Information processing device, electronic musical instrument, system, step-up decision method and program

Abstract

To step up an operator that a user uses as the user grows up.SOLUTION: A control unit of a keyboard musical instrument acquires operation information on a first operator and stores the operation information in an operation history storage unit 121 as operation history information corresponding to the first operator, and calculates the skillfulness of a user for the first operator based upon the operation history information stored in the operation history storage unit 121. When the calculated skillfulness exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determines that the user can be stepped up to a second operator having higher difficulty in operation than the first operator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an electronic musical instrument, a system, a step-up determination method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there are toys for early childhood education. In particular, many toy musical instruments for children for aesthetic education are provided. For example, a toy musical instrument imitating maracas that makes a sound when shaken, or a toy drum that makes a sound when struck can be cited. On the other hand, parents who want to give their children music education want to give them a keyboard instrument such as a piano. However, since children at a low age cannot yet play a keyboard instrument due to their development, it is usually the case that they are first given an instrument such as maracas that can easily produce a sound. And as they grow, they want to step up to a more advanced instrument and finally have them learn a keyboard instrument. Here, since the degree of growth of each child is different, it may not be possible to simply judge the proficiency of playing an instrument based only on the age.

[0003] As a technique for changing an instrument according to the proficiency of a performer, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that in a combined electronic musical instrument, a performer selects a combination of electronic musical instruments according to the proficiency of the performer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes how the combination of electronic instruments can be changed when the performer's proficiency improves and they feel dissatisfied with their current performance. However, if the performer (user) is a young child, it is difficult for them to judge their own proficiency level and change instruments (controllers) according to their own development. Furthermore, it is difficult for parents to determine when to step up the instruments as their child grows.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to enable users to upgrade the controls they use as their skills improve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is: musical instruments First Performance Operator to Obtain operation information and the first Performance The operation history information corresponding to the operator is stored in the memory unit. Based on the operation history information stored in the memory unit, the user's first Performance The proficiency level for the operator is calculated, If the aforementioned proficiency level satisfies predetermined conditions, the user Performance The second one is more difficult to operate than the control unit. Performance A control unit that determines that it is possible to step up to the operator. It is equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to upgrade the controls used by the user in line with the user's growth. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the overall configuration of a musical instrument system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a keyboard instrument. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of maracas, drums, and xylophones. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the flow of the step-up decision process executed by the control unit in Figure 2. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of data storage in the operation history memory unit. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows the flow of the proficiency calculation process performed in step S9 of Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a keyboard instrument in a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, the case in which the first and second controls of the present invention are musical instruments will be used as an example. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferred limitations for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and illustrated examples below.

[0011] [Configuration of Instrument System 100] Figure 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the musical instrument system 100 according to the present invention. The musical instrument system 100 is a musical instrument system for early childhood music education, which is configured with a plurality of types of musical instruments having different difficulties in performance operations. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the musical instrument system 100 includes a keyboard instrument 1 that functions as the core of the system, and maracas 2, a drum 3, and a xylophone 4 as peripheral musical instruments. The keyboard instrument 1 and the peripheral musical instruments are configured to be capable of wireless communication. The keyboard instrument 1 and the peripheral musical instruments are each set with an operation difficulty level, and the operation difficulty increases in the order of maracas 2 → drum 3 → xylophone 4 → keyboard instrument 1 (requiring more advanced performance skills). The operation difficulty is set based on predetermined criteria such as whether both hands are required for operation (can it be operated with one hand), whether finger operation is required, and whether there are musical scales. The user, the young child, is first given the maracas 2 with the lowest operation difficulty, and as they grow, they step up to musical instruments with higher difficulty levels.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the keyboard instrument 1. The keyboard instrument 1 is, for example, a mini keyboard having a keyboard smaller than a general keyboard (piano), and includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a keyboard 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, a communication unit 16, an output unit 17, etc., and each unit is connected by a bus 18.

[0013] The control unit 11 is configured to include at least one CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and is a computer that controls each part of the keyboard instrument 1. Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 11 reads out a program specified from the system program and various programs stored in the ROM and expands it in the RAM, and executes various processes in cooperation with the expanded program. For example, the control unit 11 functions as the control unit of the information processing device of the present invention by executing a step-up determination process described later in cooperation with the program stored in the ROM.

[0014] The storage unit 12 is composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like. The storage unit 12 stores various data necessary for program execution. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 12 is provided with an operation history storage unit 121 for accumulating operation histories (see FIG. 5). In addition, the storage unit 12 is provided with an area for storing variables such as "current musical instrument" and "proficiency level" described later. In addition, the storage unit 12 stores in association with each other a musical instrument ID and the type of the musical instrument to which the musical instrument ID is assigned. Note that the storage unit 12 is not limited to being built in the keyboard musical instrument 1, and may include an external recording medium detachable from the keyboard musical instrument 1.

[0015] The keyboard 13 includes a plurality of keys and a detection unit that detects a key that has been pressed or released, and outputs information on the pitch, velocity, and timing of the key that has been pressed or released to the control unit 11.

[0016] The operation unit 14 is composed of push button switches or the like. The operation unit 14 outputs an operation signal of the push button switch by the user to the control unit 11.

[0017] The display unit 15 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and performs various displays according to the display information instructed from the control unit 11.

[0018] The communication unit 16 includes a wireless unit for performing wireless communication with peripheral musical instruments constituting the musical instrument system 100, and performs data transmission and reception with the peripheral musical instruments.

[0019] The output unit 17 includes a sound source unit, a filter unit, a D / A converter, an amplifier, a mixer, a speaker, etc. not shown in the figure. The output unit 17, according to an instruction from the control unit 11, reads out waveform data stored in advance in a waveform ROM provided in the sound source unit by the sound source unit or generates waveform data, and outputs musical sounds based on the waveform data from the speaker via the filter unit, the D / A converter, the amplifier, and the mixer.

[0020] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the peripheral devices: maracas 2, drum 3, and xylophone 4. As shown in Figure 3, the maracas 2 is configured to include a control unit 21, a sensor unit 22, and a communication unit 23, and each unit is connected by a bus 24.

[0021] The control unit 21 is a computer that controls each part of the maracas 2 and is comprised of at least one CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). Specifically, the CPU of the control unit 21 reads a specified program from the system program and various other programs stored in the ROM, loads it into the RAM, and performs various processes in cooperation with the loaded program.

[0022] The sensor unit 22 is configured to include motion sensors, impact sensors, etc., and outputs detection signals from the sensors to the control unit 21.

[0023] The communication unit 23 is equipped with a wireless unit for wireless communication with the keyboard instrument 1 and transmits and receives data with the keyboard instrument 1.

[0024] Furthermore, Maracas 2 possesses a physical sound-producing mechanism. That is, Maracas 2 has a sound-producing mechanism that makes a rattling sound when shaken.

[0025] In this embodiment, the control unit 21 reads the change in the detection signal (sensor value) from the sensor unit 22 and determines whether or not the maracas 2 has been operated based on the way the detection signal changes. If it determines that the maracas 2 has been operated, the control unit 21 determines, based on the way the detection signal from the sensor unit 22 changes, whether the maracas 2 was played in its intended way or an unknown operation other than the intended way was performed. For example, shaking to produce sound is the intended way to play the maracas 2. Other operations, such as hitting or dropping, are unknown operations. The control unit 21 then associates the operation information (in this embodiment, information indicating whether it was a playing operation or an unknown operation) with the instrument ID assigned to the maracas 2 and transmits it to the keyboard instrument 1 via the communication unit 23.

[0026] The drum 3, like the maracas 2 described above, is composed of a control unit 31, a sensor unit 32, and a communication unit 33, and each unit is connected by a bus 34. In addition, the drum 3 has a physical sound-producing mechanism. That is, the drum 3 produces sound when the skin surface is struck, for example, with sticks 301, 302 or with one's hand. The control unit 31 of the drum 3 reads the change in the detection signal (sensor value) from the sensor unit 32 and determines whether the drum 3 has been operated based on the way the detection signal changes. If it determines that the drum 3 has been operated, the control unit 31 determines, based on the way the detection signal from the sensor unit 32 changes, whether an original performance operation was performed or an unknown operation other than the original performance operation of the drum 3 was performed. For example, the operation of striking the drumhead of the drum 3 with sticks 301 and 302 to produce sound is an original performance operation of the drum 3, while other operations, such as striking the body of the drum 3, shaking the drum 3, or dropping it, are unknown operations. The control unit 31 then associates the operation information (in this embodiment, information indicating whether it is a performance operation or an unknown operation) with the instrument ID assigned to the drum 3 and transmits it to the keyboard instrument 1 via the communication unit 33.

[0027] The xylophone 4, like the maracas 2 described above, is composed of a control unit 41, a sensor unit 42, and a communication unit 43, and each unit is connected by a bus 44. In addition, the xylophone 4 has a physical sound-producing mechanism. That is, the xylophone 4 has multiple keys (wooden boards). When each key is struck with a mallet 401 or 402, a note corresponding to that key is produced.

[0028] The control unit 41 of the xylophone 4 reads the change in the detection signal (sensor value) from the sensor unit 42 and determines whether the xylophone 4 has been operated based on the way the detection signal changes. If it determines that the xylophone 4 has been operated, the control unit 41 determines, based on the way the detection signal from the sensor unit 42 changes, whether the intended playing operation was performed or an unknown operation other than the intended playing operation of the xylophone 4 was performed. For example, if the control unit 41 detects an operation in which the keys of the xylophone 4 are struck with mallets 401 and 402 to produce sound, it determines that the intended playing operation of the xylophone 4 has been performed. If it detects other operations, such as shaking or dropping, it determines that an unknown operation has been performed. The control unit 41 then associates the operation information (in this embodiment, information indicating whether it is a playing operation or an unknown operation) with the instrument ID assigned to the xylophone 4 and transmits it to the keyboard instrument 1 via the communication unit 43. In addition, the xylophone 4 may be configured such that each key is equipped with a motion sensor or a strike sensor, and the control unit 41 may also detect which key was played based on the detection signals from the sensors provided on each key, and include this in the operation information.

[0029] Furthermore, if the operation information received by the peripheral instrument indicates a performance operation, the keyboard instrument 1 may emit a musical tone corresponding to the performance operation via the output unit 17. When the keyboard instrument 1 emits a musical tone corresponding to the performance operation of the peripheral instrument, when the peripheral instrument is played, the physical instrument sound produced by the peripheral instrument itself and the musical tone produced by the keyboard instrument 1 are emitted simultaneously. The musical tone produced by the keyboard instrument 1 may be an electronic sound effect or an animal sound, different from the sound of the peripheral instrument. This is intended to attract the interest of young children, who are assumed to be users of the instrument system 100, and to provide an incentive to activate the functions of the entire system (turn on the power of the keyboard instrument 1).

[0030] [Operation of keyboard instrument 1] Next, we will explain the operation related to the step-up function of the keyboard instrument 1, which is the core of the instrument system 100. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the step-up decision process executed by the control unit 11 of the keyboard instrument 1 when the keyboard instrument 1 is powered on and started up. The step-up decision process is executed through the cooperation of the CPU of the control unit 11 and the program stored in the ROM.

[0031] First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it is the first time the system is started (step S1). If it is determined that this is the first startup (Step S1; YES), the control unit 11 sets the variable "Current Instrument" stored in the memory unit 12 to "Maracas," which is the instrument (operator) that makes up the instrument system 100 and has the lowest difficulty of operation (Step S2). Here, the instrument set as "current instrument" corresponds to the first control element of the present invention. Furthermore, the control unit 11 sets the variable "proficiency level," which is stored in the memory unit 12, to "0" (step S3), and proceeds to step S5. If it is determined that this is not the first startup (Step S1; NO), the control unit 11 determines whether the "current instrument" is set to the "keyboard instrument," which is the instrument with the highest difficulty of operation among the instruments that make up the instrument system 100 (Step S4). If the control unit 11 determines that "Keyboard Instrument" is set as the "Current Instrument" (Step S4; YES), it proceeds to normal processing. This is because, when "Keyboard Instrument" is set as the "Current Instrument," the keyboard instrument 1 is the instrument with the highest difficulty level to operate in the instrument system 100, so there is no need to determine to step up. Normal processing involves outputting an instrument sound of the pitch corresponding to the pressed key on the keyboard 13 via the output unit 17.

[0032] If the control unit 11 determines that "Keyboard instrument" is not set as the "Current instrument" (step S4; NO), it proceeds to step S5.

[0033] In step S5, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the power has been turned off by the operation unit 14 (step S5). If the control unit 11 determines that the power has been turned off (step S5; YES), it terminates the step-up determination process and proceeds to the power-off process. If it is determined that the power is not turned off (Step S5; NO), the control unit 11 determines whether or not it has received operation information from a nearby instrument via the communication unit 16 (Step 6). If the control unit 11 determines that it has not received operation information from a nearby instrument via the communication unit 16 (step 6; NO), the control unit 11 returns to step S5.

[0034] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that it has received operation information from a peripheral instrument via the communication unit 16 (step 6; YES), it stores operation history data, including the received operation information, in the operation history storage unit 121 (step S7).

[0035] Figure 5 shows an example of data storage in the operation history storage unit 121. As shown in Figure 5, the operation history storage unit 121 has fields for storing the instrument ID, operation information, and operation time, and stores the instrument ID, operation information, and operation time in association as operation history data. The instrument ID is an identification number assigned to each instrument. The instrument ID is transmitted from surrounding instruments along with operation information. Operation information indicates whether an operation performed on a nearby instrument from the source is an intended playing operation for that instrument or an unknown operation. The operation time is recorded by the control unit 11 at the time when the keyboard instrument 1 receives operation information from a nearby instrument. Figure 5 shows an example where operation history data for the maracas 2 is stored in the operation history memory unit 121. The "shaking operation" is information indicating the original playing operation of the maracas 2.

[0036] Next, the control unit 11 determines whether the amount of operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as the "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121 exceeds a predetermined amount (step S8). The predetermined amount is a value experimentally or empirically determined as the amount of data that can be used to calculate the user's proficiency level. If the control unit 11 determines that the amount of operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121 does not exceed a predetermined amount (step S8; NO), the control unit 11 returns to step S5.

[0037] On the other hand, if the operation history storage unit 121 determines that the amount of operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121 exceeds a predetermined threshold (step S8; YES), the control unit 11 executes the proficiency calculation process (step S9).

[0038] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the proficiency calculation process performed in step S9 of Figure 4. The proficiency calculation process is performed through the cooperation of the CPU of the control unit 11 and the program stored in the ROM. Here, it is assumed that as the child grows, they will be able to perform the correct playing operations (the intended playing operations) at a consistent rhythm. Therefore, in this embodiment, the level of proficiency is set to a value that increases as the child, as the user, performs the correct playing operations at a generally consistent rhythm.

[0039] First, the control unit 11 initializes the variable "number of performance operations" to 0 (step S901). "Number of performance operations" is a variable that counts the number of performance operations performed consecutively.

[0040] Next, the control unit 11 reads one of the operation history data stored in the operation history storage unit 121 and determines whether or not the operation information is a performance operation (step S902). The operation history data read here is the operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument currently set as "Current Instrument". The operation history data is read in chronological order, from earliest to latest. If the control unit 11 determines that the operation information in the read operation history data does not indicate a performance operation (step S902; NO), it proceeds to step S911.

[0041] If the control unit 11 determines that the operation information in the read operation history data indicates a playback operation (step S902; YES), it adds 1 to the "number of playback operations" (step S903).

[0042] Next, the control unit 11 reads the next operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121, and determines whether or not the operation information is a performance operation (step S904). If the operation information in the next operation history data also indicates a performance operation (step S904; YES), the control unit 11 adds 1 to the "number of performance operations" (step S905), calculates the time difference between this operation and the previous performance operation, and stores the time difference information in RAM (step S906).

[0043] Next, the control unit 11 determines whether it has processed all of the operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121. If it determines that it has not processed all of the data (step S907; NO), the control unit 11 returns to step S904.

[0044] On the other hand, if in step S904 the control unit determines that the operation information of the operation history data read from the operation history storage unit 121 does not indicate a performance operation (step S904; NO), or if in step S907 the control unit determines that all the operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121 has been processed (step S907; YES), the control unit 11 determines whether the "number of performance operations" is greater than 2 (step S908). In step S908, the control unit 11 checks whether three or more playback operations have been performed consecutively. If three or more playback operations have been performed consecutively, there are two or more time differences between the consecutively performed playback operations.

[0045] If the control unit 11 determines that the "number of performance operations" is greater than 2 (step S908; YES), it determines whether the fluctuation in the time difference (time interval) between consecutively performed performance operations is within a predetermined value (step S909). Step S909 determines whether the performance operations are being carried out according to a constant rhythm. For example, assuming that the performance is being carried out in quarter notes, if the fluctuation in the time difference between consecutively performed performance operations is within the length of a sixteenth note, it is determined that the performance operations are being carried out according to a constant tempo. If the time difference is approximately 1 second, then since a quarter note at a tempo of 60 is 1 second, the length of a sixteenth note is 0.25 seconds, which is one-quarter of that. In Figure 5, the second to fourth operation history data represent the instrument's original performance operations, and since each performance operation is carried out at 1-second intervals, it can be inferred that the music is being played in rhythm. Furthermore, the predetermined value used in step S909 may be smaller the higher the difficulty level of the instrument currently set as "instrument". In other words, the addition of proficiency points may be made more rigorous as the step level increases.

[0046] If the control unit 11 determines that the fluctuation in the time difference between consecutively performed performance operations is within a predetermined value (step S909; YES), it adds 1 to the variable "proficiency level" (step S910) and proceeds to step S911. If, in step S908, it is determined that the "number of performance operations" is 2 or less (step S908; NO), or if, in step S909, it is determined that the fluctuation in the time difference between consecutively performed performance operations is not within a predetermined value (step S909; NO), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S911.

[0047] In step S911, the control unit 11 determines whether it has processed all of the operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121. If it determines that it has not processed all of the data (step S911; NO), the control unit 11 returns to step S901 and repeatedly executes the processes from step S901 onward. If the control unit 11 determines that it has processed all the operation history data for the instrument ID corresponding to the instrument set as "current instrument" stored in the operation history storage unit 121 (step S911; YES), the control unit 11 erases the operation history data stored in the operation history storage unit 121 (step S912), terminates the proficiency calculation process, and proceeds to step S10 in Figure 5.

[0048] Furthermore, the content of the proficiency calculation process in step S9 of Figure 4 may be varied depending on the instrument currently set as "instrument". For example, if the "current instrument" is maracas 2, the control unit 11 performs the proficiency calculation process shown in Figure 6. If the "current instrument" is drum 3, it performs the proficiency calculation process using a predetermined value used in step 909 of the proficiency calculation process shown in Figure 6 that is smaller than the value used for maracas 2. Alternatively, if the "current instrument" is drum 3, proficiency may be added if the time difference from the previous performance is within a predetermined threshold. That is, proficiency may be added if the speed at which drum 3 is struck is within a threshold (i.e., if it is struck quickly). Furthermore, if the "current instrument" is xylophone 4, for example, the task (sequence of notes) that the user should play on xylophone 4 may be predetermined, and the correct information (correct sequence of notes) for the task that the user should play may be pre-stored in the memory unit 12. The operation information transmitted from xylophone 4 to keyboard instrument 1 may include information about the note of the key that was played (pitch information), and the control unit 11 may add to the proficiency level if the pitch information included in the operation information matches the correct information.

[0049] In step S10 of Figure 5, the control unit 11 determines whether the "proficiency level" exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 5) (step S10). If the control unit 11 determines that the "proficiency level" does not exceed a predetermined threshold (step S10; NO), it returns to step S5. If the control unit 11 determines that the "proficiency level" has exceeded a predetermined threshold (step S10; YES), it determines that it is possible to step up to the next instrument (second operator) from the instruments that make up the instrument system 100 that is set as the "current instrument" (first operator), and updates the instrument set as the "current instrument" to the next instrument (second operator) (step S11). The next instrument (second control) after the instrument currently set as "current instrument" (first control) is the instrument with the next lowest difficulty level among instruments that are more difficult to operate than the current instrument. For example, if the "current instrument" is maracas, it will be changed to a drum; if it is a drum, it will be changed to a xylophone; and if it is a xylophone, it will be changed to a keyboard instrument.

[0050] Next, the control unit 11 displays a notification on the display unit 15 prompting the user to step up to the updated instrument (second control) (step S12). For example, if the "current instrument" is updated to a drum in step S11, the control unit 11 displays a message such as "Please step up to drum" and an OK button on the display unit 15 in step S12. When the OK button is pressed, the control unit 11 clears the notification and returns to step S3. The parent or guardian, who is the administrator of the young child (the user), can see the notification displayed in step S12 and recognize that the child has grown enough to move up from their current instrument to the next level. This allows them to then move the child up to an instrument that matches their skill level. The notification is not limited to a visual display; it may also be given via audio or other means.

[0051] When the power to the keyboard instrument 1 is turned off (step S5; YES), the control unit 11 terminates the step-up decision process.

[0052] (modified version) In the above embodiment, each of the peripheral instruments is equipped with sensor units 22, 32, and 42 to generate operation information, which is transmitted to the keyboard instrument 1, and the keyboard instrument 1 acquires the operation information of the peripheral instruments via the communication unit 16. However, the method for acquiring operation information by the keyboard instrument 1 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the keyboard instrument 1 may be equipped with an audio input unit 19 such as a microphone, and the audio input unit 19 may acquire the sound generated by each peripheral instrument. The acquired sound is then analyzed by the control unit 11, thereby acquiring operation information (whether it is a performance operation or an unknown operation) for each peripheral instrument.

[0053] For example, the control unit 11 converts the sound input from the audio input unit 19 into a digital value using an A / D converter (not shown), and determines whether the volume of the input sound is above a predetermined threshold. If the volume of the input sound is above the predetermined threshold, it determines that an auxiliary instrument has been operated. The control unit 11 then determines which auxiliary instrument produced the sound based on the waveform of the input sound, and obtains operation information indicating whether the operation performed was a performance operation or an unknown operation.

[0054] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using the example of a single user of the instrument system 100, it is also possible for multiple users to use it. For example, each user may be assigned a unique user ID, and when starting the keyboard instrument 1, each user may input their user ID using the operation unit 14. Then, when the control unit 11 stores "current instrument," "proficiency level," or operation history information in the storage unit 12 during the step-up decision process or proficiency calculation process, it stores the information in the storage unit 12 in association with the input user ID, and executes the step-up decision process or proficiency calculation process based on the "current instrument," "proficiency level," and operation history information corresponding to the user ID. In this way, proficiency levels can be calculated and step-up decisions can be made for each of multiple users.

[0055] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using the example of the information processing device of the present invention being incorporated into the keyboard instrument 1, the information processing device may be configured separately from the keyboard instrument 1.

[0056] Furthermore, while the above embodiment shows an example of a musical instrument system 100 that progresses in the order of maracas 2 → drum 3 → xylophone 4 → keyboard instrument 1, the types and number of instruments included in the system are not limited to those described above.

[0057] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described an example in which the first and second operators of the present invention are musical instruments, the first and second operators are not limited to musical instruments as long as they are operating devices operated by the user (infant).

[0058] As explained above, the control unit 11 of the keyboard instrument 1 acquires operation information for the first control and stores it in the operation history storage unit 121 as operation history information corresponding to the first control. Based on the operation history information stored in the operation history storage unit 121, the control unit 11 calculates the user's proficiency with the first control. If the calculated proficiency meets predetermined conditions, the control unit 11 determines that the user can step up to a second control, which is more difficult to operate than the first control. Therefore, based on the user's (young child's) proficiency with the first control, the system can automatically determine when it is appropriate to move on to the second control, which is more difficult to operate than the first. This allows the instrument to be upgraded in accordance with the child's growth.

[0059] For example, the keyboard instrument 1 is equipped with a communication unit 16 for communicating with a first operator, and the control unit 11 can acquire operation information by receiving operation information from the first operator via the communication unit 16.

[0060] Furthermore, for example, the keyboard instrument 1 is equipped with an audio input unit for inputting sound, and the control unit 11 can acquire operation information by analyzing the sound input from the audio input unit.

[0061] Furthermore, the operation information indicates whether the operation performed on the first operator is the original operation of the first operator. Therefore, the proficiency level of the original operation of the first operator can be easily calculated.

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 11 determines, based on the operation history information stored in the operation history storage unit 121, whether the fluctuation in the time interval between operations when the original operations of the first control are performed consecutively is within a predetermined value, and calculates the proficiency level based on the result of that determination. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the user can step up to the second control based on whether the user can perform the original playing operations of the first control at a roughly constant rhythm.

[0063] Furthermore, the control unit 11 notifies the user that it is possible to step up to the second operator when it determines that the user is capable of doing so. Therefore, the user (or their guardian) can be informed that it is possible to step up to the second operator.

[0064] The descriptions in the above embodiments are merely preferred examples of the information processing device, electronic musical instrument, system, step-up determination method, and program according to the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0065] For example, the above embodiment discloses examples in which semiconductor memory or hard disks are used as computer-readable media for the program according to the present invention, but the invention is not limited to these examples. Other computer-readable media that can be used include SSDs and portable recording media such as CD-ROMs. Furthermore, carrier waves can also be used as a medium for providing data for the program according to the present invention via a communication line.

[0066] Furthermore, the detailed configuration and operation of the system and each device of the above embodiment can also be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0067] Although embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is determined based on the claims. Furthermore, equivalent scopes of the present invention that have been modified from the claims but are not related to the essence of the present invention are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 100 Instrument Systems 1. Keyboard instrument 11 Control Unit 12 Storage section 121 Operation history storage unit 13 keys 14 Control section 15 Display section 16 Communications Department 17 Output section 2 Maracas 3 Drums 301, 302 Stick 4 xylophone 401, 402 Mallets 21, 31, 41 Control Unit 22, 32, 42 Sensor section 23, 33, 43 Communications Department

Claims

1. Operation information for a first performance control of a musical instrument is acquired and stored in a storage unit as operation history information corresponding to the first performance control, Based on the operation history information stored in the memory unit, the user's proficiency with the first performance control is calculated. A control unit that determines, when the level of proficiency meets predetermined conditions, that the user can step up to a second performance control that is more difficult to operate than the first performance control, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

2. It includes a communication unit for communicating with the first performance control unit, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires the operation information by receiving the operation information from the first performance operator via the communication unit.

3. It is equipped with an audio input section for voice input, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires the operation information by analyzing the sound input from the voice input unit.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation information is information indicating whether or not the operation performed on the first performance control is the original operation of the first performance control.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit determines, based on the operation history information stored in the storage unit, whether the fluctuation in the time interval between the original operations when the original operations are performed consecutively is within a predetermined value, and calculates the proficiency level based on the result of that determination.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined value is smaller the higher the difficulty of operating the first performance control.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the difficulty of operation is set on the first performance control and the second performance control based on whether operation with both hands is required, operation with fingers is required, or whether there is a musical scale.

8. An electronic musical instrument comprising an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A plurality of performance controls, including a first performance control for a musical instrument and a second performance control which is at least more difficult to operate than the first performance control, An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A system equipped with these features.

10. Computers Operation information for the first performance control of the instrument is acquired and stored in the storage unit as operation history information corresponding to the first performance control. Based on the operation history information stored in the memory unit, the user's proficiency with the first performance control is calculated. When the aforementioned level of proficiency meets predetermined conditions, it is determined that the user can step up to a second performance control that is more difficult to operate than the first performance control. How to decide when to move up to the next step.

11. Computers, Operation information for the first performance control of the instrument is acquired and stored in the storage unit as operation history information corresponding to the first performance control. Based on the operation history information stored in the memory unit, the user's proficiency with the first performance control is calculated. A control unit that determines, when the level of proficiency meets predetermined conditions, that the user can step up to a second performance control that is more difficult to operate than the first performance control, A program designed to function as such.

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