JP2013024915A - Dongle device and reproduction system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dongle device which can impart a function for generating audio data from performance information such as Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data to an electrical product.SOLUTION: A dongle device comprises: a terminal (105) for electrically connecting with an electrical product; a communication unit (101) for receiving performance information from a terminal device; and an audio source (102) for generating audio data on the basis of the performance information to output the audio data to the electrical product via the terminal. On the basis of the performance information received by the communication unit (101), the audio source (102) generates audio data to output the audio data via the terminal (105).

Description

  The present invention relates to a dongle device including a sound source that generates audio data based on performance information, and a reproduction system including the dongle device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic musical instrument having a sound source that conforms to the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard is known. According to this sound source, audio data is generated based on performance information such as MIDI data according to the operation of an operator such as a keyboard by a user, and high-quality musical sounds can be obtained.

  On the other hand, as represented by flat-screen TVs, the digitization and high functionality of household electrical products are being promoted. For example, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 10144625 (Patent Document 1) discloses a television apparatus having a music learning function. According to the television device provided with this music learning function, the user can practice playing a musical instrument such as a keyboard connected to the television device in accordance with the content of the training displayed on the television screen by the training software. Also, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 10177223 (Patent Document 2) discloses a television device having a musical instrument performance function. According to the television apparatus having the musical instrument performance function, it is possible to realize a performance environment similar to that of an actual musical instrument at a low cost, and to generate a musical sound equivalent to an electronic musical instrument based on “musical instrument operation information”. Can do.

Chinese Patent Application No. 10144625 Chinese Patent Application No. 10177223

  However, the above-described television apparatus having the music learning function according to the conventional technology does not include a high-performance sound source that is built in an electronic musical instrument. For this reason, even if a keyboard or the like is connected to a television apparatus equipped with this music learning function, the user cannot enjoy playing with high quality sound quality.

In addition, according to the above-described conventional television apparatus having a musical instrument performance function, hardware for generating musical sounds based on “musical instrument operation information” is required, which increases the manufacturing cost of the television apparatus. .
Therefore, there is a demand for a technique for generating high-quality musical tones in general household electrical products.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a dongle device capable of generating high-quality musical tones in a general household electric product and a reproduction system including the dongle device. And

  The present invention corresponds to a terminal (element corresponding to the terminal 105 in FIG. 1) for electrical connection with an electric device, and a communication unit (corresponding to the communication unit 101 in FIG. 1) for receiving performance information from the terminal device. Element), and a sound source (element corresponding to the sound source 102 in FIG. 1) that generates audio data based on performance information received by the communication unit and outputs the audio data to the electric device via the terminal. The structure of the dongle apparatus provided with these. In the dongle device, for example, the communication unit further includes a function of wirelessly transmitting audio data generated by the sound source. The performance information is, for example, MIDI data. In addition, a playback system according to the present invention includes a terminal device that generates performance information and an electric device to which the dongle device is connected.

  According to the configuration of the dongle device, the communication unit receives performance information from the terminal device. The sound source generates audio data based on the performance information received by the communication unit. This audio data is output from the sound source via a terminal. Therefore, if this dongle device is connected to an electric device, the function of generating audio data based on performance information can be added to the electric device, and the function of the electric device can be expanded. As a result, it is possible to generate high-quality musical sounds with an electric device such as a general household electric appliance.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to add a function of generating audio data based on performance information to an electric device such as a home electric appliance. Can be generated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the dongle apparatus 100 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating system to which the dongle apparatus 100 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of the reproduction | regeneration system to which the dongle apparatus 100A by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a display of the screen of the thin-screen television by the 1st or 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the reproduction | regeneration system by embodiment of this invention using a communication network.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

(First embodiment)
In FIG. 1, the structure of the dongle apparatus 100 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown.
In general, a dongle device refers to a small device attached to an input / output port of a computer or the like for preventing unauthorized copying of software, but there is also a dongle device for interface conversion. The dongle device 100 according to the present embodiment is classified as the latter dongle device in that it has a function as an interface for converting performance information into audio data.
As shown in FIG. 1, the dongle device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit 101, a sound source 102, a memory 103, a bus 104, and a terminal 105. The communication unit 101, the sound source 102, and the memory 103 are connected to each other via a bus 104, and the bus 104 is connected to a terminal 105.

Here, the communication unit 101 is for receiving MIDI data (performance information) from a keyboard instrument 300 (terminal device) described later by wireless communication. The sound source 102 is for generating audio data based on the MIDI data received by the communication unit 101. MIDI data is performance data including various types of command information for reproducing musical sounds by performance. The audio data is digital data corresponding to an analog musical tone signal. The memory 103 stores an application program for constructing a musical sound reproduction system using the dongle device 100 and driver software for the reproduction system to access the dongle device 100. The memory 103 is preferably a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory.
In the present embodiment, the terminal 105 is assumed to be a connector (plug) conforming to the USB standard, but is not limited to this example. That is, the terminal 105 may be any standard terminal as long as it can be connected to a data terminal of the television device 200 described later.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a musical sound reproduction system using the dongle device 100 according to the present embodiment.
The playback system shown in FIG. 2 is configured as a musical instrument system, and includes a television device 200 to which the above-described dongle device 100 is connected and a keyboard musical instrument (terminal device) 300 provided with a communication unit 301. Note that the playback system according to the present embodiment is not limited to the musical instrument system, and may be any system as long as the system generates sound.

  The television device 200 includes a main CPU 201, a main memory 202, a codec (CODEC) 203, and a speaker 204. In FIG. 2, for simplification of description, only the above-described elements related to the dongle apparatus 100 are shown as constituent elements of the television apparatus 200, and other elements are omitted.

  In addition, the television apparatus 200 includes a USB port 205, and the terminal 105 shown in FIG. 1 of the dongle apparatus 100 is connected to the USB port. In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 200 includes the USB port 205, but is not limited to this example. The television device 200 may be any device as long as it has a data terminal such as a USB port, and a digital television device called a so-called thin television can be used.

  When the terminal 105 of the dongle device 100 is connected to the USB port 205 of the television device 200, power is supplied to the dongle device 100 via the USB port 205, and the main CPU 201 and codec 203 in the television device 200 are also connected. The communication unit 101 and the sound source 102 are electrically connected via the bus 104 in the dongle device 100.

  Here, the main CPU 201 included in the television device 200 is for controlling the overall operation of the playback system, and controls, for example, processing related to generation and decoding of audio data. The codec 203 is for decoding audio data and generating a musical sound signal. The codec 203 may be constructed by either software or hardware.

  The main memory 202 stores various timbre data used when generating audio data by the sound source 102 in the dongle device 100. As will be described later, this timbre data is stored in the main memory 202 as a part of the application software when the application software for constructing the reproduction system is introduced into the television apparatus 200.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the timbre data may be stored in the memory 103 in the dongle device 100. In this case, when the dongle device 100 is connected to the television device 200, the timbre data is transferred from the dongle device 100 to the main memory 202 in the television device 200.

As for the timbre data used by the sound source 102 in the dongle device 100, piano timbre data is set as default timbre data, but any timbre data can be set as default. Further, the user can arbitrarily designate other tone color data such as a guitar and a violin by an operation on the keyboard instrument 300 or a remote control operation of the television device 200, for example.
Further, the timbre data used in the performance may be stored in the storage unit 103 in the dongle device 100 as the default of the timbre data used in the next performance.
Furthermore, the dongle device 100 may acquire the timbre data set by the user on the keyboard instrument 300, and this may be stored in the memory 103 in the dongle device 100 or the main memory 202 in the television device 200.

The keyboard instrument 300 has a function of generating MIDI data in response to a keyboard operation by the user. This MIDI data is transmitted to the dongle device 100 by the communication unit 301.
In this embodiment, the keyboard instrument 300 is used. However, the electronic instrument 300 is not limited to the keyboard instrument 300, and any electronic device such as a guitar, drum, trumpet, violin, or the like may be used as long as it has a function of generating MIDI data. A musical instrument can be used, and not only an electronic musical instrument but also an information terminal such as a personal computer can be used.

  In this embodiment, driver software is incorporated in the dongle device 100. When the dongle device 100 is attached to the television device 200, the driver software is installed in the television device 200 from the memory 103 in the dongle device 100, so that the dongle device 100 can be accessed from the television device 200 side. .

  For example, when the driver software is incorporated in the television device 200 in advance, or when the television device 200 does not require the driver software, it is not necessary to incorporate the driver software in the dongle device 100.

Next, the operation of the reproduction system shown in FIG. 2 including the operation of the dongle device 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
First, the user inserts the dongle device 100 into the USB port 205 of the television device 200. As a result, power is supplied to the dongle device 100 via the USB port 205, and the dongle device 100 becomes operable.
Subsequently, predetermined application software for constructing the function of the reproduction system on the television device 200 is introduced into the television device 200. In the present embodiment, when the dongle device 100 is connected to the television device 200, application software stored in advance in the memory 103 in the dongle device 100 is introduced into the television device 200.

  As another method for introducing the application software to the television apparatus 200, for example, the application software is stored in a recording medium such as an optical disk, and the recording medium is transferred from the recording medium to the television apparatus 200 via a reproducing apparatus such as a DVD player. The reading method can be used.

  Alternatively, when the dongle device 100 is connected to the television device 200, necessary application software may be automatically introduced into the television device 200 from an external server via the Internet.

  When application software is introduced into the television device 200 in this way, various functions required for the playback system are constructed on the television device 200. For example, a function for controlling the operation of the communication unit 101 and the sound source 102 in the dongle device 100 and the operation of the codec 203 in the television device 200 is constructed as a function of the main CPU 201.

  After the application software is installed, when the terminal 105 of the dongle device 100 is connected to the USB port 205 of the TV device 200, power is supplied from the TV device 200 to the dongle device 100 via the USB port 205, and communication within the dongle device 100 is performed. The unit 101 and the sound source 102 become operable. Subsequently, the main CPU 201 reads default timbre data from the main memory 202 and transfers it to the sound source 102 in the dongle device 100.

  When the user starts playing in this state and operates the keyboard of the keyboard instrument 300, the keyboard instrument 300 generates MIDI data in response to the keyboard operation. Then, the communication unit 301 transmits this MIDI data.

  The communication unit 101 in the dongle device 100 receives MIDI data from the keyboard instrument 300 and supplies it to the sound source 102 under the control of the main CPU 201. The sound source 102 generates audio data based on the MIDI data supplied from the communication unit 101 using the timbre data transferred by the main CPU 201 under the control of the main CPU 201. For example, the sound source 102 is an FM (Frequency Modulation) sound source or a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) sound source. The sound source 102 supplies the generated audio data to the television device 200 via the bus 104 and the terminal 105.

  The codec 203 in the television device 200 decodes the audio data supplied from the dongle device 100 under the control of the main CPU 201, generates a musical sound signal, and supplies this to the speaker 204. Thereby, a musical sound is emitted from the speaker 204 in the television apparatus 200 according to the keyboard operation on the keyboard musical instrument 300 by the user.

  According to the first embodiment, by attaching the dongle device 100 to the general television device 200, a high-quality electronic musical instrument system can be easily configured. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with a high quality performance environment. Further, since the dongle device 100 is attached to the television device 200 and the dongle device 100 generates audio data based on the MIDI data received from the keyboard instrument 300, the sound source is generated using a general television device and an electronic musical instrument. A high-quality playback system can be realized. Furthermore, since the audio data is generated from the MIDI data, the functions of the keyboard instrument 300 can be fully utilized, and advanced performance can be achieved.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, MIDI data with a small amount of data is transmitted from the keyboard instrument 300 to the dongle apparatus 100, so that wireless communication with no narrow band is used between the dongle apparatus 100 and the keyboard instrument 300. However, compared with the case where audio data having a large amount of data is transmitted, the transmission delay of the data does not become obvious, and the musical sound can be emitted in real time.

  In the present embodiment, the communication unit 101 of the dongle device 100 and the communication unit 301 of the keyboard instrument 300 are wirelessly connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected by wire. Any communication means may be used.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second embodiment, a musical sound is emitted from an external speaker unit.
In FIG. 3, elements common to the constituent elements shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a reproduction system using the dongle device 100A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The playback system shown in FIG. 3 includes a television device 200 to which a dongle device 100A is attached, a keyboard instrument 300, and an external speaker 400.
In FIG. 3, only elements related to the second embodiment are shown as components of the television apparatus 200, and other elements are omitted.

  The dongle device 100A according to the second embodiment is basically configured in the same configuration as the dongle device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, but the communication unit 101 includes a sound source 102. It differs from the dongle apparatus 100 by 1st Embodiment by the point further provided with the function to transmit the audio data produced | generated by (1) by radio | wireless.

  In the present embodiment, the external speaker 400 emits a musical tone based on the audio data generated by the dongle device 100A, and includes a communication unit 401 for receiving audio data from the dongle device 100A. A digital-analog converter (DAC) 402 for decoding the audio data to generate an analog musical tone signal and a speaker 403 driven by the musical tone signal are incorporated.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the sound source 102 in the dongle device 100A is converted to MIDI data received by the communication unit 101 under the control of the main CPU 201 in the television device 200. Based on this, audio data is generated. Here, in the present embodiment, the communication unit 101 transmits audio data generated by the sound source 101 under the control of the main CPU 201.

  The communication unit 401 of the external speaker 400 receives audio data from the dongle device 100A. A digital / analog converter (DAC) 402 decodes the audio data received by the communication unit 401 to generate an analog tone signal, and the speaker 403 is driven by the tone signal. Therefore, a musical sound is emitted from the external speaker unit 400 according to the keyboard operation by the user.

  According to the second embodiment, it is possible to emit a musical sound from the external speaker unit 400 without being restricted by the speaker 204 incorporated in the television device 200. Therefore, for example, the keyboard instrument 300 and the speaker unit 400 can be installed at an arbitrary place away from the television device 200 to enjoy the performance.

  In the second embodiment, it is arbitrary whether or not the musical sound is emitted from the speaker 204 in the television device 200. For example, as in the first embodiment described above, the audio data is also supplied from the dongle device 100A to the television device 200, so that the sound output from the external speaker unit 400 is combined with the sound output from the external speaker unit 400. A musical sound may be emitted from the speaker 204.

Next, a usage mode of a reproduction system constructed from the television device 200 to which the dongle device 100 according to the first embodiment is attached and the keyboard instrument 300 will be described.
In the following description, the configuration of the first embodiment is used. However, the configuration of the second embodiment may be used. However, the communication unit 101 of the dongle device 100 and the communication unit 301 of the keyboard instrument 300 are assumed to have a bidirectional wireless communication function under the control of the main CPU 201.

  By introducing desired application software into the television apparatus 200, the functions of the playback system can be set in various ways and the usage forms can be expanded. For example, it can be used as a system for supporting musical performance of beginners.

  In this case, under the control of the main CPU 201, information related to the keyboard operation of the music selected by the user is transmitted from the television device 200 to the keyboard instrument 300 via the dongle device 100, and the key to be operated on this keyboard instrument 300 is transmitted. The position may be guided by, for example, LED light emission.

  Further, by introducing application software for performance guidance into the television apparatus 200, information for guiding the operation of the musical instrument may be displayed on the television apparatus 200. For example, as shown on the small screen 210 of the television apparatus 200 in FIG. 4, the position of the keyboard to be operated by the user may be guided according to the progress of the music.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and information in an arbitrary format such as a still image, a moving image, or a number can be displayed on the screen of the television device 200 as information for guiding the operation of the musical instrument. In this case, the skill of the performance by the user may be evaluated, and the evaluation result may be displayed on the screen.

  The television apparatus 200 is provided with a plurality of USB ports 205, and the plurality of USB ports 205 are replaced with a plurality of types of musical instruments (for example, piano, guitar, trumpet, violin, etc.) instead of the keyboard instrument 300. The dongle device 100 may be connected. This allows a session with multiple instruments. In this case, the plurality of dongle devices 100 and the plurality of musical instruments need to correspond one-to-one. For this reason, an identification number is assigned to each dongle device 100 and each musical instrument, and using this identification number, the dongle device 100 and the musical instrument in a corresponding relationship are recognized, and wireless communication between them is established.

  In addition, the audio data generated by the dongle device 100 can be temporarily stored in the television device 200 and reproduced later, or taken outside via, for example, a memory card or the Internet.

  It is also possible to store the MIDI data received by the dongle device 100 from the keyboard instrument 300 in the television device 200 together with the time information, and to reproduce the performance later using this MIDI data.

  In addition, since the guide information related to the keyboard operation (information corresponding to the light emission of the LED for guiding the key position described above) is displayed on the screen of the television device 200, the operator of the keyboard instrument 300 (the performance) A person other than the person) can listen to the performance while watching the screen of the television apparatus 200, and can enjoy the performance.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a service using a communication network can be provided by connecting a plurality of television devices 200 </ b> A, 200 </ b> B and a personal computer 600 to a server 500 via a communication network such as the Internet. In FIG. 5, television devices 200A and 200B correspond to the television device 200 shown in FIG. 2, and a dongle device 100 (or 100A) is connected thereto. The server 500 stores timbre data, application software, performance data, and the like.

  In the example of FIG. 5, when the television devices 200A and 200B download necessary application software from the server 500, the user can construct a desired system on the television devices 200A and 200B. Further, for example, performance data (MIDI data, audio data) is uploaded from the television device 200A to the server 500, and the performance data is downloaded from the server 500 by the remote television device 200B. Each user of television apparatus 200A, 200B can share.

  Further, in the system using this network, the server 500 distributes a stream image for music learning to, for example, the television apparatus 200A and reproduces it on the television apparatus 200A, whereby the educational curriculum for the music learner is reproduced on the television. It can be provided to the user of apparatus 200A. In this case, the user of the television device 200A, who is a learner, operates the keyboard of the keyboard instrument 300 according to the image or sound output from the screen or speaker of the television device 200A according to the music learning curriculum. By this keyboard operation, the keyboard instrument 300 generates MIDI data, or the dongle device 100 generates audio data. The MIDI data generated by the keyboard instrument 300 or the audio data generated by the dongle device 100 is stored in, for example, the main memory 202 of the television device 200A.

  Then, the learner sends the MIDI data and audio data stored in the main memory 202 of the television apparatus 200A to the instructor by transmitting the data to the instructor terminal (not shown) at a remote location via the Internet, for example. You can request an evaluation and receive guidance. In addition, the user of the television device 200A can perform the performance to the family by transmitting performance data obtained by operating the keyboard of the keyboard instrument 300 to a remote family terminal, for example, via the Internet.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the personal computer 600 downloads various data from the server 500 via the Internet, and introduces the data to the television apparatus 200A (or 200B) via a recording medium such as a memory card or a LAN. be able to. Conversely, for example, the personal computer 600 can fetch performance data from the television device 200 and upload it to the server 500. That is, data can be arbitrarily exchanged among the server 500, the television device 200A (or 200B), and the personal computer 600.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Further, for example, it is assumed that an identification code unique to the keyboard instrument 300 is transmitted to the dongle devices 100 and 100A, and the dongle device 100 and 100A does not receive a specific identification code representing the type of the keyboard instrument 300 from the keyboard instrument 300, for example. The function of the dongle device may be limited, and for example, only the communication function of the communication unit 101 may be provided. In addition, when the dongle device 100, 100A receives the specific identification code from the keyboard instrument 300, the dongle device 100, 100A does not limit the functions of the dongle device 100, 100A, and provides all the functions of the dongle device 100, 100A. May be. This makes it possible to provide the functions of the dongle device according to the type of the keyboard instrument 300 and the like.

  Further, on the screen of the television device 200, not only information related to the functions of the dongle devices 100 and 100A but also any other information may be displayed. For example, the display area of the screen of the television device 200 may be divided into a plurality of parts, information related to the functions of the dongle devices 100 and 100A may be displayed in a certain display area, and a video by television broadcasting may be displayed in another display area. Good. In addition, only the video by the television broadcast may be displayed on the screen of the television device 200. In this case, both the sound related to the functions of the dongle devices 100 and 100A and the sound corresponding to the video by the television broadcast may be output from the speaker 204 of the TV device 200, or one of them may be selected by the user. May be output.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated as an example the case where the dongle apparatus 100.100A by this invention was connected to a television apparatus, this invention is not limited to this example. That is, the dongle device according to the present invention is any home electric product having sound emitting means such as a speaker, display means such as a liquid crystal display, data terminal such as a USB port, and an information processing device such as a CPU. Can also be connected. Examples of such household electric appliances include electric devices such as video cameras, projectors, refrigerators, and microwave ovens in addition to television devices.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100,100A ... Dongle apparatus, 101 ... Communication part, 102 ... Sound source, 103 ... Memory, 104 ... Bus, 105 ... Terminal, 200 ... Television apparatus, 201 ... Main CPU, 202 ... Main memory, 203 ... Codec (CODEC), 204 ... Speaker, 205 ... USB port, 300 ... Keyboard instrument (terminal device), 301 ... Communication unit, 400 ... External speaker unit, 401 ... Communication unit, 402 ... Digital-analog converter (DAC), 403 ... Speaker.

Claims (6)

A terminal for electrical connection with an electrical device;
A communication unit for receiving performance information from the terminal device;
A sound source that generates audio data based on performance information received by the communication unit and outputs the audio data to the electric device via the terminal;
Dongle device equipped with. The communication unit is
2. The dongle device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of wirelessly transmitting audio data generated by the sound source.   3. The dongle device according to claim 1, wherein the performance information is MIDI data.   2. The dongle device according to claim 1, wherein the electric device includes a display unit and a sound emitting unit.   2. The dongle device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a television device. The electric device to which the dongle device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is connected;
The terminal device for generating and transmitting performance information to be received by the dongle device;
A playback system with

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