JP5111183B2 - A method for preventing a malfunction of a karaoke apparatus by recognizing that a user having a portable terminal has left the room - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone held by a user by connecting it to a karaoke apparatus by short-range wireless communication.

There is known a system that uses a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a game machine owned by a user as a remote controller for a karaoke device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6869). Various convenient karaoke member services that can be used by users who are registered as karaoke members by logging in when visiting the store are also disclosed. (Japanese Patent No. 3453248, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-140666, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-271984)
In particular, since many high-performance devices equipped with a short-range wireless communication interface such as the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard have appeared in mobile terminals, a number of short-range wireless communication methods have been disclosed for data communication with karaoke devices. Since a large amount of data can be exchanged, various services are possible (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6869). On the other hand, short-range wireless communication has a long distance to reach through a wall in a building, and may cause inconvenience due to communication with an unexpected karaoke apparatus such as a karaoke apparatus in a separate room.

  On the other hand, the infrared signal has a relatively short reach and does not pass through obstacles such as walls, so it reaches only the same room. Therefore, it is convenient to use infrared communication in order to ensure communication only with the karaoke apparatus in the same room.

A technique for confirming a karaoke apparatus in the same room using an infrared signal by utilizing such a property of infrared communication is known. For example, a method is known in which a portable terminal brought into a room mainly requests the karaoke device in the room to notify the ID information of the karaoke device by an infrared signal (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-266490). There is also known a method in which a karaoke apparatus notifies its own ID to a portable terminal in the same room using an infrared signal (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-17927).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6869 Japanese Patent No. 3453248 JP 2003-140666 A JP 2007-271984 A JP 2005-266490 A JP 2005-17927 A

  Even in the above-described method of confirming a karaoke device in the same room by using an infrared signal, the ID of the karaoke device which the portable terminal is possessed by the user and stored as a communication partner when leaving the room is invalidated. If this is the case, the following events may occur. For example, in the method of requesting ID notification from the karaoke device mainly by the mobile terminal, the deletion of the karaoke device ID of the communication partner is not performed unless the mobile terminal mainly performs the deletion. Therefore, even after the user leaves the room with the portable terminal, the user can communicate with the karaoke apparatus in the original room from the corridor of the karaoke shop or a nearby room.

  Alternatively, in the method in which the karaoke device notifies its ID in the room with an infrared signal, the signal that has been reported may not be received even in the same room depending on the state of the mobile terminal. For example, such a phenomenon may occur when the user is stuck in a pocket or left behind in a shadow. If it does so, it may become a situation where it becomes a place to use a portable terminal, and the communication partner's karaoke apparatus is not known.

  Therefore, the present applicant, when communicating the portable terminal with the karaoke device, that is, immediately before transmitting any operation signal from the portable terminal to the karaoke device, the karaoke device which becomes the communication partner in the same room using the infrared signal. The present invention was created based on the idea that

The present invention is a method specified by the following items (1) to (6).
(1) It is a method of causing a mobile terminal to function as a use tool of a karaoke device. (2) The karaoke device can communicate with the mobile terminal by a short-range wireless communication means and an infrared communication means. (3) A short-range wireless communication means and an infrared communication means, an operation input means for accepting a user's operation input, and a karaoke use program that can be activated via the operation input means. When the karaoke use program is activated, the infrared communication means (4) The karaoke apparatus transmits its own karaoke apparatus ID to the mobile terminal that has transmitted the signal in response to the connection request signal. A connection permission signal including information is returned, and an ID communication including its own karaoke device ID information is always performed by infrared communication means. (5) Upon receiving the connection permission signal, the portable terminal on which the karaoke utilization program operates stores the karaoke device ID information of the connected karaoke device included in the connection permission signal in the memory. , Based on an instruction input from the operation input means, it is possible to output an operation signal in a predetermined format to the connected karaoke device via the short-range wireless communication means. (6) The portable terminal Upon output, an ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke device is received, and the karaoke device ID information included in the signal is compared with the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory. Output an operation signal to the karaoke machine to be operated, and stop output of the operation signal if there is a discrepancy

  In the present invention, when the operation signal is output, the portable terminal outputs the operation signal when the karaoke device ID information included in the received ID notification signal and the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory do not match. It is desirable to cancel and erase the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory.

  In addition, the portable terminal monitors an ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke device when outputting the operation signal, and if it is not received for a predetermined time, it is close to the karaoke device corresponding to the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory. It is desirable to check whether or not the connection is possible via the wireless communication means, and if the connection is possible, monitor the ID notification signal of the karaoke device again, and if the connection is not possible, erase the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory. .

  In that case, when the portable terminal erases the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory when the operation signal is output, the portable terminal prompts the user to input an operation, and transmits it to a nearby karaoke device by infrared communication means. It is desirable to transmit a connection request signal including its own mobile terminal ID information.

  According to the present invention, while communicating between a portable terminal and a karaoke apparatus using two methods of infrared communication that can reach only in the same room and short-range wireless communication that also reaches from an outdoor corridor or a nearby separate room, Since the karaoke device is confirmed and the operation signal is transmitted, the portable terminal can surely communicate only with the karaoke device in the same room. Furthermore, even if the user leaves the room with a mobile terminal or moves to another room, the mobile device may cause the karaoke device in the original room to malfunction without leaving the corridor or another nearby room. Can be prevented. In addition, since substantial operation signals are transmitted and received by short-range wireless communication that enables reliable and large-capacity data transfer compared to infrared communication, efficient communication is possible and a comfortable karaoke usage environment is provided to the user. it can.

=== Overview of Implementation ===
In the following embodiments, a mode will be described in which a mobile phone owned by a user is brought into a karaoke store as a mobile terminal and connected to a karaoke device in the store via a well-known Bluetooth interface as a short-range wireless communication means. .

  The user's mobile phone is a commercial product that implements a well-known infrared communication interface and a Bluetooth standard short-range wireless communication interface using operation input keys, displays, etc. as operation input means. It is assumed that it has been installed in advance. The karaoke use program is published on a website operated by a karaoke company, and can be downloaded and installed on a mobile phone.

  Then, the mobile phone is caused to function as a remote control device that outputs an operation signal for operating a karaoke device such as music performance reservation via the Bluetooth interface while interacting with the user through the GUI by executing the karaoke use program.

  The present invention provides a method for outputting an operation signal while confirming that a mobile phone does not mistake a communication partner's karaoke apparatus.

=== Basic configuration of karaoke equipment ===
The karaoke apparatus of the present embodiment is a part of a known communication karaoke system, and one karaoke apparatus is installed in each guest room of a karaoke store having a plurality of guest rooms. The karaoke device in each room is a general-purpose personal computer application device. FIG. 1 illustrates a block configuration of a karaoke apparatus. A central control unit 11 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM controls peripheral components to control the karaoke apparatus 10. In addition to the main computer program, the hard disk device 12 stores a karaoke database in which karaoke data that is the origin of accompaniment music and lyric images is associated with a karaoke song ID. In addition to the operation / display panel 13 of the apparatus main body, the user interface device includes an infrared communication interface 19 capable of communicating with the mobile terminal 20 and a Bluetooth standard short-range wireless communication interface 18.

  When the central control unit 11 of the karaoke apparatus 10 receives the music ID input from the operation / display panel 13 or the music ID in the performance reservation signal transmitted from the portable terminal 20 via Bluetooth, the performance reservations are made in the order of reception. Register and manage queues. Then, music IDs are extracted from the queue in the order of registration, and karaoke data corresponding to the music IDs are extracted to perform performance processing. That is, the performance processing unit 15 generates a music signal of accompaniment music, mixes and amplifies the singing voice signal input to the microphone with the mixing amplifier 16, and outputs the sound from the speaker. The video processing unit 17 superimposes the lyrics subtitles that change color in synchronization with the progress of the performance on the background video and outputs the video to the display.

  It is connected to the LAN 110 in the karaoke store via the communication processing unit 14. The karaoke device 10 in each guest room is a performance terminal of a known communication karaoke system, and is connected to an external network via the LAN 110 and can communicate with a host device connected to the outside. Karaoke data appropriately distributed from the host device is also received via the communication processing unit 14 and stored in the karaoke database.

=== Processing when entering the room ===
In FIG. 2, a karaoke user has a portable terminal (mobile phone) 20 and enters a guest room 120 where the karaoke apparatus 10 is installed, and transmits various operation signals to the karaoke apparatus 10 in the same room. The processing image of is illustrated.

  When the karaoke user who has entered the room performs a predetermined operation input to the portable terminal 20 and starts the karaoke utilization program, the portable terminal 20 transmits a connection request signal to the karaoke apparatus 10 via the infrared interface (s21). This connection request signal includes an identification code (mobile terminal ID information) such as a machine number and owner ID that can identify the mobile terminal 20.

  The karaoke apparatus 10 that has received the connection request signal of the mobile terminal 20 in the same room identifies the mobile terminal that is the source of the connection request signal and includes an identification code (karaoke apparatus ID information) such as its own machine number. The connection permission signal is returned via Bluetooth (s11). However, the connection permission signal is not limited to via Bluetooth, but may be configured as an infrared signal including mobile terminal ID information.

  Receiving the connection permission signal, the portable terminal 20 stores the included karaoke device ID information in the memory (s22). In this way, the karaoke apparatus 10 and the mobile phone terminal 20 can know ID information of communication partners in the same room.

=== Output of operation signal ===
The karaoke apparatus 10 repeats transmission of an infrared ID notification signal including its own karaoke apparatus ID information in the vicinity at appropriate intervals (s12). This may be limited to the case where there is a mobile terminal 20 as a communication partner, that is, after a connection permission signal is returned to any mobile terminal 20.

  When the karaoke use program of the portable terminal 20 is activated and can be connected to the karaoke apparatus 10, various operation signals for karaoke use can be generated (s23). For example, a menu list for using karaoke is first presented, and various functions such as a performance reservation function, a music selection function, a member login function, and a game function can be activated by a user's selection designation input. For example, when the performance reservation function is selected and designated, an operation signal for the karaoke apparatus 10 is generated based on a predetermined GUI, such as prompting the user to input a music number and generating a performance reservation signal.

  As another operation signal, for example, when the music selection function is selected and specified, a table of contents information request signal is generated in order to obtain table of contents information from the karaoke apparatus 10 or from various business servers via the karaoke apparatus 10. Alternatively, when the login function is selected and designated by the user registered as a member, the member number is prompted by the GUI, and the member number is entered from the karaoke device 10 or from the member information server operated by the operator via the karaoke device 10. A member information request signal is generated in order to obtain member information corresponding to, and a member information update registration signal for adding or changing member information is generated.

  When the portable terminal 20 generates an operation signal such as a performance reservation signal based on the operation of the karaoke utilization program and is ready for transmission (s23), the portable terminal 20 starts processing for transmission to the karaoke apparatus 10. In FIG. 3, the processing flow in the portable terminal 20 of s23-s25 is illustrated.

  First, the ID notification signal which the karaoke apparatus 10 is always transmitting is monitored (s31 to s32). When the ID notification signal is received (s32 → s33), the karaoke device ID information included in the signal is taken out and compared with the karaoke device ID information notified by the connection permission signal and stored in the memory (s33). If the two match (s24, s34 → s25), the destination is set based on the karaoke apparatus ID information, and the generated operation signal is transmitted via Bluetooth (s25).

  Here, when the karaoke apparatus ID information of the received ID notification signal does not match the karaoke apparatus ID information stored in the memory (s34 → s35), the transmission of the generated operation signal is stopped (s35). ). Then, assuming that the mobile phone has moved, the karaoke device ID information in the memory is deleted. Then, by using the GUI of the karaoke utilization program, the generation / transmission of a connection request signal to the nearby karaoke apparatus 10 is prompted again (s36).

  If the ID notification signal cannot be received even after waiting for a predetermined time (s32 → s37 to s38), communication is made to the karaoke device 10 corresponding to the karaoke device ID stored in the memory via Bluetooth. Confirmation is made (s38). If it can be confirmed that communication is possible, it is assumed that infrared communication is temporarily impossible, and the system returns to the system for monitoring the ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke apparatus 10 again (s39 → s31).

  When it is confirmed that communication via Bluetooth with the karaoke device 10 corresponding to the karaoke device ID stored in the memory is impossible, the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory is deleted (s39). → s36). At this time, logout processing may be performed for the portable terminal 20 that has used the login function. Then, by using the GUI of the karaoke utilization program, the generation / transmission of a connection request signal to the nearby karaoke apparatus 10 is prompted again (s36).

  As described above, the karaoke apparatus 10 and the portable terminal 20 communicate with each other by using two methods of infrared communication that does not pass through the wall and reach only in the same room, and short-range wireless communication that also reaches from an outdoor corridor or another room nearby. By confirming the karaoke device 10 as the communication partner, the portable terminal 20 can reliably communicate only with the karaoke device 10 in the same room. In addition, since substantial operation signals are transmitted and received by short-range wireless communication capable of transferring large amounts of data more reliably than infrared communication, efficient communication can be performed.

  Of course, the mobile terminal 20 of the present embodiment is not limited to a mobile phone. A tablet computer or game machine equipped with the infrared interface 19 and the Bluetooth interface 18 and capable of starting a karaoke use program can be used as the portable terminal 20 of the present embodiment.

=== Second Embodiment ===
As a second embodiment, a system that uses a wireless LAN as a short-range wireless communication means instead of the Bluetooth of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 illustrates a network configuration of a karaoke store in the second embodiment. One karaoke apparatus 10 of this embodiment is also installed in each guest room 120, and a guest room terminal 20 for operating the karaoke apparatus 10 is attached in the same room. A LAN 110 is installed in the karaoke store, and the karaoke apparatus 10 in each guest room communicates with the guest room terminal 20 in the same room via the LAN 110. In the second embodiment, the guest room terminal 20 is positioned as the portable terminal of the present invention.

  The guest room terminal 20 has a hardware configuration similar to that of a tablet computer using a touch panel as a main user interface, and implements a wireless LAN interface of a predetermined standard in addition to an infrared interface. And when it is brought into the room with the karaoke device 10, it requests the ID information of the karaoke device 10 in the same room by transmitting a connection request signal with the karaoke device by an infrared signal in the same manner as the above embodiment, The IP address of karaoke device 10 notified as karaoke device ID information by the connection permission signal is stored in a built-in memory. When transmitting the connection request signal, the IP address assigned to itself is included as portable terminal ID information. And it connects to LAN110 via the wireless access point 40, and communicates with the karaoke apparatus 10. FIG. Further, the installed karaoke use program is executed to interact with the user through the GUI, and an operation signal for operating the karaoke apparatus 10 such as music performance reservation is transmitted via the wireless LAN.

  When transmitting the operation signal, as in the above embodiment, the ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke device 10 via infrared is received, the IP address of the karaoke device 10 included in the signal is confirmed, and stored in the memory. This is compared with the IP address of the karaoke apparatus 10 that is present. An operation signal is sent only when the two match. As described above, except that the wireless LAN interface is applied instead of the Bluetooth interface as the short-range wireless communication means, and the IP address assigned to the network is applied as the mobile terminal ID information and the karaoke device ID information, respectively. The same processing as the processing of FIG. 3 in the example is performed.

  As another portable terminal, a mobile phone, game machine, or tablet computer in which an infrared interface 19 and a wireless LAN interface as a short-range wireless communication means are installed and a karaoke use program is installed is connected to a karaoke store wireless LAN. Such a configuration is also within the scope of the present invention.

The structure of the karaoke apparatus which concerns on a present Example is illustrated. The process image after the portable terminal which concerns on a present Example enters into a guest room until it outputs an operation signal is illustrated. It is a processing flowchart at the time of the operation signal transmission in the portable terminal which concerns on a present Example. The network structure containing the karaoke apparatus and portable terminal which concern on a 2nd Example is illustrated.

Explanation of symbols

10 Karaoke apparatus 11 Central control unit 20 Mobile terminal

Claims (4)

A method of causing a mobile terminal to function as a karaoke device use tool,
The karaoke device is communicable with a portable terminal, near field communication means and infrared communication means,
The portable terminal includes a short-range wireless communication unit and an infrared communication unit, an operation input unit that accepts a user's operation input, and a karaoke use program that can be activated via the operation input unit. The infrared communication means sends a connection request signal including its own mobile terminal ID information to a nearby karaoke device,
The karaoke device returns a connection permission signal including its own karaoke device ID information to the portable terminal that has transmitted the signal in response to the connection request signal, and always includes its own karaoke device ID information by infrared communication means. Repeated transmission of ID notification signal,
When the mobile terminal on which the karaoke utilization program operates receives the connection permission signal, the mobile terminal stores the karaoke device ID information of the connected karaoke device included in the connection permission signal in the memory, and inputs the instruction from the operation input means. Based on the short-range wireless communication means based on a predetermined format operation signal can be output to the connected karaoke device,
When the portable terminal receives the ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke device when outputting the operation signal, compares the karaoke device ID information included in the signal with the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory, and matches the karaoke device ID information. Outputs an operation signal toward the karaoke apparatus corresponding to the karaoke apparatus ID information, and stops output of the operation signal if they do not match. The portable terminal stops outputting the operation signal when the karaoke device ID information included in the received ID notification signal and the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory do not match when the operation signal is output. The method according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory is erased. The portable terminal monitors an ID notification signal transmitted from the karaoke device when outputting the operation signal, and if it is not received for a predetermined time, short-range wireless communication with the karaoke device corresponding to the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory 3. If the connection via the means is confirmed, the ID notification signal of the karaoke device is monitored again if the connection is possible, and if the connection is impossible, the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory is deleted. The method described in 1. When the karaoke device ID information stored in the memory is erased when the operation signal is output, the portable terminal prompts the user to perform an operation input, and the karaoke device in the vicinity uses his / her portable terminal ID by infrared communication means. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a connection request signal including information is transmitted.

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