Audio equipment, method for controlling audio equipment, and sound processing system

Abstract

To provide a control method of acoustic equipment capable of reflecting setting of each individual whichever acoustic equipment at whichever site is used.SOLUTION: The control method of acoustic equipment performs identification processing of identifying an external user of the acoustic equipment by communication with an information processing device, receives setting information of the acoustic equipment corresponding to the identified external user, and controls the acoustic equipment based on the received setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One embodiment of this invention relates to an audio device, a method for controlling the audio device, and an audio processing system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic-playing piano that changes the GUI for each user. The automatic-playing piano in Patent Document 1 recognizes the user by voice recognition and changes to the corresponding GUI for each recognized user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Patent Document 1 stores the user's setting information in the automatic-playing piano. Therefore, when the user uses another audio device in another venue, for example, the user's settings cannot be reflected.

[0005] An object of one embodiment of this invention is to provide a method for controlling an audio device that can reflect the settings of each individual regardless of which audio device in which venue is used.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A method for controlling an audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention performs identification processing for identifying an external user of the audio device by communicating with an information processing device, receives setting information of the audio device corresponding to the identified external user, and controls the audio device based on the received setting information.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, individual settings can be reflected regardless of which venue or sound equipment is used. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound processing system. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an audio mixer. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the functional configuration of the signal processing block. [Figure 4] This is a front perspective view of the audio mixer. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing an example of the LOGIN screen. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of user permissions. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of smartphone 11. [Figure 8] This is a flowchart showing the operation of the sound processing system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound processing system 1. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the audio mixer 10. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the signal processing block of the audio mixer 10. Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the audio mixer 10.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the sound processing system 1 comprises an audio mixer 10 and a smartphone 11 connected to the audio mixer 10. The audio mixer 10 and the smartphone 11 are connected by a cable such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or wirelessly by Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, etc.

[0011] The audio mixer 10 is an example of an audio device according to the present invention. The audio mixer 10 receives sound signals from other audio devices such as microphones, or outputs sound signals to other audio devices such as speakers.

[0012] The audio mixer 10 receives sound signals from audio equipment such as microphones. The audio mixer 10 processes the input sound signals by mixing them or applying effects. The audio mixer 10 then transmits the processed sound signals to audio equipment such as speakers.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the audio mixer 10 includes a display unit 101, an operation unit 102, audio I / O (Input / Output) 103, a signal processing unit (DSP) 104, a network interface 105, a USB interface 106, a CPU 107, flash memory 108, and RAM 109. These components are connected via a bus 210.

[0014] As shown in Figure 4, the audio mixer 10 comprises a housing 20. A display unit 101 is located on the upper front of the housing 20. An operation panel 25 is located on the lower front of the housing 20. The operation panel 25 includes a channel strip section 27, a user-defined knob 50, a fader bank area 51, and a user-defined key area 52.

[0015] The channel strip section 27 includes, for example, eight input channel sections and one master section. Each channel section has multiple controls, including a fader 41. The user operates the fader 41 to adjust the level of each input channel and the master output.

[0016] The user-defined knob 50 is a knob to which any function can be assigned. The user can assign any function to the user-defined knob 50. Furthermore, the user can adjust the parameter values ​​of the assigned function by operating the user-defined knob 50.

[0017] The fader bank area 51 is provided with a plurality of switches for designating channels to be assigned to eight input channel sections in the channel strip section 27. For example, when the user presses the switch displayed as "1-8", input channels 1-8 are assigned to the eight input channel sections. Also, in the fader bank area 51, a switch displayed as, for example, "CUSTOM" is provided as a switch for a custom fader bank. The custom fader bank is a function for assigning any channel to the fader 41. When the user presses the "CUSTOM" switch, any input channel designated by the user is assigned to each of the eight input channel sections.

[0018] The user-defined key area 52 is provided with a plurality of user-defined keys. The user assigns any function to these plurality of user-defined keys. The user can execute any function assigned to the pressed user-defined key by pressing any one of the plurality of user-defined keys arranged in the user-defined key area 52.

[0019] The CPU 107 controls the operation of the audio mixer 10. The CPU 107 performs various operations by reading out and executing a program stored in the flash memory 108 which is a storage medium, into the RAM 109. Note that the program does not necessarily have to be stored in the flash memory 108 of the device itself. For example, it may be downloaded from another device such as a server each time and read into the RAM 109.

[0020] The CPU 107 performs display control of the display 101, input / output of audio signals in the audio I / O 103, control of mixing processing in the signal processing unit 104, control of effect processing, and change of values of parameters related to various controls.

[0021] The display unit 101 consists of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and displays various information according to the control of the CPU 107. The operation unit 102 receives operations from the user for the audio mixer 10. The operation unit 102 is composed of various controls. In addition, the operation unit 102 may be composed of a touch panel stacked on the display unit 101.

[0022] The CPU 107 displays a LOGIN screen, as shown in Figure 5, when the audio mixer 10 is started up, or at any arbitrary time (for example, when a specific operation is performed on the control unit 102). Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the LOGIN screen.

[0023] CPU107 displays a selection screen on the LOGIN screen, allowing the user to choose between an administrator, a regular user, or a guest user. The user selects one of these options. If an administrator or regular user is selected, CPU107 identifies the user by requiring them to enter their user ID and password. User identification may also be performed using biometric authentication such as fingerprint, iris, or facial recognition. CPU107 then logs in the identified administrator or regular user. Guest users do not require password entry or other authentication. Even if an administrator or regular user is selected, if the user cannot be identified, they may log in as a guest user.

[0024] Figure 6 shows an example of user permissions. The administrator is a user who can perform all operations on the audio mixer 10. Regular users and guest users are users whose operations are restricted to some extent. Figure 6 shows examples of user permissions, including preference settings, UD (User Defined) settings, and user level settings.

[0025] All users are allowed to change their preference settings. Preference settings are settings related to the operating environment. All users can configure the operating environment to their liking. Preference settings include, for example, the color of the GUI displayed on the display unit 101, the brightness of the display unit 101, the language displayed on the display unit 101, whether to display items in ascending or descending order, whether to display errors for specific operations, etc.

[0026] Regular users are only restricted by user level settings. User level settings allow you to specify whether each user ID is a regular user or an administrator. Administrators can designate other user IDs as either regular users or administrators.

[0027] Guest users have limited access to user-level settings and UD settings. UD settings include assigning functions using user-defined knobs 50, assigning input channels using custom fader banks, and assigning functions to switches in user-defined key area 52. Administrators and regular users can perform operations such as assigning functions using user-defined knobs 50, assigning input channels using custom fader banks, and assigning functions to switches in user-defined key area 52.

[0028] Furthermore, preference settings and UD settings are stored in flash memory 108 as setting information for each user ID. In other words, the setting information includes preference settings or UD setting information (information specifying the function to be assigned to the control of the audio equipment). The CPU 107 reads the setting information corresponding to the logged-in user ID from flash memory 108 and controls the audio mixer 10. This allows the user to reproduce past preference settings or UD settings, etc.

[0029] The signal processing unit 104 consists of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for performing various signal processing, such as mixing or effect processing of audio signals. The signal processing unit 104 applies signal processing, such as mixing or effect processing, to the audio signals input from the audio I / O 103 or network I / F 105. The signal processing unit 104 outputs the processed audio signal via the audio I / O 103 or network I / F 105.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the signal processing block 901 consists of input channels 951, buses 952, and output channels 953. In this example, input channels 951 have 16 channels (1-16). Buses 952 have various buses such as a stereo bus, a mix bus, and a matrix bus. Output channels 953 are blocks that process the audio signals sent from each bus.

[0031] Each channel of input channel 951 applies effects such as equalizer (EQ) or compressor (COMP) processing to the input audio signal. Each channel of input channel 951 sends the processed audio signal to the subsequent bus 952. The level of the audio signal sent by input channel 951 is adjusted by controls such as fader 41.

[0032] Bus 952 mixes the audio signals sent from each input channel and outputs them to output channel 953.

[0033] Output channel 953 applies effects such as equalization or compression to the input audio signal. The level of the audio signal sent out by output channel 953 is adjusted by the master fader. The processed audio signal is supplied to audio I / O 103 or network I / F 105.

[0034] The flash memory 108 has a preset memory area that stores multiple settings (presets) for the signal processing unit 104. These presets may also be called scenes or libraries. The user can reproduce the signal processing settings corresponding to a preset by selecting and recalling a desired preset from among the multiple presets stored in the flash memory 108. Such multiple presets may also be stored in the flash memory 108 as user-specific setting information.

[0035] The audio mixer 10 in this embodiment accepts logins from external users, receives configuration information from those external users, and controls the audio mixer 10 based on the received configuration information. External users are users managed by the smartphone 11, separate from the administrator, regular users, and guest users mentioned above. The configuration information of external users is also managed by the smartphone 11.

[0036] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a smartphone 11. The smartphone 11 is an example of an information processing device of the present invention. The smartphone 11 includes a display 111, a user interface 112, a CPU 113, flash memory 114, RAM 115, and a USB interface 116. These components are connected via a bus 151.

[0037] In this embodiment, the smartphone 11 connects to the audio mixer 10 via the USB I / F 116. However, the smartphone 11 may also connect to the audio mixer 10 wirelessly using Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, or other similar technologies.

[0038] The display unit 111 consists of, for example, an LCD or OLED, and displays various information according to the control of the CPU 113. The user interface 112 consists of a touch panel superimposed on the display unit 111 and accepts user input. The user interface 112, together with the display unit 111, constitutes a GUI.

[0039] The CPU 113 reads a program stored in the flash memory 114, which is a storage medium, into the RAM 115 to perform a predetermined function. For example, the CPU 113 reads an application program from the flash memory 114 for logging into the audio mixer 10 with an external user account and executes it.

[0040] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the sound processing system 1. First, the application programs of the audio mixer 10 and the smartphone 11 confirm their connection to each other (S11). Once the connection is complete (S11: Yes), the application program of the smartphone 11 identifies the external user by requiring the user ID and password to be entered (S12). Alternatively, the external user may be identified using biometric authentication such as fingerprint, iris, or facial recognition using various sensors on the smartphone 11.

[0041] As described above, an external user is a user with a user ID different from the user IDs of administrators and regular users managed by the audio mixer 10. The external user stores preference settings, user-defined knob settings, user-defined key settings, and custom fader bank settings previously set on another audio device (audio mixer) separate from the audio mixer 10 in the flash memory 114 of the smartphone 11. Alternatively, the external user's settings information may be stored in the storage unit of a server (not shown).

[0042] The CPU 107 of the audio mixer 10 logs in the external user identified by the smartphone 11 (S13). The CPU 107 of the audio mixer 10 receives configuration information corresponding to the logged-in external user from the smartphone 11 (S14). If the external user's configuration information is stored in a server (not shown), the smartphone 11 first receives the configuration information from the server and then sends the configuration information received from the server to the audio mixer 10. Alternatively, the audio mixer 10 may receive information indicating the server's access destination (URL, etc.) from the smartphone 11 and receive the configuration information directly from the server.

[0043] Then, the CPU 107 of the audio mixer 10 controls the audio mixer 10 by reflecting the received configuration information in the RAM 109 (S15). The configuration information includes preference settings and UD settings (information specifying the functions to be assigned to the controls of the audio equipment). In other words, the configuration information includes preference settings, user-defined knob settings, user-defined key settings, and custom fader bank settings, etc.

[0044] This allows users to apply their previously set preference settings, user-defined knob settings, user-defined key settings, and custom fader bank settings to the audio mixer 10, even if they are using the audio mixer 10 for the first time. In other words, by carrying their smartphone 11, users can apply their previously set preference settings, user-defined knob settings, user-defined key settings, and custom fader bank settings to the audio mixer 10.

[0045] (Variation 1) The administrator of the audio mixer 10 may configure it so that only approved external users can log in. In this case, the audio mixer 10 accepts the external user's ID from the administrator in advance and stores the accepted external user's ID in the flash memory 108. The audio mixer 10 receives the external user's ID authenticated by the smartphone 11 and allows the external user to log in only if it matches an ID previously registered by the administrator. The audio mixer 10 receives the external user's ID authenticated by the smartphone 11 and, if it is different from an ID previously registered by the administrator, allows the external user to log in as a guest user.

[0046] As shown in Figure 6, guest users have restrictions on UD settings and user level settings. Therefore, the audio mixer 10 can be prevented from being used by external users who have not been approved by the administrator.

[0047] (Modification 2) When connected to a smartphone 11, the audio mixer 10 logs in with the ID of the external user authenticated on the smartphone 11. If the external user is logged out, it logs in as an administrator, regular user, or guest user.

[0048] In other words, a user can log in to the audio mixer 10 as an administrator, regular user, or guest user and use the configuration information managed by the audio mixer 10, or, if using the application program on the smartphone 11, they can log in to the audio mixer 10 as an external user and use the configuration information managed by the smartphone 11.

[0049] (Variation 3) As described above, the settings (presets) of the signal processing unit 104 may also be stored in the flash memory 108 as user-specific setting information. The smartphone 11 or server may store information related to multiple presets of external users as setting information.

[0050] When an external user logs in, CPU 107 reads multiple presets of the external user stored on the smartphone 11 or server into its own device. The user can recall any of the read presets (multiple presets stored on the smartphone 11 or server).

[0051] This allows users to select presets managed on their smartphone 11 as presets on the audio mixer 10 simply by logging in as an external user using their smartphone 11.

[0052] (Modification 4) The audio mixer 10 may automatically log out external users if communication with the application program on the smartphone 11 is interrupted. If an external user is logged out, the audio mixer 10 changes the user's state to that of a guest user.

[0053] This allows the audio mixer 10 to prevent other users from using the settings information of external users.

[0054] (Variation 5) The information processing device, such as a smartphone 11, does not need to manage only one external user. The information processing device may store the IDs of multiple external users and the corresponding configuration information for each ID. In this case, the information processing device identifies one external user from among the multiple external users in the identification process (S12).

[0055] As a result, the sound processing system of Modification 6 can reflect setting information tailored to each user in the audio mixer 10, even when a single information processing device is shared by multiple users.

[0056] (Experimental variation 6) When the CPU 107 of the audio mixer 10 receives setting information for a different model (second model) than the model of the device it controls (first model), it converts the setting information for the second model to match the setting information for the first model of the device.

[0057] For example, if the second model has 8 user-defined keys (user-defined keys 1-8) while the first model has 4 user-defined keys (user-defined keys 1-4), CPU 107 will ignore the settings for user-defined keys 5-8.

[0058] Furthermore, the configuration information includes presets related to signal processing, as described above. If, for example, a preset in the first model includes parameters for two stereo (stereo A and stereo B) output channels, and the second model has only one stereo output channel, the CPU 107 will assign either the stereo A output channel or the stereo B output channel to a stereo channel, and the other to a mono channel.

[0059] This allows the audio mixer 10 to reflect UD settings and signal processing settings configured on different models to its own device.

[0060] The description of these embodiments should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims, rather than by the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the scope of the invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1: Sound processing system 10: Audio Mixer 11: Smartphone 20: Cabinet 25: Control Panel 27: Channel Strip Section 41: Feda 50: User-defined knob 51: Feda Bank Area 52: User-defined key area 101:Display unit 102:Operation unit 103: Audio I / O 104: Signal Processing Unit 105: Network I / F 106: USB I / F 107:CPU 108: Flash memory 109: RAM 111: Display 112: User Interface 113: CPU 114: Flash memory 115: RAM 116: USB I / F 151: Bus 210: Bus 901: Signal Processing Block 951: Input Channel 952: Bus 953: Output Channel

Claims

1. A method for controlling audio equipment, The audio device's memory stores setting information for each of several user types. The system accepts the user of the aforementioned audio equipment to select one of the multiple user types, The system reads the first setting information stored in the memory corresponding to the selected user type, and controls the audio equipment based on the read first setting information. The system communicates with the information processing device to perform identification processing to identify the external user of the audio device. In response to the identified external user, a second setting information for the audio device, which is different from the first setting information, is received. Based on the received second setting information, the audio device is controlled. When the aforementioned audio device receives setting information for an audio device different from the audio device it controls, it converts the setting information into setting information corresponding to the aforementioned audio device. A method for controlling audio equipment.

2. The audio device's memory stores setting information for each of the multiple user identification information sets. The system receives identification information about the user of the aforementioned audio equipment. The user is identified using the received identification information. The system reads the first setting information stored in the memory corresponding to the identified user, and controls the audio equipment based on the read first setting information. A method for controlling an audio device according to claim 1.

3. The first setting information and the second setting information include information specifying the function to be assigned to the operator of the audio device. A method for controlling an audio device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The second configuration information described above is received from the server. A method for controlling an audio device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The second configuration information is received from the server via the information processing device. A method for controlling an audio device according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned external user includes multiple external users, The aforementioned identification process identifies one external user from among the multiple external users, The second configuration information is received in accordance with the identified external user among the multiple external users. A method for controlling an audio device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The first setting information and the second setting information include signal processing parameters, The aforementioned audio device receives an audio signal and performs signal processing on the audio signal based on the aforementioned parameters. A method for controlling an audio device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An audio device comprising a processor and a memory unit that stores a program, The processor executes the program, The audio device's memory stores setting information for each of several user types. The system accepts the user of the aforementioned audio equipment to select one of the multiple user types, The system reads the first setting information stored in the memory corresponding to the selected user type, and controls the audio equipment based on the read first setting information. The system communicates with the information processing device to perform identification processing to identify the external user of the audio device. In response to the identified external user, a second setting information for the audio device, which is different from the first setting information, is received. Based on the received second setting information, the audio device is controlled. When the processor receives setting information for an audio device different from the audio device to be controlled, it converts the setting information into setting information corresponding to the target audio device. Sound equipment.

9. The aforementioned processor, The audio device's memory stores setting information for each of the multiple user identification information sets. The system receives identification information about the user of the aforementioned audio equipment. The user is identified using the received identification information. The system reads the first setting information stored in the memory corresponding to the identified user, and controls the audio equipment based on the read first setting information. The sound device according to claim 8.

10. The first setting information and the second setting information include information specifying the function to be assigned to the operator of the audio device. The sound device according to claim 8 or claim 9.

11. The second configuration information described above is received from the server. The sound device according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. The second configuration information is received from the server via the information processing device. The sound device according to claim 11.

13. The aforementioned external user includes multiple external users, The aforementioned identification process identifies one external user from among the multiple external users, The second configuration information is received in accordance with the identified external user among the multiple external users. The sound device according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

14. The first setting information and the second setting information include signal processing parameters, The processor receives an audio signal and performs signal processing on the audio signal based on the parameters. The sound device according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

15. A sound processing system comprising an audio device and an information processing device connected to the audio device, The aforementioned audio device stores setting information for each of the multiple user types in the memory of the audio device. The aforementioned audio equipment accepts from the user of the audio equipment the selection of one of the plurality of user types, The audio device reads first setting information stored in the memory corresponding to the selected user type, and controls the audio device based on the read first setting information. The aforementioned information processing device performs an identification process to identify an external user by executing an application program. The second setting information of the audio device corresponding to the identified external user is transmitted. The aforementioned audio device receives the setting information, The aforementioned audio device controls itself based on the received second setting information. When the aforementioned audio device receives setting information for an audio device different from the audio device it controls, it converts the setting information into setting information corresponding to the aforementioned audio device. Sound processing system.

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