Patents by Inventor Shigeki Akahori

Shigeki Akahori has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7628334
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a protected storage unit in which a plurality of music content data are preset and stored in an unusable state where a user cannot freely use. A content selection unit is operated by the user to select a desired one of the music content data from the plurality of the music content data. A content use control unit causes an external settlement apparatus to make settlement for purchasing the desired music content data to thereby enable use of the desired music content data selected by the content selection unit, and brings the desired music content data into a usable state when a completion notification indicating that the settlement is completed is received from the external settlement apparatus. A play unit is operable to use the desired music content data for generating or reproducing music sounds according to the desired music content data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori
  • Patent number: 7328272
    Abstract: A server receives an acquisition request for visual content, such as desired text or image content, from a client terminal via a communication network, and retrieves, from a database, data of the visual content requested by the client terminal. Then, by analyzing the visual content, by referring to an appropriate table or otherwise, the server determines music content or effect tone content to be imparted to the requested visual content in associated relation to specific substance of the requested visual content. Then, the server retrieves data of the determined music content or effect tone content from a database, and transmits the data of the visual content, along with the data of the music content or effect tone content, to the client terminal. On the basis of the data transmitted by the server, the client terminal can not only visually display the requested visual content but also audibly reproduce the music content or effect tone content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kuramochi, Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20060124735
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a protected storage unit in which a plurality of music content data are preset and stored in an unusable state where a user cannot freely use. A content selection unit is operated by the user to select a desired one of the music content data from the plurality of the music content data. A content use control unit causes an external settlement apparatus to make settlement for purchasing the desired music content data to thereby enable use of the desired music content data selected by the content selection unit, and brings the desired music content data into a usable state when a completion notification indicating that the settlement is completed is received from the external settlement apparatus. A play unit is operable to use the desired music content data for generating or reproducing music sounds according to the desired music content data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori
  • Patent number: 6884933
    Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus is designed for using original music contents kept under protection. In the apparatus, an editing section is operable to edit an original music content into a variational music content. A content judging section compares the variational music content with the original music content and judges a degree of difference therebetween to provide a judgment. A transfer control section operates based on the judgment for permitting transfer of the variational music content to an external apparatus beyond the protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Akahori, Shigenori Oguri
  • Patent number: 6784355
    Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus such as an electronic musical instrument can be easily customized in accordance with a user's preference. Electronic musical instrument 20A and personal computers 40A, 40B can access server 50 via internet 10. A database that stores musical tone control data for controlling the generation of musical tone signals is provided in memory device 59 disposed in main body part 52 of server 50. Information on applicable apparatus types is annexed to the musical tone control data. At the time of purchasing electronic musical instruments 20A to 20C, the user is given a user identification data ID that can specify the apparatus types of electronic musical instruments 20A to 20C. With the use of this identification data ID, the user downloads the applicable musical tone control data from server 50 to electronic musical instrument 20A or to electronic musical instruments 20B, 20C via personal computers 40A, 40B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Gyoten, Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20030177888
    Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus is designed for using original music contents kept under protection. In the apparatus, an editing section is operable to edit an original music content into a variational music content. A content judging section compares the variational music content with the original music content and judges a degree of difference therebetween to provide a judgment. A transfer control section operates based on the judgment for permitting transfer of the variational music content to an external apparatus beyond the protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Akahori, Shigenori Oguri
  • Publication number: 20030024376
    Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus such as an electronic musical instrument can be easily customized in accordance with a user's preference. Electronic musical instrument 20A and personal computers 40A, 40B can access server 50 via internet 10. A database that stores musical tone control data for controlling the generation of musical tone signals is provided in memory device 59 disposed in main body part 52 of server 50. Information on applicable apparatus types is annexed to the musical tone control data. At the time of purchasing electronic musical instruments 20A to 20C, the user is given a user identification data ID that can specify the apparatus types of electronic musical instruments 20A to 20C. With the use of this identification data ID, the user downloads the applicable musical tone control data from server 50 to electronic musical instrument 20A or to electronic musical instruments 20B, 20C via personal computers 40A, 40B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Gyoten, Shigeki Akahori
  • Patent number: 6486388
    Abstract: Performance data for a musical instrument having note designating keys are provided representing a sequence of notes which constitute a length of musical performance. The performance data are analyzed, and based on the analyzed performance data, fingering data are then created representing fingers to be used for operating keys among the note designating keys to designate the respective ones of the sequence of notes. Fingering hand image data are then created representing fingering hand images including fingers to be used for operating keys for the sequence of notes. Finally, a display screen exhibits the fingers to be used for the sequence of notes based on the fingering image data. The screen displays a musical score, a range of keyboard and fingering hand profiles. The size of the fingering hand is preferably made different between the indication of key depressions and the indication of key release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Akahori
  • Patent number: 6472591
    Abstract: In a portable communication terminal apparatus, a transmitter and receiver conducts either of a transmission and receipt of a message. A tone generator generates a sequence of tones to sound a music melody of a song in association with either of the transmission and the receipt of the message. A music composer is provided for inputting a motif melody comprised of a rhythm and a pitch and for composing the music melody of the song based on the inputted motif melody. The music composer may automatically input either of the rhythm and the pitch of the motif melody. A display device displays the inputted the motif melody in a sequence of beat points for editing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichiro Aoki, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20020143978
    Abstract: A server receives an acquisition request for visual content, such as desired text or image content, from a client terminal via a communication network, and retrieves, from a database, data of the visual content requested by the client terminal. Then, by analyzing the visual content, by referring to an appropriate table or otherwise, the server determines music content or effect tone content to be imparted to the requested visual content in associated relation to specific substance of the requested visual content. Then, the server retrieves data of the determined music content or effect tone content from a database, and transmits the data of the visual content, along with the data of the music content or effect tone content, to the client terminal. On the basis of the data transmitted by the server, the client terminal can not only visually display the requested visual content but also audibly reproduce the music content or effect tone content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kuramochi, Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20020026865
    Abstract: Performance data for a musical instrument having note designating keys are provided representing a sequence of notes which constitute a length of musical performance. The performance data are analyzed, and based on the analyzed performance data, fingering data are then created representing fingers to be used for operating keys among the note designating keys to designate the respective ones of the sequence of notes. Fingering hand image data are then created representing fingering hand images including fingers to be used for operating keys for the sequence of notes. Finally, a display screen exhibits the fingers to be used for the sequence of notes based on the fingering image data. The screen displays a musical score, a range of keyboard and fingering hand profiles. The size of the fingering hand is preferably made different between the indication of key depressions and the indication of key release.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20010047717
    Abstract: In a portable communication terminal apparatus, a transmitter and receiver conducts either of a transmission and receipt of a message. A tone generator generates a sequence of tones to sound a music melody of a song in association with either of the transmission and the receipt of the message. A music composer is provided for inputting a motif melody comprised of a rhythm and a pitch and for composing the music melody of the song based on the inputted motif melody. The music composer may automatically input either of the rhythm and the pitch of the motif melody. A display device displays the inputted the motif melody in a sequence of beat points for editing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Eiichiro Aoki, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori