Melody retrieval system

Abstract

A music retrieval system which take an input melody as the query. In one embodiment, changes or differences in the distribution of energy across the frequency spectrum over time are used to find breakpoints in the input melody in order to separate it into distinct notes. In another embodiment the breakpoints are identified based on changes in pitch over time. A confidence level is preferably associated with each breakpoint and / or note extracted from the input melody. The confidence level is based on one or more of: changes in pitch, absolute values of a spectral energy distribution indicator, relative values of the spectral energy distribution indicator, and the energy level of the input melody. The process of matching the input melody with songs in the music database is based on minimizing a cost computation that takes into account errors in the insertion and deletion of notes, and penalizes these errors in accordance with the confidence levels of the breakpoints and / or notes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial no. 60 / 188,730, entitled, Humming Search Music Recognition System, filed March 13, 2000, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD OF INVENTION [0003] The invention relates to the field of music retrieval systems and more particularly to retrieval systems which take a melody vocalized by a user as the query. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0004] With the proliferation of musical databases now available, e.g., through the Internet or jukebox machines, consumers now have ready acces...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] An entry may be retrieved from a music database of sequences of pitches and beat durations in accordance with a match function that receives the digitized melody obtained from a melody source as described herein. A method and system for implementing the retrieval may determine a score for each entry based on a search which minimizes the cost of matching the pitches and beat durations of the melody and the entry, and which may be based on minimizing a cost computation which may take into account one or more note insertion and / or deletion errors and penalize the cost in accordance with confidence levels pertaining thereto.

Problems solved by technology

However, being surrounded by so much music, it is often difficult for a listener to catch or remember the title of a song or the artist's name.

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