Abstract: A system provides for collaboration among a plurality of users, each user at one of a plurality of computing appliances. Each computing appliance comprised of a display apparatus providing a display presentation. The system is comprised of a memory providing storage structured as a plurality of areas of memory, each associated with one said computing appliance; a source of user data having an associated image, provided responsive to user input at said computing appliance that is associated with said user providing the user input, and display logic generating comprising a combined display presentation as the display presentation provided on the display apparatus of at least one said computing appliance. The memory provides storage of the user data in the area of memory that is associated with said computing appliance that is associated with said user providing the user input.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone, a speaker, a processor operatively connected to the microphone and the speaker, and a memory electrically connected to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a sound through the microphone, analyze the received sound, determine a song associated with the sound, and a kind of output sound based on at least in part on a result of the analyzing, generate an output sound based on the kind of output sound, and output the generated output sound through the speaker.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating an output file. One technique involves the steps of generating audio or MIDI content blocks from one or more musical performances; receiving an input file having audio or MIDI music content; generating a harmonic chord map for the input file; using the harmonic chord map to automatically select a subset of the audio or MIDI content blocks, and generating the output file by combining the selected subset of content blocks and the input file. This technique may enable the creation of unique and new musical accompaniments by re-purposing audio or MIDI content from back catalogs and/or out-takes of musical works. The new arrangement may be provided in multiple music styles, genres, or moods and may contain performances from multiple musical instruments, which may be pre-recorded from live instrument performances and/or of MIDI generated musical content.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating an output file. One technique involves the steps of generating audio or MIDI content blocks from one or more musical performances; receiving an input file having audio or MIDI music content; generating a harmonic chord map for the input file; using the harmonic chord map to automatically select a subset of the audio or MIDI content blocks, and generating the output file by combining the selected subset of content blocks and the input file. This technique may enable the creation of unique and new musical accompaniments by re-purposing audio or MIDI content from back catalogs and/or out-takes of musical works. The new arrangement may be provided in multiple music styles, genres, or moods and may contain performances from multiple musical instruments, which may be pre-recorded from live instrument performances and/or of MIDI generated musical content.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating an output file. One technique involves the steps of generating audio or MIDI content blocks from one or more musical performances; receiving an input file having audio or MIDI music content; generating a harmonic chord map for the input file; using the harmonic chord map to automatically select a subset of the audio or MIDI content blocks, and generating the output file by combining the selected subset of content blocks and the input file. This technique may enable the creation of unique and new musical accompaniments by re-purposing audio or MIDI content from back catalogs and/or out-takes of musical works. The new arrangement may be provided in multiple music styles, genres, or moods and may contain performances from multiple musical instruments, which may be pre-recorded from live instrument performances and/or of MIDI generated musical content.

Abstract: Collaboratively creating musical harmonies includes receiving a user selection of a particular harmony. In response to this selection, there is displayed on a display screen of a computing device a plurality of musical note indicators or notes to specify a first harmony part of a musical piece to be performed. Real-time pitch detection is used to determine a pitch of each note which is voiced by a person, and a graphic indication of the actual pitch which is sung is displayed in conjunction with the musical note indicators.

Abstract: The invention is an algorithmic method that can be used for the fundamental task of optimally spelling the pitches of any given musical scale. The method consists of generating all potential solutions containing all possible spellings for the pitch classes in a given input sequence (numbers of which represent any randomly compiled subset of the chromatic scale), and subjecting them to five filtering stages to find the correct solution. The invention can be used in spelling all possible scales that can be derived from the chromatic scale, in addition to conventional major and minor scales.

Abstract: This document describes techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) for implementing sensor-based near-field communication (NFC) authentication. These techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) enable a computing device (102) to detect, in a low-power state, environmental variances indicating proximity with an NFC-enabled device (104) with which to authenticate. In some embodiments, various components of a computing device (102) in a sleep state are activated to process environmental variance(s), perform authentication operations, and/or an indicate initiation of authentication operations to a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of audio recognition, in particular to computer implemented note recognition methods in a gaming application. Furthermore, the present invention relates to improving latency of such audio recognition methods. One of the embodiments of the invention described herein is a method for note recognition of an audio source.

Abstract: Collaboratively creating musical harmonies includes receiving a user selection of a particular harmony. In response to this selection, there is displayed on a display screen of a computing device a plurality of musical note indicators or notes to specify a first harmony part of a musical piece to be performed. Real-time pitch detection is used to determine a pitch of each note which is voiced by a person, and a graphic indication of the actual pitch which is sung is displayed in conjunction with the musical note indicators.

Abstract: In the present invention, a user is capable of choosing manually or automatically a point on a chosen keyboard where a division will occur. For musical/artistic reasons, this point must regularly change. To accommodate this need, the user can store that location in an existing preset/restore system and recall it upon demand with other settings.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method of performing automatic transcription of musical content included in an audio signal received by a computing device is provided. The method includes processing, using the computing device, the received audio signal to extract musical information characterizing at least a portion of the musical content and generating, using the computing device, a plurality of musical notations representing alternative musical interpretations of the extracted musical information. The method further includes applying a selected one of the plurality of musical notations for transcribing the musical content of the received audio signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of audio recognition, in particular to computer implemented note recognition methods in a gaming application. Furthermore, the present invention relates to improving latency of such audio recognition methods. One of the embodiments of the invention described herein is a method for note recognition of an audio source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of audio recognition, in particular to computer implemented note recognition methods. Furthermore, the present invention relates to improving latency of such audio recognition methods. One of the embodiments of the invention described herein is a method for note recognition of an audio source.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for simulating a musical instrument, comprising: a display configured to present a musical interface associated with an external image; a musical instrument setter configured to associate the musical interface with the musical instrument; and a sound area controller configured to arrange a portion of the musical interface as a sound area.

Abstract: Disclosed are ways to generate a melody. Currently, no algorithm exists for automatically composing a melody based on music lyrics. However, according to some recent studies, within a song, there usually exists a correlation between a song's notes and a song's lyrics wherein a melody can be generated based on such correlation. Disclosed herein, are systems, methods and algorithms that consider the correlation between a song's lyrics and a song's notes to compose a melody.

Abstract: A system and methodology for collaborating. The system and method utilize a plurality of computing appliances, each assigned a respective team designation and a respective role designation. Team control logic is responsive to a respective said team designation, to control operation of each respective said computing appliance to operate as a part of a group. Within a defined Team, the plurality of computing appliances operate having a defined set of roles. Role control logic controls operations of a respective one of the computing appliances in accordance with functionality as defined responsive to the respective said role designation for that respective one of the plurality of computing appliances. Each of the plurality of computing appliances is assigned a respective team designation and a respective role designation. Memory storage is structured as a plurality of mapped data layers, for associative storage of user input mapped by user to a respective one of the data layers.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to function as a laptop computer with an additional piano-style keyboard. The computer has disposed within the lower computer keyboard area a separate integrated piano keyboard. The piano keyboard of the apparatus is fully functional in conjunction with certain applications loaded to the laptop.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a tonal analysis method including the steps of parsing notes of a musical score to generate a time-ordered plurality of sonorities; confirming a plurality of tonal centers each having a tone; accounting a chord of a sonority for a confirmed tonal center to determine whether the chord of the sonority is a functional symbol of the confirmed tonal center; and identifying a tonally stable region of the musical score for a confirmed tonal center, then accounting the chord of each sonority in a tonally stable region as a functional symbol of that tonal center. Embodiments of the present invention provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores the output of the tonal analysis method as sonority data structures associated with theory line entry data structures.

Abstract: A music score display device displays a music score representing a predetermined piece of music at a display, and stores a playing result for each measure of the music score in a memory when the piece is played. On the basis of the playing results of the measures stored in the memory, the music score display device generates graph images representing the playing results of the measures, and displays the generated graph images of the measures, superposed on images of the corresponding measures of the music score displayed at the display, such that the images of the measures are visible.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a music user interface sensor. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an analog signal from a non-contact sensor of a music device. The method also includes determining a plurality of positions of a key of the music device based on the analog signal.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of force sensitive input devices and methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a force sensitive input device may comprise a button movable along a first axis between a first end position and a second end position, the button including a reflective surface, a resilient component biasing the button toward the first end position, and a reflectance sensor configured to emit light that impinges upon the reflective surface and to measure an amount of the light that is reflected from the reflective surface, wherein the light travels generally parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing method of laying out and outputting an image of an original formed from a plurality of pages on one page, the method comprising: inputting image data of the original formed from the plurality of pages; dividing the image data input in the inputting into a plurality of blocks; discarding unnecessary information; appending necessary information to each block obtained by division in the dividing based on the predetermined rule; replacing the respective blocks obtained by division in the dividing with the block from which the unnecessary information is discarded in the discarding, and the block to which the necessary information is appended in the appending; and outputting the respective blocks which have undergone replacement in the replacing by laying out the respective blocks on one page.

Abstract: A switch with sounds includes a switch body provided therein with a recording device and a time controller. In using, a piece of sounds or music a user likes is recorded beforehand by the recording device, and then the length of time for sending forth the sounds or the music is preset by the time controller. When the switch body is turned on, the recording device will be started to send out the sounds or the music recorded in advance, and the sounds or the music will not stop until the time preset on the time controller, able to make a user relaxed and happy when turning on the switch, and hence eliminate dull and monotonous impression during turning on a conventional switch.

Abstract: While a player is selectively depressing and releasing keys of a master musical instrument, the real key movements are expressed by pieces of key motion data, and physical quantity of keys are presumed at a time later than the present time by a time period equal to communication time lag on the key trajectories determined on the basis of the pieces of key motion data; the presumed physical quantity is transmitted to a slave musical instrument through the internet, and the key movements are reproduced on the basis of the presumed physical quantity so that the performance on the master musical instrument is synchronized with that on the slave musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic module has an enclosure which is mechanically and electrically compatible with a plurality of receiving devices such as amplifiers, computers, mixer consoles, and musical instruments. The module has a programmable control panel and display on the enclosure and an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display. The electronic circuit performs a variety of functions for each of the receiving devices by way of a digital signal processor, synthesizer for generating a programmable audio signal in response to a data stream, storage device for storing musical information in a digital format, and playback device for retrieval and playback of the stored musical information. An audio output is coupled for transferring the programmable audio signal to or from the receiving device.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is equipped with a recording system equipped with a sequencer, to which event data codes for note-on and note-off events and a digital external audio signal expressing singer's voice are supplied; the sequencer supplements duration data codes to the event data codes, and produces RIFF audio data codes expressing the voice; and respectively stores the event data codes and duration data codes and the RIFF audio data codes in a standard MIDI file and a RIFF file.

Abstract: In an automatic player piano, hammer sensors monitor associated hammers so as to report current positions on the hammer trajectories, and a data processor analyzes the hammer motion for producing pieces of music data representative of the performance on the acoustic piano; the aged deterioration is influential in the relative position between the hammers and the hammer sensors so that the data processor rectifies the relative position, the data processor determines the turning point at which the hammer changes the direction of motion, and compares the current value indicating the turning point with the previous value; if the difference is found, the data processor adds a value of deflection of strings to the current value so as to determine and memorizes the true value of the turning point; the data processor analyzes the hammer motion on the basis of the true value so that the music data are reliable.

Abstract: A speed detecting apparatus for a keyboard musical instrument is provided for accurately detecting the speed of bivotal movements of a hammer and a key even if a shutter implies errors in its attachment, without affected by such errors. The speed detecting apparatus for a keyboard musical instrument comprises a pivotable key, a hammer pivotably supported by a fulcrum and configured to pivotally move in association with a pivotal movement of the key, a shutter integrally attached to the hammer, a plurality of detectors, each having a light emitter and a light receiver for receiving light emitted from the light emitter, arranged on one and the other sides of the pivotal movement path of the shutter, and a CPU for detecting a pivot speed of the hammer in response to timings at which the shutter opens and closes the light paths of the light of the plurality of detectors when the hammer pivotally moves.

Abstract: A musical conversion table that uses a new paradigm in understanding music. Most people understand that there are seven notes to an octave and anyone who has seen a keyboard such as a piano has noticed that besides the white keys, there are also black keys. There are in fact 5 black keys for each 7 white keys. This gives a total of twelve notes, not 7 as music has always been teach. This is what complicates matters. In order to simplify matters, this inventor has decided that there are 12 notes. Moreover, this inventor has found a relation between what is known as the <<divine proportion>>, which can be represented by the Fibonacci sequence and the music scale.

Abstract: A portable modular device for the purpose of sensing key movement of a piano or keyboard, processing key movement information, and communicating at least key-note ON/OFF and key-note velocity information. A portion of the modular device, the key sensor strip, inserts between the keys and fallboard and mounts atop a piano or keyboard.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing guitar instruction based on Tablature Plus encoding of playing techniques within a MIDI file or other data structure, that may be rendered on an associated player application that provides multimedia output of the piece being played including a number of playing techniques. The system hardware for encoding the information includes string motion monitoring, and optionally a hand motion and finger positioning sensor, such as a data glove or a video motion capture system, for simultaneously registering the actions of the guitarist while playing the piece. The software comprises algorithms for determining note pitch and duration, and for extracting playing techniques from the data being collected. Multimedia player software is also described which renders a visual and audio output for the Tablature Plus encoded file, wherein the encoded playing techniques are represented within the display output. The system is adaptable to instruction for any instrument.

Abstract: Musical score displaying data include note or musical score information indicative of a note or musical score symbol to be displayed, position information indicative of a display position on a musical score where the note or musical score symbol is to be placed, and attribute information designating any one of a plurality of musical stave rows where the note or musical score symbol is to be displayed. Note or musical score marks of a same performance part can be displayed across two musical staves, by determining any one of the plurality of musical stave rows where the note or musical score symbol is to be displayed in accordance with the attribute information. In another aspect, the musical score displaying data include at least one of first attribute information for variably controlling the display position of the note or musical score symbol in a horizontal direction and second attribute information for variably controlling the display position of the note or musical score symbol in a vertical direction.

Abstract: For a plurality of types of additional attribute data included in note data, a selection section selects one or more of the plurality of types of additional attribute data. For a plurality of the note data, a display section displays pictorial figures or the like representative of the contents of the additional attribute data of the types selected by the selection section, in proximity to pictorial figures or the like representative of pitches and sounding periods of the note data. The display section also displays pictorial figures or the like indicative of the contents of the additional attribute data, at positions and in sizes corresponding to periods or timing when musical expressions or the like indicated by the additional attribute data are to be applied.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing guitar instruction based on Tablature Plus encoding of playing techniques within a MIDI file or other data structure, that may be rendered on an associated player application that provides multimedia output of the piece being played including a number of playing techniques. The system hardware for encoding the information comprises a pickup head for registering string motion, and optionally a hand motion and finger positioning sensor, such as a data glove, for simultaneously registering the actions of the guitarist while playing the piece. The software comprises algorithms for determining note pitch and duration, and for extracting playing techniques from the data being collected. Multimedia player software is also described which renders a visual and audio output for the Tablature Plus encoded file, wherein the encoded playing techniques are represented within the display output.

Abstract: An automatic player piano has a feedback control loop for each of the black/white keys; the controller firstly determines a reference trajectory, i.e., a target key position varied with time for each key to be moved in the play-back, and calculates a target key velocity, and compares a true key position reported from a key sensor and a true key velocity calculated from the true key position with the target key position and target key velocity for optimizing the duty ratio of the driving signal; the positional difference and the velocity difference are independently multiplied by a positional gain and a velocity gain so as to determine the optimum duty ratio; since the ratio of the velocity gain to the positional gain is 1 to 3, the key travels along the reference trajectory without oscillation and overshoot.

Abstract: A technique for providing routing of various multimedia events throughout the course of a multimedia presentation using a computer with a storage and a display. A variety of multimedia objects are defined in the storage and grouped in logical relationships to enable multimedia presentations. A display is used to create the presentations interactively by positioning objects representative of the multimedia events and joining them with geometric figures, such as line segments. Each object can then be directly manipulated via a mouse or other pointing device to position a multimedia object to a particular position, or adjust the playback rate of a multimedia object.

Abstract: A device and related method for detecting, controlling, and recording keyboard motion in which individual magnets, sensors and actuators associated with each key capture and re-produce key motion with a high degree of accuracy. The method uses a non-contact sensing assembly technique that requires no mechanical or electrical connections with the keyboard assembly, thus making the device easy to service and install. The method also uses a mathematical algorithm to adjust actuator key movement at a very rapid rate making it possible to install in a variety of pianos with different key weights and still be able to play with high accuracy. Finally, the device system dynamically maps the keyboard to which keys are in playback mode and which are in record mode, allowing the use of both modes simultaneously, thus letting the player add to (layer) performances.

Abstract: A computer system for producing a three dimensional illustration of a musical work includes determining for each sound of the musical work its tone, harmony and tonality. Each of these characteristics of the musical work is assigned a value so that it can be displayed on a three-dimensional graph having a time axis, a tone axis and a harmony axis. By plotting the tone and the harmony of each sound as a function of time on a graph, a three-dimensional illustration of a musical composition can be created. By visually inspecting the graph one can determine the tone, the harmony and the tonality of each sound by locating its position on the graph. The graph may also be colored with a color corresponding to the tone, harmony and tonality of a sound being played. Thus, in addition to determining the musical characteristics by locating the position of each sound on the graph, they can also be determined by noting the color of each sound displayed on the graph.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and recording keyboard motion in which an array of magnets and sensors capture key movement with high accuracy. This method uses a non-contact sensing and assembly technique that requires no mechanical or electrical connections with the entire keyboard assembly, thus making installation and servicing easier, as there are no cables or other devices required to connect or remove from the keyboard. This method also uses a mathematical algorithm to adjust for sensor distance variation (from the sensor to the key), allowing for high accuracy over the entire keyboard. Finally, this method allows for sideways keyboard movement (soft pedal in grand and some vertical pianos), without affecting the sensor readings.

Abstract: A silent automatic player piano calibrates the black/white keys so as to exactly relate a key position signal to the current key positions on the trajectory of the key by itself before a recording so that the key motions are exactly recognized in a recording operation by the silent automatic player piano.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which it is possible to pre-warn the consumer who is trying to purchase contents that cannot be written on the PD that the contents cannot be written on the PD. Based on the PD writability information, the PD writability detector determines whether the contents distributed by the distribution system notified by the distribution system detector can be written on the PD. If it is determined that the contents cannot be written, the PD writability detector requests the controller to warn the consumer.

Abstract: The purposes of this device (100) is to convert and print mechanical strokes of music instruments onto papers as five-line music sheets (60) by sensing motion of mechanical strokes played by a musical instrument player. A typical application for this newly invented device is to monitor key stokes of an acoustic piano (10) played by a musical instrument player. Conventionally, a music teacher listens while the musical instrument player plays the piano. To check skill of novice and beginner players require to have well-trained music teachers. Using this newly invented printing device for musical instruments can check their skills by printing music notes played by them since this device (100) can store and print key stokes as the five-line music sheets (60). Once it prints as the five-line music sheets (60), the musical instrument players can check visually whether correct keys are pressed or not, by comparing the output printed out (60) by the device (100) and original music sheets.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes an acoustic piano for generating acoustic tones, a silent system for rebounding the hammer assemblies between the escape from the key action mechanisms and strikes against strings and automatic playing system for actuating the key action mechanisms without fingering, and the automatic playing system generates electronic tones on the basis of the key motions monitored by associated key sensors, wherein the space between the rest position and the end position is divided into plural sections, and a controller calculates a key velocity in each of the plural sections so as to exactly determine the key motion, thereby improving the fidelity of the electronic sounds to the key motion.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is equipped with a position detecting device for detecting current positions of the black/white keys, and the position detecting device radiates light beams across the trajectories of the black/white keys, wherein the position detecting device stores a variable relation between a relative value of the amount of light and the current positions for determining the current positions so that the position detecting device keeps the reliability of the current positions against aged deterioration.

Abstract: An extruded recording sensor mounting rail for keyboard operated musical instruments, particularly electronic player pianos, which can be used to install recording sensors in a new or existing piano. First and second flanges extend longitudinally along the front and rear of the mounting rail, and a shelf is provided on each flange, with the shelves configured for receiving and supporting a circuit board in a sensor assembly. Each flange includes an outward facing lip which extends longitudinally along the flange. One or more clips each include flanges which fit over the outward facing lips and retain the sensor board on the mounting rail.

Abstract: A musical score recognition apparatus is constructed for recording an image of a given musical score and for processing the recorded image to thereby recognize involved components so as to produce performance information according to the following methods. First, staffs are provisionally discriminated, and the recorded image is corrected according to an inclination of the discriminated staffs by shifting mark dots in parallel manner to either of horizontal and vertical directions. Second, the staffs are erased exclusively and segmentally to leave other components such as notes and symbols. Third, beams are also erased exclusively to leave notes and symbols on a working image. Fourth, the notes and symbols are recognized using a reference pattern composed of discrete characteristic points such that matching is tested between a given characteristic point and plural dots including central and peripheral dots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately sensing key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which optical emitters and sensors are positioned adjacent to the keys. The optical emitters and sensors are arranged on a plurality of individually addressable sensor boards, and the sensor boards are divided into a plurality of individually addressable sensor banks. Each sensor board is independently and sequentially activated by a controller according to a specified timing sequence. As the controller activates a sensor board in one bank, allowing the board to warm up, another sensor board in the second bank, which has previously been activated and warmed up, is read and analyzed by the controller. Activation and reading of sensor boards alternates between sensor banks as the sensor boards are sequenced through.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately sensing key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which optical emitters and sensors are positioned above the hammer catchers. The optical emitters and sensors are arranged on a plurality of individually addressable sensor boards, and the sensor boards are divided into a plurality of individually addressable sensor banks. Each sensor board is independently and sequentially activated by a controller according to a specified timing sequence. As the controller activates a sensor board in one bank, allowing the board to warm up, another sensor board in the second bank, which has previously been activated and warmed up, is read and analyzed by the controller. Activation and reading of sensor boards alternates between sensor banks as the sensor boards are sequenced through.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument continuously monitors a key motion, and determines present key state on the basis of the previous key state, the present key position and a lapse of time during the previous key state so as to exactly control a tone generation.