WO2005024650A1

WO2005024650A1 - Method of sending music file to music recording and the system of sending music for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2005024650A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002305
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Hyuk Jang
Original assignee: Sung-Hyuk Jang
Priority date: 2003-09-09
Filing date: 2004-09-09
Publication date: 2005-03-17
Also published as: KR20050026155A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a music transmission method for transmitting a music file and a music transmission system therefore. The present invention employs a method in which a large number of music files stored in a central server and a client server are transmitted to each music store through the Internet etc. Thus, a variety of music can be provided to customers. Further, a customer who visits a store can directly select and listen to music based on member store information and music information received through a web site, SMS, LMS or the like. In addition, a music file stored in a client server can be searched preferentially through a music play store server installed at a music play store without passing through a central server, and the searched music file can be played. Also, the music file is exchanged among the client servers installed at the client stores through a P2P mode. Accordingly, traffic concentrated on the central server can be reduced, buffering in an output device can be reduced and a playing speed can be thus increased.

Description

METHOD FOR SENDING MUSIC FILE TO MUSIC

RECORDING AND THE SYSTEM OF SENDING MUSIC

FOR THE SAME

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a music transmission system that searches and

transmits requested music using a web site, a message sending service like short message

service(hereinafter, referred to as 'SMS') and long message service(hereinafter, referred to

as 'LMS') or a speech recognition automatic response system (hereinafter, referred to as

'ARS'), and a music service that provides music suitable for client store environments and

allows a customer to directly search, select and listen to music through a method for

transmitting music using the system.

Background Art

Generally, in places such as a cafe, a restaurant, a family restaurant, a beauty shop, a barber shop, a music lounge, a music tea room, a hospital, a fitness center, a discount store, a department store, a clothing store, a cosmetic store, an art gallery and the like (hereinafter, referred to as 'music play store') in which music is ordinarily provided to a customer, music is selected and provided to the customer regardless of the customer's musical taste. Further, although a customer requests a desired music, a corresponding music must be searched whenever a request is made. In order to overcome the above problem, Jukebox in which a user can search and select a desired song by inserting a coin is installed in a music play store in which lots of music need to be prepared. However, this kind of a music selection method has a disadvantage in that music desired by a user may not exist in Jukebox. In view of the above, there has been proposed a method in which music is serviced using a technology such as the Internet, a message transfer system (e.g., SMS, LMS, etc.), a multimedia message service (hereinafter, referred to as 'MMS') and the like. However, there has not been developed a technology in which information on a member music play store (hereinafter, referred to as 'member store') which joined a music transmission network and music information that will be serviced to the member store are stored in order to provide requested music, a music file is firstly searched from a client server installed at a member store and is then played, and a music file is exchanged among client servers through a P2P mode without passing through a database of a central server, whereby traffic concentrated on the central server can be minimized and a large amount of music can be thus provided through an output device.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a music transmission method for transmitting music through a client server, and a music transmission system using the same. Another object of the present invention is to allow a customer to input member store information on a desired music play store and music information, search data stored in a database based on these information, and play the searched music file through an output device connected to a client server, whereby a friend or a sweetheart of the customer, even though the customer is not in the music play store, can listen to the transmitted music at a remote music play store via a music transmission network. Still another object of the present invention is to allow a customer to directly search a client server installed at a member store for music and to listen to desired music without delay of play such as buffering when playing music. To accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a music transmission system, including an input device for receiving member store information on a music play store that joined a music transmission network and music information on music that will be transmitted to the member store, a central server that searches a database of a client server for a music file based on the member store information and the music information that are received through the input device, or searches other client server if a corresponding music file does not exist in the client server, a client server that stores the music file received from the central server, wherein the client server is installed at a music play store so that the client server can resend the stored music file, and an output device connected to the client server, for outputting the music file of the central server or the client server. Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a music transmission method using the music transmission system includes the steps of constructing a music transmission network, requesting desired music by inputting member store information and music information, searching the database of the client server for a music file based on the received member store information and music information under the control of the central server, and outputting the searched music file through the output device. According to the present invention, in the step of constructing the music transmission network, the central server includes a database in which the member store information is stored and a database in which the music information is stored, and serves to store, share, search, transmit and manage data of the databases of the client servers in cooperation with the client servers. According to the present invention, in the request step, the music is requested using a personal portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a wireless notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC) or a wired/wireless telephone, an input media, a web site, or a wired/wireless communication service such as SMS, LMS,

MMS or ARS. According to the present invention, in the request step, member store information such as a location, a name, a telephone number and an address of a member store, and music information such as a music title, a singer, a songwriter, a composer and a first bar of words are inputted. According to the present invention, in the search step, if the desired music file does not exist in the client server, a database of other client server is searched for the music file and the searched music file is then sent to a client server of a specified music play store in a P2P mode without passing through the central server.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, the present invention relates to a music transmission method with which music is transmitted to a remote member music play store that requests the music, and a music transmission system using the same. To this end, in searching a music file based on received member store information and music information, a database of a client server in which the music file exists is first searched before a database of a central server is searched. Accordingly, the load of the central server is minimized and a delay phenomenon generated in an output device can be thus prevented. Further, an operator of a music play store can service music of various genres through search of a central server or client servers without purchasing an existing phonograph record (e.g., CD, tape, etc.) although the music play store is not equipped with music desired by a customer. Also, a customer can search a database of other music play store or a central server connected to a network and listen to music of various genres which is not provided at a music play store. In addition, a customer can let his friend or sweetheart at a remote place to listen to music in their desired music play store although the customer is not located at a corresponding music play store. Further, an operator of a music play store can service music of various genres through search of a central server or client servers without purchasing an existing phonograph record (e.g., CD, tape, etc.) although the music play store is not equipped with music desired by a customer. Also, a customer can search a database of other music play store or a central server connected to a network and listen to music of various genres which is not provided at a music play store. In addition, a customer can let his friend or sweetheart at a remote place to listen to music in their desired music play store although the customer is not located at a corresponding music play store.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a music transmission network according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating steps for embodying a music transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating steps for embodying a music transmission method according to another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps for embodying a music transmission method

according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred Embodiment

The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a music transmission network SI 00 according to the present invention. An input device SI 20 of the music transmission system may include a mobile phone, a wired/wireless notebook computer, a PDA, a PC or a wired/wireless telephone, and it receives member store information and music information through a web site, SMS, LMS, MMS or ARS. The member store information may include member store information on a location, a name, a time, etc. of a music play store in which music will be played, and music information on a song title, a singer, a songwriter, a composer, a first bar of words and the like. A central server SI 10 of the music transmission system includes a database in which information on a music play store is stored and databases in which a variety of music is stored. The central server preferentially searches a database SI 60 of a client server S140 corresponding to a music play store when searching music to be played. If a desired music does not exist in the database SI 60 of the client server S140, the central server SI 10 searches a database of other client or central server for the desired music. For example, if a desired music does not exist in a database S 161 of a client server S 141 of a music play store, the central server SI 10 searches a database SI 62 of a client server SI 42 for the music secondarily. If the desired music is not found even in the secondary search, the central server SI 10 searches a database Sill of the central server

SI 10 the music thirdly. Traffic concentrated on the central server can be thus minimized. The client server SI 40 may be two or more in number. The client server SI 40 includes a music database like the central server SI 10, and it controls music to be played through an output device SI 50 connected thereto. In a prior art, when music is searched, traffic concentrated on the central server SI 10, i.e., load applied to the central server is increased. Thus, there is a disadvantage in that the play of music through the output device SI 50 is delayed. In the present invention, however, when music is searched, the database SI 60 of the client server SI 40 of a member store corresponding to member store information is firstly searched before the central server S110. If desired music does not exist in the database S161 of the client server S141 of a specified member store, a database SI 62 of a client server SI 42 of other member store is searched for the music. If the desired music exists in the database SI 62, the music searched from the database SI 62 is sent to the client server SI 61 of the specified member store. As such, music is exchanged through the P2P mode among client servers of music play stores that joined the music transmission network. Accordingly, traffic applied to the central server can be reduced significantly. The music file stored in the database SI 60 of the client server S140 can be played through the output device SI 50. If a music file exists in the client server S141 of a member store connected to the output device SI 50, it is outputted through a corresponding output device S151 in general. However, music can be played even through an output device SI 52 of other member store not the member store in which the searched music file exists. It is thus possible to play lots of music even without increasing the capacity of the database S160 of the client server S140. Thus, a user can request desired music anywhere and transmit it to a desired music play store, using SMS, LMS, MMS, ARS and the like. As such, the music transmission system SI 00 according to the present invention includes the input device SI 20 for receiving member store information and music information, the central server SI 10 that searches a corresponding client server S141 based on these information, searches other client server SI 42 if a desired music file does not exist in the client server S141, and searches the database Sill of the central server S110 if the desired music file does not exist even in the client server SI 42, the client server S141 that receives the music file from the central server SI 10 and resends the received music file to other client server S142, and the output device SI 50 connected to the client server SI 40, for outputting the music file. The present invention provides the music transmission system and a music transmission method using the same. Embodiments of the music transmission method are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method in which desired music existing in a database of a client server installed at a music play store is directly outputted without sending a music file. The music transmission method S200 includes the steps of constructing a music transmission network having a central server, a client server, an output device, and an Internet web site or a wired/wireless communication network for networking the central server, the client server and the output device S210, requesting music by inputting member store information and music information S220, searching a database of a client server of a desired music play store for a music file based on the received information S230, and outputting the searched music file S240. The step of constructing the music transmission network includes constructing the music transmission network which includes 1) a central server SI 10 that controls transmission of music, and searches, transmits, stores, shares and manages data of a database, 2) two or more client servers SI 40 located at member music play stores, wherein the client servers transmit, store, share and manage data of the database together with the central server, 3) an output device SI 50 that outputs music files of the central server and the client servers, and 4) an Internet web site or a wired/wireless communication network SI 30 which connects the central server SI 10, the client server SI 40 and the output device S 150 with one another to form a network. In the step of requesting music S220, a request is made for music to be played by inputting member store information and music information through the input device SI 20. The method of inputting the member store information and the music information through the input device S120 may employ a web site, SMS, LMS, MMS or ARS. The input device SI 20 may be a mobile phone, a wired/wireless notebook computer, a PDA, a PC, a wired/wireless telephone or the like. A user who requests music can let his friend, sweetheart, etc. who is in a music play store to listen to the music requested by him. In this time, a person who is in a music play store or an operator who runs the music play store can make the request for music. In the step of searching the database S230, a member music play store where a friend or a sweetheart is staying is searched based on the received member store information under the control of the central server SI 10, and the client server SI 40 of the searched member store is searched for a desired music file. In this case, a problem that the play of music is delayed can be solved in such a manner that traffic caused by concentration of users on the central server SI 10 is minimized by directly searching the database SI 60 of the client server SI 40 without the need for searching the database Sill of the central server S110. If the desired music file does not exist in a database S161 of a specified client server SI 41, the database SI 62 of the client server SI 42 connected to the network is searched secondarily. In the case where the desired music file is not found even through the secondary search, the database Sill of the central server SI 10 is finally searched. FIG. 3 shows that if a music file does not exist in a database of a specified client server S141, the database of other client server 142 or the database of the central server SI 10 is searched for the music file, and the searched music file is transmitted to the client server SI 41. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, a transmission step S240 is added. In the transmission step S240 of FIG. 3, if the music file does not exist in the database S161 of the client server S141 in the search step S230, the database Sill of the central server SI 10 or the database SI 62 of the client server SI 42 is searched for the music file and the searched music file is then transmitted to the requesting client server

S141. In this time, the music file is transmitted from the client server SI 42 or the central server SI 10 having the music file to the client server S141 of the specified music play store, which wants music to be played, under the control of the central server SI 10. In this case, the transmission method may include a peer-to-peer (P2P) mode, which can minimize load applied to the central server SI 10, and it is much better than a prior art in terms of a playing speed. In the output step S250, a music file that is searched from a client server of a music play store that wants music to be played is outputted, or music file that is received from other client server SI 42 or the central server is outputted. The music file can be played through the output device S151 comiected to the client server S141 of the music play store that wants music to be played. In order to prevent traffic caused by transmission of the music file by the client server SI 41 that wants music to be played, the music file can be directly played from other client server SI 42 in which the music file exists. FIG. 4 is a flowchart S400 illustrating steps for embodying a music transmission method according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, if it is determined that a desired music file exists in the search step S230 through a music transmission network constructing step S210 and a music request step S220, the music file is directly outputted through an output step S250. Meanwhile, if it is determined that the desired music file does not exist in the client server SI 41, a transmission step S240 in which the desired music file is received from other client server SI 42 or the central server SI 10 is added, and the output step S250 in which the received music file is outputted is then performed. Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention relates to a music transmission method in which music is transmitted to a remote member music play store that requests the music, and a music transmission system using the same. To this end, in searching a music file based on received member store information and music information, a database of a client server in which the music file exists is first searched before a database of a central server is searched. Accordingly, load of the central server is minimized and a delay phenomenon generated in an output device can be thus prevented. Further, an operator of a music play store can serve music of various genres through search of a central server or client servers without purchasing an existing phonograph record (e.g., CD, tape, etc.) although the music play store is not equipped with all the music desired by a customer. Also, a customer can search a database of other music play store or a central server connected to a network and listen to music of various genres that is not provided at a music play store. In addition, a customer can let his friend or sweetheart at a remote place to listen to music in their desired music play store although the customer is not located at a corresponding music play store. While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A music transmission method for allowing a music play store to play a music file, comprising the steps of: (A) constructing a music transmission network, wherein the music transmission network includes: i) a central server that controls transmission of music and searches, transmits, stores, shares and manages data of a database, ii ) at least two client servers located at music play stores that joined the music transmission network necessary to play a music file, wherein each of the client servers can transmit, store, share or manage data of databases within the client servers in cooperation with the central server, iii) an output device that outputs music files of the databases of the client servers, and iv) an Internet web site or a wired/wireless communication network which connects the central server, the client servers and the output device with one another to form a network; (B) requesting music to be played through the music transmission network by inputting member store infoπnation and music information using a personal portable terminal or an input medium; (C) searching the databases of the client servers that cooperatively operate with the central server for a music file based on the received member store information and music information; and (D) outputting the searched music file through the output device.

2. The music transmission method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step of constructing the music transmission network, the central server comprises a database in which the member store information is stored and a database in which the music information is stored, and stores, shares, searches, transmits and manages data of the databases of the client servers in cooperation with the client servers.

3. The music transmission method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the requesting step comprises requesting the music using a personal portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a wireless notebook computer, a PDA, a PC or a wired/wireless telephone, an input medium, a web site, or a wired/wireless communication service such as SMS, LMS, MMS or ARS.

4. The music transmission method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the requesting step comprises inputting member store information such as a location, a name, a telephone number and an address of the member store, and music information such as a music title, a singer, a songwriter, a composer and a first bar of words.

5. The music transmission method as claimed in claim 1,. wherein the searching step comprises searching a database of other client server for the music file if the music file does not exist in the client servers, and then transmitting the searched music file to a client server of a specified music play store through a P2P mode without passing through the central server.

6. A music transmission system for allowing a music file of a music play store to be played at a remote place, comprising: an input device for receiving member store information on music play stores that joined a music transmission network and music information on music that will be sent through a personal portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a wireless notebook computer, a PDA, a PC or a wired/wireless telephone, or an input media via a wired/wireless communication service such as a web site, SMS, LMS, MMS or ARS; a central server that searches databases of client servers and its database for a music file based on the member store information and the music information that are received through the input device, and sends the searched music file; client servers that store music files received from other client servers or the central server, wherein the client servers are disposed at the music play stores so that the stored music file can be resent; an output device connected to the client servers, for outputting the music files of the client servers; and an Internet web site or a wired/wireless communication network which connects the input device, the central server, the client servers and the output device with one another to form a network.