JP3356005B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus to which music data for performing karaoke music is supplied on a large-capacity storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A karaoke apparatus generates a musical sound of a karaoke song by driving a sound source device with music data for performing the karaoke song. As for the music data of the karaoke music, the new music is distributed from a distribution center via a telephone line. The previously announced standard music data is supplied on a CD-ROM to save the capacity of the HDD, and the CD-R
Stored in OM changer.

[0003]

However, CD-ROMs
Is slower than HDD. In addition, video data for a background video (BGV), which is displayed in parallel when a karaoke song is being played, is also recorded on another CD-ROM (video CD) and stored in the same CD-ROM changer as described above. You. Therefore, when playing music data recorded on a CD-ROM, first set a CD-ROM for music data and read out the music data, then change to a BGV video CD and change to a BGV video CD.
It is necessary to read out the video data for use, and it is necessary to change and read out two discs, so that it takes a long time until the start of karaoke.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke apparatus capable of shortening the time required to start playing a song provided on a CD-ROM.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a reading means,
Second storage means, high-frequency list storage means, control means, performance
A karaoke apparatus comprising: means, reading means, a plurality
Read from the first storage means storing the music data of
The second storage means is capable of storing a plurality of music data.
The frequent list storage means is provided by the communication means from the distribution center.
The frequently-used song list received via
The strike indicates music data to be stored in the second storage means,
The control means stores the music data indicated by the high-frequency music list in a first record
From the storage means to the second storage means to store the requested
The song data of the Laoke song is stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit.
Refer to the frequent song list to determine which is stored
Is stored in the second storage means.
Is read from the second storage means and played by the performance means,
If it is not stored in the second storage means, the first storage means
And the performance means is made to perform .

[0006] In the present invention, stores the music data and the background image data to the first SL憶means, such as a CD-ROM,
When a musical performance instruction (request) is issued, C
In reading out means, such as a D-ROM drive, first read the music data, performs preparation of the read background image data After transferred to the RAM or the like of the body, read out means in parallel with the performance of the music data that has been read earlier The karaoke performance is executed by reading the background video data.

On the other hand, based on the high frequency music list that stores a list of busy request songs (best song), the song data of the best song, keep cached second SL憶means such as a hard disk storage device. Then, when a request for the best song reads <br/> music data from the second storage means for transferring to the RAM or the like of the main body, reading out means can focus on preparing to read the background image data. As a result, for a frequently played song, the preparation for reading the background video and the operation for reading the song data do not overlap, so that the time until the start of the song can be shortened.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the karaoke apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the hard disk storage device 17 of the karaoke apparatus.

In this karaoke apparatus, music data for playing a music requested by a user is read from the hard disk storage device 17 or the CD-ROM 4a, and along with a performance based on the music data, a CD-ROM (video data) is stored. The video CD) 4b is reproduced to display a background video (BGV). C storing these music data
The D-ROM 4a and the video CD 4b are stored in a cartridge and set in the CD-ROM changer 4.

The CD-ROM changer 4, which is an external device, can store five CD-ROMs, and
One of them is set on the turntable in response to an instruction from U10, and the contents are read. 5 CD-ROMs
Among them, two are a video CD 4b in which BGV data is recorded, and the other three are a CD-ROM 4a in which music data of a standard karaoke song is stored. CD-ROM4
When playing music data (CD-ROM music) stored in the CD-ROM a, the CD-ROM changer 4 first sets the CD-ROM 4a storing the music data on a turntable and stores the music data in a hard disk storage device. 1
After that, the karaoke music is performed based on the music data while reading the BGV data by setting the video CD 4b for BGV on the turntable and reading the BGV data. On the other hand, the hard disk storage device 17
In the case of playing the music data (HDD music) stored in the DVD, the process of reading the music data into the RAM 12 and the process of setting the video CD 4b are performed in parallel.

As described above, the hard disk storage device 17
When playing the music data stored in the
-Since the ROM changer 4 can be used exclusively for BGV reproduction, the preparation time until the start of the karaoke performance can be shortened. Therefore, frequently played songs, even CD-ROM songs, are read out (cached) in the hard disk storage device 17 in advance, and when requested, the data is read out to the RAM 12 to perform a karaoke performance. The time to start can be reduced.

In FIG. 1, the karaoke apparatus comprises a karaoke apparatus main body 1, a control amplifier 2, an audio signal processing apparatus 3, a CD-ROM changer 4, a speaker 5, a monitor 6, a microphone 7, and an infrared remote controller 8. ing. The karaoke apparatus main body 1 controls the operation of the entire karaoke apparatus. The CPU 10, which is a control device of the karaoke apparatus main body 1, has ROM 11, R via an internal bus.
AM 12, hard disk storage device 17, communication control unit 1
6, remote control receiving unit 13, display panel 14, panel switch 15, sound source device 18, audio data processing unit 19, character display unit 20, display control unit 21 are connected. The signal processing device 3 and the CD-ROM changer 4 are connected via an interface.

The ROM 11 stores a starting program and the like necessary for starting the apparatus. A system program for controlling the operation of the apparatus, a karaoke performance execution program, and the like are stored in the hard disk storage device 17. When the power of the karaoke apparatus is turned on, a system program and a karaoke performance program are read into the RAM 12 by the above-mentioned startup program. In the RAM 12, an area for reading a program from the hard disk storage device 17, an area for reading music data of the selected karaoke music, and the like are set.

The hard disk storage device 17 has
As shown in (A), a program storage area for storing the above-mentioned program, a music data storage area 17a for storing music data for thousands of songs, and various list storage areas 17b are set. The music data storage area includes a new music data storage area 7c for storing new music data downloaded from the distribution center 9 and a CD-ROM.
It comprises a cache music storage area 7d cached from the ROM 4a. The new song data storage area 7c
In order to accumulate and store new song data distributed from the distribution center 9 every two weeks to one month, the size gradually increases, and the cache song storage area 7d decreases accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 1B, an all song list 17e, an HDD song list 17f, a CD-ROM song list 17g, a cache song list 17i, and a best song list 17h are set in the various list storage area 7b. ing. The all-song list 17e includes all of new songs (HDD songs) downloaded from the distribution center 9 and standard songs (songs previously announced and still frequently or occasionally sung: CD-ROM songs) stored in the CD-ROM 4a. The song number, song name and this song are stored in the hard disk storage device 1
7 or the CD-ROM 4a. The HDD music list 17f contains, for each music data downloaded from the distribution center 9,
The song number, song name, file directory and data size are stored. The CD-ROM music list 17g is
For each piece of music data stored in the CD-ROM 4a, a music number, a music title, a disk number in which a music data file is stored, a directory, and a data size are stored. The best song list 17h is stored in the distribution center 9
This is a list downloaded from, and for the songs that are currently in the top 100 most requested, rank, song number,
The song name is written. The cache tune list 17i includes, for the tunes cached in the cache tune storage area 17d of the hard disk storage device 17 among the CD-ROM tunes, the tune numbers, tune names, file directories, ranks in the best tune list, and data sizes of the tunes I remember.

The communication control section 16 is connected to the distribution center 9 via an ISDN line. From the distribution center 9, music data and the best music list are downloaded.
The downloaded data is stored in the hard disk storage device 1
7 is written. This writing operation is directly performed on the hard disk storage device 17 using the DMA circuit.

The remote controller 8 is provided with key switches such as a numeric keypad, and when a user operates these switches, a code signal corresponding to the operation is output by infrared rays. The remote control receiving unit 13 receives the infrared signal sent from the remote control device 8, restores the code signal,
Input to PU10. When a song number is input from the remote control device 8, the karaoke apparatus body 1 determines that the request is a request, and registers the song number in a reservation list set in the RAM 12. When a song number is registered in the reservation list, the CPU 10 plays karaoke songs designated by the song number sequentially from the top.

The display panel 14 is provided with the karaoke apparatus main body 1.
And a matrix display for displaying the currently playing music number and the number of reserved music, and a group of LEDs for displaying currently set keys and tempo. The panel switch 15 includes a numeric keypad, a key change switch, and a tempo change switch for inputting a music number, similar to the remote control device 8.

The tone generator 18 forms a tone signal based on tone track data of the music data. The tone track has a plurality of tracks, and the tone generator 18 simultaneously forms tone signals of a plurality of parts based on the data. The audio data processing unit 19 forms an audio signal having a specified length and a specified pitch based on audio data included in the music data. The sound data is a signal waveform that is difficult to form electronically, such as a human voice such as a back chorus, and is stored as it is as a PCM signal. The tone signal formed by the sound source device 18 and the sound signal reproduced by the sound data processing unit 19 are input to the control amplifier 2. The control amplifier 2 has two microphones 7a, 7
b is connected, and the singing voice signal of the karaoke singer is input. The control amplifier 2 applies a predetermined effect such as an echo to each of these audio signals, amplifies them, and outputs the amplified signals to the speaker 5. Audio signal processing device 3
Digitally processes the singing voice signal input from the control amplifier 2 to correct a pitch shift or create a harmony singing of another part.
The modified singing voice signal and the created harmony singing signal of another part are input to the control amplifier 2 again.

The character display section 20 generates a character pattern such as lyrics based on the input character data. The generated character pattern data is input to the display control unit 21.
The BGV video data read from the video CD 4b and expanded by MPEG compression is also input to the display control unit 21. The display control unit 21 combines a character pattern such as lyrics input from the character display unit 20 with the BGV image and displays the BGV image on the monitor 6.

In the karaoke apparatus having the above configuration, when a karaoke song request is made, the music data of the requested song is stored in the hard disk storage device 17 or the CD-RO.
Which of the M4a is stored is searched, and the music data is read from the corresponding storage medium. Then, it decides which BGV to reproduce in correspondence with this song, and
V-data stored on a video CD 4b is stored in a CD-RO
The performance of the karaoke tune is executed while being read by the M changer 4. In this case, when playing the music data stored in the CD-ROM 4a, the preparation for the performance such as reading of the music data and the preparation for the reproduction of the background video (set of the video CD) are sequentially processed. When performing the music data stored in, the performance preparation and the reproduction preparation are performed in parallel.

FIG. 3 shows a set-up operation when the karaoke apparatus is installed in a store or the like. When the karaoke apparatus is installed at a predetermined place and a line such as a power supply or a telephone is connected to start a set-up operation, first, the CD-ROM 4a in which music data of a standard music piece is recorded is set (s1). . Then, a CD-ROM music list which is an index file of the CD-ROM 4a (FIG. 2)
(See (B)) is created (s2). Thereafter, a telephone line is connected to the distribution center 9 (s3), and the CD-R
A new song announced after the production date of the OM 4a is downloaded and stored in the new song data storage area set in the song data storage area of the hard disk storage device 17 (s
4) Create an HDD music list as an index of music data stored in the area (s5). Then, an all music list is created based on the CD-ROM music list and the HDD music list (s6). After that, the best song list (list of songs whose number of requests is up to 100th) is downloaded from the distribution center 9 (s7). Then, the following cache operations (s8 to s17) are executed.

First, the order pointer i is set to 1 (s8). The song of the order i is read from the best song list (s9), and whether this song is a CD-ROM
D is determined by referring to the all-tune list (s
10). If it is an HDD song, it is not necessary to cache it again in the hard disk storage device 17, so 1 is added to i (s14), and the process returns to s9.

If the song of the order i is a CD-ROM song, this song number is registered in the cache execution list (s11), and the size of this song data is stored in the memory of the area assigned as the cache song storage area 17d. Subtract from capacity. Then, it is determined whether there is any remaining in the cache music storage area (s12). If there is a remaining area, 1 is added to i (s14), and the process proceeds to the next music (s9).

When the remaining capacity of the cache music storage area is exhausted (s12), or the final rank (100th)
When the best song up to (s13) is processed, the operation is s1
Go to 5. In s15, the music pieces registered in the cache execution list are rearranged in disk order and sector order (s15).
By doing so, it is possible to read out music data with maximum efficiency while minimizing disk exchange and head movement. In the CD-ROM change 4, the CD-ROM 4a is set in the rearranged order, and copied to the cache music storage area 17d of the hard disk storage device 17 in order from the sector near the head (s16). The music number, size, rank, and the like of the copied music are registered in the cache music list 17i (s17), and the operation ends.

This operation is performed when the karaoke apparatus is installed. When the music data CD-ROM 4a is replaced, almost the same operation is performed to set the cache music.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation when downloading the music data of a newly released new song after the installation of the karaoke apparatus. First, a telephone line is connected to the distribution center 9 (s20). And download the list of new songs released this time. Based on the new song list, it is determined whether or not the song data storage area of the hard disk storage device 17 has a capacity to download all the new songs this time (s22). If there is this capacity, the new music is downloaded from the distribution center 9 (s23), the HDD music list and the all music list are updated (s24, s25), and the operation is terminated.

On the other hand, if the capacity for downloading all the new songs is not in the hard disk storage device 17 (song data storage area), the process proceeds from s22 to s26. s26
In the music data of the cache music stored in the cache music storage area, the data of the memory size that is insufficient for downloading the new music is extracted in order from the music data having the highest priority of the best music (s26). The deleted music data is deleted from the hard disk storage device 17 (s27), and the deleted music is deleted from the cached music list (s28), and the process proceeds to s23 to download a new music.

Thus, even if the cache music already exists on the hard disk storage device 17, the download of the new music is preferentially performed, thereby preventing the new music from being unable to be downloaded due to the memory occupation of the cache music.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when a new best music list is downloaded from the distribution center 9. Normally, the best song list is downloaded at the same time when the song data of a new song is downloaded. Therefore, this operation is often performed after the operation in FIG.

When the best song list is downloaded from the distribution center 9 (s30), the current cache song list is searched, and the songs that have been leaked from the current best song list are extracted (s31). The music data is deleted from the cache music storage area (s32). Then, the cached music list is updated by deleting the deleted music data (s33). After this, the cache music update operation (s3
4 to s47) are executed.

First, the order pointer i is set to 1 (s34). The song of the order i is read from the best song list (s35), and it is determined whether this song is a CD-ROM song or an HDD song by referring to the all song list (s36), and the CD-ROM song is judged. In the case of, it is determined whether or not the music has already been cached in the cache music storage area of the hard disk storage device 17 by referring to the cache music list (s37). Since it is not necessary to cache the HDD music or the cache music in the hard disk storage device 17 again, 1 is added to i (s44),
It returns to s34.

In the case where the music of the order i is a CD-ROM music which has not been cached yet, it is determined whether or not an area for caching this music is in the cache music storage area of the hard disk storage device 17 (s38). If there is a remaining area, this music number is registered in the cache execution list (s43). At the same time, the size of the music data is subtracted from the memory capacity of the cache music storage area. Then, 1 is added to i (s43), and the process proceeds to the next music (s9).
If there is no remaining area in the cached music storage area, it is determined whether a music having a lower rank than the music currently being cached (the current rank i) is not cached (s3).
9) If a low-ranked song is cached, this song is deleted from the cached song storage area (s40), and the cached song list is updated (s41). Is registered in the cache execution list (s42).

When the remaining capacity of the cache music storage area is exhausted (s38) and no music lower in rank than the music currently being processed is cached (s39), or when the best music up to the final rank is processed ( (s43), the operation proceeds to s45. In s45, the music pieces registered in the cache execution list are rearranged in disk order and sector order (s4).
5). By doing so, it is possible to read out music data with maximum efficiency while minimizing disk exchange and head movement. In this rearranged order, CD-
The ROM is set, and the cache music storage area 17d of the hard disk storage device 17 is sequentially arranged from the sector near the head.
(S46). Register the song number, size, ranking, etc. of the copied song in the cache song list (s4
7) End the operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a karaoke music performance operation in response to a user request. The music number input by the user is read out (s50), and whether the music is an HDD music or a CD-ROM music is searched from the all music list (s51). Even if the song is an HDD song or a CD-ROM song, but is a cache song cached in the hard disk storage device 17 (s52, s53), the RAM 1
2 is read out to the work area (s54). In parallel with this reading operation, a BGV disc for displaying a background image is selected (s57), and an instruction is given to set this disc in the CD-ROM changer 4 (s58), thereby performing music data performance and karaoke by BGV reproduction. The performance of the music is started (s59). When playing the music data stored in the hard disk storage device in this way, the preparation for playing the music data and the preparation for playing back the BGV can be executed in parallel, and the performance can be started in a short time.

On the other hand, an uncached CD-RO
In the case of M songs, the CD-ROM changer 4 is instructed to set the CD-ROM in which the songs are stored, and the song data of the songs is once read out to the hard disk storage device 17 (s55). Then, the music data is read out to the work area of the RAM 12 (s56). Thereafter, a BGV disc for displaying a background image is selected (s57), and this disc is inserted into a CD-ROM changer 4.
Is set (s58), and the performance of the music data and the performance of the karaoke music by playing the BGV are started (s59). As described above, when performing the music stored in the CD-ROM, the reading of the music data and the B
GV reading is a sequential process.

In the above embodiment, when a new song is downloaded, when a best song list is downloaded,
Alternatively, the cache tune is updated when a new CD-ROM is set. However, when a CD-ROM tune is read in a normal karaoke performance,
If the song is the best song, the hard disk storage device 17
CD-RO with cache operation
M songs can also be cached.

FIG. 7 shows this operation. The music number input by the user is read out (s70), and whether this music is an HDD music or a CD-ROM music is searched from the all music list (s71). HDD song (s72) or CD
-Even if a ROM song is a cache song cached in the hard disk storage device 17, (s7
3) Read from the directory in the hard disk storage device 17 to the work area of the RAM 12 (s74).
BGV that displays background video in parallel with this read operation
Select a disk (s78) and insert this disk into a CD-R
Instruct the OM changer 4 to set it (s7
9), the performance of the music data and the performance of the karaoke music by playing the BGV are executed (s80).

On the other hand, uncached CD-RO
In the case of M pieces of music, the CD-ROM changer 4 is instructed to set the CD-ROMa in which the music is stored, and the music data of the music is once read out to the hard disk storage device 17 (s76). Then, an uncached flag indicating that the music is not cached in the hard disk storage device 17 is set (s76), and the music data is read out to the work area of the RAM 12 (s77). Thereafter, a BGV disc for displaying a background image is selected (s78), and the disc is inserted into a CD-ROM.
An instruction is given to set the changer 4 (s79), and the performance of the music data and the performance of the karaoke music by playing the BGV are executed (s80).

When the performance of the karaoke song ends (s8)
1) It is determined whether the music is an uncached music based on the uncached flag (s82). If it is an uncached song, it is determined whether this song is the best song based on the best song list (s83). If the song is not an uncached song or if it is not the best song, the operation ends. If the best tune has not been cached, the following operation is executed to cache the tune in the hard disk storage device 17. First, the cache song storage area 17d
It is determined whether or not there is an empty area for caching this song (s84). If there is a free area, the buffered music data is transferred to the cache music storage area of the music data storage area (s87). Actually, this is performed by rewriting the directory of the music data file to the cache music storage area. Songs lower rank than the song if there is no empty area judged Luke been cached in the cache song storage area in the cache song storage area (s85), when a song of a low rank is cached Deletes the music from the cache music storage area (s86), and then transfers the buffered music data to the cache music storage area (s87).
Thereafter, to update the cache list of songs in accordance with the process (s88), and ends the operation.

With the above operation, among the music data stored in the CD-ROM 4a, the music pieces up to the 100th listed in the best music list are cached as long as the capacity of the hard disk storage device 17 permits. -R
Even when an OM song is requested, the time required until the performance starts can be reduced.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the music data of the karaoke music played frequently is pre-cached from a large-capacity storage device such as a CD-ROM to a high-speed storage device such as a hard disk storage device. By doing so, the time between the request and the start of the performance can be shortened, leading to improved customer service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage contents of a hard disk storage device of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a karaoke execution operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a karaoke execution operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a karaoke execution operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a karaoke execution operation of the karaoke apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a karaoke execution operation of the karaoke apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

4: CD-ROM changer, 4a: CD for music data
-ROM 12 RAM 17 Hard disk storage device 17a Music data storage area 17c New music data storage area 17d Cache music storage area 17b Various list storage area 17e All music list 17f HDD music list 17g CD-ROM music list 17h ... Best song list 17i ... Cache song list

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G10K 15/04 302 G10H 1/00 102 G11B 19/00 501 G11B 19/02 501

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reading means, a second storage means, a high-frequency list
Karaoke device with storage means, control means and performance means
The reading means is a first storage means storing a plurality of music data.
There line read from the second storage means is a plurality of music data can be stored, the high frequency list storing means, via the communication means from the distribution center
And stores the high-frequency music list received as the music data to be stored in the second storage means.
And the control means stores the music data indicated by the high-frequency music list from the first storage means in the first storage means.
2 is stored in the first storage means, and the music data of the requested karaoke music is stored in the first storage means.
2 High-frequency song list
The determination is made by referring to the data stored in the second storage means.
If it has been read from the second storage means,
And if it is not stored in the second storage means,
A karaoke apparatus which reads out from the first storage means and causes the performance means to perform .