Program for portable terminal and, karaoke system

Abstract

To provide a new way to enjoy Karaoke by linking a Karaoke device and a portable terminal.SOLUTION: A program for a portable terminal in accordance with the present invention causes the portable terminal to execute: an association process for communicatively associating with a karaoke device; an event detection process for detecting occurrence of a predetermined event on the program for the portable terminal; a music piece determination process for determining whether or not a music piece played on the Karaoke device is a program-related music piece; and a control process for transmitting a control signal for controlling the playback of the music piece that is determined to be a program-related piece, when the event detection process detects the occurrence of the event.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program for a mobile terminal that operates in cooperation with a karaoke device that performs a performance for singing, and a karaoke system including the karaoke device and the program for the mobile terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Karaoke, where one enjoys singing along with the played accompaniment, is popular among many users. Karaoke devices have become capable of playing a very large number of music pieces through music distribution using communication. For improving the playability of karaoke devices, not only the basic music playback function but also the addition of new functions is required.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a singing assistance system that performs an appropriate sound effect production method according to whether the number of users of the karaoke system is single or plural. According to the singing assistance system described in Patent Document 1, when the number of users is single, the pronunciation data of the sound effect is output for pronunciation, and when the number is plural, the display data of the sound effect is output for display, so that an appropriate sound effect production method can be efficiently led according to the karaoke usage state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the singing assistance system described in Patent Document 1, the object is to enhance the music playback function, which is a basic function of the karaoke device. One object of the present invention is to provide a new way of enjoyment by linking the karaoke device and the portable terminal owned by the user. Another object is to suppress the processing load and development load on the karaoke device when linking the karaoke device and the portable terminal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] Therefore, the program for a portable terminal according to the present invention causes the portable terminal to execute: an association process for making an association so as to be communicable with the karaoke device; an event detection process for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event on the program for the portable terminal; a music determination process for determining whether the music being played on the karaoke device is a program-related music; and a control process for transmitting a control signal for controlling the playback of the music determined to be a program-related music when the occurrence of the predetermined event is detected in the event detection process.

[0007] Furthermore, in the program for a portable terminal according to the present invention, the predetermined event detected in the predetermined event process is the progress status of the program for the portable terminal.

[0008] Furthermore, in the program for a portable terminal according to the present invention, the control process transmits a control signal according to the detected predetermined event.

[0009] Furthermore, in the program for a portable terminal according to the present invention, the music determination process determines whether the music being played on the karaoke device is a program-related music based on a list in which identification information indicating program-related music is registered.

[0010] In addition, the karaoke system according to the present invention A karaoke system including a karaoke device and a program for a mobile terminal to be executed on the mobile terminal, The program for the mobile terminal causes the mobile terminal to execute: An association process for associating with the karaoke device in a communicable manner, An event detection process for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event on the program for the mobile terminal, A music determination process for determining whether the music being played on the karaoke device is a program-related music, When the occurrence of a predetermined event is detected in the event detection process, a control process for transmitting a control signal for controlling the playback of the music determined to be a program-related music.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the program for the mobile terminal and the karaoke system according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new way of enjoying by linking the karaoke device and the mobile terminal owned by the user. Further, when linking the karaoke device and the mobile terminal, it is possible to suppress the processing load and the development load on the karaoke device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the karaoke device of this embodiment and its peripheral configuration. The karaoke device 2 (which may also be referred to as a "commander") in this embodiment has a remote control device 1 as its peripheral configuration. The karaoke device 2 and the remote control device 1 are communicatively connected to form a network using the LAN 100 and the access point 110.

[0014] The karaoke device 2 installed in a karaoke box or the like includes an audio control unit 25 as a performance unit for playing music. The karaoke device 2 also includes an operation unit 21 for receiving various inputs from the user. The karaoke device 2 includes an operation processing unit 22 that interprets the input from the operation unit 21 and transmits it to the control unit 30. The karaoke device 2 also includes a hard disk 32 as a storage unit for storing various information. The karaoke device 2 includes a LAN communication unit 24a as a communication means for connecting to the LAN 100 and joining the network. In addition, the karaoke device 2 of this embodiment includes a wireless LAN communication unit 24b. It is also possible to perform network communication using this wireless LAN communication unit 24b.

[0015] The karaoke device 2 also includes video playback means for displaying lyric images and background images on the monitor 41. The video playback means includes a video playback unit 29 that plays back video based on video information, a video RAM 28 that temporarily stores the video to be played back, a video control unit 31 that superimposes lyric telops on the played-back video, applies video effects, etc.

[0016] Furthermore, in addition to the monitor 41 connected externally, the karaoke device 2 can display various information on the touch panel monitor 33. The touch panel monitor 33 is configured by superimposing a display unit 33a that displays video information input from the video control unit 31 and a touch panel 33b that outputs the touched position to the operation processing unit 22.

[0017] The touch panel monitor 33 is arranged on the front surface of the housing of the karaoke device 2 or the like and functions as an input unit. The user can perform various operations on the karaoke device 2, such as directly reserving a song on the karaoke device 2 by selecting a song on the touch panel monitor 33.

[0018] Furthermore, the karaoke device 2 is configured to include a control unit 30 for overall control of each component and a control unit including a memory 27 for temporarily storing information necessary for executing various programs.

[0019] With such a configuration, the karaoke device 2 executes various processes. The main processes of the karaoke device 2 include a song reservation process and a song playback process. The song reservation process is a process for designating and reserving a song based on an operation instruction from the user and is executed in cooperation with the remote control device 1. The reservation information including the identification information (song identification information) of the song formed by the song instruction process of the remote control device 1 is transmitted to the karaoke device 2. The karaoke device 2 registers the received reservation information in the reservation table in the memory 27. The song playback process is a process for playing back a song based on the reservation information registered in the reservation table and is a process in which the song performance process and the lyric display process are executed synchronously.

[0020] The music performance process is a process of reading music information based on the music identification information in the reservation information registered in the reservation table, and causing the acoustic control unit 25 to execute the performance based on the performance information included in the music information. The music performed by the acoustic control unit 25 is emitted from the speaker 42 together with the singing voice input from the singing microphones 44a and 44b. The lyrics display process is a process of performing singing assistance by causing the lyrics information included in the music information to be displayed on the monitor 41. It is also possible to execute a background video display process in which the lyrics displayed in this lyrics display process are superimposed on the background video and displayed.

[0021] The remote control device 1 can execute a reservation instruction process or the like in which, based on an operation instruction from the user, it searches for a music piece, forms reservation information in a music piece instruction process for the designated and reserved music piece, and transmits the reservation information to the karaoke device 2. Further, the remote control device 1 can receive various information from the karaoke device 2 or a server device connected to the Internet and execute various processes. In the present embodiment, as a user interface for receiving various operation instructions from the user, it includes an operation unit 17 and a touch panel monitor 11. The touch panel monitor 11 is configured to have a display unit 111 and a touch panel 112, display various interfaces on the display unit 111, and be capable of receiving touch input from the user using the touch panel 112.

[0022] Furthermore, the remote control device 1 includes a memory 14 as a storage unit for storing a database, various programs, and various information generated during program execution that are required for searching for music pieces, and a remote control side control unit for comprehensively controlling these configurations. The remote control side control unit includes a control unit 15, a video control unit 13 for forming a video to be displayed on the touch panel monitor 11, a video RAM 12 for temporarily storing the video information to be displayed, and an operation processing unit 18 for interpreting an input from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17 and transmitting it to the control unit 15.

[0023] The remote control device 1 is wirelessly connected to the access point 110 by the wireless LAN communication unit 16, and thus is connected to the network constituted by the LAN 100. In the communication using the wireless LAN communication unit 16, the remote control device 1 and the karaoke device 2 can perform two-way communication. Each remote control device 1 is associated with a specific karaoke device 2 at an arbitrary timing. Various commands output from the remote control device 1 are received by the associated karaoke device 2, and remote operation of the karaoke device 2 becomes possible.

[0024] Also, the remote control device 1 can communicate using the infrared communication unit 19. In the communication using the infrared communication unit 19, the remote control device 1 and the karaoke device 2 perform one-way communication (from the remote control device 1 to the karaoke device 2). In this embodiment, communication using the infrared communication unit 19 is performed when communication by the wireless LAN communication unit 16 cannot be performed.

[0025] With such a configuration of the remote control device 1, various inputs from the user are received from the touch panel monitor 11 or the operation unit 17, and various information is provided to the user by the display of the touch panel monitor 11, so that various processes such as a reservation instruction process for transmitting reservation information output to the karaoke device 2 can be performed.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the music reproduction process according to this embodiment. The karaoke device 2 executes this music reproduction process for the reserved music. In the music reproduction process, it is confirmed whether there is music identification information included in the reservation information of the reservation table (S001). If there is music identification information of the next music to be reproduced in the reservation table (S002: Yes), the music information corresponding to the music identification information is read, and music reproduction is started based on the performance information included in the music information (S003).

[0027] When there is a mobile terminal 6 communicatively connected to the karaoke device 2 (S003: Yes), playback status information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 (S004). The communicative connection with the mobile terminal 6 and the playback status information transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 will be described later. When the playback of a music piece ends (S005: Yes), if there is a communicatively connected mobile terminal 6 (S006: Yes), playback status information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 (S007). Then, it returns to the start of the music piece playback process, the presence or absence of music piece identification information in the reservation table is confirmed (S001), and the playback of the next music piece is performed.

[0028] The karaoke device 2 of the present embodiment can cooperate with a mobile terminal 6 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal owned by a user to provide services such as games. On the mobile terminal 6, cooperation with the karaoke device 2 is performed by executing an app (abbreviation for "application program", corresponding to a "program for mobile terminal"). In the present embodiment, the service provided by the cooperation between the karaoke device 2 and the mobile terminal 6 will be described using a game as an example. The game performed in the present embodiment is an intro quiz that plays a part of the beginning of a music piece and guesses the name of the music piece or the name of the artist of the played music piece. Note that the karaoke system according to the present invention includes the karaoke device 2 and a program for mobile terminal executed on the mobile terminal 6.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the game process according to the present embodiment. The game process is executed in the order of a preparation process (S100) and a playback-time process (S200). First, the preparation process (S100) will be described.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the preparation process (S100) according to the present embodiment. The user starts the app on the mobile terminal 6 or selects a game from the app menu. FIG. 9(a) is a start screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 61 of the mobile terminal 6. On the start screen, a start button 61a is displayed. When the start button 61a is operated (S101: Yes), the code reading screen shown in Fig. 9(b) is displayed (S102). On the code reading screen, a shooting display column 61b for displaying the video captured by the rear camera of the mobile terminal 6 is provided.

[0031] Also, the user uses the remote control device 1 to start the game function on the karaoke device 2 side. Fig. 15(A) is the start screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 11 of the remote control device 1. After the start screen is displayed on the touch panel monitor 11, the code display screen shown in Fig. 12(B) is displayed. On the code display screen, a QR code (registered trademark) is displayed as code information 11a. The code information 11a includes connection information for communicating and connecting the mobile terminal 6 to the karaoke device 2, such as the identification information of the karaoke device 2. The mobile terminal 6 reads the connection information of the code information 11a by taking a picture so that the code information 11a is located within the shooting display column 61b described in Fig. 9(b).

[0032] When the connection information is read by the mobile terminal 6 (S103: Yes), the mobile terminal 6 uses the mobile terminal network or the wireless LAN used in the store to execute the association process of communicating and connecting with the karaoke device 2 (S104). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 6 and the karaoke device 2 can transmit and receive information through communication.

[0033] After the communication connection is completed, a difficulty setting screen shown in Fig. 9(c) is displayed on the mobile terminal 6 (S105). The difficulty setting screen is a screen for setting the difficulty level in the intro quiz. In this embodiment, four difficulty setting buttons 61c, namely "difficult", "normal", "easy", and "random", are provided. The difficulty level increases in the order of "difficult", "normal", and "easy" in terms of the playback time of the intro. Also, in the case of "random", one of the difficulty levels of "difficult", "normal", and "easy" is set for each song.

[0034] When any of the difficulty level setting buttons 61c is operated and the difficulty level setting is completed (S106: Yes), the genre setting screen shown in FIG. 10(d) is displayed (S107).

[0035] The genre setting screen is a screen for setting the genre of the music used in the intro game. In the present embodiment, four genre setting buttons 61d of "All Genres", "JPOP", "Western Music", and "Enka" are provided. The user sets the genre of the music used in the intro quiz by operating the genre setting button 61d. When any of the genre setting buttons 61d is operated and the genre setting is completed (S108: Yes), the question number setting screen shown in FIG. 10(e) is displayed (S109).

[0036] The question number setting screen is a screen for setting the number of music pieces (number of questions) to be played in the intro quiz. On the question number setting screen, a question number setting field 61e and a game start button 61f are displayed. The user can change the number of questions by operating the setting button provided at the right end of the question number setting field 61e. The state shown in FIG. 10(e) is the state where the number of questions is set to "4 questions". The user who has finished setting the number of questions operates the game start button 61f to start the intro quiz.

[0037] When the game start button 61f is operated (S110: Yes), on the mobile terminal 6, a music selection process (S111) is executed. In the music selection process (S111), for the genre set on the genre setting screen, the number of music pieces corresponding to the number of questions set on the question number setting screen is selected. Also, for each selected music piece, the difficulty level set on the difficulty level setting screen is set.

[0038] The music identification information of the music selected in the music selection process (S111) is registered as an application-related music (corresponding to "program-related music") in the application-related music table stored and managed in the storage unit of the mobile terminal 6 together with the set difficulty level (S112). Also, the music identification information of the music selected in the music selection process (S111) is reserved and transmitted to the karaoke device 2 (S113). At this time, the reservation for the karaoke device 2 is made as a private reservation. Here, the private reservation is a reservation function originally provided so that it is not known which music will be sung until the user who makes the reservation starts singing.

[0039] For example, when making a private reservation using the remote control device 1 or the remote control application of the mobile terminal 6, the title and artist name of the music are not displayed in the reservation status. Also, regarding the title and artist name of the next music displayed at the end of the music, the display is not performed for the next music reserved privately. Also, regarding the title and artist name of the music displayed at the start of music playback, the display is not performed for the music reserved privately. By using the conventionally used private reservation function in this way, it has become possible to easily implement an intro quiz in the karaoke device 2.

[0040] The mobile terminal 6 finishes the preparation process (S110) by performing the reserved transmission of music (S113) and executes the next playback-time process (S200). In the playback-time process (S200) of FIG. 5, it waits for the reception of the playback status information received according to the music playback process (FIG. 2) of the karaoke device 2 (S201).

[0041] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the playback-time process (S200) according to the present embodiment. The music reserved in the preparation process described in FIG. 4 starts to be played back in the music playback process executed by the karaoke device 2. When the playback status information transmitted from the karaoke device 2 is received by the mobile terminal 6 with the start of music playback (S201: Yes), the mobile terminal 6 determines whether the music is an application-related music registered in the application-related music table (S202).

[0042] If it is not an app-related music (S202: No), the app operation (in this embodiment, the operation of the intro quiz) is paused (S204). After pausing the app operation, the process returns to the beginning of the playback process and waits for the reception of the playback status information. Here, the case where it is not an app-related music (S202: No) corresponds to, for example, a music for which an interrupt reservation has been made for the karaoke device 2.

[0043] Here, the process at the time of interrupt reservation performed by the karaoke device 2 will be described. The karaoke device 2 of this embodiment transmits the playback status information including the music identification information of the music for which playback has started (or ended) to the mobile terminal 6 at an appropriate timing. Therefore, the mobile terminal 6 can grasp the playback status of the app-related music based on the playback status information indicating the music playback status received from the karaoke device 2 and control the progress of the app. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to mainly perform the processing related to the game app on the mobile terminal 6 side, and it becomes possible to suppress the processing load on the karaoke device 2 or the load and changes during development. Note that the playback status information can adopt various information indicating the music playback status, such as transmitting the music identification information of the music for which playback has started (or ended) and the music identification information of the currently playing music at an appropriate timing.

[0044] The karaoke device 2 registers the music identification information of the music included in the reservation information in the reservation table, and starts the music playback process based on the reservation table. FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the reservation table and the app-related music table according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7(A) shows the state immediately after the music is reserved and transmitted (S113) in the preparation process. In the app-related music table of the mobile terminal 6, music identification information indicating Music A to Music D is registered, and reservation information is transmitted to the karaoke device 2. When the karaoke device 2 receives the reservation information from the mobile terminal 6, it registers the music identification information included in the reservation information in the reservation table (FIG. 7(B)). The karaoke device 2 starts playing Music A according to the reservation table. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the black arrows shown on the left side of the reservation table and the app-related music table indicate the music being played. Along with the start of playing Music A, the playback status information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 (FIG. 7(C)). By receiving the playback status information, the mobile terminal 6 can determine that Music A is being played.

[0045] The karaoke device 2 of the present embodiment has an interrupt reservation function. The interrupt reservation function is a function for reserving the next music to be played, and the music identification information of the interrupt reservation music is registered next to the music being played in the reservation table. The interrupt reservation can be performed using the remote control device 1, the touch panel monitor 33 of the karaoke device 2, or the mobile terminal 6. By using this interrupt reservation function, it is possible to sing a music other than the app-related music even while an intro quiz is being conducted.

[0046] Figure 7(D) shows the situation where music piece W is reserved for interruption during the playback of music piece A. In the reservation table managed by the karaoke device 2, the interrupted-reserved music piece W is registered as the next music piece to be played after music piece A. For music piece W in the reservation table shown after Figure 7(D), for the sake of understanding, it is hatched, but the karaoke device 2 treats music piece W in the same way as the other music pieces A to D. When the playback of music piece A ends and the playback of the interrupted-reserved music piece W starts, the karaoke device 2 transmits the playback status information including the music piece identification information of music piece W to the mobile terminal 6 (Figure 8(E)). The mobile terminal 6 that has received the playback status information (S201) executes a music piece determination process to determine whether the music piece identification information of music piece W exists in the application-related music piece table (S202). In the music piece determination process, if it is determined that the music piece identification information of music piece W does not exist in the application-related music piece table (S202: No), the mobile terminal 6 temporarily stops the operation of the application (S204).

[0047] In the karaoke device 2, when the playback of music piece W ends and the playback of the next music piece B starts, the karaoke device 2 transmits the playback status information including the music piece identification information of music piece B to the mobile terminal 6 (Figure 8(F)). In the process of the mobile terminal 6 that has received the playback status information, since the music piece identification information of music piece B is registered in the application-related music piece table (Figure 8(F)), the operation of the stopped game application is resumed.

[0048] FIG. 8(G) is a diagram showing a situation where music playback progresses and music D starts playing in the karaoke device 2. When the playback of music D starts, the karaoke device 2 transmits playback status information including the music identification information of music D to the mobile terminal 6. The mobile terminal 6 that has received the playback status information refers to the application-related music table and recognizes that music D as an application-related music has started playing. Also, when music D has finished playing, the mobile terminal 6 can recognize that all the application-related music has been played based on the application-related music table. That is, the mobile terminal 6 records whether the music identification information registered in the application-related music table has been played in the karaoke device 2 based on the playback status information received from the karaoke device 2. Thereby, it is possible to recognize that all the application-related music registered in the application-related music table has been played.

[0049] On the other hand, if it is an application-related music (S202: Yes), the mobile terminal 6 displays a response waiting screen (S203). FIG. 10(f) is a diagram showing the response waiting screen of this embodiment. On the response waiting screen, information indicating the question number (which question it is), a play again button 61h, an answer button 61i, and an end button 61g are displayed. After the display of the response waiting screen starts, the mobile terminal 6 refers to the application-related music table and determines the difficulty level of the music that has started playing on the karaoke device 2. If it is determined that the difficulty level set for the music is "difficult" (S205: Yes), after the start of the music playback, that is, on the condition that 1 second has elapsed since the reception of the playback status information (S218: Yes), a pause instruction is transmitted to the karaoke device 2 (S207). If it is determined that the difficulty level set for the music is "normal" (S208: Yes), on the condition that 3 seconds have elapsed after the start of the music playback (S209: Yes), a pause instruction is transmitted to the karaoke device 2 (S210). If it is determined that the difficulty level set for the music is otherwise ("easy") (S208: No), on the condition that 5 seconds have elapsed after the start of the music playback (S211: Yes), a pause instruction is transmitted to the karaoke device 2 (S212).

[0050] Thus, in this embodiment, after the start of music playback, by sending a pause instruction to the karaoke device 2 according to the conditions corresponding to the set difficulty level, only the beginning part of the music is played, and it is possible to conduct an intro quiz. Further, the processing related to the intro quiz is mainly performed on the mobile terminal 6 side, and the karaoke device 2 only needs to be controlled by a remote operation instruction such as a pause instruction that has been conventionally used. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the development and modification on the karaoke device 2 side associated with the implementation of functions such as the intro quiz.

[0051] On the answer waiting screen of FIG. 10(f) of this embodiment, an end button 61g is provided. This end button 61g is an operator for ending the intro quiz. When the end button 61g is operated, the mobile terminal 6 sends a cancellation instruction for music identification information registered in the app-related music table to the karaoke device 2, and the music identification information has not yet been played on the karaoke device 2. Note that, as described above, in the mobile terminal 6, the determination as to whether or not the music has been played on the karaoke device 2 is made based on the playback status information received from the karaoke device 2. Then, the app-related music table registered for the intro quiz is cleared, and the intro quiz app is terminated.

[0052] Also, on the answer waiting screen of FIG. 10(f) of this embodiment, a play again button 61h is provided. The play again button 61h is an operator for returning to the beginning of the music and playing the intro of the music again. When the play again button 61h is operated (S213: Yes), the mobile terminal 6 sends an instruction to return to the beginning of the music to the karaoke device 2 (S215). The karaoke device 2 that has received the instruction to return to the beginning of the music plays the beginning part of the music again when the processes of S201 to S207 are executed on the mobile terminal 6. Thus, in this embodiment, in the intro quiz, it is possible to play again when the beginning part of the music cannot be clearly heard, etc. Further, since only the control by the instruction to return to the beginning of the music that has been conventionally used is required, it is possible to suppress the development and modification on the karaoke device 2 side associated with the implementation of functions such as the intro quiz.

[0053] After listening to the beginning part of the music, a user who wants to know the answer to the intro quiz operates the answer button 61i on the answer waiting screen in Fig. 10(f) (S214: Yes). When the answer button 61i is operated (S215: Yes), an answer screen is displayed on the touch panel monitor 61 of the mobile terminal 6 (S218). Fig. 11(g) is a diagram showing the answer screen of the present embodiment. On the answer screen, a question number, the name of the music being played, the name of the artist (singer name), a correct answer check box 61j, and a next button 61k are displayed. As will be described later, the next button 61k is displayed after a predetermined period (10 seconds in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the display of the answer screen. By referring to the answer screen, the user can confirm the name of the music being played and the name of the artist. Also, after the display of the answer screen, the mobile terminal 6 transmits a resume play instruction to the karaoke device 2 (S219). The karaoke device 2 that has received the resume play instruction resumes the play of the music that was paused in S207, S210, and S212. In this way, when the answer screen is displayed, on the karaoke device 2 side, the continuation of the paused music is played, so that the user can listen to and confirm the music that is the subject of the intro quiz.

[0054] In the intro quiz of the present embodiment, whether the answer is correct or not is a self-reporting system. If the answer is correct, the user operates the correct answer check box 61j and checks the correct answer check box 61j. When the correct answer check box 61j is operated (S220: Yes), the fact that the answer is correct is recorded in the answer history information (S221).

[0055] After 10 seconds have elapsed since the start of displaying the answer screen (S222: Yes), the next button 61k is displayed on the answer screen (S223). The user can advance the intro quiz by operating the next button 61k. When the next button 61k is operated (S224: Yes), the mobile terminal 6 transmits a reproduction end instruction to the karaoke device 2 (S225). The karaoke device 2 that has received the reproduction end instruction ends the reproduction of the music currently being reproduced as the answer to the intro quiz and starts the reproduction of the next music registered in the reservation table.

[0056] Also, the mobile terminal 6 determines whether the reproduced music is the last music of the app-related music (S226). If it is not the last music (S226: No), it returns to the start of the reproduction-time process (S201), and the next-song answer waiting screen in FIG. 11(h) is displayed. On the other hand, if it is the last music (S226: Yes), a result display screen is displayed on the mobile terminal 6 (S227).

[0057] FIG. 11(i) is the result display screen of the present embodiment. On the result display screen, notations indicating how many questions were answered correctly out of how many questions and the correct answer rate are displayed based on the answer history information recorded by operating the correct answer check box 61j. Also, a play again button 61m and a game end button 61n are displayed on the result display screen. When the play again button 61m is operated (S228: play again), the mobile terminal 6 performs the preparation process (S100) and executes the intro quiz again. On the other hand, when the game end button 61n is operated (S228: end), the mobile terminal 6 ends the reproduction-time process (S200) and ends the series of game processes.

[0058] As described above, the game process of the present embodiment has been described taking the intro quiz app as an example. According to the mobile terminal program and the karaoke system of the present embodiment, it is possible to execute a process of linking the karaoke device 2 and the mobile terminal 6. In particular, in the karaoke device 2, by using various control signals conventionally used for remote control of music reproduction, it is possible to suppress new development and modification in the karaoke device 2 and reduce the development cost.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 6 executes an event detection process for detecting an event that occurs according to the progress of the application, and a music determination process for determining whether the music being played on the karaoke device is an application-related music. When the occurrence of a predetermined event is detected in the event detection process, a control process is executed to transmit a control signal for controlling the playback of the music determined to be an application-related music.

[0060] Here, the events detected in the event detection process are those in the above-described embodiment (1) The elapse of a predetermined time set for each difficulty level when the answer waiting screen is displayed (S203), (2) The operation of the end button 61g displayed on the answer waiting screen (3) The operation of the play again button 61h displayed on the answer waiting screen (4) The operation of the answer button 61i displayed on the answer waiting screen (5) The operation of the next button 61k displayed on the answer screen and so on.

[0061] Also, the music determination process is a process in which it is determined (S202) whether it is an application-related music based on the reception of the playback status information (S201) executed in the playback process of FIG. 5. In this embodiment, it is determined whether it is an application-related music based on the playback status information accompanying the start of music playback. However, the playback status information may be received at an appropriate timing from the start to the end of music playback.

[0062] Also, the control process for transmitting the control signal refers to the following processes performed on the karaoke device 2 for each of (1) to (5) described above. (1) Transmission of a pause instruction (S207, S210, S212) (2) Transmission of a reservation cancellation instruction (S214) (3) Transmission of an instruction to return to the beginning of the music (S215) (4) Transmission of a resume playback instruction (S219) (5) Transmission of the reproduction end instruction (S225)

[0063] By executing the above processing, it is possible to perform processing that coordinates with the application (program for the mobile terminal) executed on the karaoke device 2 and the mobile terminal 6. Further, as described above, the control signal transmitted to the karaoke device 2 is a control signal that has been conventionally used between the remote control device 1 and the karaoke device 2, such as a pause instruction, a reservation cancellation instruction, an instruction to return to the beginning of the music, a reproduction resume instruction, and a reproduction end instruction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the development and modification on the karaoke device 2 side associated with the implementation of the application, facilitate the development, and reduce the development cost.

[0064] As described above, according to the karaoke system of the present embodiment, it is possible to execute processing in which the application (program for the mobile terminal) executed on the karaoke device 2 and the mobile terminal 6 are coordinated. In particular, since the karaoke device 2 only needs to perform simple processing to cooperate with the application executed on the mobile terminal 6, it is possible to suppress the processing load on the karaoke device 2 or the load and changes during the development of the karaoke device 2. The karaoke system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and various modifications can be adopted. Hereinafter, various modifications will be described.

[0065] [First Modification Example] In the above-described embodiment, the input of the answer to the intro quiz is not performed, and it is a self-reporting system by the user, and the input is performed by operating the correct answer check box 61j. Instead of such a form, it may be possible to allow the user to input an answer on an answer waiting screen or the like. As the answer input, various forms can be adopted, such as a multiple-choice format or an input format by character input. When the answer input is allowed, based on the answer input and the correct answer, it is determined whether it is correct or incorrect, and the result is displayed on the answer screen.

[0066] In addition, in this embodiment, a karaoke system including a karaoke apparatus 2 and a program for a mobile terminal executed by the mobile terminal 6 has been described. The present invention pertains not only to such a karaoke system, but also to the karaoke apparatus 2 that constitutes a part thereof, or the karaoke program executed by the karaoke apparatus 2, or the program for the mobile terminal executed by the mobile terminal 6.

Explanation of Signs

[0067] 1: Remote control device 33: Touch panel monitor 2: Karaoke apparatus 33a: Display unit 6: Mobile terminal 33b: Touch panel 11: Touch panel monitor 41: Monitor 11a: Code information 42: Speaker 12: Video RAM 44a: Singing microphone 13: Video control unit 44b: Singing microphone 14: Memory 61: Touch panel monitor 15: Control unit 61a: Start button 16: Wireless LAN communication unit 61b: Shooting display column 17: Operation unit 61c: Difficulty setting button 18: Operation processing unit 61d: Genre setting button 19: Infrared communication unit 61e: Number of questions setting column 21: Operation unit 61f: Game start button 22: Operation processing unit 61g: End button 24a: LAN communication unit 61h: Play again button 24b: Wireless LAN communication unit 61i: Answer button 25: Acoustic control unit 61j: Correct answer check box 27: Memory 61k: Next button 28: Video RAM 61m: Play again button 29: Video playback unit 61n: Game end button 30: Control unit 110: Access point 31: Video control unit 111: Display unit 32: Hard Disk 112: Touch Panel

Claims

1. An association process for performing association communicably with a karaoke device, An event detection process for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event on a program for a mobile terminal, A music determination process for determining whether the music being played on the karaoke device is a program-related music, A control process for transmitting a control signal for controlling the playback of music determined to be program-related music when the occurrence of a predetermined event is detected in the event detection process, and causing the mobile terminal to execute the processes. A program for a mobile terminal.

2. The predetermined event detected in the predetermined event process is the progress status of the program for the mobile terminal The program for a mobile terminal according to claim 1.

3. The control process transmits a control signal according to the detected predetermined event The program for a mobile terminal according to claim 1.

4. The music determination process determines whether the music being played on the karaoke device is program-related music based on a list in which identification information indicating program-related music is registered. The program for a mobile terminal according to claim 1.

5. A karaoke system including a karaoke device and a program for a mobile terminal executed on the mobile terminal, The program for a mobile terminal causes the mobile terminal to execute: An association process for performing association communicably with the karaoke device, An event detection process for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event on the program for the mobile terminal, A music determination process for determining whether the music being played on the karaoke device is program-related music, A control process for transmitting a control signal for controlling the playback of music determined to be program-related music when the occurrence of a predetermined event is detected in the event detection process. A karaoke system.

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