JP7158330B2 - karaoke system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to karaoke systems.

A karaoke device can perform karaoke performances of various songs based on performance data.

On the other hand, performance data is not prepared for all songs that can be listened to on CDs or through music distribution services. Therefore, even if the user of the karaoke machine wishes to sing karaoke of a certain piece of music, the performance data of the certain piece of music may not be stored or distributed to the karaoke machine.

Therefore, karaoke companies that supply performance data accept requests for new songs to be distributed in order to meet the demands of users. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a performance reservation device that searches for a song that an artist wants to sing using a song album published by an artist as a clue and reserves the song to be played. A technique is disclosed for transmitting the song to an external system as a song desired to be recorded in karaoke when there is such a song.

JP-A-2002-351479

However, the technique of Patent Document 1 is complicated because the user needs to perform a search based on the music album when requesting music.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke system that allows a user to easily request a song whose performance data is not stored in the karaoke apparatus.

One invention for achieving the above object is a karaoke system in which a karaoke device and a server device are communicably connected, wherein the karaoke device receives a search word input by a user and a karaoke device using the karaoke device. an extracting unit for extracting songs containing the search word in the song name based on a song list indicating playable songs; a processing unit, and an acquisition unit that, when the user does not select any of the extracted songs, refers to a predetermined song database and acquires songs containing the search word entered in the song name. and a transmission processing unit configured to transmit, to the server device, music information indicating candidate music pieces other than the extracted music pieces among the acquired music pieces, wherein the server device is a storage processing unit for storing, for each song, the candidate number of times, which is the number of times the candidate song is selected, based on the song information transmitted from the karaoke device; and a determination unit that determines the certain song as a requested song.
Other features of the present invention will be clarified by the description of the specification and drawings described later.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily request a song whose performance data is not stored in the karaoke apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the outline of the karaoke system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the karaoke apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the remote control device which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the server apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows processing of a karaoke system concerning an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a server device according to Modification 1; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a server device according to Modification 2;

<Embodiment>
A karaoke system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.

== Karaoke System ==
As shown in FIG. 1, a karaoke system 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of karaoke machines K1 to Kn and a server device S. As shown in FIG. Each karaoke device and the server device S can communicate with each other via a network N. FIG. The network N is, for example, a transmission line such as a public telephone line network or Internet line.

A karaoke device is a device for performing karaoke and for users to sing karaoke. The server device S is a computer that manages various types of information and processes information transmitted from each karaoke machine. In addition, the karaoke system 1 may include at least one karaoke device.

In this embodiment, the network N is connected to a music database MD and an external system ES.

The music database MD stores various data related to music. Various data related to music include, for example, the name of the music, the name of the artist, and the date of release. The music database MD contains not only data related to music that has already been distributed to the karaoke machine or music that can be distributed (i.e., music that already has performance data), but also data provided by CDs and music distribution services. It also stores data relating to songs that have not been distributed to karaoke machines (that is, songs that do not have performance data). The music database MD is an example of a "predetermined database".

The external system ES is a system owned by a karaoke company that manages the server device S. FIG. The external system ES provides performance data directly or via the server S to each karaoke machine. In addition, the external system ES according to the present embodiment makes preparations for providing performance data, such as ordering production of performance data.

==Karaoke Device==
As shown in FIG. 2, the karaoke machine K1 includes a karaoke main body 10, a speaker 20, a display device 30, a microphone 40, and a remote controller R1. Here, the karaoke machine K1 will be described as an example, but the karaoke machines K2 to Kn have the same configuration.

The karaoke main body 10 performs various controls related to karaoke performance and karaoke singing, such as performance control of selected music, display control of lyrics, background images, etc., and processing of audio signals input through the microphone 40 .

Also, the karaoke main body 10 stores a plurality of music data for performing karaoke performance by the karaoke apparatus K1.

The song data is provided with song identification information for specifying individual karaoke songs. The song identification information is information unique to each song, such as a song ID for identifying the song. The music data includes performance data, reference data, and the like. The performance data is data in MIDI format that is the source of karaoke performance sounds. The reference data is data used as a reference for scoring karaoke singing by the user. Note that the stored music data may be different depending on the karaoke device (that is, the karaoke-playable music may be different).

Further, the karaoke main body 10 stores the device identification information of the karaoke device K1. The device identification information is information specific to each karaoke device, such as a device ID for identifying the karaoke device.

The speaker 20 is configured to emit sound based on the sound emission signal from the karaoke main body 10 . The display device 30 is configured to display video and images on the screen based on signals from the karaoke main body 10 . The microphone 40 is configured to convert the user's singing voice into an analog voice signal and input it to the karaoke main body 10 . The remote control device R1 is a device for performing various operations on the karaoke main body 10. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the remote control device R1 according to this embodiment includes storage means 100, communication means 200, input means 300, display means 400, and control means 500. FIG. Each configuration is connected to bus B via an interface (not shown).

[Storage means]
Storage means 100 is a large-capacity storage device that stores various data, such as a hard disk drive. The storage means 100 stores a music list. The song list indicates songs that can be karaoke-played on the karaoke apparatus K1 (that is, songs whose performance data are stored).

[Communication means, input means, display means]
The communication means 200 provides an interface for communicating with the server device S and the remote control device R1. The input means 300 is a structure for the user to input various instructions. The display unit 400 is configured to display various information. It is also possible to add a function as the input means 300 by making the display means 400 a touch panel type.

[Control means]
The control means 500 performs various controls in the karaoke machine K1. The control means 500 includes a CPU and memory (both not shown). The CPU implements various functions by executing programs stored in the memory.

In this embodiment, the control means 500 functions as an extraction unit 500a, a reservation processing unit 500b, an acquisition unit 500c, and a transmission processing unit 500d by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory.

(Extraction part)
The extraction unit 500a extracts songs containing the search word in the song title based on the search word input by the user and a song list indicating songs that can be karaoke-played on the karaoke device K1.

The search word is a word that the user inputs when searching for a song to be sung in karaoke. A user inputs a search word through the input means 300 .

As a specific example, assume that user A has entered the search word "star". In this case, the extracting unit 500a extracts songs including the word "star" in the song name from the song list stored in the storage means 100. FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the extraction unit 500a has extracted four songs "Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star" included in the song list. The extraction unit 500a causes the display unit 400 to display the music name of the extracted music, and the storage unit 100 to temporarily store the music ID of the extracted music. In this example, "prefix match" is used as the extraction condition, but the extraction condition can be set as appropriate.

(reservation processing unit)
The reservation processing unit 500b makes a performance reservation for a piece of music selected by the user from among the extracted pieces of music.

The user selects a desired song for karaoke singing from the songs displayed on the display means 400 via the input means 300 . The reservation processing unit 500b transmits the music ID of the music selected by the user to the karaoke main unit 10, and registers the music in the reservation queue to reserve the performance. The karaoke device K1 reads performance data of songs in the order registered in the reservation queue and performs karaoke performance.

For example, assume that User A selects "Ziggy Stardust" from the above four songs ("Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star"). In this case, the reservation processing unit 500b registers the music ID of "Ziggy Stardust" in the reservation queue. On the other hand, the reservation processing unit 500b deletes the music ID and the like of the extracted music stored in the storage means 100. FIG.

(acquisition part)
If the user does not select any of the extracted songs, the acquiring unit 500c refers to a predetermined song database and acquires songs that include the input search word in the song name.

For example, assume that user B has entered the search word "star" as in the above example. The extraction unit 500a causes the display unit 400 to display the music title of the extracted music. On the other hand, although the above four songs ("Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star") are displayed, User B selects any of the songs. Suppose that he did not (for example, he selects the "stop search" icon displayed on the display means 400). In this case, the acquisition unit 500c refers to the music database MD via the network N, and acquires the music containing the search word "star" input in the music title.

Here, "Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Starship Trooper", "Star's End", "Starless", and "Starless・It is assumed that eight songs of "And Bible Black", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star" are stored. In this case, the acquisition unit 500c acquires these eight songs.

(Transmission processing part)
The transmission processing unit 500d transmits, to the server device S, music information indicating the candidate music pieces other than the extracted music pieces among the acquired music pieces. After that, the reservation processing unit 500b deletes the music ID of the extracted music stored in the storage unit 100. FIG.

A candidate song is a song for which the user may desire to sing karaoke, and whose performance data is not stored in the karaoke device. The acquired songs include songs that have been extracted by the extraction unit 500a but have not been selected by the user. On the other hand, the songs not selected are not songs that the user wishes to sing in karaoke. Therefore, songs other than such songs are used as candidate songs. The song information is information for specifying candidate songs, such as song names for specifying candidate songs.

For example, User B has four songs ("Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star") that contain the search word "star" in the extracted song titles. Suppose you didn't choose. It is also assumed that, as a result, eight songs containing the search word "star" shown in the above example in the song title are acquired. In this case, the transmission processing unit 500d selects songs (“Starship Trooper”, “Stars End”, “Starless”, “Starless and・Bible Black”) is set as a candidate song, and the song name of each song is linked to the device ID and transmitted to the server device S.

== server device ==
As shown in FIG. 4 , the server device S includes storage means 50 , communication means 51 and control means 52 . Each configuration is connected to bus B via an interface (not shown).

The storage unit 50 is a large-capacity storage device that stores various data. Communication means 51 provides an interface for communicating with each karaoke machine.

The control means 52 performs various controls in the server device S. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control means 52 according to this embodiment functions as a storage processing section 52a and a determination section 52b.

[Memory processor]
The storage processing unit 52a stores the candidate number of times, which is the number of times a song is made a candidate song, based on the song information transmitted from the karaoke device.

The candidate count is stored in the storage means 50 . Also, for example, for eight songs containing the search word "star" in the song title, the number of candidates at a certain point is "Ziggy Stardust" (30 times), "Star Star" (40 times), "Starship Trooper" (15 times). times), "Stars End" (98 times), "Starless" (35 times), "Starless and Bible Black" (70 times), "Seventh Star" (66 times), "Highway Star" (55 times). Some songs have multiple search words in their song titles, and karaoke machines determine which songs can be played in karaoke. is common.

Here, as described above, four candidate songs ("Starship Trooper", "Stars End", "Starless", "Starless and Bible Black") are selected from the karaoke device K1 (remote control device R1). ) is sent.

In this case, the storage processing unit 52a updates the candidate count stored in the storage unit 50. FIG. As a result, the number of candidates is "Ziggy Stardust" (30 times), "Star Star" (40 times), "Starship Trooper" (16 times), "Star's End" (99 times), "Star Less" (36 times), "Starless and Bible Black" (71 times), "Seventh Star" (66 times), and "Highway Star" (55 times).

[Decision part]
When the candidate number of times for a certain piece of music satisfies a predetermined condition, the determining unit 52b determines the certain piece of music as a requested piece of music.

A predetermined condition is a condition for determining a candidate song as a requested song. A predetermined condition is determined in advance. The requested song is a song for which performance data has not been produced, or a song for which performance data has not been distributed to the karaoke device, and which is highly likely to be desired by the user for karaoke singing.

Here, for example, it is assumed that as a result of user C using karaoke machine K2 inputting the search word "star", no music was extracted.

In this case, user C cannot select a song. Therefore, the karaoke device K2 uses all the acquired songs as candidate songs (that is, "Ziggy Stardust", "Star Star", "Starship Trooper", "Star's End", "Starless", "Star (Less and Bible Black", "Seventh Star", and "Highway Star"), and the song titles of the candidate songs are sent to the server device S.

The storage processing unit 52 a updates the number of times of candidates stored in the storage unit 50 . As a result, the number of candidates is "Ziggy Stardust" (31 times), "Star Star" (41 times), "Starship Trooper" (17 times), "Star's End" (100 times), "Star Less" (37 times), "Starless and Bible Black" (72 times), "Seventh Star" (67 times), and "Highway Star" (56 times).

The determining unit 52b determines whether or not the number of candidate times for each song satisfies a predetermined condition (here, 100 times or more). According to the above example, the song "Star's End" satisfies the predetermined condition. Therefore, the determining unit 52b determines the song "Star's End" as the requested song.

==About the processing in the karaoke system==
Next, processing in the karaoke system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing in the karaoke system 1. As shown in FIG. Here, the karaoke machine K1 and the server device S will be described as an example. Also, the karaoke system 1 can communicate with the music database MD via the network N. FIG.

The extraction unit 500a of the karaoke machine K1 extracts songs containing the search word in the song title based on the search word entered by the user and a song list indicating songs that can be karaoke-played on the karaoke machine K1 (song Extract songs containing the search word in the name (step 10).

The extraction unit 500a causes the display means 400 to display the music title of the extracted music, and temporarily stores the music ID of the extracted music in the storage means 100 (display and storage of the extracted music; step 11). The user can refer to the song titles displayed on the display means 400 and select a song to be sung in karaoke.

If the user does not select any of the extracted songs (N in step 12), the acquisition unit 500c refers to the song database MD and searches for songs that include the search word entered in the song name. Acquire (acquire songs containing a search word in the song title; step 13).

The transmission processing unit 500d transmits, to the server device S, music information indicating the candidate music pieces other than the music pieces extracted in step 10 among the music pieces acquired in step 13. Transmit music information (step 14).

When the user selects one of the extracted songs (Y in step 12) or after transmitting the song information of the candidate songs, the reservation processing unit 500b temporarily stores the selected song in step 11. Delete the music ID of the extracted music (delete the memory of the extracted music, step 15).

The storage processing unit 52a of the server device S stores the candidate number of times for each song based on the song information transmitted from the karaoke machine K1 in step 14 (storage of the number of candidates; step 16).

If the candidate number of songs satisfies a predetermined condition (Y in step 17), the determination unit 52b determines the song as a requested song (determines requested song; step 18).

As is clear from the above, in the karaoke system 1 according to the present embodiment, the karaoke device and the server device S are communicably connected. The remote control device R1 of the karaoke device K1 is an extraction unit that extracts a song containing the search word in the song name based on the search word entered by the user and a song list indicating songs that can be karaoke-played on the karaoke device K1. 500a, a reservation processing unit 500b that reserves a performance of a piece of music selected by the user from among the extracted pieces of music, and a music database MD if the user does not select any of the extracted pieces of music. An acquisition unit 500c acquires songs containing the search word input in the song name, and an acquisition unit 500c acquires song information indicating the candidate songs, which are songs other than the extracted songs among the acquired songs, to a server. and a transmission processing unit 500d that transmits to the device S. Based on the music information transmitted from the remote control device R1, the server device S includes a storage processing unit 52a that stores the number of times each music piece has been selected as a candidate music piece. and a decision unit 52b that decides the song as a requested song when the conditions are satisfied.

According to such a karaoke system 1, it is possible to transmit to the server apparatus S, as candidate songs, songs for which performance data is not stored in the karaoke apparatus, based on search words input by the user. Further, the server device S can determine a requested song according to the number of candidate songs received from the karaoke device. Therefore, the user can request a song simply by inputting a search word, which is usually performed when singing karaoke. That is, according to the karaoke system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily request a song whose performance data is not stored in the karaoke device.

<Modification 1>
It is desirable that the determined requested music be promptly delivered to the karaoke machine. Therefore, the control unit 52 of the server device S according to this modification functions as a storage processing unit 52a, a determination unit 52b, and a notification processing unit 52c (see FIG. 6).

The notification processing unit 52c notifies the determined requested music to the external system ES. The external system ES that has received the notification of the requested music makes preparations for providing performance data of the requested music. After the performance data is produced, the external system ES assigns a music ID and distributes it as music data to the server device S or the karaoke machine.

As described above, according to the karaoke system 1 according to the present modification, it is possible to cause the external system ES to prepare for providing the performance data of the requested song.

<Modification 2>
The server device S may already have performance data for the determined requested music piece. In such a case, it is possible for the server device S to distribute performance data corresponding to the requested music piece.

A part of the storage area of the storage unit 50 of the server device S according to this modification is provided as a data storage unit 50a. Further, the control means 52 of the server device S according to this modification functions as a storage processing section 52a, a determination section 52b, and a distribution section 52d (see FIG. 7).

The data storage unit 50a stores performance data of each piece of music. When performance data corresponding to the determined requested music is stored in the data storage unit 50a, the distribution unit 52d distributes the determined requested music to the karaoke machines to which the determined requested music has not yet been distributed.

For example, as described in the above embodiment, assume that the song "Star's End" is determined as the requested song.

In this case, the distribution unit 52d confirms whether or not the song "Star's End" is stored in the data storage unit 50a. If stored, the distribution unit 52d reads the performance data of the song "Star's End" and distributes it to karaoke machines to which the song "Star's End" has not yet been delivered.

When storing the candidate number of times, the server device S stores the device identification information of the karaoke machine that has transmitted the music information of the candidate music in association with the music, and sends the requested music to the karaoke machine that has transmitted the music information. Performance data may be distributed. For example, based on at least the song information of the candidate songs transmitted from the karaoke machines K1 and K2, the song "Stars End" is determined as the requested song, and the song "Stars End" is stored in the data storage unit 50a. If so, the distribution unit 52d reads the performance data of the song "Stars End" and distributes it to at least the karaoke machines K1 and K2.

As described above, according to the karaoke system 1 according to the present modified example, when the server device S has the performance data of the requested song in advance, the performance data can be distributed quickly. Therefore, the user is more likely to be able to select a song that he/she wants to sing in karaoke.

<Others>
The configuration described in the above embodiment is an example. For example, the karaoke main body 10 may have the function of the control means 500 in the remote controller R1. Alternatively, the karaoke device or the server device S may have a database equivalent to the music database MD. Also, the server device S and the external system ES may be provided as a common computer.

The processing of modification 1 and the processing of modification 2 may be used together. For example, the distribution unit 52d confirms whether or not performance data corresponding to the determined requested music piece is stored in the data storage unit 50a. If stored, the distribution unit 52d distributes the performance data of the requested music to the karaoke machine that has transmitted the music information. On the other hand, if not stored, the notification processing unit 52c notifies the external system ES of the determined request music.

The above embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above configurations can be implemented in combination as appropriate, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents, as well as being included in the scope and gist of the invention.

1 karaoke system 52a storage processing unit 52b determination unit 500a extraction unit 500b reservation processing unit 500c acquisition unit 500d transmission processing unit ES external system MD music database K1 to Kn karaoke device S server device

Claims (3)

A karaoke system in which a karaoke device and a server device are communicably connected,
The karaoke device is
an extracting unit that extracts songs containing the search word in the song name based on a search word entered by the user and a song list indicating songs that can be karaoke-played by the karaoke device;
a reservation processing unit that reserves a performance of a piece of music selected by the user from among the extracted pieces of music;
an acquisition unit that refers to a predetermined song database and acquires a song containing the search word entered as a song name when the user does not select any of the extracted songs;
a transmission processing unit configured to transmit, to the server device, music information indicating candidate music, which is music other than the extracted music among the acquired music, and which indicates the candidate music;
has
The server device
a storage processing unit that stores, for each song, the number of candidate songs, which is the number of times that the song is selected as the candidate song, based on the song information transmitted from the karaoke device;
a determination unit that determines a certain song as a requested song when the candidate number of times for a certain song satisfies a predetermined condition;
karaoke system. 2. The karaoke system according to claim 1, wherein said server device has a notification processing unit for notifying an external system of said determined requested music piece. The server device includes a data storage unit that stores performance data of each song,
a distribution unit for distributing performance data of the requested music to a karaoke device when performance data corresponding to the determined requested music is stored in the data storage unit;
3. The karaoke system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising:

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