JP2002328688A - Karaoke system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke system which can display video data suited for each music without producing a heavy load on each karaoke terminal by using a high speed communication network called a broadband network. SOLUTION: A plurality of karaoke machines 3... are connected with each other via the network 1. The karaoke machine 3 is provided with a musical composition data storage means and a video data storage means. A part of video data suited to the karaoke music is stored in the video storage means of each karaoke machine 3.... The video data corresponding to one karaoke music consist of the video data stored in the plurality of the karaoke machines 3. When the karaoke machine 3 receives a karaoke performance instruction, it receives the video data corresponding to the karaoke music from the video storage means of the karaoke machine 3... that share and store the video data via the network 1, the video is reproduced, and the performance is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke system for performing a karaoke performance while displaying a background image suitable for a song.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A karaoke apparatus not only plays a karaoke song but also displays a background image corresponding to the song on a monitor, and also displays a lyrics telop on the background image in a superimposed manner.

A conventional communication karaoke apparatus downloads music data for performance from a distribution center and is separated from a background video having a large data amount. Is stored on the media.

As described above, since the amount of video data is large, conventionally, one or more pieces of video data corresponding to each genre of karaoke songs such as enka and pops are stored, and a karaoke song is requested. At this time, video data of this genre is read and displayed as a background video, and the karaoke tune and the background video do not correspond individually.

[0005] However, in the method of selecting from a few video data based on only the genre, the same video data may be repeated in some cases, and there is a problem that the karaoke performance cannot be excited because the user gets bored. Was.

On the other hand, if video data corresponding to each karaoke tune is individually stored, video data suitable for each karaoke tune can be displayed without fail. Storing individual video data corresponding to each of the extended karaoke songs is not realistic because the cost is extremely high and the device becomes very large.

Therefore, a karaoke system has been proposed in which a karaoke song is played with video data individually corresponding to each karaoke song without increasing the storage capacity of the video data of each karaoke device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-161288). reference). In this karaoke system, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses are connected via a network, individual video data associated with a plurality of karaoke songs are shared and stored by the plurality of karaoke apparatuses, and the individual video data is stored in the own apparatus. When there is no karaoke device, data is transferred from another karaoke device, and the background video corresponding to each karaoke song is reproduced using the data.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned karaoke system, when there is a request from another karaoke apparatus, one karaoke terminal transmits individual video data to the network in response to one piece of music data. Since it is configured to output data, there is a physical limit to one karaoke terminal transmitting data. Also, the load on the output of one karaoke terminal is large,
There are drawbacks such as the need to prepare high-performance karaoke terminals.

In view of the above-mentioned background, the present invention uses a high-speed communication network called a broadband network to display video data corresponding to each song without causing a large load on each karaoke terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke system capable of performing karaoke.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a karaoke system in which a plurality of karaoke terminals are connected to each other via a network, wherein the karaoke terminal is provided with music data storage means and video data storage means, A part of the video data associated with the karaoke song is stored in the video storage means of each karaoke terminal, and the video data stored in the plurality of karaoke terminals constitute video data corresponding to one karaoke song. When a karaoke terminal is instructed to perform karaoke, video data corresponding to the karaoke tune is received via the network from the video storage means of the karaoke terminal, which stores the video data in a shared manner, and the video is reproduced and executed. It is characterized by the following.

According to the above arrangement, since the video data is shared and stored by a plurality of karaoke terminals, the time for transmitting data by one karaoke apparatus is short, and the load of transmitting data is reduced to other karaoke apparatuses. Lighter to move on. For this reason, the number of karaoke apparatuses that can provide the data communication service increases. In addition, since the storage capacity of each karaoke terminal is a part of the background data, the karaoke terminal does not require a large storage device.

According to the present invention, a plurality of music data are stored in the music data storage means of each karaoke terminal, and when a karaoke performance instruction is given, the corresponding music data is stored in the storage means of the karaoke terminal instructing the karaoke performance. If not, the music data may be received from another karaoke terminal via the network, reproduced, and played.

With the above configuration, the storage capacity of each karaoke terminal can be further reduced.

[0014] The network may be configured to be capable of multicast transmission.

If the multicast distribution technique and the distribution are synchronized, traffic during data transfer can be reduced.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of each karaoke device connected on a network.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3, which are karaoke terminals, are connected on a communication network 1. The communication network 1 is configured by a broadband network, for example, FTTH (Five
The network is a high-speed communication network with a communication speed of 100 Mbps. The communication network 1 is connected to a data transmission device serving as a data server (not shown), and music and background video data are distributed to the karaoke device 3 via the communication network 1. The music is transmitted as MIDI data or data compressed in the MPEG format.
Data compressed in the EG format is transmitted.

The karaoke apparatus 3 is connected to the communication network 1 and performs a karaoke performance. As will be described later, each karaoke apparatus 3 in this embodiment has a part (a few seconds) of background data for performing the performance. ~ Several tens of seconds). The retained data is, for example, a low bit rate (coarse) video, and stores long-time data with a small capacity. Further, each karaoke apparatus 3 stores a part of background data having a high bit rate (beautiful) for performing. The background data of the high bit data is transmitted by a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3 so that one video scene is constituted by the plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3.
Video data corresponding to one piece of music data is shared and stored. That is, the background video data is continuously shared by the plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3 to form one video.
For example, if one scene is composed of eight karaoke apparatuses 3,... Even if it is assumed that one karaoke terminal 3 stores only a part of one scene, it is 32 images for 400 scenes.
If there are 00 karaoke terminals, all scenes can be provided mutually. Actually, one karaoke terminal 3 stores a part of the video corresponding to a plurality of scenes. Therefore, the number of karaoke terminals 3 connected to the network 1 and the number of scenes are determined according to the stored number. Will be done.

Each of the karaoke apparatuses has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2 and individually shares the music data, a part of the individual background data corresponding to the above-mentioned music, and the video data corresponding to one music data. Stores part of the data.

By the way, in a system in which a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3 are connected to the communication network 1 as shown in FIG. It is inevitable that there will be a delay of a certain amount of time before it is delivered to. It is also assumed that a failure in the network or a communication rate temporarily drops.

For this reason, in each of the karaoke apparatuses 3 described above, background data of several seconds to several tens of seconds, which is a time longer than the delay time assumed in advance, is stored. Then, when a delay occurs in the distribution system, first, the video is reproduced with the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3, and when the data from the communication network 1 arrives, the reproduced video data is switched. To do.

By configuring the system in this manner, background data corresponding to music can be reproduced regardless of the delay in the communication network 1. In addition, the storage capacity can be reduced by using a part of the background data (several seconds to several tens of seconds) and a low bit rate (coarse) video. For this reason, each karaoke device 3 can store a part of the background data corresponding to the music. Also, since the high bit rate background data only stores a part of one scene, video data corresponding to a plurality of songs, for example, several hundred songs, can be stored with a small storage capacity.

Each karaoke device 3 is connected to the network 1
And a communication interface 33 for connecting to the server. The communication interface 33 is connected to a CPU via a bus.
30. In addition, a buffer RAM 31, a hard disk 32, a user interface 40, an MPEG (MIDI) decoder 34, a sound system 35, a graphic controller 36, and the like are connected to the CPU 30. Also, graphic controller 3
6, a display device 37 is connected to the sound system 35, and a microphone 39 and the like are connected to the sound system 35. Further, although not shown, a ROM for storing a program and the like for activating the karaoke apparatus is provided.

The communication interface 33 controls not only communication with a data transmitting device (not shown) via the communication network 1 but also communication with another karaoke device 3 connected to the communication network 1. From the data transmission device, song data of new songs, index tables, and the like are downloaded. This index table is a table for instructing the correspondence between the song number of the karaoke song and the background video data. Further, a part of high-bit-rate (fine) MPEG data is downloaded from the data transmission device as background data of music that is shared and stored by the plurality of karaoke terminals 3.

The hard disk 32 stores the music data, the index table, and the like.
A program such as a system program, a karaoke performance program, a loader, and character pattern data are stored. Further, in this embodiment, a part (several seconds to several tens of seconds) of the background data individually corresponding to the music is stored as low bit rate (coarse) MPEG data. A part of high bit rate (fine) MPEG data is stored as background data of a music piece which is shared and stored by a plurality of karaoke terminals 3.

The system program is a program for controlling the basic operation of this apparatus, and is read into the buffer RAM 31 when the karaoke apparatus is started. The karaoke performance program has a sound system 3 based on music data.
5 and a program for controlling the MPEG decoder 34 and the like. The loader is a program for downloading background data, music data, and an index table via a network. The character pattern data is data for developing text information such as lyrics and song titles given as code information into character patterns.
In the buffer RAM 31, an area for reading the above program and a music data buffer for reading the music data currently being played and the music data to be played next are set.

The user interface 40 is connected to a circuit for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from an infrared remote controller (commander) (not shown) and converting it into data, a panel switch, and the like. The CPU 30 reserves a karaoke song based on the song number input from the commander, and executes various processes such as a key change based on other command codes.

The MPEG decoder 34 is a circuit for demodulating background data and music data transmitted by communication into audio and video. When the music data is in the MIDI format, the MPEG decoder 34 decodes the MIDI data.
It also has an I decoder.

The graphic controller 36 has an MPE
The background data demodulated by the G decoder 34 and the lyrics data demodulated by the CPU 30 are received, and the lyrics data is superimposed on the respective image images and displayed on the display 37. The lyrics data may be input from the MPEG decoder 34 in some cases.

The sound system 35 mixes the signal demodulated by the MPEG decoder 34 with the signal from the microphone 39, and outputs a sound signal to the speaker 38. The signal demodulated by the MPEG decoder 34 may be composed of a plurality of channels.
It has a function of mixing according to the settings of the user interface 40 according to instructions set by the user, such as adjusting the guide melody volume.

In a system in which karaoke data such as background video data is shared between terminals, a karaoke device database stored in each karaoke device 3 is managed by the karaoke device 3. A specific method will be described below.

First, as a first method, data to be recorded by a network identification number is specified. A terminal connected to the network 1 is provided with a management serial number, such as a network address (IP address) or a network interface address number (MAC address), which can uniquely identify the terminal. By using this number, the karaoke data recorded by the karaoke device 3 serving as a terminal can be specified.

As a specific method, 1) data held by a network address can be specified.

In a system in which continuous network addresses are assigned to the karaoke apparatus 3 and managed, for example, when the music number is composed of six digits, the lower two digits are grouped and the same karaoke apparatus 3 is assigned. To be recorded.

For example, when one video scene is shared and stored by eight terminals, music numbers 1210-01 and 1
The first video scene 310-01 is recorded in the karaoke apparatus 3 of the network address 01xx01, and
The second video scenes 210-01 and 1310-01 are recorded on the karaoke apparatus 3 having the network address 01xx02, and the third video scenes 1210-01 and 1310-01 are recorded.
The first video scene is recorded in the karaoke apparatus 3 having the network address of 01xx03, and thereafter, similarly, one video data is shared among the eight karaoke apparatuses 3 and stored. Here, xx is an arbitrary number.

When a new song is released, all karaoke devices 3 ...
, Each karaoke apparatus 3... Records necessary data according to its own network identification number.

In the second method, when the karaoke apparatus 3 is started, the data number held by the karaoke apparatus 3 is distributed. When the power of the karaoke apparatus 3 is turned on, the number of the karaoke data recorded by the karaoke apparatus 3 is distributed to the other karaoke apparatuses 3. FIG. 3 shows an example of a data format to be distributed. In FIG. 3, the terminal ID is a network number of the karaoke apparatus 3 that records data. The command is information indicating whether the information is the information of the held karaoke data, the additional information, or whether the karaoke apparatus is turned off. If there are 20,000 karaoke songs, the karaoke data information uses a bit string record of 20,000 bits to set the bit corresponding to the recorded data number to 1 bit.
And data indicating which divided part of the song is held.

When releasing / distributing new song data,
The configuration of the network to which the karaoke apparatus 3 is connected and the load of the network to which the karaoke apparatus 3 is connected (a large city to which a large number of terminals are connected requires a large number of terminals for recording data). Thus, which karaoke device 3 is to record which karaoke data is determined.

When new data is distributed, the karaoke data information to be recorded as described above is distributed.

When the power is turned off, the other karaoke apparatuses 3 are turned off in the format shown in FIG.
Notify.

Each of the other karaoke apparatuses 3 has a table indicating which terminal has karaoke data which is not stored in the terminal itself.
When the FF is performed, the terminal is configured to be able to inquire of another terminal whether the terminal has the karaoke data required by the terminal.

The third method is to periodically distribute the number of the karaoke data held by the user to the network. Basically, it is the same as the above-mentioned second method, except that the information of the held data is periodically notified to other terminals.

Also, regarding a database of a terminal in which karaoke data not owned by the user exists, the terminal
If F, information is not sent after a certain period of time, so in that case, it is deleted from the database.

The configuration of music data used in the karaoke apparatus and the operation of the karaoke apparatus based on this data will be described. The music data is composed of a header, a musical sound track, a lyrics track, an audio control track, an effect control track, and an audio data section. The header is a portion in which various data relating to the music data is written, and includes data such as a music number, a music title, a genre, a release date, and a music performance time. Each song data is identified by a song number.

Now, as an example, the music data is sent out as audio-compressed data in the MPEG format.
The case where the background video data is data compressed in the MPEG format will be described.

Adjustment of keys and guide melodies becomes impossible only by simple compression based on the MPEG format. Therefore, in the present invention, the data structure is determined by extending the MPEG stream ID so that it can be easily used as karaoke audio data.

The type and data format of data used for karaoke will be described.

As video data, background video data (M
PEG), lyrics and color change data (MPEG or WI
P data (timing information such as lyrics display and color change)
There are two types.

The music data can be divided into A) music data and B) scoring data. The music data of A) is a normal music part (MPEG), a guide melody (MPEG), and a drum part (MPEG) which is a key control adaptive exclusion part.

The scoring data of B) are scoring reference singing data (MPEG), scoring reference data (MIDI), and harmony / fist data (MIDI).

The karaoke apparatus is required to have a background image selection function, a speed control function, and a function of synchronizing the background image and the lyrics. In order to realize these functions, it is conceivable to use the following three data structures.

(First Configuration) Background image (MPEG) and lyrics and color change (MPEG) +
A) Music data (MPEG) + B) Scoring data (MID)
I)

Since the song data and the lyrics and the color change need to be synchronized, the lyrics and the color change are used as a video stream.
A) music data (MPEG) and B) scoring data (MID)
I) is configured as a music bit stream and one MP
EG file. The background video is an MPEG file as one bit stream. The scoring data may be configured in a separate file.

(Second configuration)) Background image (MPEG) and lyrics and color change (WIP data) + A) music data (MPEG) + B) scoring data (MIDI)

Since the song data and the lyrics and the color change need to be synchronized, an MPEG file is configured with the lyrics and the color change as one bit stream. Also, the color change data (W
The IP) and B) scoring data are described by extending the format of the above-mentioned MPEG file in order to divert MIDI karaoke data. B) The scoring data may be handled as an independent MPEG file. Background video is MPEG as one bit stream
Configure as a file.

(Third Configuration) Background Video + Lyrics and Color Change + A) Music Data + B) Scoring Data (MPEG) The MPEG file format is extended to configure all data as one bit stream as an MPEG file. However, in this case, background image selection and speed control cannot be performed.

An example of a data recording format and data structure will be described. FIG. 8 shows an example of using the MPEG stream ID. The data shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by extending the MPEG stream ID, and for each data of the second configuration described above,
D is assigned. Specifically, since the MPEG specification specifies that the following ID is used,
The ID is as shown in FIG.

MPEG Audio 0xC0-0x
CF / MPEG Video 0xE0-0xEF

FIG. 9 shows a data format. As shown in FIG. 9, the stream ID of the packet
Are stored. The lyrics and the color change data are transmitted with one bit stream packet data and the normal music part stored with one bit stream packet data and a stream ID indicating the data type, and are stored in each karaoke apparatus. You.

As described above, by recording the stream ID representing the data type and the bit stream of the data, the karaoke apparatus determines the data type based on the stream ID, and performs the arithmetic processing according to the data type. Can be. For example, during a performance, a calculation process such as adjusting the volume is performed according to an instruction input by a user for a guide melody music part or a key part, and the calculation data is superimposed on the main music part, thereby providing a key control or a guide melody volume. Adjustments can be made.

An index table is stored in the hard disk storage device 32 of each karaoke apparatus. The index table stores the file name of the song data of the karaoke song and the number of the video data associated with the karaoke song corresponding to the song number, and which karaoke device 3 stores the video data. Is also stored. Note that the index table may be a table that only associates song numbers with video data. In this case, the music data may be provided with an index table dedicated to the music data.

As described above, in the index table,
Video data is associated with one karaoke song.

Incidentally, as a part of the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3 described above, a sufficiently large number of data (for example, about 1000 pieces) can be used even if they do not completely correspond to about 10,000 karaoke songs on a one-to-one basis. ) May be set to correspond to 10,000 karaoke songs.

Next, the operation of the above-described karaoke system will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus 3 for performing a performance;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus 3 for transmitting video data via a network.

When a user inputs a song number, as shown in FIG. 4, the karaoke apparatus 3 refers to the index table, reads a song data file corresponding to the song number, and reads a corresponding background data. A performance preparation process such as a process is performed (step S31). Then, a request is made via the network 1 to the karaoke apparatuses 3..., Which share and record the video data, with reference to the index table, to transmit the video data (step S32).

As shown in FIG. 5, when a karaoke device 3... That stores video data in a shared manner receives a request for transmission of video data from the karaoke device 3 that performs a performance via the communication network 1 (step). S41), referring to the index table corresponding to the requested music, perform data transmission preparation processing corresponding to the music (step S41).
42). Then, a part of the background video data corresponding to the music is read from the data file, and the high bit rate video data is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus 3 executing the performance via the communication network 1 (step S43). At this time, the video data is shared and stored by the plurality of karaoke terminals 3..., So that the time during which one karaoke device 3 sends out data is short, and the load of sending out the other karaoke devices 3 is small.
... lighter to move on to. For this reason, the number of karaoke apparatuses 3 that can perform the data communication service increases. Also,
At this time, if the multicast distribution technique and the distribution are synchronized, the traffic at the time of data transfer can be reduced.

In the karaoke apparatus 3 which executes the performance, it is determined whether or not background video data has arrived from another karaoke apparatus 3 via the network 1 (step S33).
When the background video data from another karaoke device 3 arrives, it is stored in the buffer RAM 31 and the performance of the karaoke device 3 is started using the background video data (step S3).
4). Then, the performance operation of the karaoke apparatus 3 described above is started.

If the background video data from another karaoke apparatus 3 has not arrived, the performance of the karaoke apparatus 3 is started using the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3 for performing the performance (step). S35). It is monitored whether or not background video data from another karaoke device 3 has arrived via the network 1 (step S36), and stored in the karaoke device 3 until the background video data arrives via the network 1. The performance of the karaoke apparatus 3 is continued using the background data. Then, when background video data from another karaoke apparatus 3 arrives via the network 1, the background video data is switched to the background video data obtained via the network 1 (step S37).

As described above, until the background video is obtained via the network 1, the video is reproduced with the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3, and when the data from the communication network 1 arrives, the reproduced video is reproduced. Try to switch data.

By configuring the system in this manner, it is possible to reproduce the background data individually corresponding to the music regardless of the delay in the communication network 1. Therefore, without waiting for the arrival of the background video data from another karaoke device 3, the performance or the performance preparation can be performed, and the preparation of the music can be performed quickly. Further, the amount of data stored in the karaoke device 3 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the music data is stored in each karaoke device 3, but not all the music data is stored in each karaoke device 3, but the music data is shared by a plurality of karaoke terminals 3. If the desired karaoke device 3 does not have the desired music data, the karaoke device 3 may request another karaoke device 3 to distribute the music data. In the case of such a configuration, the karaoke apparatus 3
May store part of the background data and music data of a certain number of music pieces. Therefore, since the storage capacity can be further reduced, it is possible to easily configure a storage device such as a semiconductor memory to store a part of the background data of the video data and the music data without using a hard disk.

The operation of distributing the music data in the own karaoke apparatus 3 in response to a request from another karaoke apparatus 3 even when there is no music data in the karaoke apparatus 3 will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus 3 for executing a performance, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of another karaoke apparatus 3 for transmitting karaoke data in response to a request.

When the user inputs a song number, as shown in FIG. 6, the karaoke apparatus 3 executing the performance refers to the index table and performs a performance preparation process such as a process of reading out the corresponding background data. (Step S51).
Then, the requested music data is stored in its own karaoke device 3.
(Step S52), and if there is music data in the karaoke apparatus 3, the music data is read out (step S53), preparation for performance is performed, and a request for background data is made (step S52). S56).

On the other hand, if the requested music data does not exist in its own karaoke device 3, the network 1 requests the other karaoke device 3 to transmit the music data.
(Step S54).

As shown in FIG. 7, when the other karaoke apparatus 3 storing the desired music data receives a request for transmitting the music data from the karaoke apparatus 3 executing the performance via the communication network 1 (step S71). ), Referring to the index table corresponding to the requested music, and performing data transmission preparation processing corresponding to the music (step S).
72). The music data corresponding to the music is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus 3 via the network 1 (step S63).

In the karaoke apparatus 3 for executing a performance, FIG.
As shown in (5), when music data is received from another karaoke apparatus 3 (step S55), the index table is referred to, performance preparation processing such as reading out background data corresponding to the music number is performed, and the index table is referred to. Request the karaoke apparatuses 3... That share and record the video data to transmit the video data via the network 1 (step S56).

As shown in FIG. 7, when the karaoke apparatus 3... That stores video data in a shared manner receives a request for transmission of video data from the karaoke apparatus 3 that performs a performance via the communication network 1 (step). S74) With reference to the index table corresponding to the requested music, performing data transmission preparation processing corresponding to the music, reading a part of the background video data corresponding to the music from the data file, The video data is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus 3 that performs the performance via the communication network 1 (step S75).

In the karaoke apparatus 3 executing the performance, it is determined whether or not background video data has arrived from another karaoke apparatus 3 via the network 1 (step S57).
When the background video data from another karaoke device 3 arrives, the background video data is stored in the buffer RAM 31, and the performance of the karaoke device 3 is started using the background video data (step S5).
8). Then, the performance operation of the karaoke apparatus 3 described above is started.

If the background video data from another karaoke apparatus 3 has not arrived, the performance of the karaoke apparatus 3 is started using the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3 for performing the performance (step). S59). It is monitored whether or not background video data from another karaoke device 3 has arrived via the network 1 (step S60), and stored in the karaoke device 3 until the background video data arrives via the network 1. The performance of the karaoke apparatus 3 is continued using the background data. When the background video data arrives from another karaoke device 3 via the network 1, the background video data is switched to the background video data obtained via the network 1 (step S61).

As described above, both the music data and the background video data are distributed from the other karaoke apparatus 3 and the karaoke performance can be performed. In the system configured as described above, if a delay occurs in the transmission / delivery system of the video data, the video is reproduced with the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3 and the data from the communication network 1 is transmitted. The video data to be reproduced is switched at the time of arrival.

By configuring the system in this way, it is possible to reproduce the background data individually corresponding to the music regardless of the delay in the communication network 1. Therefore, without waiting for the arrival of the background video data from the data transmission device 2, the performance and the performance preparation can be performed, and the preparation of the music can be performed quickly.
Also, the amount of data stored in the karaoke device 3 can be smaller.

The karaoke apparatus 3 in the above embodiment
In, depending on the load of the karaoke apparatus 3 and the line condition,
A part (several seconds to several tens of seconds) of background data for performing is held and stored so that the background video can be reproduced even when a certain time delay occurs until actually distributed. . If a delay occurs in the distribution system or the like, the video is first played back with the background data stored in the karaoke apparatus 3, and when the data from the communication network 1 arrives, the played back video data is read. It is configured to switch. It is not always necessary to store a part of such background data in the karaoke device 3, and the karaoke terminal device 3 may be configured to store only the background video data that is shared and stored. In this case,
The video data from each karaoke device 3 is transmitted to the network 1
May be configured to wait for the performance to be executed until it is distributed via the.

In the above-described embodiment, a hard disk is used as a device for storing karaoke data such as music data and video data. However, by reducing the storage capacity of each karaoke device 3, a flash memory or the like can be used. The karaoke data may be stored using a semiconductor memory.

Further, there is no need to store karaoke data to be supplied to other karaoke devices in all karaoke devices connected to the network 1, and a server type karaoke terminal device having a function of supplying karaoke data to other devices. And a client-type karaoke terminal that does not supply data to other karaoke devices. In this case, it is more friendly to the user to provide some differentiation in the system between the karaoke apparatus that supplies karaoke data to another karaoke apparatus and the karaoke terminal apparatus that does not supply the karaoke data.

As a method of differentiating, for example, a difference is made between monthly usage fees. In one embodiment, the monthly usage fee of the server type karaoke terminal device is reduced. in this case,
The time and the price system may be changed according to the energizing time and the number of times the data is provided.

As another method, the performance preparation time in the client-type karaoke terminal device is lengthened. It is also possible to deliberately lengthen the time during which a song can be prepared to provide a difference in performance.

As still another method, a difference is made between the warranty period of the apparatus and the maintenance cost.

As another method, a difference is made between the release of a new song and the background video. In other words, the server-type karaoke terminal device is made to differentiate by, for example, enabling the user to play a new song first, or providing a background image that can be reproduced only by the server-type karaoke terminal device.

As described above, differentiating may be performed by various methods.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the video data is shared and stored by a plurality of karaoke terminals, a single karaoke apparatus transmits data in a short time and transmits the data. The load is reduced to move to other karaoke devices. For this reason, the number of karaoke apparatuses that can provide the data communication service increases. In addition, since the storage capacity of each karaoke terminal is also a part of the background data, the karaoke terminal does not need a large storage device, and can enjoy karaoke performance with a small karaoke terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each karaoke apparatus connected to a network used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data format used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus for executing a performance according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of another karaoke apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke apparatus for executing a performance according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of another karaoke apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing types of stream IDs used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a data format used by the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 communication network 3 karaoke device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Hiroki Yamashita, Inventor 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Fumihiko Yamamoto 2-5- Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Junichi Nishi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 5C053 FA23 FA29 GB11 GB37 JA16 LA04 LA06 LA15 5D108 BA11 BG10

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke system in which a plurality of karaoke terminals are connected to each other via a network, wherein the karaoke terminals are provided with music data storage means and video data storage means, and the karaoke terminals have video storage means. Store a part of the video data associated with the karaoke song,
One of the video data stored in the plurality of karaoke terminals
Video data corresponding to the karaoke tune of the song is configured, and when a karaoke performance instruction is issued to the karaoke terminal, the video data corresponding to the karaoke tune is shared and stored from the video storage means of the karaoke terminal. A karaoke system, wherein the karaoke system receives the received music via a computer and plays the video to execute the performance. 2. A plurality of music data are stored in the music data storage means of each karaoke terminal, and when a karaoke performance instruction is given, the corresponding music data is not stored in the storage means of the karaoke terminal that instructed the karaoke performance. in case of,
2. The karaoke system according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke system receives music data from another karaoke terminal via a network, reproduces the music data, and executes the music data. 3. The network according to claim 1, wherein said network is configured to be capable of multicast transmission.
The karaoke system described in 1.