Data Storage Patents (Class 84/601)
  • Patent number: 7554026
    Abstract: One describes an electronic device for the production, playing, accompaniment and evaluation of sounds, comprising means do be associated to audio system and, the device comprising a) a processing unit which (i) produces musical instrument sounds from an user's touches; (ii) plays music sounds, adds musical effects, alters reproduction parameters of the music playing; (iii) mixes sounds produced from the user's touches with music sounds played; and (iv) comprises music parameters able to evaluate an instrumental accompaniment performance resulted from the instrumental music sounds produced by the user's touches; b) the processing unit comprising a touch sensitive surface which comprises: (i) touch sensors arranged under said surface providing regions sensitive to touches; and (ii) Leds distributed under said surface and controlled by a microprocessor providing a luminous indication sequence according to the music sounds played, said luminous indication sequence being following by touches of the user in this s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Audiobrax Industria E Comercio De Produtos Eletronicos S/A
    Inventor: Aurélio Rótolo de Moraes
  • Publication number: 20090158917
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a user interface displaying a music play icon, and a memory storing music. Selection of the music play icon by a user causes the mobile electronic device to play music stored in the memory without further interaction by the user with the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: James Filicette
  • Patent number: 7547839
    Abstract: An automatic performance data processing apparatus which makes it possible to simply convert a plurality of automatic performance data into digital audio data in a batch. Each of a plurality of automatic performance data in an order designated by a playlist data stored in a storage device is sequentially reproduced. Audio signals generated by a tone generator that is supplied with tone generator driving events that occur in response to reproduction of each automatic performance data and that generates audio signals based on the supplied tone generator driving events are digitally recorded. The digitally recorded audio signals are stored in a storage medium as digital audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakazono, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7547840
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for outputting audio data and a musical score image, displaying a musical score image corresponding to reproduced audio data, and outputting audio data corresponding to a musical score image are provided, in which a tone is extracted, the tone is converted into a frequency, a monotone or polyphonic tone is identified, the frequency corresponding to a monotone or polyphonic tone is converted into tone information data, and the tone information data is stored, and a musical score is displayed. Also, audio data corresponding to a musical score are output, in which the musical score is photographed, musical signs from the photographed musical score are extracted, a pitch of a tone is extracted from music paper and musical note information of the musical signs, a duration of the tone from the musical note information of the musical signs is extracted, and audio data are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong-Hoon Noh, Joo-Sub Kim
  • Patent number: 7548934
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a list is provided. The system includes a seed item input subsystem, an item identifying subsystem, a descriptive metadata similarity determining subsystem and a list generating subsystem that builds a list based, at least in part, on similarity processing performed on seed item descriptive metadata and user item descriptive metadata and user selected thresholds applied to such similarity processing. The method includes inexact matching between identifying metadata associated with new user items and identifying metadata stored in a reference metadata database. The method further includes subjecting candidate user items to similarity processing, where the degree to which the candidate user items are similar to the seed item is determined, and placing user items in a list of items based on user selected preferences for (dis)similarity between items in the list and the seed item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Platt, Christopher Burges, Alice Zheng, Christopher B. Weare, Steven E. Swenson
  • Patent number: 7531735
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a musical piece extraction program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, the program causing a computer to perform a process including the steps of, detecting a musical piece likeliness of each of pieces of processing-unit data that constitute input audio data, based on a result of the detection of the musical piece likeliness, identifying a musical piece candidate section within the audio data, based on the musical piece candidate section and musical piece information acquired from an external server, determining a musical piece section within the audio data, and recording the musical piece information onto a recording medium so as to be associated with the musical piece section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Koike
  • Patent number: 7531737
    Abstract: As a music equipment is connected to a music processing apparatus, necessary communication ports corresponding to the connected music equipment are automatically set in the processing apparatus. The thus-set communication ports are each assigned the name of the corresponding equipment so that the equipment and the communication ports can be associated with each other. Once the equipment is disconnected from the apparatus, the disconnected equipment is converted into a dummy state and displayed in a predetermined dummy display style. When a project file has been read which includes track data, identification information of a currently-set external equipment and parameters of the external equipment, the detected external equipment is associated with any one of external equipments which had been set for use at the time of storage of the project file. By transferring parameters, stored in a memory, to the external equipment that could be associated, parameter synchronization can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Ide, Atsushi Fukada
  • Patent number: 7525034
    Abstract: A method for interpreting an image into sound is provided and includes scanning an image to provide a plurality of scanned elements which are assigned a value and an associated sound element. The sound elements are arranged to produce a sound track for the scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph L. Nease, Karen Owsley Nease
  • Publication number: 20090100988
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 7518051
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are disclosed to permit real time, distributed performance by multiple musicians at remote locations, and for recording that collaboration. The latency of the communication channel is transferred to the behavior of the local instrument so that a natural accommodation is made by the musician. This allows musical events that actually occur simultaneously at remote locations to be played together at each location, though not necessarily simultaneously at all locations. This allows locations having low latency connections to retain some of their advantage. Artifacts resulting from an unreliable communication channel, for instance dropouts and jitter, are eliminated in the recorded performance. Limitations of communications bandwidth are managed in real time, with full fidelity restored in the recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: William Gibbens Redmann
  • Patent number: 7511213
    Abstract: A musical sonification system and method sonifies data, such as real-time financial market data, to produce an audio signal output including a musical rendering of the data. A sonification engine converts the data into sound parameters based on configuration data and a sonification and mapping scheme. A sound generator generates the audio output signal from the sound parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Accentus LLC
    Inventors: Edward P. Childs, Jr., James C. Perkins, John Graham Brooks
  • Publication number: 20090078108
    Abstract: The invention is a method and system for accessing a plurality of musical tracks and mixing two or more of those musical tracks into a new work. A plurality of individual tracks or works is located at a location accessible to a large number of users, such as a main server. A user may select and access the works, including by transferring the works to their location for mixing or combining those works into new works. The user may create a command or conductor file which causes the server to perform the works in accordance with commands defined by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Rowe, Kevan Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7507896
    Abstract: At least one musical instrument, a server computer, a mobile telephone and a communication network form a music performance system; the owner has registered the musical instrument with a client database in the server computer, and a user transmits a request for music data distribution service to the server computer through the mobile telephone; upon reception of the request, the server computer searches the client database to see whether or not the owner has contracted the provider for the music data distribution service; when the server computer finds the owner in the client database, the server computer transmits a set of music data codes directly to the musical instrument so that the mobile telephone is shareable between the musical instrument and another musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Haruki Uehara
  • Patent number: 7507894
    Abstract: A processing load at the time of playing back sound data having a loop part is reduced. A sound data encoding apparatus comprises a block dividing means that divides the sound data into blocks according to predetermined rules, and an encoding means that encodes the blocks in groups of a plurality of consecutive blocks. The block dividing means divides the sound data such that, when encoded blocks encoded by the encoding means are decoded to output decoded blocks, then the loop end position in a block that includes the loop end position in the decoded blocks is nearer to an end of the block than a predetermined position. In detail, input delay dummy data are added ahead of the sound data before dividing the sound data. At the time of outputting the encoded data, loop information is outputted also.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Matsuura, Takehiro Tominaga
  • Patent number: 7506150
    Abstract: A computer system and related method for playing audio signals when booting the computer system. The computer system includes an audio circuit for playing an audio file when booting and a memory embedded in the audio circuit or externally coupled to the audio circuit for storing the audio file. It is realized by utilizing hardware and by executing software to overcome silence during booting, and to provide more selection and enjoyment for a user during booting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: ASMedia Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Tsung-Fu Hung, Hsu-Huang Cheng, Tsorng-Yang Mei
  • Patent number: 7495164
    Abstract: A piano roll score, a word input/edit area and a word continuous display area are displayed. Note bars corresponding to notes of a melody are displayed on the piano roll score. The word input/edit area is divided into input cells having a length corresponding to a tempo number of each note. A pointer is moved to the input cell and a mouse is left-clicked to display an editor area. A letter(s) or character(s) is input by using a word processor function. The pointer is moved to the input cell and the mouse is right-clicked to display a command select box. A display command is selected from the command select box and input, the display command controlling a display style of a song-word character train in the word continuous display area. A dictionary database is used to search a song word by using the number of syllables and a part of speech as search keys. A sentence syntax is selected by using a sentence syntax template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 7495166
    Abstract: A sound-processing apparatus is provided that is capable of creating a sound effect without having to worry about changes in parameters such as the beat of the input sound source. The sound-processing apparatus comprises: a delay unit DB that generates at least one or more new synchronized sound signal that is synchronized with a sound signal Si to be modulated; parameter-detection unit 6 that detects a parameter that indicates an attribute of the generated synchronized sound signal; a signal-conversion unit 8 that generates a converted signal Sdm based on the detected parameter; and a modulation unit that modulates the sound signal based on the generated converted signal Sdm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Yamada, Yuuji Murai, Tatsuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7485794
    Abstract: An RF tag having stored therein equipment setting information related to a performance, by an electronic musical instrument, of a given music piece is attached to a music-piece-related information having music-piece-related information of the given music piece presented thereon. Electronic musical instrument includes an information acquisition information that communicates with the RF tag to acquire the equipment setting information from the tag, and an automatic setting section that automatically sets various settings and states of the musical instrument in accordance with the acquired equipment setting information. The musical instrument may further include a trigger section that triggers the acquisition section to acquire the equipment setting information from the RF tag. When the acquisition section has acquired new equipment setting information in response to triggering by the trigger section, states of the electronic musical instrument are set in accordance with the new equipment setting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7473838
    Abstract: A sound identification apparatus which reduces the chance of a drop in the identification rate, including: a frame sound feature extraction unit which extracts a sound feature per frame of an inputted audio signal; a frame likelihood calculation unit which calculates a frame likelihood of the sound feature in each frame, for each of a plurality of sound models; a confidence measure judgment unit which judges a confidence measure based on the frame likelihood; a cumulative likelihood output unit time determination unit which determines a cumulative likelihood output unit time based on the confidence measure; a cumulative likelihood calculation unit which calculates a cumulative likelihood in which the frame likelihoods of the frames included in the cumulative likelihood output unit time are cumulated, for each sound model; a sound type candidate judgment unit which determines, for each cumulative likelihood output unit time, a sound type corresponding to the sound model that has a maximum cumulative likelihood
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsu Suzuki, Yoshihisa Nakatoh, Shinichi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7473839
    Abstract: A method and system for time-shortening one or more songs to generate time-shortened versions of the one or more songs are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a song editor time-shortens one or more songs and provides the time-shortened versions to a music provider. The music provider can then distribute one or more of the time-shortened songs to one or more listeners. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a song editor enables a music provider to time-shorten one or more songs. The song editor can enable the music provider by providing the music provider a procedure to time-shorten a song, where the song is provided by the song editor or is obtained separately by the music provider. The music provider can then apply the supplied procedure to the song to generate a time-shortened vision. Alternatively, the song editor can enable the music provider by providing one or more characteristics of a song selected for time-shortening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Reel George Productions, Inc.
    Inventor: George Gimarc
  • Publication number: 20080314230
    Abstract: An electronic proof system is provided in association with an automatic player piano; while a human player is practicing a music tune on the acoustic piano, the electronic proof system monitors the pedals of piano to see whether or not the player brings the pedals to target pedal positions; if the current pedal position is spaced from the target pedal position, the electronic proof system gives rise to fine vibrations of the pedal, and makes the player notice the pedal staying at incorrect pedal position through the tactile impression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Yuji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7468481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of displaying directories differently based on attributes of files included therein. The present method examines a directory structure and the attributes of data files recorded on a recording medium, generates a mark for visually differentiating directories including at least one file of a pre-specified attribute, based on the examined attribute information, and displays a generated mark with the examined directory structure information. Owing to the present invention, a user can recognize directories including at least one file having a desired attribute at a glance, therefore, reproduction, selection, or copy for a file having a desirable attribute can be conducted very quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7465865
    Abstract: A CPU sets an application of music sound generation to each of plural ports, and a priority to the set application, and further sets the maximum number of channels that assign an arbitrary sound source to each port from plural kinds of sound sources and produce sounds. When a new sound generation request is supplied to a certain port in which all sound generation channels of the port are currently generating sounds, and when the sound generation channels to be used for the sound generation are in short, the CPU supplies the sound generation request to a channel not producing a sound currently in other port to which the application of the same priority is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Terao
  • Publication number: 20080302232
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology that enables a user to quickly obtain associated information of a music piece to his/her taste while passively hearing music pieces. An initial screen is displayed (Step S1). A box is displayed at the center of the initial screen, and a character string ‘FAVORITE MUSIC PIECE!’ is displayed in the box. Next, extracted part of a music piece is randomly selected and played back (Step S2). Accordingly, a player can passively hear different music pieces in sequence. While part of a music piece is played back, when being satisfied with the music piece, a player touches ‘FAVORITE MUSIC PIECE!’ with a touch pen. If so, it is determined YES in Step S6. Then, a process progresses to Step S9 from Step S6, and a detail screen display processing is executed. During the detail screen display processing, the explanation including ‘COMPOSER’, ‘TITLE’, and ‘PLAYING FORM’ of the music piece is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
    Inventor: Takashi ORIKATA
  • Patent number: 7456352
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is constructed to treat music information associated to music tones, and can be coupled to a mobile wireless terminal set communicable with a public communication network. In the electronic musical instrument, a main block processes music information for generation of music tones, the processed music information being transferable for effecting remote generation of the music tones. A memory block is controlled for memorizing music information. A control block controls the memory block to memorize the processed music information and to feed the memorized music information to the mobile wireless terminal set for transfer of the music information through the public communication network. Further, the control block feeds music information received by the mobile wireless terminal set through the public communication network to the memory block, and controls the memory block to memorize therein the fed music information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii, Kosei Terada
  • Publication number: 20080282870
    Abstract: An automated disc jockey. It accesses a database that models multiple music tracks as linked data objects. Each music track model includes a music track data object identifying the music track and linked to a plurality of other data objects that parameterize metadata of the music track. Some of the other data objects are sharable data objects that may be linked from other music track data objects. Data objects and links defining a model of a first music track are extracted from the accessed database. Data objects and links that define a model of a second music track that is adjacent to and follows the first music track in a play-list are extracted from the accessed database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Raymond Carrick, George Anthony Bett
  • Patent number: 7453038
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a musical piece extraction program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, the program causing a computer to perform a process including the steps of, detecting a musical piece likeliness of each of pieces of processing-unit data that constitute input audio data, based on a result of the detection of the musical piece likeliness, identifying a musical piece candidate section within the audio data, based on the musical piece candidate section and musical piece information acquired from an external server, determining a musical piece section within the audio data, and recording the musical piece information onto a recording medium so as to be associated with the musical piece section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Koike
  • Patent number: 7450971
    Abstract: A CPU 10 operates in response to an instruction for starting reproduction of a melody to read out tone color data and tempo data included in selected musical composition data from a RAM 11 or a ROM 12, and transfer the readout data to a musical tone-generating section 15. The CPU 10 then reads out starting position information written in a performance starting point register 36, reads out note data included in the musical composition data from a position indicated by the starting position information from the RAM 11 or the ROM 12, and transfers the readout note data to the musical tone-generating section 15. The musical tone-generating section 15 generates a melody from the transferred note data based on the transferred tone color data and tempo data. As a result, the melody can be listened to from an arbitrary starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Futohashi
  • Publication number: 20080271591
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to music instruction devices and methods. A system is provided which allows a user to more intuitively understand music theory and performance. The system also streamlines composition and arrangement in multi-instrument environments. The user is able to select from a variety of available music visualizations and instrument views, allowing comparison therebetween. The system may comprise a step-by-step instruction method, free-play performance abilities, and recording and playback features. Certain embodiments incorporate statistical analysis of student progress, remote access for teacher consultation, and video games for enhancing student interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Lemons
  • Patent number: 7447986
    Abstract: There is provided a multimedia information encoding apparatus and a multimedia information reproducing apparatus which enables synchronzied reproduction of multimedia information such as audio data, video data, and text data and performance information such as MIDI data to be easily performed. The multimedia information encoding apparatus creates multimedia encoded data comprising data packets each having a header section that contains information on reproduction timing, and a data section that at least contains information to be reproduced based on performance information including event information. The event information is converted into corresponding text codes, and the text codes obtained by the conversion are stored as script data in the data sections of the data packets that correspond in reproduction timing to the text codes, and multimedia encoded data in which the data sections contain the event information converted into the text codes is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080264241
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to music composition devices and methods. A system is provided which allows composers of all skill levels to easily create music that is pleasurable to the ear. The system may also assist more advanced composers in creating complex musical arrangements based off of partially completed compositions. The system also streamlines composition and arrangement in multi-instrument environments. The user is able to select from a variety of available music visualizations and instrument views, allowing comparison therebetween. The system may comprise composition error checking functions, free-play performance abilities, and recording and playback features. Certain embodiments incorporate remote access for collaboration between users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Lemons
  • Patent number: 7439441
    Abstract: An integrated system and software package for creating and performing a musical score including a user interface that enables a user to enter and display the musical score, a database that stores a data structure which supports graphical symbols for musical characters in the musical score and performance generation data that is derived from the graphical symbols, a musical font that includes a numbering system that corresponds to the musical characters, a compiler that generates the performance generation data from the database, a performance generator that reads the performance generation data from the compiler and synchronizes the performance of the musical score, and a synthesizer that responds to commands from the performance generator and creates preassembled data for acoustical playback of the musical score that is output to a sound generation device. The synthesizer generates the data for acoustical playback from a proprietary library of digital sound samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Virtuosoworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Marius Jarrett, Lori Jarrett, Ramasubramaniyam Sethuraman, Rangarajan Krishnaswami, Anand Shankar Krishnamoorthi
  • Patent number: 7435893
    Abstract: An image display device with a built-in karaoke and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, wherein an audio of a broadcasted program is divided into a plurality of elements, so as to be selectively controlled when required. The method for controlling the image display device with a built-in karaoke includes receiving an output signal and demultiplexing the received signal into an accompaniment signal and a vocal signal, and selectively outputting the accompaniment signal and the vocal signal both included in the received signal, when a user selects an accompaniment mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: 7432434
    Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus M1 transmits apparatus ID information and a common page access signal to a server computer SC. The server computer SC receives the signal and apparatus ID information. On the basis of the apparatus ID information, the server computer SC searches a user database 106a to identify the model of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC also retrieves content data of a dedicated page for the identified model from a content data storage section 106b. The retrieved content data is created in accordance with display capabilities of a display unit 13 of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC then transmits the retrieved content data to the electronic musical apparatus M1. As a result, the user of the electronic musical apparatus M1 can view the information contained in the whole dedicated page in colors on the display unit 13 without the need for scrolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yanase, Satoru Umezawa, Takeo Shibukawa
  • Publication number: 20080236364
    Abstract: For at least one music piece, a storage section stores tone data of each of a plurality of fragments segmented from the music piece and stores a first descriptor indicative of a musical character of each of the fragments in association with the fragment. Descriptor generation section receives input data based on operation by a user and generates a second descriptor, indicative of a musical character, on the basis of the received input data. Determination section determines similarity between the second descriptor and the first descriptor of each of the fragments. Selection section selects the tone data of at least one fragment on the basis of a result of the similarity determination by the determination section. On the basis of the tone data of the selected at least one fragment, a data generation section generates tone data to be outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Fujishima, Jordi Bonada, Maarten De Boer
  • Patent number: 7429699
    Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, when a musical tone delay time T1 read from a delay time table TBL depending on a velocity generated by a key being pressed has elapsed, a hammer string-striking sound is generated from musical tone waveform data selected in correspondence with the velocity. At the same time, when an impact delay time T2 read from the delay time table depending on the velocity has elapsed, a shelf board impulsive sound is generated from impact waveform data. The generated hammer string-striking sound and shelf board impulsive sound are added and outputted. As a result, a relationship between the shelf board impulsive sound and the hammer string-striking sound is simulated, and tone variations of an acoustic piano are reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tajika
  • Publication number: 20080229910
    Abstract: In a music information database, music information where music pieces and impression words representing impressions of the music pieces and usable as search words when any of the music pieces is to be searched for is registered for a plurality of music pieces. Information collection section collects, from among various information being provided by information source sites, information usable as music-piece-related search words. Registration section registers the words usable as music-piece-related search words, collected by the information collection section, into the database in association with particular music pieces. In this way, it is possible to construct a music information database which permits a music information search therethrough using impression words representing impressions of a music piece, at low cost without taking much time and labor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko KOBAYASHI, Shinichi TAKENAGA, Tetsuya MAEDA, Toru MAKINO, Hitoshi MAKITA, Hiroshi ADACHI
  • Patent number: 7423214
    Abstract: A music application guides a user with some musical experience through the steps of creating and editing a musical enhancement file that enhances and plays in synchronicity with an audio signal of an original artist's recorded performance. This enables others, perhaps with lesser musical ability than the original artist, to play-along with the original artist by following melodic, chordal, rhythmic, and verbal prompts. The music application accounts for differences in the timing of the performance from a standard tempo by guiding the user through the process of creating a tempo map for the performance and by associating the tempo map with MIDI information of the enhancement file. Enhancements may contain MIDI information, audio signal information, and/or video signal information which may be played back in synchronicity with the recorded performance to provide an aural and visual aid to others playing-along who may have less musical experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Family Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Reynolds, William B. Hudak
  • Patent number: 7420116
    Abstract: A music data modifier receives pieces of original music data from a master hybrid piano, and partially modifies the pieces of original music data to pieces of modified music data for a slave hybrid piano; each piece of original music data contains a series of values of a piece of motion data expressing continuous motion of the associated key, a series of values of a piece of time data expressing each expressing a time to obtain the associated value of the motion data and a piece of identification code expressing the key number assigned to the key; even if the music data modifier changes the piece of identification data from the key number to another key number, the piece of motion data still expresses the continuous motion of the key so that the slave hybrid piano exactly reproduce the key motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20080190266
    Abstract: A method and a terminal for playing and displaying music are provided. The method includes selecting a desired track in a playback mode, playing the selected track, displaying information about the selected track and a playing progress bar and displaying a current play time for the selected track and a position corresponding to the current play time on the playing progress bar in order to update playing progress information. The method and terminal enable a user to adjust the playback and selection of tracks through a novel interface, thereby providing increased convenience for a user of a terminal equipped with a music player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hyo Young KIM, Min Suk KIM, Dok Shin LIM, Andrea KIM, Hee Kyung JEON, Kyoung Ae LIM, Min Soo KWON, Hye Won LEE
  • Patent number: 7408106
    Abstract: A system and method of tele-karaoke that enables a user to perform and record karaoke using a terminal such as a cellular telephone. The karaoke performance is recorded as an MMS message which subsequently allows a user to send the recorded performance to others. The system allows users to record their karaoke performance is less public forums and without any specialized equipment other than a cellular telephone or a personal computer. Since the karaoke performance is recorded as an MMS message, it can be edited to incorporate various media and sent to others at subsequent times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Comverse Ltd.
    Inventors: Moshe Weiner, Erez Reinshmidt
  • Patent number: 7405354
    Abstract: A music ensemble system that enables changing the assignment of playing parts to performance terminals with a simpler operation. The music ensemble system comprising a plurality of performance terminals and a controller capable of communicating with the performance terminals to control playing of the performance terminals. Each of the performance terminals comprises a playing operation unit adapted to receive a player's playing operation and generates operation information, a terminal communication unit adapted to communicate with the controller to transmit the operation information to the controller, and a tone generator adapted to produce musical sounds based on sound instruction data received by the terminal communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Usa
  • Publication number: 20080173160
    Abstract: An electric guitar designed to be playable by an individual using a prosthetic device comprises an electric guitar body and a plurality of sound-generating components disposed in the electric guitar body, the components sized and positioned to facilitate operation by a terminal device on an upper-extremity prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Alexander Kokulis
  • Publication number: 20080156173
    Abstract: The personalized content system of the system combines a summary music identification value creation and identification algorithm that represents a mathematical summary music identification of a song, an audio file, or other relational music criteria and data (e.g. title, artist, genre, style, beats per minute, etc.) or any combination thereof. The derived value represents the musical taste or style attributes of a song or style. The analysis and generation of the summary music identification value is intended to take place while outside the vehicle where attention can be paid and vehicle distraction and safety is not an issue. A user can generate a single summary music identification value or can generate multiple summary music identification values for different criteria. In other cases, summary music identification values can be defined for genre, but with a much more personal touch possible than with fixed playlist radio stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: LEE BAUER
  • Patent number: 7390954
    Abstract: A plurality of client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 are connected to a server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 through a communications network 50. Each of the client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10, which is provided with an ID, attaches the ID to a signal representative of operation of performance operators 11 and setting operators 12, and transmits the ID-added signal to the server-side electronic musical apparatus 30. The server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 independently and concurrently executes, through the use of the ID, processes corresponding to the operational signals for the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 to generate musical tone data and display data, and transmits the generated data with the ID to the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10. The thus-transmitted data is appropriately received by the client-side electronic musical apparatus 10 identified on the basis of the ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7388144
    Abstract: To store main information with associated additional information incorporated therein, data constituting the additional information is divided into a plurality of small-size data pieces of, e.g., one bit. Then, the respective values of particular ones of predetermined data units (e.g., bytes) constituting the main information are subjected to arithmetic operations in accordance with a predetermined algorithm containing the value of each of the data pieces as a parameter. In this way, the respective values of the particular data units in the main information are modulated in accordance with the values of the individual data pieces in the additional information; at that time, only some of the data unit values are altered with the others left unaltered. The thus-arithmetically-operated main information is stored into a storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Taruguchi
  • Publication number: 20080134862
    Abstract: In the invention there is generated a playlist of music files that controls an exercise, each of the music files being associated with at least one parameter. The parameter characterizes the efficiency of the exercise. The user may listen to the playlist while performing an exercise and may have a performance instruction through musical characteristics, such as rhythm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Lauri Lumme, Jussi Lansimaa
  • Patent number: 7381882
    Abstract: A performance control apparatus which can reflect operations carried out by a user on variations in dynamics in real time to achieve performance expressions such as crescendo and decrescendo. A keyboard generates performance timing information in response to performance operations by a user, and performance intensity information. An HDD stores data of a music piece. The data of the music piece is read out from the HDD at a tempo based on the performance timing, and sounding instruction data including information on intensities and volumes of musical tones is generated. If the performance timing coincides with timing in which note information on a musical tone is read out, the sounding instruction data on the musical tone is determined based on the performance intensity information and the volume and intensity of the musical tone included in the read note information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Usa
  • Patent number: 7378587
    Abstract: MIDI compression and decompression methods that reduce the size of a standard MIDI file and maintains information to play the MIDI music. The exemplary method of the invention makes use of the high correlation and repetitions between a look-ahead MIDI event and previous set of MIDI events. An adjustable size Lempel-Ziv-like MIDI Event Search Window (MESW) is created during the compression and decompression process to allow searching of matched events or event elements in previous window size of MIDI events. Further reduction of the MIDI events can be made by discarding the matched events in the event search window. Therefore, with 4-bit of MIDI event search window, the number of MIDI events stored in the window can be more than 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited
    Inventor: Han Peng (Henry) Chang
  • Patent number: 7375274
    Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus that enables an external electronic musical instrument connected thereto to exhibit its accompaniment information generating capability to the maximum and makes it possible to set tone color data and accompaniment data adapted to the external electronic musical instrument through the automatic accompaniment apparatus. The external electronic musical instrument stores in advance a plurality of tone color data and/or a plurality of accompaniment data and generates accompaniment information based on the selected tone color data and/or accompaniment data. List information on the stored tone color data and/or the accompaniment data is acquired via a control interface that connects to the external electronic musical instrument and carries out transmission and reception of information to and from the external electronic musical instrument, and the acquired list information is presented to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Hiratsuka