JP3973735B2 - A communication karaoke system that delivers to each karaoke device a list of customer birthdays that will be born within the most recent specified period from the host device that manages the customer information database - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus and a communication karaoke system, and more particularly to a technique for effectively utilizing customer information and linking it to a new customer service.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some karaoke apparatuses and communication karaoke systems have a karaoke print function in which a singer's singing appearance is photographed by a video camera and printed by a video printer in addition to the basic karaoke performance function. By adding a video camera, video printer, and image composition means to the configuration of the conventional karaoke apparatus and communication karaoke system, the appearance of the singer photographed with the video camera and the foreground image stored in the data storage unit Are combined to form a composite image. Here, as the foreground image, there is a decorative design composed of a decorative frame that borders a person called a frame pattern. By displaying this composite image on a display and sampling and printing with a video printer, the user can have a print sticker showing his / her appearance during the singing.
[0003]
On the other hand, on the premise of providing services based on customer information of karaoke users, a customer information database that records various personal information for each customer at each karaoke affiliated store, region or nationwide is built on the host device Has been. In fact, various services using this customer information database have been devised. For example, in addition to general information such as name and age as personal information in the customer information database, information such as visit history and music selection history is recorded, and various messages are displayed on the display when customers visit the store using such information. Attempts have been made to display a message and output music and voice related to the message as one of the customer service. Alternatively, the files that record the singing scores along with the history information of the songs requested by the customer are collected and aggregated in this customer information database, and various lists are created as needed to create various lists as marketing materials. There have also been attempts to send direct mail to customers.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned karaoke print function, a service that pleases a user who takes in customer information has not been provided. In the face photo sticker making machine that has gained explosive popularity these days, how fun and novelty of the decorative design called the frame pattern becomes a factor that attracts users, how can you create a rare original sticker? Is a key point. And in this karaoke print function, if the customer information database can be used effectively and a special face photo print can be provided to the person, it can be differentiated from other companies. The rate is expected to increase.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to effectively utilize a large amount of accumulated customer information, and to provide entertainment and topicality in a person photographing print function in a karaoke apparatus and a communication karaoke system. It is to provide users with new and improved services.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The online karaoke system according to the present invention is specified by the following items (1) to (5).
(1) A communication karaoke system in which a plurality of karaoke apparatuses can communicate with a host apparatus via a communication network. (2) The host apparatus includes a customer information database in which customer personal information is accumulated in association with customer IDs. , Create a customer birthday list including the customer ID and birthday that will reach the birthday within the most recent predetermined period based on the customer information database and distribute it to each karaoke device (3) The karaoke device acquires the customer ID Means, control means, and storage means for outputting the accompaniment music of the requested song from the speaker and outputting lyrics subtitles from the display. (4) The customer ID acquisition means is a customer of a person who actually uses the karaoke device. (5) When the control means receives the customer birthday list from the host device, the control means stores it in the storage means and obtains the customer ID. When Dan obtains the customer ID, it is determined whether the customer ID is included in the customer birthday list and the birthday matching the current date is associated with the customer ID. If the message is displayed, a message related to the birthday is output from the display.
In the present invention, it is further desirable to have a configuration according to the following items (11) to (14).
(11) The karaoke device is provided with a video camera, a decorative design database, and an image composition means. (12) The video camera photographs a person who actually uses the karaoke device. (13) The decorative design database is a video. A plurality of decorative design data to be combined with a person image photographed by a camera is accumulated and includes decorative design data for birthday. (14) When the customer ID acquisition means acquires the customer ID, the control means acquires the customer birthday list. Is included in the customer ID, and a birthday corresponding to the current date is determined to be associated with the customer ID. And the decoration design data for the birthday is extracted from the decoration design database, and the message image, the decoration design, and the person image taken by the video camera are extracted. Outputting from synthesizing and display by the image synthesis means [0008]
In the present invention, more preferably, the karaoke apparatus is provided with a printer that samples and prints an image displayed on the display.
[0009]
With the karaoke apparatus and the communication karaoke system as described above, the customer information can be effectively used to provide the user with a special service for differentiating from other companies.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
===== Basic Configuration and Functions =====
The configuration of an embodiment of the communication karaoke system of the present invention is shown in FIG. The central control unit 4 is a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM inside, and controls and controls each peripheral component of the karaoke apparatus 1. The central control unit 4 is connected to the communication line network 3 via the modem 5 to receive distribution of karaoke data such as accompaniment music of karaoke music and lyrics data synchronized with the music from the host device 2. The distributed karaoke data is stored in the hard disk device 6. The video CD changer 18 stores a plurality of video CDs, and each video CD stores moving image information such as an image video. A remote control receiving unit 9 that receives transmission signals from the operation panel 7 and the remote control transmitter 8 is coupled to the central control unit 4 via the operation control unit 10.
[0011]
Next, the reproduction operation of karaoke data will be described. When the central control unit 4 receives the music selection input by the user from the remote control transmitter 8 or the operation panel 7 via the operation control unit 10, the central control unit 4 reads the karaoke data of the selected karaoke music from the hard disk device 6. At the same time, the video CD changer 18 is controlled so as to reproduce a video CD on which an appropriate image is recorded. On the other hand, the accompaniment music data is reproduced as a music signal by the synthesizer 11.
[0012]
The voice signal of the singer input from the microphone 17 and the music signal reproduced by the synthesizer 11 are combined by the mixing amplifier 12 and output from the speaker 13. Then, the lyric image data is developed as bitmap data in the video RAM 14, and the video control unit 19 superimposes the lyric image data in the video RAM 14 on the video image of the video CD reproduced by the video CD changer 18. And output to the display 16.
[0013]
===== People Shooting Print Function and Operation Sequence =====
The karaoke apparatus 1 prints the content displayed on the display 16 by the video printer 20 inserted in the signal path from the video control unit 19 to the display 16 together with the basic function such as the reproduction of the karaoke music described above. Also has. This video print function is operated by the following command system under the control of the central control unit 4. In other words, when a sampling command is issued from the central control unit 4 to the video printer 20, the video printer 20 synchronizes the video information output from the video control unit 19 with one frame of video information within the frame of the video printer 20. Import into image memory such as memory. At this time, the sampled image information is displayed on the display 16 as a still image. Then, by appropriately processing the stored image information, the display screen of the display 16 is hard-copied on the print paper. Furthermore, a multi-sampling mode is also provided in which a plurality of different images are arranged and printed on a single print sheet by sequentially storing input video signals in an image memory. Of course, there is also a repeat print mode in which one image is selected from the sampled images and printed on a single print sheet, or a number of the same images are arranged and printed on a single print sheet.
[0014]
Further, the karaoke apparatus 1 displays on the display 16 a composite image obtained by combining the video of the video camera 21 equipped for photographing the singer and an appropriate foreground image made up of a decorative design and the like. The video printer 20 has a function of printing an image. In other words, the video imaged by the video camera 21 is input to the video control unit 19 as a video signal, while the foreground image data read from the hard disk device 6 is developed into the video RAM 14 via the central control unit 4 as a bitmap. Is done. Then, the video control unit 19 synthesizes the video of the video camera 21 with the bitmap image, generates a video signal thereof, and outputs the video signal to the display 16. Therefore, when a sampling command is given, the image displayed on the display 16 is fixedly displayed as a still image from a moving image, and the still image is printed by the video printer 20. As the foreground image, a decorative design called a frame pattern designed so as to border the person video is used, and the foreground image is stored in the hard disk device 6. The foreground image is distributed from the host device 2 in a timely manner.
[0015]
Next, an operation sequence at the time of person photographing print in the communication karaoke system as described above will be described. First, prior to the start of music performance, the user selects one of the genres of decorative designs by operating the remote control transmitter 8 or the operation panel 7 when selecting the decorative design to be added to the person video. Then, the central control unit 4 reads a plurality of decorative designs included in the genre from the hard disk device 6 and displays them on the display 16. If there is nothing desired on the screen, the next screen sample is displayed. When the desired decorative design is determined, the number assigned to the image is input from the remote control transmitter 8 or the operation panel 7. Next, it is selected whether the sampling timing of the composite image is automatic or manual. When automatic is selected, the timing at which the camera shutter is released, that is, the timing at which the sampling command is issued is automatically set, and the singer's figure is photographed to create a decorative design print. In this case, when the performance of the music starts, the central control unit 4 monitors the transmission of timing information together with the normal playback control of the karaoke music. When timing information is received during performance, the shutter of the camera is released. Further, the video control unit 19 is instructed to synthesize the video captured by the video camera 21 and the selected decorative design, and the video printer 20 captures an image in the multi-sampling mode at an appropriate time interval. Is commanded.
[0016]
The composite image is displayed as a still image on the display 16 in the order sampled. When the sampling period ends, all the sampled images are divided into frames and displayed on the display 16. Then, it is selected whether to print all the divided images or a desired one of them, and a print execution instruction is given from the remote control transmitter 8 or the operation panel 7. When not printing, an operation for canceling is performed, and the normal video display state is restored again. Alternatively, only image sampling may be performed during music reproduction, and the sampled image may be selected again after completion of reproduction and then printed in a desired print mode.
[0017]
===== Customer Information Database and Customer Birthday List =====
The host device 2 has a customer information database in which customer information including customer IDs, names, dates of birth, addresses, and the like is recorded. By performing user registration in advance according to a predetermined procedure, the user is registered with his / her personal information in the customer information database in the host device, and is provided with a personal remote controller assigned with a customer ID. Based on this customer information database, various data such as the usage frequency of customers, usage status by age group and region, etc. are aggregated, and this is an indicator for management strategy, especially in marketing.
[0018]
The host device 2 extracts from the customer information database information related to customers whose birthdays are at least by the next delivery date, creates a customer birthday list, and distributes the list to the karaoke device 1 through the communication network 3. . In this customer birthday list, at least data on ID and birthday for each customer is recorded. Then, for example, the host device 2 creates a birthday list of customers who have birthdays within a period of 10 days + α from the current day every 10 days, and performs processing for distributing the list to the karaoke device 1. By using this list, any karaoke store that has a karaoke device 1 connected to the host device 2 via the communication line network 3 can be used regardless of which karaoke store is used. I can receive the service that I ordered.
[0019]
In this case, the birthday list for 10 days delivered last time is deleted. Since the karaoke device 1 only needs to hold only a part of information in a huge customer database, the storage capacity of the hard disk device 6 is not so much required, and it is not necessary to access the host device 2 each time. Can provide services quickly and economically. The karaoke apparatus 1 can reliably acquire at least information related to the customer who reaches the birthday on the current day by referring to the customer birthday list updated every time the karaoke apparatus 1 is distributed.
[0020]
===== Customer ID Acquisition Method =====
When a service using the delivered customer birthday list is provided at a karaoke store, it is necessary to acquire the customer ID of the person who entered the store and to convey it to the central control unit 4. This is realized by distributing the personal remote controller to which the customer ID is given to the customer after the user registration described above and using the personal remote controller at the karaoke shop. This personal remote control is used as a remote control transmitter 8 at the time of music selection operation at a karaoke shop, and a different remote control identification code (specific to the remote control) is used for each unit as header information in a signal output by an infrared method or the like. It is designed and manufactured to generate. When a music selection operation is performed from a personal remote controller possessed by a customer who has entered the store, the central control unit 4 or the operation control unit 10 of the karaoke apparatus 1 analyzes the signal transmitted from the remote controller and recognizes the remote control identification code. The customer ID of the person who actually uses the karaoke device 1 is recognized based on the information indicating the correspondence between the remote control identification code and the customer ID stored in an appropriate storage unit of the karaoke device 1.
[0021]
Further, when acquiring the customer ID, a user card in which the customer ID is recorded may be issued, and the ID recorded on the card may be read by a reader at the karaoke shop side and transmitted to the central control unit 4. .
[0022]
===== Personal photography print function utilizing customer birthday list =====
Next, a flow of processing when the customer birthday list is used in the above-described person photographing print function will be described.
(A) When the customer who visits the store uses the personal remote controller for the first time, the central control unit 4 of the karaoke apparatus 1 recognizes the customer ID.
(B) Next, the central control unit 4 searches the customer birthday list held in the hard disk device 6 by using the customer ID as a key, and checks whether or not the personal data of the customer ID exists.
(C) When the personal data of the customer ID exists, it is determined whether or not the current day corresponds to the birthday by referring to the part related to the birthday in the data.
(D) If it is determined that the current day is a birthday, a plurality of decoration designs for the birthday object person are read from the hard disk device 6 and displayed on the display 16 to be used as the decoration object to be selected.
(E) In other cases, the genre is presented as in a normal operation, and the user is allowed to select one of the decorative designs included in the genre.
In this case, a decorative design may be selected at random from a plurality of decorative designs for the birthday subject and displayed on the display 16. In addition, comprehensive consideration of information such as gender, age, and birthday time in the personal data recorded in the customer's birthday list will pick up the appropriate decoration designs for multiple birthday audiences. Then, it may be displayed on the display 16.
[0023]
As described above, in order to be able to present a special decorative design to the customer who has reached the birthday, the hard disk device 6 is provided with a plurality of decorative designs for the birthday target person. At that time, it is desirable to have a decorative design for the birthday in consideration of age, gender, birthday time and the like. In addition to the customer birthday list distributed from the host device 2 for each predetermined date, a new decoration design for the birthday target is distributed from the host device 2 and is already stocked in the hard disk device 6. You may make it delete and replace the decoration design for a day object person.
[0024]
In addition to the decorative design, a message related to the birthday can be added and printed by the video printer 20. In that case, in addition to the above steps, the following steps are required.
[0025]
(1) The central control unit 4 analyzes the content of the personal data of the person who has determined that the day is a birthday in (c) above, and inserts the content into the prepared character string for the message. By doing so, a message for the customer using the personal remote control is created.
[0026]
(2) Next, the central control unit 4 creates image data obtained by imaging the character string of this message, writes it in the video RAM 14 together with the selected decorative design, and synthesizes it with the video imaged by the video camera 21. An instruction is given to the video controller 19. Then, the composite image in which the decorative design and the message are added to the person video is displayed on the display 16 and printed by the video printer 20.
[0027]
As a result, in addition to the date and name, for example, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY ***-san!” Or “***-kun, Happy 20th Birthday!” Or “It ’s a bad year, take care of your body!” You can print a message and provide a photo sticker that will be a memorial to your birthday. Further, for example, when such a message is output from the speaker 13 or a music related to the birthday is played during the waiting time during printing by the video printer 20, the mood for celebrating the birthday can be obtained. It will rise and the place will be exciting.
[0028]
In the case where the karaoke apparatus 1 is not connected to the host apparatus 2 via the communication line network 3, the decorative design and the customer birthday list are supplied off-line from an appropriate recording medium. Further, in a configuration in which a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 1 are connected via a LAN, a server on the LAN is connected to the host apparatus 2 via the telephone line network 3, and this server is connected from the host apparatus 2 to the decorative design or customer birthday. Receive the list. And a decoration design and a customer birthday list are transferred to each karaoke apparatus 1 from this server in a timely manner.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a service rich in topic that is pleasing to the user who has reached his birthday in the person photographing print function added to the karaoke apparatus and the communication karaoke system by effectively utilizing customer information. it can.
[0030]
That is, the user who has reached the birthday can obtain a face photo sticker that will remain in commemoration of the birthday by shooting with a special frame pattern. It is also possible to put various messages related to the birthday on the sticker. In addition, by having each karaoke device have a list of birthdays for certain customers, it is possible to simultaneously carry out services related to such birthdays at affiliated chain stores, in the same region, or nationwide. it can.
[0031]
In particular, in the communication karaoke system according to the present invention, a list of birthdays of customers whose birthdays are reached at least by the next delivery date is created from the vast amount of customer information stored in the host device, and each karaoke terminal device has the birthday list. Since the list is distributed, there is no problem of charging or waiting due to accessing the host device each time. Also, when the customer birthday list is distributed, the old data on the terminal side is sequentially replaced with new data, so that the capacity of the storage device for storing customer information on the terminal side does not need so much, and the hardware This will save resources and reduce the economic burden on the karaoke store.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a service that can be enjoyed by users, and a karaoke shop can smoothly introduce this service.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram centering on a terminal device of a communication karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Karaoke device 2 Host device 3 Communication network 4 Central control unit 6 Hard disk device (data storage unit)
13 Speaker 14 Video RAM
16 Display 19 Video Control Unit 20 Video Printer 21 Video Camera

Claims (3)

A communication karaoke system in which a plurality of karaoke devices can communicate with a host device via a communication network,
The host device includes a customer information database in which personal information of customers is accumulated in association with customer IDs, and a customer birthday list including customer IDs and birthdays that have birthdays within a predetermined period is based on the customer information database. Created at any time and distributed to each karaoke device,
The karaoke apparatus includes customer ID acquisition means, control means, and storage means, outputs the accompaniment music of the requested song from the speaker and outputs lyrics subtitles from the display,
The customer ID acquisition means acquires a customer ID of a person who actually uses the karaoke device,
The control unit stores the customer birthday list from the host device in the storage unit, and when the customer ID acquisition unit acquires the customer ID, the customer birthday list includes the customer ID, and A communication karaoke system that determines whether or not a birthday that matches the current date is associated with the customer ID and, if associated, outputs a message related to the birthday from the display. The karaoke apparatus includes a video camera, a decorative design database, and an image composition means.
The video camera shoots the person who actually uses the karaoke device,
The decorative design database accumulates a plurality of decorative design data to be combined with a person image taken with a video camera, and includes decorative design data for a birthday,
When the customer ID acquisition means acquires the customer ID, the control means includes whether or not the customer ID is included in the customer birthday list and a birthday that matches the current date is associated with the customer ID. If it is associated, a message image related to the birthday is generated, and the decoration design data for the birthday is extracted from the decoration design database, and the message image, the decoration design, and the video camera are taken. The communication karaoke system according to claim 1, wherein the person video is synthesized by an image synthesis means and output from a display. The communication karaoke system according to claim 2, wherein the karaoke apparatus includes a printer that samples and prints an image displayed on the display.

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