Abstract: In the karaoke system 1, a center 3 is connected to a plurality of karaoke terminals 5 by a coaxial cable 7. The center 3 divides the karaoke song data stored in the memory device 13 over several channels and transmits all the karaoke song data within a fixed time period in succession to the karaoke terminals 5 via the coaxial cable 7. This operation is performed regardless of whether or not a song is requested from one of the karaoke terminals 5. Whether the karaoke data transmitted in succession is data of a requested song is determined by the control portion 41 of a karaoke terminal 5. If so, karaoke performance processes are performed wherein the karaoke data is reproduced and the orchestral accompaniment and lyric image is outputted.

Abstract: In a karaoke system, a central terminal and a plurality of karaoke terminals are connected by a coaxial cable. A polling modem modulates a polling signal to a predetermined channel signal and transmits it to a karaoke terminal and also receives a response signal (signal for responding as to whether a song has been requested) transmitted from the karaoke terminal in response to the polling signal. When a song is requested, the data transmission control portion retrieves the karaoke song data of the requested song from the memory, modulates it via the data transmission modem into an alternating current signal that differs from the channel of the polling signal, and transmits it to the karaoke terminal.

Abstract: When the terminal 5 requests a partial access of a desired karaoke song to the center 3 in S380, only the climactic passage data of the karaoke song is transmitted from the center 3 to the terminal 5. The terminal 5 reproduces the climactic passage in S400. Then, the terminal 5 determines whether or not the user will pay for the karaoke song in S410. When the payment is confirmed, the terminal 5 requests total access to the center 3 in S340, receives the entire data of the karaoke song in S350, and reproduces the data in S360. It is possible to prevent the user from erroneously requesting a total access of a karaoke song which the user does not want to sing. It is ensured that the user can obtain karaoke songs which he/she really wants to sing, within a short period of time.

Abstract: Each of the data transmission devices 15a-15d serially and cyclically transmits all the song data over a corresponding channel, by a time cycle corresponding to the number of the song data. The four data transmission devices 15a-15d transmit the song data, at timings shifted from one another by (1/the number of channels) of the time cycle. Each terminal determines one channel out of the four channels that can most rapidly supply desired song data. Each terminal then picks up the desired song data from the determined channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fire alarm system for an information providing system having a plurality of terminal devices for providing information to a plurality of operators, respectively. The fire alarm system is provided with a fire detecting sensors. If a fire is detected, a predetermined signal is transmitted to a controller. The controller controls each of the plurality of terminal devices to indicate an alarm information to the operator when the predetermined signal is received.

Abstract: The memory device 13 in the center 3 stores a plurality of information data categorized in a plurality of genres. The input device 43 of the terminal 5 selects an information data desired to be obtained, out of the plurality of information data stored in the memory device 13. The control portion 41 in the terminal 5 receives the desired information data and reproduces the desired information, when the desired information data is of a genre the terminal is contracted for. The control portion 41 does not reproduce the desired information or reproduces the desired information in a manner so that the user may not obtain when the desired information data is out of the genre the terminal is contracted for.

Abstract: The clock demodulator 25 continually demodulates the clock signal of the control CPU 7 transmitted from the clock modulator 10 of the center S. The terminal control CPU 23 performs processes such as transmission and reception of data with the demodulated clock signal as a reference clock. The time required to synchronize the clocks of the CPUs 7 and 23 is eliminated. Transmission and reception of data is executed quickly as soon as right of transmission is transferred to a terminal.

Abstract: When a song data group of a requested song comes in the normal mode ("Yes" in S230, ) the terminal 5 picks up that song data D5 in S240. When the song data group of the requested song does not arrive ("No" in S230,) the terminal first judges in S250 whether or not it is necessary to rapidly obtain the song data of the requested song. If the terminal is presently playing a karaoke performance, it is unnecessary to rapidly obtain the song data of the requested song, and therefore the terminal waits for the song data that will come in the normal mode. If the terminal is not conducting a karaoke performance (i.e., "No" in S250), the terminal should be rapidly supplied with the requested song. When it is determined that the requested song will come soon ("Yes" in S290 or S300,) the terminal still waits for the song data that will come in the normal mode.

Abstract: In a data transmission system, a center and a plurality of terminals are connected by a coaxial cable. The center is controlled by a server to transmit mode sense polling signals in succession every predetermined time (for example every 30 seconds) to all of the karaoke terminals connected to the center. The center determines whether each terminal is in a karaoke mode or not based on the mode response signal transmitted from each terminal in response to the mode sense polling signals. The center then transmits request polling signal only to terminals determined as being in the karaoke mode, confirms whether a request for a song has been made, and transmits karaoke data to those terminals that have a request.