JPH08328572A - Video karaoke (sing-along machine) device and communication type karaoke system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a communication type KARAOKE system in which highly required background information is semipermanently and additionally stored without unnecessarily increasing the size of a hard disk to be incorporated in the video KARAOKE device. CONSTITUTION: A central controller 31 discriminates whether the available capacity of the intrinsic background video information storage area of a hard disk 33 is within a prescribed amount of not. If the capacity is within the amount, the receiving date or the date, on which the information was lastly used that are already stored in a utilization track record table, are read. For example, the data, which are not used in the last six months, are extracted and deleted. If the available capacity becomes more than the prescribed amount, an inquiry is made to an information center 1 for the presence or the absence of new musics. If the musics are available, a new music obtaining request is transmitted to the center 1, the KARAOKE music information and the intrinsic background video information related to the new musics to be transmitted are received and stored in the disk 33 and the connection to the center 1 is released.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of transmitting a background image to a video karaoke device having a function of displaying a background image on a display means when playing a designated karaoke piece. The present invention relates to a communication karaoke system configured with an information center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional karaoke system, such as an optical disk, a medium in which karaoke piece information and background moving image information of the piece are stored in a karaoke device is set, and the karaoke piece information and background moving image are set. There was a type of performing so-called video karaoke using image information. In this case, background moving image information and karaoke piece information (performance information, lyrics information, etc.) are stored for each song, but since the background moving image has a large amount of information, a very large number of optical disks are prepared. It is necessary, and the area occupied by the dedicated storage case for storing many discs and the autochanger becomes large.

A solution to this problem, which has been realized as a compact design, is to store only background image information separately from the karaoke piece information and display it as a background image when the song is played. . This background image is not unique to each song, and, for example, an image storage disk that stores background image information classified by genre such as for enka and pops is used, and one background image is It is intended to realize compactness by using it for songs.

[0004]

However, of course, some karaoke users also want to sing karaoke while displaying a background image set uniquely to the song, such as a movie showing the content of the song. Is also certain. Therefore, for example, specific background image information set uniquely for a predetermined karaoke song is stored, and common background image information set to be commonly used by a plurality of karaoke songs is also stored. When playing a specified karaoke song, if there is unique background video information corresponding to the karaoke song, it is read and displayed, and if not, the common background video information is read and displayed. It is possible to let them do it.

Of course, in this case, the karaoke pieces in which the unique background image information is stored need not be all the stored karaoke pieces, but must be selected from them. For example, when adopting the method of automatically transmitting each time a new song is released and increasing the number of songs,
It is conceivable that the unique background image information is also transmitted to the new song and stored in, for example, a hard disk as a unique image storage unit. This is because new songs will be requested many times in the future, and the demand for singing karaoke while displaying the background image set for each song is considered to be relatively strong compared to old songs. Is.

However, even if only the unique background image information for a new karaoke song is stored, if the unique background image information is sequentially stored each time a new song is released, the unique image storage will eventually be performed. The limit of the storage capacity of the means is reached, and it becomes impossible to store the peculiar background image information for the new song thereafter.
Then, preparing a large-capacity peculiar video storage means in consideration of such a situation impairs the basic effect of making the storage means compact, which is a fall of the end. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the unique background image information that can be stored in the unique image storage means.

However, if new storage is not performed after the storage capacity limit is reached, a new song with a relatively high need is stored because the unique background image information with a low need is stored. It is also conceivable that the unique background image information on the will not be stored. Thus, for example, when it is desired to add and store peculiar background image information for a newer karaoke song, for example, the presence of peculiar background image information having a relatively low necessity causes the peculiar background image information of the new song to be changed. The problem arises that addition is impossible.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to semi-permanently additionally store, in the unique video storage means, unique background video information having a higher degree of necessity without enlarging the built-in unique video storage means more than necessary. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication karaoke system including a video karaoke device and an information center capable of transmitting unique background video information to the video karaoke device.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems, Actions and Effects of the Invention The invention as set forth in claim 1 made in order to solve the above-mentioned object, provides unique background image information uniquely set for a predetermined karaoke piece. The stored unique video image storage means, the common video image storage means that stores the common background image information set to be commonly used by a plurality of karaoke songs, and the unique background image and the common background image can be displayed. Display means and, when playing a designated karaoke piece, if the unique background image information corresponding to the karaoke piece is stored in the unique image storage means, it is read out and unique to the display means. Background video display control means for displaying a background video, and if not stored, reading predetermined common background video information from the common video storage means and displaying the common background video on the display means. A video karaoke device comprising: a judgment means for judging the necessity degree for each unique background video information stored in the unique video storage means; and a judgment means if a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video karaoke apparatus comprising: an information deleting unit that deletes the unique background image information determined to be less necessary from the unique image storing unit.

In this video karaoke device, the unique video storage means stores unique background video information set uniquely to a predetermined karaoke piece, and the common video storage means is common to a plurality of karaoke pieces. The common background video information set to be usable is stored. When the specified karaoke piece is played, the background image display control means reads out the unique background image information corresponding to the karaoke piece from the unique image storage means and displays it. The specific background image is displayed on the display, and if it is not stored, predetermined common background image information is read from the common image storage unit and the common background image is displayed on the display unit.

Therefore, in the case of a karaoke song in which the unique background image information is stored, it is possible to display an image corresponding to the song content on a one-to-one basis, which can further enhance the atmosphere. For example, it is possible to use, as the unique background image information, a promotional video-like one produced by the singer himself singing the original song.

However, if the storage capacity of the unique video storage means for storing such unique background video information is made too large, the common video storage means is set to be commonly used by a plurality of karaoke songs. Since the advantage of compactness as a whole by storing the common background image information is lost, it is necessary to allow only the unique background image information for a specific karaoke piece to be stored.

For example, it is considered that the new song will be used more frequently in the future, and if it is considered that the display of such unique background image information is highly demanded, the unique background image information of the new song is displayed. It is conceivable that the unique image storage means sequentially stores the images. However, for example, when a system is adopted in which new songs are added at any time, although unique background video information with a low need is stored, a unique song with a relatively high need for new songs is stored. The background image information may not be stored. In other words, even if it is a new song at that time, it will become a relatively old song as the new songs are released one after another after a period of time. Therefore, in many cases, the unique background image used at a high frequency in a predetermined period immediately after the release is also less frequently used from a certain point in time.

Therefore, in this video karaoke apparatus,
Handle as follows. That is, the determination unit determines the necessity degree for each unique background image information stored in the unique image storage unit, and when a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied,
The peculiar background video information, which is judged to be less necessary by the judgment means, is deleted from the peculiar video storage means.

As for "when the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied", for example, the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied when the free space in the unique video storage means becomes smaller than the predetermined amount. It is possible to judge that it did. Then, in that case, the information deleting unit deletes the unique background image information determined to be low in need until the free space in the unique image storage unit becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.

As described above, by deleting the unique background image information determined to be less necessary from the unique image storage means, the free space of the unique image storage means increases. For example, in the case of claim 2, the free space in the unique video storage means can always be set to a predetermined amount or more. Therefore, it is possible to semi-permanently additionally store, in the unique video storage means, unique background video information of a higher degree of necessity without enlarging the built-in unique video storage means more than necessary. Can be additionally stored in the information storage means.

Regarding the judgment means for judging the necessity degree, the following modes can be considered. That is, according to the third aspect, the determining means determines the necessity degree for each unique background image information based on the period which is not used as the background image displayed by the background image display control means when the karaoke piece is played.

Further, in the present invention, the judging means judges the necessity degree for each unique background image information based on the frequency used as the background image displayed by the background image display control means when the karaoke piece is played. To do. However, for newly stored unique background video information, it is not desirable to uniformly determine that the need is low before the installation company judges the necessity, so for example, newly stored unique background video information. Regarding information, it is better to make the main judgment after a predetermined period has elapsed since the information was stored.

Further, even if it has been used once, if it is not used for a long period of time thereafter, it is considered that the necessity for the information for providing the service is low, so that it is used for executing the information providing service. The longer the period has not been set, the lower the need may be. Similarly, the lower the frequency of execution, the lower the need.

However, even if the unused period is long, it is constantly used in the long term and the total number of times of use may increase. On the contrary, if the number of times of use is small, but the number of times of use is small when the storage time of the unique background video information is new, it is natural that the number of times of use is not used for a predetermined period, or the number of times of use is small. Therefore, it is preferable to judge the necessity degree by comprehensively analyzing, for example, the unused period and the use frequency, instead of simply judging that the necessity degree is low.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is determined that the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied when the free space in the unique video storage means becomes smaller than the predetermined amount. Instead of the above, the determination may be made based on, for example, the unused period. That is,
When the unused period is considerably long, it may be determined that the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied even if the free space is larger than the predetermined amount.

On the other hand, as described in claim 5, the necessity degree may be determined for each unique background image information based on the execution timing of the storage process in the unique image storage means. For example, as described in claim 6, it is determined that there is a high necessity for a predetermined number of pieces of unique background video information whose storage processing time in the unique video storage means is close to the present time, and the storage processing is executed before that. As for the items, it is determined that the older the storage process execution time, the lower the need. In this way, it is possible to provide at least the 100 unique background image information items stored recently. Since it is likely that the new unique background image information will be used again, it is preferable to control so that only a predetermined number of recent items are uniformly left.

On the other hand, a video karaoke apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the video karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein an information center that stores the unique background image information is used via an information communication network. It is characterized by comprising connectable information communication network connecting means and distribution requesting means for requesting the distribution of the unique background video information from the information center.

This video karaoke device is capable of receiving unique background video information online, that is,
By connecting the information communication network connecting means to the information communication network, it is possible to connect to the information center via the information communication network and the distribution requesting means can request the distribution of the unique background image information. In response to this distribution request, the information center distributes the unique background video information to the video karaoke device via the information communication network.

Further, in such a video karaoke apparatus, as described in claim 8, for example, whether or not a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied before the distribution request means requests the distribution of the unique background video information. If the condition is satisfied, the information deleting means may delete the unique background video information. In other words, although the distribution request may be made, there is a possibility that the received unique background video information cannot be stored because the free space of the unique video storage means is smaller than the predetermined amount. Therefore, prior to the distribution request, the peculiar background video information is deleted if necessary.

The above is the video karaoke device, but the following can be considered as a communication karaoke system equipped with this device as a terminal. The communication type karaoke system according to claim 9 is set so as to be commonly usable by a plurality of karaoke songs, and a unique image storage means for storing unique background image information set uniquely to a predetermined karaoke song. Common video storage means for storing the selected common background video information, display means capable of displaying the unique background video and the common background video, and corresponding to the karaoke music when the specified karaoke music is played. If the peculiar background video information is stored in the peculiar video storage means, the peculiar background video information is read out and the peculiar background video is displayed on the display means. A video karaoke device including a background video display control means for reading the common background video information and displaying the common background video on the display means, and information communication with the video karaoke device. A communication-type karaoke system including an information center capable of transmitting the unique background image information via a free space, wherein the image karaoke device transmits free space information in the unique image storage means to the information center. The information transmitting means, the distribution requesting means for requesting the distribution of the unique background video information from the information center, and the unique background video information to be deleted are deleted from the unique video storage means. The information center, the information center, based on the free space information in the unique video storage means transmitted from the video karaoke device, a determination means for determining whether a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, For each unique background video information transmitted from the information center and stored in the unique video storage means of the video karaoke device,
Necessity determining means for determining necessity and determining whether the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied before transmitting the unique background video information to the video karaoke device in response to the distribution request by the distribution requesting means However, when the condition is satisfied, it is provided with deletion command means for instructing the video karaoke device to execute the deletion of the unique background video information which is judged to be low in necessity by the necessity judging means. It is characterized by

According to this communication type karaoke system, the unique background image information can be received online, which is convenient. When receiving online as described above, the free space information in the unique video storage means is transmitted from the video karaoke device to the information center, and the information center establishes a predetermined deletion execution condition based on the free space information. You may judge whether it is doing.

In this case, the necessity degree judging means of the information center judges the necessity degree for each unique background image information transmitted from the information center and stored in the unique image storing means of the image karaoke apparatus. Then, before the unique background video information is transmitted from the information center in response to the distribution request by the distribution request means of the video karaoke device, it is determined whether or not a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, and if the condition is satisfied. In the above, the deletion instruction means instructs the video karaoke apparatus to execute the deletion of the unique background video information which is judged to be low in necessity by the necessity judgment means.

In response to this command, the information deleting means of the video karaoke apparatus deletes the unique background video information to be deleted from the unique video storing means. In this way, the information center side may be provided with a judgment function.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video karaoke device 10 when the video karaoke device of the embodiment is used as a terminal and applied to a communication karaoke system in which peculiar background video information is distributed from an information center, and FIG. It is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information center 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this embodiment, an information center 1 and a video karaoke device 10 which are in charge of transmission-related processing of karaoke piece information and unique background video information are connected via an information communication network 5. Connected and configured.
Although only one video karaoke device 10 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of video karaoke devices 10 are connected to the information center 1 via the information communication network 5.

Next, the structure of the video karaoke apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The central control unit 31, which corresponds to control means for karaoke performance, background video display control means, judgment means, information deletion means, etc., has a multipurpose input key 32 for inputting various instructions, a unique video storage means and a common video storage means. A hard disk 33, a sound reproduction circuit 35, a screen display control device 26, and a communication control device 27 connectable to the information communication network 5. A mixer amplifier 38 is connected to the audio reproduction circuit 35, and a television monitor 29 is connected to the screen display control device 26. A speaker 41 and a microphone 43 are connected to the mixer amplifier 38.

Information used by the video karaoke device 10 for karaoke performance processing is stored in the hard disk 33. The karaoke performance processing information is karaoke piece information and background video information, and the background video information is unique background video information and common background video information.

The karaoke piece information is composed of piece number information, which is identification information for identifying pieces of music, and substance information. The substantive information in this is composed of performance information and lyrics information of the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard which is information of accompaniment music. The hard disk 33 stores in advance information about several thousand karaoke pieces. The video karaoke device 10 is managed by a karaoke terminal installation company, and can receive song data from a song data distributor every time new song data is released. In the system of the present embodiment, the new music piece data can be received from the information center 1 by being connected to the information communication network 5 via the communication control device 27 and stored in the hard disk 33 later.

The unique background image information is an image created so as to correspond to the content of a specific song in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, the singer himself singing the original song appears. It is also possible to use something like a promotional video as the unique background video information. Further, the common background video information is, for example, a video created by classifying songs such as for enka / pops by genre and so on, so that songs belonging to that genre can be used without much discomfort. By using one background image for a plurality of songs, the hard disk 33 itself can be made compact.

Therefore, the peculiar background video information does not exist for all the stored karaoke piece information, but on the contrary, exists only for a limited number of pieces. Specifically, the hard disk 33
In the storage area for peculiar background video information, only peculiar background video information for about 10 to 20 songs can be stored, and in the present embodiment, peculiar background video information for a new song is stored. Become.

It is to be noted that the unique background image information about this new song is also supplied when the karaoke song information relating to the new song is received from the above-mentioned song data distributor. That is, the communication control device 27
So that it can be connected to the information communication network 5 via the information communication network 5 to receive the peculiar background image information relating to the new song from the information center 1 and store it in a predetermined area (inherent background image information storage area) of the hard disk 33 later. Has been

Further, in the present embodiment, the usage record of the unique background image information can be stored. FIG. 8 shows the usage record table stored in the hard disk 33. For each of the record numbers 1 to 20, there is a table including items of the image number of the unique background image information, the corresponding song number, the date of reception or the date of last use, and the number of times of use. In the present embodiment, 20 pieces of the unique background video information are set to the maximum number of information that can be stored.

Here, the reception date or the last use date means that the reception date remains stored if the unique background image information has not been used since it was received, and the corresponding song is requested. When it is used in the karaoke performance process, it is updated for each occasion of use, and the date of last use is stored here. In addition, the number of times of use is the number of times it has been used as a background image during karaoke performance.

The user operates the multipurpose input key 32 to select a song to be sung. Then, the central control unit 31
Executes karaoke performance processing according to a predetermined karaoke performance program. Briefly, the central control unit 31 reads out the performance information and lyrics information corresponding to the selected song from the hard disk 33, transfers the performance information to the voice reproduction circuit 35 and the lyrics information to the screen display control unit 26, respectively. . Further, if the peculiar background video information is stored for the selected song, it is read out, and if the peculiar background video information is not stored, the corresponding predetermined common background video information is read out to control the screen display. Transfer to device 26.

The performance information output to the voice reproduction circuit 35 is converted into an analog performance signal, then sent to the mixer amplifier 38 to be electrically amplified, and the user's singing voice input via the microphone 43. And is mixed in a proper ratio. The mixed audio signal is output to the outside as a performance sound by the speaker 41.

On the other hand, the lyrics information output in synchronization with the performance information is combined (superimposed) with the background video signal in the screen display control device 26 and is then displayed on the television monitor 29.
Is displayed in. As a result, the lyrics telop is displayed on the TV monitor 29 in a state where the lyrics telop is combined with the background image.

Next, the structure and function of the information center 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the information center 1 stores a communication control device 57 connected to the video karaoke device 10 via the information communication network 5, and a storage for accumulating karaoke piece information and unique background video information distributed to the video karaoke device 10. Device 53
And are controlled by a host computer 51 as a central control unit. The host computer 51 includes an input device 55, a printer 59, and a CR.
Various devices such as T61 are connected. In addition to the karaoke piece information and the unique background image information, the storage device 53 also stores various control programs for operating the host computer 51.

The information center 1 thus configured transmits the karaoke piece information to each video karaoke device 10 via the information communication network 5. This transmission is performed from the information center 1 side at intervals of several days in order to add new song data. For example, the video karaoke device 10 side periodically inquires about new songs (for example, once a day). If there is a new song to be delivered in response to the inquiry, the delivery process may be performed. In any case, as a result, the karaoke piece information is transmitted from the information center 1 to the video karaoke apparatus 10. The new song data to be transmitted is karaoke song information and unique background image information corresponding to the karaoke song information.

Next, the operation of the system of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, the operation of the video karaoke device 10 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. When the power is turned on, this main routine is started.

First, in the first step S1, the entire device is initialized, such as resetting the communication control device 27. Next, in S2, it is checked whether or not the karaoke performance mode is designated as the operation designation of the video karaoke device 10. If the karaoke terminal installation company specifies a karaoke performance mode, the process proceeds to S3, and if not specified, S
Move to 4.

At S3, a subroutine is called to perform karaoke performance processing. This karaoke performance process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S30 of the karaoke performance process, a key input from the multipurpose input key 32 is waited for, and if there is a key input (S30: YES), S
At 31, it is determined whether it is a request number input. If the request number is input, S
In step 32, the performance of the music piece of the requested number is executed.

In this karaoke performance processing, as described above, the performance information and the lyrics information corresponding to the selected song are read from the hard disk 33, the performance information is stored in the voice reproduction circuit 35, and the lyrics information is stored in the screen display controller 26. Transfer each. Regarding the background image, first, it is judged whether or not the unique background image information corresponding to the selected song is stored in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33, and if there is, it is read out. , Predetermined common background video information is read from the common background video storage area of the hard disk 33 and transferred to the screen display control device 26. Whether or not the unique background image information corresponding to the selected song is stored in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 can be easily determined by referring to the corresponding song number in the usage record table of FIG.

Then, the performance information output to the audio reproduction circuit 35 is converted into an analog performance signal and then sent to the mixer amplifier 38 to be electrically amplified and input via the microphone 43. It is mixed with the singing voice in a proper ratio. The mixed audio signal is output to the outside as a performance sound by the speaker 41. On the other hand, the lyrics information that is output in synchronization with the performance information is
In the screen display control device 26, it is combined (superimposed) with the background video signal and displayed on the television monitor 29. As a result, the lyrics telop is displayed on the TV monitor 29 in a state where the lyrics telop is combined with the background image.

After the processing of S32, the process proceeds to S33. On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the request number has not been input, in S34, the process corresponding to the other key input is executed, and then the process proceeds to S33. In S33, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the karaoke mode. If there is no end instruction, the process returns to S30. If there is an end instruction, the karaoke performance process is ended, and the process proceeds to S4 in the flowchart of FIG. Transition.

In S4, as an operation designation of the video karaoke apparatus 10, it is checked whether it is a predetermined time for inquiring a new song. This is to inquire whether or not there is data to be delivered from the information center 1 once a day, for example, in order to obtain the data of the new song (karaoke song information and unique background image information) as soon as possible. If it is a predetermined time for inquiring about a new song, the process proceeds to S5 to execute the unique background image information deletion process, and then proceeds to S6 to perform the new song inquiry process. If it is not the predetermined time for inquiring about a new song, the process proceeds to S2.

At S5, a subroutine is called to perform a unique background image information deletion process. Since this deletion process may receive the unique background image information of the new song,
Before that, the free space of the storage area of the unique background video information of the hard disk 33 is checked, and if the free space is not sufficient, the stored unique background video information is deleted from the one with the lowest necessity to obtain the free space. This is a process for securing the capacity. This unique background video information deletion processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the first step S70, it is determined whether or not the free space in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is less than a predetermined amount. If the negative determination is made in S70, that is, if the free space of the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is secured by a predetermined amount or more, there is no problem in receiving the unique background image information of the new song in this state. , S71 and subsequent steps are ended without executing the processing from S71, and the process proceeds to S6 in the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, if the free space in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is less than the predetermined amount (S70: YES), the procedure will be shifted to S71. After S71, refer to the item of the reception date or the last use date of the usage record table (see FIG. 8) to find out that it has never been used,
Alternatively, the unique background image information that has been used once but has not been used for a long period of time thereafter is considered to have a relatively low degree of necessity and is deleted.

In S71, since the usage record table (FIG. 8) is inspected in the order of records, n = 1 is set, and in the subsequent S72, the reception date or the last usage date of the record is read. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 8, the reception date or the last use date for the first record, video number “0001”, is January 7, 1994.

Then, in the subsequent S73, in order to determine whether or not the unused state has continued for a long period of time, it is determined whether or not α days or more have passed from the reception date or the last use date. For example, if α = 180, it may be deleted if it has not been used for about 6 months or more. For example, if this processing is executed on April 1, 1995, the above-mentioned song number “0001 Since the date of receipt or the last use date of the item is January 7, 1994, S7
An affirmative decision is made in step 3, and the routine goes to S75.

At S75, the unique background image information stored in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is deleted. Then, in subsequent S76, the corresponding record is deleted from the usage record table, and the process returns to S70. If there is a deleted record, the subsequent records will be moved up in sequence.

Thus, for example, first, the song number "0001"
Of the karaoke piece information is deleted from the hard disk 33, the corresponding record is deleted from the usage record table (see FIG. 8), and in S70, whether the free space in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is less than a predetermined amount. Determine whether

If the free space in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is still less than the predetermined amount, the processing from S71 onward is repeated. Specifically, S again
The reception date or the last use date of the first record is read out by the processing of 71 and S72. In this case, since the record of the video number "0001" is deleted from the state shown in FIG. 8, the first record is deleted. Is the video number "00
02 ". The date read out in S72 is November 24, 1994. As can be seen from the fact that the number of times of use is "1", this is November 2, 1994.
Used once every four days.

In this case, since α days or more have not elapsed (S73: NO), the process proceeds to S74. In S74, to check the next record, n is incremented (n ←
(n + 1), and the process returns to S72. In this way, the records are inspected in order, but in the case shown in FIG. 8, the five image numbers “0003” to “0007” have not been deleted because they have not passed α days or more. Since the reception date or the last use date of the next video number “0008” has passed α days or more, it will be deleted.

As described above, in this unique background image information deletion processing, the unique background image information that has not been requested for α days or more is deleted, and the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 becomes free by a predetermined amount or more. It is controlled to have a capacity. When the peculiar background image information deletion processing is completed in this way, the process proceeds to S6 in the flowchart of FIG.

At S6, a subroutine is called to perform a new song inquiry / reception process. This new song inquiry / reception processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First step S80 of new song inquiry / reception processing
Then, it connects to the information center 1 through the information communication network 5.
After the connection process with the information center 1 is completed, the process proceeds to S81.
In S81, the information center 1 is inquired about the presence or absence of a new song,
The answer to the inquiry is received in S82. When it is determined from the answer that there is new song data to be distributed (S83: YES), the process proceeds to S84, and a request to acquire all the new songs to be distributed is sent to the information center 1. In a succeeding S85, as a response to the all song acquisition request, the karaoke song information concerning the new song and the unique background image information transmitted from the information center 1 are received and saved in the respective storage areas of the built-in hard disk 33. When saving to the hard disk 33 is completed,
Then, the process proceeds to S86, and the process of releasing the connection with the information center 1 is performed.

If it is determined in S83 that there is no new song data to be distributed (S83: NO), S87.
The process proceeds to S86 to store the absence of new song data, and then proceeds to S86. In this case, the fact that there is no new song data may be displayed on the television monitor 29.

After the disconnection with the information center 1 is completed in S86, the process proceeds to S2 in the flowchart of FIG. The above is the operation of the central control unit 31 of the video karaoke device 10, and requests karaoke performance, billing information for enabling the use of karaoke song information, deletion of song information, and reception of karaoke song information relating to a delivered new song. Perform each processing of.

Next, the operation of the information center 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the information center 1, after the power is turned on, the process is executed from step S120. In S120, the initialization of the entire device such as reset of the communication control device 57 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S121, and it is checked whether or not there is a connection request from the video karaoke device 10. If there is S1
If not, the process of S121 is repeated to enter the standby state.

In S122, the video karaoke device 10 is connected to the video karaoke device 10 in response to the connection request from the video karaoke device 10. After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S123. In S123, the inquiry about the presence or absence of a new song is received from the video karaoke device 10, and the answer is transmitted in S124. When the answer is that there is no new song data (S125: NO), the line connection is disconnected as it is on the video karaoke device 10 side as described above, and the subsequent communication is no longer necessary, so the connection with the video karaoke device 10 is made. Is canceled (S14
0), and returns to S121.

On the other hand, when the answer is that there is new song data (S125: YES), there is a request from the video karaoke apparatus 10 and it is received (S126). As described in S84 of FIG. 6 above, this request is a request for acquisition of all songs, so in S127 that follows, all karaoke song information and unique background image information relating to the new song to be distributed are transmitted.

When the transmission of the new song data is completed in S128, the process proceeds to S129, and the video karaoke device 1 concerned.
Release the connection with 0. After the disconnection process is completed, S12
The process shifts to 1 and the above process is repeated. The above is the operation of the host computer 51 of the information center 1, and in response to a new song inquiry from the video karaoke apparatus 10, if there is new song data to be delivered, the process of delivering it is executed.

This process is executed in connection with the new song inquiry / reception process on the video karaoke device 10 side shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the communication sequence diagram of FIG. The video karaoke device 10 makes a call to the information center 1 via the information communication network 5, and after the connection is established, the password is transmitted to the information center 1.

In the information center 1, the information is received via the communication control device 57, the host computer 51 performs terminal verification using the telephone number, password, etc., and if the video karaoke device 10 is registered in the information center 1, Return verification successful. After the video karaoke device 10 receives the collation normality and the information center 1 becomes ready for reception, the video karaoke device 10 inquires about the presence or absence of a new song.

The information center 1 accepts this inquiry, searches for new song data for the video karaoke apparatus 10 and sends the answer to the video karaoke apparatus 10. That is, it is an answer indicating whether or not there is new song data. The video karaoke device 10 judges whether or not there is new song data based on this answer result, and if there is new song data, it sends a request for acquiring all songs of new song data to the information center 1. Then, the information center 1 that receives this request transmits the corresponding new song data, that is, the karaoke song information and the unique background image information, to the image karaoke device 10. The video karaoke device 10 that receives and saves this disconnects the connection with the information center 1.

According to the present embodiment described above, the hard disk 33 of the video karaoke apparatus 10 includes unique background video information uniquely set for a predetermined karaoke song (for example, a new song) and a plurality of karaoke songs. The common background image information set to be commonly usable is stored. And
When playing the specified karaoke song, if the unique background image information corresponding to the karaoke song is stored in the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33,
It is read and displayed on the TV monitor 29 as the background of the lyrics telop. If not remembered,
The predetermined common background video information is read and displayed.

Therefore, in the case of a karaoke song in which the unique background image information is stored, an image corresponding to the song content in a one-to-one correspondence can be displayed, and the atmosphere can be further enhanced. For example, it is possible to use, as the unique background image information, a promotional video-like one produced by the singer himself singing the original song.

However, if the storage capacity of the peculiar background image information storage area for storing such peculiar background image information is made too large, a common background set to be commonly used by a plurality of karaoke songs is set. Since the advantage of compacting the hard disk 33 as a whole by storing the video information is lost, it is necessary to allow only the unique background video information for a specific karaoke song to be stored.

For example, it is considered that the new song will be used more frequently in the future, and if it is considered that the display of such unique background image information is highly demanded, the unique background image information about the new song is displayed. It is possible to store them sequentially. However, when a system that adds new songs at any time is adopted, even though the background image information of low necessity is stored, the background image of the new song of relatively high necessity is stored. Information may not be stored. In other words, even if it is a new song at that time, it will become a relatively old song as the new songs are released one after another after a period of time. Therefore, in many cases, the unique background image that has been used frequently in a predetermined period immediately after the release will be used less frequently from a certain point in time.

Therefore, the video karaoke apparatus 10 of the present embodiment.
Then, before receiving the new song, the free space of the unique background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 is determined, and if the free space is not enough to receive the unique background image information of the new song, it is already stored. The necessity level is determined for each unique background image information that exists, and the one having the lowest necessity level is deleted. Thereby, the free space of the peculiar background image information storage area of the hard disk 33 increases, and the peculiar background image information of the new song can be received semipermanently without increasing the size of the hard disk 33 more than necessary.

In the above embodiment, the data to be deleted is determined because it has not been used for a long time.
It is also possible to consider the number of times of use shown in the table of FIG. 8, that is, the number of times of request, when determining the deleted data. In other words, even if it is unused for a long time, it is constant in the long run,
The number of times of use may increase in total. Also,
On the contrary, even if the number of times of use is small, it is natural that the number of times of use is small when the reception time of the peculiar background image information is recent, so that it is not used for a predetermined period of time, or the number of times of use is small. It is preferable to judge the necessity by comprehensively analyzing, for example, the period of non-use and the frequency of use, instead of simply judging that the necessity is low.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments as described above, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the necessity level is determined by comprehensive analysis based on the unused period and the use frequency. However, it is based on the execution timing of the storage process of the unique background image information in the hard disk 33. You may judge the necessity. For example, it is determined that there is a high necessity for a predetermined number (for example, 100) of unique background image information whose storage processing time to the hard disk 33 is close to the present time, and storage processing executed before that is stored. The older the processing execution time, the lower the necessity. By doing so, for example, at least 100 unique background image information items that have been recently stored can be provided. When the unique background video information of a new song is sequentially added, it seems that the unique background video information for a new song is more likely to be used. Therefore, a certain number of unique background images stored recently are uniformly used. It is also possible to control so that only the background image information remains.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the communication type karaoke system is constructed, on the information center 1 side,
You may decide whether to delete. In this case, the video karaoke device 10 transmits information about the free space in the unique background video information storage area of the hard disk 33 to the information center 1, and the information center 1 determines a predetermined deletion execution condition based on the free space information. You may make it determine whether it is materialized. The storage device 53 of the information center 1 has the same function as the usage record table shown in FIG. 8 for determining the unique background image information to be deleted, and may be executed based on the contents. For example, if the usage record is transmitted from the video karaoke device 10 to the information center 1 side at any time,
The number of times of use, the date of reception, the date of last use, and the like can be stored.

Then, before transmitting the unique background video information from the information center 1 in response to a new song distribution request from the video karaoke apparatus 10, it is judged whether or not a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, and the condition is satisfied. In such a case, the video karaoke apparatus 10 may be instructed to delete the unique background video information that is determined to be less necessary. In response to this command, the video karaoke device 10 may delete the unique background video information of the deletion command from the unique background video information storage area of the hard disk 33. In this way, the information center side may be provided with a judgment function.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the information communication network 5 is used to add a new song and so-called online transmission is carried out. However, the video karaoke apparatus of the present invention is as in the above-mentioned embodiment. It is not limited to the video karaoke device 10 in the communication karaoke system. For example, even in the case of a stand-alone type, for example, even when a serviceman of a music distribution business operator directly visits to add a new song and additionally stores it in the hard disk 33, it is possible to delete the unnecessary unique background image information. When a new song is added, the same effect as that of the online case described above can be obtained, such as preventing the addition from becoming impossible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video karaoke device when the video karaoke device of the embodiment is used as a terminal and applied to a communication type karaoke system in which unique background video information is distributed from an information center.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information center that is a component of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main process in the video karaoke apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a karaoke performance process in the video karaoke device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a unique background video information deletion process in the video karaoke apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a new song inquiry / reception process in the video karaoke apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing main processing in the information center of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a usage record table stored in the hard disk of the video karaoke apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a communication sequence diagram in new song inquiry and new song transmission / reception processing according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Information center 5 ... Information communication network 10 ... Video karaoke device 26 ... Screen display control device 27 ... Communication control device 29 ... Television monitor 31 ... Central control device 32 ... Multipurpose input key 33 ... Hard disk 35 ... Audio Reproducing circuit 38 ... Mixer amplifier 41 ... Speaker 43 ... Microphone 51 ... Host computer 53 ... Storage device 55 ... Input device 57 ... Communication control device 59 ... Printer 61 ... CRT

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A unique video image storage means for storing unique background video image information uniquely set for a predetermined karaoke song, and common background video image information commonly set for a plurality of karaoke songs. And a display means capable of displaying the peculiar background image and the common background image, and the peculiar background image information corresponding to the karaoke song when the specified karaoke song is played. If it is stored in the unique image storage means, it is read out to display the unique background image on the display means, and if not stored, the predetermined common background image information is read out from the common image storage means. And a background image display control means for displaying a common background image on the display means for each unique background image information stored in the unique image storage means. Determination means for determining the necessity, when a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, the specific background video information judged to be low necessity by said determining means,
An image karaoke device, comprising: information deleting means for deleting from the unique image storing means. 2. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the free space in the unique video storage means becomes less than a predetermined amount, it is determined that the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, and the information deletion means. The video karaoke apparatus is characterized in that the unique background video information determined to be less necessary is deleted until the free space in the unique video storage means becomes a predetermined amount or more. 3. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination means is based on a period which is not used as a background video displayed by the background video display control means when playing a karaoke piece. A video karaoke device characterized in that the degree of necessity is judged for each background video information. 4. The video karaoke device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is based on a frequency used as a background image displayed by the background image display control unit when the karaoke piece is played, and the unique background is displayed. A video karaoke device characterized in that the degree of necessity is judged for each video information. 5. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a necessity degree for each of the unique background image information based on a storage processing execution time in the unique image storage unit. A video karaoke device characterized in that 6. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determination means has a high necessity for a predetermined number of unique background video information whose storage processing execution time in the unique video storage means is close to the present time. A video karaoke device characterized by making a determination, and if the storage processing has been executed before that, it is determined that the older the storage processing is performed, the lower the necessity is. 7. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information communication network connection unit connectable to an information center storing the unique background video information via an information communication network. A video karaoke apparatus comprising: a distribution requesting unit that requests the distribution of the unique background video information from the information center. 8. The video karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein it is determined whether or not the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied before the distribution request unit requests the distribution of the unique background video information. The video karaoke device is characterized in that the characteristic background video information is deleted by the information deleting means when the above condition is satisfied. 9. A unique video image storage means for storing unique background video image information uniquely set for a predetermined karaoke song, and common background video image information commonly set for a plurality of karaoke songs. And a display means capable of displaying the peculiar background image and the common background image, and the peculiar background image information corresponding to the karaoke song when the specified karaoke song is played. If it is stored in the unique image storage means, it is read out to display the unique background image on the display means, and if not stored, the predetermined common background image information is read out from the common image storage means. A video karaoke device having a background video display control means for displaying a common background video on the display means, and the unique background image for the video karaoke device via an information communication network. A communication-type karaoke system including an information center capable of transmitting information, wherein the video karaoke device transmits free space information in the unique video storage means to the information center, and the information. A distribution request means for requesting the distribution of the unique background video information from the center, and an information deleting means for deleting the unique background video information to be deleted from the unique video storage means. The information center determines whether or not a predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied based on the free space information in the unique video storage device transmitted from the video karaoke device, and the information center transmits the video. A necessity degree judging means for judging a necessity degree for each of the unique background image information stored in the unique image storing means of the karaoke apparatus; Before transmitting the unique background video information to the video karaoke device in response to the distribution request by the requesting device, it is determined whether or not the predetermined deletion execution condition is satisfied, and if the condition is satisfied, A communication-type karaoke system, comprising: a deletion command means for instructing the video karaoke device to execute deletion of the unique background video information determined to be low in necessity by the necessity degree judgment means.