Electronic musical apparatus for reproducing received music content and computer program therefor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to an electronic musical apparatus that reproduces a music content received from a content distribution server, and to a computer program applied to this apparatus.

Description of the Related Art:

It has conventionally been well-known that an electronic musical apparatus, that is a client terminal, requests a music content to a content distribution server, and receives to reproduce the music content transmitted from the content distribution server. In particular, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-114690 discloses a music content distribution system for karaoke. In this music content distribution system, a lyric flag is attached in a music content, wherein lyrics are displayed on an electronic musical apparatus when the lyric flag is "1", while lyrics are not displayed on an electronic musical apparatus when the lyric flag is "0". This allows the control for providing lyrics together with music to a registered user and for providing only music to a non-registered user.

However, in the aforesaid conventional apparatus, lyrics are always displayed on a display screen of an electronic musical apparatus for a registered user, so that the user cannot freely change the display manner of the display screen even if he/she desires a display screen other than lyrics.

It has conventionally been well-known that an electronic musical apparatus, that is a client terminal, requests a music content to a content distribution server, and receives to reproduce the music content stream-distributed from the content distribution server, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-335507.

A stream distribution has an advantage for a user in a copyright fee. However, if the music content that is distributed by using a recording function provided at the electronic musical apparatus can be stored in a non-volatile memory, this distribution cannot be treated as a stream distribution. Similarly, if the music content that is distributed from an MIDI output or digital audio output provided at the electronic musical apparatus can be outputted to an external device, there is a fear that this music content is recorded on the external device. Therefore, it cannot be treated as a stream distribution in this case. The aforesaid conventional apparatus does not consider the stream distribution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is accomplished in view of the aforesaid problems, and aims to provide an electronic musical apparatus capable of freely selecting a display screen by a user, and a computer program applied to the same apparatus.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical apparatus that considers the copyright with respect to a stream-distributed music content, and a computer program applied to the same apparatus.

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, the present invention is characterized by being provided with receiving means that receives a music content and specifying data for specifying a display manner of the music content from a distribution server; reproducing means that reproduces a music piece corresponding to the received music content; display control means that, during the reproduction of the music piece, displays on a display device the received music content with a display manner that is specified by the received specifying data; and changing means that changes the display manner of the display device into a display manner different from the display manner specified by the received specifying data. In this case, the music content may be, for example, music data indicating a music piece, lyric data indicating lyrics, score data indicating a score, or the like. Lyrics or score may be displayed on the display device.

In the present invention having the aforesaid configuration, the display manner of the display device can be changed into a display manner that is different from the display manner specified by the received specifying data, whereby a user can reproduce the music content as seeing the desired display screen.

Another feature of the present invention is that an electronic musical apparatus is provided with receiving means that receives a music content from a content distribution server; reproducing means that reproduces the received music content; and storage prohibiting means that prohibits the obtained music content from being stored in a non-volatile memory, in case where the obtained music content is stream-distributed from the content distribution server,. In this case, the music content distributed by a download may be allowed to be stored in a non-volatile memory. Further, the music content may be, for example, music data indicating a music piece, lyric data indicating lyrics, score data indicating a score, or the like.

According to this, in case where a music content is distributed from a content distribution server by a stream distribution, the music content is prohibited from being stored in a non-volatile memory. Therefore, there arises no problem even if the stream distribution of the music content is maintained, so that the stream distribution can be maintained.

Still another feature of the present invention is that an electronic musical apparatus is provided with external output prohibiting means that prohibits an output of the obtained music content to the outside, in case where the obtained music content is stream-distributed from the content distribution server. In this case, the music content distributed by a download may be allowed to be externally outputted. Further, the music content may be, for example, music data indicating a music piece, lyric data indicating lyrics, score data indicating a score, or the like.

According to this, in case where a music content is distributed from a content distribution server by a stream distribution, the output of the music content to the outside is prohibited. Therefore, the music content is prevented from being recorded on an external device, so that the stream distribution can be maintained.

The present invention not only can be configured and embodied as a device invention, but also can be configured and embodied as a computer program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a network system including an electronic musical apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is an entire block diagram of the electronic musical apparatus;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of a content distribution server and the electronic musical apparatus;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a content distribution program, browser program and reproduction control program;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a former half of the reproduction control routine shown in Fig. 4;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a latter half of the reproduction control routine shown in Fig. 4; and</li><li>Figs. 7(A) to (G) are views showing examples of a display screen on a display device.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawings. Fig. 1 schematically shows a music content distribution system including an electronic musical apparatus according to the present invention. The electronic musical apparatus is a generic term indicating, for example, an electronic musical apparatus 11, automatic performance apparatus 12, personal computer 13, karaoke apparatus 14 or the like. These electronic musical apparatus 11, automatic performance apparatus 12, personal computer 13, karaoke apparatus 14 or the like are connected to a network 20 such as the Internet, public telephone line, dedicated line, LAN or the like. A content distribution server 30 is connected to this network 20. The content distribution server 30 has a data base 31 and configured by a computer apparatus executing a content distribution program shown in Fig. 4.

The data base 31 stores plural pieces of content distribution page data, plural reproduction manner specifying files and plural content files as shown in Fig. 3. Each piece of content distribution page data indicates a display screen (see Figs. 7(A) to (C)) for obtaining a content by a later-described browser portion BR of the electronic musical apparatus. Each of the reproduction manner specifying files specifies a later-described reproduction manner of a music content as designated by a link provided on the display screen, and has distribution type data, screen control data, automatic reproduction control data, repeat reproduction control data, reproduction content list data or the like. Each of the content files stores music data indicating a music piece, lyric data indicating lyrics, score data indicating a score (or note data indicating a series of notes) or the like.

The distribution type data indicates whether the distribution type of the music content is a download type or stream type. The download type means a distribution type wherein an edition and storage by a user are allowed. The stream type means a distribution type wherein an edition and storage by a user are prohibited, and is a distribution type of a music content that is only utilized by an electronic musical apparatus of a user. The screen control data indicates any one of screens, which should be displayed, of a browser screen, lyric screen and score screen. The automatic reproduction control data indicates whether the distributed music content is automatically reproduced or not. The repeat reproduction control data indicates whether plural music contents are repeatedly reproduced or not. The reproduction content list data is composed of a pair of or a plurality of content URLs and content detail information. The content URL specifies a content file. The content detail information indicates a title, composer, artist, copyright information, or the like of the music content.

On the other hand, the electronic musical apparatus (electronic musical instrument 11, automatic performance apparatus 12, personal computer 13, karaoke apparatus 14, or the like) has an input operation element group 41, display device 42 and tone generating circuit 43 as shown in Fig. 2. The input operation element group 41 is composed of plural operation elements for instructing the operation of this electronic musical apparatus. The operations of these plural operation elements are detected by a detecting circuit 44 connected to a bus 50. These plural operation elements include a switch operation element, volume operation element, mouse or the like. In a keyboard-type electronic musical instrument, they also include white keys and black keys. The display device 42 is composed of a liquid crystal display or CRT, and displays characters, numbers, diagrams, or the like. The display manner of this display device 42 is controlled by a display control circuit 45 connected to the bus 50. The tone generating circuit 43, which is connected to the bus 50, generates a tone signal based upon performance data that is supplied under a control of a later-described CPU 61, gives a musical effect to the generated tone signal and outputs the resultant to a sound system 46. The sound system 46 includes speakers, amplifiers or the like, and sounds out a tone corresponding to the tone signal from the tone generating circuit 43.

This electronic musical apparatus is further provided with a CPU 61, timer 62, ROM 63 and RAM 64, those of which are respectively connected to the bus 50 and compose a main body of a microcomputer. The electronic musical apparatus is further provided with an external storage device 65, communication interface circuit 66 and output interface circuit 67. The external storage device 65 includes various recording mediums such as a hard disk HD that is incorporated beforehand into this electronic musical apparatus, a compact disk CD or flexible disk FD that can be attached to this electronic musical apparatus and drive units corresponding respectively to each recording medium, wherein it can store and read out a large quantity of data and programs. These data and programs are stored beforehand in the hard disk HD, supplied from a compact disk CD or flexible disk FD to the hard disk HD, or supplied from the outside to the hard disk HD via the communication interface circuit 66. In this embodiment, a browser program and reproduction control program shown in Fig. 4 are particularly stored in the hard disk HD. Further, in this specification, attention should be paid for the configuration wherein the RAM 64 is made of a volatile memory and the external storage device 65 is made of a volatile memory.

The communication interface circuit 66 is connected to the network 20. The output interface circuit 67 outputs an MIDI-format data to the outside via an MIDI output terminal 67a. Further, the output interface circuit 67 outputs normal digital data, that includes the generated digital tone signal and does not have an MIDI-format, to the outside via a digital output terminal 67b.

Subsequently, the operation of the embodiment having the aforesaid configuration will be explained. The operation will be explained by using a functional block diagram shown in Fig. 3 that indicates each function of the electronic musical apparatus that is realized by a hard circuit shown in Fig. 2 and a program process. In Fig. 3, a temporal storage portion 64a is a volatile memory area provided in the RAM 63 in Fig. 2. A recording medium 65a corresponds to a non-volatile memory area such as a hard disk HD, compact disk CD, flexible disk FD or the like included in the external storage device 65. A browser portion BR is a function realized when the CPU 21 executes the browser program shown in Fig. 4. The reproduction control portion CT is a function when the CPU 21 executes the reproduction control program shown in Fig. 4. Accordingly, the following explanation is made, supposing that the browser portion BR and the reproduction control portion CT execute the browser program and reproduction control program respectively. It should be noted that the other portions of the electronic musical apparatus of Fig. 3 are same as those of Fig. 2 marked with the same numerals.

When a user operates the input operation element group 41 to start the browser program, the browser portion BR accesses to a distribution page of the content distribution server 30 for requesting the content distribution page data to the content distribution server 30 at Step B11 in Fig. 4. The content distribution server 30 transmits the content distribution page data to the browser portion BR at Step S11 in response to this request. The browser portion BR receives this transmitted content distribution page data and displays the content distribution page indicated by the received content distribution page data on the display device 42 at Step B12. When the user clicks a link displayed in the displayed content distribution page, the browser portion BR requests a reproduction manner specifying file corresponding to this link to the content distribution server 30 at Step B13. Then, the content distribution server 30 transmits the requested reproduction manner specifying file to the browser portion BR in response to this request.

The operation of the browser portion BR by the time when it receives the reproduction manner specifying file from the content distribution server 30 as described above will be explained by taking a specific example. The content distribution page data transmitted from the content distribution server 30 to the browser portion BR indicates the head page at the beginning, so that this head page is displayed on the display device 42. This head page is a menu wherein items such as karaoke, lesson, BGM, or the like for designating the purpose of use of the music content are listed as shown in Fig. 7(A). When the user operates the input operation element group 41 to select one of the items in the menu, displayed next on the display device 42 is a selection menu from which the user may select "system-selected reproduction" (plural music pieces determined beforehand at the content distribution server 30) or specific genre designation such as jazz, rock, fork or the like, for instrument corresponding music types (for example, music piece for piano, music piece for guitar or the like) that belong to the aforesaid items and are classified for every major musical instruments. When the user selects the "system-selected reproduction" of the desired instrument corresponding music type, the reproduction manner specifying file stored in the content distribution server 30 and corresponding to the "system-selected reproduction" of the selected instrument corresponding music type is transmitted to the browser portion BR.

On the other hand, when the user selects a desired genre designation of the instrument corresponding music type with the display state shown in Fig. 7(B), plural genres such as jazz, rock, fork, or the like belonging to the selected instrument corresponding music type are displayed as illustrated in Fig. 7(C). If the user selects a specific genre, the reproduction manner specifying file, which is stored in the content distribution server 30, belongs to the instrument corresponding music type and corresponds to the selected genre, is transmitted to the browser portion BR.

When the specific reproduction manner specifying file is transmitted from the content distribution server 30 to the browser portion BR as described above, the browser portion BR receives the transmitted reproduction manner specifying file and supplies the same to the reproduction control portion CT at Step B14. The reproduction control portion CT executes the process of the reproduction control routine at Step S10 by using the supplied reproduction manner specifying file. In the reproduction control routine, it is determined at Step C11 which one the distribution type data in the supplied reproduction manner specifying file specifies, download or stream, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in detail.

If the download is specified, the reproduction control portion CT obtains, at Step C12, all content files designated by the content URL from the content distribution server by using the reproduction content list (content URL) in the reproduction manner specifying file. Then, it memorizes and stores the obtained all content files in the recording medium 65a. In this case, the distribution server 30 transmits the content file to the reproduction control portion CT by the process at Step S13.

On the other hand, if the distribution type data in the reproduction manner specifying file specifies the stream as the distribution type, the function of the output interface circuit 67 is stopped to prohibit the MIDI data and digital data from being outputted to the outside from the MIDI output terminal 67a and digital output terminal 67b at Step C13. Subsequently, at Step C14, the input function of the operation elements, among the input operation element group 41, that are used for storage and edition of data, is stopped to invalidate the operation of these operation elements. This prohibits the storage to the recording medium 65a, edition or external output of the obtained content file or various data generated based upon the obtained content file as described later, even if the content file is obtained.

After the process as Step C14, the reproduction control portion CT controls the display screen of the display device 42 based upon the screen control data in the reproduction manner specifying file. Specifically, if the screen control data indicates the browser, the browser screen such as shown in Figs. 7(A) to (C) is displayed. If the screen control data indicates lyrics, the screen is changed to the one for displaying lyrics. If the screen control data indicates a score, the screen is changed to the one for displaying a score. It should be noted that, in the display of lyrics and score, the actual lyrics and score are not displayed, since the actual music content has not yet been obtained.

Subsequently, at Step C16, the reproduction control portion CT controls the display device 42 based upon the content detail information of the head content list data in the reproduction manner specifying file for displaying the content detail information (title, composer, artist, copyright information of the music content) on the display device 42 (see Figs. 7(D) and 7(F)). After the process at Step C16, the reproduction control portion CT requests, at Step C17, the content file designated by the content URL at the head content list data in the reproduction manner specifying file to the content distribution server 30 by using the same URL. Then, it obtains the content file distributed from the content distribution server 30 and writes the same into the temporal storage portion 64a.

After obtaining the content file, the reproduction control portion CT determines whether the automatic reproduction control data in the reproduction manner specifying file indicates "automatically reproducing" or not at Step C18. If it indicates "automatically reproducing", the program proceeds to a process at Step CT21 shown in Fig. 6. If the automatic reproduction control data does not indicate "automatically reproducing", "NO" determination is made at Step C18, and then, a circulation process made of Step C19 and Step C20 is repeatedly kept on being executed until the user instructs the start by operating the start operation element in the input operation element group 41. During this circulation process, the reproduction control portion CT accepts the operation of a screen-change operation element in the input operation element group 41 by the process at Step C20. In case where the screen-change operating element is operated by the user, the display screen on the display device 42 is changed in accordance with the instruction by the operation of the screen-change operation element. By this operation, the display screen on the display device 42 that displays the content detail information is also changed to the browser screen shown in Figs. 7(A) to (C), for example. By the process at Step C20, the user freely changes the display screen on the display device 42 specified by the screen control data in the reproduction manner specifying file before the reproduction of the music content. When the start is instructed by the operation on the start operation element during the circulation process made of Steps C19 and C20, "YES" determination is made at Step C19, and then, the program proceeds to the process at Step C21 in Fig. 6.

At Step C21, the music piece is reproduced by using the music content stored at the temporal storage portion 64a, whereby a circulation process made of Steps C22 to C26 starts to be repeatedly executed. The music piece data included in the music content stored in the temporal storage portion 64a is successively outputted to the tone generating circuit 43 in accordance with the progression of the music piece during this circulation process. The tone generating circuit 43 successively generates a tone signal so as to correspond to the music piece data and sounds out the generated tone signal via the sound system 64, whereby the music piece by the music piece data included in the music content is reproduced. Further, so long as the screen change is not instructed by the process at Step C20, the display screen on the display device 42 is changed from the content detail information (title, composer, artist, copyright information of the music content) to the screen display set by the process at Step C15, with the reproduction of the music piece. For example, in case where the screen control data indicates lyrics, the display screen on the display device 42 is changed from the content detail information shown in Fig. 7(D) to the display of lyrics shown in Fig. 7(E). Further, in case where the screen control data indicates a score, the display screen on the display device 42 is changed from the content detail information shown in Fig. 7(F) to the display of score shown in Fig. 7(G). However, in case where the screen change is instructed by the process at Step C20, the display screen on the display device 42 becomes in accordance with the instruction at Step C20.

When the reproduction of one music piece in the music content designated by the reproduction content list data in the reproduction manner specifying file is ended during the circulation process made of Steps C22 to C26, the content URL of the next content list data in the supplied reproduction manner specifying file is used to obtain the content file designated by the same URL from the content distribution server 30, whereby the previous content file stored at the temporal storage portion 64a is deleted and a newly obtained content file is written in the temporal storage portion 64a, by the process at Step C22. In this case too, the content distribution server 30 transmits the content file to the reproduction control portion CT by the process at Step S13 in Fig. 4. Then, the music piece in the newly obtained content file is reproduced, and simultaneously, lyrics or score is displayed on the display device 42 as described above.

During the circulation process, it is determined whether the reproduction of the music content designated by the reproduction content list in the reproduction manner specifying file reaches to the end or not at Step C23. If the reproduction of the music content does not reach to the end, it is determined at Step C24 whether a user instructs a stop by the operation on the stop operation element in the input operation element group 41. If the user does not instruct the stop, the reproduction manner of the music content is controlled in accordance with the operation on the reproduction control operation element such as pause, restart, fast-forward or rewind in the input operation element group 41 at Step C25. At Step C26, the operation on the screen-change operation element in the input operation element group 41 is accepted, and in case where the screen-change operation element is operated by the user, the display screen on the display device 42 is changed in accordance with the instruction by the operation on the screen-change operation element, like the process at Step C20. By the process at Step C26, the user can freely change the display screen on the display device 42 specified by the screen control data in the reproduction manner specifying file during the reproduction of the music content.

When the reproduction of the music content designated by the reproduction content list in the reproduction manner specifying file reaches to the end during the circulation process, "YES" determination is made at Step C23, and then, the program proceeds to the process at Step C27. It is determined at Step C27 whether the repeat reproduction control data in the reproduction manner specifying file indicates "repeating" or not. If it indicates "repeating", the circulation process made of Steps C22 to C26 is again executed. If it does not indicate "repeating", "NO" determination is made at Step C27, and then, the program proceeds to processes at Steps C28 to C30. When the user instructs a stop by operating the stop operation element in the input operation element group 41 during the circulation process made of Steps C22 to C26, "YES" determination is made at Step C24, and the program proceeds to the processes at Steps C28 to C30.

At Step C28, the function of the output interface circuit 67 is returned to cancel the prohibition of output of the MIDI data and digital data to the outside from the MIDI output terminal 67a and digital output terminal 67b. At Step C29, the input function of the operation elements, that are used for storage and edition of the data, among the input operation element group 41 is returned to cancel the invalidity of the operation on these operation elements. At Step C30, the music content stored in the temporal storage portion 64a is deleted, and the execution of this reproduction control routine is ended.

As for the content file downloaded to the recording medium 65a by the process at Step C13, the content file is transferred to the temporal storage portion 64a, whereby the music content can be reproduced by the separately prepared reproduction program made of the processes at Steps C18 to C26. In this case, the output interface circuit 67 functions, wherein the music content is outputted to the outside via the MIDI output terminal 67a and the digital data indicating the reproduced sound can be outputted to the outside via the digital output terminal 67b. Further, the execution of the separately prepared program by the user allows the user to read out the content file stored in the recording medium 65a at any time and freely use the same, and further to edit the music content. It is also possible to newly store the content file, that has been subject to the edition, and to output the same to the outside.

The present invention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, although the aforesaid embodiment has provided thereto both the MIDI output terminal 67a and digital output terminal 67b, only one of them may be provided. Further, the electronic musical apparatus may have only one of the editing function and storage function. Moreover, the electronic musical apparatus may have only one of the lyrics display function and score display function.

The aforesaid embodiment has provided thereto screen control data that is shared by plural content files in the reproduction manner specifying file. However, instead of this, screen control data indicating a display screen of browser, lyrics or score may be provided for every content file designated by the reproduction content list data. This makes it possible to realize the content distribution service with various reproduction manners, such as, with respect to the same music piece, a user only listens to a reproduced music at the browser display screen at the beginning, then, practices singing a song with the lyrics display screen, and finally practices playing a musical instrument with the score display screen. In this case, the screen control data may be included in the reproduction content list. Further, the screen control data may be included in the content file as a system exclusive message.