Abstract: An idle time communication device in which communication windows are created during the transmission of broadcast data from a center unit to a user's home device, the windows being designated to augment the data transmission function by enabling one-to-one bidirectional communication between the center and the user's home. The invention assumes the prior existence of a communication device for the transmission of broadcast data from the independent center through the telephone network to the user's home and achieves its object of one-to-one bidirectional communication between the center and the user's home through the use of packet communication which is carried out during the idle time on the telephone network, which connects the switching system of the local telephone exchange with the telephone in the user's home.

Abstract: A system for the transmission and reception of data by telephone line, the system making use of the idle time on the telephone line, which connects the switching system of a telephone exchange with the telephone in a user's home, to transmit signals by way of the telephone line from a center independent of the telephone exchange to the user's home. The center includes a data base for storing a plurality of items of compound data, each item consisting of a specified number of interrelated data groups, and a transmission unit which accesses the database, reads data groups in order from an item of compound data, converts the resultant digital signals to analog form and outputs the analog signals to the telephone line.

Abstract: A karaoke system incorporating a backing chorus mixing device having a memory for storing backing chorus patterns converted to data form by breaking down and organizing the backing chorus for a particular piece of music into appropriate segments. Thus, when reproducing a piece of music created in accordance with the MIDI standard, all the chorus data corresponding to said piece of music can be read from said memory and synchronized with the music reproduction data, after which appropriate chorus patterns can be selected one by one and mixed into the music. The invention thus enables the requisite memory capacity to be kept to a minimum while at the same time enabling not only the reproduction of original sounds from music data created in accordance with the MIDI standard but also the reproduction of a mutual backing chorus sound created from data based not on the MIDI standard but obtained directly from natural human voices.

Abstract: A device is for the display of still animation images in sequence on a display in time with the reproduction of music by a digital sound source driven by MIDI signals. The device reads a series of specified or optional animation images from an image database, which holds many animation images, and transmits them in accordance with tempo data which forms part of the MIDI data. The device also uses pitch data to determine the color of the animation images to be displayed. The device composes the still images and the specified colors and displays them on a visual display medium.

Abstract: The invention, which assumes the use of digital music data, such as MIDI data, inserts marker codes in advance into music data at appropriate break points such that the music can then be replayed in accordance with said marker codes without sounding unnatural to the listener. If, while an output means is reading music data out of a memory means and outputting it to a sound source, the user decides he wants to replay a part of the music, he inputs a position specification by way of an operation means. A replay means then issues a replay instruction to said output means which returns to a point close to a stored marker code and outputs the music data from that point onwards. The prior insertion of marker codes into the music data at appropriate break points enables the music to be replayed from any point without arousing a feeling of unnaturalness in the listener.

Abstract: Conventional karaoke devices simply show lyrics on screen. This invention displays not only lyrics but also data useful for the enhancement of the singer's presentation such as the strength of the vocals and the pitch. More precisely, vocal data, which indicates the special requisites of a specific vocal rendition such as its strength and pitch, and the current lyric position indicator, which marks the current position in the lyrics, are correlated with the music data to which they correspond and then stored in memory. The said vocal data and current lyric position data are then read out of memory and each block of vocal data is displayed on the screen of a visual display medium a little in advance of the music to which it corresponds while the current lyric position within said block of vocal data is indicated in time with the music. Moreover, the strength and basic frequency of an actual vocal rendition can be detected and compared with the stored vocal data.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to ensure that when digitally coded music is being reproduced as audio signals and lyrics are being displayed on a screen that the progress of the two operations is synchronized.To this end music reproduction data is processed for reproduction in accordance with division values calculated on the basis of tempo data contained in the said music reproduction data while synchronization with the current position in the lyrics, which are displayed on a visual display unit, is advanced in accordance with values derived through multiplication of the aforementioned division values by a constant factor, thereby ensuring the synchronization of the reproduction of the music and the display of the current lyric position on the visual display unit.

Abstract: The device generates an audio signal from a sound source using a MIDI signal. The music data consists of many pieces of music stored in a memory device like a database in an on-line host computer or an external magneto-optical disc. The music generation processing operations are carried out by 2 microprocessors, each assigned a different set of functions to speed up the overall processing. The receipt and transfer of data to the sound source from the sequencer is carried out in parallel. The data is subsequently output in parallel and the contents of the buffer are monitored constantly to prevent overflow malfunctions. Clock time is divided to enable the generation of trigger signals to control tempo. By variation of the timing of the trigger signals in accordance with tempo data taken from the data stream, the tempo can be varied while reducing the reproduction time processing load.

Abstract: Data for reproducing music and displaying words are composed of binary-coded digital signals. Such signals are down-loaded via a public communication line, or data corresponding to a plurality of musical pieces or songs are previously stored in an apparatus, and the stored data are selectively processed by a CPU. In the instrumental music data, trigger signals are existent for progression of processing the words data, whereby the reproduction of music and the display of words are linked to each other. The music thus reproduced is utilized as background music or for enabling the user to sing to the accompaniment thereof while watching the words displayed synchronously with such music reproduction.