JP7697488B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a karaoke device that plays music for singing.

Karaoke machines are known that allow users to enjoy singing along to musical accompaniment. Karaoke machines are designed to be more entertaining by adding various functions in addition to singing.

Patent Document 1 discloses a server device that can add functions to multiple karaoke machines all at once and can prevent malfunctions in the karaoke machines caused by the execution of programs that are not compatible with the karaoke machines.

JP 2012-243270 A

As seen in Patent Document 1, it is possible to add application programs (apps) to a karaoke machine connected to a network. In recent years, there has been a demand for karaoke machines to be able to execute apps to provide more diverse and advanced functions, such as higher quality graphic effects and remote communication.

In karaoke machines, the processing of apps to realize advanced functions is thought to lead to an increase in the processing load on the karaoke machine. When realizing advanced functions, if the configuration of the karaoke machine is insufficient, a situation may arise in which the advanced functions cannot be fully realized. If an attempt is made to forcefully satisfy these functional requirements with the current configuration, functional quality and development efficiency will decrease, resulting in lower customer value and delays in the release of apps.

The present invention has been developed in consideration of such circumstances, and provides for a karaoke device in which a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS perform processes in coordination with each other. One objective of the present invention is to improve the performance of the karaoke device and enable the realization of various functions by implementing an app that takes into account the processes that the first OS and second OS excel at.

For this reason, the karaoke device according to the present invention employs the following configuration.
A karaoke apparatus which executes in parallel a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS,
the first control process includes a transmission process of transmitting an instruction to start an application program to the second control process;
an application reservation acceptance process for accepting an application reservation instruction for the application program;
an application reservation process for storing application reservation data corresponding to the application reservation instruction accepted in the application reservation acceptance process in a reservation list;
An extraction process of extracting the application reservation data to be launched next from the reservation list ,
The second control process includes:
a receiving process for receiving a start instruction from the first control process;
A start-up process for starting the application program based on the received start-up instruction ,
The transmission process transmits a start instruction based on the application reservation data extracted in the extraction process.
Further, the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A karaoke apparatus which executes in parallel a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS,
The first control process includes:
a transmission process for transmitting an instruction to start an application program to the second control process;
A playback process that controls the playback of music;
an application reservation acceptance process for accepting an application reservation instruction for the application program;
A song reservation acceptance process for acquiring a song reservation instruction for the song;
an application reservation process for storing application reservation data corresponding to the application reservation instruction accepted in the application reservation acceptance process in a reservation list;
a song reservation process for storing song reservation data corresponding to the song reservation instruction received in the song reservation receiving process in a reservation list;
an extraction process of extracting the application reservation data or music reservation data to be launched next from the reservation list ,
The second control process includes:
a receiving process for receiving a start instruction from the first control process;
A start-up process for starting the application program based on the received start-up instruction ,
When the application reservation data is extracted in the extraction process, the transmission process transmits a launch instruction based on the extracted application reservation data;
When the music reservation data is extracted in the extraction process, the reproduction process controls the reproduction of music based on the extracted music reservation data.

Furthermore, the karaoke device of this embodiment has
A first CPU and a second CPU are provided,
the first control process is processed by the first CPU,
The second control process is processed by the second CPU.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The first CPU and the second CPU communicate with each other using a predetermined communication protocol.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
the first control process includes a determination process of determining whether the application program can be started by the second control process;
The transmission process transmits a start instruction when the determination process determines that the application program can be started in the second control process.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The transmission process transmits a start instruction at a timing determined based on the first control process or the second control process.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The transmission process transmits a start instruction at a timing when no music is being played in the playback process.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
the karaoke device is connectable to an external device that can be selectively controlled by the first control process or the second control process;
When the application program is started by the second control process while the external device is being controlled by the first control process, the control of the external device is switched from the first control process to the second control process.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
the karaoke device is connectable to an external device that can be selectively controlled by the first control process or the second control process;
option data indicating that the external device is to be used in the application program is associated with the application program;
When the external device is being controlled by the first control process, if the application program to which the optional data is associated is launched by the second control process, control of the external device is switched from the first control process to the second control process.

According to the present invention, in a karaoke device, a first control process that is operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process that is operated based on a second OS perform processing in cooperation with each other. With this configuration, by implementing an app taking into account the processing that the first OS and second OS excel at, it is possible to improve the performance of the karaoke device and realize various functions.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a karaoke system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A functional block diagram showing the functions of a control unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing a control process executed by a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of a control unit according to another embodiment.

Figure 1 shows the configuration of the karaoke system of this embodiment. The karaoke system of this embodiment includes a karaoke device 2 (sometimes called a commander) and a remote control device 1. The karaoke device 2 and the remote control device 1 are communicatively connected to form a network via a LAN 100 and an access point 130.

The karaoke device 2 installed in a store such as a karaoke booth has an audio control unit 25 as a performance sound playback unit for playing songs. The karaoke device 2 also has a control unit 30 that controls the karaoke device 2. The control unit 30 is connected to a monitor 41 that outputs images, the audio control unit 25 that plays songs, and an interface 27. The control unit 30 will be described in detail later.

Various components are connected to the control unit 30 via an interface 27. The operation unit 21 functions as a user interface that accepts various inputs from the user. The karaoke device 2 includes a hard disk 32 as a storage unit that stores various information. The karaoke device 2 includes a LAN communication unit 24a as a communication means that connects to the LAN 100 and connects to the network. The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment also includes a wireless LAN communication unit 24b, and instead of a wired network connection using the LAN communication unit 24a, it is also possible to make a wireless network connection using the wireless LAN communication unit 24b.

Furthermore, in this karaoke device 2, in addition to the externally connected monitor 41, various information can be displayed on the touch panel monitor 33. The touch panel monitor 33 functions as a display unit that displays images formed by the control unit 30, and as a user interface that transmits touch input positions to the control unit 30. The touch panel monitor 33 is disposed on the front of the housing of the karaoke device 2, and functions as an input unit similar to the operation unit 21 of the karaoke device 2 or the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1. By selecting a song on the touch panel monitor 33, the user can perform various operations on the karaoke device 2, such as directly reserving a song on the karaoke device 2.

With this configuration, the karaoke device 2 executes various processes, but its main functions include song reservation processing and song playback processing. The song reservation processing is a process for specifying and reserving a song based on input from the user, and is executed in cooperation with the remote control device 1. Song reservation data formed by the song selection processing of the remote control device 1 is sent to the karaoke device 2. The karaoke device 2 registers the received song reservation data in a reservation list. The song playback processing is a process for playing a reserved song, and is a process in which performance processing, lyric display processing, and video playback processing are executed synchronously.

The performance process is a process that causes the audio control unit 25 to perform a performance based on the performance sound data included in the music data. The music performed by the audio control unit 25 is output from the speaker 42 together with the singing voice input from the microphones 43a and 43b. The lyrics display process is a process that provides singing assistance by displaying a lyrics video based on the lyrics data included in the music data on the monitor 41. A video playback process may be executed to superimpose a background video on the lyrics video displayed in this lyrics display process.

The remote control device 1, on the other hand, is capable of searching for songs based on instructions from the user, and performing song selection processing to send song reservation data for songs instructed to be played to the karaoke device 2. The remote control device 1 is also capable of receiving various information from the karaoke device 2 or a server device 5 connected to the Internet, and performing various processes. In this embodiment, the remote control device 1 is equipped with an operation unit 17 and a touch panel monitor 11 as a user interface that receives various instructions from the user. The touch panel monitor 11 is configured with a display unit 11a and a touch panel 11b, and is capable of displaying various information on the display unit 11a and receiving touch input from the user.

The remote control device 1 further comprises a memory 14 as a storage unit for storing the database required for the music selection process, various programs, and various information generated by program execution, and a remote control control unit for controlling these components in an integrated manner. The remote control control unit includes a CPU 15, an image control unit 13 that forms images to be displayed on the touch panel monitor 11, a video RAM 12 that temporarily stores image data for the images to be displayed, and an operation processing unit 18 that interprets input from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17 and transmits the input to the CPU 15.

The remote control device 1 is connected to the network formed by the LAN 100 by wirelessly connecting to the access point 130 via the wireless LAN communication unit 16. Each remote control device 1 is pre-associated with a specific karaoke device 2. Various commands output from the remote control device 1 are received by the associated karaoke device 2.

The remote control device 1 is configured in this way to accept various inputs from the user via the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17, and by providing various information through the display on the touch panel monitor 11, it is possible to perform various processes, such as a song selection process that transmits song reservation data to be output to the karaoke device 2.

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the control unit 30 of this embodiment. The control unit 30 of this embodiment is configured to include a first OS (Operating System) 30a and a second OS (Operating System) 30b. The process executed based on the first OS may be called the first control process, and the process executed based on the second OS may be called the second control process.

The first OS 30a and the second OS 30b are different types of OS (Operating System). For example, the first OS 30a is an OS that has been used in conventional karaoke devices 2. By using an existing OS for the first OS 30a in this way, it is possible to use existing resources for existing functions without making major changes. On the other hand, an OS that is good at image processing or an OS that can handle new functions is used for the second OS. By using two OSs in this way, it is possible to share the processing that each OS is good at, which improves the performance of the karaoke device 2 and also makes it easier to develop the karaoke device 2.

The control unit 30 may be configured with separate CPUs for controlling each OS, for example a first CPU for executing a first OS 30a and a second CPU for executing a second OS 30b. In this case, the first CPU and the second CPU may be mounted on the same board or on different boards. The first CPU and the second CPU communicate with each other using a specified communication protocol (communication standard) and cooperate to execute processing.

In addition to this embodiment, the first OS 30a and the second OS 30b may be executed by the same CPU. For example, in a multi-core or multi-threaded CPU, the first control process of the first SO 30a and the second control process of the second SO 30b may be executed simultaneously.

The first OS 30a in this embodiment mainly has an overall management function B10 for the karaoke device 2, functions related to music playback and applications (B11 to B15), and a second OS application control function B16. In addition to these functions, the first OS 30a also has a video output function B19 and a video synthesis function B18.

The overall management function B10 corresponds to a function that manages the karaoke device 2 in an integrated manner. Therefore, it issues various instructions to the song management function B11, the reservation content management function B12, the karaoke playback management function B13, and the immediate execution application management function B14, which are functions related to song playback and applications.

First, the operation during song playback in karaoke will be described. The overall management function B10 sequentially stores song reservation data indicating songs reserved in conjunction with the operation of various user interfaces, such as the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1 and the operation unit 21 of the karaoke device 2, in a reservation list managed by the reservation content management function B12. Based on the song reservation data in the reservation list, the reservation content management function B12 sequentially plays songs using the karaoke playback function B15 via the karaoke playback management function B13. The karaoke playback function B15 executes song performance processing and scoring processing (singing evaluation processing).

In this embodiment, depending on the type of app, it is possible to manage the app in a reservation list in the same way as songs. When an app is reserved through the operation of various user interfaces, the reservation content management function B12 sequentially stores app reservation data indicating the reserved app in the reservation list. The reservation content management function B12 sequentially extracts song reservation data or app reservation data from the reservation list. When song reservation data is extracted, the karaoke playback function B15 plays the song. When app reservation data is extracted, an instruction to start the app indicated by the app reservation data is sent to the second OS 30b via the second OS app control function B16.

The launch instruction based on the app reservation data is sent, for example, when playback of a previously reserved song ends, or when execution of a previously reserved app is completed. In this case, the timing when playback of a previously reserved song ends may be determined based on the performance processing of the first OS 30a. The timing when execution of a previously reserved app is completed may be determined based on the processing status of the first to third apps B22a to B22c sent from the app management function B21 of the second OS 30b, which will be described later. Furthermore, the apps may include not only apps executed by the second OS 30b, but also apps executed by the first OS 30a.

In this way, the karaoke device 2 of this embodiment can handle both song reservation data and app reservation data in the reservation list, making it possible to sequentially play songs and process games or other operations using an app.

The video output function B19 executes lyric display processing and video playback processing, and generates lyric video and simple background video based on the music played and managed by the karaoke playback management function B13. In this embodiment, the video generated by the video output function B19 and the video sent from the video output function of the second OS 30b are synthesized by the video synthesis function B18 of the first OS 30a, and are displayed and output on the monitor 41. The video output function B19 may also generate a message video indicating that the app is to be launched.

The above describes the operation of the first OS 30a when playing music, but in this embodiment, in the scoring process when playing music, the second OS 30b is made to perform performance processing associated with the progress of scoring. In this embodiment, in response to a scoring instruction operation on the user interface, scoring processing is executed for songs reserved after the scoring instruction. Therefore, in order to perform the performance processing associated with the scoring processing, the karaoke playback management function B13 executes various instructions related to the performance processing associated with the scoring processing to the second OS 30b via the second OS application control function B16.

The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment is also capable of executing an instantaneous scoring process that differs from the normal scoring process. The instantaneous scoring process is a process in which a scoring instruction is given in the middle of playing a song that is being played. When an instantaneous scoring instruction is given to the user interface, the instantaneous execution application management function B14 outputs and receives various information related to the scoring process from the karaoke playback function B15. Even if a scoring process is not instructed, the karaoke playback function B15 internally executes the scoring process, so that when an instantaneous scoring instruction is given, information related to the scoring process from the start of playback of the song can be output. The instantaneous execution application management function B14 also transmits an instruction to the second OS 30b via the second OS application control function B16 to cause the second OS 30b to execute the performance process during the instantaneous scoring process.

In addition, as a function related to music playback, the first OS 30a has an interval management function B11. The interval management function B11 sends an instruction to start the interval app B22d to the second OS 30b via the second OS application control function B16 during a period when a song detected by the karaoke playback management function B13 is not being played.

As described above, in this embodiment, the first OS 30a has functions related to music playback and application management, and executes various processes related to these functions. Meanwhile, the second OS 30b executes applications and executes processes related to various effects, such as game processing and video playback. In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to improve the performance of the karaoke device 2 by taking advantage of the video playback function, which is the specialty of the second OS 30b, to perform effects, etc. Furthermore, it is possible for the first OS 30a and the second OS 30b to appropriately coordinate processes.

The second OS 30b is configured with an application management function B21, first to third applications B22a to B22c that perform various processes, an inter-song application B22d, and a video output function B23. The application management function B21 launches the first to third applications B22a to B22c, and the inter-song application B22d in accordance with instructions from the first OS 30a. It is also possible to transmit various information obtained from the first OS 30a to the first to third applications B22a to B22c, and the inter-song application B22d that are currently running. It is also possible to transmit the processing status of the first to third applications B22a to B22c, and the inter-song application B22d to the first OS 30a.

The first to third apps B22a to B22c are apps (application programs) that execute various processes such as effects and games. In this embodiment, the first to third apps B22a to B22c are installed, but it is possible to install further apps from the server device 5 or the like according to the required functions and processes.

The inter-song app B22d is launched based on a launch instruction received from the first OS 30a during a period when no music is being played. The inter-song app B22d may, for example, display various information such as advertising videos and videos of food and drink menus at a karaoke bar on the monitor 41. In this embodiment, the inter-song app B22d is provided in the second OS 30b, but may also be provided in the first OS 30a.

The video output function B23 generates video based on the processing of the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d. In this embodiment, the video generated by the video output function B23 is, for example, background video with advanced effects, game video by an app, etc. In this embodiment, the video output function B23 transmits the generated video to the first OS 30a. The transmitted video is synthesized by the video synthesis function B18 of the first OS 30a and output to the monitor 41. In this embodiment, the karaoke device 2 outputs, for example, video in which lyrics video is superimposed on background video with effects based on singing evaluation.

The control unit 30 of this embodiment is also configured with a function for controlling external devices. An example of an external device is the camera 43. Other examples of external devices include a control device that connects an external musical instrument such as a guitar and controls the sound effects, or various devices such as an external amplifier that are connected to the karaoke device 2 and can be controlled by the control unit 30.

In an environment in which the first OS 30a and the second OS 30b are used as in this embodiment, a situation in which the control of the external device by both OSs may conflict is conceivable. For this reason, in this embodiment, a changeover switch SW is provided to switch the control of the external device, and the second OS application control function B16 switches the changeover switch SW depending on the usage situation, etc., so that the external device is controlled by the first OS 30a or the second OS 30b. Note that a changeover switch SW can be provided for each external device, and it is possible to switch between control by the first OS 30a and control by the second OS 30b for each external device.

The switching control of the changeover switch SW may be performed, for example, as follows.
(1) Control with Priority to OS When any of the first to third applications B22a to B22c that use an external device is started in the second OS 30b, the changeover switch SW is forcibly switched to the second OS 30b side.
(2) Control by Application Priority In the application priority control, a priority order is set for each application, and when an application is started, the external device is switched to the application with the priority. For example, when an application using an external device is started in the second OS 30b, and an application with a higher priority is started in the first OS 30a, the changeover switch SW is switched to the first OS 30a.
(3) Control by Option Data Option data indicating whether or not an external device is used is set in each of the first to third applications B22a to B22c, and the changeover switch SW is switched by referring to the option data when the application is started. For example, if option data of "external device used" is set in the first application B22a, the changeover switch SW is switched to the second OS 30b side when the first application B22a is started by the second OS 30b. If option data of "external device not used" is set in the first application B22a, the changeover switch SW is not switched. The option data may be expressed as binary data such as "0" for "external device not used" and "1" for "external device used".

In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately control external devices connected to the karaoke device 2 under the control of two OSs.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the control process executed by the control unit 30 of the karaoke device 2. Here, the control process is explained using as an example an app (e.g., the first app B22a) that performs a performance based on singing evaluation in the second OS 30b.

First, a startup process is executed to start up the application of the second OS 30b. The startup process is executed in response to an instruction given to the user interface (starting up the singing evaluation process), etc. The second OS application control function B16 of the first OS 30a sends an application startup instruction to the second OS 30b (S201).

The second OS 30a, which has received the application start instruction, starts an application corresponding to the application start instruction (for example, a first application B 22a that performs a performance based on a singing evaluation) (S101). The started application starts a communication connection with the first OS 30a (S102) and sends a notification to the first OS 30a indicating that it has started normally (S103).

When the startup process is complete, the control unit 30 starts the pre-playback performance process. The pre-playback performance process in this embodiment is a process that is executed when a song is reserved, and various information indicating that a song has been reserved (song name, artist name, name of the user who made the reservation, etc.) is displayed on the monitor 41. Note that the timing of the pre-playback performance process may be appropriately performed after a song is reserved and before the song is played, instead of when the song is reserved. When a game app is executed, the pre-playback performance process may display advance information such as the difficulty level of the game.

When the first OS 30a detects that a song has been reserved (S202), the second OS application control function B16 transmits a pre-play performance start notification to the second OS 30b (S203). This pre-play performance start notification may include pre-play related information related to the reserved song (song name, artist name, name of user who made the reservation, etc.).

The application management function B21 on the second OS 30b side, which has received the pre-playback performance start notification, executes pre-playback performance processing from the first application B22a based on the pre-playback related information included in the pre-playback performance start notification (S104). In this embodiment, the pre-playback performance processing (S104) is a performance using video output executed by the first application B22a, and the performance video is displayed and output to the monitor 41 by the video output function B23 via the video synthesis function B18.

The pre-playback performance process (S104) is a process that is executed for a predetermined period of time, and after the process is completed, a completion notification is sent to the first OS 30a (S105). By receiving this completion notification, the first OS 30a is able to check the execution status of the pre-playback performance process in the second OS 30b (in this case, the completion of the process), and for example, it is possible to control the first OS 30a not to perform other processes or to put them on hold until the pre-playback performance process (S104) is completed.

The during playback process is a process executed during the playback period of the song. In this embodiment, the during playback performance process (S106) associated with the singing evaluation process is executed on the second OS 30b side. During song playback, the first OS 30a transmits playback-related information related to the song playback to the second OS 30b. The playback-related information may be transmitted at predetermined time intervals during song playback, or may be transmitted at timing based on the progress of song playback (every measure, when entering an interlude or chorus, etc.). The during playback performance process (S106) executed by the first app B22a of the second OS 30b executes a performance by forming an image based on the received playback-related information, and causes the image to be output by the image output function B23.

When the first OS 30a starts playing a song (S204), the first OS 30a sends a playback performance start notification to the second OS 30b (S205). The second OS 30b, which has received the playback performance start notification, starts the playback performance process (S106). In this embodiment, during the song playback period, the first OS 30a sends playback progress status (S206), section singing evaluation (S207), and interlude notification (S208) as playback-related information. The playback progress status is information indicating the playback time from the start of playback, or the current playback position relative to the entire playback time. In the playback performance process, it is possible to perform various performances based on this playback progress status. For example, different performances may be performed depending on whether the playback position is at the beginning, middle, or end of the song. Even if the playback time from the start of playback is transmitted as playback-related information, it is possible to determine the relative playback position, such as the beginning, middle, or end, by transmitting the playback time length of the song immediately after playback begins.

The section singing evaluation is information on the singing evaluation for each specified section for the singing evaluation process executed by the first OS 30a, and is, for example, information indicating the section scoring result or the extent to which singing technique (vibrato, hunch, etc.) was performed in each section. In the during playback performance process (S106), the evaluation for each section can be expressed visually (for example, visualized using a graph) based on this section singing evaluation. The during playback performance process may also determine whether the section scoring result meets a specified criterion and decide on a performance. For example, in a game app, if the section scoring result meets the specified criterion, a performance may be executed in which an enemy character is defeated, and if the section scoring result does not meet the specified criterion, a performance may be executed in which damage is inflicted on the player's character.

The interlude notification is information that is output during interlude playback, and the playback performance process receives the interlude notification to perform various video effects during the interlude.

In this manner, in the during playback performance process (S106) of this embodiment, the second OS 30b receives playback-related information from the first OS 30a during the music playback period, and is thereby able to perform various performances based on the playback-related information. Note that in this embodiment, the during playback performance process (S106) performs a performance using video, but the performance may also be performed using audio as well as video. In this case, the audio signal formed by the second OS 30b is mixed with other audio signals in the audio control unit 25 and output to the speaker 42. The playback-related information may also include the pitch and volume of the singing voice, lyrics, etc.

When the playback of the song ends, the post-playback performance process starts. When the playback of the song ends (S209: Yes), the first OS 30a sends a post-playback performance start notification to the second OS 30b (S210). In this embodiment, the post-playback performance start notification includes post-playback related information. In this embodiment, the post-playback related information includes the singing evaluation results calculated in the singing evaluation process (singing evaluation points, evaluation levels for each technique, etc.).

The second OS 30b, which has received the post-playback performance start notification, executes the post-playback performance process (S107). The post-playback performance process of this embodiment is a process for forming an image based on the post-playback related information, in which the post-playback related information is divided into levels based on a threshold value, and different images are output at each level.

Here, the first OS 30a does not know the execution status of the post-playback performance process (S107) executed by the second OS 30b, so if the first OS 30a executes another process while the second OS 30b is executing the post-playback performance process (S107), it is possible that the processes will conflict. Therefore, when the second OS 30b finishes executing the post-playback performance process (S107), it sends a completion notification (S108) to the first OS 30a. In the first OS 30a, other processes, for example, processes that may conflict with the post-playback performance process (S107), are suspended or put on hold until the completion notification is received. Then, when the first OS 30a receives the completion notification (S211: Yes), it starts the other process that should be executed next.

In this manner, in this embodiment, the second OS 30b transmits the execution status of a predetermined process (e.g., post-playback performance process (S107)) to the first OS 30a, thereby avoiding processing conflicts between the two OSs and enabling them to work together appropriately to perform the process. Note that, in this embodiment, a completion notification is transmitted as the execution status, but in addition, information indicating the status of an app being executed by the second OS 30b may be transmitted, and the first OS 30a may perform processing based on that status.

The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment has been described above. In the karaoke device 2 of this embodiment, the control unit 30 performs a first control process operated based on the first OS 30a and a second control process operated based on the second OS 30b, making it possible for the first OS 30a and the second OS 30b to share the processes that they are good at, thereby improving the performance of the karaoke device 2 and facilitating development.

[First Modification]
Next, various modified examples of the karaoke machine 2 according to other embodiments will be described. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the control unit 30 in the first modified example. The first modified example differs from the functional block diagram explained in Fig. 2 in the functions within the second OS 30b. The other functions are the same as those explained in Fig. 2.

The first modified example differs from the previously described embodiment in the management and control of the first to third apps B22a to B21c and the inter-song app B22d. In the previously described embodiment, the app management function B21 directly manages and controls the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d, but the first modified example differs in that it is configured to control them via the default app B20.

The default app B20 is an application program similar to the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d, and the default app B20 is started when the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are not running. For example, when the first app B22a is started and then terminated, the default app B20 is started. The same is true for the second app B22b, the third app B22c and the inter-song app B22d, and when any of the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are not running, the default app B20 is started. The app management function B21 can check the running status of the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d by monitoring the running status of the default app B20.

In the above embodiment, the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d were required to notify the app management function B21 of a termination notification when they were terminated. In contrast, in the first modified example, the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are not required to notify the app management function B21 of a termination notification, and only need to monitor the startup status of the default app B20. Also, for example, even if the first app B22a crashes due to a malfunction while it is running, the default app B20 starts up, so that the startup status of the app can be reliably notified to the app management function B21 and the first OS 30a. This makes it possible to smoothly process the entire karaoke device 2 without causing malfunctions such as freezing the karaoke device 2.

In the first modified example described above, the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are controlled by the default app B20, but the inter-song app B22d may be configured to be directly controlled by the app management function B21 or the inter-song management function B11 of the first OS 30a. Unlike the first to third apps B22a to B22c, which require control and management, the inter-song app B22d is often a simple app such as an advertisement display function, and even if a malfunction occurs, the impact on the user is low. In this case, it is possible to perform processing of the entire karaoke device 2 more smoothly.

[Second Modification]
In the above embodiment, as described in Fig. 3, the first OS 30a transmits an application start instruction to the second OS 30b (S201). In this case, the second OS 30b receives the start instruction regardless of the state of the second OS 30b. For example, the second OS 30b may be executing another process and may not be able to start an application based on the start instruction.

Therefore, the first OS 30a may determine the status of the second OS 30b before sending the application launch instruction (S201), and then send the application launch instruction. In this case, the first OS 30a communicates with the first OS 30a before sending the application launch instruction, and receives status-related information from the second OS 30b regarding its status. Then, based on the received status-related information, the first OS 30a executes a determination process to determine whether the application to be launched can be launched, and if it is determined that the application can be launched on the second OS 30b, it sends an application launch instruction to the second OS 30b, and launches the application on the second OS 30b.

In this way, by acquiring and determining the status of the second OS 30b before sending an application launch instruction, it is possible to reliably launch the application in the second OS 30b.

Some of the apps are run by the first OS 30a. When such an app is reserved, there is no need to send an app launch instruction to the second OS 30b. The first OS 30a may be configured to determine whether the reserved app is an app that is run by the first OS 30a or an app that is run by the second OS 30b. In this case, if it is determined that the app is run by the second OS 30b, the first OS 30a may send an app launch instruction (S201).

In this way, by determining whether the reserved app is an app that runs on the first OS 30a or the second OS 30b, the app can be operated appropriately according to each OS.

1: Remote control device 33: Touch panel monitor 2: Karaoke device 41: Monitor 5: Server device 42: Speaker 11: Touch panel monitor 43: Camera 11a: Display unit 43a: Microphone 11b: Touch panel 43b: Microphone 12: Video RAM 130: Access point 13: Video control unit B10: Overall management function 14: Memory B11: Inter-song management function 15: CPU B12: Reservation content management function 16: Wireless LAN communication unit B13: Karaoke playback management function 17: Operation unit B14: Instant execution application management function 18: Operation processing unit B15: Karaoke playback function 21: Operation unit B16: Second OS application control function 24a: LAN communication unit B18: Image synthesis function 24b: Wireless LAN communication unit B19: Image output function 25: Sound control unit B20: Default application 27: Interface B21: Application management function 30: Control unit B22a to B22c: 1st to 3rd applications 30a: 1st OS B22d: Inter-song application 30b: 2nd OS B23: Video output function 32: Hard disk SW: Changeover switch

Claims (9)

A karaoke apparatus which executes in parallel a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS,
the first control process includes a transmission process of transmitting an instruction to start an application program to the second control process;
an application reservation acceptance process for accepting an application reservation instruction for the application program;
an application reservation process for storing application reservation data corresponding to the application reservation instruction accepted in the application reservation acceptance process in a reservation list;
An extraction process of extracting the application reservation data to be launched next from the reservation list ,
The second control process includes:
a receiving process for receiving a start instruction from the first control process;
A start-up process for starting the application program based on the received start-up instruction ,
The transmission process transmits a start instruction based on the application reservation data extracted in the extraction process.
Karaoke equipment. A karaoke apparatus which executes in parallel a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS,
The first control process includes:
a transmission process for transmitting an instruction to start an application program to the second control process;
A playback process that controls the playback of music;
an application reservation acceptance process for accepting an application reservation instruction for the application program;
A song reservation acceptance process for acquiring a song reservation instruction for the song;
an application reservation process for storing application reservation data corresponding to the application reservation instruction accepted in the application reservation acceptance process in a reservation list;
a song reservation process for storing song reservation data corresponding to the song reservation instruction received in the song reservation receiving process in a reservation list;
an extraction process of extracting the application reservation data or music reservation data to be launched next from the reservation list ,
The second control process includes:
a receiving process for receiving a start instruction from the first control process;
A start-up process for starting the application program based on the received start-up instruction ,
When the application reservation data is extracted in the extraction process, the transmission process transmits a launch instruction based on the extracted application reservation data;
When the music reservation data is extracted in the extraction process, the reproduction process controls the reproduction of the music based on the extracted music reservation data.
Karaoke equipment. A first CPU and a second CPU are provided,
the first control process is processed by the first CPU,
3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control process is performed by the second CPU. 4. The karaoke device according to claim 3 , wherein the first CPU and the second CPU communicate with each other using a predetermined communication protocol. the first control process includes a determination process of determining whether the application program can be started by the second control process;
3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission process transmits a start instruction when the determination process determines that the application program can be started in the second control process. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission process transmits the start instruction at a timing determined based on the first control process or the second control process. The karaoke device according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission process transmits the start instruction at a timing when no music is being played in the playback process. the karaoke device is connectable to an external device that can be selectively controlled by the first control process or the second control process;
3. The karaoke device according to claim 1, wherein when the application program is started by the second control process while the external device is being controlled by the first control process, the control of the external device is switched from the first control process to the second control process. the karaoke device is connectable to an external device that can be selectively controlled by the first control process or the second control process;
option data indicating that the external device is to be used in the application program is associated with the application program;
3. The karaoke device according to claim 1, wherein when the external device is being controlled by the first control process, if the application program to which the optional data is associated is launched by the second control process, control of the external device is switched from the first control process to the second control process .