JPH10188128A - Automatic music vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select only a piece of favorite music at that site and to purchase it by reading the music data of selected piece out of a data storage part, digitally recording them on a recording medium and collecting the price of purchase. SOLUTION: This machine is provided with a data storage part 6 composed of a mass memory storing a piece of music to be vended and its related information. When the button of a target singer's name is pressed, a control part 16 accesses the data storage part 6 and displays all the names of recorded pieces of music of the selected singer on a display part 1. A person desiring purchase successively selects the piece of music to be purchased and after all the pieces of music desired to be purchased are selected, a display picture is changed to a charging picture to call the input of price. When the price of purchase is completely collected, the control part 16 successively transfers the music data of selected pieces desired to be purchased to an MD recording part 3 and starts recording the music data on a set MD 5. At the same time, the musical score, lyrics and other related information of purchased piece of music are printed out of a color printer 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a music vending machine, more particularly, to freely select a favorite singer's song or a favorite song and digitally record it on a recording medium such as an MD (mini disc) on the spot. A music vending machine which is intended to be purchased.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, music has generally been edited by a manufacturing and sales company or an artist, recorded on a medium such as a CD or a cassette tape, and provided as a packaging medium.

[0003]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned packaging media, not only the music that the purchaser likes is included, but also other music is included in order to listen to the favorite music. I had to buy CDs and cassette tapes.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and selects only a favorite song from a large number of prepared songs on the spot, and digitally records the selected song on a recording medium such as an MD. It is an object of the present invention to provide a music vending machine that can be recorded and purchased.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a music vending machine capable of updating music stored in a data storage section and its related information online, and always providing the latest music and its related information. .

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a music vending machine, comprising: a data storage unit storing a large number of songs and related information; and predetermined guidance information on a screen. A display unit for displaying, input means for selecting a song to be purchased while looking at the contents displayed on the display unit, data reading means for reading music data of the selected song from the data storage unit, and reading the read music data. Data recording means for digitally recording on a recording medium and charging means for collecting a purchase price are provided. With such a configuration, it is possible to select only one's favorite song on the spot from a large number of prepared songs, and digitally record it on a recording medium and purchase it.

A music vending machine according to claim 2 is
The music vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising an on-line interface circuit, wherein the music stored in the data storage unit and its related information are directly received online from a host computer and rewritten. With such a configuration, the music and its related information can be directly updated online from the host computer, and the latest music and its related information can always be provided.

Further, a music vending machine according to a third aspect is the music vending machine according to the first or second aspect, wherein the recording medium is an MD. With such a configuration, the MD is small and lightweight, so that the handling is simple.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a music vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit, and FIG. 2 is an external front view of the device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit such as a CRT or an LCD (liquid crystal display) for displaying information necessary for purchase, such as a song title, a singer name, and an operation procedure for purchase, in order by characters, icons, images, and the like. Touch-sensitive key input unit composed of transparent electrodes arranged on the front of the screen
Music information recording unit for recording the music data of the purchased tune into the MD 5 inserted from
Is a data storage unit composed of a large-capacity memory storing music to be sold and related information.

[0010] Reference numeral 7 denotes a billing unit for collecting the purchase price of a song, 8 denotes a bill slot, 9 denotes a coin slot, 10 denotes a change return slot,
Reference numeral 11 denotes an online interface circuit for connecting to a host computer (not shown) online to take in the latest music and its related information, 12 denotes an audio reproduction unit for reproducing a trial listening of a music, guidance voice, and the like, and 13 denotes an audio reproduction unit. Speakers, 14 is a color printer that prints and prints the scores and lyrics of purchased songs, 15 is a demonstration monitor unit that broadcasts advertising images of music vending and promotional videos of stored songs, and 16 is an operation of the entire system. CPU to control
, A ROM 17 storing a system control program, and 18 a work RAM. In addition,
All these components and members are integrated into the housing of the music vending machine 19, as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the music vending machine will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the initial state, the display unit 1 is shown in FIG.
Is displayed. Therefore, the purchaser sees this initial screen and presses the button icon (hereinafter simply referred to as "button") of the button he desires (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 3). Now, for example, assuming that the purchaser has pressed a singer-specific button, this button operation is detected by the transparent touch-sensitive key input unit attached to the front of the screen and sent to the control unit 16. Control unit 1
In response to the detection signal, the singer 6 switches and displays a singer-specific guidance screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 on the display unit 1 (step S3).

Next, the purchaser presses the initials of the singer who wishes to purchase, for example, the "A" button, according to the singer selection screen of FIG. When the "A" button is pressed, the control unit 16 accesses the data storage unit 6, reads out all the singer names starting with "A", and displays the singer names starting with "A" on the display unit 1 as shown in FIG. It is displayed (step S4). The purchaser sees the singer name selection screen in FIG. 6 and presses the button of the singer name he wants to purchase.

When the button of the target singer's name is pressed,
The control unit 16 accesses the data storage unit 6, reads out all the recorded song names of the selected singer, and displays all the recorded song names of the selected singer on the display unit 1 as shown in FIG. 7 (step S5). ).

On the other hand, in step S2 described above, when the "Ai-O-O-Oh" button in the initial screen (FIG. 4) is pressed, the control section 16 displays a song title initial character selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 1 (step S6). Then, when the initial character of the song desired to be purchased, for example, a “KA” button is pressed while viewing this screen, the control unit 16 accesses the data storage unit 6 and reads out all the included song names starting with “KA”. As shown in the figure, the names of all the songs that begin with "KA" are displayed on the display unit 1 (step S7).

As described above, when the song title is displayed on the display unit 1, the purchaser sequentially selects the songs to be purchased as follows. In the following example, a case where the display unit 1 displays a song name selection screen for each singer shown in FIG. 7 will be described as an example.

In the song title selection screen of FIG. 7, reference numeral 31 denotes a song title window in which all song titles of the selected singer are displayed, and reference numeral 32 denotes a scroll button for scrolling the song titles in the window 31 up and down. 33 is a selected song name window for displaying the selected song title, 34 is a "SELECT" (select) button for selecting a desired song to be purchased, 35 is an "OK" button for proceeding to the next screen, and 36 is selected. "Cancel" button for canceling the desired song, 37 is "END" for returning to the previous screen
An (end) button 38 is an amount display section for displaying the currently selected number of songs and the amount thereof.

Now, in order to select a desired tune on the tune name selection screen of FIG. 7, the following operation is performed. That is,
First, after touching the title of a song to be purchased from the song name window 31 on the left side, a “SELECT” button 34 is pressed. As a result, the selected music is displayed in the selected music title window 33 on the right side (step S8). If the song you want to purchase is not found in the song title window 31,
While scrolling the song titles in the song title window 31 with the scroll buttons 32, a desired song to be purchased is searched for and sequentially selected. In this way, all desired songs are selected.

When a song title is selected in the song title window 31 on the left side when the song title is selected, the music data of the song is read from the data storage unit 6 and, for example, 20
The head portion of the music is reproduced by the audio reproduction unit 12 for about seconds, and is sounded from the speaker 13. Thereby, the contents of the song to be purchased can be actually confirmed.

To cancel a desired song, the user touches the name of the song to be canceled among the selected songs displayed in the selected song name window 33 on the right, and then presses a "cancel" button 36. As a result, the touched song is canceled. In this way, the number of selected songs and the purchase price at that time are displayed on the price display section 38 at the bottom of the screen.

After selecting all desired songs to be purchased as described above (step S9), when the "OK" button is pressed,
The display screen changes to the billing screen of FIG. 10 (step S1).
0), the name of the selected song to be purchased is displayed in the left window 41, and the total amount “$” is displayed in the amount column 42 on the right.
"1200" is displayed, and "Please insert money. $ 1200" flashes (blinks) below this amount column to urge the purchaser to input the price.

When money is inserted from the bill insertion slot 8 or the coin insertion slot 9, the billing section 7 performs a settlement process of the billed amount and the inserted amount. If change is required, the change return port 1
Change is returned from 0. When the collection of the purchase price is completed in this way, the “OK” button 35 is pressed. As a result, the display screen changes to the MD insertion guide screen of FIG. 11 (step S11), and the recording preparation process proceeds while answering each question and instruction on the screen. FIG.
Each question in the screen 1 continues blinking until the corresponding "OK" button is pressed.

On the screen shown in FIG. 11, the first "MD
Is recording possible? In response to the question ", if the MD possessed is for recording / reproduction and can be recorded, the purchaser presses the" OK "button 42. This allows
The question "Can MD be recorded?" Disappears. Next, in response to the instruction "Please insert MD!"
After inserting D5 into the MD slot 4, press the "OK" button. Thereby, the instruction of "Please insert MD!" Disappears. In addition, the “recording time required for recording” of all the selected songs is displayed in the time column 44 as, for example, “15:30”, and the recording of the MD is “If not enough, recording will not be performed!” Call attention to lack of capacity. When the "OK" button 45 is pressed, the display screen changes to the recording start screen of FIG. 12 (step S12).

When the "START" button 46 on the recording start screen shown in FIG. 12 is pressed, the control section 16 sequentially transfers the music data of the selected music to be purchased to the MD recording section 3, and transfers the music data to the set MD5. Start recording the music data. In the display screen of FIG.
Is the list window of the selected songs you want to purchase, 4
Reference numerals 8 and 49 are "ON" and "OFF" buttons for determining whether or not the sound of the music being recorded is to be played for trial listening. "O
When the “N” button is pressed, the music being recorded is sounded from the left and right speakers 13 through the audio reproducing unit 12. In addition, the character “RECORDING !!” blinks during recording. In a large window 50 at the center, related information such as a photograph and a profile of the singer being recorded is displayed as a video. At the same time, the score, lyrics, and other related information of the purchased music are printed out from the color printer 14 (step S13).

When the recording of all the selected songs desired to be purchased is completed, the screen is switched to the end screen shown in FIG. 13 (step S14), and the MD 5 whose recording has been completed is ejected from the MD insertion slot 4. When the recorded MD5 is taken out (step S5).
15), the display screen returns to the initial screen of FIG. 4 again (step S1), and all the recording processing ends. In this way, the music purchaser can record only his favorite music on the MD by pressing the button according to the guidance displayed on the display screen.

The songs that can be purchased in the music vending machine 19 are the songs stored in the data storage unit 6. On the other hand, the music vending machine 19 is installed nationwide or over a wide area. Therefore, replacing the music stored in the data storage unit 6 or additionally storing a new music requires a great deal of time, cost and labor.

Therefore, the music vending machine 19 of the present invention
In order to eliminate such inconvenience, a built-in online interface circuit 11 is connected to the host computer via a telephone line or the like by the online interface circuit 11, and the music stored in the data storage unit 6 and the related music are stored. The system is configured so that information can be directly rewritten from the host computer. With this configuration, it is possible to always provide the latest music and music information.

The demonstration monitor unit 15 has a video C
An advertisement video of music sales, a promotion video of the stored music, and the like are broadcast on D or video tape. The audio reproducing unit 12 reproduces the sound of the demonstration monitor unit 15 and sounds it from the speaker 13 when the operation of purchasing the music is not performed. When the purchaser starts the purchase operation, the audio reproducer 12 performs guidance sound for purchase and monitor reproduction of the head of the music desired to be purchased under the control of the controller 16.

In the above-described embodiment, the touch sensor type key input unit 2 is used as the input means. However, other input means other than the touch sensor, such as a keyboard, may be used. In addition, although the case where the MD is used as the recording medium is taken as an example, the recording medium may be any recording medium that can record music data in a digital format. Also,
When using a recording medium other than an MD, it is necessary to use a data recording device corresponding to each recording medium instead of the MD recording unit 3. Also, a plurality of recording devices corresponding to the respective media may be incorporated so that recording can be performed on various storage media.

[0029]

As described above, according to the music vending machine of the first aspect, a data storage unit storing a large number of songs and related information, and a display for displaying predetermined guidance information on a screen. Unit, input means for selecting a song to be purchased while viewing the contents displayed on the display unit, data reading means for reading music data of the selected song from a data storage unit, and a recording medium for reading the read music data. It has a data writing means for digital recording and a charging means for collecting a purchase price, so that only one's favorite music can be selected from a lot of prepared music on the spot, and digitally recorded on a recording medium. It can be recorded and purchased. For this reason, unnecessary songs are eliminated, and the cost per song can be reduced.

According to the music vending machine of the second aspect, the music vending machine of the first aspect further comprises an online interface circuit for storing music stored in the data storage unit and its related information. Since the data is directly received and rewritten online from the host computer, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the music and its related information can be directly updated online from the host computer, and the latest music can always be updated. The relevant information can be provided.

Further, according to the music vending machine of the third aspect, in the music vending machine of the first or second aspect, a small and lightweight MD is used as a recording medium.
In addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the invention, handling is simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front external view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a singer-specific guidance screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a singer name selection screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a song name selection screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a song title initial character selection screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a song title screen starting with “ka”.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a billing screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an MD insertion guide screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a recording start screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording end screen.

[Description of Signs] 1 display unit 2 touch sensor type key input unit 3 MD recording unit 4 MD slot 5 MD (mini disk) 6 data storage unit 7 billing unit 8 bill slot 9 coin slot 10 change return slot 11 online Interface circuit 12 Audio playback unit 13 Speaker 14 Color printer 15 Demonstration monitor unit 16 Control unit (CPU) 17 ROM 18 RAM 19 Music vending machine

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data storage unit for storing a large number of songs and related information, a display unit for displaying predetermined guidance information on a screen, and an input unit for selecting a song to be purchased while viewing the display contents of the display unit Data reading means for reading the music data of the selected song from a data storage unit, data writing means for digitally recording the read music data on a recording medium, and charging means for collecting a purchase price. A music vending machine. 2. A music vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising an online interface circuit, wherein the music stored in the data storage unit and the related information are directly received online from a host computer and rewritten. 3. The music vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an MD.