Audio Recording On Disk Patents (Class 434/318)
  • Patent number: 11941998
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for memorizing words in a foreign language. A method provides for the rendition of a foreign song and the synchronous presentation of textual subtitles on a display. The subtitles are produced on the display in the form of blocks placed one underneath another, each of which comprises a fragment of the text of the song and consists of three separate lines: a line containing the text of the song in the foreign language, a line containing the text of a translation into a native language, and a line containing the phonetic transcription of the words of the foreign song in the alphabetic characters of the native language, said line being the middle line in the block. The block is split into columns, each of which includes one word or phrase of the text fragment for the line containing the text of the song in the foreign language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Andrey Yakovlevich Bityutskiy
  • Patent number: 10387526
    Abstract: A system and related methods for analyzing and generating a score for web sites containing content, and providing recommendations and guidance for content modifications and additions. The system provides and receives content survey results from users or viewers of a site, aggregates the content survey results, integrates metrics for multiple content types and domains, and generates a content score for each content type and domain. A summary or aggregate score based upon the scores for each content type and domain also is calculated. The scores can be presented or displayed in a dashboard, graphic interface, report, or other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventor: Colleen Pettit Jones
  • Patent number: 8596640
    Abstract: A method of play, wherein play emphasizes storytelling and story recounting abilities, and wherein the method comprises: (a) providing a gaining device which provides for: a plurality of subject elements, wherein each subject element from the plurality of subject elements comprises a topic for a particular story; and a plurality of situational elements, wherein each situational element from the plurality of situational elements qualifies the subject element; (b) pairing a subject element from the plurality of subject elements with a situational element from the plurality of situational elements; and (c) providing a story based on the paired subject element and selected situational element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Jacob G. R. Kramlich
  • Patent number: 8407106
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making recommendations to a consumer, including, accessing a first and a second consumer profile database; allowing a consumer to request information regarding a product from a product database; selecting all products in the product database; removing all of the products that are not included in a similar product area with the requested product; establishing an initial product recommendation value for each remaining selected products; transforming the initial product recommendation value for each of the remaining selected products based on a comparison of the subjective product evaluation information and at least some consumer profile information and/or supplemental consumer profile information to produce a final recommendation value for each of the remaining selected products; creating a ranked list of the remaining selected products by each remaining selected product's final recommendation value; and displaying data regarding the ranked list of the remaining selected products to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Ihab L. Saad
  • Patent number: 8371857
    Abstract: A method of teaching pronunciation is provided which includes communicating by a voice portal server to a user a model word and detecting a response by the user to the voice portal server. The method also includes comparing the response word to the model word and determining a confidence level based on the comparison of the response word to the model word. The method further includes comparing an acceptance limit to the confidence level and confirming a correct pronunciation of the model word if the confidence level one of equals and exceeds the acceptance limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Madhuri Raya, Karsten Funk, Sharmila Ravula, Yao Meng
  • Patent number: 8295957
    Abstract: There is provided a method of customizing an audio presentation for tailoring to a predetermined event sequence, one embodiment comprising identifying the predetermined event sequence from a predetermined event sequence database, associating a first audio asset with one or more selected events of the predetermined event sequence, synchronizing the timing of the first audio assets with the timing of the selected events, and linking the first audio assets to produce a customized audio presentation tailored to the predetermined event sequence. In one embodiment, the method includes downloading an interactive audio presentation content including an interactive audio presentation program, an audio assets database, and the predetermined event sequence database to a client computer. In one embodiment, a system for customizing an audio presentation tailored to a predetermined event sequence comprises a client computer, a client memory located on the client computer, and interactive audio presentation content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Holzberg, Edward Kummer, Jeffrey Voris, Joshua Rhoades, Seth Mendelsohn, Jarett Smith
  • Patent number: 8244546
    Abstract: There is provided a singing synthesis parameter data estimation system that automatically estimates singing synthesis parameter data for automatically synthesizing a human-like singing voice from an audio signal of input singing voice. A pitch parameter estimating section 9 estimates a pitch parameter, by which the pitch feature of an audio signal of synthesized singing voice is got closer to the pitch feature of the audio signal of input singing voice based on at least both of the pitch feature and lyric data with specified syllable boundaries of the audio signal of input singing voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Nakano, Masataka Goto
  • Patent number: 8155577
    Abstract: Education management systems and methods that include a server, at least one student computer that is linked, via a distributed network, to the server; and at least one management computer that is linked, via the distributed network, to the server. The server includes at least some of a products database for storing and/or updating a plurality of product profile records, a criteria database for storing and/or updating evaluation criteria by which a product is evaluated, a students database for storing and/or updating a plurality of student profile records or student profile information, a testing database for storing and/or generating testing documents and data, a curriculum database for assessing a student's personal and/or performance information and developing and/or updating an individual student curriculum based on the student's personal and/or performance information, and a reports database for receiving a student's personal and/or performance information and producing report documents and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Ihab L. Saad
  • Patent number: 8027830
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for source language comprehension designed for a listener mastering a target language, which consists in causing the listener to listen to a statement, consisting of a series of several contents, in the source language and in displaying simultaneously with the listening of the statement a succession of notations marking the succession of contents in the source language, showing a notation marking a content only as from the time when it is being heard and showing, a series of inscriptions in the target language which corresponds to the full statement. The method is characterized in that it consists in showing the whole series of inscriptions before the beginning of the statement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Francois Teytaud
  • Patent number: 7859409
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus which allows even a visually-handicapped user to perceive the function or state related to an operating element in advance. When an operator makes a RF tag mounted in a predetermined portion of the human body operating an operating element approach the operating element and then a RFID reader reads an ID stored in the RF tag, the function of the operating element or the state corresponding to the operating element is notified to the operator through voice in accordance with the read ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Sakurada
  • Patent number: 7587306
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for source language comprehension designed for a listener mastering a target language, which consists in causing the listener to listen to a statement, consisting of a series of several contents, in the source language and in displaying simultaneously with the listening of the statement a succession of notations marking the succession of contents in the source language, showing a notation marking a content only as from the time when it is being heard and showing, a series of inscriptions in the target language which corresponds to the full statement. The method is characterized in that it consists in showing the whole series of inscriptions before the beginning of the statement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: François Teytaud
  • Publication number: 20090220928
    Abstract: An article with circuit actuating capability includes a first article part, a second article part formed with a pocket and linked to the first article part such that the first and second article parts being movable relative to each other, the pocket having an access opening, and a circuit built in the pocket in the second article part and accessible through the access opening of the pocket for controlling circuit states of the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Jen-Lin Chen, Han-Chao Chang
  • Patent number: 7237189
    Abstract: A learning system maintains an account of a student's information, courses, skills, and qualifications. The student may take courses offered by the learning system online or offline. To take a course offline course information is downloaded to an offline player at the student's location; however, the state of the student in the course is maintained by the learning system (online). A state manager is provided between the offline player and the student's account in the learning system. The state manager uses four states to transition between online and offline in order to ensure the integrity and synchronization of the online learner account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Altenhofen, Andreas S. Krebs
  • Patent number: 6975832
    Abstract: A multi-media photograph album comprises a network of electrical conductors which connect with plural data storage devices storing audio data and/or image data. A user, via a user interface, selectively addresses the data storage devices. The user selects individual sound bites for immediate playback via a speaker in the photo album, or via transmission over a wireless link, for playback through an external audio device, for example a hi-fi system. Image data are retrieved from the data storage devices and sent via a wireless link to an image data storage device, e.g., a personal computer. The data storage device can be embedded within a photograph, or can be a separate data storage device attached to the album.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Guy de Warrenne Bruce Adams, David Mark Frohlich
  • Patent number: 6954199
    Abstract: A three-dimensional position locating system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the three-dimensional position locating system includes a housing including a substantially planar surface. The housing includes a first antenna element under the substantially planar surface. A stylus including a second antenna element is coupled to the housing. A processor is electrically coupled to the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and a three-dimensional structure overlies the first antenna element. An antenna coupling element is associated with the three-dimensional structure and an output device can be coupled to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Soto, Richard Freeman, Eric Shuler, Mark Flowers
  • Patent number: 6930600
    Abstract: An image and audio processing system includes a housing, a storage medium, a non-contact audio storage device installed inside the housing for storing audio data in the storage medium by wireless communication technology, and a print device installed inside the housing for printing an image on the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Hi-Touch Imaging Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6661899
    Abstract: A book microphone system for allowing children to hear themselves read. The book microphone system includes a combination reading book and microphone system. The microphone system includes an amplifier for amplifying sounds detected by a microphone and a speaker for reproducing said sounds. The inventive device also includes a means for removably attaching the microphone, speaker and amplifier to the book for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Ollette Phinisee-Washington
  • Patent number: 6514078
    Abstract: An electronic educational device for entertaining and educating a preschooler, in particular. The electronic educational device includes a housing assembly including a tubular housing having a top end and a bottom end; and also includes a turntable drive assembly including a spindle being rotatably disposed through the top end of the tubular housing; and further includes a turntable member being mounted upon the spindle; and also includes at least one disk member being removably disposed about the turntable member and having pictures displayed thereupon; and further includes an audio system for describing the pictures displayed upon the at least one disk member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Jacqueline E. Jones
  • Patent number: 6449460
    Abstract: A method and kit for teaching disabled students, such as children with developmental delays and disabilities such as autism, through music. The method makes extensive use of an illustrated song book and individual sound recordings of appropriate songs with lyrics, and tying the pages of the song book with the individual sound recordings of the songs by the use of icons or graphic images, including icon cards, representing respective ones of the songs. The method permits the students to find the appropriate page in the song book for following along as the selected song is being played, while also permitting the students to have a choice in the selection of songs to be experienced. The method and kit also provide the teacher with suggestions of activities for engaging the children, such activities being specific to the selected song being played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Marie G. Logan
  • Patent number: 6328570
    Abstract: A portable, programmable karaoke unit that is flexible in its use. Data may be stored and retrieved in compressed digital data format from an internal memory or a removable storage medium. The unit is operable by remote control and transmits audio data over radio frequencies. It may display visual data on an internal or external display. Data can be downloaded for storage from external sources such as a digital system or the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Cyberinc Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Kong Ng
  • Patent number: 6283764
    Abstract: A first reading unit reads data stored in a second storage area of a storage medium (including reproduction management information), and stores it in another storage medium. A first reproducing unit reproduces the data read from a first storage area of a storage medium by the first reading unit. A second reading unit reads data stored by the first reading unit in another storage medium, and outputs it to a second reproducing unit. The second reproducing unit reproduces data received from the second reading unit. A controlling unit synchronizes the reproduction of the data by the first reproducing unit with the reproduction of the data by the second reproducing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Kajiyama, Tomihiro Yamazaki, Haruo Mukai, Hidemi Okada
  • Patent number: 6174170
    Abstract: Text symbols associated with audio data reproducible from a recording disc are displayed by downloading previously stored groups of text characters, each group representing a respective phrase of text. Each text character includes start/end bits to indicate the start and end of respective phrases as well as symbol identifying bits to identify a respective text symbol in the phrase. The start/end and symbol identifying bits of a downloaded group of text characters are used to assemble a phrase of text symbols; and the assembled phrase is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hernan Patricio Silva Olmedo
  • Patent number: 6108515
    Abstract: An interactive conversational apparatus provides seamless uninterrupted conversational responsiveness to a variety of user inputs utilizing a storage media having a plurality of temporally related data storage tracks containing interactive conversational content. The conversational content and control code information are stored on tracks in a timed sequence for providing interactive pathways through the tracks dependent upon various user responses. A media player facilitates playback of the interactive conversational content. A control code reader reads the control code information and generates track selection information based upon the control codes. User-input buttons or keys receive responses from a user based upon the interactive conversational content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Michael J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 5980262
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating musical accompaniment signals corresponding to a musical program, there is provided a recording medium which has an audio storage unit and a lyric storage unit separate from the audio storage unit. The audio storage unit and the lyric storage unit respectively have a plurality of audio music data and a plurality of lyric data corresponding to a plurality of the musical programs stored therein. The lyric data include encoded text data and timing information. In operation, the audio music data and the lyric data corresponding to a selected one of the musical programs are retrieved from the recording medium. The encoded text data and timing information retrieved from the recording medium are decoded to obtain decoded data, and bitmap data are then generated from the decoded data. The bitmap data are synchronized with the audio music data retrieved from the recording medium in accordance with the timing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Tseng, Kuang-Hsun Hsieh, William Wang
  • Patent number: 5961333
    Abstract: User-actuated systems for retrieving and presenting information on a particular subject and/or information employable in a learn while doing mode on the performance of a specified task. The systems include a laser-readable, encoded, data storage device; a player for retrieving data from the storage device; and a screen on which the retrieved information can be displayed. Onboard controls allow the system user to reach the information of concern, to repeat the presentation of that information, and to otherwise navigate through the available choices in a fashion which best meets his or her needs. An optional remote control allows the system user to accomplish the same functions, while being freed from the location of the system module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventors: Robert G. Harrison, Robert D. Lamson
  • Patent number: 5957696
    Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is constructed to reproduce a karaoke music piece according to karaoke data composed of setup data and performance data. The karaoke apparatus utilizes a pair of sound source devices each of which is initialized according to the setup data and is then operated to reproduce the karaoke music piece according to the performance data so that the sound source devices can be alternately operated with each other to successively reproduce a plurality of karaoke music pieces. In the karaoke apparatus, a first control device operates when one of the sound source devices reproduces a preceding one of the karaoke music pieces for providing the other of the sound source devices with setup data contained in karaoke data corresponding to a succeeding one of the karaoke music pieces so as to initialize the other sound source device before the one sound source device finishes reproduction of the preceding karaoke music piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Kageyama
  • Patent number: 5931680
    Abstract: A score display apparatus shows beat marks in a number corresponding to the number of beats per measure during a performance by a musical instrument karaoke apparatus. Further, the score display apparatus changes the color of each of beat marks as though the beat mark is wiped with a different color in a predetermined direction in synchronism with the tempo of a performance of the musical instrument karaoke apparatus, and changes the color of the displayed beat marks in synchronism with the timing of the beats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Youji Semba
  • Patent number: 5906494
    Abstract: A vocal training apparatus accomplishes reproduction of a music signal recorded on an information medium, where the music signal includes a model vocal signal and an accompaniment signal. A model vocal signal is extracted from the music signal and a singer's vocal signal is received. The model vocal characteristics are measured from the model vocal signal and the singer's vocal characteristics are measured from the singer's vocal signal. The singer's vocal characteristics and the model vocal characteristics can then be compared to evaluate the singer's vocal characteristics relative to the model vocal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ogawa, Tatsuhiko Numoto, Koji Watanabe, Kenji Muraki
  • Patent number: 5902115
    Abstract: Karaoke data to be reproduced is stored in an optical disk as a video title set together with management information for managing karaoke data and a video object set. In the video object set, a plurality of program chains having data items of karaoke songs stored therein are stored and the reproduction information thereof is stored in the management information. Information indicating that an object to be reproduced is karaoke is stored in the management information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Katayama
  • Patent number: 5863206
    Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing video, audio and accompanying characters, suitable for use as a sing-along or karaoke apparatus, uses pre-stored display patterns, such as animal figures, instead of video segments. Thus, the apparatus does not have to rely upon the availability of video software that contains song lyrics as well as matching video segments. The apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture since the hardware related to reading and processing an optical image recording disk is not needed. The apparatus also uses the animation patterns on the screen to inform users about the beginning of the music program. Specifically, the changes in the motion and moving speed of display patterns inform the user of the start time of a selected music program. The animation patterns may be displayed during introduction and intermission period, and even during music performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayuki Narusawa, Yoshikatsu Matsubara
  • Patent number: 5810600
    Abstract: A voice recording/reproducing apparatus suitable for use in a language laboratory operates with a disk on which are recorded text segments comprising sentences and a table of contents containing text and sentence addresses. Automatic sensing of the division points between sentences in each of the text sections can be performed. Only the end portion of a sentence may be readily reproduced, and the division point following the sentence may be finely adjusted. Desired audio data may be quickly retrieved by rough retrieval operations, in which the time code is advanced or reversed by a large amount, followed by fine retrieval operations, in which the time code is advanced or reversed by a small amount. One of several pronunciation practice modes may be selected. A reduced reproduction speed capability allows a student to hear fine pronunciation of words with an invariant pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Okada
  • Patent number: 5766018
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a low-cost disc playback system which reduces the time the user has to wait for a disc to be played back. To achieve this objective, the system mounts a disc, added to the rack 1, onto the player 2, reads the beginning part data of the disc, and stores it in the fixed disk unit 5. The user gives a disc playback instruction from the instructing means 6. Then, the system reads the beginning part data of the requested disc from the fixed disk unit 5, and sends it immediately to the outputting means 3. While the beginning part data is being played back, the system mounts the requested disc onto the player 2 and starts reading data from it. The system switches the beginning part data, sent from the fixed disk unit 5 to the outputting means, to the part of data on the disc corresponding to the beginning part data when they are synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Terashima
  • Patent number: 5683253
    Abstract: A song program and a motion picture background image suitable for the mood of the song program are recorded on a recording medium. A video-song accompaniment apparatus employs the recording medium to reproduce the song program and the motion picture background image. The recording medium has a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-jin Park, Kwang-sik Choi
  • Patent number: 5634798
    Abstract: A compact disk player incorporated television receiver includes a television signal receiver, a compact disk player having a song accompaniment function, a video signal processor for selectively receiving and processing a video signal output by the television signal receiver or a video signal output by the compact disk player and displaying the processed signal on a monitor. The device also contains an audio signal processor and a power source for generating voltage signals to supply power to the television signal receiver, the monitor, and the compact disk player. Also, a television controller is provided for controlling the supply of the voltage signals by the power source depending on whether the device is operating in a television mode or compact disk mode. The device operates in a television mode or a compact disk mode based on control signals input via an instruction input unit. Accordingly, when an audio compact disk is being played by the compact disk player (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moon-hwan Suh
  • Patent number: 5611693
    Abstract: A compact image karaoke device with only a small number of image disks which provides the impression of having a great many background images. Two players are provided for reading background images from image disks. Background images are selected from at least one image unit group corresponding to at least one image genre corresponding to selected song genre and are read by the two players and changed at random, for example, every 30 seconds. By editing the display of background images in this manner, a great number of background image series can be obtained for combinations of the background images. Images obtained and displayed corresponding particularly to the starting portion of the song are provided only on the number of images available. Therefore, even if a great number of songs are consecutively selected, a user will not feel as though the same images are being repeatedly shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Xing, Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Chaya, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Koichi Hayashi, Hiroyuki Takada, Yasutada Aoyama, Yasuhiro Funahashi, Osamu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5609486
    Abstract: A Karaoke apparatus in which after one Karaoke play was finished, a show-up effect according to the next Karaoke playing music piece is obtained for a period of time until the start of the next Karaoke play. Control information of a plurality of music pieces is previously reproduced by the reproducing means from the recorded information on a recording medium and is stored in memory. When one of the plurality of music pieces is selected by an operation, the control information corresponding to the selected music piece is read out from the memory and is supplied to the external apparatus to thereby start the operation. After that, the recording medium is played with regard to the selected music piece, thereby starting the reproduction of the Karaoke playing sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyashita, Tatsuyuki Miyazawa, Hiroshi Fujii, Yoshihiro Kitano
  • Patent number: 5588842
    Abstract: When images of the image genre most suitable for the selected song are being reproduced (Yes in S14), the karaoke terminal picks up those image data from a channel over which they are transmitted. If images of that image genre are not being reproduced (No in S14), when the number of players presently playing is less than four (No in S19), a player that is not presently playing starts playing a video disk to reproduce images of that image genre in S20. When the number of players presently playing is equal to or greater than four, according to the image genre D and/or H reproducing status, a player that is not presently playing starts playing a video disk to reproduce images of image genre D or H that includes or is common to the most suitable image genre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Xing Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Nishimura, Hiroshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5567162
    Abstract: In a karaoke system capable of scoring a singing of singer on an accompaniment thereof, when a voice signal of the singer is inputted, an energy detector generates a first basic frequency signal with respect to a voice signal section and inputs the first basic frequency signal to a comparator. And then, an audio signal in the voice signal section is inputted to the comparator as a second basic frequency signal. The comparator compares the first and second basic frequency signals with each other and calculates a difference value therebetween, and then inputs it to a microprocessor. The microprocessor outputs a signal for scoring the singing of the singer on the basis of the difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Soo Park
  • Patent number: 5525062
    Abstract: A vocal training apparatus accomplishes reproduction of a music signal recorded on an information medium, where the music signal includes a model vocal signal and an accompaniment signal. A model vocal signal is extracted from the music signal and a singer's vocal signal is received. The model vocal characteristics are measured from the model vocal signal and the singer's vocal characteristics are measured from the singer's vocal signal. The singer's vocal characteristics and the model vocal characteristics can then be compared to evaluate the singer's vocal characteristics relative to the model vocal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ogawa, Tatsuhiko Numoto, Koji Watanabe, Kenji Muraki
  • Patent number: 5518408
    Abstract: A karaoke apparatus is comprised of a data supply, a tone generator, an ADPCM decoder and a pitch shifter for sounding a requested karaoke song containing an instrumental accompaniment and a back chorus. The data supply supplies an ADPCM data representative of a phrase back chorus and being compressed by a variable compression condition, and supplies a song data containing accompaniment information prescriptive of an instrumental accompaniment, additional information prescriptive of a common back chorus and decoding information indicative of the variable compression condition of the ADPCM data, and further supplies key information which determines a pitch shift of the karaoke song. The tone generator processes the accompaniment information and the additional information to generate a first audio signal effective to sound synthesized tones of the instrumental accompaniment and the common back chorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawashima, Shuichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5499921
    Abstract: A Karaoke apparatus reproduces an automatic instrumental accompaniment of a selected song during the course of a physical vocal performance of the selected song by a singer. A memory registers a prescribed text data of a selected song, containing accompaniment information and word information composed of a sequence of characters. A musical sound synthesizer reproduces an automatic instrumental accompaniment according to the registered accompaniment information. A graphic generator modifies a graphic pattern of each registered character in association with a predetermined practical manner of the physical vocal performance. A display unit displays a sequence of the characters in the modified graphic patterns concurrently with the reproduction of the automatic instrumental accompaniment so as to visually teach the singer the practical manner during the physical vocal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takurou Sone
  • Patent number: 5499922
    Abstract: A backing chorus reproducing device is disclosed wherein human backing chorus is PCM coded and then combined with MIDI Standard based instrumental sound to produce karaoke music. In reproduction, the instrumental sound and the chorus sound are played back with no out-of-synchronization therebetween. The backing chorus reproducing device comprises a communications controller, an input/output device for inputting an instruction for a music number and a change of scale, a memory for storing karaoke information received, a main controller for analyzing the karaoke information read from the memory to decompose it into header information, song's words information, and musical information, while outputting in synchronism the electronic musical sound data and the backing chorus data of the musical information according to the processing type of the control data included in the header information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignees: Ricoh Co., Ltd., Ricos Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Umeda, Itsuma Tsugami
  • Patent number: 5486141
    Abstract: An amusement machine including a display for displaying a picture, motion providing elements for providing a user with motion, a recording medium on which a video signal representing the picture to be displayed on the display and a control signal for controlling the motion providing elements are recorded, and a controller for reproducing the recording medium to control the display and the motion providing elements. The display and the motion providing elements are installed into an amusement unit while the controller for controlling these units is installed in a control center which is located separately from the amusement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ohga, Koichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5484291
    Abstract: A karaoke apparatus includes: a karaoke information reproducing unit for reproducing MIDI sound source control information stored in a storage unit; a MIDI sound source control unit for producing first MIDI sound source control information and second MIDI sound source control information from the MIDI sound source control information reproduced by the karaoke information reproducing unit; a first MIDI sound source for producing first karaoke accompaniment information from the first MIDI sound source control information; a second MIDI sound source for producing second karaoke accompaniment information from the second MIDI sound source control information; and a mixing unit for mixing the first karaoke accompaniment information and second karaoke accompaniment information to output mixed karaoke accompaniment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Nakai, Mitsuyoshi Amano, Kazuhiro Miyamoto, Yoshiyuki Akiba, Masuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 5454723
    Abstract: A karaoke apparatus for medley playback includes: playback unit for receiving playback information including MIDI sound source control information and producing acoustic sound of karaoke song on the basis of the playback information; information storage unit for storing playback information and identification information of a plurality of karaoke songs, the identification information specifying playback information of a highlight portion of each of the plurality of karaoke songs; selection instructing unit for instructing a selection of karaoke songs to be played; and playback control unit for reading out playback information of the highlight portions of the songs selected by the selection instructing unit from the information storage unit on the basis of the identification information of the each of the selected karaoke songs, and controlling the playback unit to successively play the selected karaoke songs on the basis of the playback information of the selected karaoke songs to produce a medley of the sele
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutugu Horii
  • Patent number: 5447438
    Abstract: A music training apparatus performs a two-part reproduction including first and second parts, in which the first part is like a trial part which allows a video signal to be reproduced on a display unit but prohibits a sound signal to be generated from a speaker. The second part is like a formal part which allows an ordinary reproduction of both the video and sound signals. In the first part, a first pitch detector detects a pitch of a model singing signal memorized in a recording medium. Meanwhile, a second pitch detector detects a pitch of user's singing signal inputted from a microphone. If the pitches detected by the first and second pitch detectors are different from each other, an interval adjusting device changes the key so as to be in perfect pitch with each other before terminating the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Watanabe, Kenji Muraki, Nobuyuki Ogawa, Tatsuhiko Numoto
  • Patent number: 5364270
    Abstract: In an apparatus having a video display and display-synchronizing motion mechanism, various images can be easily selected and displayed, and a seat or the like is moved in synchronism with motions in the images, so that a person can enjoy the images as if real. An information select unit specifies a desired one of a plurality of video/motion information pieces recorded on a storage medium, and an information read unit reads the specified video/movement information. Images formed by video information contained in the readout video/motion information are displayed on a display device, and the seat or the like is moved in synchronism with the images on the basis of motion information contained therein. A monitor unit monitors the readout video/motion information, and stops a read operation of the information read unit when the apparatus malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Aoyama, Hitoshi Kaneko, Akira Tajiri, Iwao Okamura, Yuzo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5280913
    Abstract: A modified chess game for play by two opposing players comprises a game board eight squares wide and sixteen squares deep, foldable at its midsection to create a carrying case for the pieces. Each player has a playing pieces set consisting of two kings, two queens, four rooks, four knights, four bishops and sixteen pawns. The pieces are positioned as in conventional chess, except that each row is doubled. Playing pieces are moved pursuant to conventional movements and rules of capture, except that pawns may advance two spaces at a time as long as they are in their own territory, and must reach the sixteenth row to be exchanged for any playing piece but the king. The game may be played so that a player wins by capturing both of his opponent's kings, or by capturing only one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Michael W. Sirk
  • Patent number: 5061185
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing reading skills whereby readers can improve both reading speed and comprehension. This novel teaching method and system associatively combines input to visual, tactile, and auditory senses. The reader is trained to conceptualize the meaning of words directly from symbols rather than from symbols and related sounds by causing the eyes to scan text more rapidly than both symbols and related sounds can be assimilated. The eyes are prompted to follow a rapidly moving finger induced to rhythmically move back-and-forth across the text at rapidly driven rates by an auditory beat. Different auditory inputs are provided to each ear, such that each hemisphere of the brain predominately receives signals which are related to its primary function. Rhythmic beats to induce higher reading rates are addressed to the left hemisphere of the brain which governs spatial relations, time, rhythm, and reading the written word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: American Business Seminars, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirby Cochran, Harper Nelson
  • Patent number: 5011156
    Abstract: A game apparatus consists essentially of a game board, cards, set of playing pieces for each player, a compact disc with multiple tracks set up in such a way that the playing pieces, or tokens, for each player will move around the board surface which may comprise a single or dual segmented path. Part or all of the segments contain one of the numbers in a two number selection code on the compact disc. Cards which are provided as part of the game apparatus, will contain a second number of the two number selection code so that as playing the game, once both numbers are determined, the player will know which track to punch in on the compact disc control. The instructions on the compact disc track will determine further moves and actions and enhances the game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventors: Robert J. LaChance, Jr., Nancy LaChance