JP3679476B2 - Computer system and karaoke apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer system capable of automatically creating a list when there are a plurality of object files to be executed, and a karaoke apparatus having the computer system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a communication karaoke system that supplies karaoke performance information via a communication line from a host computer of a center station to a karaoke terminal installed in each store such as a karaoke snack is widely used. In particular, in recent years, a communication karaoke system that reproduces and broadcasts CM information supplied from a center station using the time between performances of songs is known. New information and other various information are provided to users.
Furthermore, not only commercials but also karaoke systems that provide information services such as games and travel guidance have been considered.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the types of information services provided in the karaoke system increase, the menu display becomes necessary. However, since the CMs to be broadcast and the information services to be provided are often different at each karaoke store, a menu display must be created for each store, which is complicated. Further, it is more desirable that the contents of the CM and the information service change according to the season and time, which is more suitable for the needs. However, in this case, there is a problem that the menu display must be changed each time. Such a problem occurs not only in the karaoke apparatus but also in a computer system that provides various information services.
[0004]
The present invention has been made under such a background, and provides a computer system and a karaoke apparatus capable of automatically generating a menu in response to a change in the information service provided in the computer system and the karaoke apparatus. The purpose is to do.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 has storage means for storing a plurality of object files including a program and genre information, and selects an object file from the storage means, and selects the object file in the selected object file. Each object file has title information for displaying a title corresponding to the contents thereof, and is divided into designated genres selected by user ID information. Search means for searching for an object file, list generation means for generating a list composed of titles corresponding to the object file based on title information of the object file searched by the search means, and the list generation Means Characterized by comprising a display means for displaying a list form.
[0006]
The invention according to claim 2 is the computer system according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface for receiving an object file including the program and genre information from an external host computer, wherein the storage means includes the communication The object file received by the interface is stored.
[0008]
The invention described in 請 Motomeko 3 is a karaoke apparatus having a computer system according to claim 1 or 2, and stores the performance data of the karaoke in said storage means, further, the performance of karaoke from the storage means Karaoke performance means for reading out and synthesizing musical sounds, and mixing and outputting the synthesized sound and sound input from a microphone; and switching means for switching between execution of the object file and karaoke performance by the karaoke performance means It is characterized by having.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the karaoke apparatus according to the third aspect , the object file program is described as a command capable of selecting karaoke performance by the karaoke performance means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
A: Configuration of Embodiment (1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a host computer, and 2, 2,... Are a plurality of karaoke terminals connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line N. The host computer 1 periodically distributes karaoke data and information files (details will be described later) to each karaoke terminal 2, 2,. The karaoke data includes performance data (MIDI data), lyrics data (including data that synchronizes performance and lyrics), and image control data (data for selecting an image prepared on the karaoke terminal 2 side). The karaoke terminal 2 performs accompaniment performance based on performance data, lyrics display based on lyrics data, and image display corresponding to image control data.
[0011]
Further, the karaoke terminal 2 provides various information services in an interactive manner with an operator by executing an information file supplied from the host computer 1.
[0012]
(2) Configuration of Karaoke Terminal Next, the configuration of the karaoke terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2, 21 is a modem or ISDN (Integrated Sarvices).
A communication interface such as a digital network, and is connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line N. Reference numeral 22 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which executes a system program stored in the ROM 23 and controls each unit connected via the bus BUS. The CPU 22 performs performances and displays based on karaoke data, executes information files, and performs various service processes.
[0013]
A hard disk 24 stores karaoke data and an information file group supplied from the host computer 1. Reference numeral 25 denotes a RAM, which is used as a work area for the CPU 22.
[0014]
An operation panel 26 detects pressing operations of various key switches (start key, cancel key, up / down key, numeric keypad, etc.) by the operator, and supplies a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU 22. On this operation panel 26, selection of information selection menu displayed on the display 34 is performed in addition to instruction selection for karaoke performance such as music selection (that is, input of music number), start and stop of performance, volume, and the like. Is called.
[0015]
Further, the operation panel 26 is provided with a receiving unit that receives a transmission signal of the remote controller RMC shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller RMC has a start key STK, a cancel key CLK, an up key UPK, a down key DWK, a ten key TK, a transfer key TXK, a memory set key MSK, and a performance stop key SPK. Thus, the remote controller RMC has the same keys as the various keys provided on the operation panel 26, and is configured to perform the same operation as the operation panel 26.
[0016]
A memory (not shown) is provided in the remote controller RMC, and the numeric keypad TK is temporarily stored in the memory and then transferred to the operation panel 26 side. In this case, the numeric keypad TK is used for designating the karaoke song number. For example, when the song number is “12345”, the numeric keypad TK is set to (1), (2), (3), (4). , (5) in this order, and then press the memory set key MSK. As a result, the numerical value “12345” is temporarily stored in the memory. When the transfer key TXK is pressed, a transmission signal corresponding to the numerical value in the memory is transferred to the operation panel 26.
[0017]
For other keys on the remote controller RMC, a corresponding transmission signal is immediately output when the key is pressed. The function of each key will be described later.
[0018]
Next, reference numeral 27 shown in FIG. 2 denotes a musical sound synthesizer that generates a musical sound signal corresponding to MIDI information (karaoke data or MIDI information included in an information file) sequentially supplied by the CPU 22 and outputs it to the mixer 28. To do. The mixer 28 mixes the musical sound signal supplied from the musical sound synthesizer 27 and the audio signal captured from the microphone 29 and outputs the mixed signal to the sound system 30. However, in the case of BGM performance, the mixer 28 outputs the musical tone signal supplied from the musical tone synthesis device 27 to the sound system 30 as it is.
[0019]
Reference numeral 31 denotes an audio decoder that converts ADPCM information (used in a service for providing audio guidance) read from the information file by the CPU 22 into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the sound system 30. The sound system 30 amplifies the musical sound signal supplied from the mixer 28 or the audio signal supplied from the audio decoder, and emits the sound from the speaker SP.
[0020]
Next, 32 is an image reproducing device, which reads out image information corresponding to the image control data in the karaoke data instructed to be reproduced from the CD-ROM 33 in the CD changer 60 and transfers it to the image composition device 34. The image composition device 34 is font information corresponding to the image information supplied from the image reproduction device 32 and the lyric information in the karaoke data read by the CPU 22 (this font information is stored in the image composition device 34). Are combined and displayed on the display 35. As a result, the lyrics are displayed on the background image in a spurious manner. The image synthesizer 34 once develops an image to be displayed in a VRAM (video RAM) as a dot map, and then outputs the image to the display 35.
[0021]
An image decoder 36 decompresses compressed image information (image information based on MPEG, JPEG, etc.) such as menus and icons read from the information file by the CPU 22 and converts it into an analog video signal. Then, this is displayed on the display 35.
[0022]
Next, 50 is a money input device in which a user of karaoke inserts coins and banknotes, and determines the authenticity of the inserted coins and banknotes and detects the amount thereof. The money input device 50 supplies a signal indicating the detected amount to the CPU 22. The money input device 50 has a function of discharging change under the control of the CPU 22.
[0023]
Reference numeral 55 denotes an LED display device provided on the front surface of the main body, which is composed of a multi-digit 7-segment LED. The LED display device 55 is controlled to be lit by the CPU 22. Reference numeral 60 denotes a CD changer, which selects a CD (compact disc) or CD-ROM 33 under the control of the CPU 22 and reads out the music information of the designated track, or reads out the image information as described above to read out the image information. To send. Reference numeral 70 denotes a card terminal that handles an ID card or a credit card, and performs reading of information from the card and judgment of authenticity.
[0024]
(3) Contents of information file In this embodiment, various information services based on the information file can be performed in addition to the normal karaoke performance. The information file is called a program part called a script and a resource. It is composed of a reference data part (part consisting of performance data, image data, etc.), and various information services are provided by the CPU 22 executing a script.
[0025]
In this case, the script is described by a predetermined language system, and is composed of a set of processing units called objects. In each object, resources are appropriately referred to. This point will be described later with reference to FIG.
Here, FIG. 4 is an example of an information service menu screen displayed in this embodiment, and objects corresponding to this screen display control will be described with reference to FIG.
[0026]
The object shown in FIG. 5 is an example of an object that controls display of one screen, which is called a page object. By the way, each object (that is, a part of the script) is described in a predetermined language as described above. However, for the sake of explanation, each object (in other words, a part of the script) is described in the program in Japanese notation corresponding to the language description. The function of will be described.
[0027]
First, the “New” column shown in FIG. 5 is a column that is referred to first when the object is activated, and describes the first control content of the object. In the example of this figure, various commands for drawing (drawing) are described.
[0028]
“Picture (# 1) obj” in the first line of this column indicates an object describing picture display control. The object for which the display control of the picture is performed is described in various ways corresponding to the picture to be displayed, and an argument (#) such as “picture (# 1) obj”, “picture (# 2) obj”,... 1), (# 2)... Are provided, and a desired object can be called by specifying an argument.
[0029]
FIG. 7 shows a description example of “picture (# 1) obj”, which includes a line indicating a file to be used and a line indicating the drawing position. Here, “# 1 image resource” designated as a file is an image data file in which predetermined image data is recorded, and is called from a script and referred to as described above. In this case, the image resources are also provided with arguments (# 1), (# 2)... Like the object, and a desired resource can be called.
[0030]
“# 1 image resource” in this example is image data of a picture in which an animal is in a car. The image data is displayed at the coordinates indicated in the second row of FIG. By performing control according to these descriptions (control by the CPU 22), the character display shown in the part a of FIG. 4A is performed.
[0031]
Next, “text (# 1) obj” and “text (# 3) obj” in the second and third lines of the “New” column in FIG. 5 are objects describing character display control. I am instructing. The objects that control the display of characters are described in various ways corresponding to the characters to be displayed. Like the picture objects, arguments (# 1), (# 2)... Are provided to indicate the arguments. Can call a desired object.
[0032]
FIG. 8 shows a description example of “text (#n) obj”. As shown in the figure, there are a string line indicating a character to be displayed and a description of a line indicating the display position. Here, in the text object, there is no file designation, and the display character is designated directly by the string line. The text object is also provided with arguments (# 1), (# 2)... So that a desired object can be called.
[0033]
By the way, the part b in FIG. 4A is “Welcome to Info World!”, And the part c is “Concert information”. Therefore, the string lines of the text objects corresponding to these displays are string = “Welcome to the info world!” And string = “Concert information”. In addition, the text object includes a line (not shown) indicating the font of the display character, thereby enabling display using various fonts.
[0034]
For the other menu title displays in FIG. 4A, that is, “movie information”, “stage information”,..., The same text objects are described in the “New” column shown in FIG. (Not shown).
In addition, the graphics object and the text object of the icon display part in the parts d and e of FIG. 4A are also described in the same manner as described above.
[0035]
Next, the “Delay” column shown in FIG. 5 is a column that defines an action (action) to be performed a predetermined time after the page object shown in FIG. 5 is activated. In the example shown in FIG. To play background music). In other words, (5S) in this column defines 5 seconds later, and BGM = song (# 1) obj specifies that the song object (argument # 1) is executed to play BGM.
[0036]
Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of the music object. In this figure, Play = CD in the first row is a command for playing a music CD (not shown) in the CD changer 60 shown in FIG. There is also a description for specifying details such as the selected disk number and performance track for the CD changer, but this is omitted for the sake of simplicity. Also, Play = # 1 karaoke data in the second row shown in FIG. 6 is an instruction to read and play the song number # 1 among the karaoke data recorded in the hard disk 24. The karaoke data in this case is a part of the resource.
[0037]
As described above, instructions for defining various performances are described. In some cases, an instruction “end” for defining what action is to be performed when the performances are finished. The contents of this command include, for example, contents that cause processing to be transferred to another object, or call itself again to repeat an operation to perform endless performance.
[0038]
Next, the “Selector” column shown in FIG. 5 describes items related to various buttons on the display screen. In this field, first, each button displayed on the screen is registered. In the example of FIG. 5, the contents for specifying each button are described as button ID # 1, ID # 2,... Here, in FIG. 4, black circles are displayed on the right side of each of the 11 titles from “Concert Information” to “Performance of Karaoke”, but these are defined as buttons in order from the top.
[0039]
In the “Selector” column of FIG. 5, actions in three states of “point”, “unpoint”, and “select” are defined for each button. Here, “point” means that the pointer is located on the button, “unpoint” means that the pointer is not located on the button, and “select” means This is a case where the button is selected (instructed to enter the service corresponding to the button). Note that the movement of the pointer and the selection of each button are performed by operating the buttons on the operation panel 26 or the remote controller RMC. The operation guidance is shown by icons IC1 and IC2 in FIG.
[0040]
For example, to move the pointer PP up and down, the up key UPK and the down key DWK (see FIG. 3) are operated according to the display of the icon IC1, and to confirm the button, the start key STK (see FIG. 3) is displayed. Press (Browse). Similarly, when the menu display shown in FIG. 4 is terminated, a cancel key (CLK) is pressed.
[0041]
Now, what is described in “point” shown in FIG. 5 is, for example, an instruction for displaying a pointer PP (see FIG. 4) at the position of the button. This is because the pointer PP is displayed to indicate to the operator that the button is a selection target. If necessary, a BGM related to the title of the button may be played. In this case, a song object (song (#n) obj) is described as shown in FIG.
[0042]
Next, in “Unpoint”, an instruction for deleting the display of the pointer PP is described. By controlling the display of the pointer PP as described above, the pointer PP is displayed only at the position of the selected button.
In “Select”, an execution content when the button is confirmed and selected is described. The execution contents are generally described as contents for calling a predetermined object.
[0043]
For example, when the “concert information” button is selected, an object for controlling the menu display of the concert information as shown in FIG. 9A is executed, and the button of the screen shown in FIG. When the “Sawada Chikako” button is selected, an object that controls the guidance screen of the concert is executed, and for example, a display as shown in FIG. 9B is performed.
[0044]
When the pointer is instructed to move under the “Karaoke performance” button on the screen shown in FIG. 4A, a screen showing the remaining menu items is displayed (see FIG. 4B). That is, when the pointer moves below the “Karaoke performance” button, an object for displaying the screen shown in FIG.
[0045]
The description example of the object has been described above using the page object as an example. However, depending on the object, the “Delay” field may not be described. As is clear from the above description, an object that achieves a predetermined purpose (for example, screen control) is formed by a set of small objects.
[0046]
Incidentally, a set of objects is a script, but the script and the resource are stored separately in the hard disk 24. That is, the script that is the program part and the resource that is the reference data are stored separately, whereby an arbitrary resource can be specified for each object. Here, FIG. 10 conceptually shows the storage state of scripts (objects) and resources in the hard disk 24. As shown in the figure, the same resource can be used in common by several objects, thereby saving the storage area of the hard disk 24 and improving the efficiency of data transmission from the host computer 1. it can.
[0047]
B: Operation of Embodiment (1) Information Service Start Process Next, the operation of the communication karaoke system having the above configuration will be described. However, the following description will be made on the assumption that the information file group and the karaoke data are already supplied from the host computer 1 to the karaoke terminal 2.
First, when the karaoke terminal 2 is powered on, the CPU 22 loads a system program from the ROM 23 and executes it. Thereby, CPU22 enters a karaoke performance standby state (karaoke mode), and waits for the input of a music number.
[0048]
When the operator operates the remote controller RMC or the operation panel 26 to input a song number, the karaoke data of the song is read from the hard disk 24, and the performance, background display, and lyrics display of the song are performed. The user can enjoy karaoke by singing with the microphone 29 in conjunction with the performance and display.
[0049]
On the other hand, when a predetermined music number, for example, “8000” is input, the CPU 22 detects this and shifts to the information service. That is, when the song number “8000” is input, an object of a menu display prepared in advance (for example, the menu display shown in FIG. 4A) is executed.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 11, a song number is described in the header portion of the menu object in the present embodiment. In this case, the header description includes two titles: a string line and a music number display. Further, the menu has a multi-layered structure as shown in FIG. 12, and the music number is described in the header portion of the menu object in each layer. By the way, as the menu hierarchy, for example, if the menu shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is the top menu, FIG. 9 (FIG. 9) that is developed when “concert information” that is one title among them is selected and confirmed. The menu a) is the first menu in the lower layer. In this case, the music number is described in the header of both the object that displays FIGS. 4A and 4B and the object that displays FIG.
[0051]
In addition, the song number is also described in the object header of the service itself (not shown). For example, the screen shown in FIG. 9B is a concert guidance service, but the object to be displayed also has a description of the song number.
By the way, when the song number “8000” is input, there may be a karaoke song that is already being played or a reserved karaoke song. The order management in this case is as follows.
[0052]
When there is a request for a karaoke song, the song number of that song is registered as a “queue” in a predetermined area in the RAM 25 shown in FIG. In a state where reservations for a plurality of songs are accepted, the queues registered in the RAM 25 are as shown in FIG. 13, for example. In the queue registration area QA shown in FIG. 13, the song number indicated by the pointer is the next reserved song, and when the currently playing song ends, the song number is read from the address indicated by this pointer. The performance of the song is started. The pointer moves to indicate the next address. In the state shown in FIG. 13, four songs are reserved, but when the fifth song is reserved, the song number of the song is written at the next address of the fourth song. Further, the queue registration area QA shown in FIG. 13 has a ring buffer structure, and after the song number is written at the final address, writing is performed after returning to the first address. However, since new song numbers are not written for addresses where performance has not ended, new reservations cannot be accepted when the queue registration area QA is full.
[0053]
Now, in the state shown in FIG. 13, when the song number of the information service menu is reserved, the song number (eg, 8000) of the information service menu is registered in the queue registration area QA as the fifth reserved song. Therefore, after the performance of the fourth reserved song is completed, the song number of the information service menu is read and the top menu is displayed. If a regular karaoke song is reserved after the song number in the information service menu is reserved, the song queue is registered at the address next to the song number in the service menu in the same way as the normal reservation process. Is done.
[0054]
By the way, in this embodiment, there is another queue management mode. That is, instead of accepting the queue of the information service menu after the reserved song, the queue management starts the information service menu by interrupt processing immediately after the currently played song is finished. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, an interrupt area IA is provided in the RAM 25, and when a song number of the information service menu is input, this is detected and registered in the area IA. If there is a karaoke song currently being played, after the song is finished, the display processing of the information service menu of the song number written in the area IA is interrupted. Then, after the information service ends, the next queue processing (karaoke performance, etc.) that was waiting when the interruption occurred is performed. Note that the song number of the information service menu written in the area IA may be interrupted in the queue registration area QA of the RAM 25 shown in FIG. 13, and the queue arrangement of this area may be rewritten.
[0055]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, an interrupt ring buffer IRB for accepting an interrupt of the information service menu may be set in the RAM 25, and a plurality of interrupts may be accepted sequentially. Even in this case, after the execution of all the queues registered in the interrupt ring buffer IRB is completed, the next queue in the queue registration area QA is processed or registered in the interrupt ring buffer IRB. The queue arrangement shown in FIG. 13 may be rewritten by interrupting the queue into the queue registration area QA.
[0056]
In addition, the song numbers are assigned to the menus of each layer and the objects of the information service itself. By directly inputting these numbers, the menu of any layer can be directly expanded without passing through the top menu, or the desired service can be provided. Can be started directly. As described above, there are two types of queue processing in this case, final reception or interruption, but any method can be selected. For this, the processing mode of the CPU 22 may be selected by operating a predetermined button on the operation panel 26.
[0057]
(2) Automatic Menu Generation By the way, in the menu described above, the items (titles) in each menu and the development of lower-level menus are fixed. A mode for menu generation is provided. In the following, this automatic menu generation process will be described.
[0058]
First, distribution of various information services will be described. In the information service in this embodiment, various advertisements, games, information, and the like are prepared, and each is classified into genres. Also, in genres such as “advertising” and “game”, lower genres such as for adults, children, women and men are set. Here, as an example of the information service screen, FIG. 15 is an example of a service screen for automobile advertisement, and FIG. 16 is an example of a service screen for new score inquiry.
[0059]
Each service information such as the above-mentioned advertisement, game or information is produced by the production company, but is expressed by a combination of a script and a resource, and can be decoded and executed by the CPU 22. Here, FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a distribution form of an information file for advertising produced by an advertising production company. In the figure, CM1, CM2, and CM3 are advertising information files produced by advertising companies, respectively, and are composed of the aforementioned scripts and resources. In the header portion of this advertising information file, the song number and title are described. In this case, the description of the title is based on the aforementioned string line.
[0060]
The information file shown in FIG. 17 is transferred to the host computer 1 in the center CNT. The host computer 1 grasps the genre of all information files. In this case, as shown in the figure, genre information may be included in the information file, or a correspondence table between song numbers and genres may be supplied to the host computer 1. Further, the genre can be set for each information file in the host computer 1.
[0061]
Next, the karaoke terminal 2 receives information file distribution by two methods. In the first method, on the karaoke terminal 2 side, store information (information indicating what kind of store (karaoke box, snack...)), Location (store location), and desired genre are used as flag information. Is transmitted to the host computer 1 as appropriate. Thereby, the host computer 1 recognizes the genre of the advertisement suitable for the karaoke terminal 2 and distributes only the information file corresponding to this to the karaoke terminal 2. As a result, the karaoke terminal 2 can receive only information files that match store conditions and customer trends, and can perform efficient advertising.
[0062]
In the second method, the host computer 1 distributes all information files to the karaoke terminal 2. In the karaoke terminal 2, information indicating the time (morning, afternoon, midnight, etc.) and the period (season, summer vacation, new year, etc.) is input, and only those corresponding to these among the distributed information files are selected. use. In this case, a table or the like indicating which genre is appropriate for the time or period is stored in advance. When the ID card 80 shown in FIG. 17 is used, only the information file of the genre corresponding to the personal information recorded on the card is made available. In this case, information such as gender, date of birth, favorite song genre, etc. is written in the ID card 80, and when the card terminal device 70 shown in FIG. Recognize the age and gender of the user. Based on this recognition, an appropriate genre is selected, and only the information file corresponding to this is made available.
[0063]
In the above description, the information file for advertisement has been described as an example, but the same distribution and selection processing is performed for the game and other information files.
Now, when the above distribution and selection processes are performed, the information file distributed to the karaoke terminal 2 or the information file that can be used in the karaoke terminal 2 varies in various ways. Therefore, the expanded menu display must follow this. In particular, when the ID card 80 is used, the information file that can be used varies from user to user, and it is therefore necessary to follow the menu.
[0064]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the menu is automatically generated. In the following, an explanation will be given taking as an example automatic menu generation when the ID card 80 is used.
First, the karaoke user inserts the ID card 80 into the card terminal 70 shown in FIG. As a result, the card terminal 70 reads the ID information from the ID card 80 and supplies it to the CPU 22. Next, the CPU 22 recognizes the age and sex of the user from the supplied ID information and selects a corresponding genre. For example, if the user is a minor, a genre suitable for the minor is selected. The selection in this case is, for example, genre selection without adult use.
[0065]
Next, when the user inputs a song number corresponding to the menu of the information service from the remote controller RMC, an object corresponding to this is read from the hard disk 24 and executed, and a predetermined top menu is displayed. FIG. 18 shows an example of the top menu. Here, “game”, “travel”, and “place information” are displayed as menu items.
[0066]
Next, when any item button is selected, the CPU 22 searches the hard disk 24 for an information file corresponding to the selected genre, and displays the title of the string line described in the header as a menu item.
Now, assuming that the “game” item button is selected and confirmed, a game menu GM1 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. In this case, in the object of the game menu, a script for displaying the string line portion of the header of the information file whose genre classification is “game” is described.
[0067]
Here, when the next page is selected by the down key DWK (see FIG. 3), the game menu GM2 is displayed, and when the next page is selected, the game menu GM3 is displayed. That is, for the game, game menus GM1 to GM3 are displayed, and a total of 23 titles are displayed. Here, the title of each game is the title described in the string line of the header of the information file of the game. As described above, many titles are displayed for the game. In addition, in the object that defines each menu screen, the title of each menu item is not fixed, but is described to display the title of the string line of the selected information file, and the CPU 22 follows this description. By performing the display control, the menu shown in FIG. 18 is automatically generated.
[0068]
Next, when the user selects and confirms the “travel” button in the top menu, the travel genre information file is selected from the information files in the hard disk 24 and the user ID is further taken into account, so The genre is excluded and only the information file for young people is selected, and the string line stored in the header portion of the information file is displayed. In the illustrated example, 12 titles are selected and divided into menu screens TM1 and TM2.
[0069]
Further, when the user confirms the “place information” button in the top menu, there is no information file to be selected because all the information files related to this are classified into the genre for adults. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 18, a display indicating that the service is not selected, for example, a character display “No!” Is displayed. Such control is performed by describing to display a predetermined message when the ID information is an underage in an object that is activated when the “place information” button is selected and confirmed.
In the above example, genres other than those for adults are selected, but there are also methods for selecting only for adults and for children and women.
[0070]
On the other hand, when the ID card is not used, the menu is created using all the information files distributed to the karaoke terminal 2, but also in this case, since the information files to be distributed are appropriately different, the same as in the above case Automatic menu generation is performed.
Moreover, the genre classification may be performed by the music number without providing the data indicating the genre individually. For example, the 1000 series may be determined as a game, and the 2000 series may be determined as information.
[0071]
Furthermore, the arrangement (order) of the top menu buttons (string lines of each genre) may be changed according to the ID information. That is, it may be controlled to arrange items with a high frequency selected according to the age group and sex. For such control, the button layout of the object of the top menu may be a script description that varies according to the ID information.
[0072]
If no genre is generated, the top menu item may be deleted. For example, if an information file classified into travel genres has not yet been distributed, the top menu travel item may not be provided.
[0073]
Alternatively, only the information file that matches the location (prefecture) may be extracted or distributed in advance, and the above-described menu automatic generation may be performed on the result. By doing so, it is possible to provide a detailed information service corresponding to each region.
[0074]
(3) Example of Information Service Next, an example of the information service will be described.
(1) Guidance of hit songs and karaoke performance This service is a service for scrolling and displaying the rankings of up to the 20th hit song. Also, if there is a song that you want to sing in the list, a service that accepts the request is also performed.
Here, the virtual space TTA shown in FIG. 19 is a memory space set in the RAM 25. In this space, the top 20 song numbers (not shown) and the song titles from the 20th place to the 1st place in the countdown format. Has been deployed. This expansion is expanded as a bitmap on the memory space. The list is generated by the CPU 22 processing an object indicating the top 20 list described by the script.
[0075]
The broken line area shown in the figure is the display target area DPA, and the display target area DPA is shifted in the direction of the arrow A shown in the figure. Then, the dot data in the display target area DPA is transferred to the VRAM in the image composition device 34 and thereby displayed on the display 35. Accordingly, the list of the top 20 is scroll-displayed on the display 35.
[0076]
In the object that displays the top 20, the scroll speed, the scroll start position, the time, the scroll end position, and the like are described, and the operation at the end of the scroll is also described. Therefore, the CPU 22 determines the intended position and moving speed of the display target area DPA (see the broken line) shown in FIG. 19 based on the items described in the object. With the above operation, the user can know the top 20 song names from the scroll list.
[0077]
Next, processing for starting a karaoke performance in this information service (scroll display of the top 20 songs) will be described.
First, the user may select a song by remembering the song number of the song being scrolled and inputting it by the remote controller RMC, or by selecting a button for each song being scrolled. Button selection is performed by the same processing as in the screen shown in FIG.
[0078]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, after scrolling is finished, the up key UPK and the down key DWK can be operated to manually scroll up and down one line at a time. In such a case, a desired song may be displayed by this manual scroll operation, and the button of the song may be selected and confirmed.
When songs are selected as described above, the queues of these songs are sequentially registered in a predetermined area QAT20 (see FIG. 20) in the RAM 25. In the area QAT20 shown in FIG. 20, songs are reserved in the order of 19th, 5th and 2nd. When the next song is reserved, the queue of that song is registered at the next address of the second-ranked song. This area QAT20 has a ring buffer structure, and after the queue is registered at the final address, the registration is performed after returning to the head address. A pointer P shown in the figure indicates the song to be played next.
[0079]
Then, the performance is started by operating a predetermined key, and when all the performances in the reserved queue are completed, the list returns to the top 20 list. Further, when the cancel key CLK is operated after the performance is started, the display returns to the top 20 list.
The above queue management is performed as part of the processing of the top 20 list display service. Alternatively, the queue registered in the area QAT 20 may be transferred to the queue registration area QA used in the normal karaoke mode after the information service ends. In this case, first, the cancel key CLK is pressed in accordance with the screen display guide shown in FIG. As a result, the information service is terminated and the karaoke mode is entered. At this time, the queue registered in the area QAT 20 is transferred to the queue registration area QA.
[0080]
By the way, if the reserved music queue is already registered in the queue registration area QA before the top 20 list display service is activated, the queue transferred from the area QAT 20 is set to the next address of the reserved music. be registered. FIG. 20 shows a case where the queues of the 19th, 5th, and 2nd songs are transferred from the area QAT 20 in a state where four reserved songs are already registered.
[0081]
(2) Depending on the type of moving image display processing information service, it may be more effective to display moving images. Therefore, in this embodiment, various moving images are displayed. Here, general moving image display control will be described by taking as an example a case where a moving image of a ball turning is displayed. In this case, a plurality of pieces of image data indicating the respective appearances during the turning of the ball are prepared, and these are sequentially transferred to the VRAM to display a moving image. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, image data (in this case, four) indicating the state of turning is transferred from the hard disk 24 to a predetermined area of the RAM 25, and these are sequentially switched and transferred to the VRAM. . As a result, the ball is displayed as if it is rotating (left turn in the figure). In this case, each image data can be directly written from the hard disk 24 to the VRAM. However, since the data transfer time from the hard disk is slower than that of the semiconductor memory, the VRAM rewriting process takes time, and the state during rewriting is in the user's state. It looks like. For this reason, smooth video display is not achieved.
[0082]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 21, when all the image data that is the elements of the moving image is transferred to the RAM 25 and then the moving image is displayed, the moving image is displayed smoothly, but the image data occupies most of the area of the RAM 25, and the memory Usage efficiency is poor. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following processing is performed.
[0083]
First, the first image data is transferred from the hard disk 24 to a predetermined area of the RAM 25, and then this image data is transferred to the VRAM. Then, while the first image data is being displayed, the second image data is overwritten on the same area of the RAM 25. Next, the second image data is transferred to the VRAM at a predetermined timing (for example, a vertical blanking period). Thereafter, the same processing is performed on the third and fourth image data, and after the fourth image data is transferred to the VRAM, the first image data is transferred to the RAM 25 again. By repeating the above-described processing, a swirling ball is displayed. However, the use area of the RAM 25 is only an area corresponding to one image data, and writing to the VRAM is performed from the RAM 25. It is fast. Therefore, the memory use efficiency is high and the moving image display is performed smoothly.
[0084]
In the present embodiment, since the use efficiency of the memory is high as described above, the free area can be used for other purposes. For example, MIDI data and waveform data can be transferred from the hard disk 24, and these can be used as appropriate to perform automatic performance and musical tone generation. In this case, when MIDI data or waveform data is read from the RAM 25, the access speed is fast, so that the sound generation timing can be controlled with high accuracy. On the other hand, when MIDI data or waveform data is read from the hard disk, the access speed is slow, so the sound generation timing control is somewhat rough. In this embodiment, both reading from the RAM 25 and reading from the hard disk 24 are switched according to the use.
[0085]
For example, in the script description, “SE = xxx...” Means reading from the memory 25 (in this case, sound data is loaded in advance in the memory 25), and “Sound = OO. "..." means direct reading from the hard disk 24. In this case, “SE” is used to generate sound data that needs to be synchronized.
[0086]
(3) Billing processing Next, billing processing when a fee is required for the service will be described. Now, it is assumed that “service 1”, “service 2”, and “service 4” surrounded by broken lines are paid services among hierarchical menus and services as shown in FIG. Whether or not there is a charge is determined by describing the charge to the script (object) of the information service that needs to be charged.
[0087]
Next, accounting check processing by the CPU 22 will be described. In this case, for example, the CPU 22 performs a charge check process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step SP1, it is determined whether or not the information service is a billing service. This is determined by the description of the object. If “NO”, the process returns, and the charge check process is not performed. On the other hand, if the determination in step SP1 is “YES”, the process proceeds to step SP2 to determine whether a valid card (credit card) is used. This determination is made based on a detection signal from the card terminal 70 shown in FIG. If a legitimate card is used, the billing check process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the card is not used, the process proceeds to step SP3 to determine whether or not the cash is insufficient.
[0088]
That is, it is determined whether or not the total amount of coins and bills inserted into the money input device 50 shown in FIG. If the input amount is not insufficient, the service is immediately entered and the charge check process is exited. On the other hand, if the input amount is insufficient, a message to that effect is displayed in step SP4, and the process proceeds to step SP5. Here, FIG. 25 is a display example in step SP4. That is, the guidance display “XX yen is insufficient” is displayed. The user sees this display and knows that the input amount is insufficient. When the user inputs the shortage amount into the money input device 50, a detection signal is output from the money input device 50, and the CPU 22 recognizes this and sets the determination in step SP5 to “YES” to enter the billing service ( Step SP6). On the other hand, if the user presses the cancel key CLK while seeing the guidance display shown in FIG. 25, or if there is no payment for a certain period of time, the determination in step SP5 is “NO”, and he / she exits from the billing service. Return to the menu display (step SP7). Instead of returning to the upper menu display, the karaoke mode may be returned.
[0089]
By the way, as a billing service, for example, there is a new score inquiry service. In this service, for example, the display as shown in FIG. 16 described above is performed, and text information including the song title, artist name, and song number is scrolled up and down to introduce new music. In addition to the new musical score information, in addition to the icon IC5 for guiding the pressing of the start key STK, the title screen, image information such as a picture and a photograph is displayed at a fixed position on the screen.
[0090]
When the operator presses the start key STK, the information file for the new music displayed on the left of the icon is executed, and the karaoke performance or CD performance of the song (a performance with a song by playing a CD) ) Is started. In this case, the corresponding CD is set in the CD changer 60 in advance by a service person. The billing check process shown in FIG. 24 is started when the start key STK is pressed, and when the input amount is insufficient, the new music is not played.
[0091]
Further, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the new karaoke performance, the operation of the cancel key CLK is invalidated. Control information for invalidating key operations is described in an object, for example, so as to invalidate a signal of a predetermined key when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In addition, as a method of invalidating the key, it may be described in the “Delay” column of the object. For example, a description such as invalidating a predetermined key 5 seconds after entering the service screen can be performed. As another example of performing such control, there is a case where, when pay information is continuously viewed for a certain period of time, the cancel key is invalidated and the service is forcibly entered.
[0092]
By the way, the billing service can be applied as follows. For example, it is a case where an order for drinks, meals, etc. at the store (karaoke box or the like) is received as an input of a music number, and this reception service is a billing service. According to this, the user can order a desired meal or the like with the remote controller and can complete the settlement by putting the price into the money input device.
[0093]
In addition, in a karaoke box or the like, there is a system store that charges according to the rental time of the room. In this case, a timer for counting the rental time is provided, and a time signal (interrupt signal) from this timer is sent to the CPU 22. To accept. Thereby, CPU22 can grasp | ascertain the total of a user's usage time. Then, after the rental time corresponding to the amount entered by the user has expired, the billing check process shown in FIG. 24 is activated to prompt the user to run out of the amount. In this case, the rental fee can be automatically settled.
[0094]
(4) Log recording FIG. 26 shows a tree of menus and information services. If there are menus and information services from 1 to 8 as shown in the figure, it is convenient to record which menu or information service is accessed (or how many times it is accessed) so that the usage status can be grasped. .
[0095]
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26, a flag register FL is provided so that the bit corresponding to the accessed menu and information service is set to “1”. In this case, since each bit of the flag register FL corresponds to a predetermined menu and information service, the use status can be grasped by looking at the contents of the flag register FL.
[0096]
Which menu or which information service has been accessed can be determined by knowing which object has been executed, so when the CPU 22 executes the object, it writes in a predetermined bit of the flag register FL.
[0097]
On the other hand, it is preferable to record how many times each menu or information service has been accessed, so that the usage status can be grasped more accurately. FIG. 27 shows an example of a configuration for performing such control. In the figure, the number of accesses of each menu or information service is recorded at each address in a predetermined area in the RAM 25. That is, when the CPU 22 executes the object, it recognizes which menu or which information service has been executed, and increments the access count of the corresponding address.
[0098]
By performing the processing as described above, it is possible to grasp a very detailed usage situation by looking at a predetermined area in the RAM 25. Further, the access count information in the RAM 25 may be read and transferred to the host computer 1 via the communication interface 21 every time there is a request from the host computer 1 or every predetermined time. In this case, the host computer 1 can perform a market survey and the like of what information services are popular, and can make use of them for production of new information services.
[0099]
Further, the CPU 22 can perform control such as switching the order of items in the menu from the state of the number of accesses (for example, a menu with a large number of accesses is displayed at the top). In this case, the description of the predetermined object is partially changed from the access count state, and the display order of the items is changed.
[0100]
(5) LED Display Next, the control of the LED display device provided on the front surface of the main body will be described. Generally, in a karaoke apparatus, an LED display device is often provided, but usually only a tune number to be reserved is displayed.
In this embodiment, not only the music number display of the reserved music but also various displays are possible. In other words, the control information of the LED display device 55 is described in each object, so that control according to the characteristics of the menu and information service is performed.
[0101]
For example, when there is a description “LED =...” In the object, the CPU 22 controls the LED display device 55 according to the description content. For example, FIG. 28A alternately turns on the upper and lower portions of the 7-segment LED of each digit, and FIG. 28B interchanges the upper lighting and lower lighting of FIG. If the lighting states shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are alternately performed, an illumination effect as if light is moving can be exhibited.
[0102]
In this way, by describing the control information of the LED display device 55 individually by each object, it is possible to perform a variety of LED displays for each menu and information service. In this case, since the object has a system that can describe not only the control of the display 35 but also the control of the LED display device, it is not necessary to separately create a special program for LED control.
[0103]
C: Others (1) The embodiment described above is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a communication karaoke system, but the present invention can of course be applied to a general computer system. For example, the automatic menu generation process is convenient because a list for each genre is automatically generated when there are many object files to be executed in a general computer system.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a menu for each genre can be automatically generated according to a change in the information service provided in the computer system or the karaoke apparatus. According to the invention of claim 4 , karaoke performance can be performed even while the information service is provided in the karaoke apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke terminal 2 in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an operation unit of a remote controller RMC in the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an example of an information service menu screen displayed in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of an object used in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a description example of a music object in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a description example of “picture (# 1) obj” in the same embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a description example of “text (#n) obj” in the same embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an information service screen displayed in the embodiment.
10 is a conceptual diagram showing a storage state of scripts (objects) and resources in the hard disk 24. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a menu object in the present embodiment.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a hierarchical menu in the present embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a queue registration area QA in the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing an interrupt area IA and an interrupt ring buffer IRB.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service screen for automobile advertisement.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a service screen for new music inquiry.
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a distribution form of an information file for advertising produced by an advertising production company.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top menu.
FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram showing a virtual space TTA set in a RAM 25.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen after scroll display is completed.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for explaining general moving image display control;
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram for explaining moving image display control in the present embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical menu in the present embodiment.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an accounting check process.
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a display example in step SP4 shown in FIG.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a tree structure of menus and information services.
FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration example when recording the number of accesses of each information service.
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a display control example of the LED display device 55.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... Karaoke terminal, 21 ... Communication interface, 22 ... CPU, 23 ... ROM, 24 ... Hard disk, 25 ... ROM, 26 ... Operation panel, 27 ... Music synthesizer , 28... Mixer, 29... Microphone, 30... Sound system, 31... Audio decoder, 32. ... Image decoder, BUS ... Bus, N ... Communication line, SP ... Speaker.

Claims (4)

A computer system having storage means for storing a plurality of object files including programs and genre information, selecting an object file from the storage means, and executing a program in the selected object file,
Each object file has title information for displaying a title corresponding to the contents of the object file,
Search means for searching object files classified into designated genres selected by the user's ID information;
List generating means for generating a list composed of titles corresponding to the object file based on title information of the object file searched by the searching means;
And a display means for displaying the list generated by the list generation means. A communication interface for receiving an object file including the program and genre information from an external host computer;
The computer system according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit stores an object file received by the communication interface. While having the computer system of Claim 1 or 2 , storing the performance information of karaoke in the said memory | storage means, Furthermore,
Karaoke performance means for reading out a performance of karaoke from the storage means and synthesizing a musical sound, and mixing and outputting the synthesized sound and a sound inputted from a microphone;
A karaoke apparatus comprising: switching means for switching between execution of the object file and karaoke performance by the karaoke performance means. 4. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a karaoke performance by the karaoke performance means is described as a selectable command in the object file program.

Images