JP7736028B2 - Karaoke equipment - Google Patents

Description

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

Karaoke machines are known that allow users to enjoy singing along to musical accompaniment. Karaoke machines are designed to enhance entertainment value by adding a variety of functions in addition to singing.

Patent Document 1 discloses a karaoke machine that displays animations during performance and scoring results when the karaoke machine's scoring app is executed. Even when outputting both animations during performance and animations showing the results, the karaoke machine in Patent Document 1 is able to reduce the time until the song starts to be output, and output both the animations during performance and the animations showing the results.

JP 2013-218135 A

As seen in Patent Document 1, conventional karaoke machines execute application programs related to the karaoke performance in sync with the karaoke performance, and output animations that accompany the performance, for example. In recent years, karaoke machines have also come to require more advanced processing control, such as higher quality graphic presentation and smooth coexistence of performance and presentation.

Controlling advanced processing in karaoke machines is likely to lead to an increase in the processing load on the karaoke machine. When controlling advanced processing, if the karaoke machine's configuration is insufficient, it may not be able to fully realize the functions based on the advanced processing. If we try to forcefully meet these functional requirements with the current configuration, functional quality will decline, resulting in a problem of reduced customer value.

The present invention was developed in consideration of these circumstances, and in a karaoke device, a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS perform processing in coordination with each other. One objective of the invention is to improve the performance of the karaoke device and enable advanced processing and high-quality performance by executing applications and processes taking into account the processing strengths of the first OS and second OS.

Therefore, the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention employs the following configuration.
A karaoke apparatus that executes, in parallel, 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,
The first control process includes:
a playback process that controls the playback of music;
a reproduction-related information transmission process for transmitting reproduction-related information related to the reproduction process to the second control process during the reproduction process;
an end-related information transmission process for transmitting end-related information to the second control process after the music playback ends,
The second control process includes:
a start-up process for starting an application program for executing the effect; and a playback-related control process for controlling the effect based on the received playback-related information.
A termination control process for performing and outputting an image formation effect as the effect based on the received termination-related information;
a notification process for transmitting notification information to the first control process after the termination of the termination control process;
The first control process executes the following process upon receiving the notification information.

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

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
the first control process includes a start-up information transmission process of transmitting start-up information instructing the start-up of the application program to the second control process;
The start-up process starts up the application program based on the received start-up instruction information.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The first control process includes:
A reservation process for reserving songs to be played;
a reservation-related information transmission process for transmitting reservation-related information related to the reserved music piece to the second control process,
the second control process includes a reservation-related control process for performing and outputting an image formation effect as the effect based on the received reservation-related information,
the notification process transmits notification information to the first control process after the reservation-related control process is completed;
The first control process executes a reproduction process by receiving the notification information.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
the first control process includes a singing evaluation process that is executed in synchronization with the reproduction process and evaluates a singing voice,
The reproduction-related information includes a section singing evaluation calculated for each section of the song based on the singing evaluation process.
Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The end-related information includes the singing evaluation result calculated based on the singing evaluation process.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The playback-related control process includes:
a determination process for determining whether the received section singing evaluation satisfies a predetermined standard;
a first effect process for executing a first effect when a predetermined criterion is satisfied;
and second performance processing for executing a second performance when a predetermined criterion is not met.

Furthermore, in the karaoke device of this embodiment,
The reproduction-related information transmission process transmits reproduction-related information at a predetermined timing based on the progress of reproduction during the reproduction process.

In accordance with the present invention, during the performance of a song in a karaoke device, a first control process operated based on a first OS (Operating System) and a second control process operated based on a second OS are linked together to perform processing. With this configuration, when performance processing is performed on the first OS, processing is performed on the second OS using application programs and playback-related information, enabling the second OS to execute its specialized processing and functions, thereby improving the performance of the karaoke device and expanding the processing and functions available on the karaoke device.

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

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

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 more 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 machine 2 is equipped with a hard disk 32 as a storage unit that stores various information. The karaoke machine 2 is equipped with a LAN communication unit 24a that connects to the LAN 100 and serves as a communication means for connecting to the network. The karaoke machine 2 of this embodiment is also equipped with 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 addition to the externally connected monitor 41, this karaoke device 2 is capable of displaying various information on the touch panel monitor 33. The touch panel monitor 33 functions as a display unit that displays images generated 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 located 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 on 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 back 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 in which the audio control unit 25 performs 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 in which a lyric video based on the lyric data included in the music data is displayed on the monitor 41 to assist singing. A video playback process may be executed to superimpose a background video on the lyric video displayed in this lyrics display process.

On the other hand, the remote control device 1 is capable of performing song selection processing, searching for songs based on instructions from the user and sending song reservation data to the karaoke device 2 for songs that have been instructed to be played. 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 for accepting various instructions from the user. The touch panel monitor 11 is configured with a display unit 11a and a touch panel 11b, and displays various information on the display unit 11a and is capable of accepting touch input from the user.

The remote control device 1 also includes a memory 14 that serves as a storage unit for storing databases required for music selection processing, various programs, and various information generated as programs are executed, as well as a remote control control unit for controlling these components. 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 operation unit 17 and transmits the input to the CPU 15.

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

This configuration of the remote control device 1 allows it to accept various inputs from the user via the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17, and by providing various information via the display on the touch panel monitor 11, it is possible to perform various processes, such as song selection processing, which sends 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 processing executed based on the first OS is sometimes referred to as the first control processing, and the processing executed based on the second OS is sometimes referred to as the second control processing.

The first OS 30a and the second OS 30b are different types of OS (Operating Systems). For example, the first OS 30a is the 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 modifications. On the other hand, the second OS is an OS that is good at video processing or an OS that can handle new functions. By using two OSs in this way, it is possible to assign each OS the processing that it 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 controlling each OS, such as a first CPU executing the first OS 30a and a second CPU executing the second OS 30b. In this case, the first CPU and second CPU may be mounted on the same board or on separate boards. The first CPU and second CPU communicate with each other using a specified communication protocol (communication standard) and work together to execute processes.

In addition to this configuration, 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.

In this embodiment, the first OS 30a mainly has an overall karaoke device 2 management function B10, music playback and application-related functions (B11-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 the function that manages the karaoke device 2 in an integrated manner. As such, it issues various instructions to the song playback and app-related functions, such as the song interval management function B11, the reserved content management function B12, the karaoke playback management function B13, and the immediate execution app management function B14.

First, we will explain the operation when playing songs in karaoke. The overall management function B10 sequentially stores song reservation data indicating songs reserved through 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 performs song performance processing and scoring processing (singing evaluation processing).

In this embodiment, depending on the type of app, it is also possible to manage apps in a reservation list, similar to 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. If song reservation data is extracted, the song is played using the karaoke playback function B15. If app reservation data is extracted, an instruction to launch the app indicated by the app reservation data is sent to the second OS 30b via the second OS app control function B16.

A launch instruction based on the app reservation data is sent, for example, when playback of a previously reserved song finishes or when execution of a previously reserved app is completed. In this case, the timing when playback of a previously reserved song finishes 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 (described below). 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 handles both song reservation data and app reservation data in the reservation list, making it possible to sequentially play songs and process games or other applications.

The video output function B19 executes lyric display processing and video playback processing, and generates lyric videos and simple background videos based on songs whose playback is 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 combined by the video combination function B18 of the first OS 30a and displayed on the monitor 41. The video output function B19 may also generate message videos indicating that the app is about to be launched.

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

The karaoke machine 2 of this embodiment is also capable of executing an instant scoring process, which differs from the normal scoring process. The instant scoring process is a process performed when a scoring instruction is given midway through playback of a song that is currently being played. When an instant scoring instruction is given to the user interface, the instant execution app management function B14 outputs and receives various information related to the scoring process from the karaoke playback function B15. Since the karaoke playback function B15 internally executes the scoring process even when no scoring instruction is given, when an instant scoring instruction is given, it is possible to output information related to the scoring process from the start of song playback. The instant execution app management function B14 also sends 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 processing during the instant scoring process.

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

As described above, in this embodiment, the first OS 30a has functions related to music playback and app management, and executes various processes related to these functions. Meanwhile, the second OS 30b executes apps and executes processes related to various effects, such as game processing and video playback. In this way, in this embodiment, the video playback function, which is the specialty of the second OS 30b, is utilized to perform effects, etc., thereby improving the performance of the karaoke device 2. Furthermore, appropriate processing coordination is possible between the first OS 30a and the second OS 30b.

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 capable of sending 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 capable of sending 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 perform various processes such as effects and games. In this embodiment, three apps, the first to third apps B22a to B22c, are installed, but it is possible to install additional apps from the server device 5 or other devices depending on the required functions and processes.

The inter-song app B22d is launched based on a launch instruction received from the first OS 30a while no music is being played. The inter-song app B22d may, for example, display various information such as advertising videos or videos of food and drink menus at karaoke bars on the monitor 41. In this embodiment, the inter-song app B22d is provided in the second OS 30b, but it 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 sophisticated effects, game video generated 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 lyric video is superimposed on background video with effects based on singing evaluation.

The control unit 30 of this embodiment is also configured with the ability to control 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 where the first OS 30a and second OS 30b are used, as in this embodiment, it is conceivable that there may be a situation in which the two OSs compete for control of an external device. For this reason, in this embodiment, a selector switch SW is provided to switch control of the external device, and the second OS application control function B16 switches the selector switch SW depending on the usage situation, etc., so that the external device is controlled by either the first OS 30a or the second OS 30b. Note that a selector switch SW can be provided for each external device, making it 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 OS Priority 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 mode, priorities are set for applications, and when an application is launched, the external device is switched to the application with the higher priority. For example, when an application using an external device is launched by the second OS 30b, if an application with a higher priority is launched by the first OS 30a, the selector switch SW is switched to the first OS 30a.
(3) Control by Optional Data Optional 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 application refers to the optional data when starting up the application to switch the selector switch SW. For example, if optional data indicating "external device used" is set in the first application B22a, the selector switch SW is switched to the second OS 30b side when starting up the first application B22a in the second OS 30b. If optional data indicating "external device not used" is set in the first application B22a, the selector switch SW is not switched. The optional 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 machine 2. Here, the control process will be explained using as an example an app (e.g., first app B22a) in the second OS 30b that performs effects based on singing evaluation.

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

When the second OS 30a receives the application launch instruction, it launches the application corresponding to the application launch instruction (for example, the first application B22a that performs effects based on singing evaluation) (S101). The launched application initiates a communication connection with the first OS 30a (S102) and sends a notification to the first OS 30a indicating that it has launched successfully (S103).

Once the startup process is complete, the control unit 30 starts the pre-playback performance process. In this embodiment, the pre-playback performance process is executed when a song is reserved, and is a process in which 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 executed after the song has been reserved and before the song is played, rather than at the time the song is reserved. When a game app is executed, the pre-playback performance process may also 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 sends a pre-playback performance start notification to the second OS 30b (S203). This pre-playback performance start notification may include pre-playback related information related to the reserved song (song name, artist name, name of the user who made the reservation, etc.).

Upon receiving the pre-playback performance start notification, the application management function B21 on the second OS 30b side executes pre-playback performance processing using 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 on the monitor 41 by the video output function B23 via the video synthesis function B18.

The pre-playback performance processing (S104) is processing that is executed over a predetermined period of time, and after processing is completed, a completion notification is sent to the first OS 30a (S105). By receiving this completion notification, the first OS 30a can confirm the execution status of the pre-playback performance processing in the second OS 30b (in this case, the completion of processing). For example, it is possible to control the first OS 30a not to perform other processing or to suspend other processing until the pre-playback performance processing (S104) is completed.

During playback processing is processing executed while the song is being played. In this embodiment, during playback effect processing (S106) associated with the singing evaluation processing is executed on the second OS 30b side. During song playback, the first OS 30a transmits playback-related information related to 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, at the start of an interlude or chorus, etc.). The during playback effect processing (S106) executed by the first app B22a of the second OS 30b executes an effect by forming an image based on the received playback-related information, and causes the image to be output by the video output function B23.

When the first OS 30a starts playing a song (S204), the first OS 30a sends a playback effect processing start notification to the second OS 30b (S205). The second OS 30b, having received the playback effect processing start notification, starts the playback effect processing (S106). In this embodiment, during song playback, the first OS 30a sends playback-related information, such as playback progress status (S206), section singing evaluation (S207), and interlude notification (S208). The playback progress status is information indicating the playback time from the start of playback or the current playback position relative to the overall playback time. In the playback effect processing, various effects can be performed based on this playback progress status. For example, different effects may be performed depending on whether the playback position is at the beginning, middle, or end of the song. Furthermore, even when transmitting the playback time from the start of playback as playback-related information, by transmitting the playback time length of the song immediately after playback begins, it is possible to determine the relative playback position, such as the beginning, middle, or end.

The section singing evaluation is information relating to the singing evaluation for each specified section in the singing evaluation process executed by the first OS 30a, such as the section scoring results or information indicating the degree to which singing techniques (vibrato, jabbering, etc.) were performed in each section. In the playback effect process (S106), the evaluation for each section can be expressed visually (for example, visualized as a graph) based on this section singing evaluation. The playback effect process may also determine whether the section scoring results meet specified criteria and decide on an effect. For example, in a game app, if the section scoring results meet the specified criteria, an effect may be executed in which an enemy character is defeated, and if the section scoring results do not meet the specified criteria, an effect may be executed in which the player's character is damaged.

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

In this way, in the playback effect processing (S106) of this embodiment, the second OS 30b receives playback-related information from the first OS 30a during the playback period of the song, and is thereby able to perform various effects based on the playback-related information. Note that in this embodiment, the playback effect processing (S106) performs an effect using video, but the effect may also be performed using sound in addition to 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 playback of the song ends, the post-playback performance process begins. When 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.).

Upon receiving the post-playback performance start notification, the second OS 30b executes post-playback performance processing (S107). In this embodiment, the post-playback performance processing is a process for forming an image based on post-playback related information, classifying the post-playback related information into levels based on thresholds, and outputting different images 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. Therefore, if the first OS 30a executes another process while the second OS 30b is executing the post-playback performance process (S107), a process conflict may occur. Therefore, when the second OS 30b completes the execution of the post-playback performance process (S107), it sends a completion notification (S108) to the first OS 30a. Until the completion notification is received, the first OS 30a suspends or puts on hold other processes, such as processes that may conflict with the post-playback performance process (S107). Then, upon receiving the completion notification (S211: Yes), the first OS 30a starts the next process to be executed.

In this way, in this embodiment, the second OS 30b sends the execution status of a predetermined process (for example, 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 sent as the execution status, but alternatively, information indicating the status of the app being executed by the second OS 30b may be sent, and the first OS 30a may perform processing based on that status.

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

[First Modification]
Next, various modifications 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 modification. The first modification differs from the functional block diagram described in Fig. 2 in the functions within the second OS 30b. Note that other functions are the same as those described 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 B22c 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 controls 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. If the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are not running, the default app B20 is launched. For example, if the first app B22a is launched and then shuts down, the default app B20 is launched. The same is true for the second app B22b, the third app B22c, and the inter-song app B22d. If any of the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d are not running, the default app B20 is launched. By monitoring the launch status of the default app B20, the app management function B21 can check the launch status of the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d.

In the above-described embodiment, the first to third apps B22a to B22c and the inter-song app B22d were required to send a termination notification to the app management function B21 when they finished running. 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 send a termination notification to the app management function B21, and only need to monitor the running status of the default app B20. Furthermore, even if the first app B22a crashes due to a malfunction during its running, for example, the default app B20 starts up, thereby ensuring that the running status of the apps is notified to the app management function B21 and the first OS 30a. This allows the karaoke device 2 to operate smoothly overall without causing malfunctions such as freezing.

In the first variant 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 so even if a malfunction occurs, the impact on the user is minimal. In this case, the processing of the karaoke device 2 as a whole can be performed more smoothly.

[Second Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the first OS 30a transmits an application launch instruction to the second OS 30b (S201). In this case, the second OS 30b receives the launch 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 launch the application based on the launch instruction.

Therefore, the first OS 30a may determine the status of the second OS 30b before sending the application launch instruction (S201). 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. The first OS 30a then performs a determination process based on the received status-related information to determine whether the application to be launched can be launched, and if it determines 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 obtaining 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 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 run by the first OS 30a or 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, it is possible to appropriately run the app 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: Immediate 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: First to third applications 30a: First OS B22d: Inter-song application 30b: Second OS B23: Video output function 32: Hard disk SW: Changeover switch

Claims (8)

A karaoke apparatus that executes, in parallel, 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,
The first control process includes:
a playback process that controls the playback of music;
a reproduction-related information transmission process for transmitting reproduction-related information related to the reproduction process to the second control process during the reproduction process;
an end-related information transmission process for transmitting end-related information to the second control process after the music playback ends,
The second control process includes:
a start-up process for starting an application program for executing the effect; and a playback-related control process for controlling the effect based on the received playback-related information.
A termination control process for performing and outputting an image formation effect as the effect based on the received termination-related information;
a notification process for transmitting notification information to the first control process after the termination of the termination control process;
The first control process executes the following process upon receiving the notification information. A first CPU and a second CPU are provided,
the first control process is executed by the first CPU,
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second control process is executed by the second CPU. the first control process includes a start-up information transmission process of transmitting start-up information instructing the start-up of the application program to the second control process;
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the startup process starts the application program based on received startup instruction information. The first control process includes:
A reservation process for reserving songs to be played;
a reservation-related information transmission process for transmitting reservation-related information related to the reserved music piece to the second control process,
the second control process includes a reservation-related control process for performing and outputting an image formation effect as the effect based on the received reservation-related information,
the notification process transmits notification information to the first control process after the reservation-related control process is completed;
The karaoke device according to claim 1 , wherein the first control process executes a reproduction process upon receiving the notification information. the first control process includes a singing evaluation process that is executed in synchronization with the reproduction process and evaluates a singing voice,
The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reproduction-related information includes a section singing evaluation calculated for each section of the song based on the singing evaluation process. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the end-related information includes a singing evaluation result calculated based on the singing evaluation process. The playback-related control process includes:
a determination process for determining whether the received section singing evaluation satisfies a predetermined standard;
a first effect process for executing a first effect when a predetermined criterion is satisfied;
The karaoke device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a second effect process for executing a second effect when a predetermined criterion is not satisfied. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reproduction-related information transmission process transmits the reproduction-related information at a predetermined timing based on the progress of the reproduction during the reproduction process.