JPH117291A - 'karaoke' device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit various information to a 'KARAOKE (orchestration without lyrics)' user according to the priority even when 'KARAOKE' is being performed. SOLUTION: When transmissive information is supplied from a communication device to a control part 3, the control part 3 reads priority information added to its transmissive information to judge whether or not it is on level 1 (highest priority). When it is on level 1, the control part 3 performs the notice processing of the transmissive information. At this notice-processing time, e.g. the transmissive information is superimposed on a background image signal to be displayed on a monitor 12. Signals are superimposed by controlling a video mixing part 10. By performing these processings, the 'KARAOKE' user can reads the transmissive information superimposed on a background part while singing the 'KARAOKE'. Thus, disaster information, refuge information, etc., are transmitted surely without impeding 'KARAOKE' performance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus capable of providing information according to priority even during a karaoke performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, karaoke apparatuses have become widespread, but karaoke apparatuses have been installed in shops such as snacks and night clubs, or installed in karaoke boxes called karaoke boxes. In either case,
During the karaoke performance, lyrics and background are displayed on the monitor screen, and the performance sound and the vocal sound are mixed and emitted at a relatively large volume. For this reason, it is often difficult to transmit other information to the user during the karaoke performance. Especially in the case of a karaoke box,
The volume tends to be large because it is a private room only for the user.

[0003]

In the event of an emergency such as an earthquake or fire, it is necessary to promptly inform karaoke users of such information. However, during a karaoke performance, since both the video and audio are occupied by the karaoke performance as described above, there is a situation in which it is difficult to transmit even emergency information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a karaoke apparatus capable of transmitting other information to a karaoke user in accordance with a priority even during a karaoke performance. Is also aimed at.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect has storage means for storing performance data indicating music and lyrics data indicating lyrics of the music. A karaoke device that generates and outputs a lyric display signal based on the lyric data read from the storage while generating a tone signal based on the performance data read from the storage; Transmission information input means to which the priority information is added and which accepts transmission information instructing character display; video mixing means for mixing and outputting a background image signal indicating a background image and the lyrics display signal; Based on the priority information of the transmission information input to the input means, at least one of the lyrics display signal and the background image signal Or the other giving priority to and characterized by comprising a priority control means for controlling said mixing means to mix process the transfer information. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a transmission information storage unit for storing transmission information, and the priority control unit inputs the transmission information to the transmission information input unit. Determining the priority information of the transmitted information, and if the priority level is high, the mixing means performs a mixing process on the transmitted information by giving priority to at least one of the lyrics display signal and the background display signal. When the priority level is low, the transmission information is stored in a predetermined storage unit and then output during a period in which the background image signal and the lyrics display signal are stopped. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a timekeeping means for measuring a current time,
The transmission information includes notification time information indicating the notification time, and when the transmission information includes the notification time information, the priority control unit stores the notification information in a predetermined storage unit, and then stores the notification time in the timer unit. It is characterized by referring to a time and outputting the transmission information after the time is reached. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the priority control unit gives priority to the transmission information to the background display signal, the priority control unit performs It is characterized by performing a pose. Also, in the invention according to claim 5, in the karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the priority control means, when giving priority to the transmitted information to the lyrics display signal, The transmission information is used instead of the lyrics display signal. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a message storage unit for storing a predetermined message, wherein the transmission information is a predetermined message. Functioning as a message instruction signal for instructing output, the priority control means reads out a message corresponding to the message instruction signal from the message storage means and uses it as reproduction transmission information, which is used in place of the transmission information. And In the invention according to claim 7, claims 1 to 6 are provided.
In the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the above, when the transmission information includes voice transmission information, an audio signal is generated and output based on the transmission information.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A: Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a MIDI (Musical instrument digital interface) supplied from a host computer via a communication line is used.
The present invention is applied to a communication karaoke system that stores standard music data in a hard disk or the like, reads the data, and reproduces the music. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a karaoke apparatus is installed in each room of the karaoke box and these are managed in the management room.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication device which receives music data from a host station via a telephone line. The communication device 1 also exchanges signals with the cable television CS, the satellite broadcast BS, and the management device 4. Here, the management device 4 is installed in a management room (not shown), exchanges signals with karaoke devices in each room of the karaoke box, and has a terminal ( (Not shown), various signals are exchanged.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a control unit for controlling each unit of the apparatus, which is constituted by a CPU and its peripheral circuits (ROM, RAM, etc.). The control unit 3 writes song data and transmission information (details will be described later) supplied from the communication device 1 to the hard disk device 5. In this case, the song data includes performance data indicating the song and lyrics data indicating the lyrics of the song.

[0009] Further, when instructed to play music, the control unit 3 reads out music data from the hard disk device 5 and
The performance data contained therein is sequentially output to the tone signal generator 6. As a result, the musical tone signal generating section 6 generates musical tones of the music according to the progress. At the same time, the control unit 3 generates and outputs a lyrics display signal indicating the lyrics based on the lyrics data included in the read performance data. In generating the lyrics display signal, a process of changing the color of the lyrics (hereinafter, referred to as “wipe”) according to the progress of the music is performed.

[0010] The control section 3 sequentially stores the transmission information received by the communication device 1 in a predetermined area of the hard disk device 5. In this case, the transmission information is various information such as information indicating the occurrence of an emergency such as an earthquake or a fire, information notifying the remaining time of use of the karaoke room, final train information, breaking news, etc., and the header of the information has priority. Priority information indicating the degree is added. The control unit 3 determines the processing order of the transmission information based on the priority information, and immediately starts processing the transmission information that needs urgency immediately upon reception. In addition, the transmission information includes various information such as an instruction to display characters, an instruction to generate sound, an instruction to generate a video signal including a unique background video, and an instruction to combine these. There is something. The control unit 3 performs a process according to the instruction content of the transmission information, and when an image is instructed, generates a video signal (character or background image) and outputs it to the image mixing unit 10, and outputs a sound or a musical sound. When generation is instructed, signals corresponding to these are generated and output to the tone signal generation unit 6.

The video mixing section 10 mixes the lyrics display signal output from the control section 3 during the karaoke performance with the background image signal read from the background image storage section 11 (the lyrics are super-injected below the background image). Output to monitor 12 (as paused). The background image storage unit 11 stores C
Various types of background image data are stored in a storage medium such as a DROM, and background image data corresponding to the atmosphere and genre of the music is output according to an instruction from the control unit 3 (information indicating the atmosphere and genre is included in the music data. There). When the control unit 3 outputs a video signal according to the transmission signal,
Priority control is performed based on the control of the control unit 3. In this case, the priority control may be, for example, to preferentially display the character image based on the transmission signal instead of the lyrics display signal, or superimpose the character image based on the transmission signal on the background separately from the lyrics display signal. Control.

The background image signal received by the communication device 1 may be used instead of the image signal of the background image storage unit 11. Either of them is selected by the switching control by the control unit 3. The background image received by the communication device 1 is
For example, there are background images from satellite broadcasts and cable television broadcasts, and various videos are distributed to a plurality of channels of these broadcasts. The control unit 3 selects a corresponding channel according to the atmosphere and genre of the music.

In the above-described configuration, power is always supplied to the communication device 1 and the control unit 3 regardless of whether a power switch (not shown) provided in the device is on or off. The power of the other parts is turned on / off by a power switch, but the power is forcibly supplied by the control of the power control unit 15 even when the power is turned off. The power supply control unit 15 includes the control unit 3
It operates based on the control of.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a timer for outputting time information indicating the current time. An operation unit 21 issues various instructions to the control unit 3. The operation unit 21 is operated by a user. Further, an instruction signal can be given to the control unit 3 even by using the remote controller 21a.

B: Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. First, during a normal karaoke performance, the control unit 3
Outputs performance data and a lyrics display signal.
The musical tone signal generator 6 generates musical tones of the music according to the progress, and the video mixer 10 mixes the lyrics display signal and the background image signal and outputs them to the monitor 12. As a result, the user can sing a song while watching the lyrics superimposed on the background image.

When the communication information is supplied from the communication device 1 to the control unit 3, the control unit 3 performs the control shown in FIG.
First, the priority information added to the transmitted information is read, and it is determined whether or not the level is 1 (step SP1). If "YES" is determined in step SP1, the process proceeds to step SP2 to perform a notification process of level 1 transmission information. At the time of notification based on this level 1 transmission information, priority is given to at least one of the lyric display signal, background display signal, and performance signal generation. There is a method of superimposing and prioritizing a signal like superimposing. Further, even when the notification process is performed, the transmission information is stored in the hard disk device 5 so that the history can be found later.

Here, the level of the priority information will be described. In the present embodiment, the priority is set to three of levels 1, 2, and 3.
Divided into stages. Level 1 is the highest priority level for giving priority to the notification of the information even if the karaoke performance is interrupted, and level 2 is the level for notifying the information immediately after the currently performed karaoke performance ends. Level 3 is a level at which a notification is made after waiting for a predetermined time. This level 3 transmission information includes notification time information.

(Example of Notification of Level 1 Transmission Information) Next, a display example of the notification processing in step SP2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a display example when an earthquake has occurred. As shown in the figure, the text “The earthquake has just occurred in the XX region. The seismic intensity of each place is as follows.” It is displayed, and to show the seismic intensity of each place, "○○
Local seismic intensity 3, ○ × local seismic intensity 2, ×× local seismic intensity 1 ”
Is displayed. Further, an operation guide is displayed that states "If you need more information, press 1. To return to the performance mode, press 2." Here, when the user operates the operation unit 21 or the remote controller 21a and inputs the number 1, this numerical signal is transmitted to the control unit 3, whereby the control unit 3 transmits the detailed information included in the transmission information. Is started. For example, the damage status, the presence or absence of a tsunami warning, and the like are displayed based on the transmitted information. On the other hand, when the user presses the numeral 2, the control unit 3 returns to the normal karaoke performance display without displaying the detailed information included in the transmission information.

In the case of the display example shown in FIG. 3, the lyrics "Yo rises again ... today" are displayed at the bottom of the screen as shown in the figure, and the background is displayed on the screen, although not shown. The display has been made. That is, the display shown in FIG. 3 is performed in a manner of superimposing on the background. Such a display mode is described in the transmission information, and is performed by the control unit 3 interpreting this. Therefore,
Instead of a singing background, a blue background may be used, and characters to be transmitted may be displayed on the background to emphasize the urgency. In such a case, the control unit 3 controls the video mixing unit 10 to output a predetermined single color as a background, and invalidates other background image inputs.

(Other Examples of Level 1 Transmission Information) Next, as another notification example, in order to notify that the use time is running short, a front desk clerk sends a message "5 more times" via the management device 4. Minute. Please contact the front desk via the intercom. " In this case, the control unit 3 interprets the transmission information to display the message in a superimposed manner at the top of the screen on which the lyrics are displayed in the same manner as described above. As a result, the user knows that the use time has decreased, and can sing the song that is currently being sung without interruption. The user who sees this display can inform the front desk via an interphone provided in the karaoke private room, thereby notifying the settlement or extension of use. In general, the notification of the end of the usage time is often made from the front desk via the interphone in each room, but often not heard in the karaoke performance sound. By performing the above-described display according to the present embodiment, the settlement work at the front desk is smoothly performed.

Further, as in the display example shown in FIG. 3, an operation guide may be displayed, and by operating the operation unit 21 or the like, it is possible to notify the front of whether or not the use time is extended. In this case, two-way communication with the front is performed. However, the control unit 3 that has received the operation signal from the operation unit 21 transmits information from the communication device 1 and transmits the information to the front terminal (not shown in the figure) via the management device 4. ).

Next, important transmission information that requires urgency among the priority levels 1 will be described. This kind of information is evacuation guidance information such as, for example, "Please evacuate when a fire has occurred." Or "It is an earthquake. Please evacuate without panic according to the instructions of the staff." In the case of such transmission information, all the sounds and displays related to the karaoke performance are stopped, and the above message is displayed. Also,
Voice information may be included in the transmission information by PCM or ADPCM, and the tone signal generation unit 6 may generate voice based on the voice information.

Further, since this type of broadcast needs to be transmitted even if the power of the apparatus is turned off, the control unit 3 performs the following control. First, the power-on forced information is included in the transmitted information. Since the communication device 1 and the control unit 3 are always in a power-on state,
The information of the forced power-on can be recognized by the control unit 3 at any time. When the control unit 3 recognizes this information, it controls the power control unit 15 to supply power to each unit of the apparatus. Thus, the notification of the transmission information is performed regardless of the ON / OFF state of the power switch.

(Example of notification of transmission information of levels 2 and 3) On the other hand, if the determination in step SP1 is "NO" (level 1
If not, the process proceeds to step SP3, where it is determined whether or not a karaoke performance is being performed. If the performance is being performed, the karaoke performance is continued and the transmission information is stored in a predetermined area of the hard disk device 5 (step). SP4). Thus, the transmission information of level 2 or level 3 transmitted during the karaoke performance is temporarily stored in the hard disk device 5. If the performance is not being performed, the process proceeds to step SP5, and a notification process of the transmission information is performed. Even when the notification processing is performed, the transmission information is stored in the hard disk device 5 so that the history can be understood later. However, only the storage processing is performed for the information of level 3.

The notification processing of the transmission information of level 2 and level 3 is basically the same as that of level 1 described above.
The notification of the transmission information is performed at a timing after the end of the karaoke performance and at a timing when there is no reserved music. Therefore, the notification process is performed in a state where there is no signal for karaoke performance and display, and the control unit 3 outputs the display signal or the audio signal based on the transmitted information without priority control.

The transmission information of the levels 2 and 3 stored in the hard disk drive 5 during the karaoke performance is processed by a subroutine shown in FIG.

First, in step SP10 shown in FIG.
The information that has not been notified is transmitted to the hard disk drive 5
Searched within. Then, it is determined whether or not the unannounced transmission information exists (step SP11), and if it exists, it is determined in step SP12 whether or not the level is level 2. If it is level 2, notification processing is performed in step SP13, and a search is performed again (step SP10). If the determination in step SP12 is "NO", that is, in the case of level 3, it is determined whether or not the transmission time included in the transmission information of level 3 has been reached by referring to the time measurement information of the timer 20. Is done. If not, step SP1
0, and if it has reached, perform the notification process (step SP
13). The information of level 3 includes, for example, information that is convenient to be transmitted to the user at a predetermined time. For example, the information includes the last train information to be notified when the last train is near or the all-night business guide to be notified at midnight. As this type of information, a plurality of pieces of information may be transmitted in advance so as to be notified, for example, every 15 minutes or every 30 minutes.

The transmission information at each level described above is transmitted to the host, satellite broadcast, cable television broadcast, and management device 4.
May be transmitted. In short, it is sufficient that the priority information is added and transmitted in a format that can be decoded by the control unit 3.

C: Modifications In the present invention, the following modifications are possible. (1) The information indicating the priority is not limited to the header. It is only necessary that information for identifying the level is added to any of the transmission signals.

(2) Frequently used messages may be stored in advance in the hard disk device 5 or the ROM in the control unit 3, and any of the messages may be selected as the transmission information. . For example, a frequently used message such as "The remaining time is 5 minutes. Please contact us via the intercom." The communication information designating the message is configured to be output. Then, the control unit 3 reads out the message based on the transmission information, and uses this as the reproduction transmission information to perform priority display control such as superimposition as in the above-described embodiment.

(3) The control section 3 may change the level of the transmission information according to the presence or absence of the reserved music. That is, transmission information that can change the level is set in advance, and when the number of reserved songs is small, the priority is increased,
If there are many reserved songs, the priority may be lowered.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, various information can be transmitted to a karaoke user according to the priority even during a karaoke performance. Therefore, an appropriate contact can be immediately transmitted to the user in the event of a disaster or emergency. In addition, since the karaoke performance and the lyrics display can be transmitted while being continued, it is possible to transmit the emergency information while minimizing the influence on the karaoke performance. (Claim 1) When the priority level is low, the transmission information is stored in a predetermined storage means, and is output after the karaoke performance is finished. It can be transmitted between songs without interruption. (Claim 2)

Further, the notification information includes notification time information indicating the notification time, and after storing the notification information in a predetermined storage means, refers to the time measured by the time measurement means. By outputting the information, it is possible to efficiently transmit the transmission information at a desired time. (Claim 3) When giving priority to the transmitted information to the background display signal,
By performing superimposition, it is possible to recognize transmitted information while singing karaoke. (Claim 4) Also, when the transmission information is prioritized over the lyrics display signal, if the transmission information is output instead of the lyrics display signal, the transmission information is displayed in a portion where the lyrics are to be displayed. , The singer always notices. Therefore, it is suitable for transmitting emergency information, evacuation information, and the like. (Claim 5)

[0034] Further, the apparatus has message storage means for storing a predetermined message, and the transmission information can be simplified if the transmission information is made to function as a message instruction signal instructing the output of a preset message. Yes, it is preferable if there are frequently used messages. (Claim 6) If the transmission information includes transmission information by voice and an audio signal is generated and output based on the transmission information, the transmission can be performed by utilizing the user's hearing. It is suitable for transmitting emergency information. (Claim 7)

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... communication device (transmission information input means), 3 ... control unit (priority control means, message storage means) 5 ... hard disk drive (storage means, transmission information storage means, message storage means), 10 ... video Mixing section (image mixing means),
20 Timer (measuring means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing performance data indicating a music piece and lyrics data indicating lyrics of the music piece, wherein the storage means generates a tone signal based on the performance data read from the storage means. A karaoke device for generating and outputting a lyrics display signal based on the lyrics data read from the karaoke device; transmission information input means for receiving priority information indicating a priority and receiving transmission information for instructing character display; A video mixing unit that mixes and outputs a background image signal indicating an image and the lyrics display signal; based on the priority information of the transmission information input to the transmission information input unit, the lyrics display signal and the background image A priority control means for controlling the mixing means so as to perform a mixing process on the transmission information prior to at least one of the signals. A karaoke apparatus comprising: a step; 2. A transmission information storage unit for storing transmission information, wherein the priority control unit determines priority information of the transmission information input to the transmission information input unit, and determines a priority level is high. Controls the mixing means to mix the transmission information with priority over at least one of the lyrics display signal and the background display signal, and stores the transmission information in a predetermined storage when the priority level is low. 2. A karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said karaoke apparatus outputs the background image signal and the lyrics display signal during a period in which the background image signal and the lyrics display signal are stopped. 3. A transmission information storage / storage means and a clock means for measuring a current time, wherein the transmission information includes notification time information indicating the notification time, and the priority control means determines that the transmission information is the notification time. 2. When the time information is included, the transmission information is stored in the transmission information storage means, and then the time information of the time measurement means is referred to, and the transmission information is output after the time is reached. Karaoke equipment. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said priority control means performs superimposition when prioritizing said transmission information to said background display signal. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said priority control means uses said transmission information instead of said lyrics display signal when giving priority to said transmission information to said lyrics display signal.
4. The karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 3. 6. A message storage means for storing a predetermined message, wherein the transmission information functions as a message instruction signal for instructing output of a preset message, and wherein the priority control means comprises a message instruction signal. The karaoke apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a message corresponding to (i) is read out from said message storage means and used as reproduction transmission information, and is used instead of said transmission information. 7. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the transmission information includes voice transmission information, an audio signal is generated and output based on the transmission information. .