JP4032473B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus and a karaoke system that perform a karaoke performance while displaying a background video corresponding to a song.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The karaoke device not only plays karaoke songs, but also displays a background video that matches the song on the monitor and superimposes lyrics telop on the background video to enhance the karaoke performance. To do.
[0003]
Since the online karaoke device is a device that downloads music data for performance from the distribution center, it is separated from the background video with a large amount of data, and the background video is stored in a medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD on the karaoke device side. ing.
[0004]
Since the amount of video data is large as described above, conventionally, one or a plurality of video data corresponding to each genre of karaoke songs such as enka and pop are stored, and this genre is requested when a karaoke song is requested. The video data is read out and displayed as the background video, and the karaoke song and the background video do not correspond individually.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method of selecting one of the few video data based only on the genre, there is a problem that the video data suitable for the atmosphere of the song cannot always be selected and the karaoke performance cannot be excited.
[0006]
On the other hand, if video data individually corresponding to each karaoke song is stored, the video data corresponding to each song can be displayed without fail, but one karaoke device has more than 10,000 karaoke songs. It is impossible to store individual video data corresponding to each of these as practical problems such as cost and size of the apparatus.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus and a karaoke system that solve the above problems by sharing and storing video data among a plurality of karaoke apparatuses.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention of claim 1 of this application isA karaoke apparatus in which a plurality of units are connected to each other via a network, and a piece of music data storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of music data for karaoke piece performance, and individual video data individually associated with each piece of karaoke piece, When there is a video data storage means for storing individual video data associated with a part of karaoke songs and general-purpose video data corresponding to a plurality of karaoke songs, and a karaoke song performance instruction, It is determined whether or not the corresponding individual video data is stored in the video data storage means, and if it is stored, the individual video data is acquired from the video data storage means and the acquired individual video data and the music A karaoke performance is executed using the music data read from the data storage means, and if it is not stored, the general-purpose video data is read from the video data storage means. And a performance execution means for starting a karaoke performance using the acquired general-purpose video data and the music data read from the music data storage means, and the performance execution means is connected via a network. When the individual video data can be acquired from the karaoke device, the video of the karaoke performance is switched from that of the general-purpose video data to that of the individual video data at the time of acquisition, and the video is switched from another karaoke device via the network. A means for performing karaoke performance using the general-purpose video data when the individual video data cannot be obtained.It is characterized by that.
[0012]
In the above invention, a plurality of karaoke devices are connected via a network, and each karaoke device has a plurality of (about 10,000 songs) music data and individual video data individually associated with some karaoke songs. Is remembered. The individual video data stored in each karaoke device may be partially duplicated, but is generally not duplicated.
[0013]
  In the first aspect of the present invention, when a request is generated in a certain karaoke apparatus, the music data is read out and karaoke performance is performed in response to the request. At this time,It is determined whether the individual video data is stored in its own device, and if it is stored, the above karaoke performance is executed while reproducing this and displaying the background video. On the other hand, when individual video data is not stored in the own device, karaoke performance is started using general-purpose video data for the time being, and when there is a karaoke device storing the individual video data The individual video data is received from the karaoke apparatus, and the video is switched from the general-purpose video data to the individual video data in the middle of the song. As a result, the performance start delay can be eliminated, and if there is individual video data, the individual video data can be used.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of each karaoke device connected on a network, and FIG. 3 is used for playing a karaoke song in the karaoke device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an index table stored in the karaoke apparatus.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses (5 terminals in the figure: A to E) are connected to a network 1 as terminal apparatuses. The network 1 may be configured by a LAN such as Ethernet. Each karaoke apparatus stores music data and video data individually with the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and performs a karaoke music performance in response to a user request. This karaoke system is installed in a place where a plurality of karaoke apparatuses are installed in the same building, such as a karaoke box. When Ethernet is used as a network, the communication speed is about 10 Mbps.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, each karaoke apparatus includes a communication interface 14 for connecting to the network 1. This communication interface 14 is connected to the CPU 10 via a bus. In addition to this, the CPU 10 includes a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a hard disk storage device 13, a card reader 15, a panel interface 16, a sound source 20, an audio decoder 21, a hammer amplifier 22, an effector 24, a background video reproduction unit 30, a video creation unit 32, and a video mixer. 33 etc. are connected.
[0019]
The communication interface 14 not only controls communication with other karaoke apparatuses via the network 1, but also controls communication with the host computer 3 via a telephone line. From the host computer 3, music data of new songs, index tables, and the like are downloaded. The index table is a table for instructing the correspondence between the song number of the karaoke song and the individual background video data as shown in FIG.
[0020]
The ROM 11 stores a program for starting the karaoke device. The hard disk 13 stores the music data, index table, and the like, as well as programs such as a system program, a karaoke performance program, a loader, and character pattern data. The system program is a program for controlling the basic operation of the apparatus, and is read into the RAM 12 when the karaoke apparatus is activated. The karaoke performance program is a program for controlling the sound source 20, the audio decoder 21 and the like based on the music data. The loader is a program for downloading music data and an index table from the distribution center 3. The character pattern data is data for expanding text information such as lyrics and song names given as code information into character patterns. The RAM 12 is set with an area for reading the program and a music data buffer for reading music data currently being played and music data to be played next.
[0021]
The panel interface 16 is connected to a circuit, a panel switch, a display, and the like that receive an infrared signal sent from an infrared remote controller (commander) (not shown) and convert it into data. The CPU 10 reserves a karaoke song based on the song number input from the commander, and executes various processes such as key change based on other command codes. The display includes an LED matrix or a 7-segment display that displays the number of the currently playing song, the number of reserved songs, and the like.
[0022]
With reference to FIG. 3, the composition of music data used in the karaoke apparatus and the operation of the karaoke apparatus based on this data will be described. The music data consists of a header, a musical sound track, a lyrics track, an audio control track, an effect control track, and an audio data section. The header is a portion in which various data relating to the music data is written, and includes data such as a music number, a music title, a genre, a release date, and a performance time of the music. Each piece of music data is identified by a music number.
[0023]
The music track, lyrics track, voice control track, and effect control track are all described in the MIDI format. The MIDI format is originally a format for describing data for musical tone control such as a musical tone track, but all data is described in a unified format and the trunk other than the musical tone is also in the MIDI format for easy implementation. It is described. The MIDI format track is composed of a plurality of event data and timing data for instructing the read timing of each event data. When a karaoke song is played, the plurality of tracks are read out in parallel. In each track, the value of the timing data is counted by a predetermined tempo clock, and when this value is counted up, event data indicated by the timing data is read out. The read event data is output to a predetermined operation unit, and a corresponding process is executed in the operation unit.
[0024]
The musical sound track is composed of a multi-part track such as a melody track and a rhythm track. The event data of the musical tone track is note-on event data for instructing the pronunciation of the musical tone, note-off event data for instructing the muting of the musical tone, and the like, and these event data are output to the sound source 20.
[0025]
The event data of the lyrics track is composed of data indicating the character code, display coordinates, display color, etc. of the lyrics displayed on the monitor. When this data is read, the CPU 10 reads the corresponding character pattern data from the hard disk 13. The image creation unit 32 develops it.
[0026]
The event data of the audio control track is data for instructing reproduction of audio data in the audio data portion. When this event data is read, the CPU 10 reads the audio data instructed by the data and inputs it to the audio decoding unit 21. The audio data is data obtained by digitizing a human voice such as a back chorus that is difficult to synthesize with a sound source, and the audio decoding unit 21 decodes this data into an analog audio signal and outputs it to the mixer 23.
[0027]
The event data of the effect control track is data for controlling the operation of the effector 24, and is from data indicating the type and degree of the effect to be given to the karaoke performance sound or the singing voice signal input from the microphone 25. It has become.
[0028]
On the other hand, a microphone 25 is connected to the hammer amplifier 22, and the singing voice signal inputted from the microphone 25 is amplified and inputted to the mixer 23, and the singing voice signal is pitch-shifted according to the mode to reduce the pitch deviation. Modify it or synthesize the sound of hammer. A performance sound signal synthesized by the sound source 20, a sound signal such as a back chorus reproduced by the sound decoding unit 21, and a singing sound signal and a sound signal from the sound amplifier 22 are all input to the mixer 23. The mixer 23 mixes these signals with an appropriate balance and inputs them to the effector 24. The effector 24 gives an effect such as echo to these karaoke sound signals based on the effect control data of the music data. The sound signal of the karaoke performance to which the effect is given is output as sound from the sound output unit 26.
[0029]
A DVD changer 31 is connected to the background video playback unit 30. The DVD changer 31 can set a plurality of DVDs, can set a predetermined disk on the turntable in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 10, and can read data from a designated track. The DVD video data is stored after MPEG compression, and the background video playback unit 30 has an MPEG decoder. When compressed video data is input from the DVD, the background video playback unit 30 decompresses the video data and converts it into a composite video signal. The converted video signal is output to the video mixer 33. On the other hand, the video creation unit 32 has a VRAM and is a circuit unit that develops a character pattern for displaying lyric display data read from a lyric track of music data and converts it into a video signal. The video mixer 33 synthesizes the background video signal and the character pattern of the lyrics by superimposing and outputs the synthesized video image to the video output unit 34. The video output unit 34 displays this video signal on the CRT monitor.
[0030]
The card reader 15 reads a simple music selection card possessed by an individual, and may be a self-propelled card reader or a hand scanner type card reader. Here, the simple music selection card is a trading card on which a photograph of a singer or composer is printed and the song number of the song of the singer or composer is recorded as a barcode or magnetic data. The card reader 15 reads this barcode or magnetic data. The song number read by the card reader 15 is processed as the requested song number in the same manner as the song number input from the commander, and the user can request the song simply by reading the desired trading card.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an index table stored in the hard disk storage device 13 of each karaoke device. In the index file, the song data file name corresponding to the song number, the individual video data number individually associated with this karaoke song (4 digits), and general-purpose video data corresponding to this karaoke song Are stored (three digits). Note that the index table may be a table that only associates the music number with the individual video data. In this case, the music data may be provided with an index table dedicated to the music data, and the general-purpose video data may be selected based on the genre of the music data.
[0032]
As described above, in the index table, one piece of individual video data is associated with one piece of karaoke music, and one piece of karaoke piece corresponds to one piece of video data. On the other hand, one piece of general-purpose video data is associated with one karaoke song, but a plurality of karaoke pieces correspond to one piece of general-purpose video data.
[0033]
In addition, general-purpose video data corresponds to about 10,000 karaoke songs with several to several tens of types of data. However, in the case of individual video data, general-purpose video data does not have to correspond completely to karaoke songs one-on-one. A sufficiently large number of data (for example, about 1000) may be set so as to correspond to 10,000 karaoke songs.
[0034]
Here, in FIG. 1, the list attached to each karaoke apparatus shows a part of the list of video data stored in the DVD or the like by each karaoke apparatus. In this video data list, a 4-digit number is a number of individual video data individually corresponding to a karaoke song, and a 3-digit number is provided for each genre and a general-purpose video corresponding to a plurality of karaoke songs corresponding to the genre. This is the data number. Each karaoke apparatus stores general-purpose video data (001, 002, 003,...) Of all genres and individual video data of some karaoke songs. Karaoke apparatuses A to D on the network 1 store individual video data that do not overlap each other. In this way, each karaoke device shares and stores individual video data, and data can be transferred via the network 1 so that all individual videos can be obtained without providing a large-capacity storage device in each karaoke device. The data is made available. On the other hand, the karaoke apparatus E stores individual video data overlapping with other karaoke apparatuses. By storing individual video data of karaoke songs having a high request frequency in a plurality of karaoke apparatuses in this way, it is possible to prevent data transfer requests from being concentrated on a specific karaoke apparatus.
[0035]
In addition, general-purpose video data stores all types of karaoke devices corresponding to each genre such as pops, enka, etc., whichever genre of music is requested, can be read from the DVD of the own device and karaoke You can perform.
[0036]
Each general-purpose video data has a screening time of about 15 minutes and is cyclically read out in a plurality of karaoke performances. That is, for each general-purpose video data, the end position when the karaoke performance is executed using the video data is stored, and when the karaoke performance is executed using the video data next time, reading is started from the end position. As a result, the entire video data of 15 minutes can be used without waste (see FIG. 5).
[0037]
With the above configuration, for example, when the karaoke device A requests a song with the song number 1000-21, since the individual video data 1002 is stored in the own device, the music data file A is read and the individual video data is read. 1002 is read and karaoke performance is executed.
[0038]
Also, when the karaoke device A requests a song with the song number 1000-25, since the individual video data 2003 is not stored in the own device, the other karaoke device is inquired about the existence of the individual video data. At this time, since there is a reply from the karaoke apparatus B that the data is stored, the data is transferred from the karaoke apparatus B. A karaoke performance is executed using the individual video data.
[0039]
Also, when the song number 4758-02 is requested by the karaoke apparatus A, since the individual video data 3005 is not stored in the own apparatus, the other karaoke apparatus is inquired about the existence of the individual video data. At this time, there is a reply from the karaoke apparatus C and the karaoke apparatus E that the data is stored. If there are valid replies from a plurality of devices, one of them is selected to request data transfer. Then, after receiving the data transfer, a karaoke performance is executed using the individual video data.
[0040]
When there is a response indicating that individual video data is stored from a plurality of karaoke apparatuses, there are the following selection methods.
[0041]
The terminal device that returned the earliest response is selected.
Select the terminal device closest to the network.
The load status of the device is written in the response, and the terminal device with the lightest load status is selected from the terminal devices that have received valid responses.
Any method may be adopted. Moreover, it is not necessary to use the same system for all karaoke apparatuses, and it may be different depending on the apparatus.
[0042]
Furthermore, when the karaoke apparatus A requests a song with the song number 2356-01, since the individual video data 6002 is not stored in the own apparatus, the other karaoke apparatus is inquired about the existence of the individual video data. However, since there is no karaoke device that stores the video data of 6002 on this network, no valid reply is returned from any device. Therefore, in this case, the karaoke apparatus A uses the general-purpose video data 002 to perform a karaoke song.
[0043]
Also, in this embodiment, when the individual video data is not stored in the own device, there is no individual video data in the own device so that the user does not wait for the time required for the inquiry or data transfer to the other device. In this case, karaoke performance is started using general-purpose video data for the time being, and when the individual video data exists on the network and the transfer of the data is completed, the reproduced video is switched to that of the individual video data. I have to. In this case, if the individual video data does not exist on the network, the karaoke performance using the general-purpose video data is continued as it is.
[0044]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the karaoke song performance operation of the karaoke apparatus. When a song number is input by the user (s1), a performance preparation process such as reading a song data file corresponding to the song number and resetting a waiting time timer is performed with reference to the index table (s2). The waiting time timer also resets a timer that counts the waiting time from the start of performance preparation to the start of performance. Then, it is judged by referring to the video data list of the own device whether the corresponding device stores the corresponding individual video data (s3). If the own device stores the individual video data, karaoke performance is started using this video data (s4). On the other hand, if the individual video data is not stored, an inquiry message as to whether the individual video data is stored is transmitted to the other karaoke apparatus via the network 1 (s5). When the timer expires after a certain period of time has passed without completing the transfer of the individual video data, a general-purpose corresponding to the genre of the requested song regardless of whether or not there is a response from another device Karaoke performance is started using the video data (s6, s7). If there is no valid response, that is, no response indicating that the desired individual video data is stored (only response indicating no response and no storage), this performance is continued as it is until the end of the performance ( s7). If there is a valid response, the karaoke device is requested to transmit individual video data (s8). In this case, when there are valid responses from a plurality of karaoke devices, one of the karaoke devices is selected by the above-described method to request transfer of individual video data. When the transfer of the video data is completed (s11), if the performance has not started yet, the performance starts from the beginning, and if the performance has already started using the general-purpose video data, the performance time has been reached. The karaoke performance is continued by switching from the position to the individual video data (s12).
[0045]
When the performance of the karaoke song ends (s7, s13), the process returns to s1, and the process corresponding to the next reserved karaoke song number is executed.
[0046]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation when there is an inquiry about individual video data via the network. First, the video data list of the own device is searched to determine whether the data is stored in the own device (s21, s22). If the device does not store the data, it sends a response indicating that transmission is impossible (s23) and ends the operation. On the other hand, even if the device owns the video data, the data may not be transferred when the DVD changer 31 is in use during karaoke performance. In this case, a response indicating that the background video data is stored but cannot be returned at present is returned (s25). If the DVD changer 31 can be used and the individual video data can be transferred, a message indicating that the transfer is possible and the current load amount of the own apparatus is returned as an e-mail (s26). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is a transmission request from the karaoke apparatus inquired (s27). If there is a transmission request, a DVD storing the video data is set (s28), and the data is stored. Forward. In this data transfer, the compressed data (MGEG data) read from the DVD changer 31 is transmitted as it is without being decoded.
[0047]
In the above embodiment, all the video data is stored in the DVD, but may be stored in other storage means such as the hard disk storage device 13. Further, not only the media in which the video data has been recorded in advance is set in the karaoke apparatus, but also the video data may be downloaded as appropriate from the distribution center 3 and written and held in a writable storage means.
[0048]
Moreover, you may make it divide | segment the individual video data which each karaoke apparatus shares and memorize | stores according to a genre. For example, the karaoke device A stores the individual video data of enka, and the karaoke device B stores the individual video data of pops. By doing in this way, the karaoke apparatus A can perform the enka karaoke performance smoothly, and the karaoke apparatus B can be characterized for each karaoke apparatus so that the pop karaoke performance can be performed smoothly.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention of claim 1, even if individual video data individually corresponding to a karaoke song is stored only for some karaoke songs, when there is a request (performance instruction) for another song, Since the corresponding individual video data can be transferred from another karaoke apparatus via the network, it is not necessary to store all the huge individual video data.
[0050]
  Also,By storing general-purpose video data and enabling the performance of karaoke songs using this general-purpose video data, if there is no individual video data on the network or the karaoke device storing the individual video data is transferred Even if it is not possible, it will not be impossible to play karaoke songs.
[0051]
  Furthermore,Even if video data is being transferred from another karaoke device, it is possible to start playing karaoke songs using general-purpose video data until individual video data is transferred from another karaoke device. You can start playing karaoke in a short time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the karaoke apparatus of the karaoke system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hard disk of the karaoke apparatus
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a composition of music data used in the karaoke apparatus
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... network, A to E ... terminal device (karaoke device),
14 ... Communication interface, 30 ... Background video playback unit,
31 ... DVD changer

Claims (1)

A karaoke apparatus in which a plurality of units are connected to each other via a network,
Music data storage means for storing a plurality of music data for karaoke music performance;
Video data storage means for storing individual video data associated with some karaoke songs and general-purpose video data corresponding to a plurality of karaoke songs among the individual video data individually associated with each karaoke song When,
When there is an instruction to play a karaoke song, it is determined whether the individual video data corresponding to the karaoke song is stored in the video data storage means. Karaoke performance is performed using the acquired individual video data and the music data read from the music data storage means, and general video data is acquired from the video data storage means if not stored. Performance execution means for starting a karaoke performance using the acquired general-purpose video data and the music data read from the music data storage means,
When the performance execution means is able to acquire the individual video data from another karaoke device via a network, the video of the karaoke performance is switched from that of the general-purpose video data to that of the individual video data at the time of acquisition. A karaoke apparatus which is means for performing a karaoke performance using the general-purpose video data when the individual video data cannot be acquired from another karaoke apparatus via a network.

Images