Abstract: Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.

Abstract: A method for the use of the white keys of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard for the playing a selected scale whereby all while keys of the keyboard are remapped to the selected scale such that adjacent keys of the keyboard can be used to play adjacent notes of the selected scale. There is also disclosed a method for providing a functional aspect to at least one black key of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard, wherein upon a key of the keyboard being pressed, a first check is conducted to determine if a user has activated the selected scale setting; and if the selected scale function has been activated, a second check is conducted to determine if the key is a black key or a white key. If the key is a black key a second lookup table is checked based on a MIDI message for the black key to determine a corresponding functional aspect corresponding to the black key.

Abstract: A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media/data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media/data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to assignment of fingering for performance of a musical piece. In one example, a processor of an electronic system receives a file having data relating to at least one musical piece. The processor parses the file and assigns keys to occurrences of notes within the musical piece. In certain embodiments, the key-to-note assignments are based on predetermined factors, such as common patterns of learned fingering and a user typing proficiency level, and/or predetermined assignment rules, such as physical or spatial limitations with respect to the user's fingers and the keys of the keyboard. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow for different keys to be assigned to different occurrences of the same note or allow for a single key to be assigned to multiple notes, such as a chord, or to different notes occurring at different points in the musical piece.

Abstract: Systems, and related methods, for graphical visualization and real-time motion control of virtual or real objects for the purpose of generating or influencing image or tone sequences in real time by interactive control commands of a user.

Abstract: The song search apparatus for searching a song among songs including lyrics and performances, comprises: a song feature information database which stores song feature information indicating acoustic feature of the performances or feature of the lyrics included in the songs; an input unit which inputs a search word representing the song to be searched and formed of a word representing a subjectivity; a search song feature information database which stores search song feature information indicating the acoustic feature or the feature of the lyrics of the songs; a search process unit which compares input search song feature information corresponding to the inputted search word with each of the stored song feature information, extracts a song most similar to the input search song feature information, and makes a display display an image indicating the input search song feature information and an image indicating the song feature information of the extracted song.

Abstract: Performance interface system includes a motion detector provided for movement with a performer, and a control system for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data from the motion detector, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. With this arrangement, the performer can readily take part in the tone performance in the control system.

Abstract: A dynamically moving method of triggering musical notes that produces intricate, interwoven note sequences with ease as an aid to musicians. Notes that used to stand still while being played can now effectively move. Note events are programmed to generate or trigger positive or negative jumps in intervals of frequency relative to their current frequencies. Subsequent notes are referenced to each new current frequency on a note-by-note basis. Music controller interval producing events are arranged across the playing surface in helpful ways (12, 14, 16). The triggered notes may be artificially generated, instead of played by a musician. Using this technique complex, beautiful music can be coherently and easily produced. The technique generates a moving reference that may be applied to other useful musical functions. For instance, an input note event can silently move the reference to a new location. An input note event can also repeat the last interval, whatever it was.

Abstract: Performance interface system includes a motion detector provided for movement with a performer, and a control system for receiving detection data transmitted from the motion detector and controlling a performance of a tone in response to the received detection data. State of a performer's motion is detected via a sensor of the motion detector, and detection data representative of the detected motion state is transmitted to the control system. The control system receives the detection data from the motion detector, analyzes the performer's motion on the basis of the detection data, and then controls a tone performance in accordance with the analyzed data. With this arrangement, the performer can readily take part in the tone performance in the control system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user configurable computer interface for managing inventory. The interface provides a list, generated according to a user-defined organization. The list includes both owned and un-owned items and provides a means for sampling and purchasing the un-owned items directly from the list. The present invention contemplates a user interface for managing an entertainment play lists such as music play lists, video play lists etc. In addition the present invention contemplates management of vehicle maintenance and goods such as groceries, toys, or books.

Abstract: A sound generation device is composed of a main unit and a game cartridge storing a sound generation program. The game cartridge includes an XY-axes acceleration sensor for detecting a tilt in two respective directions of a game device housing. When a button of the main unit is pressed, a CPU of in the main unit reads waveform data corresponding to one syllable in lyrics from human voice sound waveform data stored in a program ROM, changes a frequency and an amplitude of the waveform data in accordance with the obtained amounts of tilts in two directions, and outputs the processed waveform data from a loudspeaker as a sound. Thus, it is possible to provide a sound generation device capable of outputting a sound by changing its pitch and volume.

Abstract: In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for providing user supplied configuration data are described. In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface are provided. A first order, or home, interface provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface.

Abstract: An audio signal generating apparatus is provided which makes it possible to supply a new music entertainment that enables users to actively participate in performance of musical compositions based on audio data that is coded in a predetermined format from audio signals, and a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program. Motion information corresponding to a motion of a user is acquired. An audio signal is acquired from audio data coded from the audio signal according to the predetermined format, and processing is performed on the acquired audio signal according to acquired motion information.

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.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a natural-sounding singing voice divides performance data into a transition part and a long sound part. The transition part is represented by articulation (phonemic chain) data that is read from an articulation template database and is outputted without modification. For the long sound part, a new characteristic parameter is generated by linearly interpolating characteristic parameters of the transition parts positioned before and after the long sound part and adding thereto a changing component of stationary data that is read from a constant part (stationary) template database. An associated apparatus for carrying out the singing voice synthesizing method includes a phoneme database for storing articulation data for the transition part and stationary data for the long sound part, a first device for outputting the articulation data, and a second device for outputting the newly-generated characteristic parameter of the long sound part.

Abstract: An automatic music selecting system is provided which can select a piece of music more suitable for an occupant of a mobile unit. It includes a music data storing section that stores music data corresponding to a plurality of pieces of music; a navigation system for detecting the current position of the mobile unit; a first keyword generating section for generating a first keyword in response to current position information indicating the current position detected by the navigation system; sensors for detecting environment of the mobile unit; a second keyword generating section for generating a second keyword in response to the environment information indicating the environment detected by the sensors, a music selecting section for selecting a piece of music in response to the first keyword and second keyword; and a reproducing section for reading the selected music data from the music data storing section to reproduce.

Abstract: According to the first aspect, the present invention provides a music distribution method for downloading, in response to a request from a user, music data for one or more musical pieces included in the latest hit charts from a server storing a lot of music data, comprising the steps of determining whether music data to be downloaded from said server are already stored in a terminal of said user, and downloading, from said server to said terminal, only music data that are not stored in said terminal.

Abstract: A separate-type music performance system has a master audio-visual station and a slave audio-visual station remote from the mater audio-visual station and connected through two communication channel independently of each other; MIDI music data codes and click time data codes are transmitted through one of the communication channels to the slave audio-visual station, and audio-visual data codes and a click signal are transmitted through the other communication channel; when the click signal and click time data code arrive the slave audio-visual station, the clock setter 21e sets an internal clock with the click time data code paired with the click signal, and the MIDI music data code are transferred to an automatic player piano in comparison with the time data and the internal clock, whereby the tones are produced synchronously with the visual images.

Abstract: The present invention is method and apparatus for music performance and composition. More specifically, the present invention is an interactive music apparatus comprising actuating a signal that is transmitted to a processing computer that transmits output signals to a speaker that emits sound and an output component that performs an action. Further, the present invention is also a method of music performance and composition.

Abstract: There is provided a musical information processing terminal that enables reproducing performance data and audio data that are transmitted and received between the musical information processing terminal such as a terminal for a teacher and a terminal for students through a communication network with a simple construction and without an unnatural feeling being given to users. At least one of performance data that instructs generation and control of musical tones and audio data that represents audio waveforms is received from an external musical information processing terminal through a communication network. The performance data or the audio data is reproduced. Data to be reproduced is selected either from the performance data or from the audio data. The data to be reproduced is determined according to the received data and the selected data.

Abstract: A method of scaling polyphony can include identifying music data to be played (415), wherein the music data indicates instruments to be used and each instrument has an assigned priority. A measure of polyphony needed to play the music data can be compared with polyphony of a sound generating device (425). If the measure of polyphony exceeds the polyphony of the sound generating device, the music data can be played without using one or more instruments indicated by the music data according to the assigned priorities (440, 460).

Abstract: A gaming device which, in one embodiment, has a sound generating device operable to produce a background sound. The gaming device tracks play session events and determines when the tracked events meet a designated characteristic or parameter. The gaming device selects one of a plurality of designated sound recordings associated with such designated parameter. The gaming device causes the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during the game, in between games, after cash-out and other times.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel array or piece of equipment (100) for providing assistance while composing musical compositions at least by means of acoustic reproduction during and/or after composing musical compositions or the like which are played on virtual musical instruments, preferably in a light music ensemble. Said array or piece of equipment comprises a composing computer (100) having at least one processor unit (4), at least one sequencer (5) that is data-flow connected to the latter and at least one sound sample library storage unit (6b) that is data-flow and data-exchange connected to at least said units (4,5). In order to manage the sound samples (61) stored in the above-mentioned storage unit (6b), a bidirectional sound parameter storage unit (6a) is provided, which is bidirectional or multitdirectional data-flow and data-exchange connected at least to the processor unit (4) and to the sequencer (5).

Abstract: An electronic image visualization system, such as a music stand system and display, management and communications methodologies relating thereto are presented. The electronic music stand system is comprised of a performer subsystem comprising a processing subsystem, librarian logic, performance logic, and communications management logic. The communications management logic provides management of communication via the communications interface with external apparatus responsive to the performance logic and the librarian logic. The user input apparatus and the display apparatus can be integrated into a touch-screen input display. The user input apparatus can alternatively be at least one of a touch-tablet, a stylus-based writing tablet, a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a game controller, and a switch.

Abstract: A music classification technique computes histograms of Daubechies wavelet coefficients at various frequency subbands with various resolutions. The coefficients are then used as an input to a machine learning technique to identify the genre and emotional content of music.

Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument samples an input waveform. An unused waveform number may be automatically assigned to the sampled waveform upon sampling or when a user-specified waveform number is already in use for another waveform. Musical time parameters for the input waveform may be specified in advance of sampling, and an endpoint for the sampled waveform may be automatically set in response to a stop sampling command so that length of the waveform is a whole number of musical time units such as bars or beats. The endpoint of the sampled waveform may be set to the beginning or the end of the musical time unit during which the stop command is received, depending on the time at which the stop command is received. The sampled waveform may be edited by manually moving the starting point by a specified amount and automatically moving the end point by a corresponding amount, by changing the specified tempo of the waveform, or by specifying a different number of musical time units.

Abstract: There is provided a musical composition-reproducing device and a musical composition-reproducing method that make it possible to make the most of many sounding channels and are capable of imparting an effect to musical tones without providing a special effect circuit. Musical composition data read from a musical composition data file FL is read out as data of a track 1 comprised of 4 channels, and is also copied and read out as data of a track 2, a track 3 and a track 4. Delay times of delaying means D1 to D3 and attenuations of attenuating means G1 to G3 are determined as being values t1 to t3 and g1 to g3, respectively, in accordance with effect parameter information. A sequencer SQ reproduces three effect sounding sequence data in the tracks 2 to 4, which is delayed by the delay times t1 to t3 and attenuated by the attenuations g1 to g3, as an effect sound providing a reverberation to musical tones reproduced based on the sequence data in the track 1 by using 12 channels among 16 channels.

Abstract: A candidate piece specifying unit 6 specifies, as a first candidate piece, a musical piece whose musical piece parameter includes a first factor that is larger than a first factor of a musical piece currently being played from among musical pieces, and specifies, as a second candidate piece, a musical piece whose first factor is smaller than the first factor of the musical piece currently being played from among the musical pieces. When data of a musical piece is reproduced by a playback unit 4, a display control unit 8 causes musical piece information regarding the first candidate piece and the second candidate piece to be displayed at positions on a display screen that reflect coordinate positions in an impression space formed by the factors of the musical piece parameter.

Abstract: A method and corresponding equipment by which a synthesizer/MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) device (10) is able to optimally perform a MIDI file (11) taking into account not the polyphony required by the MIDI file (11) as in SP-MIDI (scalable polyphony MIDI), but taking into account instead extended scalable polyphony (XSP) data 12b including the maximum number of instantaneous voices required by the MIDI file and the categories in which they occur for different channel masking, and also taking into account the architecture of the synthesizer/MIDI device (10) in terms of a voice complexity coefficient table (12b) indicating the relative complexity (corresponding to a resource requirement) for voices in each category. The result is a total voice requirement table 12c-1 indicating typically less masking than would be required for the same synthesizer/MIDI device to play the MIDI file according to SP-MIDI.

Abstract: Performance data processing apparatus includes a memory for storing settings input by a user and a processor for performing various control in accordance with the settings stored in the memory. Performance data are displayed in one or more display forms desired by the user. Marker or repeat mark is displayed in response to an instruction for displaying the marker or repeat mark. The performance data are reproduced in accordance with the input mark indicating that a performance should be repeated within a predetermined range. Further, a chord name is converted in accordance with a designated type of transposing instrument, and the converted chord name is displayed or stored in memory. Because the various control is performed in accordance with the memory-stored user settings, the user is allowed to change convenience-of-use or operability of the performance data processing apparatus in creating/editing of the performance data, by just changing the settings.

Abstract: From a storage device storing waveform sample data sampled at a given sampling rate, the waveform sample data are read out asynchronously with the given sampling rate and temporarily stored in an input buffer. The thus-stored waveform sample data are read out from the input buffer and converted to an inner sampling rate selected from among a plurality of predetermined inner sampling rates. Predetermined arithmetic processing is performed on the waveform sample data converted to the selected inner sampling rate. Then, the waveform sample data having undergone the predetermined arithmetic processing are converted to a predetermined output sampling rate and written into an output buffer. The thus-written waveform sample data are then sequentially read out at an sampling frequency corresponding to the output sampling rate, to thereby generate tone data in accordance with the output sampling frequency.

Abstract: A contents reproduction system includes a reproducing section to reproduce a content received via telecommunication when the receiving condition is in an acceptable state, and to reproduce one of recorded contents stored in a storage section when the receiving condition is in an unacceptable state. A preference discriminating section determines a preference of a user by examining at least one content selected by a user for reproduction. A contents selecting section selects one, as a reserve content, from the contents stored in the storage section in accordance with the preference and supplies the reserve content to the reproducing section for reproduction instead of the received content when the receiving condition is in the unacceptable state.

Abstract: A system for expanding generalizing aspects of an autoharp and making these functionalities beneficially available on other instruments. Strumpads comprising arrays of isolated touch switches, each generating distinct signals, are used to generate MIDI note events according to interpretations of an active mapping selected from a plurality of programmable mappings. The active mapping may be selected via chord buttons or foot switches, or may be determined by keys on a melodic keyboard. Mappings in some embodiments may provide repeated notes, non-note signals, and utilize one or more MIDI channels for controlling synthesizers, lighting, electronic percussion, and the like. The strumped may further include orienting tactile markings and provide pressure and velocity sensing. The system may be attached to or integrated within another instrument such as a guitar, keyboard, autoharp, pedal steel guitar, sitar, koto, mbria, and pipa, among others.

Abstract: A music information processing means comprises a music editing means for assigning an arbitrary sound pattern selected from a plurality of sound patterns in a sound buffer to at least one track, a sound presentation trial processing means for outputting the sound pattern assigned to the track on a speaker of a display monitor via SPU when a control input of the user satisfies a predetermined condition, and an audio data processing means for registering audio data extracted from audio data introduced from a music CD (Compact Disc) or the like loaded in an optical disk drive as one of the sound patterns in a sound pattern file in the sound buffer.

Abstract: A tone generating apparatus has an internal storage in which defining information (taking the form of table information, for instance) on relationship between operation conditions of the apparatus and applications of operation members, such as slider, switch and encoder, is stored in advance. CPU of the apparatus controls the apparatus in such a manner that applications of operation members in a current operation condition of the apparatus are effected according to the defining information. With this arrangement, the work for changing specifications of the apparatus is simplified since it is done primarily by changing contents of the defining information.

Abstract: A MIDI controller pedalboard for composing and playing music such as pipe organ music is disclosed. The MIDI controller pedalboard provides pedals, and switches for the playing of notes and the manipulation of sound data in a MIDI format.

Abstract: A method of determining a numerical value of similarity as between a pair of artists is set forth. In the method, for each artist, a list of artist style values is calculated, where each artist style value is representative of a style of the artist and a weight of such style as exhibited by such artist. A set of style similarity values is also calculated, where each style similarity value sets forth a relative similarity as between two styles. Thereafter, based on the list of artist style values for each artist and the calculated set of style similarity values, a style list comparison similarity score is calculated to represent a relative similarity of the styles of the pair of artists.

Abstract: A mixing console has, for example, eight signal processing channels each for processing audio signals, and indicator units respectively for the signal processing channels. Each indicator unit is to display the channel number or the note name or another short message about the channel. Each channel is provided with a control element for commanding a control such as setting equalizer parameters. When a control element is actuated and held for more than one second, for example, such an actuation causes the designation of a channel about which a long message is displayed by using the indicator units for the eight channels in series.

Abstract: A method for formulating music, methods for formulating individual musical elements for utilization in formulating music, and methods for expanding and/or modifying the musical elements for utilization in formulating music. The musical elements are mathematically derived from origination elements as non-limitedly exemplified by intervals, chords, chord progressions, arpeggios, and instruments, thereby providing a vast array of new elements as attained from mathematical manipulations of such origination elements.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided which enables various settings to be carried out quickly and easily. The electronic musical instrument is provided with at least one connection terminal for connection with a keyboard for use in a computer, and a connection interface for connecting the keyboard to the electronic musical instrument. Operation information input from the operation panel of the musical instrument is replaced by operation information input from the keyboard connected to the electronic musical instrument via the connection terminal and the connection interface.

Abstract: A method for playing a song in a handheld device is disclosed. A visual representation for a plurality of musical components is provided. The visual representation includes a plurality of lanes, with each lane corresponding to one of the musical components. User input is received for one or more musical components, and musical characteristics corresponding to the musical components are modified in accordance with the user input. In order to modify musical characteristics corresponding to a particular musical component, the user selects the particular lane corresponding to the particular musical component. A first user input may be received to modify musical characteristics corresponding to a particular musical component, and the user enters a first level of the visual representation beneath the particular lane and provides user input to modify the musical characteristics corresponding to the particular musical component.

Abstract: A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media/data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media/data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

Abstract: There is provided a session apparatus that enables the user to freely start and enjoy a music session with another session apparatus without being restricted by a time the session should be started. A session apparatus is connected to at least one other session apparatus via a communication network in order to perform a music session with the other session apparatus. Reproduction data to be reproduced simultaneously with reproduction data received from the other session apparatuses is generated and transmitted to the other session apparatus. The reproduction data received from the other session apparatus is delayed by a period of time required for the received reproduction data to be reproduced in synchronism with the generated reproduction data, for simultaneous reproduction of the delayed reproduction data and the generated reproduction data.

Abstract: Each time a predetermined type of note controlling performance data (e.g., note-on event data) is detected from among a series of performance data, deviation values for a plurality of channels, varying in deviation state among the channels, are set such that a control value of a predetermined tone characteristic (e.g., event generation timing), included in the note controlling performance data, is caused to vary among the plurality of channels. Then, values, obtained by causing the control value vary among the plurality of channels in accordance with the respective deviation values of the channels, are set as new control values for the corresponding channels. Then, for each of the channels, there is created note controlling performance data of the predetermined type having the corresponding new control value incorporated therein. A break of a phrase in performance data may be detected so that control can be performed per phrase.

Abstract: Generating a pitched musical part from an electronic music file comprised of instrumental parts includes generating a control stream that indicates which of the instrumental parts has a highest value for a period of time, selecting one of the instrumental parts for the period of time based on the control stream, and outputting the selected instrumental part for the period of time to produce the musical part. Generating a non-pitched musical part from an electronic music file includes identifying patterns in the electronic music file and selectively combining the patterns to produce the musical part.

Abstract: An audio information provision system for providing a target with an audio information stream suitable to the target includes a database for storing a plurality of audio information streams; an inherent condition input section for receiving an inherent condition of the target; a variable condition input section for receiving a variable condition varying in accordance with time; a selection section for selecting at least one audio information stream from the plurality of audio information streams based on at least the inherent condition and the variable condition; and an output section for outputting the at least one audio information stream.

Abstract: A method of producing a playlist of music for a personal music station comprising the steps of assigning a artist block rating to each of a plurality of predefined artist blocks, using the artist block rating to produce an artist rating for each artist in the artist block, generating a list of artists, wherein the number of times each artist appears in the list is related to the artist rating for each artist, randomly selecting artists form the list of artists, producing a prioritized list of songs for each of the randomly selected artists, and selecting songs from the prioritized list of songs for inclusion in a playlist. The playlist can be subsequently edited to create a playlist having a less than a first predetermined number of songs by each of the artists for broadcast within a predetermined time period and having less than a second predetermined number of adjacent songs by each of the artists. A method of distributing songs on a personal music station using the playlist is also included.

Abstract: There is provided a musical tone control system which is capable of preventing control not intended by the user even when the user stops moving when controlling the generation of musical tones reflecting motion or physical posture of the user. A motion detecting device capable of being carried by an operator generates a detected motion signal corresponding to motion of the operator carrying the device, and transmits same to an external device. A musical tone generating device generates musical tones. A control device receives the detected motion signal transmitted from the motion detecting device and controls generation of musical tones from the musical tone generating device based on the received detected motion signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing music are provided, particularly systems and methods employing a top-down process, where the user is provided with a musical composition that may be modified and interacted with and played and/or stored (for later play). The system preferably is provided in a handheld form factor, and a graphical display is provided to display status information, graphical representations of musical lanes or components which preferably vary in shape as musical parameters and the like are changed for particular instruments or musical components such as a microphone input or audio samples.

Abstract: A portable device is used for recording, editing, and replaying musical sounds generated by a musical instrument external to the device. The musical sounds are converted from analog to digital format, compressed for minimum storage usage, and stored in a digital storage medium. The stored signals are filed according to an indexing scheme that allows selection and retrieval of selected portions of the musical sounds. The selected portions are retrieved from storage, decompressed, converted back to analog signals, and output to a sound generating device. The operation of the device is controlled by application software and operating system software.