KR20060065544A - Music data structure, terminal apparatus and music reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A structure of music data that is capable of storing and delivering high quality music data and having a small data size suitable for use in a terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network is proposed. Regarding the piece of music corresponding to at least a portion of the piece of music to be reproduced, the piece of piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music piece is not retained in the piece of piece of music data, and instead, the place of the piece of piece of piece of data of the piece of music is located on the communication network. The material information to be displayed is held in the music data.

Music delivery system, distribution server, voice processing unit, vibrator, sequencer, sound source, adder, decoder

Description

Structure of music data, terminal device and music reproduction method {MUSIC DATA STRUCTURE, TERMINAL APPARATUS AND MUSIC REPRODUCING METHOD}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a music delivery system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the portable terminal 50.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound source unit 100;

4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of music data D1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a distribution server 10. FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the music distribution system 1;

7 is a view for explaining a method for monitoring the remaining capacity of the storage area M1.

<Brief description of the main parts of the drawing>

1: music delivery system

10: Distribution Server

11: CPU

12: ROM

13: RAM

14: I / F

15: input unit

16: display

17: memory

20: Distribution Server

30: base station

50: mobile terminal

51: CPU

52: ROM

53: communication unit

54: voice processing unit

55: RAM

56: display unit

57: input unit

58: vibrator

59: speaker

60: mobile terminal

70: network

99: bus

100: sound source

101: I / F

102: FIFO

103: sequencer

104: sound source

105: adder

111: I / F

112: FIFO

113: decoder

120: DAC

[Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2002-099541

The present invention relates to a technique for reproducing music from music data in a terminal device.

Background Art A technique for reproducing pronunciation data in various data formats (formats), such as pronunciation data such as pronunciation sequence data or ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) data, has been developed in a portable terminal such as a cellular phone (for example). , Patent Document 1). The music data described in such a data format is stored in advance in a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, or the music data is downloaded and stored through a communication line in a music data distribution server or the like. Music, such as a so-called incoming melody, can be reproduced.

However, when the pronunciation data of the above-described format is to be reproduced by the portable terminal, the pronunciation data to be reproduced in advance in the portable terminal needs to be stored. In this case, when the data size of the pronunciation data is large, it is stored or downloaded according to the large size. Therefore, in a mobile terminal that lacks resources such as memory storage capacity and data communication speed, such pronunciation data consumes many resources, and in some cases, there is a problem that resources are insufficient. In addition, in such a resource-limited environment, there is a limit on the size of data that can be transmitted, so it is difficult to play high-quality music, and content providers such as incoming melodies can meet the demands of users who want to improve the quality of the music to be played. There was a problem that there was not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is intended to provide a structure of new music data enabling storage and distribution of high quality music with a small data size. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a terminal apparatus that enables music reproduction by using music data having such a structure, so that high quality music data can be delivered using a small memory. In addition, it is intended to provide a music reproducing method that enables music to be reproduced using the music data having such a structure, thereby enabling delivery of the music data of high quality using a small memory. .

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, this invention is a structure of music data suitable for use by the terminal apparatus which has a function which reproduces a music, and the function which connects to a communication network, Comprising: At least a music piece corresponding to at least a part of music to be reproduced Regarding the small piece, the piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music piece is not retained in the piece of music data, and instead, the piece of piece of material information indicating the location of the piece of piece of music piece data on the communication network is contained in the piece of music piece data. A music data structure is provided.

According to the present invention, the music piece data for reproducing a piece of music is not retained in the piece of music data; instead, data for holding material information indicating the location of the piece of music piece data on the communication network is contained in the piece of music data. I make it a structure. Therefore, the data size of the music data can be reduced, and is suitable for use in a small terminal device (for example, a mobile communication terminal) having a limited storage capacity. Furthermore, since the piece of music piece data itself used for music reproduction can be obtained partially at each time from a location on the communication network, it can be made of high quality with a relatively large data size, so that high quality music can be reproduced. It can be done. Therefore, it is suitable for reproducing high-quality music in a small terminal device (for example, a portable communication terminal) having a limited storage capacity.

In a preferred embodiment, the music data has a structure composed of a plurality of channels, and the material information is contained in the music data in an arrangement corresponding to a channel for reproducing the music piece and the time for reproduction.

In another preferred aspect, the location information includes a server name of a server storing the piece piece data and a file name of the piece piece data.

Moreover, the terminal apparatus which concerns on this invention is a terminal apparatus which has a function which reproduces a music, and a function which connects to a communication network, As a 1st storage means which stores music data, A music piece corresponding to at least a part of music to be reproduced Regarding the small piece, the piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music piece is not retained in the piece of music data, and instead, the piece of piece of material information indicating the location of the piece of piece of music piece data on the communication network is contained in the piece of music piece data. Communication means for acquiring at least a portion of the piece of music piece data through the communication network, and piece of music piece data acquired by the communication means, from the first storage means and the place indicated by the location information Stored in the second storage means and the first storage means The song data and having a music reproducing means for reproducing a piece of music according to the musical piece a small piece of data stored in said second memory means.

In a preferred aspect, the terminal apparatus is adapted to update the memory of the portion of the piece of music piece data reproduced in the second storage means with a new portion of the piece of piece music data in association with the reproduction of the piece of music by the piece of music piece reproducing means, Update means for controlling the communication means and the second storage means is further provided. More preferably, the updating means comprises: monitoring means for monitoring a capacity of an empty area including an area for storing music piece piece data reproduced in the second storage means, and an empty area monitored by the monitoring means; A download request for generating a download request instructing acquisition of a new portion of the piece of music piece data when the capacity of? Satisfies a predetermined condition; Means;

In another preferred aspect, the music means may be capable of transmitting or receiving any piece of music data between the first storage means and any node on the communication network.

In the above aspect, the terminal device may be a portable terminal device.

A music reproducing method according to the present invention is a music reproducing method performed by a computer in a terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network, wherein the terminal device stores music data. The music data has a memory piece data for reproducing the music piece pieces with respect to the music piece pieces corresponding to at least a part of the piece of music to be reproduced, and instead of the communication network of the piece pieces of data. The music reproducing method is a step of performing music reproducing control, comprising: reading music data of music to be reproduced from the memory; and reproducing the music when the music is reproduced. Prior to the timing of reproducing a piece of music, it is included in the piece of music data. Acquiring at least a portion of the piece of music piece data through the communication network from the location of the place indicated by the piece of information information, and storing the piece of piece of music piece data obtained through the communication network in a predetermined storage area; And reading the piece of music piece data stored in the storage area at the timing of reproducing the piece of music piece in accordance with the piece of music reproduction control, generating a piece of music based on the piece of music piece data read out, and A new portion of the piece of music piece data is acquired through the communication network so that the portion of the piece of piece music piece data is updated with a new portion of the piece of piece music piece data, and a new portion of the piece of piece of piece of music piece data obtained is transferred to the predetermined storage area. Preserving. According to the present invention, a storage medium storing a program for executing such a music reproducing method on a computer can be provided.

(Example)

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, one Embodiment of this invention is described with reference to drawings.

<1. Configuration>

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a music delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment. The distribution server 10 has a database DB1 that records stream audio data such as mp3 data. The distribution server 10 can communicate with other devices via a network 70 such as the Internet. The delivery server 20 has a database DB2 and has the same function as the delivery server 10. The portable terminal 50 such as a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA) can communicate with other devices via the base station 30, the base station 40, and the network 70. In other words, the mobile terminal 50 is connected to any node, for example, the distribution server 10 or the distribution server 20, through the base station 30 (or base station 40) and the communication network 70. It can communicate with the device equipped with. The portable terminal 60 also has the same function as the portable terminal 50.

2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the portable terminal 50. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 reads and executes a program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) 52 using the RAM (Random Access Memory) 55 as a work area. The CPU 51 also has a function of controlling each component of the portable terminal 50. The portable terminal 50 according to the present embodiment is a portable telephone, which functions to analog-to-digital convert voices collected from a microphone by the voice processing unit 54 and wirelessly transmit digitally converted voice data through the communication unit 53. Has In addition, the portable terminal 50 receives the voice data transmitted through the network 70 by the communication unit 53. The received voice data is digital / analog converted by the voice processing unit 54 and output as voice from the speaker. In addition to the audio data, the portable terminal 50 includes stream audio data such as mp3 data, performance control data such as SMF (Standard MIDI File) or SMAF (Synthetic music Mobile Application Format), an e-mail message, Data (content) such as application software can be communicated via the communication unit 53, and these data can be transmitted to a distribution server or other communication device, or vice versa. These data are stored in the RAM 55.

The display unit 56 has a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and displays characters and images under the control of the CPU 51. The user of the portable terminal 50 can input an instruction to the portable terminal 50 by manipulating the input unit 57 made of a ten key, a cross key, or the like while viewing a character or an image displayed on the display unit 56. The vibrator 58 vibrates under the control of the CPU 51 and has a function of notifying an incoming call or the like to the user. The sound source unit 100 will be described in detail below. Each of the above components is connected to each other via the bus 99.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound source unit 100. The sound source unit 100 has a function of reproducing waveform control data such as performance control data such as SMF or SMAF and mp3 data. When the reproduction of the performance control data is instructed, the CPU 51 supplies the performance control data (part of it) stored in the RAM 55 to the sound source unit 100. The performance control data is received by the FIFO (First-In First-Out) 102 via the I / F 101 in a predetermined amount sequentially from the head of the data and stored temporarily. The FIFO 102 is a storage means capable of storing performance control data in a limited amount, and is read out sequentially from the performance control data written earlier. The sequencer 103 sequentially reads performance control data from the FIFO 102, and frequently generates sound source control data in accordance with time information (duration) of the performance control data. The sequencer 103 outputs the generated sound source control data to the sound source 104. The sound source 104 outputs digital audio data in accordance with sound source control data. The voice data is converted into an analog voice signal by the digital analog converter (DAC) 120 and output as voice from the speaker 59. When performance control data stored in the FIFO 102 is read out and a predetermined amount of free area set in the FIFO 102 occurs, the FIFO 102 generates a dedicated signal line not showing an interrupt request signal (Interrupt ReQuest, IRQ). The CPU 51 is sent to the CPU 51 via the CPU 51 to request the CPU 51 to transmit subsequent performance control data. The CPU 51 supplies subsequent performance control data to the predetermined amount FIFO 102.

On the other hand, when reproduction of the waveform compressed data is instructed, the CPU 51 supplies the waveform compressed data (part of it) stored in the RAM 55 to the sound source unit 100. The waveform compressed data is sequentially received from the head of the data by the FIFO 112 via the I / F 111 and temporarily stored therein. The FIFO 112 is a storage means capable of storing a limited amount of waveform compressed data, and is read out sequentially from the previously written waveform compressed data. The decoder 113 expands waveform compressed data such as mp3 data, ADPCM data, and converts the waveform data into waveform data (digital voice data). The decoder 113 outputs the converted waveform data. The waveform data is converted into an analog audio signal by the DAC 120 and output as audio from the speaker 59. When the waveform compressed data stored in the FIFO 112 is read out and a predetermined amount of free area set in the FIFO 112 occurs, the FIFO 112 sends the CPU through a dedicated signal line not shown in the interrupt request signal IRQ. Sent to 51, and requests the CPU 51 to transfer subsequent waveform compressed data. The CPU 51 supplies subsequent waveform compressed data to the predetermined amount FIFO 112. In addition, in the present embodiment, the decoder 113 has a function of decoding data of two formats, mp3 data and ADPCM data. In another aspect, the sound source unit 100 may be configured to have a separate mp3 decoder for decoding mp3 data and an ADPCM decoder for decoding ADPCM data. In addition, the data format is not limited to the mp3 format and the ADPCM format, and waveform compressed data of another format such as the wma format may be used. In this case, the sound source unit 100 needs to have a decoder suitable for the data format to be used.

As described above, the sound source unit 100 includes processing systems for reproducing performance control data (I / F 101, FIFO 102, sequencer 103, sound source 104), and waveform compressed data such as mp3 data. It has two reproduction systems: a processing system (I / F 111, FIFO 112, and decoder 113) for reproducing. The performance control data and waveform compression data are processed by corresponding reproduction systems, respectively, to generate digital audio data. The audio data generated by the two reproduction systems are added by the adder 105, and are output as audio from the speaker 59 in synchronization.

4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of music data D1 according to the present embodiment. The music data D1 has a format composed of five parts (channels) of parts 1 to 5. The data of each part is sequence data having a pair of duration data and event data. Duration data corresponding to a certain event data is data indicating the duration (time) from the start time of one event before the start time of the event. The event data is data indicating the control contents for the output device such as the sound source unit 100. In Fig. 4, parts 1, 3, and 5 are MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) data having MIDI events as event data. Part 2 is embedded audio data having pronunciation data in ADPCM format as event data. In addition, Part 4 starts data (URL event) indicating a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a storage location of stream audio data such as mp3 format audio data as event data, and playback of the stream audio data as duration data. It has data indicating the time to do it. The URL event contains information of a distribution server name and a file name to be delivered, such as "http://aaa.bbb.co.jp/sing-1.mp3", for example. The portable terminal 50 downloads and reproduces the data (stream audio data) specified from the distribution server specified by this URL.

The portable terminal 50 stores the music data D1 in the RAM 55. The music data D1 may be stored in advance at the time of shipment of the portable terminal 50, or may be downloaded and stored from the server via a communication line after shipment. The portable terminal 50 reads out the music data D1 from the RAM 55 and outputs it to the sound source unit 100. The sound source unit 100 reproduces the music in accordance with the music data D1 as described above. The music data D1 is music data in which MIDI data, embedded audio data, and stream audio data downloaded from a server are mixed. As described above, the portable terminal 50 according to the present embodiment can reproduce MIDI data (performance control data), embedded audio data, and stream audio data (waveform compressed data) in synchronization. In the present embodiment, by adopting the music data format of such a data format, it is possible to reproduce data in a different format synchronously.

5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the delivery server 10. The delivery server 10 is a computer device having a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an I / F 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a storage unit 17. The storage unit 17 is composed of a storage device such as an HDD, and stores a database DB1 in which stream audio data such as the above-described mp3 format audio data is recorded. The distribution server 10 is connected to a network 70 such as the Internet via the I / F 14, and stream audio stored in the storage unit 17 in accordance with a download request received through the network 70. Has the function of transmitting data. The delivery server 20 also has the same hardware configuration as the delivery server 10. The stream audio data stored in the distribution server 10 is not limited to the mp3 format data, but may be data described in other formats such as the ADPCM format and the wma format.

<2. Action>

Subsequently, the operation of the music delivery system 1 will be described.

6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the music delivery system 1. When the portable terminal 50 is instructed to reproduce the music data D1 (step S101: YES), the CPU 51 searches whether the music data D1 has URL event data prior to the reproduction of the music data D1 ( Step S102). When the music data D1 has URL event data (step S103: YES), the CPU 51 determines the data represented by the URL event data (when there are a plurality of URL event data, the earliest in reproduction of the music data D1). A download request indicating to download the data) appears. The CPU 51 transmits the generated download request via the communication unit 53 as the destination to the delivery server indicated by the URL event data (step S104). In the present embodiment, the URL event data represents the mp3 format stream audio data D2 (hereinafter referred to as mp3 data D2) stored in the delivery server 10. Therefore, the CPU 51 transmits the download request of the mp3 data D2 to the delivery server 10. Here, the download request includes data size information DS1 indicating the size of data that can be received by the mobile terminal 50. This mp3 data D2 represents a part of music data, which is called music piece data or music piece data.

In addition, when the music data D1 does not have URL event data (step S103: NO), the CPU 51 does not perform the processing of step S104 and S105 described later, but transfers the processing to step S106 described later.

Upon receiving the download request, the CPU 11 of the delivery server 10 searches for mp3 data D2 from the database DB1. When the mp3 data D2 is found, the CPU 11 extracts the mp3 data D2 from the database DB1. The CPU 11 extracts data of a part of the mp3 data D2 from the head of the extracted mp3 data D2 so as to be data of the size specified by the data size information DS1 included in the download request. Hereinafter, the data of a part of this mp3 data D2 is called music piece data D3.

The CPU 11 transmits the extracted piece piece piece data D3 to the portable terminal 50 that is the transmission source of the download request via the I / F 14 and the network 70.

When the music piece piece data D3 is received, the CPU 51 of the portable terminal 50 stores the received piece piece piece data D3 in the RAM 55. The RAM 55 has a storage area M1 for music piece data. The CPU 51 stores the music piece piece data D3 in the storage area M1. In addition, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 55, the address P3, which is information indicating the position of the downloaded data (that is, the head position of the data to start downloading next) among the mp3 data D2. When the piece of music piece data D3 is stored in the storage area M1 (step S105: YES), the CPU 51 sequentially outputs the piece of music data D1 to the sound source unit 100. In this way, reproduction of the music data D1 is started (step S106). As described below, the processing proceeds to steps S107 to S109, but the music continues to be reproduced even in these steps until the reproduction of the music ends.

The sound source unit 100 sequentially reproduces data of each part shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with time information (duration) and outputs it as audio. Regarding parts 1, 3, and 5, MIDI data (performance control data) are sequentially supplied to the FIFO 102, and a voice (musical sound) corresponding to the MIDI data of each part is reproduced. Regarding part 2, ADPCM data (compressed waveform data) is sequentially supplied to the FIFO 112, and the voice corresponding thereto is reproduced. When the playback position reaches the URL event in Part 4, the sound source unit 100 requests the CPU 51 to transfer the piece piece data D3. The CPU 51 sequentially outputs the piece piece data D3 from the storage area M1 to the sound source unit 100 in accordance with the request. Since the piece piece data D3 is compressed waveform data in the mp3 format, the sound source unit 100 reproduces the compressed waveform data by the reproduction system (I / F 111, FIFO 112, and decoder 113) of the compressed waveform data. In this way, the stream audio corresponding to the piece piece data D3 is reproduced. The piece piece data D3 is sequentially supplied in accordance with the storage capacity of the FIFO 112 of the sound source unit 100. Here, the CPU 51 monitors the remaining capacity of the storage area M1.

7 is a view for explaining a method for monitoring the remaining capacity of the storage area M1. The CPU 51 stores the head address (hereinafter referred to as address P1) of data that has not yet been output to the sound source unit 100 in the storage area M1, and the tail end of the data that has not yet been output to the sound source unit 100. The address (hereinafter referred to as address P2) is stored in the RAM 55 as a variable (Fig. 7A). Here, address P1 is a data read point, so to speak, and address P2 is a data write point.

As the piece piece data D3 is output to the sound source unit 100, the address P1 sequentially moves backward. Here, the area from the head of the storage area M1 to the address P1 (white portion in Fig. 7B) is an empty area because data has already been transferred. The CPU 51 calculates the capacity of this empty area, that is, the remaining capacity of the storage area M1, at regular time intervals from the address P1 and the address P2.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the CPU 51 monitors whether the calculated remaining capacity of the storage area M1 exceeds a predetermined value (for example, half of the storage capacity of the storage area M1). (Step S107). If the remaining capacity does not exceed the predetermined value (step S107: NO), the CPU 51 does not perform the processing of step S108 described later, but performs the processing of step S109 described later.

If the remaining capacity exceeds the predetermined value (step S107: YES), music piece piece data is transferred (step S108). Specifically, it is as follows. The CPU 51 generates a download request of data subsequent to the music piece data D3 in the mp3 data D2. This download request includes data size information DS2 indicating the remaining capacity of the storage area M1 (that is, half of the storage capacity of the storage area M1). This download request also includes address P3, which is information indicating the position at which the download is started, among the mp3 data D2. The CPU 51 transmits the generated download request to the delivery server 10 indicated by the URL event data.

Upon receiving the download request, the CPU 11 of the delivery server 10 extracts data of the size specified by the data size information DS2 from the position designated by the address P3 in the mp3 data D2 (hereinafter, the piece piece data). Called D4). The CPU 11 transmits the extracted piece piece piece data D4 to the portable terminal 50 that is the source of the download request.

Upon receipt of music piece data D4 which is music piece data D3 following music piece data D3, the CPU 51 of the portable terminal 50 stores the piece of music piece data D4 starting from the next position of the address P2 in the storage area M1. Remember in the area. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the address P2 is located at the end of the storage area M1, the piece piece data D4 is stored at the head of the storage area M1 (FIG. 7C). At this time, the CPU 51 updates the value of the address P3 stored in the RAM 55. In addition, since the reproduction processing of the music piece piece data D3 is continued even during this download process, the address P1 is advanced in the rear part.

When the reproduction processing of the music piece piece data D3 proceeds again, and the free space of the storage area M1 reaches a predetermined value again (Fig. 7D), the CPU 51 is the same as when downloading the piece piece data D4. A download request of data subsequent to the music piece data D4 is generated, and data (music piece data D5) is downloaded from the delivery server 10. The CPU 51 stores the downloaded piece piece piece data D5 in an empty area of the storage area M1 (Fig. 7E). When the piece piece piece data D5 is stored in the storage area M1, the CPU 51 judges whether or not the reproduction of the piece piece is finished (step S109). When the reproduction of the music is finished (step S109: YES), the CPU 51 ends the operation of the music distribution system 1. If the reproduction of the music does not end (step S109: NO), the CPU 51 repeats the processing of steps S107 and 108. As described above, in Steps S107 to S109, not only Part 4 having the URL event but also other parts are continuously reproduced until the reproduction of the music ends.

The CPU 51 repeatedly executes the above process until the reproduction from the head to the end of the mp3 data D2 is completed. When the reproduction of the mp3 data D2 is completed, the CPU 51 waits until the other URL event data in the music data D1 is reached. When the other URL event data is reached, the CPU 51 performs the download and playback processing as in the case of the mp3 data D2.

As described above, the mp3 data D2 is divided into piece piece data according to the storage capacity of the storage area M1, and downloaded partly. Since the reproduction processing is performed in parallel even during the download processing, the portable terminal 50 can reproduce the mp3 data D2 without interrupting the piece of music. In addition, MIDI data and ADPCM data of parts 1 to 3 and 5 are also reproduced in parallel. Therefore, the portable terminal 50 which concerns on this embodiment can reproduce the music data which mixed performance control data, such as MIDI, embedded audio data, such as ADPCM, and the stream audio data downloaded from the server.

That is, in an environment where resources available such as mobile phones are limited, for example, the accompaniment part is reproduced by performance control data such as MIDI, and parts that are difficult to reproduce in performance control data such as vocals are applied to stream data downloaded from the server. Can be played by Thereby, the portable terminal 50 can reproduce high quality music with limited resources.

<3. Variation>

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, at the time of downloading the piece piece data, information on the remaining storage capacity of the storage area M1 is transmitted to the delivery server 10, and the delivery server 10 transmits data of the size corresponding to the remaining capacity. Although the aspect to transmit to 50 was demonstrated, the downloading method of music piece piece data is not limited to this. For example, music piece piece data may be downloaded by the following method. The portable terminal 50 transmits only the information (address P3) indicating the download start position to the delivery server 10. The delivery server 10 transmits data from the position indicated by the address P3. The CPU 51 of the portable terminal 50 monitors the capacity of the storage area M1 and transmits a download stop request to the delivery server 10 when the storage area M1 is filled with music piece piece data.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the free space of the storage area M1 becomes half the storage capacity of the storage area M1, it is set as the structure which produces | requires the download request of the following music piece piece data, The threshold is not limited to this. It can be set arbitrarily according to the storage capacity and the environment of a communication line, such as 1/3, 1/4 of the storage capacity of the storage area M1. In addition, the CPU 51 may be configured to determine a threshold of the free capacity based on communication environment information such as the speed of the communication line. Alternatively, the user may be configured to designate a threshold of the free capacity.

In the above-described embodiment, a part of the mp3 data D2 corresponding to the data size specified by the data size information is extracted as music piece data from the mp3 data D2 which is the music piece data, and downloaded sequentially. If the remaining capacity of the storage area M1 makes it possible to store all the mp3 data D2, a part of the mp3 data D2 is not extracted and downloaded as the piece piece data, and all the mp3 data D2 is one piece piece data. It may be downloaded in a batch and stored in the storage area M1.

The music data is not limited to the format shown in the above embodiment. For example, data of the SMF format or the SMAF format may be used as the performance control data, or data of another format such as the wma format may be used as the embedded audio data or the stream audio data. Moreover, music data may be comprised only by the part of URL event, without having a part of performance control data and embedded audio data, and music data may have two or more parts of URL event. In addition, the part of a URL event may not have duration (or duration time is 0), and may consist only of one URL event.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the data size of music data, and is suitable for use in a small terminal device (for example, a mobile communication terminal) having a limited storage capacity. Also, in a small terminal device with a limited storage capacity, it is suitable for reproducing high quality music.

Claims (15)

A structure of music data suitable for use in a terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network, Regarding the piece of music corresponding to at least a part of the piece of music to be reproduced, the piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music is not retained in the piece of music data, and instead, the place of the piece of music piece data is located on the communication network. A music data structure, characterized in that the material information indicated is held in the music data. The method of claim 1, The music data has a structure consisting of a plurality of channels, And the material information is contained in the music data in an arrangement corresponding to a channel to reproduce the piece of music and a time to be reproduced. The method of claim 1, A music data structure, characterized in that the material information includes a server name of a server storing the music piece data and a file name of the music piece data. The method of claim 1, A music data structure comprising performance data in the music data, the performance data being of a predetermined music data format for reproducing a performance corresponding to another portion of the music to be reproduced. A terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network, As for storing the piece of music data, the piece of music piece corresponding to at least a part of the piece of music to be reproduced does not have piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music in the piece of music data, and instead of the piece of piece of music piece data. First storage means for holding location information indicating a location on the communication network in the music data; Communication means for acquiring at least a portion of the piece of music piece data from the location indicated by the location information through the communication network; Second storage means for storing music piece piece data acquired by the communication means; Music reproducing means for reproducing the music in accordance with the music data stored in the first storage means and the music piece piece data stored in the second storage means Terminal device having a. The method of claim 5, The communication means and the second storage means such that the memory of the piece of music piece data reproduced in the second storage means is updated in a new part of the piece of music piece data with the reproduction of music pieces by the music piece reproducing means. The terminal device further comprises an update means for controlling. The method of claim 6, The updating means, Monitoring means for monitoring a capacity of an empty area including an area for storing music piece piece data reproduced in said second storage means; When the capacity of the blank area monitored by the monitoring means satisfies a predetermined condition, a download request is generated which instructs acquisition of a new portion of the piece of music piece data, and is sent to the location on the communication network via the communication means. Download request means for transmitting the download request Terminal device comprising a. The method of claim 5, And via said communication means, any piece of music data can be transmitted or received between the first storage means and any node on the communication network. The method of claim 5, And the music data comprises a plurality of channels, and the material information is included in the music data in an arrangement corresponding to a channel for reproducing the music piece and the time for reproduction. The method of claim 5, The said terminal information contains the server name of the server which stores the said piece of music piece data, and the file name of the piece of music piece data. The method of claim 5, And a performance data having a predetermined music data format in the music data for reproducing a performance corresponding to another portion of the music to be reproduced. The method of claim 5, And a plurality of the pieces of material information in the piece of music data, and the piece of music is reproduced by a combination of the pieces of piece music data corresponding to the pieces of material information. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 12, And the terminal device is portable. A terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network, the music reproducing method being executed by a computer, the terminal device having a memory for storing music data, the music data being intended to be reproduced. Regarding the piece of music corresponding to at least a part of the piece of music, the piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music piece is not retained; instead, it contains material information indicating the location of the piece of music piece data in the communication network. The music playing method, Performing music reproduction control, comprising: reading music data of music to be reproduced from the memory; At the time of reproducing the piece of music, prior to the timing of reproducing the piece of music, at least a part of the piece of music piece data is acquired from the location of the place indicated by the piece of information contained in the piece of music data through the communication network. Steps, Storing music piece piece data obtained through the communication network in a predetermined storage area; Reading the piece of music piece data stored in the storage area at the timing of reproducing the piece of music piece according to the piece of music reproduction control, and generating a piece of music based on the piece of piece music piece data read; A new portion of the piece of music piece data is acquired through the communication network so as to update the portion of the piece of piece music data read in the storage area to a new portion of piece of piece music piece data, and a new portion of the piece of piece of piece music piece data obtained through the communication network. Storing the data in the predetermined storage area Music playback method comprising a. A computer readable storage medium, A music reproducing program executed by a computer included in a terminal device having a function of reproducing music and a function of connecting to a communication network, is stored. The terminal device has a memory for storing music data, and the music data Regarding the piece of music corresponding to at least a part of the piece of music to be reproduced, the piece of piece of music piece data for reproducing the piece of music piece is not retained; Has a The music reproducing program, Performing music reproduction control, comprising: reading music data of music to be reproduced from the memory; At the time of reproducing the piece of music, at least a part of the piece of music piece data is obtained from the location indicated by the piece of information contained in the piece of music data, via the communication network, prior to the timing of reproducing the piece of music piece. To do that, Storing music piece piece data obtained through the communication network in a predetermined storage area; Reading the piece of music piece data stored in the storage area at the timing of reproducing the piece of music piece according to the piece of music reproduction control, and generating a piece of music based on the piece of piece music piece data read; A new portion of the piece of music piece data obtained by acquiring a new piece of piece of piece of music piece data through the communication network so that the portion of the piece of piece music data read in the storage area is updated by a new piece of piece of piece piece music data. Storing the data in the predetermined storage area Computer-readable storage medium having a.

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