Abstract: Disclosed in some embodiments are unique massage devices that incorporate a generally disk-shaped member. In some preferred forms, the disk-shaped member will have an outer annular surface for contacting and massaging the body of a massage recipient, and the outer annular surface will have a variable width around the disk-shaped member. While this outer annular surface might be provided by an individual object (e.g., a molded rubber member), in some preferred forms, the outer annular surface will be provided by two or more constituent pieces that have been united to form a full outer annular surface. The invention also provides methods for constructing and using such massage devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for interactive integration of electronic patient medical records, the system and method having a central personal health record database networked to one or more local medical records maintained by individual health care providers, wherein the central personal health records and the local medical records have compatible electronic data structures, there being a personal health record and at least one local medical record corresponding to each particular patient. Each health care provider may be associated by a particular patient with the personal health record corresponding to the patient, and each health care provider may be enabled to access the personal health record for downloading and synchronization with a corresponding local medical record maintained by the health care provider, and may further be enabled to upload and synchronize changes made in a local medical record back to the corresponding personal health record.

Abstract: Display device displays a character string of lyrics and accompaniment information. Characters or unit words of the lyrics corresponding to a current performance position and a next performance position are displayed in different display styles, in accordance with progression of the performance. Pieces of the accompaniment information corresponding to the current performance position and the next performance position may be displayed in different display styles, in accordance with the progression of the performance. Thus, even when the characters or unit words of the lyrics corresponding to the current and next performance position are displayed in an overlapping condition, a user is allowed to readily distinguish between the overlapping characters or unit words.

Abstract: A computer system includes storage device for storing a plurality of object files, each file including a program and information on the genre of music, and said computur system selecting an object file from the storage device and executing a program stored in the selected object file.

Abstract: A chord performance training system is realized on a personal computer having a display and a keyboard in accordance with music application software. The display provides a user with three types of windows on a screen, namely a main window for displaying chord progression, a select window for displaying a list of genre names for selection and a score window for displaying a score. On the select window, the user selects a specific single genre name to activate model performance information containing chord parts, a percussion part, a chord text and a song text, so that the main window shows chord progression representing chord names and generation timings of chords which are to be sequentially played by the user. Multiple sets of model performance information are provided to suit to different levels, namely a beginners' level and an expert level, which are set to the user in playing chord performance on the keyboard.

Abstract: A chord performance training system is realized on a personal computer having a display and a keyboard in accordance with music application software. The display provides a user with three types of windows on a screen, namely a main window for displaying chord progression, a select window for displaying a list of genre names for selection and a score window for displaying a score. On the select window, the user selects a specific single genre name to activate model performance information containing chord parts, a percussion part, a chord text and a song text, so that the main window shows chord progression representing chord names and generation timings of chords which are to be sequentially played by the user. Multiple sets of model performance information are provided to suit to different levels, namely a beginners' level and an expert level, which are set to the user in playing chord performance on the keyboard.

Abstract: A tune data reproduction system is designed to operate differently in a reproduction mode and a quick reverse mode by using tune data and quick reverse sound data. Herein, the tune data represent progression of notes of musical performance, while the quick reverse sound data represent repetition of a prescribed sound indicating a quick reverse operation or reverse reproduction sounds being made from the tune data. In the reproduction mode, the system performs reproduction on the tune data to produce musical tones of the notes at a desired tempo in accordance with the progression of the musical performance. In the quick reverse mode, the system produces the quick reverse sound or the reverse reproduction sounds representing the musical tones of the notes which are reversely reproduced in a reverse direction reverse to the progression of the musical performance at a high speed.

Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is provided in which a plurality of singers can sing at a time and superiority/inferiority of singing voices can be matched. One karaoke music piece is performed, and two persons sing the music piece at a time by using different microphones. Singing voice signals input through the two microphones are respectively scored, and characters displayed on a screen are caused to fight based on the score results. If the point of the singer having microphone is higher, an animation in which character attacks character is displayed. If the singing point of microphone is higher, animation in which character attacks character is displayed.

Abstract: A chord performance training system is realized on a personal computer having a display and a keyboard in accordance with music application software. The display provides a user with three types of windows on a screen, namely a main window for displaying chord progression, a select window for displaying a list of genre names for selection and a score window for displaying a score. On the select window, the user selects a specific single genre name to activate model performance information containing chord parts, a percussion part, a chord text and a song text, so that the main window shows chord progression representing chord names and generation timings of chords which are to be sequentially played by the user. Multiple sets of model performance information are provided to suit to different levels, namely a beginners' level and an expert level, which are set to the user in playing chord performance on the keyboard.

Abstract: A network system is designed for composing music data representative of a music composition according to composing data representative of a material of the music composition. The network system is constructed by a plurality of information processing terminals and a control station for mutually connecting the plurality of the information processing terminals through the control station. In each information processing terminal, a conversation section can be operated to exchange messages with other information processing terminal, and an input section can be operated to input the composing data while exchanging the messages with other information processing terminal. The central station composes and edits the music data according to the composing data inputted by the plurality of the information processing terminals to thereby collaborate the plurality of the information processing terminals for creating the music composition.

Abstract: A computer system includes storage device for storing a plurality of object files, each file including a program and information on the genre of music, and said computur system selecting an object file from the storage device and executing a program stored in the selected object file.

Abstract: An improved karaoke network system that allows a user to select and obtain desired information through an interface while a message is displayed between intermissions of karaoke performances. Data files for karaoke performance, displaying messages, and displaying data selection menus are written in a common structure. Each of the data files includes an action region that contains link data. The data files are associated with one another by the link data contained in the action regions of the data files. A chain of related data files are executed by a menu selection operation or a key input operation by the user for performing karaoke performance and displaying messages and data selection menus.

Abstract: An improved karaoke network system that allows a user to select and obtain desired information through an interface while a message is displayed between intermissions of karaoke performances. Data files for karaoke performance, displaying messages, and displaying data selection menus are written in a common structure. Each of the data files includes an action region that contains link data. The data files are associated with one another by the link data contained in the action regions of the data files. A chain of related data files are executed by a menu selection operation or a key input operation by the user for performing karaoke performance and displaying messages and data selection menus.

Abstract: A Karaoke apparatus, a host apparatus and a management apparatus are interconnected to each other through a communication line to constitute a centralized system. The host apparatus receives an entry code requesting a Karaoke service of a desired song from the Karaoke apparatus through the communication line for supplying a music data of the desired song. The management apparatus receives an order code requesting an additional service other than the Karaoke service from the Karaoke apparatus through the communication line for attending to the order code and returning a response message. The Karaoke apparatus is equipped with an input tool having a primary use for inputting the entry code and a secondary use for inputting the order code. A transmitter distributes the inputted entry code to the host apparatus and distributes the inputted order code to the management apparatus. A receiver receives the music data from the host apparatus and receives the response message from the management apparatus.