System and method for notifying a time limit and extension of used period of a karaoke apparatus

A management apparatus stores a use start time and a use period of each of karaoke apparatuses. When the remaining time of any one of the karaoke apparatuses is 10 minutes or less, time limit information message is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus. The karaoke apparatus displays the time limit information message on its monitor so as to notify the user of the information. At the same time, the user in allowed to input the extension of the use period though a commander. If the input of the use period extension is performed, the karaoke apparatus transmits an extension requesting message to the management apparatus In response to the message, the management apparatus updates the data of the use period.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a karaoke apparatus and a karaoke system in which 
notification of a time limit and extension of a use period can be more 
efficiently performed in a so-called karaoke-box parlor (a parlor 
including a number of small rooms for karaoke). 
A so-called karaoke-box parlor conducts its business in such a manner that 
a room (i.e., a karaoke box) provided with a karaoke apparatus is rent to 
a customer on an hour-by-hour basis. The customer enjoys the karaoke with 
renting the karaoke box by the hour, e.g., one hour, or two hours. The 
customer sometimes does not become aware of the time limit. For this 
reason, it is necessary to notice the customer that the time limit comes 
near, by some means. 
Conventionally, this notification is conducted by means of an interphone or 
a telephone, or a staff member visits the room and informs the customer 
that the time is up. Either of the ways is required to be performed by the 
staff member for each karaoke box. This increases the work load on the 
staff member. In addition, the staff member must watch and compare the 
current time with the time limit, and hence there is a drawback that the 
notification cannot be performed accurately at a predetermined time, e.g, 
ten minutes or five minutes before. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide a karaoke apparatus and a 
karaoke system in which notification that the time limit comes near in 
displayed on a monitor and a customer can input extension of the use 
period in response to the display, thereby solving the above-mentioned 
problems. 
The present invention is provided a karaoke apparatus comprising a monitor 
on which words and background scenes are displayed in parallel with a 
karaoke performance. The karaoke apparatus comprises: use period storing 
means for storing a use period at a start of a use of the karaoke 
apparatus; remaining time display means for, when a remaining time of the 
use period is equal to or less than a predetermined time during the use of 
the karaoke apparatus, displaying information indicative of it on the 
monitor; extension accepting means for, in response to the display of the 
remaining time display means, accepting an input of an extension period; 
and use period updating means for, when an, extension period is input, 
adding the extension period to the use period stored in the use period 
storing means and for updating the use period. 
The present invention is provided a karaoke system comprising: a karaoke 
apparatus comprising a monitor on which words and background scenes are 
displayed in parallel with a karaoke performance; and a management 
apparatus connected to the karaoke apparatus via a line. In the karaoke 
system, the management apparatus comprises: use period storing means for 
storing a use period at a start of a use of the karaoke apparatus; and 
time limit transmission means for when a remaining time of the use period 
is equal to or less than a predetermined time during the use of the 
karaoke apparatus, transmitting time limit information to the karaoke 
apparatus, 
the karaoke apparatus further comprises: remaining time display means for, 
when the time limit information is received, displaying the time limit 
information on the monitor; extension accepting means for, in response to 
the display of the remaining time display means, accepting an input of an 
extension period; and extension requesting means for, when the extension 
period is input, transmitting the extension period as an extension 
requesting message, and 
the management apparatus further comprises use period updating means for, 
when the extension requesting message is received from the karaoke 
apparatus, adding the extension period to the use period stored in the use 
period storing means and for updating the use period. 
The karaoke apparatus of the present invention can be in service only for a 
use period stored in the use period storing means. During the service, 
words and background scenes are displayed on the monitor in parallel with 
the karaoke performance, as usual. When a remaining time of the use period 
is equal, to or less than a predetermined time, information indicative of 
it is displayed on the monitor. In response to the display, the user 
(customer) decides whether the user stops the use or extends the use 
period. In the case where the user wants to extend the use period, an 
extension period is input in response to the display of the remaining 
time. In the karaoke apparatus, when the extension period is input in this 
way, the extension period is added to the use period stored in the use 
period storing means, so as to update the use period. As a result, the 
input of extension can be efficiently performed in parallel with the 
notification of the remaining time. 
The karaoke system of the present invention comprises: a karaoke apparatus 
having a monitor on which words and background scenes are displayed in 
parallel with a karaoke performance: and a management apparatus connected 
to the karaoke apparatus via a line. The karaoke apparatus can be in 
service only for a use period stored in the use period storing means of 
the management apparatus. When a remaining time of the use period is equal 
to or less than a predetermined time during the service of the karaoke 
apparatus, the management apparatus transmits notification of it to the 
karaoke apparatus, and the karaoke apparatus displays the notification on 
the monitor. In response to the display, the user (customer) decides 
whether the user stops the use or extends the use period. In the case 
where the user wants to extend the use period, an extension period is 
input in response to the display of the remaining time. The karaoke 
apparatus transmits the extension period to the management apparatus as an 
extension requesting message. When the management apparatus receives the 
extension requesting message including the extension period, the extension 
period in added to the use period stored in the use period storing means, 
so as to update the use period. Even in a communication karaoke system of 
a centralized management type, therefore, notification of a time limit and 
extension of a time period can be performed without any direct contact by 
means of a telephone or by a staff member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a centralized management 
type communication karaoke system which in an embodiment of the invention. 
The communication karaoke system is installed in a so-called karaoke-box 
parlor. Such a type of parlor consists of a management room having a 
service counter, and a plurality of karaoke boxes. The management room in 
provided with a host apparatus 2 and a management apparatus 3. Each 
karaoke box is provided with a karaoke apparatus 4. A commander 5 of an 
infrared remote control type is disposed in each karaoke apparatus 4. 
The host apparatus 2, the management apparatus 3, and the plurality of 
karaoke apparatuses 4 are connected to each other via a coaxial cable 6. 
The transmission among the host apparatus 2, the management apparatus 3, 
and the karaoke apparatuses 4 is performed at a transmission rate of about 
6 Mbps by using a CATV channel in a UHF band having a band of about 6 MHz. 
Addresses are respectively assigned to the host apparatus 2, the 
management apparatus 3, and the karaoke apparatuses 4. By using addresses 
attached to a message (packet), it is possible to identify an originating 
apparatus and a destination apparatus of the message. 
In one of the karaoke boxes, when the user operates the commander 5 so that 
a music-piece code is transmitted, the karaoke apparatus 4 receives the 
music-piece code and performs a search operation so as to examine whether 
musical data corresponding to the music-piece code are stored or not in a 
hard disk drive 15 contained in the karaoke apparatus 4. If the data are 
stored, the data are written into an execution data storing area of a RAM 
12, and the karaoke performance is started. If the data are not stored, a 
message including the music-piece code is edited, and the message is 
transmitted to the host apparatus 2 via the coaxial cable 6. When the host 
apparatus 2 receives the message, a storage device 31 is searched for 
musical data corresponding to the received music-piece code, and the 
searched musical data are transmitted to the karaoke apparatus 4. The 
karaoke apparatus 4 writes the received musical data into the execution 
data storing area of the RAM 12, and starts the karaoke performance. 
When the use time limit for the customer comes near, the management 
apparatus 3 transmits a message of time limit information to the 
corresponding one of the karaoke apparatuses. The karaoke apparatus 4 
which receives the message displays the message an a monitor 28, and 
enters a phase where the apparatus can receive a request of extension of 
the use period which is input from the commander 5. If the customer 
performs the extension input in response to the display, the karaoke 
apparatus 4 transmits an extension requesting message including an 
extension period, to the management apparatus 3. The management apparatus 
3 extends the use period by the extension period included in the message. 
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the karaoke apparatus 4. The karaoke apparatus 
is a so-called sound-source karaoke apparatus of communication type. In a 
sound-source karaoke apparatus, a sound-source device in driven by 
musical-sound data (sequence data) so that karaoke performance sounds are 
generated, A communication-type karaoke apparatus is a karaoke apparatus 
which is connected to the host apparatus 2 via a communication line, and 
downloads musical data including the musical-sound data from the host 
apparatus 2. 
A ROM 11, the RAM 12, the hard disk drive (HDD) 15, an internal 
communication controller 16, a remote control receiver 17, a display panel 
18, panel switches l9, a sound source device 20, a D/A converter 21, a DSP 
22, a character display unit 23, an LD changer 24, and a display control 
unit 25 are connected via a bus to a CPU 10 which controls the operation 
of the whole apparatus. 
The ROM 11 previously stores a system program, application programs, a 
loader, and font data. The system program is used for controlling the 
fundamental operation of the apparatus, and the transmission and reception 
of data to and from peripheral equipment. The application programs include 
programs for controlling peripheral equipment, a sequence program, and the 
like. When the karaoke performance is to be done, the sequence program is 
activated by the CPU 10 so that the generation of sounds and the 
reproduction of images are performed based on the musical data. The loader 
is a program for downloading musical data from the host apparatus 2. The 
font data are used for displaying words, a title of a music piece, etc. As 
the font data, fonts of various kinds of character types such as Ming 
type, and Gothic type are stored. An execution data storing area into 
which musical data are to be written in order to perform the karaoke 
performance, and a reservation table which stores music-piece codes input 
from the commander 5 are previously set in the RAM 12. The reservation 
table includes a play music-piece code storing area for storing the 
music-piece code of a music piece which is currently played, and a 
reserved music-piece code storing area for storing five music-piece codes 
in accordance with the FIFO system. The HDD 15 includes a musical data 
storing area for several tens to several hundreds of music pieces. In this 
storing area, musical data which are frequently requested are stored in 
the form of cash data. 
The internal communication controller 16 is a controller for communication 
with the host apparatus 2 via the coaxial cable 6 and comprises a modem 
for modulating a manage to be transmitted into a predetermined band in the 
UHF band and for demodulating data from the received signal. The internal 
communication controller 16 contains a DMA circuit therein so that 
downloaded musical data are directly written into the HDD 15 without 
passing through the CPU 10. 
The remote control receiver 17 receives an infrared signal transmitted from 
the commander 5, and reconstructs data. The commander 5 is provided with a 
plurality of key switches including numerical keys, alphabet keys, and a 
transmission key, and a buffer for temporarily storing successive key 
switch operations. When the user operates the numerical keys and alphabet 
keys in accordance with a predetermined procedure so as to input a code 
and then turns on the transmission key, the input code is output in the 
form of FM modulated infrared rays. The codes which are to be transmitted 
include a music-piece code, a period extension code, etc. The music-piece 
codes are shown in a title list (a book of contents) which is kept in the 
karaoke box. The period extension code is a code for requesting a period 
extension to the management apparatus 3 in an on-line manner, when the 
user is notified that the time limit comes near. 
The display panel 14 in disposed on the front face of the karaoke 
apparatus, and used for displaying the code of a music piece which is 
currently played, and the number of reserved music pieces. The panel 
switches 19 are disposed in a front operating portion of the karaoke 
apparatus and include a music-piece code input switch, a key change 
switches, and the like. 
The sound source device 20 produces a musical-sound signal based on musical 
data. The D/A converter 21 receives sound data which are ADPCM data and 
convert the data into a sound signal. The musical signal and the sound 
signal are supplied to the DSP 22. A microphone 27 is connected to the DSP 
22. The DSP 22 applies effects such as reverberation, and echo to the 
musical signal and the sound signals input from the sound source device 
20, the D/A converter 21, and the microphone 27. The kinds and extents of 
effects applied by the DSP 22 are controlled bas on DSP control data 
included in the musical data. The CPU 10 reads the DSP control data from 
the musical data, and supplies the read data to the DSP 22. The musical 
signal and the sound signals with effects are subjected to mixing, and 
then output to a loudspeaker and amplifier 26. 
The loudspeaker 26 amplifies the signals and then outputs the signals as 
sounds. 
The character display unit 23 generates character patterns of a title of a 
music piece, words, and the like, based on input character data. When time 
limit information is input from the management apparatus 3, the CPU 10 
generates a character string corresponding to the contents of the 
information and supplies the character string to the character display 
unit 23. The character display unit 23 generates the character pattern. 
The LD changer 24 selects and reproduces video selection data which are 
determined based on genre data of a karaoke music piece, and the like, and 
then outputs the video selection data as video data. The character pattern 
and the video data are supplied to the display control unit 25. The 
display control unit 25 synthesizes these data by superimposition and 
displays then on the monitor 28. 
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the host apparatus. The apparatus has the 
large scale storage device 31. The storage device 31 is constituted by a 
hard disk drive of a large capacity, and hence can store musical-data of 
several thousands of music pieces. A control unit 30 controls the 
writing/reading of musical data of the storage device 31. An internal 
communication controller 32 is a device for controlling the transmission 
and reception of data to and from the karaoke apparatuses 4 via the 
coaxial cable 6. When a message which requests the download of musical 
data is transmitted from one of the communication karaoke apparatuses 4, 
the internal communication controller 32 receives the message based on the 
destination address, reads a music-piece code from the message, and 
supplies the music-piece code to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 
performs the search on the storage device 31 based on the music-piece 
code, and reads out corresponding musical data. The read-out musical data 
are supplied to the internal communication controller 32. The internal 
communication controller 32 edits the musical data into a assuage (packet) 
by each block, and downloads the message to the karaoke apparatus from 
which the selection command is transmitted, via the coaxial cable 6. 
The host apparatus 2 further comprises an ISDN controller 33. The ISDN 
controller 33 is connected to a distribution center via an ISDN line 7. 
The distribution center distributes musical data of new music pieces to 
host apparatuses which are connected to the line. The distribution is 
performed based on the schedule of the distribution center. The received 
musical data are written into the storage device 31. 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the management apparatus 3. The management 
apparatus 3 is similar in appearance to a cash register and installed on 
the counter of the management room. A use condition table 41, an 
operation/display panel 42, an internal communication controller 43, a 
printer 45, and a cash register unit 46 are connected to a control unit 
40. The use condition table includes a use start time storing area, a use 
period storing area, and a reservation flag which are provided for each 
room (karaoke box) of the parlor. The internal communication controller 43 
contains a modem which is the same as that of the internal communication 
controller 32 of the host apparatus 2, and exchanges messages such as time 
limit information, a period extension request, and the like with the 
karaoke apparatuses 4. The control unit 40 periodically performs the 
search operation on the use condition table. If there is a room for which 
the remaining time is 10 minutes or less judging from the use start time 
and the use period, a time limit information message is transmitted to the 
karaoke apparatus 4 of the room. The time limit information message 
includes the notification that the remaining time is 10 minutes, the 
information about whether a next reservation is made for the room or not, 
etc. When the use of the room is finished, a fee is calculated in 
accordance with the use period, and the calculated fee is output through 
the display panel 42 and the printer 45. 
FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the karaoke 
apparatus 4. FIG. 5 shows part of the main routine, FIG. 6 shows a play 
processing operation, and FIG. 7 shows a processing operation when time 
limit information is input from the management apparatus 3. 
Referring to FIG. 5, in step S1, it is judged whether a music-piece code is 
input from the commander 5 or not. A music-piece code is input by 
operating the commander 5 or the panel switch 19. When a music-piece code 
is input, the input music-piece code is stored at a lowest position of the 
reservation table (S2). If there is no reservation input, step S2 is 
skipped and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, it is judged 
whether musical data are now being performed (played) or not. In step S4, 
it is judged whether a music-piece code is stored in a reserved 
music-piece code storing area at the top position of the reservation table 
or not. That is, it is judged whether there is a reserved music piece or 
not. If no musical data are currently played and there exists a 
reservation, the play processing in performed based on the music-piece 
code at the top position (S5). 
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the play processing operation. If the karaoke 
apparatus 4 is not in the play operation and a music-piece code is stored 
in the music-piece code storing area at the top position of the 
reservation table, the operation is executed. First, the whole reservation 
table including the play music-piece code storing area is shifted to upper 
positions so that the music-piece code at the top position in written into 
the performance music-piece code storing area. In the music-piece code 
storing area at the lowest position of the reservation tablet 0000 (no 
reservation) in written (S10). Next, a play music-piece code is read out 
(S11), and the search is performed on the index file by using the play 
music-piece coda (S12). If the musical data are stored in the HDD 15 
(S13), the musical data are read out to the execution data storing area of 
the RAM 12 (S14). If the musical data are not stored in the HDD 15, a 
message for requesting the download of the musical data is transmitted to 
the host apparatus 2 (S15). In response to the request, the host apparatus 
2 downloads the corresponding musical data (S16). As described above, the 
data transmission is performed at a transmission rate of 6 Mbps, so that 
musical data of one music piece (about 500 kB to 1 MB) are downloaded for 
about 1 second. The downloaded musical data are stored in the execution 
data storing area. When the data stored in the execution data storing area 
are read out based on a time clock signal, the karaoke performance in 
started (S17) and the code of the music piece which is now being played is 
displayed on the display panel 18 (S18). 
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation when time limit 
information is received from the management apparatus. When the time limit 
information is received (S20), the reservation table is referred to and a 
total performance time period of music pieces which are now reserved 
(reservation total time) is calculated (S21). Then, it is judged whether 
the reservation total time exceeds the remaining time or not. If the 
reservation total time does not exceed the remaining time, only the 
remaining time is displayed (S23) and the process returns. 
In contrast, if the reservation total time exceeds the remaining time, the 
room reservation information included in the time limit information is 
checked. If the room is not reserved by another new customer, three 
alternatives are displayed (S25) as shown in FIG. 8(A). Specifically, an 
alternative of canceling the reserved music piece(s) which corresponds to 
the excess time, that of extending the use period by the amount of the 
excess time, and that of extending the use period by the hour are 
displayed. If the room is reserved by another new customer, as shown in 
FIG. 8(B), two alternatives, i.e., an alternative of canceling the 
reserved music piece(s) which corresponds to the excess time, and that of 
extending the use period by the amount of the excess time are displayed 
(S26). 
If the customer wants to cancel the reservation which corresponds to the 
excess time, the customer is required only to turn on the transmission key 
of the commander 5. If the customer wants to extend the use period by the 
amount of the excess time, the customer is required only to turn on the A 
key and the transmission key of the commander 5. If the customer wants to 
extend the use period for one hour, the customer is required only to turn 
an the B key and the transmission key of the commander 5. 
When only the transmission key is turned on and the reserved music piece(s) 
which corresponds to the excess time is canceled, the code(s) of the music 
piece(s) which is scheduled to start after the expiration of the use 
period among the music-piece codes registered in the reservation table is 
canceled (S29). When the A key and the transmission key are turned on and 
the extension of the use period by the mount of the excess time is 
selected, an extension requesting message for the extension of the use 
period by the time is transmitted to the host apparatus 3 (S30). When the 
B key and the transmission key are turned on and the extension by one hour 
is selected, an extension requesting message for the extension of the use 
period by one hour is transmitted to the host apparatus 3 (S31). 
When a reserved music piece is canceled before or during the performance 
thereof, the reservation total time is decreased. In such a case, it is 
sufficient to again perform the operation after stop S21. Alteratively, 
the reservation of music pieces after the execution of stops S29 and S30 
may be inhibited. Also, the reservation of music pieces after the 
execution of step S23 may be allowed within the extended time limit. 
In the above-described operation, even if a next reservation has been made 
for the room, the user is allowed to extend the use period to such an 
extent that the user can sing all the reserved music pieces. If the number 
of music pieces which can be reserved is as many as five, the resulting 
reservation total time is about 15 minutes. If the host apparatus 3 
transmits the time limit information before 10 minutes of the time limit, 
therefore, the possible longest extension is about 5 minutes. As a result, 
such an extension does not degrade the service for the waiting customers, 
but enhances the service for the customer who is currently using the room. 
The display shown in FIG. 8 is performed on the entire screen. If the 
display is performed by using part of the screen, the display does not 
disturb the karaoke performance and the singing of the user. In a karaoke 
apparatus having a plurality of monitors, the display is not displayed on 
a monitor which is to be viewed by the singing person, but displayed only 
on a monitor which is to be viewed by listening persons. 
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the host apparatus. It 
is judged whether any input is performed by a staff member through a 
keyboard or not (S40), whether a time when the use condition table is to 
be searched is reached or not (S41), and whether an extension requesting 
message of use period is received from any one of the karaoke apparatuses 
(S42). If there is any input from the keyboard, the process proceeds from 
step S40 to step S43 where the kind of input data are determined. If the 
input data are use registration data, a use start tine and a use period 
are registered in a list of the room number which is started to be used. 
In addition, if the reservation flag corresponding to the room number is 
set, the flag in reset (S44). If the input data are reservation 
registration data, the reservation flag for the reserved room number is 
set (S45). If the input data are use termination data, the fee is 
calculated based on the use period and then output (S46), and the use 
start time and use period data of the corresponding room number are erased 
(S47). 
If it is judged in step S41 that the time is reached at which the use 
condition table is to be searched, the process proceeds to step S50. The 
search of the use condition table is performed at time intervals of one 
minute or several minutes. As the result of the search, if there is a room 
for which the remaining tine (time limit) of the use period is 10 minutes 
or less, a message of time limit information is transmitted to the karaoke 
apparatus 4 in the room (S51). As described above, the contents of the 
time limit information include the use remaining time and the reservation 
condition. 
If the use period extension requesting message is received in step S42 from 
one of the karaoke apparatuses 4, the use period of the room in which the 
karaoke apparatus 4 is located is updated (S52). 
The timing at which the time limit information message is transmitted is 
not limited to the remaining time of 10 minutes. In the above-described 
operation, the use period message is transmitted every time when the table 
search is performed after the remaining time of the use period is 10 
minutes or less. Alternatively, a flag which indicates that the message 
has been transmitted may be set for the karaoke apparatus to which the 
time limit information message is transmitted once, so that the time limit 
information message is not be transmitted again. In this case, if the use 
period is extended by one hour, the flag which indicates that the 
transmission is finished is reset so that the time limit information 
message is transmitted after an elapse of one hour, i.e., at the timing 
when the remaining time is 10 minutes. 
In the embodiment, the centralized management type commutation karaoke 
system has been described. Even in the case where the karaoke apparatus in 
each karaoke box is not of the on-line type, but of a stand-alone type if 
each karaoke apparatus individually and independently performs the time 
management, the notification of tine limit and the acceptance of time 
extension can be individually performed. 
In the embodiment, the extension of the use period can be accepted only 
during the period when the remaining time is displayed. Alternatively, 
independently of the display of the remaining time, the extension may be 
accepted at any desired timing. 
As described above, according to the invention, when the end of the use 
period comes near, the notification is displayed on the monitor, so that 
the customer who is now singing can be surely notified of the time limit. 
In addition, since the extension input of the use period is accepted in 
response to the display, the procedure of extension can be simplified, and 
there in no case where the extension is performed in haste after the time 
limit is over. 
According to the invention, the time limit information is transmitted from 
the management apparatus, and hence it is unnecessary for a staff member 
to inform the customer of the time limit by using a telephone or by 
directly visiting the room. As a result, the work load on the staff member 
is reduced. In addition, since the extension request is transmitted to the 
management apparatus in the on-line manner, the management can be 
performed efficiently.