JPH11102194A - Karaoke apparatus for displaying externally input image information on a display and method of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To input image information while controlling an image transmission device installed outside and output it to a display as an external input video. SOLUTION: The karaoke data is processed to output accompaniment music of the karaoke music and a lyric image in synchronization with a speaker and a display, and the lyric image is superimposed using video information recorded in an internal video storage unit as a background video. A karaoke apparatus for displaying an imposed image, comprising: connector means for connecting to an externally installed image transmission device; external device control means for generating a control signal for controlling driving of the image transmission device; External video processing means for receiving and processing the image information output by the sending device via the connector means, and the external video processing means, when the image information is input during the performance of the karaoke music, This image information is output to the display as an external input image, appropriately replacing the background image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus, and more particularly, to a karaoke apparatus for displaying externally input image information on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional karaoke apparatus processes karaoke data of karaoke music and outputs accompaniment music and lyrics images in synchronization with a speaker and a display. On the other hand, mood video is reproduced by processing video information stored in an internal video storage unit such as a video CD. The lyrics image is superimposed and displayed using the mood image as a background image.

[0003]

The background image output on the display of the karaoke apparatus has no relation to the singer. At karaoke venues such as karaoke boxes and banquet halls, guests can enjoy karaoke with companions. In such a case, if a picture or video common to the accompanying person can be displayed on the background video, it is possible to greatly excite the place. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for users to enjoy karaoke while watching images recorded on video tapes or the like prepared by users. In response to this request, a karaoke apparatus is provided with an external video input terminal. By connecting this terminal to a video output terminal of an image transmission device such as a video tape player, a video signal from the image transmission device can be output to a display as a substitute for a background image as an external input image. It has become.

However, in order to output the externally input video to the display, some expertise is required, such as switching the video input of the karaoke apparatus to the external video input side and controlling the reproduction to output the video signal from the image transmitting apparatus. And very complicated equipment operation is required. Further, if the image transmission device simply controls the reproduction, the externally input video becomes a “running video” which is not related to the music performance processing by the karaoke device. Therefore, when video to be displayed and output is scattered and recorded on a video tape or the like, it is necessary to control reproduction while cutting unnecessary portions. Therefore, the device operation becomes extremely complicated, and the person who operates the device cannot participate in karaoke. further,
The video may be interrupted during a blank time until the recording position where the desired video is recorded is accessed, or an unsightly video including noise caused by winding / rewinding may be output in the case of a tape medium. In this case, the image prepared by the user to excite the place is rather darkened.

Accordingly, the present invention is capable of automatically controlling an externally connected image sending device to eliminate complicated operations by a user and to achieve a natural display state, thereby greatly enriching the scene. It is intended to provide a karaoke device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a karaoke apparatus having the following requirements (1) to (4). (1) The karaoke data is processed to output the accompaniment music of the karaoke music and the lyrics image in synchronization with the speaker and the display, and the lyrics image is super-in-processed using the video information recorded in the internal video storage unit as the background video. Pause display. (2) A connector for connecting to an image transmission device installed outside is provided. (3) An external device control means for generating a control signal for driving and controlling the image transmission device and transmitting the generated signal via the connector means. (4) An external video processing unit for receiving and processing the image information output by the image transmission device according to the control signal via the connector unit. When the image information is input during the performance of the karaoke music, the external video processing means outputs the image information to the display as an external input video, appropriately replacing the background video.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the connector means can be connected to a plurality of systems of image transmission devices, and the external device control means individually transmits predetermined control signals for controlling the driving of the plurality of systems of image transmission devices. A karaoke device that generated.

According to the karaoke apparatus according to the third invention,
When the image information output by the image transmission device is interrupted, the external video processing unit continues to display the image information output immediately before the interruption in the blank time until the display output is restarted as a still image. Control.

The karaoke apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention further comprises user interface means for allowing a user to specify and input a display sequence of the externally input video, and the external device control means appropriately controls the display sequence according to the specified display sequence. A control signal for sequentially outputting the image information to the image transmission device is generated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless connection between the karaoke apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects and an image transmitting apparatus capable of performing information communication by a predetermined wireless signal.
A part or all of the connector means is replaced by a wireless communication interface means for appropriately communicating information by the wireless signal.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the method of using the karaoke apparatus described above, wherein the image transmitting apparatus is connected to the connector means or the wireless communication interface means, and image information described in an appropriate format is stored. The user prepares the image recording medium and mounts the medium on the image transmitting apparatus. Then, at the time of performing the karaoke music requested by the user, the image information stored in the image recording medium is appropriately output to the display.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

=== Configuration and Basic Operation of Karaoke Apparatus === FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The karaoke apparatus 1 has almost the same configuration as the performance terminal in the communication karaoke system, and its basic operation is almost the same.

A central control unit 11 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM controls the karaoke apparatus 1 by performing data input / output and various controls to peripheral components via a data bus 26 or a control bus 27. I have control. Then, karaoke data distributed from the host device 60 via the telephone line 50 is received via the modem 24 and stored in the hard disk device 12.

The central control section 11 transmits music selection information input from the operation panel 22 or the remote control transmitter 25 to the operation control section 2.
Upon receiving the karaoke data from the hard disk device 12, the karaoke data is processed. Accompaniment music generation data such as MIDI data in the karaoke data is sequentially transferred to the synthesizer 17, and accompaniment music of the karaoke music is generated. The audio signal of the accompaniment music is mixed with the singer's voice signal from the microphone 20 by the mixing amplifier 19 and output to the speaker 18.

The lyrics rendering data in the karaoke data is transferred to the video RAM 13, and the lyrics images synchronized with the accompaniment music are sequentially developed into bitmaps. The lyric image is superimposed on the background image from the video CD changer 15 by the image control unit 14 and is displayed on the display 16.
Is output to

The karaoke apparatus 1 has, in addition to the basic functions, an external video output function of displaying a video signal, image data, or the like input externally on the display instead of the background video. Further, according to the present invention, the external video output function is connected to an externally connected device such as a video tape player or a floppy disk drive that outputs a video signal or digital image data and outputs image information by driving an image recording medium. It also has the function of automatically controlling the image sending device. Next, the external video output function will be described.

=== External Video Output Function === Interface with Image Transmitting Apparatus The karaoke apparatus 1 has various input / output control units for controlling various image transmitting apparatuses connected thereto and receiving image information. (A, b...) 70 are provided. The input / output control unit 70 includes a connector unit for physically connecting to the karaoke apparatus 1 and performs an appropriate signal conversion process to perform information communication between the karaoke apparatus 1 and the image transmission apparatus. Interface section. Further, instead of the wired connection with the image transmitting apparatus, the input / output control unit 70 may be replaced with a wireless communication interface for performing wireless connection by a wireless communication path such as an infrared signal.
In this embodiment, there are provided a light receiving section 81 such as a photodiode for an infrared signal, a light emitting section 82 such as an LED, and an IrDA interface 80 coupled thereto. Further, a remote control signal generator 90 for transmitting a control signal in one direction from the karaoke apparatus 1 to the image transmitting apparatus is provided. The remote control signal generator 90 can generate a remote control signal for operating a remote control device such as a video tape player, in accordance with a remote control code of each manufacturer. The light emitting unit 82
Share the remote control signal and the infrared signal transmission section based on the aforementioned IrDA standard. Of course, separate light emitting units may be provided for the remote control signal and IrDA.

The video input terminal 100 is a terminal for inputting an analog video signal output from a video tape player or the like. In this embodiment, a composite video terminal and an S video input terminal are provided. The number of video input terminals is not limited to one, but may be plural.
Note that the karaoke apparatus 1 can be equipped with an interface unit for general use by an expansion slot or the like.
The various interface units 70 and 80 described above can be freely attached and detached.

Next, the processing performed by the central control unit 11 to output image information input through these interfaces and input terminals to the display 16 and the karaoke apparatus 1
The operation of will be briefly described.

Output of Image Information First, the case where image information input from the above-described interface is output to the display 16 will be described. Image data input via the interface is JPEG
And a digital still image data file described in a well-known file format such as BMP. Central control unit 1
1 controls the video CD changer 15 in response to the activation of the external video output function to stop the transmission of the background video. Then, an appropriate data file is taken out and temporarily stored in the RAM. At the same time, the image display program stored in the hard disk device 12 is taken out and activated. This program performs an appropriate process according to the file format of the image data, and develops the image into a bit map in the video RAM 13. At this time, synthesis processing with the lyrics image is also performed. The bitmap image written in the video RAM 13 is converted into an analog RGB signal by the video control unit 14 and output to the display 16.

On the other hand, when outputting an analog video signal input to the video input terminal 100 to a display,
What is necessary is just to make the image control unit 14 input the external input image instead of the background image from the video CD changer 15.

=== How to Use Karaoke Apparatus According to the Present Invention === How to use the karaoke apparatus 1 will be described. Connection between Karaoke Apparatus and Image Transmitting Apparatus FIG. 2 shows an example of various image transmitting apparatuses connected to the above-described interface and video input terminal and their connection forms. In the present embodiment, various image transmission devices are appropriately prepared on the store side. An appropriate image recording medium on which image information is recorded is prepared by the user. Floppy disk (FD) 11 on which image data such as a still image is recorded
0, PC card 120, magneto-optical disk (MO) 130
Floppy disk drive (FDD) 115, PC card drive 1
An external storage device such as an MO drive 135 is prepared as an image transmission device. These image transmission devices are connected to the karaoke device 1 via an interface suitable for each device.

On the other hand, when a video device 145 such as a video tape player for outputting an analog video signal is connected, a signal path from the video device 145 to the karaoke device 1 is such that the video output terminal of the video device 145 is connected to the karaoke device 1 Analog wired connection by connecting to the video input terminal. The signal path for controlling the video equipment from the karaoke apparatus 1 is an infrared wireless connection using a remote control signal for operating the video equipment. This remote control signal is transmitted to the video equipment 14 by operating an operation panel or the like of the karaoke apparatus 1 similarly to a commercially available general-purpose remote control transmitter.
The video equipment 145 to be operated can be freely set by designating the maker 5 or the like.

Further, when the digital still camera 150 or the like owned by the user uses the built-in memory, and the user cannot copy image data to an appropriate recording medium (for example, when the user Does not have an image data processing device such as a digital still camera, and exclusively employs a mode of outputting image data with a TV receiver or the like using the analog video output terminal of the digital still camera 150). It may be connected to an interface such as RS232C adopted by the digital still camera by a predetermined transmission code. Further, an image transmission device having a data communication function conforming to IrDA (for example, a portable information terminal with a digital still camera, etc.)
The control of the device 200 and the transfer of image data may be performed by two-way wireless communication using infrared rays with an appropriate image sending device (for example, FDD or the like) 200 connected to the IrDA data communication adapter 160. The connection device and connection form are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed depending on the image transmission device.

Next, the operation environment of the external video output function and the operation of the image transmitting apparatus connected to the karaoke apparatus 1 when performing karaoke music will be described.

User Interface and Display Control of Image Information As a user interface of the external video output function, an operation input is performed by an operation panel or a remote control transmitter, similarly to the performance operation of the requested music. In addition, an interactive operation environment is provided by outputting various information corresponding to the operation input to a display.

The display control of digital still picture data recorded on an FD or the like and the display of analog moving picture video information recorded on a video tape or the like will be described below.

(A) Display of Still Image Data Here, a 3.5-inch F is used as a recording medium for still image data.
D, an example in which a 3.5-inch FDD is used as the driving device will be described. It is assumed that a plurality of image data files recorded in an appropriate file format are recorded in the FD.

When the user attaches the FD brought by the user to the FDD and inputs start command information for the externally input video display function, the central control unit outputs a list of connected image transmission devices on the display. Here, the user is required to display 3.5 on the screen.
The image sending device is designated by moving the cursor to the field of inch FD or inputting the number assigned to each image sending device with ten keys. Of course, the image transmitting apparatus to be used may be specified by performing information communication with all the connected image transmitting apparatuses and automatically determining the image transmitting apparatus on which the image recording medium is mounted. .

Next, the FDD is driven to display a list of file names recorded on the FDD. The user specifies the files to be output as the external video and the order of the files while viewing the file display. Of course, it is possible to specify to output in random order. Further, a search may be made from the file attributes (date and file name) in accordance with a predetermined condition to specify the file. Alternatively, a search condition may be specified, and files matching the condition may be output in an appropriate order (first order of file name, date order, random order, etc.). In addition, it is possible to freely set, for example, to use all the files designated when one music is played, or to appropriately allocate and use the performance of a plurality of music.

The central control unit starts the music performance processing, drives the FDD, sequentially retrieves the designated files from the FD, and displays them on the display. In the present embodiment, the title of the music or the like is displayed during the blank time required for the first image data capture, and the first image is displayed when the display processing is completed. In addition, the display time of one image is defined as the time obtained by dividing the time from the time when the first image is displayed to the time when the musical performance ends by the number of designated files. When outputting an external video over a plurality of music performances, an appropriate background video recorded in a video CD changer may be output between performances of each music.

(B) Display of moving image Next, the operation and operation for outputting the moving image as an external input image will be described. It is assumed that a VHS video tape (hereinafter, “tape”) is used as a moving image recording medium.
In addition, a video tape player (hereinafter, referred to as a player), which is a driving device of the tape, has a VHS
An index search (VISS) function and an address designation search (VASS) function according to the system standard are provided. Further, it is assumed that it also supports a time designation search and a content list display function adopted by some manufacturers. This content list display function is a function in which, when a recorded tape is mounted on a player, the recorded content (recording date / time, recording time, etc.) is displayed in a list on a display.

The user attaches the tape brought to the player, activates an externally input video display function, and designates an image transmission device. Up to this point, the operation is the same as in the above-described FD. When the player is designated as the image sending device, if the data of the content list display is recorded on the tape, the list and a predetermined display for designating the reproduction sequence are output to the display. When the content list data is not recorded, only the designation of the reproduction sequence is displayed.

The display sequence includes continuous playback in which playback is continued from the beginning of the tape or from the tape position where the user has rewound or rewinded, and intermittent playback in which a plurality of playback start positions are designated. There is. In the case of intermittent playback, it is possible to specify whether to specify the playback time or to automatically determine the playback time and the number of playback positions of the music. The reproduction start position is specified by the index number of the VISS signal or the address number of the VASS signal recorded on the tape, or by the time position from the head of the tape or the tape position at the time of mounting. If data for displaying a content list is recorded, the content displayed in the list can be directly specified. Of course, in the case of a moving image, as in the case of the FD, it is not limited to the performance of a single song, and in the case of continuous playback in which a plurality of recording positions can be designated for the performance of a plurality of songs, the central control unit performs After the title display is output, the remote control signal control unit is instructed to transmit a remote control signal for a reproduction operation to the tape player. When the tape is continuously reproduced over a plurality of music pieces, control for inserting a background image between performances of each music piece is also performed according to the user's specification.

In the case of intermittent reproduction, images are interrupted when the tape is rewound or rewound to each reproduction position. Therefore, during this blank time, the background video from the CD-changer is output, or the last frame of the video that has been played back is captured and stored in the video RAM until the tape is wound at the next playback position. It may be displayed as a still image.

It should be noted that the player need not necessarily be equipped with various search functions, in which case the same control as in continuous playback may be used.

=== Other Embodiments === In this embodiment, it is not necessary to use a remote control signal for controlling the player as an infrared remote control signal. Conversion part) and the remote control signal generator of the karaoke device,
Wired control such as directly supplying an RF signal corresponding to the remote control code may be used. Also, various editing terminals (for example, LAN
C terminal <product name>) and means for generating a control signal according to the standard may be provided.

The moving picture image inputted externally is not limited to an analog picture signal, but may be digital moving picture data conforming to the DV standard or the MPEG standard. Then, the karaoke apparatus may be provided with an interface for connecting a digital video player of each standard with a digital signal, and a decoder for converting the input digital moving image data into an analog video signal.

The image recording medium on which the image information is recorded is not limited to the one brought by the user, but is prepared as an image collection at the karaoke hall so that the user can freely use the image collection according to his / her preference. You may.

[0040]

According to the karaoke apparatus of the present invention, by providing appropriate connector means, external device control means, and external video processing means, complicated operation of externally input image information is required. It is possible to output to a display when a musical piece is played without any need, and to freely and automatically control the image sending device to synchronize the performance operation with the display of the externally input video and smoothly switch the image without interruption. Therefore, the place can be greatly excited.

Further, by enabling connection with a plurality of image sending devices, it is possible to support various image recording media. Therefore, the user can freely select the connection mode, and the versatility is improved. Therefore, it is possible to expect improvement in customer attraction, such as acquisition of new users.

By displaying an image previously displayed on the display as a still image in a blank time generated when accessing image information recorded on the image recording medium,
The unsightly screen is not displayed. Therefore, the image is switched by a natural expression, and the atmosphere of the exciting place is not spoiled.

Further, by outputting an externally input image in accordance with a display sequence designated by the user, it is possible to make the image suitable for the music and the atmosphere of the place.

If the connector means is replaced with a wireless communication interface, the karaoke apparatus and the image transmitting apparatus can be connected by a wireless signal path. For this reason, the degree of freedom of the image transmission device that can be connected and the installation location thereof are increased.

Further, according to the method of using the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, an external image transmitting apparatus is connected to the karaoke apparatus, and an image recording medium suitable for the image transmitting apparatus is prepared. Therefore, the capital investment for the karaoke apparatus is only for the karaoke apparatus itself. Then, it is only necessary to appropriately connect a necessary image transmission device when necessary. Therefore, a karaoke system with higher entertainment can be easily and inexpensively constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form between a karaoke apparatus and an image transmission apparatus in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Karaoke device 11 Central control unit 12 Hard disk device 14 Video control unit 16 Display 70 Input / output control unit 80 IrDA interface unit 90 Remote control signal generation unit 100 Video input terminal 110 Floppy disk 115 Floppy disk drive 140 Video tape 145 Video tape player

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Motomura 5-5-26 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takaji Urakami 5-5-Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 26 Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A karaoke apparatus for displaying externally input image information on a display, comprising:
(4) is provided. (1) The karaoke data is processed to output the accompaniment music of the karaoke music and the lyrics image in synchronization with the speaker and the display, and the lyrics image is super-in-processed using the video information recorded in the internal video storage unit as the background video. Pause display. (2) A connector for connecting to an image transmission device installed outside is provided. (3) An external device control means for generating a control signal for driving and controlling the image transmission device and transmitting the generated signal via the connector means. (4) An external video processing unit for receiving and processing the image information output by the image transmission device according to the control signal via the connector unit. When the image information is input during the performance of the karaoke music, the external video processing means outputs the image information to the display as an external input video, appropriately replacing the background video. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connector means is connectable to a plurality of systems of image transmission devices, and said external device control means is a predetermined control for driving and controlling said plurality of systems of image transmission devices. A karaoke apparatus for generating signals individually. 3. The external video processing means according to claim 1, wherein, when the image information from the image transmission device is interrupted, the external video processing means outputs the image information immediately before the image information is interrupted by a blank time until display output is resumed. A karaoke apparatus characterized by continuing to display the image information as a still image. 4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising user interface means for allowing a user to specify and input a display sequence of the externally input video, wherein the external device control means controls the display sequence. A karaoke apparatus for generating a control signal for sequentially outputting the appropriate image information to the image transmitting apparatus according to the following. 5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein a part or all of said connector means is connected to an image transmitting apparatus capable of performing information communication by a predetermined wireless signal through a wireless signal path. A karaoke apparatus characterized in that the karaoke apparatus is replaced with a wireless communication interface means for appropriately performing information communication. 6. A method of using the karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, which satisfies the following requirements (A) to (C). (A) The image transmission device is connected to the connector unit or the wireless communication interface unit. (B) The user prepares an image recording medium in which image information described in an appropriate format is stored, and mounts the medium on the suitable image transmission device. (C) When the karaoke music requested by the user is performed, the image information stored in the image recording medium is output to a display as appropriate.