Karaoke equipment

Abstract

We provide a karaoke machine that can assist users who have consumed alcohol with singing karaoke. [Solution] A karaoke device having a vocal range memory unit that stores the vocal range of each user when sober and when intoxicated; an acquisition unit that acquires the alcohol concentration of the user's breath; an identification unit that identifies pitches that cannot be sung based on the user's sober and intoxicated vocal ranges when the alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value; a determination unit that determines whether the reference pitch of each note in a song matches a pitch that cannot be sung; a setting unit that sets a correction value when the reference pitch of a note in a song matches a pitch that cannot be sung; and a sound output processing unit that, when the user sings a note in a song, emits singing sound based on a singing pitch corrected based on the set correction value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a karaoke device.

Background Art

[0002] Users of karaoke devices may order alcoholic beverages at a karaoke bar and sing karaoke while drinking, or they may sing karaoke at a karaoke bar after drinking at another restaurant or bar.

[0003] Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which alcohol concentration measuring means is attached to a karaoke microphone, and during singing using this karaoke microphone by a user, measurement data of the measured alcohol concentration is displayed on a display device attached to the karaoke performance device at a predetermined timing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Generally, there are many users whose vocal range available for singing becomes narrower when they are drinking compared to when they are not drinking. That is, users who are drinking are more likely to be unable to sing karaoke well compared to when they are not drinking.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke device capable of assisting karaoke singing performed by a user who is drinking.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One invention for achieving the above objective is a karaoke device comprising: a vocal range memory unit that stores, for each user, the vocal range in a sober state defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung while sober, and the vocal range in a drunk state defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung while intoxicated; an acquisition unit that acquires the alcohol concentration of the breath of a user who is singing a song karaoke; an identification unit that, if the acquired alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value, identifies an unsingable pitch that is included in the user's sober vocal range but not in the drunk vocal range, based on the user's sober vocal range and drunk vocal range stored in the vocal range memory unit; a determination unit that determines, for each note of the song, whether the reference pitch of the note matches an unsingable pitch; a setting unit that, if the reference pitch of a certain note of the song matches an unsingable pitch, sets a correction value to correct the singing pitch obtained by singing that note; and a sound emission processing unit that, when the user sings a certain note of the song, emits a singing sound based on the singing pitch corrected based on the set correction value. Other features of the present invention will be revealed in the specification and drawings described below. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to assist users who have consumed alcohol with singing karaoke. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing a karaoke device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing a karaoke machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the operation of the karaoke device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows the reference data for song X according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <Embodiment> A karaoke apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0011] ==Karaoke Equipment== The karaoke device K is a device for playing karaoke songs and for users to sing karaoke. As shown in Figure 1, the karaoke device K comprises a karaoke unit 10, speakers 20, a display device 30, a microphone 40, and a remote control device 50.

[0012] The karaoke unit 10 performs various controls related to karaoke performance and singing, such as controlling the karaoke performance of selected songs, controlling the display of lyrics and background images, and processing audio signals input through the microphone 40. The speaker 20 is configured to emit karaoke performance sounds and singing voices based on signals from the karaoke unit 10. The speaker 20 is an example of a "sound emission means." Speakers (not shown) installed in a room such as a karaoke room where the karaoke device K is installed may also be used as "sound emission means." The display device 30 is configured to display videos and images on the screen based on signals from the karaoke unit 10. The microphone 40 is configured to convert the user's singing voice into an analog audio signal and input it to the karaoke unit 10. The remote control device 50 is a device for performing various operations on the karaoke unit 10.

[0013] In this embodiment, the microphone 40 has a function to measure the alcohol concentration of the user's breath. For example, the microphone 40 has an alcohol concentration measuring means described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-242062. The microphone 40 measures the alcohol concentration of the user's breath based on instructions from the acquisition unit 200 (described later) and transmits it to the acquisition unit 200. The karaoke device K may also be equipped with a dedicated device for measuring the alcohol concentration of breath, separate from the microphone 40.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the karaoke main body 10 according to the present embodiment includes a storage means 10a, a communication means 10b, an input means 10c, a performance means 10d, and a control means 10e. Each component is connected to the bus B via an interface (not shown).

[0015] [Storage means] The storage means 10a is a large-capacity storage device that stores various data. The storage means 10a stores music data.

[0016] Music data is provided with music identification information for identifying individual music pieces. The music identification information is information unique to each music piece, such as a music ID for identifying the music. The music data includes accompaniment data, reference data, and the like.

[0017] The accompaniment data is the data that serves as the source of the karaoke performance sound. The reference data is the data that indicates the singing melody of the music piece performed in karaoke and is used when scoring the karaoke singing by the user. The reference data is composed of a plurality of notes (i.e., musical notes), and for each note, a note No., a predetermined pitch (i.e., reference pitch), a pronunciation start (so-called note-on) time, and a pronunciation end (so-called note-off) time are set. The note No. indicates the order of the notes. For example, the note No. corresponding to the first note of the music piece is "1". The pronunciation start time and the pronunciation end time are indicated by the time based on the start of the karaoke performance of the music piece (0).

[0018] The storage means 10a stores lyric data for causing the display device 30 and the like to display the lyrics corresponding to each music piece in accordance with the karaoke performance, background video data such as the background video displayed on the display device 30 and the like during the karaoke performance, and attribute information of the music piece (music piece name, singer name, genre, performance time, etc.).

[0019] In the present embodiment, a part of the storage area of the storage means 10a functions as a vocal range storage unit 100.

[0020] (Vocal range storage unit) The vocal range memory unit 100 stores, for each user, the vocal range in a sober state and the vocal range in a drinking state.

[0021] The sober state is a state where the user has not consumed alcohol. The drinking state is a state where the user has consumed alcohol. The vocal range is defined by the lowest pitch and the highest pitch that the user can sing. For example, assume that the lowest pitch that the user can sing is "C3" and the highest pitch is "B4". In this case, the vocal range is defined as from "C3" to "B4".

[0022] The vocal range in the sober state is defined by the lowest pitch and the highest pitch that can be sung in the sober state. The vocal range in the drinking state is defined by the lowest pitch and the highest pitch that can be sung in the drinking state.

[0023] For example, the user performs karaoke singing of a song in a sober state. After the karaoke singing ends, the karaoke device K analyzes the singing voice of the user and identifies the lowest pitch and the highest pitch. The karaoke device K associates the identified lowest pitch and highest pitch with the user identification information of the user and stores them in the vocal range memory unit 100 as the vocal range in the sober state. Also, the user performs karaoke singing of a song in a drinking state. After the karaoke singing ends, the karaoke device K analyzes the singing voice of the user and identifies the lowest pitch and the highest pitch. The karaoke device K associates the identified lowest pitch and highest pitch with the user identification information of the user and stores them in the vocal range memory unit 100 as the vocal range in the drinking state. The user identification information is information unique to each user, such as a user ID for identifying the user.

[0024] Whether a person is sober or intoxicated can be determined, for example, based on the alcohol concentration measured by the alcohol concentration measuring means described above. If the measured alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value, the karaoke device K determines that the person is intoxicated. On the other hand, if the measured alcohol concentration is below the predetermined value, the karaoke device K determines that the person is sober. The predetermined value is a value used to determine whether a person is sober or intoxicated. The predetermined value can be, for example, "0.10 mg / l". "0.10 mg / l" is a standard alcohol concentration generally used to determine whether someone is "intoxicated".

[0025] Furthermore, a user may sing karaoke of different songs multiple times while sober (or intoxicated). In this case, the vocal range memory unit 100 can store the lowest and highest pitches identified in the most recent karaoke performance as the sober vocal range (or intoxicated vocal range). Alternatively, the vocal range memory unit 100 can store the lowest and highest pitches common to each of the multiple karaoke performances as the sober vocal range (or intoxicated vocal range).

[0026] [Communication methods / Input methods] Communication means 10b provides an interface for communicating with the remote control device 50. Input means 10c is configured for the user to perform various operations. Input means 10c are buttons or the like provided on the karaoke unit 10. Alternatively, the remote control device 50 may function as input means 10c.

[0027] [Means of performance] The performance means 10d performs karaoke performance of a song and processes the audio signal input through the microphone 40, based on the control of the control means 10e. The performance means 10d includes a sound source, mixer, amplifier, etc. (none of which are shown in the figure).

[0028] [Control means] The control means 10e performs various controls on the karaoke machine K. The control means 10e includes a CPU and memory (neither of which are shown in the figure). The CPU realizes various functions by executing programs stored in the memory.

[0029] In this embodiment, the user operates the remote control device 50 to select an auxiliary mode that can assist with karaoke singing while intoxicated. The CPU executes the auxiliary mode program stored in memory. In this case, the control means 10e functions as an acquisition unit 200, a specification unit 300, a determination unit 400, a setting unit 500, and a sound output processing unit 600.

[0030] (Acquisition Department) The acquisition unit 200 acquires the alcohol concentration in the breath of a user who is singing karaoke.

[0031] The acquisition unit 200, for example, instructs the microphone 40 to measure the alcohol concentration at a predetermined timing. Based on this instruction, the microphone 40 measures the alcohol concentration of the user's breath and transmits it to the acquisition unit 200. The acquisition unit 200 acquires the transmitted alcohol concentration.

[0032] The predetermined timing is a point in time before the user begins singing karaoke, such as when a song is selected or when the karaoke intro of the song is being played. The acquisition unit 200 can also display a message such as "Please blow into the microphone" on the display screen of the display device 30 or emit the audio of the message from the speaker 20.

[0033] Specifically, the user operates the remote control device 50, enters their user identification information and password, and then selects the login icon.

[0034] Karaoke device K sends a login request containing the entered user identification information and password to server device (not shown). The password is used for login and is set in advance by the user. Server device completes the login by storing the user identification information and password included in the received login request in a storage device. Server device sends a signal to karaoke device K indicating that the login is complete.

[0035] After logging in, the user of karaoke machine K operates the remote control device 50 to select the auxiliary mode and choose a song to sing karaoke to. Based on the song ID of the selected song, karaoke machine K reads the accompaniment data from the storage means 10a. Karaoke machine K outputs the read accompaniment data to the performance means 10d to perform karaoke. After the karaoke performance of the song's intro begins, the acquisition unit 200 instructs the microphone 40 to measure the alcohol concentration. Based on this instruction, the microphone 40 measures the alcohol concentration of the user's breath and transmits it to the acquisition unit 200. The acquisition unit 200 acquires the transmitted alcohol concentration. The acquisition unit 200 outputs the acquired alcohol concentration to the identification unit 300, associating it with the user's user identification information. After that, the user starts singing karaoke using the microphone 40 in time with the karaoke performance of the song's singing section (for example, the first verse).

[0036] (Specific part) If the acquired alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value, the identification unit 300 identifies pitches that cannot be sung based on the user's sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range stored in the vocal range memory unit 100.

[0037] As mentioned above, the predetermined value is a value used to determine whether the user is intoxicated or sober. The predetermined value can be, for example, "0.10 mg / l". The unsingable pitch is a pitch that falls within the user's sober vocal range but not within their intoxicated vocal range (i.e., a pitch that can be sung when sober but not when intoxicated).

[0038] The identification unit 300 determines whether the alcohol concentration output from the acquisition unit 200 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the alcohol concentration is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the identification unit 300 reads the user's sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range from the vocal range memory unit 100 based on the user identification information associated with the alcohol concentration. The identification unit 300 compares the read sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range and extracts pitches that satisfy the condition that are included in the user's sober vocal range and not included in the intoxicated vocal range. The identification unit 300 identifies the extracted pitches as unsingable pitches. The identification unit 300 outputs the identified unsingable pitches to the determination unit 400. Note that there is at least one unsingable pitch. That is, an unsingable pitch may include multiple pitches.

[0039] Furthermore, if the alcohol concentration is below a predetermined value (i.e., the user is not intoxicated enough to require assistance with karaoke singing), the karaoke device K will not perform any further processing. Also, if an unsingable pitch cannot be identified (i.e., if there is no pitch that satisfies the conditions of being within the user's sober vocal range and not being within the user's intoxicated vocal range), the identification unit 300 may display a message such as "Assistance with karaoke singing cannot be provided, therefore assistance mode will be terminated" on the display screen of the display device 30 or the like, or it may emit the audio of the message from the speaker 20.

[0040] (Judgment Department) The determination unit 400 determines, for each note in the song, whether the reference pitch of the note matches an unsingable pitch.

[0041] The judgment unit 400 refers to the song's reference data and compares the reference pitch with the unsingable pitch for each note, starting with note No. 1. If the reference pitch of a note matches the unsingable pitch, the judgment unit 400 outputs the note No. of that note to the setting unit 500. The judgment unit 400 performs the above process for all notes in the song. If the reference pitch of all notes does not match the unsingable pitch, the karaoke device K does not perform any further processing.

[0042] (Settings section) The setting unit 500 sets a correction value to correct the singing pitch obtained by singing a note if the reference pitch of a note in a song matches an unsingable pitch.

[0043] The correction value can be set in various ways. For example, the setting unit 500 can set the reference pitch of a certain note as the correction value. Specifically, suppose the reference pitch "C5 (7200 cents)" of note No. n in song A matches an unsingable pitch. In this case, the setting unit 500 sets the reference pitch "C5 (7200 cents)" of note No. n as the correction value.

[0044] Alternatively, if the setting unit 500 has stored history information that includes the singing pitch obtained when singing each note, obtained when the user previously sang a song karaoke, it can set the singing pitch obtained when singing a certain note included in that history information as a correction value. Specifically, suppose the reference pitch "C5 (7200 cents)" of note No. n of song A matches an unsingable pitch. Also, suppose the user has previously sung song A karaoke, and that history information is stored in the storage means 10a. Furthermore, suppose that in this history information, the singing pitch obtained when singing note No. n of song A was "7190 cents". In this case, the setting unit 500 sets the singing pitch "7190 cents" included in the history information as a correction value.

[0045] The setting unit 500 outputs the set correction value to the sound output processing unit 600, associating it with the note number of a certain note output by the judgment unit 400.

[0046] Furthermore, the specific unit 300 to the setting unit 500 complete the above processing before the karaoke performance of the song's singing section begins.

[0047] (Sound emission processing unit) The sound output processing unit 600 emits the karaoke performance sound of the selected song and the user's singing voice from the sound output means.

[0048] The sound output processing unit 600 reads the song accompaniment data from the storage means 10a based on the song identification information of the song selected by the user. The sound output processing unit 600 controls the performance means 10d to perform karaoke based on the accompaniment data and emits the karaoke performance sound from the speaker 20. The user sings karaoke along with the karaoke performance sound. The sound output processing unit 600 emits the user's singing voice from the speaker 20.

[0049] In this embodiment, when a user sings a note in a song, the sound output processing unit 600 emits singing sound based on a singing pitch corrected based on a set correction value.

[0050] Specifically, the sound output processing unit 600 reads the sound start time and sound end time corresponding to the note number output from the setting unit 500 from the storage means 10a. The sound output processing unit 600 starts timing from the start of the karaoke performance of the song. When the read sound start time arrives, the sound output processing unit 600 corrects the singing pitch associated with the karaoke singing performed by the user up to the read sound end time, based on the correction value associated with the note number output from the setting unit 500. The sound output processing unit 600 then emits the singing voice based on the corrected singing pitch from the speaker 20.

[0051] ==Regarding the operation of karaoke machine K== Next, a specific example of the operation of the karaoke device K in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a flowchart of an example of the operation of the karaoke device K. Figure 4 shows the reference data for song X. In this example, user U will use the karaoke device K. User U will be assumed to have already logged into the karaoke device K. The predetermined value will be "0.10 mg / l". The vocal range memory unit 100 will be assumed to store "C3" to "C5" as the vocal range of user U when sober, and "C3" to "B4" as the vocal range when intoxicated.

[0052] User U operates the remote control device 50, selects the auxiliary mode, and chooses the song X to sing karaoke (selecting the song to sing karaoke. Step 10). The karaoke device K reads the accompaniment data from the storage means 10a based on the song ID***X of the selected song X. The karaoke device K outputs the read accompaniment data to the performance means 10d and performs karaoke.

[0053] After the karaoke version of the intro to song X begins, the acquisition unit 200 instructs the microphone 40 to measure the alcohol concentration. Based on this instruction, the microphone 40 measures the alcohol concentration of the user's breath and transmits it to the acquisition unit 200. The acquisition unit 200 acquires the transmitted alcohol concentration (acquisition of breath alcohol concentration; step 11). The acquisition unit 200 outputs the alcohol concentration acquired in step 11 to the identification unit 300, associating it with the user ID ***U of user U.

[0054] If the alcohol concentration obtained in step 11 is above a predetermined value (if it is Y in step 12), the identification unit 300 identifies pitches that cannot be sung based on the vocal range of the user U when sober and when intoxicated, which are stored in the vocal range memory unit 100 (identification of pitches that cannot be sung; step 13). The identification unit 300 outputs the pitches that cannot be sung identified in step 13 to the determination unit 400.

[0055] The determination unit 400 determines, for each note of song X, whether the reference pitch of the note matches an unsingable pitch.

[0056] If the reference pitch of a note in song X matches an unsingable pitch (case Y in step 14), the setting unit 500 sets a correction value to correct the singing pitch obtained by singing that note (set the correction value; step 15). The setting unit 500 outputs the correction value set in step 15 to the sound output processing unit 600, associating it with the note number of the note output by the determination unit 400.

[0057] Subsequently, user U begins singing karaoke using microphone 40, along with the karaoke performance of the vocal section (verse 1, A section) of song X (start of karaoke singing. Step 16).

[0058] If user U sings a note with a corresponding note number (if Y in step 17) based on the correction value set in step 15, the sound output processing unit 600 emits singing sound based on the singing pitch corrected based on the correction value set in step 15 (emits singing sound based on the corrected singing pitch; step 18). The karaoke device K repeats the processes in steps 17 and 18 until the karaoke singing is finished (if Y in step 19).

[0059] Specifically, the acquisition unit 200 outputs the acquired alcohol concentration "0.30 mg / l" to the identification unit 300, associating it with user ID ***U of user U.

[0060] The identification unit 300 determines whether the alcohol concentration "0.30 mg / l" output from the acquisition unit 200 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. As described above, the predetermined value in this example is "0.10 mg / l". That is, the acquired alcohol concentration is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. Therefore, based on the user ID ***U associated with the alcohol concentration "0.30 mg / l", the identification unit 300 reads the sober vocal range "C3" to "C5" and the intoxicated vocal range "C3" to "B4" of user U from the vocal range memory unit 100. The identification unit 300 compares the read sober vocal range and the intoxicated vocal range and extracts the pitch "C5" that satisfies the condition that it is included in user U's sober vocal range and not included in the intoxicated vocal range. The identification unit 300 identifies the extracted pitch "C5" as an unsingable pitch P. The identification unit 300 outputs the identified unsingable pitch P to the determination unit 400.

[0061] The judgment unit 400 refers to the reference data of song X and compares the reference pitch with the unsingable pitch P, starting from note No. 1.

[0062] As shown in Figure 3, the reference pitch of note No. 1 in song X is "E3". Therefore, the determination unit 400 determines that the reference pitch of note N1 of note No. 1 does not match the unsingable pitch P (i.e., "C5"). Next, the reference pitch of note No. 2 in song X is "C3". Therefore, the determination unit 400 determines that the reference pitch of note N2 of note No. 2 does not match the unsingable pitch P (i.e., "C5"). On the other hand, the reference pitch of note No. n in song X is "C5". Therefore, the determination unit 400 determines that the reference pitch of note Nn of note No. n matches the unsingable pitch P (i.e., "C5"). In this case, the determination unit 400 outputs note No. n of note Nn to the setting unit 500.

[0063] The setting unit 500 sets the reference pitch of note Nn of note No. n of song X, "C5 (7200 cents)", as a correction value for correcting the singing pitch obtained by singing note Nn of song X. The setting unit 500 outputs the set correction value "C5 (7200 cents)" to the sound output processing unit 600, associating it with note No. n of note Nn.

[0064] The sound output processing unit 600 reads the sound start time "37500 msec" and sound end time "38000 msec" corresponding to note No. n from the storage means 10a. The sound output processing unit 600 starts timing from the start of karaoke performance of song X. When the read sound start time "37500 msec" arrives, the sound output processing unit 600 corrects the singing pitch associated with the karaoke singing performed by user U between that time and the read sound end time "38000 msec" based on the correction value "C5 (7200 cent)". The sound output processing unit 600 emits the singing voice based on the corrected singing pitch from the speaker 20.

[0065] As is clear from the above, the karaoke device K according to this embodiment includes a vocal range storage unit 100 that stores for each user the vocal range when sober, defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung when sober, and the vocal range when intoxicated, defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung when intoxicated, an acquisition unit 200 that acquires the alcohol concentration of the breath of the user who is singing karaoke of a song, and, if the acquired alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value, based on the user's sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range stored in the vocal range storage unit 100, the device includes the user's sober vocal range. The system includes: an identification unit 300 that identifies an unsingable pitch, which is a pitch that is not included in the vocal range when intoxicated; a determination unit 400 that determines whether the reference pitch of each note in the song matches an unsingable pitch; a setting unit 500 that sets a correction value to correct the singing pitch obtained by singing a note if the reference pitch of that note in the song matches an unsingable pitch; and a sound output processing unit 600 that, when the user sings a note in the song, emits a singing sound based on the singing pitch corrected based on the set correction value.

[0066] With this karaoke device K, if a user singing karaoke is intoxicated, it is possible to identify pitches that cannot be sung based on the user's vocal range when sober and when intoxicated. Then, using the identified pitches that cannot be sung, the karaoke device K can determine notes that cannot be sung when intoxicated, and if the user sings such a note, it can correct the singing pitch based on a set correction value. In this way, even if a user intoxicated is unable to sing a note, the singing pitch is corrected based on the correction value, so the singing voice is not not emitted. In other words, the karaoke device K according to this embodiment can assist karaoke singing by intoxicated users.

[0067] Furthermore, the setting unit 500 of the karaoke device K according to this embodiment can set the reference pitch of a certain note as a correction value. With such a karaoke device K, even if a user who is intoxicated cannot sing a note, the singing pitch is corrected based on the reference pitch of the song, so the singing voice is not not emitted.

[0068] Furthermore, the setting unit 500 of the karaoke device K according to this embodiment stores history information, including the singing pitch obtained when singing each note, which was obtained when the user sang a song in the past. In such a case, the setting unit 500 can set the singing pitch obtained when singing a certain note included in the history information as a correction value. With such a karaoke device K, even if a user is unable to sing a note while intoxicated, the singing pitch is corrected based on the singing pitch when the user sang that note in the past, so the singing voice is not not emitted. Also, because the singing pitch is corrected based on the singing pitch when the user sang that note in the past, the user listening to the emitted singing voice (or the audience listening to the user's karaoke singing) is less likely to feel any discomfort due to the singing pitch correction.

[0069] <Variation> (Vocal range memory section) The vocal range memory unit 100 in this modified version stores the vocal range of the drinking state for each concentration category, which is defined by dividing the alcohol concentration into predetermined ranges.

[0070] Concentration classifications are used to categorize drinking states according to the alcohol concentration in breath. For example, there can be six categories: no drinking (less than 0.10 mg / l), euphoric stage (0.10 mg / l or more, less than 0.25 mg / l), mildly intoxicated stage (0.25 mg / l or more, less than 0.55 mg / l), early intoxication (0.55 mg / l or more, less than 0.80 mg / l), extreme intoxication (0.80 mg / l or more, less than 1.55 mg / l), and severe intoxication (1.55 mg / l or more, less than 2.05 mg / l).

[0071] For example, suppose the alcohol concentration measured by the alcohol concentration measuring means is "0.30 mg / l". In this case, the user will be singing karaoke while intoxicated. After the karaoke performance is finished, the karaoke device K analyzes the user's singing voice and identifies, for example, the lowest pitch "C3" and the highest pitch "G4". The karaoke device K links the identified lowest pitch "C3" and highest pitch "G4" with the user's user identification information and concentration category "tipsy stage", and stores them in the vocal range memory unit 100 as the vocal range for the "tipsy stage" drinking state. Alternatively, suppose the alcohol concentration measured by the alcohol concentration measuring means is "0.60 mg / l". In this case, the user will be singing karaoke while intoxicated. After the karaoke performance is finished, the karaoke device K analyzes the user's singing voice and identifies, for example, the lowest pitch "C3" and the highest pitch "F4". The karaoke device K links the identified lowest pitch "C3" and highest pitch "F4" with the user's user identification information and concentration classification "early intoxication," and stores them in the vocal range memory unit 100 as the vocal range for the "early intoxication" drinking state.

[0072] (Specific part) The specific unit 300 in this modified example identifies pitches that are impossible to sing based on the vocal range of the drinking state corresponding to the concentration category in which the acquired alcohol concentration is included.

[0073] The identification unit 300 determines whether the alcohol concentration output from the acquisition unit 200 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the alcohol concentration is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the identification unit 300 reads from the vocal range storage unit 100 the sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range of the user indicated by the user identification information, which are linked to the concentration category that includes the alcohol concentration output from the acquisition unit 200, based on the alcohol concentration and the user identification information associated with the alcohol concentration. The identification unit 300 compares the read sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range and extracts pitches that satisfy the condition that are included in the user's sober vocal range and not included in the intoxicated vocal range. The identification unit 300 identifies the extracted pitches as unsingable pitches. The identification unit 300 outputs the identified unsingable pitches to the determination unit 400.

[0074] As is clear from the above, the vocal range memory unit 100 of the karaoke device K according to this modified example stores the vocal range of the drinking state for each concentration category into which the alcohol concentration is divided into predetermined ranges, and the identification unit 300 can identify pitches that are impossible to sing based on the vocal range of the drinking state corresponding to the concentration category in which the acquired alcohol concentration is included. With such a karaoke device K, pitches that are impossible to sing can be identified according to the degree of drinking.

[0075] <Other> It is also possible to supply the program to a computer using a non-transitory computer-readable medium (with an executable program thereon) on which the above program is stored. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), etc.

[0076] The above embodiments are presented as examples and do not limit the scope of the invention. The above configurations can be combined as appropriate, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 100 Vocal Range Memory Unit 200 Acquisition Department 300 Specific section 400 Judgment section 500 Setting section 600 Sound emission processing unit K Karaoke machine

Claims

1. A vocal range memory unit stores, for each user, the vocal range when sober, defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung while sober, and the vocal range when intoxicated, defined by the lowest and highest pitches that can be sung while intoxicated. An acquisition unit that acquires the alcohol concentration in the breath of a user singing karaoke songs, If the acquired alcohol concentration is above a predetermined value, the identification unit identifies an unsingable pitch that is included in the user's sober vocal range but not in their intoxicated vocal range, based on the user's sober vocal range and intoxicated vocal range stored in the vocal range memory unit. For each note in the aforementioned song, a determination unit determines whether the reference pitch of the note matches an unsingable pitch. A setting unit sets a correction value to correct the singing pitch obtained by singing a note if the reference pitch of a certain note in the aforementioned song matches an unsingable pitch. When the user sings a certain note of the song, a sound output processing unit emits a singing voice based on a singing pitch corrected based on the set correction value. A karaoke device having the following features.

2. The karaoke device according to claim 1, characterized in that the setting unit sets the reference pitch of a certain note as the correction value.

3. The karaoke device according to claim 1, characterized in that, if the setting unit has stored history information including the singing pitch obtained when singing each note, which was obtained when the user sang the song in the past, the setting unit sets the singing pitch obtained when singing a certain note included in the history information as the correction value.

4. The vocal range memory unit stores the vocal range of the drinking state for each concentration category into which the alcohol concentration is divided into predetermined ranges. The karaoke device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the identifying unit identifies the singing-impossible pitch based on the vocal range of the drinking state corresponding to the concentration category in which the acquired alcohol concentration is included.

Images