JP4152554B2 - Karaoke device with theater function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly to a karaoke apparatus that can utilize a karaoke facility for purposes other than karaoke.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional karaoke apparatus as a configuration diagram. The main unit 1 includes a central control unit 2 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls and supervises the karaoke apparatus. The main unit 1 also processes karaoke data that is the origin of the accompaniment music of the karaoke music and the lyrics image, Generate music and lyrics images. The mixing amplifier 20 inputs an audio signal of accompaniment music output from the main unit 1 and a singing audio signal from the microphone 30, mixes and amplifies the signal, and outputs the sound to the speaker 31. In addition, in accordance with user operation input, an acoustic effect such as echo is appropriately added to the accompaniment music or the audio signal from the microphone 30 to output the audio signal.
[0003]
A DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) changer / player 40 accommodates a large number of DVDs, and each DVD stores moving image data for a long time in which lyrics images are superimposed. Then, under the control of the main unit 1, the video signal of the moving image data recorded by being driven by a DVD drive device (player) incorporating an appropriate DVD is reproduced. The DVD driven by the internal player is a DVD-Video in which video data of the MPEG2 standard or video data and audio data (hereinafter referred to as AV content) are recorded. Therefore, the internal player is a DVD-Video player equipped with an MPEG2 decoder. Note that the DVD changer / player 40 in this example has two internal players, and these two internal players are driven while alternately exchanging DVDs so that the output of the reproduced video is not interrupted. ing.
[0004]
Furthermore, the DVD changer / player 40 is provided with one external player for driving one DVD supplied from the outside. This external player is a DVD-ROM reader that does not include an MPEG2 decoder. Therefore, a DVD that can be supplied from the outside is a DVD-ROM for storing data.
[0005]
The hard disk device 3 of the main body 1 stores karaoke data for a large number of songs and various programs executed by the central control unit 2. The karaoke data is composed of music generation data of the MIDI standard and lyrics rendering data that is the origin of the generation of lyrics images including synchronization data with the music generation data. Karaoke data is also stored in a DVD-ROM attached to the external player.
[0006]
The central control unit 2 includes a designated music number (music ID) included in an infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 5 input to the remote control receiving unit 4 and a key operation signal input from the operation panel 6 disposed in the main body unit 1. ) Is received via the operation control unit 7, the music ID and the input order are associated with each other and stored in the internal RAM. As a result, the karaoke song designated by the user is registered for performance reservation. Then, according to the reservation registration order, the corresponding karaoke data is read out from the DVD-ROM attached to the hard disk device 3 or an external player and processed.
[0007]
The central control unit 2 sequentially transfers the music generation data in the read karaoke data to the synthesizer 8. The synthesizer 8 reproduces each part (musical instrument) described in the music generation data by a built-in sound source and outputs it as an audio signal of accompaniment music. The audio signal of the accompaniment music is input to the mixing amplifier 20 together with the singing audio signal from the microphone 30.
[0008]
The central control unit 2 processes the lyric rendering data in synchronism with the accompaniment music generation process, and expands the lyric image bitmap data while sequentially updating the video RAM 9. On the other hand, a control signal is sent to the DVD changer / player 40 via the I / O interface unit 10. The DVD changer / player 40 drives a designated DVD by a designated internal player based on a predetermined control signal, and reproduces / outputs a video signal of a predetermined AV content. A video signal reproduced / output by the DVD changer / player 40 is input to the video control unit 11 of the main unit 1. The video control unit 11 superimposes the lyric image developed in the bitmap on the video RAM 9 to the video signal and outputs the video signal to the display 32.
[0009]
The DVD-Video accommodated in the DVD changer / player 40 is “karaoke software” in which karaoke accompaniment music, mood video, and lyric images are multiplexed and recorded as audio data, video data, and sub-picture (subtitle) data, respectively. Is also present. Depending on the karaoke music specified by the user, a video / audio signal obtained by reproducing the karaoke software as it is may be output to the speaker 31 and the display 32.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a karaoke facility such as a karaoke box, soundproofing measures are taken in a guest room (karaoke room) where a karaoke apparatus is installed. And the mixing amplifier and the speaker of the karaoke apparatus are compatible with loud sound. In this way, unlike a general home environment, a karaoke facility can output accompaniment music and singing sound from a speaker at a high volume without worrying about noise leaking outside. It can be said that people who use karaoke facilities use karaoke facilities because of their excellent audio equipment.
[0011]
However, soundproofing equipment and high-performance audio equipment in karaoke facilities are useless for those who do not karaoke. In the current karaoke industry, which seems to be overly competitive, operating a karaoke facility solely for karaoke is not expected to generate a significant increase in profits.
[0012]
Here, when attention is paid to the display installed in the karaoke room together with the sound equipment of the karaoke facility, it is noticed that a large screen is often prepared so that the display can be seen from anywhere in the karaoke room. That is, the karaoke facility is provided with an audio device corresponding to large sound and a video output device with a large screen, and provides an extremely excellent AV (audio / visual) environment. Therefore, I thought that this AV environment could not be used for purposes other than karaoke.
[0013]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus that can be used for purposes other than karaoke by utilizing soundproofing equipment and audio equipment of a karaoke facility.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is specified by the following items (1) to (10) when described for convenience.
(1) A karaoke apparatus provided with storage means, an optical disk player , a central control unit , sound output means, video output means, and operation input means. (2) The storage means is karaoke data for each song. (3) Karaoke data includes accompaniment music data and lyric image data. (4) An optical disc player is a disc mounting unit in which an optical disc can be freely attached and detached by a user's operation. When a disk drive unit for reading data from the optical disk mounted on the mounting portion, further comprising a decoding unit for reproducing audio signal and a video signal by processing the read output of the drive unit (5) the central control unit In the karaoke mode, when accompaniment music is acoustically output based on the accompaniment music data of the requested song designated by the operation input means Moni, to image output the lyrics image based on the lyric image data of the request songs with background image (6) the central control unit, when an optical disc is mounted on the disk mounting portion, with pauses karaoke mode, first -Performing the fourth process (7) The first process reads the TOC from the loaded optical disk. (8) The second process is the contents screen data including the recording time for each track described in the read TOC. Is generated and video is output, and the user accepts an operation input for designating a desired playback track from among the displayed tracks on the table of contents screen. (9) The third process is for the designated desired playback track. Calculate the usage fee based on the recording time, and additionally display the usage fee on the displayed table of contents screen. (10) The fourth process is an operation input that instructs the start of playback. In response to the playback of the designated playback desired track and outputting the audio and video.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
=== Karaoke system ===
The embodiment of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention is based on the configuration of the karaoke apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as a conventional example. However, the karaoke apparatus of the present invention karaokes package software containing AV content (or audio content) such as DVD-Video, video CD or CD-DA (CD-Digital Audio: music CD) prepared by the user. It is characterized by having a “theater function” for viewing in the room.
[0019]
=== Requirements for Theater Function ===
An object of the present invention is to achieve a karaoke apparatus capable of providing a paid karaoke facility such as a karaoke box for viewing package software. That is, the user uses the karaoke apparatus in a situation where performance of karaoke music and appreciation of AV content are mixed. Therefore, the karaoke apparatus of the present invention is required to have a function capable of clearly presenting charges in addition to a video / audio environment suitable for content viewing and a comfortable operating environment. In the karaoke apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, various contrivances are made from both sides of the hardware and software.
[0020]
=== Hardware ===
FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram mainly showing the DVD changer / player 40 of this embodiment, and the hardware operation in the theater function will be described with reference to this figure.
[0021]
<DVD changer player>
In order to realize the theater function with a single karaoke device, it is desirable to first drive a DVD or CD (user disk) prepared by the user with the DVD changer player 40. Although an MPEG2 decoder can be added to the external player 41, the DVD 43a driven by the external player 41 is a normal karaoke device such as karaoke data not stored in the hard disk device 3 or ADPCM audio data for back chorus. It is necessary to store data that is frequently used in use. In view of this, the DVD changer / player 40 in this embodiment employs a mechanism that allows a disk supplied from the outside to be mounted on an internal player (45, 46) equipped with an MPEG2 decoder.
[0022]
The DVD storage unit 42 stores 100 DVD-Videos 43b prepared as mood videos and karaoke software. Each DVD 43b is individually mounted on a tray, and the transport device 44 has an appropriate mechanism for taking out the DVD 43b mounted on an appropriate tray and loading it into an internal player (45, 46) as a transport destination. The housing of the DVD changer / player 40 is provided with a disk slot 47 for mounting a user disk 43c from the outside. In addition, the internal player 46 of one system is provided with a evacuation tray 48 for temporarily storing the disk 43c mounted in the slot 47. Since the internal player 46 is always operating during the performance processing of the karaoke music piece, the waiting tray 48 is provided so that the operating state is not interrupted by the user disk 43c being mounted.
[0023]
The DVD control unit 49 receives a control signal from the I / O interface unit 10 of the main body unit 1 via the communication interface unit 50, controls various components of the DVD changer / player 40, and controls the communication interface unit 50. A computer main body for transferring various data via the computer. Then, the DVD control unit 49 drives and controls the transport device 44 in accordance with a predetermined control signal received from the main body unit 1, and returns the DVD 43b loaded in the internal player (45, 46) to a predetermined tray of the DVD storage unit 42. At the same time, the user disk 43c stored in the waiting tray 48 is loaded into the corresponding internal player 46 and driven.
[0024]
The MPEG2 decoder installed in the internal players (45, 46) separates MPEG2 format video data defined by the DVD-Video standard, audio data encoded in a predetermined format, or multiplexed data of sub-picture data (subtitles, etc.)・ Decrypt. The decoded video data and sub-picture data are output as video signals of the NTSC standard in which captions are superimposed on the moving image, and digital audio signals converted into optical signals are output as audio data. . The MPEG2 decoder can also decode MPEG1 video data and audio data recorded on a video CD. The internal player can also output PCM audio data read by driving a music CD.
[0025]
Video signals and audio signals output from the two internal players (45, 46) are input to the selector 51. The DVD control unit 49 controls the selector 51 to output a signal from one system. Thereby, the DVD changer player 40 outputs the output signals from the two internal players (45, 46) alternately when the karaoke mode is executed, and the internal player that drives the user disk 43c when the theater mode is executed. An output signal from 46 is output.
[0026]
The video signal output from the DVD changer / player 40 is input to the video control unit 11 of the main unit 1. The central control unit 2 causes the video signal input from the DVD changer player 40 to the video control unit 11 to be output to the display 32 as it is when the theater function is activated or when the karaoke software is played back. On the other hand, the optical digital audio signal is input to the optical digital audio input terminal of the mixing amplifier 20. The mixing amplifier 20 includes this optical digital audio input terminal and an analog audio input terminal for inputting an analog audio signal from the synthesizer. If there is signal input to both terminals, the optical digital audio signal is given priority. To be processed.
[0027]
<Mixing amplifier>
The DVD-Video standard defines, as an audio data format, in addition to uncompressed PCM audio data, compressed / encoded audio data by the Dolby Digital (registered trademark) system or the DTS (registered trademark) system. In addition, a plurality of audio data streams corresponding to a plurality of languages are multiplexed and recorded as the audio data, and one channel of a bass component is added to one audio data stream to the front left / right, front center, and rear left / right 5 channels. Digital audio data of 6 channels (usually 5.1 channels, counting low sound components as 0.1 channels) is recorded. In many package software, this 5.1 channel audio data is recorded.
[0028]
Therefore, the mixing amplifier 20 in the karaoke apparatus of this embodiment inputs the optical digital audio signal output from the DVD changer player 40, decodes it according to the encoding method, and reproduces it as analog audio signals for the number of channels included in the input signal. Circuit (hereinafter referred to as an audio decoder), five speaker output terminals for outputting the decoded audio signals for up to 5.1 channels at a predetermined speaker, and an audio signal output terminal for one bass component And.
[0029]
In this embodiment, speakers for front left and right voices are provided on the left and right of the display 32, front center voice is directly above or directly below the display 32, and rear left and right voices are opposed to the front left and right speakers. Also, the sub-woofer with built-in amplifier connected to the audio output terminal outputs only a low-frequency component without localization, so it may be arranged in an appropriate place in the karaoke room. Of course, as long as the sound directivity matches, it is not necessary to assign one speaker to each speaker output system, and a plurality of speakers may be connected in parallel to one system.
[0030]
Also, when the audio data recorded on the DVD-Video is two left and right channels or when playing a video CD or music CD, the audio signals of the left and right channels and the left and right channels are played in the same way as when performing karaoke accompaniment music. An audio signal mixed with the above is output from an appropriate output terminal.
[0031]
=== Software ===
As described above, the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is required to have a comfortable operating environment and a function capable of clear charge presentation. In other words, if the operating environment is greatly different between when the karaoke function is used and when the theater function is used, the theater function cannot be used. Also, at a karaoke facility or the like where a usage fee is set for each hour, watching a movie that is close to two hours increases the usage fee. For this reason, a function that reliably prevents unnecessary charges from being collected due to erroneous operations, etc., and how much it will take if the theater function is used in advance are clearly indicated, and theater mode is activated after obtaining the user's consent. A simple user interface environment is required.
[0032]
<Activation of theater function>
In order for the user to use the theater function, first, the prepared user disk 43 c is loaded into the disk slot 47. When the central control unit 2 receives from the DVD changer / player 40 that the mounting operation has been performed, the central karaoke piece of music being played at that time waits for the end of the performance and causes the theater function activation process to be executed. When the karaoke music piece is not being played, the theater function activation process is executed as soon as the user disk 43c is mounted.
[0033]
As a starting process of the theater function, first, the central control unit 2 controls the DVD changer / player 40 to return the DVD loaded in the internal players (45, 46) to a predetermined tray of the DVD storage unit 42. Along with this operation, the user disk 43c in the waiting tray 48 is loaded into the corresponding internal player. When the user disk 43c is loaded, the internal player 46 determines the type of the disk 43c (DVD-Video, music CD, etc.) and reads the TOC (Table Of Contents) recorded on the disk 43c. .
[0034]
When the central control unit 2 receives the disc type and TOC contents (recording time, subtitles and recorded audio type, etc.) as the table of contents data, the table of contents data and a predetermined fee system (disc type and time) The fee required for playing the user disk 43c (for a rented karaoke facility, etc.) is calculated based on the unit and the like. Then, table of contents screen data including an inquiry as to whether or not to allow the reproduction of the user disk 43c is generated together with the table of contents data and the charge. When this table of contents screen data is developed into a bit map in the video RAM 9, the table of contents screen is output to the display 32. 3A and 3B show an example of the table of contents screen. (A) shows the case where the user disc is DVD-Video, and (B) shows the case where the user disc is a music CD.
[0035]
According to the table of contents screen, the user designates the playback method of the user disk 43c (such as language selection for audio and subtitles for DVD-Video, music selection for music CDs, etc.) and permits the playback process of the disk 43c. When the operation input is performed, the central control unit 2 switches the mode from the karaoke mode to the theater mode. Then, a predetermined control signal is sent to the DVD changer / player 40 so that the disk 43c is reproduced by a method designated by the user. In the present embodiment, when switching to the theater mode, all the performance processing of karaoke music reserved before that is canceled. Of course, the user may be able to select whether or not to play the reserved karaoke music piece after the content of the disc 43c has been viewed.
[0036]
<Operating environment in theater mode>
The user interface such as the remote control transmitter 5 and the operation panel 6 is a theater mode user who can perform playback operations such as pausing or canceling playback of the user disk 43c or chapter (track) search when the theater mode is executed. Interface. Therefore, the karaoke apparatus operates differently depending on the mode being executed even for the same key operation. In the present embodiment, tables for associating control codes corresponding to remote control signals and the like with processing to be executed by the central control unit 2 are separately prepared for the karaoke mode and the theater mode, and the operation control unit 7 When a predetermined control code is transferred to the central control unit 2 according to a signal transmitted from the user interface, the central control unit 2 performs predetermined processing with reference to an appropriate table according to the mode being executed.
[0037]
Of course, two tables corresponding to key operations and control codes may be prepared for each mode on the user interface side, and a dedicated key or switch for switching the referenced table may be provided. In this case, different control codes are transmitted even if the same key is pressed.
[0038]
=== Other Examples etc. ===
In the karaoke apparatus of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to reproduce all package software using an optical disc such as a DVD-Video or a music CD as a user disc. However, a disc that can be reproduced is a DVD-Video only. You may limit to a medium. In this case, if a disk other than a predetermined disk is loaded into the disk slot, the disk can be prevented from being erroneously mounted by automatically ejecting the disk or displaying an instruction to eject the disk.
[0039]
It is also possible to release theater mode according to the user's operation even when playing a disc whose contents are not known in advance or when the usage time of the karaoke facility is exceeded. It is. Then, the usage fee for the theater function may be settled according to the time from the start to release of the theater mode. Moreover, it is good also as returning to a karaoke mode with cancellation | release, or returning the reserved music canceled with the start of theater mode to a reservation state again.
[0040]
In the above embodiment, when the karaoke song being played is finished when the user disk is mounted, the theater mode activation process is started. However, the mixed use of the karaoke function and the theater function is facilitated if the user disk can be instructed to be played in accordance with the same procedure as that for making a music performance reservation. For example, “theatre mode activation number” for activating the theater function in the same way as the music number is written in the table of contents, etc. The reservation registration may be performed together with the function activation reservation.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, an optical disc such as a DVD-Video prepared by a user can be reproduced. Therefore, the soundproofing equipment and audio equipment of the karaoke facility can be used for purposes other than karaoke. For this reason, it is possible to enjoy movies with high sound, which cannot be fully enjoyed due to problems such as noise in ordinary households. For the karaoke facility, an increase in users other than the purpose of karaoke is expected and an increase in profits can be expected.
[0042]
In addition, when the user interface accepts the reservation for starting the theater mode together with the reservation for the performance of the karaoke music, the theater function execution reservation can be registered by the same operation as when using the karaoke. Therefore, the conventional karaoke user can execute the theater mode in the same procedure as the reservation of performance of karaoke music. It is also possible to enjoy two entertainments, karaoke and theater function, at a single karaoke facility use opportunity.
[0043]
By using both a karaoke performance operation and an optical disc playback operation with a single user interface, there is no need to attach an extra user interface such as a remote control transmitter dedicated to the theater function. Therefore, the user does not change the user interface depending on the mode. In addition, the user interface device such as the remote control transmitter is not mistaken. Of course, there is no increase in the cost of the karaoke apparatus itself due to the expansion of the user interface.
[0044]
When a predetermined fee system is applied to the execution of the theater mode, the table of contents screen data including the fee calculated based on the fee structure can be created and displayed. As a result, a clear charge explanation can be given to the user, and the theater function can be used after the user is convinced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a conventional karaoke apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a DVD changer player in an embodiment of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example of a table of contents screen displayed on the display in the embodiment of the karaoke apparatus of the present invention. (A) is a case where a user disk is DVD-Video, and (B) is a case where a user disk is a music CD.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main-body part 2 Central control part 5 Remote control transmitter 6 Operation panel 8 Synthesizer 11 Image | video control part 20 Mixing amplifier 31 Speaker 32 Display 40 DVD changer player 43a-43c Optical disk 45, 46 Internal player

Claims (1)

A karaoke apparatus comprising storage means, an optical disc player , a central control unit , sound output means, video output means, and operation input means,
The storage means stores karaoke data for each song and background video data,
Karaoke data includes accompaniment music data and lyrics image data,
The optical disk player includes a disk mounting unit that allows the user to attach and remove the optical disk, a disk drive unit that reads data from the optical disk mounted on the mounting unit, a read output of the drive unit, It has a decoding unit that plays back video signals,
In the karaoke mode, the central control unit acoustically outputs the accompaniment music based on the accompaniment music data of the requested song specified by the operation input means, and outputs the lyrics image based on the lyrics image data of the requested song along with the background video. And
The central control unit pauses the karaoke mode when the optical disk is mounted on the disk mounting unit, and performs the first to fourth processes.
The first process reads the TOC from the mounted optical disk,
In the second process, the table of contents data including the recording time for each track described in the read TOC is generated and output as a video, and the user wants to play the desired track from among the tracks on the displayed table of contents. Accepts operation input to specify
The third process calculates the usage fee based on the recording time of the designated desired playback track, and additionally displays the usage fee on the displayed table of contents screen.
The fourth process is a karaoke apparatus that responds to an operation input for instructing the start of reproduction, and reproduces a designated desired reproduction track and outputs video and audio.

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