Virtual Input Port Assignment for Electronic Drum Tone Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic drum systems have limited flexibility in assigning tones to pads, requiring users to manually change connection terminals or operate the sound source device, which is burdensome.

Innovation Solution

An electronic musical instrument main body device that includes virtual input ports for each type of playing operation device, allowing for automatic tone assignment based on device information, increasing user understanding and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a tone is directly assigned to a pad based on device information, then the automation of tone assignment is improved, but the degree of freedom of setting a tone is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tone assignmentVSAvoiddegree of freedom of tone setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the tone assignment process into two independent levels: (1) automatic pad-to-input-port assignment based on device information, and (2) manual tone-to-input-port assignment by the user. This segmentation allows the system to automate the identification and connection mapping while preserving user freedom in tone selection, as users can independently configure which tone corresponds to each input port regardless of automatic pad assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary layer (the input port) between the pad and the tone. Instead of directly mapping pads to tones, the system first automatically assigns pads to input ports based on device information, then allows users to assign tones to those input ports. This intermediary structure decouples the automatic identification process from the tone selection process, enabling both automation and user freedom simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a tone is assigned to a connection terminal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases when virtual input ports are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetone assignment operationVSAvoidinput port structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates virtual copies of input ports that are software-based rather than physical hardware connections. These virtual input ports are generated through software processing when pads are connected, allowing the system to maintain simple physical connection terminals while implementing complex virtual port functionality. The virtual ports replicate the functionality of physical ports without requiring additional physical infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12288543B2Sound source device for electronic musical instrument, musical sound generating method and electronic musical instrument system

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 ROLAND CORP

AI summary

This electronic musical instrument main body device comprises an information acquisition unit and a port assignment unit. The information acquisition unit acquires, from a playing operation device connected to one connection terminal, information related to the playing operation device. The port assignment unit assigns, to the playing operation device, a virtual input port of a type corresponding to the information related to the playing operation device and acquired by the information acquisition unit.