JPH1124680A - Communication karaoke system and karaoke playing terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication karaoke system and karaoke playing terminal which can continuously attract a customer to come to a karaoke shop to increase regular customers. SOLUTION: In a host device 3, individual information 53 and utilization history information by customers 55 are used as parameters to form character information 63 by a character creating means 65. A karaoke playing terminal 5 gets the character information 63 in karaoke utilization, and the character information 63 is processed by a CG animation generating means to play a CG animation. Since the character information 63 in the host device 3 is properly reorganized by the character creating means 65 by use of the individual information 53 and the latest utilization history information by customers 55, the CG animation of the content continued to the play at the previous end is played in the next utilization.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication karaoke system, and more particularly to a technique for connecting to a new customer service in a communication karaoke system using a multimedia function provided as a standard feature in a karaoke performance terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, general karaoke performance terminals include:
An audiovisual (AV) device including a video CD player, a synthesizer, and the like is provided as standard equipment. During a karaoke performance, various programs such as mood videos, operation guides, and new music introductions utilizing these AV devices are provided in order to enhance the sense of reality and connect between songs.

Recently, a computer game utilizing a multimedia function based on AV equipment and computer technology, in which a computer game proceeds in accordance with a singing score (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-311582), has appeared. ing.

[0004]

[0005] However, video programs provided by AV equipment are often created with the aim of an average route so that they can be received by everyone, and video programs that can be stored in the equipment. Because the number of programs is limited, when playing a few songs, the content goes around once and the customer tends to get bored.

On the other hand, in the case of a computer game, the singing score is fed back to the game content sequentially,
It can be said that the personality of the customer is somewhat reflected in comparison with a one-way video program. However, each game result is not saved and is initialized for each karaoke use opportunity.
As the third and third rounds are repeated, the willingness to challenge rapidly disappears, and such video programs and computer games have a sense of attraction as an attraction to increase regular customers.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a CG animation peculiar to each customer whose use history for each karaoke use opportunity is appropriately reflected and whose contents continue at the next karaoke use opportunity is performed during karaoke performance or between music pieces. Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication karaoke system and a karaoke performance terminal that can increase the number of regular customers by making customers want to go to a karaoke store again.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication karaoke system and a karaoke performance terminal according to the present invention comprise a number of karaoke performance terminals and a host device connected by a communication network. Requirements (1)-
(4) is provided.

(1) The karaoke performance terminal has means for acquiring a customer ID of a person who actually uses the terminal, and creates a terminal customer file in which usage history information of the terminal by the customer is described.

(2) The host device has a customer information database. This database contains personal information of each customer, usage history information for each customer, and character information for each customer. The ID is treated as a key. The host device collects the terminal customer file of each karaoke performance terminal in a timely manner and updates the customer-specific usage history information in the database.

(3) The character information is information defining a hero and its movement in CG animation, and is generated by character creation means in the host device. The character creation means initially generates character information for each customer based on personal information of each customer in the database, and updates the character information for the customer as the usage history information for each customer in the database is updated. Make changes to

(4) The karaoke performance terminal sends the customer ID of the person who actually uses the terminal to the host device, retrieves character information for the customer, and processes the character information by the CG animation generating means. A CG animation in which the hero moves is generated and displayed on the display device during or between karaoke songs.

[0012] The CG animation generating means may refer to the use history information of the terminal customer file created in the currently used karaoke performance terminal as a parameter and act on the generated CG animation.

It is also possible to provide a function of investigating a karaoke performance terminal frequently used by a specific customer and distributing the character information for the customer from the host device to the terminal in advance.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

==== Basic Configuration and Function of Communication Karaoke System ===
= FIG. 1 shows a communication karaoke system used in this embodiment, in which a host device 3 and a number of karaoke performance terminals 5 are connected by a communication network 7.

The host device 3 is a high-speed, large-capacity, high-performance computer. In the host device 3, a music information database 11 for storing karaoke contents 9 is operating. The karaoke content 9 includes a song title corresponding to a song number, accompaniment music data according to the MIDI standard, and lyrics data including synchronization information with the accompaniment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the karaoke performance terminal 5. The central processing unit 13 is a computer main body including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM for integrally controlling the entire karaoke performance terminal 5. The central processing unit 13 is a line terminating device 1 such as a modem or a DSU / terminal adapter.
5 is connected to a communication network 7. The sound effect reproducing unit 17 and the synthesizer 19 convert the MIDI signal sent from the central processing unit 13 into an audio signal. The audio amplifier unit 23 mixes the audio signal sent from the sound effect reproducing unit 17 and the synthesizer 19 with the input signal of the microphone 37, amplifies the signal, and outputs the amplified signal to the speaker 25.

An operation panel 2 for a user interface including a display and a keyboard is provided on the main body of the karaoke performance terminal 5.
7 and a remote control receiving unit 31 for receiving a signal from the remote control device 29. The operation panel 27 and the remote control receiving unit 31 are connected to the central processing unit 13 via the operation control unit 33. The customer performs various operation inputs such as music selection using the operation panel 27 of the main body or the remote control device 29, and response information of the device to the input is displayed on the operation panel 27. The hard disk device 35 has a music information file. The music information file stores music information distributed from the host device 3. The music information of the new music is appropriately distributed from the host device 3 and added to the music information file.

When a customer inputs a performance number using the remote controller 29 or the operation panel 27, the central processing unit 13 reads out accompaniment music data and lyrics data of the specified music number from the music information file. Accompaniment music data composed of MIDI signals are sequentially input to the synthesizer 19, converted into audio signals, and output as audio accompaniment from the speaker 25 via the audio amplifier unit 23. The audio amplifier section 23 has a function of mixing the accompaniment music and the output of the microphone 37.

The central processing unit 13 sequentially converts the lyrics data synchronized with the audio output into a character string, writes the character string in the video RAM 39, and performs a process of coloring the lyrics character string to indicate the progress of the music. Further, the CG processing unit 4
1 is a video CD player 43
The information is synthesized by the video control unit 44 and the display control unit 45 together with the background image information reproduced and the contents of the video RAM 39 and displayed on the display device 47.

==== Personal Remote Control ==== The personal remote control has a function of generating a remote control identification code (remote control ID) as header information for each remote control in an output signal of an infrared system or the like. Device 29. When a customer enters a karaoke shop at a certain terminal and performs a music selection operation with his / her personal remote controller, the central processing unit 13 or the operation control unit 33 of the terminal analyzes a remote control input signal and analyzes the remote control input signal.
Recognize D.

The information of the customer who owns the personal remote controller and the remote controller ID are associated with each other in the host device 3, so that the remote controller ID is treated as the customer ID.

==== Customer Information Database and Terminal Customer File ==== As shown in FIG. 1, a customer information database 51 is operating in the host device 3 in addition to the music information database 11. In the customer information database 51, personal information 53 and usage history information 55 for each customer are arranged using each customer ID as a key. The personal information 53 describes the name, gender, age, occupation, etc., which the customer self-declared at the time of application.
The customer-specific use history information 55 describes karaoke use history information of each customer, such as a song selection history and a scoring history.

In the karaoke performance terminal 5, a terminal customer file 57 in which usage history information of customers who use the terminal is described for each customer is created. The terminal customer file 57 of each karaoke performance terminal 5 is collected by the host device 3 in a timely manner, and becomes update data of the customer-specific usage history information 55 included in the customer information database 51.

==== CG Animation ==== In the CG animation, for example, the hero is made to dance in a range that does not disturb the display of the lyrics in accordance with the karaoke performance. It is an entertainment program performed to entertain customers, such as moving around the screen.

The CG animation is performed by CG animation generating means in each karaoke performance terminal 5. Here, the CG animation generating means means the karaoke performance terminal 5 such as the central processing unit 13 and the CG processing unit 41.
And means realized by software prepared in advance in a memory or the hard disk device 35 or the like. The CG animation generation means can perform various CG animations having different constituent elements (character type, gender, age, face, style, money in possession, belongings, action patterns, etc.).

The character information 63 is initially generated by the character creation means 65 based on the personal information 53 in the host device 3. In the character information 63, the constituent elements are described in parameters. Character information 6
3 is stored in the customer information database 51 using the customer ID as a key.

==== Performance of CG animation ===
= When the customer performs a music selection operation on the karaoke performance terminal 5 with a personal remote controller, the customer ID is automatically sent to the remote controller receiver 31. The terminal 5 receives the customer ID
Is sent to the host device 3 and the character information 63 of the customer is transmitted.
Order. The obtained character information 63 is stored in the terminal customer file 57.

C during karaoke or between songs
The G animation generating means is executed, and the CG animation generating means performs the CG animation by processing the character information 63. While the karaoke performance terminal 5 is used, the music selection history and the scoring history of the customer are successively accumulated in the terminal customer file 57, and the CG animation generating means uses these as parameters for each execution. The contents of the CG animation to be referred to and generated are variously changed.

In accordance with the update of the customer-specific use history information 55 in the host device 3, the character information 63 of the host device 3 is appropriately reorganized by the character creation means 65 into the content reflecting the past use history information. . Therefore, at the next use, a CG animation of the content that continues to the performance at the end of the previous time is performed.

==== Specific Example ==== Hereinafter, a more specific description will be given using a case where a customer A who owns a personal remote controller uses karaoke.

In the host device, A's personal information 53
(Name: Shino x both ○, Gender: Female, Age: 8 years old, Occupation: Elementary school student) Based on character creation means 65, character information 63 of Mr. A (Character type: Puppy, Gender: Female, Age: 8) Age, facial features: omitted, style: one-piece figure, belongings: school bag, behavior pattern: repeating welcome greeting) are created.

When Mr. A visits the karaoke shop and the remote control ID is transmitted from the personal remote controller, the karaoke performance terminal 5 sends the remote control ID to the host device 3 and retrieves the character information 63 of Mr. A. The karaoke performance terminal 5 processes the character information by the CG animation generating means, and generates a CG animation "a female puppy carrying a one-piece school bag repeats a welcome greeting". The CG animation is repeatedly performed until the start of the karaoke performance.

After Mr. A starts a karaoke performance by performing a music selection operation using the personal remote controller, every time there is a music selection from Mr. A, the CG animation is regenerated and the performance is performed in a timely manner during karaoke performance or between songs. You.

In regenerating the CG animation, the CG animation generating means refers to the use history information such as the music selection information and the scoring history described in the terminal customer file, and grows the puppy in various directions based on the use history information. For example, the puppy is made to grow in accordance with the number of singing songs of Mr. A, or if the scoring history is poor, the puppy becomes sick and dies on the way. In addition, the direction of discipline and education of puppies is determined by the song selection genre of Mr. A. For example, if relatively many songs recommended by the Ministry of Education are selected, they will grow into dogs that are likely to be "serious", and only "enka" Is gradually selected as "Mr. Tsutsumasa"
Or grow into a dog of any character.

The terminal customer file 57 which records the usage history information such as the music selection information and the scoring history of Mr. A is periodically merged with the usage history information 55 for each customer of the host device 3. The character information 63 is rearranged by the history information 55. Therefore, when Mr. A visits the karaoke shop again, the use history up to the previous use is reflected, and the content C which continues to the performance at the end of the previous time is displayed.
G animation is performed. At this time, since the latest character information 63 is stored in the host device, it is not always necessary to visit the same karaoke store as Mr. A visited last time.

==== Other Applications ==== In the above description, each time a customer visits a karaoke store, the customer ID is sent to the host device 3 to obtain the character information of the customer. For example, the karaoke performance terminal 5 frequently used by a specific customer is checked from the use history information of the host device 3, and the character information of the customer is distributed from the host device 3 to the terminal in advance at an appropriate time. It may be. In this way, the communication load on the host device 3 during a time period of high use frequency can be reduced, and the time during which the customer waits can be reduced.

Also, similarly to the music information of the new music, the software constituting the newly created CG animation generating means can be appropriately distributed from the host device 3 to the karaoke performance terminal 5 via the communication network 7.

Further, in the above-described specific example, only the CG animation relating to the main character has been described. For example, if a difference depending on a use area or a use time zone is applied to ancillary elements such as a background image, the CG animation can be produced more variously. be able to.

[0039]

According to the present invention as described above,
A CG animation with a topical content that is familiar to the customer and reflects the usage history such as the personal information of the customer who uses karaoke and the performance history and scoring history is performed during the karaoke performance and between songs. The character information in the information database is appropriately updated by the usage history information collected from each terminal, and the next time the user uses the CG animation, the content of which continues to the performance at the end of the previous time is performed. And increase the number of regular customers.

Further, the use history information of the currently used karaoke performance terminal is used as a parameter for the CG animation generation means as appropriate, so that the CG
The content of the animation is changed one after another, so that customers can be more entertained.

Further, by distributing software constituting the CG animation generating means from the host device to each karaoke terminal, newly created software can be easily set up in each karaoke performance terminal. Therefore, new CG animation can be promptly provided to the customer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a karaoke performance terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 host device 5 karaoke performance terminal 7 communication network 13 central processing unit 29 remote control device 41 CG processing unit 51 customer information database 53 personal information 55 customer usage history information 57 terminal customer file 63 character information 65 character creation means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication karaoke system in which a number of karaoke performance terminals and a host device are connected by a communication network,
The following requirements (1) to (4) are provided. (1) The karaoke performance terminal includes means for acquiring a customer ID of a person who actually uses the terminal, and creates a terminal customer file in which usage history information of the terminal by the customer is described. (2) The host device has a customer information database, which includes personal information of each customer, usage history information for each customer, and character information for each customer.
These are handled using the customer ID as a key. The host device collects the terminal customer file of each karaoke performance terminal in a timely manner and updates the customer-specific usage history information in the database. (3) The character information is information defining a hero and its movement in CG animation, and is generated by character creation means in the host device.
The character creation means initially generates character information for each customer based on personal information of each customer in the database, and updates the character information for the customer as the usage history information for each customer in the database is updated. Make changes to (4) The karaoke performance terminal sends the customer ID of the person who actually uses the terminal to the host device, retrieves the character information for the customer, and processes the character information by the CG animation generating means so that the hero moves. CG
An animation is generated and displayed on the display device during or between karaoke songs. 2. The CG animation generating means refers to, as a parameter, use history information of the terminal customer file created in the currently used karaoke performance terminal and acts on the generated CG animation. 2. The communication karaoke system according to 1. 3. A karaoke performance terminal frequently used by a specific customer, and a function of previously distributing the character information for the customer from the host device to the terminal is provided. The communication karaoke system according to any one of claims 1 and 2. 4. A karaoke performance terminal used in the communication karaoke system according to claim 1.