JPH1195767A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to realize a natural voice back chorus function and training KARAOKE function by diversified natural voices, by determining the data kinds of the voice data required for a central apparatus in accordance with the summarization result of the request frequencies of the music data from users at a terminal device. SOLUTION: The central apparatus 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected via a communication circuit. This terminal device 2 determines the data kinds of the voice data requested to the central apparatus 1 in accordance with the summarization result of the request frequencies of the music data from the users. Namely, a system control section 25 in the terminal device 2 registers the music number inputted from a remote controller 21 by the user as a request music number in a request frequency management table at every request day. The request frequencies of the users by each of respective pieces of the music are summarized in accordance with the request frequency management table. In such a case, the request frequencies are compressed by a high-grade encoding algorithm and the data kinds of the natural voice data of a high sample rate are allocated to, for example, the number of request times of >=51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a PSTN, IS
Communication lines using communication cables such as DN, wireless communication,
The present invention relates to a communication system such as a communication karaoke system for exchanging various data via a communication line not using a communication cable such as a satellite communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional communication system, for example, a communication karaoke system, various types of karaoke data including MIDI data, lyrics data, control data, and the like are stored in a center device to register a new song or request from a terminal device. The karaoke data is distributed to the terminal device in response to the karaoke data, and the terminal device accumulates the distributed karaoke data in a built-in or externally connected storage device (HD), and based on the karaoke data corresponding to the user's request. Plays karaoke music and video.

[0003] In recent years, with the multifunctionality of such a communication karaoke system, a real voice back chorus function and a training karaoke function have been provided. The real voice back chorus function is a function of playing back chorus recorded as real voice separately from karaoke music played by MIDI data, and the training karaoke function is separate from karaoke music played by MIDI data. This function plays the main vocals recorded as real voice.

In order to realize such a function, in a conventional communication karaoke system, karaoke data to which voice data of a real voice (hereinafter referred to as "real voice voice data") is added is transmitted from a center device.

However, since the amount of real voice data is generally larger than that of MIDI data, the addition of the real voice data increases the data amount of karaoke data per song, and the storage of the terminal device. The capacity of the device (HD) increases and the cost increases.

Therefore, conventionally, the real voice of a back chorus or main vocal is recorded, the real voice is sampled as digital data and compressed, and karaoke data to which the compressed real voice data is added is stored. There has been a karaoke apparatus (for example, see JP-A-6-289872) that implements a real voice back chorus function and a training karaoke function based on the karaoke function.

[0007]

However, in the above-described karaoke apparatus, the whole real voice data is compressed in the same manner in order to reduce the amount of the real voice data, so that the compressed real voice data is used. There is a possibility that the quality of the voice such as the back chorus reproduced based on the voice data may be uniformly reduced, and there is a problem that the utility value of the real voice back chorus function and the training karaoke function is reduced.

In order to save the capacity of the storage device on the terminal device side, if a measure is taken to limit the number of songs of karaoke data to which real voice voice data is added, the user will be able to perform the real voice back chorus function and the training karaoke function. There is a problem that the number of songs that can be used is reduced and the use value is reduced.

Furthermore, if the karaoke data to which the real voice data is added is not stored in the storage device but is delivered via a medium such as a CD-ROM, the delivery cost is increased and the response to new songs is delayed. .

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and suppresses an increase in the cost of the storage device on the terminal device side and an increase in the cost of delivery to the terminal device, and at the same time, uses various real voices. It is an object to realize a back chorus function and a training karaoke function.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a communication system in which a center device and a terminal device are communicably connected via a communication line. Voice data storage means for storing the real voice voice data corresponding to the music data in the form of voice data coded into a plurality of data types with respect to the respective data amounts, and from the voice data stored in the means, A voice data transmitting means for reading and transmitting voice data of the requested data type; providing the terminal device with a request frequency totalizing means for totalizing a request frequency of music data from a user; Data type determining means for determining the data type of the audio data requested from the center device, and the data type determined by the means. Means for requesting voice data to the center device, voice data receiving means for receiving voice data transmitted from the center device based on a request by the means, and voice data for storing voice data received by the means. It is provided with storage means, audio data decoding means for decoding audio data stored in the means, and audio reproduction means for reproducing audio based on the audio data decoded by the means.

Further, the data type may be classified based on an encoding algorithm. Further, the data type may be classified based on the sample rate.

According to the communication system of the first aspect of the present invention, with the above-described configuration, high-quality real voice voice data in which a large amount of data is allocated to music frequently requested by the user on the terminal device side. Music with a low request frequency can be provided with low-quality images allocated with a small amount of data, and can be provided from the center device without significantly impairing the substantial function of providing real voice voice to the user. It is possible to reduce the amount of data when storing the delivered real voice audio data, and to suppress an increase in storage capacity.

According to the communication system of the second aspect of the present invention, the real voice data is classified based on an encoding algorithm, and the data is compressed by a high-definition compression algorithm when the request frequency of the user is high. It is possible to provide high quality real voice sound data to which a large amount is allocated, and to transmit real voice voice data which is compressed by a low-quality compression algorithm and allocated to a small data amount when the request frequency is low.

Therefore, it is possible to use the real voice back chorus function and the training karaoke function using the real voice voice data for all the performance musics while suppressing the cost of the storage capacity of the terminal device.

Further, according to the communication system of the third aspect of the present invention, the real voice data is classified based on the sample rate, and when the frequency of request of the user is high, a large amount of data is allocated at a high sample rate. It is possible to provide real voice data with high sound quality, and transmit the allocated real voice data at a low sample rate and a small amount of data when the request frequency is low.

Therefore, it is possible to use the real voice back chorus function and the training karaoke function using the real voice voice data for all the performance music while suppressing the cost of the storage capacity of the terminal device.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this communication karaoke system, a center apparatus 1 and a plurality of communication karaoke terminal apparatuses 2 are connected to be able to perform data communication via an ISDN communication network (ISDN NETWORK) 3.

Console terminal device 11 of center device 1
Is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and includes a display, a keyboard, a CD reading device, and the like.
, And registers various programs and data in the storage device 13 and monitors the operation status of the center device body 10.

The system control unit 12 includes a CPU, a memory,
It is realized by a microcomputer including a timer and the like, controls the entire operation of the center apparatus main body 10, and executes various processes such as distribution of karaoke data with real voice data to the communication karaoke terminal apparatus 2.

The storage device 13 is a storage means such as a magnetic disk device for storing various types of programs and various types of karaoke data with real voice voice data to be delivered to the communication karaoke terminal device 2, and storing other various data.

The ISDN interface unit 14 is composed of a network termination circuit, a communication controller, and the like connected to each communication karaoke terminal device 2.
At the time of communication with the network, layer 1 signal processing of the ISDN communication network 3 and layer 2 signal processing of the D channel are performed. The console interface unit 15 is composed of SIO or the like, and performs an interface for data exchange between the console terminal device 11 and the system control unit 12.

On the other hand, the remote control 21 of the communication karaoke terminal device 2 is a device which enables a user to input an operation from a position remote from the communication karaoke terminal device 2, and inputs operation information such as a request for karaoke music. The operation information is output by infrared rays. The microphone 22 inputs a user's voice.

The speaker 23 is provided for the karaoke music and the microphone 2.
And the user's voice input from step 2. Monitor 2
4 is a CR for displaying background images and lyrics of karaoke music.
It is a display device such as T or LCD.

The system control unit 25 includes a CPU, a memory,
It is realized by a microcomputer such as a timer, and controls the entire communication karaoke terminal device 2. The storage device 26 is a storage device such as a magnetic disk device that stores various programs and various data such as karaoke data with real voice voice data distributed from the center device 1.

The graphic generation unit 27 is composed of a graphic controller, a D / A converter (RAMDAC), etc., generates a lyrics image based on the karaoke data and generates a graphic image for color change of the lyrics, and an analog image signal of the graphic image. (RGB signal).

The audio decoder 28 comprises a decoder, a D / A converter, etc., decodes the encoded real voice data, and outputs an analog voice signal. The MIDI playback unit 29 includes a MIDI sound source, a D / A converter, and the like.
The karaoke music is reproduced based on the MIDI data in the music data of the karaoke data, and the analog music signal is output.

The ISDN interface unit 30 comprises a network terminating circuit, a communication controller, and the like. When communicating with the center device 1, signal processing of the layer 1 of the ISDN communication network 3 is performed.
It performs D channel layer 2 signal processing.

The user interface unit 31 comprises an LCD display, a keypad, an infrared receiver, etc., and inputs operation information such as a request for karaoke music by a user.
Further, operation information by infrared rays from the remote controller 21 is input, and various kinds of guidance are displayed.

The audio effector 32 includes an effector, an amplifier, etc., performs audio effect processing such as echo and key control on the audio signal input from the microphone 22, and outputs audio from the MIDI reproducing unit 29 and the audio decoding unit 28. The signal is synthesized, amplified, and output to the speaker 23.

The image synthesizing processing unit 33 is composed of a super imposer, an NTSC encoder, etc., synthesizes a background image and lyrics based on the image signals from the V-CD drive 34 and the graphic generation unit 27, and outputs them to the monitor 24. I do.
The V-CD drive 34 reproduces a background video signal based on video information recorded on the video CD.

That is, the center apparatus 1 encodes the real voice audio data corresponding to a plurality of types of music data into a plurality of data types (types classified based on an encoding algorithm or a sample rate) with respect to data amount. And a voice data transmitting means for reading out and transmitting voice data of a data type requested by the communication karaoke terminal device 2 from the voice data stored in the voice data storing means. Fulfill.

Further, the communication karaoke terminal device 2 calculates request frequency counting means for counting the request frequency of the music data from the user, and the data type of the voice data requested to the center device 1 based on the counting result by the means. , A means for requesting the center device 1 for voice data of the data type determined by the means, and a voice for receiving voice data transmitted from the center device 1 based on a request by the means. Data receiving means, voice data storage means for storing voice data received by the means, voice data decoding means for decoding voice data stored in the means, and voice data decoded by the means. It functions as a sound reproducing means for reproducing sound.

Next, basic processing in the communication karaoke system will be described. When the user operates the remote controller 21 to specify the requested music on the communication karaoke terminal device 2 side, the remote controller 21 sends the specified information of the requested music, and the user interface unit 31
Is transmitted to the system control unit 25.

The system control unit 25 determines the music number of the requested music on the basis of the notified designated information, reads out the karaoke data management table in the storage device 26, and searches for the corresponding music number. In the karaoke data management table, the song numbers of the karaoke data registered in the storage device 26 and the file numbers of the karaoke data are registered in a list.

If there is karaoke data of the corresponding song number in the above search, karaoke music is reproduced based on the karaoke data. If there is no karaoke data of the corresponding song number in the above search, the control unit controls the ISDN interface unit 30 to call the center device 1 and request distribution of the karaoke data of the above song number.

The center device 1 reads the karaoke data of the music number requested from the communication karaoke terminal device 2 from the storage device 13 and controls the ISDN interface unit 14 to distribute the karaoke data to the requesting communication karaoke terminal device 2.

Next, distribution processing of karaoke data in the communication karaoke system will be further described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a procedure for distributing karaoke data in the communication karaoke system.

In the communication karaoke terminal device 2, the system control unit 25 makes a call to the center device 1 via the ISDN communication network 3 by the ISDN interface unit 30 based on the operation by the user.

In the center device 1, the system control unit 12 sends a call from the communication karaoke terminal device 2 to one of the ISDN
When a call arrives at the interface unit 14, the called IS
It controls the DN interface unit 14 to respond to the communication karaoke terminal device 2. When the system control unit 25 confirms the response of the center device 1, the communication karaoke terminal device 2
The DN interface unit 30 transmits a data transfer start request message to the center device 1.

When the system controller 12 receives the data transfer start request message from the communication karaoke terminal device 2, the center device 1 first refers to the terminal number in the data transfer start request message and stores it in the storage device 13. The terminal number is checked against the registered terminal number in the terminal management table to check whether the terminal number is registered. By checking the terminal number, it is checked whether or not the transmission source of the data transfer start request message is the data distribution destination communication karaoke terminal device.

When the system control unit 12 determines that the karaoke data is registered, it reads out the karaoke data corresponding to the information of the music number, the requested data type, and the real voice data type of the data transfer start request message from the storage device 13, and reads the ISDN.
The interface unit 14 transmits the terminal number to the communication karaoke terminal device 2.

When the reception of the karaoke data from the center apparatus 1 is completed, the system control unit 25 of the communication karaoke terminal apparatus 2 converts the received karaoke data into a file, stores the file in the storage device 26, and stores the karaoke data management table in the file. Update.

Next, a basic reproduction process of karaoke data in the communication karaoke terminal device 2 will be described. The system control unit 25 of the communication karaoke terminal device 2 extracts the lyrics data from the karaoke data, reads out the font data stored in the storage device 26 in advance corresponding to the lyrics data, and the graphic generation unit 27 The lyrics image based on the font data is developed and the lyrics are displayed.

In parallel with the above processing, the system control unit 25 extracts the music data from the karaoke data, and performs time measurement based on the timing information in the music data. And the graphic generation unit 27 performs color change of the lyrics image and page switching (content update of the lyrics) based on the lyrics color change data in the music data.

Further, in parallel with the above processing, the system control unit 25 extracts real voice voice data from the karaoke data, transfers the data to the voice decoding unit 28, and outputs an output such as a back chorus by the real voice corresponding to the karaoke music. Let it run.

Next, the process of creating and registering karaoke data in the center device 1 will be described. The creation of the karaoke data is executed by an authoring tool not shown. The authoring tool is a device having all the functions of the communication karaoke terminal device together with the MIDI data input device, the lyrics data input device, and the real voice voice data input device. It has a function to perform verification.

The input device for the real voice audio data has a function of an audio encoder, and is connected to an existing audio reproducing device such as a digital audio tape recorder (DAT).
The real voice audio signal reproduced by the audio reproducing apparatus can be encoded into audio data of a plurality of kinds of data amounts by a predetermined encoding algorithm or a sample rate.

The MIDI data of the karaoke music created by the MIDI data input device, the lyrics data created by the lyrics data input device, and the plural types of encoded data created by the real voice data input device. Karaoke data consisting of audio data is temporarily recorded on CD
Etc., and the karaoke data recorded on the data storage medium by the console terminal device 11 is registered in the storage device 13 of the center device main body 10.

The system control unit 12 of the center device body 10
When the console interface unit 15 receives the karaoke data transferred from the console terminal device 11, the karaoke data is converted into a file and stored in the storage device 1.
3 and update the karaoke data management table.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the karaoke data. The karaoke data includes a song number 101, song information 102 including information related to the song such as a song title, a composer, a lyricist, etc., lyrics, font size and font type for displaying the lyrics (for example, Lyrics data 103 composed of information such as morning and gothic, etc., and information such as the tempo of the music, MIDI data, timing information for reproducing each MIDI data, color change of lyrics and timing information of page break. It is composed of song data 104, encoded real voice audio data 105, and EOF 106 indicating the end code of the karaoke data.

Next, the reproduction process of the karaoke data according to the present invention in the communication karaoke terminal device 2 will be described. First, various tables of the communication karaoke terminal device 2 and messages transmitted to the center device 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the request frequency management table of the communication karaoke terminal device 2.
This request frequency management table is a management table for registering the requested music number of the music requested by the user in association with the requested date. The system control unit 25 registers the song number of the song input from the remote controller 21 by the user as the requested song number, and registers the requested date as the requested date in the request frequency management table. Then, based on the request frequency management table, the request frequency (request frequency) of the user for each music is totaled.

The request frequency management table may be formed in a ring structure, and a sufficient storage capacity for managing a request history for a predetermined period (for example, the past month) with respect to the usage status (request frequency) may be allocated. . Further, in this embodiment, the request date is registered, but the request time may also be registered, and the request frequency based on the request date and the request time may be totaled.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the format of a data transfer start request message transmitted from the communication karaoke terminal device 2 to the center device 1. The data transfer start request message includes a message type indicating that it is a karaoke data data transfer start request message, a terminal number of a communication karaoke terminal device, a song number of a song requested (requested) by a user, Information such as a requested data type indicating a requested data type and a real voice audio data type requested to the center apparatus 1 is stored.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the real voice audio data type determination table of the communication karaoke terminal device 2. This real voice voice data type determination table is a management table in which a real voice voice data type number indicating the data type of the real voice voice data requested to the center apparatus 1 is registered for each number of times (request frequency) of the user. Is registered in advance. The figure shows an example of the contents of the real voice voice data for each real voice voice data type number.

For example, when the number of times of request is 51 or more, the data is compressed by a high-quality encoding algorithm, and the data type of the real voice voice data of high sample rate “MPEG2 (layer 2), 4
8 kHz sample "is assigned, 11 to 50 are compressed by a high-quality encoding algorithm, and the data type of low voice rate audio data at low sample rate is" MPEG2 (layer 2), 24 kHz sample ". The data type “G.722” of the real voice audio data compressed by the low-quality encoding algorithm is assigned.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the real voice voice data management table of the communication karaoke terminal device 2. This real voice voice data management table is stored in the storage device 2
6 is a management table of the real voice voice data, in which a song number corresponding to the real voice voice data, a data type, and a real voice voice data storage file number indicating a storage location are registered.
The system control unit 25 updates the real voice voice data management table every time the real voice voice data distributed from the center device 1 is stored in the storage device 26.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a karaoke data reproducing process in the communication karaoke terminal device 2 according to the present invention. The user operates the remote controller 21 to request a song. The operation content of the remote controller 21 is notified to the system control unit 25 via the user interface unit 31.

The system control unit 25 determines whether or not there is a request from the user (S1), and if so, writes the requested song number into the request frequency management table shown in FIG. (S2), the karaoke data management table in the storage device 26 is read out (S3), and the karaoke data management table in the storage device 26 is read out. It is determined whether the song is a new song (S4).

For a new song, the system control unit 25 creates a data transfer start request message requesting the karaoke data of the song, calls the center device 1, and calls the center device 1 based on the procedure shown in FIG. Receiving the karaoke data transmitted from No. 1 and storing it (S12), the contents of the karaoke data management table and the real voice data management table shown in FIG. 7 are updated (S13), and the karaoke data is reproduced (S11). ).

For example, when a data transfer start request message with a request data type “00” and a real voice data type “03” is transmitted, the center device 1 sends song data (music performance data), lyrics data, and data type “MPEG2”. (Layer 2), karaoke data consisting of real voice audio data of “48 kHz sample” is distributed.

When the song is not a new song, the system control unit 2
5 retrieves the request frequency management table and counts the number of requests for the same music number in the past month (S5), and based on the coefficient result, FIG.
The data type of the real voice data corresponding to the number of requests is determined with reference to the real voice data type determination table shown in (6) (S6).

Thereafter, the system control unit 25 reads the real voice voice data management table shown in FIG. 7 stored in the storage device 26, further reads the current data type (S7), and determines the current data type and the number of requests. Based on the matrix-type determination table with the data type based on the aggregation result, the current real voice audio data (storage device 2
Then, it is determined whether or not the data type of the real voice voice data stored in No. 6 matches the real voice voice data type determined from the result of aggregation of the request frequency management table (S8).

If the data types are the same, the system control unit 25 creates a data transfer start request message, calls the center device 1, and, based on the procedure shown in FIG. ) Is stored in the storage device 26 and updated (S
9), the real voice data management table is updated (S1)
0), the real voice is reproduced together with the karaoke music, the lyrics and the background video (S11), and this processing ends.

In the above-described processing, when the data type is changed based on the result of the frequency calculation, the real voice voice data is transmitted immediately. The real voice voice data transmitted from the next request may be used by reproducing the real voice voice data and transmitting the real voice voice data in parallel.

Further, the center apparatus 1 periodically checks the frequency of use of the karaoke data of each communication karaoke terminal apparatus 2,
The data type of the real voice audio data whose usage frequency has been changed may be changed based on the confirmation result. Further, the data type of the new song is fixed by an instruction from the communication karaoke apparatus 2, but may be appropriately selected in consideration of the request frequency expected on the center apparatus 1 side.

[0068]

As described above, according to the communication system of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cost of the storage device on the side of the terminal device and an increase in the cost of delivery to the terminal device and to use various real voices. The real voice back chorus function and the training karaoke function can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic procedure for distributing karaoke data in the communication karaoke system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of karaoke data distributed from the center device shown in FIG. 1 to a communication karaoke terminal device.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a request frequency management table of the communication karaoke terminal device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a data transfer start request message transmitted from the communication karaoke terminal device shown in FIG. 1 to the center device.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a real voice audio data type determination table of the communication karaoke terminal device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a real voice voice data management table of the communication karaoke terminal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a karaoke data reproducing process according to the present invention in the communication karaoke terminal device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: center device 2: communication karaoke terminal device 3: ISDN communication network 10: center device main body 11: console terminal device 12, 25: system control unit 13, 26: storage device 14, 30: ISDN interface unit 15: console interface Face unit 20: Communication karaoke terminal device body 21: Remote control 22: Microphone 23: Speaker 24: Monitor 27: Graphic generation unit 28: Audio decoding unit 29: MIDI playback unit 31: User interface unit 32: Audio effector unit 33: Image synthesis processing unit 34: V-CD drive

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication system in which a center device and a terminal device are connected so as to be able to perform data communication via a communication line, wherein said center device is provided with a plurality of real voice voice data corresponding to a plurality of types of music data in terms of data amount. Voice data storage means for storing voice data encoded in the data type of the above, and voice data for reading and transmitting voice data of the data type requested from the terminal device from the voice data stored in the means. A transmitting means, a request frequency totalizing means for totalizing a request frequency of music data from a user in the terminal device, and a data type of audio data requested to the center device is determined based on a totaling result by the means. Means for requesting the center device for voice data of the data type determined by the means; Voice data receiving means for receiving voice data transmitted from the center device based on the request, voice data storage means for storing voice data received by the means, and decoding voice data stored in the means. A communication system comprising: audio data decoding means for reproducing audio data; and audio reproduction means for reproducing audio based on the audio data decoded by the audio data decoding means. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said data type is classified based on an encoding algorithm. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said data type is classified based on a sample rate.