KR20030044801A - Karaoke remote control device having a function of electronic contents book - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a karaoke remote controller with an electronic table of contents book function which can display the utilization start date of a musical composition before a utilization start. CONSTITUTION: The karaoke remote controller is provided with a means to manage a musical composition index database which describes attribute information on many musical compositions, a user interface mainly composed of a touch panel, a database retrieval means activated through the user interface, a means to transmit a remote control signal for reserving the performance of a musical composition specified by the database retrieval means, a means to compare the utilization start date of the musical composition specified by the database retrieval means with a current date indicated by a built-in calendar clock, and a means to display time of day for utilization to the user and to output a message indicating 'wait till then' when it is recognized that the current date does not arrive at the utilization start date on the basis of the comparison result by the above means.

Description

KARAOKE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A FUNCTION OF ELECTRONIC CONTENTS BOOK}

The present invention provides a remote control signal for retrieving a suitable karaoke piece of music based on a search condition input by a user, while accepting a user input for reserving a karaoke piece of music presented as a search result and reserving the piece of music in a karaoke device. The present invention relates to a karaoke remote control device having an electronic table of contents function.

Karaoke remote control devices with electronic table of contents functions are commercialized as computer application devices similar to notebook computers or palmtop personal computers. In addition, attribute information (song name, artist name, composer name, writer name, genre) of the karaoke music corresponding to the karaoke music database in the karaoke device is stored in an external storage device such as a built-in hard disk or a nonvolatile memory. Stored and managed as a music index database, the search keyword entered by the user is queried as a query for attribute information to the database, and the attribute information and the music number of the corresponding karaoke music are presented and outputted. When the karaoke piece of music that the user desires to play is finally designated, the performance reservation code including the piece number of the piece of music is transmitted to the nearest karaoke device as a remote control signal.

The karaoke apparatus installs and manages karaoke data, which is the origin of karaoke accompaniment music and lyrics images, for a large number of karaoke music in correspondence with the music number, and accumulates and manages them in a karaoke database. The music number contained in the track is managed as a queue of the performance reservation, and the music number is sequentially picked up from the queue. The karaoke data is processed by processing the karaoke data corresponding to the picked-up music number.

By the way, for karaoke users, new songs of popular artists are hoping to sing in karaoke as soon as possible, and await the date when new music can be played by karaoke apparatus. However, after a new piece of music (original song), which is the original piece of karaoke music, is newly released by CD or the like, a certain period of time is required until the new piece of music of the original song becomes available to the karaoke terminal device. In addition, since this period is often determined based on the contract between the karaoke company and the copyright holder of the original song, even if the karaoke data is completed, it is later that the karaoke device is actually available.

In particular, when the karaoke apparatus is a performance terminal for a communication karaoke system that is currently mainstream, since the karaoke data is composed of music generation data recorded in MIDI format and lyrics image display output data that is the origin of the lyrics image, the karaoke data The creation time is short. Therefore, the period from the release of a new song to the date of cancellation made available on the karaoke apparatus is based on the copyright reasons, and it is assumed that when a user who is waiting for a new report will be able to sing a new piece of music in karaoke. This does not go.

Further, even if the user searches for the music using the electronic contents book function to play the new music with the karaoke apparatus, if the music is not found in the music index database, the new music is not presented as a search result. In this way, there are many things that are not obvious, such as whether the music can be used as a karaoke apparatus in the future, when the start of use thereof, and whether or not it is already available as a karaoke apparatus in another karaoke store, which may be difficult for the user.

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In the karaoke remote control apparatus which has the electronic table of contents function, when the search word for the search of the music before the usage start is input, the present inventors present, as a search result, the attribute information about the music before the usage start as a search result. At the same time, if the user could be informed of the start date of use, the user would not be in trouble, and the possibility of visiting the same karaoke store next was thought to be high. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke remote control apparatus having an electronic table of contents function that enables music to be searched for before use of the music like other available music, and also presents the date of use of the music before use. It is to offer.

1 is an external view of a karaoke remote control device having an electronic table of contents function in an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment.

3 is a schematic diagram of a top screen displayed in the above embodiment.

4 is a flowchart showing an operation of invoking various search methods and functions from the top screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process relating to a music name search function in the embodiment by a transition diagram of a display screen; FIG.

6 is a flowchart of a music presentation process before start of use in the embodiment.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Karaoke remote control device

2: liquid crystal display

3: touch panel

11: central control unit

12: flash memory

13: communication interface

17: light emitting diode

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above object, and the first invention provides means for managing a music index database describing attribute information relating to a plurality of pieces of music provided for performance in a karaoke apparatus, and a character or image on a touch panel. A user interface for presenting various types of information to the user by displaying the information and recognizing selection information touched by the user in relation to the presentation information, and processing for searching for a piece of music desired by the user based on the music index database. An electronic table of contents function having database search means for executing the media of the user interface and remote control signal transmission means for transmitting a remote control signal for reserving the music specified by the database search means to the karaoke apparatus; Having a karaoke remote control device, When the music information specified by the database searching means is accompanied by attribute information of the use start date, the date comparison means for comparing the use start date and the current date indicated by the built-in calendar clock, and the comparison result by the date comparison means. On the basis of this, if it is recognized that the current date has not reached the use start date, an electronic table of contents function is provided with means for presenting the use date and time to the user and outputting a message to the user. It features a karaoke remote control unit.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when a piece of music is specified by the database searching means, another piece of music that is identical to the artist's name that accompanies the attribute information of the piece of music is searched, and as a result of this search, the present date is less than the current date. If there is a piece of music accompanied by the use start date later, a karaoke remote control device having an electronic table of contents function having appropriate attribute information on the piece of music accompanied by the use start date and means for presenting the use start date to the user. It features.

=== Configuration of Karaoke Remote Control Unit ===

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a karaoke remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus main body 1 is generally a thick panel type, and the size is such that it can hold | maintain both hands lightly when the panel is lengthened horizontally. A liquid crystal display (LCD) 2 is disposed on the front face of the panel, and a touch panel 3 is stacked on the surface of the LCD 2.

On the upper surface of the panel case, there is an infrared ray transmitting portion 4 by a light emitting diode (LED), and on the lower surface, a terminal 6 for receiving power supply from an external power source when charging a secondary battery inside the main body, or an external The terminal 5 for the interface (IF) of the RS232C standard for data communication with a computer is provided. Moreover, these terminal groups are not normally seen from the outside by the blind cover.

2 shows the internal structure of the karaoke remote control device 1 by a functional block diagram. The configuration of the karaoke remote control device 1 of the present embodiment is basically the same as that of a computer such as a PC, and includes a central control unit which functions as a main body of a computer by incorporating a CPU, a RAM, a video RAM, a real time clock (RTC), and the like. 11) integrated control. In the flash memory 12 functioning as an external storage device, attribute information such as a song name, artist name, and lyrics beginning of the song is stored in correspondence with the music number with respect to the karaoke music (available music) available in the karaoke device. A music index database is established. In the music index database, attribute information is also stored in the future for the karaoke apparatus (music before use), and the music start date always includes the use start date as attribute information. The central control unit 11 communicates with an external computer such as a karaoke apparatus in a timely manner through the communication interface (IF) 13 of the RS232C standard, downloads attribute information, etc., regarding new karaoke music, and flash memory 12. The music index database is updated by storing in.

When the central control unit 11 receives the operation input information from the touch panel 3 through the operation control unit 15, the image data prepared in the internal ROM or the processing result according to the operation input information in this image data. The bitmap image image data reflecting this is expanded to the video RAM, and the LCD driver 14 is controlled to display and output the bitmap image on the LCD 2. As a result, the karaoke remote control device 1 provides a GUI environment to the user. The karaoke remote control device 1 realizes the electronic contents book function by the central control unit 11 searching the music index database through a dialogue between the user and the GUI, and displaying the search result. If there is a user input for the purpose of reserving the music in the state of finally presenting one karaoke music by this electronic table of contents function, the central control unit 11 generates a code including the music number and sends the code. Transfer to the LED driver 16. The LED driver 16 applies the modulated signal of this code to the LED 17 to transmit the radio signal for the performance reservation to the karaoke apparatus.

=== Electronics Table of Contents Features ===

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the top screen 20 displayed when the electronic table of contents function of the karaoke remote control device 1 is activated. Fig. 4 shows by way of flowchart a function called up when various buttons arranged on the top screen 20 are instructed. On the top screen 20, each button for calling up various search methods (new report, life name, song name, viewpoint, duet genre) and function (history, remote control) corresponding to various definition processes (s39 to s46) in FIG. (21-28) and the button group 29 for operating the karaoke apparatus in music performance is arrange | positioned. If each search method or function buttons 21 to 28 are instructed during display of this screen 20, an initial screen for guiding to each search method or function is displayed, and the screen is hierarchically shifted from the initial screen to finally By the user, a piece of music to be reserved for performance by the karaoke apparatus is specified by the user, and a remote control signal including the number of the piece of music is sent in accordance with an operation input for the purpose of reserving the piece of music. In addition, when the finally specified piece of music corresponds to the piece of music before the start of use, the start date of use is presented after the transmission of the remote control signal is invalidated.

For example, when the "music name" button 23 on the top screen is instructed, the music search function by the music name is activated. 5A to 5F show the operation of this music name search function by the screen transition diagram.

The karaoke remote control apparatus 1 is an initial screen of a music name search function, and displays a 50 character pallet, and the user inputs a song name from a head character (A).

When the song name is entered halfway and the "search" button 31 is instructed, the inputted character string is inquired into the music index database, and the song names and artist names related to the corresponding karaoke music list are displayed (B).

When a plurality of pieces of music are found as a result of the search and all the pieces of search music cannot be displayed on one screen, the pieces of music are displayed on a plurality of pages. Then, the user instructs the "turn page" button 32 to display a list screen containing the piece of music desired to be requested, and if one of the list screens is designated, detailed attribute information of the piece of music is displayed ( C).

When the user instructs the "Transfer" button 33 on the screen after confirming this detailed attribute information, a remote control signal for reserving the performance of the music is transmitted, and the confirmation screen (D) indicating the reservation of the performance is displayed. After that, the previous song name search initial screen A is displayed again.

Moreover, when the "interrupt transmission" button 34 in the detailed information C of the attribute information is instructed, the music number of the music which has been reserved for playing is registered at the beginning, not at the end of the queue of the performance processing in the karaoke apparatus. This reserved music is played after the karaoke music currently being played.

If the piece of music finally designated by the user is the use start piece of music, the use start notice screen E is displayed in which attribute information including the use start date of the piece of music and a message indicating that the piece of music is available in the near future are displayed. In the present embodiment, since the user often sings pieces of music of the same artist, if a piece of music before the start of use of the same artist is available, the screen F for introducing the piece of music before the start of use is displayed. have. As the screen transition, when the "Transfer" button 33 and the "Interrupt" transfer button 34 of the detail screen (C) are instructed, instead of the confirmation screen (D), the music before the start of use of the same artist as the music that has been reserved for playing The use start introduction screen F which introduces the effect that it exists is displayed. When there are a plurality of pieces of music before the start of use, the &quot; send page &quot; button 35 in the screen becomes effective so that the introduction screen is displayed over a plurality of pages. In addition, the "top" button 36 and the "return" button 37 in each screen (A)-(F) are shown immediately before in the screen transition and the button which switches a screen to the top screen shown in FIG. This button redisplays one screen.

=== Presentation processing of music before use start ===

6 shows a flowchart of a process for presenting music before start of use. The central control unit 11 finally acquires attribute information about a piece of music specified by the user, and compares the use start date with the current date indicated by the RTC when the use information is accompanied by the attribute information. If the current date has not reached the start date of use, processing for displaying the use start reservation screen is performed (s51 to s55).

On the other hand, when the finally specified piece of music is an available piece of music, when a user instruction for reserving the piece of music is received, the piece of artist is added to the available piece of music as attribute information after the performance of the play reservation remote control signal. The index database is queried (s52 → s57 → s58 → s60 → s61). If there is a piece of music before the start of use among pieces of music obtained as a result of the search, a use start introduction screen describing attribute information relating to the piece of music is displayed (s62? S63). In addition, since some pieces of music reach the start date of use while the music index database is updated, the pieces of music that are accompanied by the start date of use may become available songs (s54? S57).

=== Other Examples and Modifications ===

When the user finally decides a particular piece of music before the start of use, the above embodiment has suggested the start of use of the piece of music. It is not limited to this example, and if there is another piece of music before the start of use by the same artist as the piece of music before the start of use, the use start notice screen and the use start introduction screen related to the piece of music may be displayed. Of course, when there are a plurality of pieces of music before the start of use for the same artist, the pieces of the pieces of music may be displayed without listing each piece of music on a separate screen.

It is also possible to display a list of pieces of music before the start of use without going through an operation procedure for searching for pieces of music. For example, if a button for displaying a list of all music before start of use is arranged on the top screen, the music before use can be presented to the user at any time.

According to the karaoke remote control device having the electronic table of contents function of the present invention, it is possible to search for a piece of music, such as a new piece of music, that can be used by the karaoke device in the near future as the currently available piece of music, and further, present the use start date to the user can do. Thereby, it is possible to confirm that the user can sing the piece of music in karaoke so that he is not in trouble. At karaoke stores, you can advertise music that will be available in the near future, and you can expect to get repeaters or regular customers.

Claims (2)

Means for managing a music index database describing attribute information relating to a plurality of pieces of music provided for performance by a karaoke device, and displaying various information to the user by displaying characters or images on the touch panel, A user interface for recognizing selection information touched and input by the user, database retrieval means for executing a process for retrieving a piece of music desired by the user based on the music index database, via the user interface, and this data; A karaoke remote control apparatus having an electronic table of contents function having remote control signal transmitting means for transmitting a remote control signal for reserving a music specified by a bass searching means to the karaoke apparatus for playing, Date comparison means for comparing the use start date with the current date indicated by the built-in calendar clock, when the attribute information of the use start date is added to the piece of music specified by the database searching means; On the basis of the comparison result by the date comparison means, when it is recognized that the current date has not reached the start date of use, the user is presented with the date and time of use, and a message to the user is outputted. Karaoke remote control device having an electronic table of contents function, comprising a means for. The music recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a music is specified by the database searching means, other musics having the same artist name as the attribute information of the music are searched for and used as the search result. And a means for presenting, to the user, appropriate attribute information about the piece of music to which the start date accompanies, and the use start date to the user.