Karaoke equipment

Abstract

To provide a Karaoke device that enables a singer to sing without feeling discomfort.SOLUTION: A predetermined application (A) that causes a portable terminal (M) to operate as a remote controller (14) is installed in a plurality of portable terminals, and a Karaoke device (10) is communicatively connected to the plurality of portable terminals. The Karaoke device is provided with an acquisition unit (23) that acquires operation information from the predetermined application in each of the portable terminals, and an instruction unit (24) that performs an instruction for an operation function to the predetermined application. In response to the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit during Karaoke performance of a musical piece, the instruction unit instructs invalidation of the operation function to the predetermined application.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Karaoke machines use a dedicated remote control device for searching and reserving songs. In recent years, karaoke applications for mobile terminals that allow users to search and reserve songs have become available, allowing users to use their own mobile terminals to search and reserve songs (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By pairing a user's mobile terminal with a karaoke machine, the user's mobile terminal functions as a remote control device. Because users use their own mobile terminals to search and reserve songs, this is also an excellent way to prevent infection compared to dedicated remote controls that are shared among multiple users. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-114012 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a singer is singing, if many users other than the singer are absorbed in searching for or reserving the next song on their mobile terminals, the singer may feel uncomfortable.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus which allows a singer to sing without feeling uncomfortable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a karaoke device in which a specified application for operating a mobile terminal as a remote control device is installed on a plurality of mobile terminals and which is communicatively connected to the plurality of mobile terminals, the karaoke device comprising an acquisition unit that acquires operation information from the specified application of each mobile terminal, and an instruction unit that issues instructions regarding operation functions to the specified application, and in accordance with the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit during karaoke performance of a song, the instruction unit instructs the specified application to disable the operation function. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, when a user other than the singer operates a specific application during karaoke performance of a song, the karaoke device instructs the user to disable the operation function of the specific application on the mobile terminal, thereby preventing other users from being absorbed in reserving a song while the singer is singing, allowing the singer to sing comfortably. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a karaoke device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a karaoke device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the karaoke device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a karaoke device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reservation queue in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of the karaoke device of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] First Embodiment A karaoke device of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of the karaoke device of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the karaoke device of the first embodiment. Note that, for the sake of convenience, the functional block diagram of Fig. 2 shows functional blocks for implementing specific processing, but it is assumed that the karaoke device is equipped with the configuration that is normally equipped. Furthermore, although the mobile terminals are given the symbols M1-M4, the symbol M is used when no particular mobile terminal is specified. Similarly, the karaoke applications are given the symbols A1-A4, but the symbol A is used when no particular application is specified.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, a monitor 11, a speaker 12, a microphone 13, and a remote control device 14 are connected to the karaoke device 10 of the first embodiment. The monitor 11 displays lyrics and subtitles along with a background image based on a video signal and the like from the karaoke device 10. The microphone 13 converts a singing voice into a singing voice signal and inputs it to the karaoke device 10. The speaker 12 emits a singing voice along with a performance sound based on a performance sound signal from the karaoke device 10 and a singing voice signal from the microphone 13. The remote control device 14 accepts various operations by a user, such as a song reservation operation for the karaoke device 10.

[0011] Mobile terminals M1-M4 owned by users are connected to the karaoke device 10 so as to be able to communicate with each other. Karaoke applications (predetermined applications) A1-A4 are installed on the mobile terminals M1-M4, respectively, and the karaoke applications A1-A4 provide the mobile terminals M1-M4 with functions similar to those of the remote control device 14. The karaoke applications A1-A4 become available when the mobile terminals M1-M4 are paired with the karaoke device 10. Therefore, various operations such as searching for and reserving songs can be performed on the karaoke device 10 not only from the dedicated remote control device 14 but also from the mobile terminals M1-M4.

[0012] When the karaoke performance is started by the karaoke device 10, lyrics captions and background images are displayed on the monitor 11 in time with the karaoke performance. In the karaoke device 10, the performance sound signal of the karaoke performance and the singing voice signal input from the microphone 13 are mixed by the mixer, and this mixed signal is amplified by the amplifier and output from the speaker 12. In this way, when the singer sings along with the karaoke performance, the singing voice is output from the speaker 12 together with the performance sound. In addition, the karaoke device 10 scores the singer's singing voice and the score result is displayed on the monitor 11.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the karaoke device 10 controls karaoke applications A1-A4 of the mobile terminals M1-M4 and prohibits users other than the singer from operating the mobile terminals M1-M4 while the singer is singing. The karaoke device 10 is provided with a reservation unit 21, a performance unit 22, an acquisition unit 23, and an instruction unit 24. In addition, the memory of the karaoke device 10 stores various data related to karaoke singing, such as song data for each song ID. The song data includes performance data that is the basis of the performance sound, reference data that is the scoring standard for the singing voice, and lyric data that is the basis of the lyrics caption.

[0014] The reservation unit 21 registers a song ID in the reservation queue 25 in response to a reservation operation by a user using the remote control device 14 or the mobile terminal M. When a song ID is entered into a reservation screen of the remote control device 14, the song ID is transmitted from the remote control device 14 to the karaoke device 10. When a song ID is entered into a reservation screen of the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M, the song ID is transmitted from the karaoke application A to the karaoke device 10. When the karaoke device 10 receives the song ID from the remote control device 14 or the karaoke application A, the reservation unit 21 registers the song ID at the end of the reservation queue 25.

[0015] The performance unit 22 reads out song IDs in order from the head of the reservation queue 25, and performs karaoke of the song corresponding to the song ID. The performance unit 22 is composed of a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sound source, etc. The performance unit 22 reads out song data corresponding to the song ID from the memory, plays back performance data included in the song data, and outputs a performance sound signal. When the performance unit 22 starts playing a song, the performance unit 22 outputs to the instruction unit 24 timing information indicating the start and end of the performance, as well as non-singing section information indicating the introduction, interlude, postlude, etc.

[0016] Regarding the non-singing section information, the non-singing section is specified from the section information added to the performance data. Alternatively, the non-singing section may be specified from the lyrics data and the reference data. In this case, a section where no lyrics are added to the lyrics data or a section where the reference pitch of the reference data is set to 0 may be specified as the non-singing section.

[0017] The acquisition unit 23 acquires operation information from the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M. Every time the user operates the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M, the karaoke application A notifies the acquisition unit 23 of the operation information. When the acquisition unit 23 acquires the operation information, the acquisition unit 23 outputs the operation information to the instruction unit 24. The operation information is not limited to information indicating an input operation for searching for a song or an input operation for reserving a song, but may be information indicating various operations such as tapping, dragging, flicking, pinching in, and pinching out on the display screen of the karaoke application A.

[0018] The instruction unit 24 issues instructions regarding the operation functions to the karaoke application A. In response to the operation information acquired by the acquisition unit 23 during the karaoke performance of a song, the instruction unit 24 instructs the karaoke application A to disable the operation functions. In this case, the instruction unit 24 recognizes whether or not the karaoke performance of a song is in progress, in response to the timing information input from the performance unit 22. Also, when the ratio of the number of portable terminals M whose operation information has been acquired by the acquisition unit 23 to the total number of portable terminals M is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, the instruction unit 24 instructs the karaoke application A to disable the operation functions.

[0019] For example, a song reservation is accepted from the karaoke application A4 of the mobile terminal M4, and karaoke performance of the song is started. At this time, among the three mobile terminals M1-M3 excluding the singer's mobile terminal M4, the acquisition unit 23 acquires operation information of the karaoke application A1 of the mobile terminal M1. The proportion of the mobile terminals M from which operation information has been acquired is 33%, which is less than the predetermined proportion of 50%. Since only one out of the three users other than the singer is performing an operation, the instruction unit 24 does not issue an instruction to the karaoke application A1 of the mobile terminal M1 to disable the operation function.

[0020] Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 23 acquires operation information from the karaoke application A2 of the mobile terminal M2, the percentage of the mobile terminals M from which operation information has been acquired becomes 67%, which is more than the predetermined percentage of 50%. Since more than half of the users other than the singer are operating the device, the instruction unit 24 issues an instruction to disable the operation functions of the karaoke applications A1 and A2 of the mobile terminals M1 and M2. This allows other users to perform operations such as reserving songs, to the extent that the singer does not feel uncomfortable. Disabling the operation functions prohibits the operation of the karaoke application A.

[0021] After the karaoke performance of the song has ended, the instruction unit 24 instructs the karaoke application A to enable the disabled operation functions. Also, during a non-singing section of the song being karaoke performed, the instruction unit 24 may instruct the karaoke application A to enable the disabled operation functions. When non-singing section information is input from the performance unit 22 to the instruction unit 24, since karaoke is being performed during the introduction section, interlude section, and postlude section, the instruction unit 24 issues an instruction to the karaoke applications A1 and A2 of the mobile terminals M1 and M2 to enable the operation functions. As a result, even during the karaoke performance of the song, operations such as reserving songs by other users are permitted while the singer is not singing.

[0022] The processing of each part of the karaoke device 10 may be realized by software using a processor, or may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit or the like. When a processor is used, the processor reads out and executes programs stored in a memory to perform various processes. For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used as the processor. The memory is composed of one or more storage media such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) depending on the application.

[0023] The processing operation of the karaoke device will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of the karaoke device of the first embodiment. Note that the reference numerals in Figs. 1 and 2 will be used appropriately in the description.

[0024] 3, when the mobile terminal M of each user is paired with the karaoke device 10 (step S01), the karaoke application A installed on each mobile terminal M becomes available for use. When any user performs a song reservation operation using the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M, the reservation unit 21 registers the song ID of the reserved song in the reservation queue 25 (step S02). Next, the performance unit 22 reads out song data corresponding to the song ID from the memory, and the performance unit 22 plays back the performance data in the song data to start the karaoke performance of the reserved song (step S03).

[0025] When the acquisition unit 23 acquires operation information from mobile terminals M of users other than the singer (Yes in step S04), the instruction unit 24 calculates the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M about which operation information has been acquired by the acquisition unit 23 to the total number of mobile terminals M (step S05). If the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M is less than a predetermined ratio (No in step S05), the process proceeds to step S07. If the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio (Yes in step S05), the instruction unit 24 instructs the karaoke application A of all mobile terminals M about which operation information has been acquired to disable the operation function (step S06).

[0026] When the karaoke performance of the song is finished (Yes in step S07), the instruction unit 24 instructs the disabled karaoke application A to enable the operation function (step S08). Then, the top song ID is deleted from the reservation queue 25, and the karaoke device 10 repeats the various processes in steps S03-S08 until there are no registered songs in the reservation queue 25 (step S09). When the karaoke performance of the song has progressed to a non-singing section, the instruction unit 24 may instruct the disabled karaoke application A to enable the operation function only during the karaoke performance of the non-singing section.

[0027] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when a user other than the singer operates the karaoke application A during the karaoke performance of a song, the operation function of the karaoke application A of the portable terminal M possessed by the other singer is disabled by an instruction from the karaoke device 10. Therefore, the other users will not be absorbed in reserving a song while the singer is singing, and the singer can sing comfortably.

[0028] <Second embodiment> A karaoke device of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of the karaoke device of the second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation queue of the second embodiment. The karaoke device of the second embodiment differs from the karaoke device of the first embodiment in that, when a registered song remains in the reservation queue, the karaoke application of the mobile terminal that has reserved the registered song is instructed to disable the operation function. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the karaoke device 30 of the second embodiment includes a reservation unit 31, a performance unit 32, an acquisition unit 33, and an instruction unit 34. The reservation unit 31 registers a song ID in a reservation queue 35 in association with a terminal ID of the mobile terminal M (see Fig. 5). When a song ID is input to a reservation screen of the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M, the terminal ID and the song ID are transmitted from the mobile terminal M to the karaoke device 30. The reservation unit 31 registers the song ID at the end of the reservation queue 35 in association with the terminal ID. When a song is reserved from the remote control device 14, only the song ID may be registered in the reservation queue 35.

[0030] The instruction unit 34 instructs the karaoke application A to disable the operation function according to the ratio of the number of portable terminals M from which operation information has been acquired, as well as the registration status of songs in the reservation queue 35. In this case, the instruction unit 34 determines whether the ratio of the number of portable terminals M from which operation information has been acquired by the acquisition unit 33 to the total number of portable terminals M is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. Then, when the ratio of the number of portable terminals M from which operation information has been acquired is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio and songs registered from the portable terminal M remain in the reservation queue 35, the instruction unit 34 instructs the karaoke application A of the portable terminal M to disable the operation function.

[0031] For example, a song reservation is accepted from the karaoke application A4 of the mobile terminal M4, and karaoke performance of the song is started. At this time, among the three mobile terminals M1-M3 excluding the singer's mobile terminal M4, the acquisition unit 33 acquires operation information of the karaoke applications A1 and A2 of the mobile terminals M1 and M2. The proportion of the mobile terminals M from which operation information has been acquired is 67%, which is greater than the predetermined proportion of 50%. Next, the instruction unit 34 refers to the reservation queue 35 and checks whether there are any songs registered by the mobile terminals M1 and M2 remaining in the reservation queue 35.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 5, two songs are registered in reservation queue 35. In the first row of reservation queue 35, song ID "B" is registered in association with terminal ID "M1" of portable terminal M1. In the second row of reservation queue 35, song ID "C" is registered in association with terminal ID "M3" of portable terminal M3. Even though the song registered by portable terminal M1 remains in reservation queue 35, acquisition unit 33 has acquired operation information of karaoke application A1 of portable terminal M1. For this reason, instruction unit 34 instructs karaoke application A1 of portable terminal M1 to disable the operation function.

[0033] The processing operation of the karaoke device will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of the karaoke device of the second embodiment. Note that the reference numerals in Fig. 4 will be used appropriately in the description.

[0034] 6, when the mobile terminal M of each user is paired with the karaoke device 30 (step S11), the karaoke application A installed on each mobile terminal M becomes available for use. When any user reserves a song using the karaoke application A of the mobile terminal M, the reservation unit 31 registers the song ID of the reserved song and the terminal ID of the mobile terminal M in the reservation queue 35 (step S12). Next, the performance unit 32 reads out song data corresponding to the song ID from the memory, and the performance data in the song data is played by the performance unit 32 to start karaoke performance of the reserved song (step S13).

[0035] When the acquisition unit 33 acquires operation information from a mobile terminal M of a user other than the singer (Yes in step S14), the instruction unit 34 calculates the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M about which the acquisition unit 33 acquired operation information to the total number of mobile terminals M (step S15). If the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M is less than a predetermined ratio (No in step S15), the process proceeds to step S18. If the ratio of the number of mobile terminals M is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (Yes in step S15), the instruction unit 34 refers to the reservation queue 35 and compares the terminal ID of the mobile terminal M about which the operation information was acquired with the terminal IDs remaining in the reservation queue 35 (step S16).

[0036] If the terminal ID of the portable terminal M from which the operation information is acquired does not remain in the reservation queue 35 (No in step S16), the process proceeds to step S18. If the terminal ID of the portable terminal M from which the operation information is acquired remains in the reservation queue 35 (Yes in step S16), the instruction unit 34 instructs the karaoke application A of the portable terminal M to disable the operation function (step S17). When the karaoke performance of the song is finished (Yes in step S18), the instruction unit 34 instructs the disabled karaoke application A to enable the operation function (step S19). Then, the top song ID is deleted from the reservation queue 35, and the karaoke device 30 repeats various processes from step S13 to S19 until there are no registered songs in the reservation queue 35 (step S20).

[0037] As described above, according to the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, other users will not be distracted by reserving songs while the singer is singing, and the singer can sing comfortably. Also, even while the singer is singing, other users who do not have songs remaining in the reservation queue 35 can be permitted to perform operations to reserve songs.

[0038] In addition, in the karaoke device of each embodiment, the karaoke application is instructed to disable the operation function according to the ratio of the number of mobile terminals from which operation information has been acquired and the registration status of songs in the reservation queue, but the present invention is not limited to these configurations. The karaoke application may be instructed to disable the operation function according to the operation information acquired during the karaoke performance of a song. For example, the karaoke application may be instructed to disable the operation function when the number of times operation information has been acquired within a predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined number, when the number of mobile terminals from which operation information has been acquired exceeds a predetermined number, or when the total time during which operation information has been acquired from the mobile terminals exceeds a predetermined time.

[0039] Furthermore, the terminal device in each embodiment may be any electronic device on which a karaoke application can be installed, for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, a mobile phone, or a game device.

[0040] In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a program may be installed in the karaoke device to add a function of instructing the operation of the karaoke application to the karaoke device. The program is stored in a storage medium. The storage medium is not particularly limited, and may be a non-transitory storage medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory.

[0041] Although the present embodiment has been described, other embodiments may be obtained by combining the above-described embodiments and modifications in whole or in part.

[0042] In addition, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be variously changed, substituted, or modified within the scope of the gist of the technical idea. Furthermore, if the technical idea can be realized in a different way due to the progress of technology or a different technology derived therefrom, it may be implemented using that method. Therefore, the claims cover all embodiments that can be included in the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10, 30: Karaoke equipment 14: Remote control device 23, 33: Acquisition Department 24, 34: Instruction section 25, 35: Reservation queue A: Karaoke application M: Mobile device

Claims

1. A karaoke device in which a predetermined application for operating a mobile terminal as a remote control device is installed in a plurality of mobile terminals and the plurality of mobile terminals are communicatively connected to the plurality of mobile terminals, an acquisition unit that acquires operation information from the predetermined application of each mobile terminal; an instruction unit that issues an instruction regarding an operation function to the predetermined application, A karaoke device, characterized in that the instruction unit instructs the predetermined application to disable an operation function in response to operation information acquired by the acquisition unit during karaoke performance of a song.

2. The karaoke device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when a ratio of the number of mobile terminals from which the acquisition unit has acquired operation information to a total number of the plurality of mobile terminals is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, the instruction unit instructs the specified application to disable an operation function.

3. 3. The karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit instructs the predetermined application to enable an operation function that has been disabled during a non-singing section of a song being played by karaoke.

4. 4. The karaoke device according to claim 1, wherein when a song registered from a specified mobile terminal remains in the reservation queue, the instruction unit instructs a specified application of the specified mobile terminal to disable an operation function.

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