if there is no engine 2 that is the main body of the audio signal processing. Can not. Therefore, if the engine 2 does not exist in the system, the process is immediately terminated (NO in step S30). In addition, even when the engine 2 exists in the system, but the application (DSP microprogram) to be activated is not installed in the engine 2, the process may be immediately terminated. If the application to be activated is not installed in the engine 2, the activation process is not terminated, but the process to continue the process after installing the application to be activated in the engine 2 is performed. It may be configured. However, in this case, if the installer does not exist in any of the system components in the mixing system, the installation cannot be performed, and thus the process ends.

  When the engine 2 in which the application to be activated is already installed can be detected in the mixing system to which the self belongs, the CPU 10 of the console 1 confirms in step S25 or step S28 in step S31. The access key 67 (the original access key 67 recorded in the USB dongle 70) is copied to the memories of all the system components that make up the mixing system.

  The access key copied to each system component device is recorded in a volatile manner in a memory in the device, and is held until the entire mixing system or the device is stopped (powered off). That is, the CPU 10 of the console 1 is turned off when the power of the entire mixing system is turned off (that is, when the power of all system components is turned off) or when the power of the devices in the system is turned off individually. The copy of the access key recorded in each system component device is deleted. Thus, once the access key has been authenticated, application authentication can be continued in each system component device using a copy of the access key unless the power is turned off. The distinction between the copy of the access key to be erased and the original access key that is not erased can be determined, for example, by the difference between the data strings constituting both.

  By recording a copy of the access key in each system component device, for example, when the USB dongle 70 is inadvertently removed, the USB dongle 70 having the original access key 67 recorded therein is mixed. Even if it no longer exists, authentication of the application can be continued by copying the access key recorded in each system component device. In the first place, leaving the USB dongle 70 connected to the USB terminal is not preferable for the operation of the mixing system. Therefore, once the application is authenticated with the original access key, the USB dongle 70 is removed from the USB terminal. It is desirable that the authentication of the application by the access key can be continued in that state.

  In addition, by recording a copy access key in each system component device, it is possible to quickly authenticate an application using the access key in each device. Thereby, for example, when the editor screen is activated (activation requiring authentication by the access key) by the system control device such as the console 1 or the PC 6, the activation can be quickly performed.

  Although it has been described that the access key is copied to all the system configuration devices in step S31, there is a device that does not install the activation target application (device-specific application program) among the devices constituting the mixing system. In other words, the CPU 10 of the console 1 performs a process of recording a copy of the access key only to a device in which at least an application (device-specific application program) has been installed. As another example, a copy of the access key may be recorded in all system configuration devices regardless of whether or not the application (device-specific application program) has been installed. As still another example, all system configuration devices can be recorded by recording a copy of an access key after installing a necessary application in a system configuration device in which no application (device-specific application program) has been installed. A copy of the access key may be recorded.

  Then, the CPU 10 of the console 1 cancels the sound signal processing invalidation processing by setting the bypass parameter to OFF for the main activation target application, and changes the activation state of the main activation target application to the actual activation state. (Step S32). In step S32, the CPU 10 of the console 1 functions as a main activation start control unit. In other words, the CPU 10 of the console 1 rewrites the setting value of the bypass parameter for the main activation target application recorded in the current buffer area of the memory 11 to OFF and sets the data indicating the activation state of the application from “provisionally activated”. Rewrite as “Active”. Then, the CPU 10 of the console 1 reflects the change in the set value of the current buffer area on the DSP unit 27 of the engine 2. Thereby, in the mixing system, the audio signal processing based on the application to be activated is started. In the example of FIG. 9, an effect-processed audio signal is output from the plug-in EF 90. Therefore, the functions of the application to be activated can be actually used in the mixing system.

  As described above, according to the actual activation process of the application described with reference to FIG. 11, the CPU 10 of the console 1 searches for all the system configuration devices constituting the audio signal processing system in steps S25 and S27 as an application program. Functioning as a detecting means for detecting a system component apparatus having a recording means for recording access key information corresponding to, and a system component apparatus having a recording means for recording access key information has been detected in steps S26 and S28. In this case, the activation of the application program is authenticated in any of the plurality of system configuration devices, and if the system configuration device is not detected by the detection unit, the processing is terminated without authenticating the activation of the application program. Functions as authentication control means. Then, if the activation of the application program is authenticated in step S32, the CPU 10 of the console 1 adds the audio signal processing device having a function of performing signal processing on the audio signal among the plurality of audio signal processing devices to the application program. It functions as a signal processing start control means for starting the signal processing based on it. Through steps S26, S27, and S28, the access key is searched not only for the main device of the activation process but also for all the devices of the mixing system to which the device belongs, so that any device in the mixing system can be searched. If the USB dongle 70 in which the access key 67 is recorded for the application to be activated is connected (in other words, if the original access key 67 exists somewhere in the mixing system), the application to be activated Can be authenticated by the access key 67 and the application program 65 can be fully activated (activation of the application program 65 is authenticated).

  In this way, instead of individually authenticating the application with the access key for each individual system component device constituting the mixing system, one access key 67 recorded in the USB dongle 70 is used for all the components constituting the mixing system. In a mixing system composed of a plurality of system component devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices, the application program can be used with extremely simple work after appropriately preventing unauthorized use of the application program. The program can be executed (actual activation).

  In addition, since there is no limit on the number of apps that are allowed to be fully activated using the access key 67, the app can be allowed to be activated regardless of the number of system configuration devices. Even in a system configuration in which a plurality of system configuration devices of the same type exist (for example, a system configuration in which a plurality of consoles 1 and engines 2 exist as shown in FIG. 1), the application is fully activated for all system configuration devices. May be allowed. In addition, since the range in which the application using the access key 67 is permitted to be activated is limited to the mixing system to which the system component device to which the USB dongle 70 storing the access key 67 is connected belongs, only one mixing system. A device outside the range (device belonging to another mixing system) accesses the mixing system and does not use the access key 67 for the actual activation of the application in the other mixing system.

  Note that the actual activation of the application is started without performing the copy creation process of the access key 67 in step S31 (step S32), and the re-authentication process with the access key 67 is performed for the currently activated application. Also good. When performing the re-authentication process, the system control device (console 1 or PC 6) periodically executes steps S25 to S28 to periodically determine whether or not the original access key 67 exists in the mixing system. Confirm. If the presence of the original access key 67 can be confirmed, authentication of the application is continued. On the other hand, if the presence of the original access key 67 cannot be confirmed, it is determined that re-authentication has failed and the actual activation of the application is stopped.

  When the actual activation of the application is stopped due to the failure of re-authentication, the audio signal processing (effect processing) by the application is stopped. The stop of the actual activation of the application may be a state in which the microprogram of the application to be stopped loaded in the DSP unit 27 is erased so that audio signal processing based on the application cannot be performed, or at least The DSP unit 27 may disable voice signal processing based on the application by setting the bypass parameter to ON for the application to be stopped. Note that the re-authentication process is used only in a configuration that does not create a copy of the access key in step S31. In the configuration in which a copy of the access key 67 is created as in the present embodiment, once the application is authenticated by the access key, the configuration is such that the free use of the application is guaranteed unless the power is turned off. It is unnecessary.

<Examples of preferred usage of USB dongle>
According to the present embodiment, as long as the USB dongle 70 that records the access key 67 corresponding to the application to be activated is connected to any system component device in one mixing system, the application is activated. Since it is configured to be able to perform (authentication using an access key), the success or failure of the actual activation of the application (authentication using the access key) does not depend on the mixing system using the application. Therefore, as long as the user has only the USB dongle 70 that records the application package (application program 65, product ID 66) and the access key 67 corresponding to the application, the application program 65 can be properly used in any mixing system. can do.

  Further, even in a mixing system in which no application program is installed, a necessary application (appliance program for each device) can be installed from the USB dongle 70 to each system component device in the system. Therefore, the application program 65 and the access key 67 corresponding to the application are recorded as a set in the USB dongle 70, thereby simplifying a series of operations (installation and actual activation) for adding the application to the system. It becomes.

  Further, the success or failure of the actual activation of the application (authentication using the access key) does not depend on the mixing system that uses the application, and the addition of the application to the mixing system (installation and actual activation) is simplified. , There is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the opportunity to use the app is increased. For example, when using a mixing system installed at a concert venue or a rental system that is borrowed as rental equipment, according to the present invention, the user brings the USB dongle 70 to the installation location of the mixing system, and the user brings it in. The installed application program 65 can be installed and the main activation can be easily performed. In addition, since the USB dongle 70 according to the present invention is small and excellent in portability, the user brings the USB dongle 70 to the place where the mixing system is installed, and the application program 65 is installed in the destination mixing system. Suitable for use.

  The mixing system to which the present invention is applied can be used, for example, in concert venues, theaters, music production studios, on-site broadcasting, audio guidance systems, and the like. Further, the configuration of the mixing system to which the present invention is applied (the type of system configuration device and the number of devices) is not limited to the example of FIG. Moreover, as long as the audio signal processing system includes a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices, the embodiment is not limited to the mixing system, for example, between a communication unit including a microphone and a sound system. Intercom system for voice communication, effects imparting system for applying effects such as compressor and distortion to acoustic signals of guitar and vocals, picking up acoustic signals in the venue with a microphone and generating acoustic signals for reverberation support It may be a reverberation support system that outputs to the inside or a multi-track recording / playback system that simultaneously records / plays back a plurality of acoustic signals.

  In the above-described embodiment, a function for temporarily starting an application program in a mixing system constituted by a plurality of audio signal processing devices and permitting parameter setting while not starting signal processing for an audio signal (temporary activation function) However, the provisional activation function can be applied to an audio signal processing device such as a single digital audio mixer. In this case, the functions assigned to the console 1 (parameter editing means), the engine 2 (signal processing means), and the I / O device 3 (speech signal input means and output means) in the mixing system described in the above embodiment are as follows. The audio signal processing device is installed in one audio signal processing device, and the audio signal processing device accepts a temporary activation instruction means (selection switch 81) for accepting an application program temporary activation instruction, and a temporary activation instruction means for accepting an application temporary activation instruction. Resource allocating means for allocating resources necessary for receiving the signal processing by the signal processing means and accepting the parameter changing operation by the parameter editing means with respect to the application. And the temporary launch finger of the app When the application is received, the invalidation means for invalidating the signal processing by the signal processing means for the application, the activation instruction means for accepting the actual activation instruction for the application, and the invalidity for the application when the actual activation instruction for the application is received. This activation start control means is provided for releasing the signal and starting signal processing for the audio signal by the signal processing means.

  In the above embodiment, the system component device (PC 6) other than the audio signal processing device is CN-connected to the audio signal processing device (console 1), and an audio signal line is connected between the CN-connected audio signal processing devices. It was set as the structure which does not establish and does not communicate an audio signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an audio signal line may be established between the system component apparatus other than the audio signal processing apparatus and the audio signal processing apparatus so that the audio signal can be communicated. As a method for that purpose, for example, by configuring a system configuration device other than the audio signal processing device so that it can be connected to the audio signal processing device by an AN, an audio signal is transmitted between the system configuration device other than the audio signal processing device and the audio signal processing device. It is conceivable to establish a line. Alternatively, as another method, for example, a MADI (Multichannel Audio Digital Interface) standard protocol is used in a configuration in which a system component device other than the audio signal processing device and the audio signal processing device are CN-connected (general LAN connection). By adopting a communication method that can guarantee real-time communication equivalent to voice signal communication in AN connection, such as the communication method used, a voice signal line is connected between the system component device other than the voice signal processing device and the voice signal processing device. It is also possible to establish the communication so that audio signals can be communicated between the PC and the audio signal processing device. In this case, DAW software started on the PC 6 which is an example of a system configuration apparatus other than the audio signal processing apparatus can be handled as one audio signal processing apparatus.

1 mixing console, 2 mixing engine, 3 I / O device, 4 audio network, 5 hub, 6 PC, 7 Internet, 8 server, 10, 20, 30, 40 CPU, 11, 21, 31, 41 memory, 12, 22, 32, 42 PC I / O, 13, 23, 33, 43 USB I / O, 14, 24, 34, 44 Audio I / O, 15, 25, 35, 45 Audio network I / O, 16, 26 , 36, 46 Signal routing (audio signal bus), 17 panel display unit, 18 panel operation unit, 19 volume level adjustment operation unit, 27 DSP unit, 28 simple UI, 37 simple UI, 47 display unit, 48 keyboard, 63 Serial number, 65 program, 66 product ID, 67 access key, 71 US B dongle, 81 selection switch, 93 bypass parameter

Claims (2)

An activation authentication device for authenticating activation of an application program in an audio signal processing system configured by a plurality of system configuration devices including a plurality of audio signal processing devices, wherein each of the plurality of system configuration devices is the application program It is configured to be able to have a recording means capable of recording access key information for authenticating the activation of
In the activation authentication device,
Start instruction means for receiving an application program start instruction;
A detection means for detecting a system configuration apparatus comprising a recording means for recording access key information corresponding to the application program, with all system configuration apparatuses constituting the audio signal processing system as search targets;
When a system configuration apparatus including a recording unit that records the access key information is detected by the detection unit, activation of an application program is authenticated in any of a plurality of system configuration apparatuses, and the system configuration is detected by the detection unit. If no device is detected, authentication control means for ending the process without authenticating the activation of the application program; and
When the activation of the application program is authenticated by the authentication control means, the signal processing based on the application program is started in the audio signal processing device having a function of performing signal processing on the audio signal among the plurality of audio signal processing devices. An activation authentication apparatus comprising signal processing start control means for causing An access key information copying unit that records a copy of the access key information detected by the detection unit in the plurality of system configuration devices when the authentication control unit is authenticated to start the application program;
An erasure that erases a copy of access key information recorded in each system component that has been turned off when the entire audio signal processing system is powered off or when the system components are individually powered off The activation authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means.

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