Education and demonstration – Cathode ray screen display and audio means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-03-27
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Cathode ray screen display and audio means
C434S30700R, C434S365000, C084S609000, C348S563000, C360S072200, C463S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206704
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a karaoke network system that is capable of displaying commercial messages during an intermission period between karaoke performances.
2. Description of Related Art
Karaoke network systems have become very popular. A typical karaoke network system includes a host computer installed in a central station and, typically, a plurality of karaoke stations, each of which is installed in a business establishment, such as, for example, a bar, a club and the like. Each of the karaoke stations is connected to the host computer via a communication line that supplies karaoke song performance data from the host computer to the karaoke station.
In recent years, karaoke network systems that are capable of presenting commercial messages have also become popular. According to this karaoke network. systems, data for commercial messages is supplied from the central station and reproduced during intermission periods between karaoke song performances. The commercial messages provide the users with a variety of information including information about new songs.
In conventional karaoke network systems capable of presenting commercial messages, the commercial messages are displayed according to pre-programmed presentation data, and an individual user cannot select information types that suites the interest and the needs of the user. Even when the user desires to obtain more detailed information about a particular commercial message that is being displayed, the conventional karaoke network systems do not respond to the users desire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke network system in which an operator can select and obtain detailed information about a particular commercial message that is displayed between karaoke performances.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a karaoke network system includes a host computer and a plurality of karaoke stations connected to the host computer through a communication line.
The host computer includes a first memory device that stores a group of data files and a transmission device that transmits the group of data files stored in the first memory device to each of the karaoke stations. Each of the data files is written in a common file format and contains link data representative of linking relations with other of the data files and menu data for selection of the data files. The linking relations are defined by input values. Each of the data files also includes at least one of karaoke performance data and image data for representing information.
The karaoke station includes a reception device that receives the group of the data files supplied by the host computer. A second memory device stores the group of data files received by the reception device. A reading device reads a designated data file from the group of data files stored in the second memory device. An interpretation device interprets contents of the designated data file read out by the reading device, and outputs information contained in the designated data file to a circuit or a unit based on the types of information. A karaoke performance device synthesizes a musical sound based on the karaoke performance data supplied by the reading device, mixes the synthesized musical sound with a vocal sound inputted from a microphone to generate a mixed sound. A display device operates to display information to an operator and gives directions for a menu selection operation based on the image data for presenting the information and the menu data for selecting information, respectively, supplied by the reading device. An input device outputs an input value in response to the menu selection operation or a music designation operation performed by the operator. A designating device designates a next data file to be read out by the reading device based on the input value supplied by the input device and linking data contained in the data file that is read out by the interpretation device. By the menu selection operation or the song designation operation by the operator, a chain of data files is executed so that information contained in the chain of data files is presented or the karaoke performance is performed.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a karaoke network system includes a host computer and a plurality of karaoke stations connected to the host computer through a communication line.
The host computer includes a first memory device that stores a plurality of data files. Each of the data files contains time management data representative of linking relations with other of the data files, and at least one of karaoke performance data and moving image data for presenting a moving image. The linking relations are determined by time slots of divided time durations for displaying the moving images. A transmission device transmits a group of the data files stored in the first memory device to each of the karaoke stations.
Each of the karaoke stations includes a reception device that receives the group of the data files supplied by the host computer, a second memory device that stores the group of the data files received by the reception device, and a reading device that reads out a designated data file from the group of the data files from the second memory device. An interpretation device interprets contents of the data file read out by the reading device, and outputs information contained in the data file to a destination circuit or a device associated with the type of the information. A karaoke performance device synthesizes a musical sound based on the karaoke performance data supplied by the reading device, mixes the synthesized musical sound with a vocal sound inputted from a microphone to form a mixed sound, and outputs the mixed sound. A display device displays information to an operator based on the moving image data for presenting a moving image supplied by the reading device. A timer device measures time duration for displaying the moving image data by the display device. An input device generates a signal in response to an input operation by the operator. A designating device determines one of the time slots defined by the time management data supplied by the reading device that is associated with the signal generated by the input device based on the time duration measured by the timer device, and designates a next data file to be read out by the reading device based on the time slot determined by the designating device. By the input operation of the operator, a next data file associated with the data being displayed in the display device is executed, and data contained in the next data file is presented by the display device. For example, when the operator selects a menu item relating to song introduction information that is displayed in the display device, a data file associated with the selected menu item containing data for the song introduction information is executed, and karaoke performance of the song is performed.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention
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Macrom
Cheng Joe H.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Yamaha Corporation
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