Patent Publication Number: US-2011065080-A1

Title: Tv-based karaoke

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is directed generally to TV-based karaoke systems. 
     II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Karaoke is popular among amateur signers who sing lyrics, usually presented on a display screen, along with recorded music and/or video. A karaoke system has a mixing function for mixing and outputting a reproduced piece of music, that is, an accompaniment and a singer&#39;s voice input from a microphone. Typically a karaoke system incorporates a storage medium that stores accompaniment files in, e.g., musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data format, and then mixes a singer&#39;s voice as received through a microphone with the MIDI data to output a song with the karaoke singer&#39;s voice in effect dubbing over the original lyrics. The display screen, e.g., a TV, commonly presents lyrics to the singer and can play the audio, perhaps in conjunction with a home stereo, premixed by the karaoke system. 
     As understood herein it would be advantageous to leverage TV capability to provide karaoke services. This is particularly true when a TV manufacturer also happens to own rights to songs that can be vended by means of the manufacturer&#39;s TVs, advantageously leveraging one business model using another commonly owned business model. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system includes a TV communicating with an Internet server storing karaoke songs the rights in which can be owned by a manufacturer of the TV or by a partner of the TV manufacturer. A processor receives at least one karaoke song owned by the manufacturer of the TV from the Internet server and a microphone is connected to the processor for providing to the processor voice data from a human karaoke user. The processor mixes the voice data with the karaoke song to output a mixture thereof. A speaker receives the mixture and audibly plays it. 
     If desired, the TV can further receive from the server video information keyed to the song. The TV includes a TV display and the TV processor causes the video information to be presented on the display synchronized with the playing of the mixture on the speaker. 
     If desired, the TV processor in response to input from a TV remote control may cause a user interface (UI) to be presented on the display, with the user interface listing plural inputs to the TV, one of the inputs being karaoke. If a user selects karaoke from the UI, the TV processor presents a second UI on the display listing at least two selectable karaoke functions, the two functions including “purchase karaoke song” and “select karaoke song”. In turn, if a user selects “purchase karaoke song” from the second UI the TV processor presents on the display a third UI including selections to enable a user to purchase a song in the server. On the other hand, if a user selects “select karaoke song” from the second UI the TV processor presents on the display a fourth UI including a list of purchased karaoke songs stored locally at the TV and available for play on the speaker. 
     In another aspect, a method includes providing karaoke songs on an Internet server, and presenting on a TV configured for communicating with the server a main user interface (UI). The main UI lists plural inputs to the TV, with one of the inputs being karaoke. In response to selection of karaoke as an input, UIs are selectively presenting on the TV in response to user inputs permitting purchasing and playing karaoke songs that are mixed with a user&#39;s voice received from a microphone communicating with the TV. 
     In another aspect, a system includes a TV communicating with an Internet server storing karaoke songs, a processor receiving at least one karaoke song from the Internet server, and a microphone connected to the processor for providing to the processor voice data from a human karaoke user. The processor mixes the voice data with the karaoke song to output a mixture thereof. A speaker receives the mixture and audibly plays it. The TV processor, in response to input from a TV remote control, causes a main user interface (UI) to be presented on the TV display. The main UI lists plural inputs to the TV. One of the inputs is karaoke. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system in accordance with present principles; 
         FIG. 2  is a screen shot of an example user interface presented on the TV to enable selection of karaoke services; 
         FIG. 3  is a screen shot of an example user interface presented on the TV to enable selection of karaoke functions; 
         FIG. 4  is a screen shot of an example user interface presented on the TV to enable buying karaoke songs through the TV; 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot of an example user interface presented on the TV to enable selecting karaoke songs to be played through the TV; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of example logic in accordance with present principles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of an example karaoke system  10  that presents lyrics/video on a TV  12 , commonly containing a TV tuner  14  and a display screen  16  implanted in or molded into a bezel casing  18 . A storage medium  20 , a microprocessor  22 , and an Internet interface  24  are commonly integrated into a given TV  12  and have the capacity for storing media files, processing electrical signals, and connecting to and sharing information over the Internet  26  and its associated servers, e.g., a song server  28 , respectively. The storage medium  20 , which may be and electronic storage medium storing data in appropriate format that can be input and accepted by the TV processor, may store karaoke songs the rights of which are owned by a manufacturer of the TV  12  or by, e.g., a business partner of the manufacturer which can license songs and share revenue with the TV manufacturer. The Internet interface  24  in the TV  12  may equivalently be embodied in a set-top box or set-back box that is connected to the TV processor  22  but externally housed. 
     The karaoke system  10  thus operates by mixing the audio/video files by means of the processor  22  either preloaded on the storage medium  20  or downloaded from the Internet  26  with the singer&#39;s voice inputted through a microphone  30  linked via a USB port  32 , and subsequently plays the mixed audio on either speakers  34  also housed in the bezel  18  of the TV  12  or a home sound system  36 . To this end, the processor may implement a mixer in software or may access a separate chip-implemented mixer in the TV. User functions such as selecting a song that is to be displayed/played and downloading media files from the Internet  26  can be performed by means of a remote control  38 . The TV  12  may additionally receive from the server  28  video information keyed to the song, the TV processor  22  causing the video information to be presented on the display  16  synchronized with the playing of the mixture on the speaker(s)  34 . 
     Moving in reference to  FIG. 2 , a screen shot  40  displayed on a TV  12  acts as the user interface, granting the user the selection of inputs, or operation modes, e.g., karaoke through the use of the remote control  38 . Once the karaoke mode is selected, the next screen shot  42 , also  FIG. 3 , displays text or picture suggestion to either buy a new song or select a preloaded/downloaded song. Selection of the “buy new song” option directs the display of screen shot  44 , also  FIG. 4 , accordingly introducing to the user a selection of song titles that can be purchased by clicking once or affirmatively commanding with the remote control  38 . 
     Rather than buying a new song, perhaps the “select song” option presented on screen shot  42 , also  FIG. 3 , was indeed selected, then screen shot  46 , also  FIG. 5 , would be presented to the user and would allow the user to browse preloaded or purchased/downloaded song titles stored locally in the storage medium  20 . In either case, video may be received from the server  28  or stored at the TV  12  locally and played in tandem with the mixed audio. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart of the example logic in accordance with presented principles, chronologically illustrated are the steps involved in an example non-limiting process of purchasing and obtaining karaoke songs. Once a song is selected for purchase, as in  FIG. 4  screen shot  44 , the song is downloaded from the song server at block  48 . Due to the remote nature of the song purchase, the customer is automatically billed at block  50 . Once downloaded, the purchased song may be selected as in  FIG. 5  screen shot  46  and played, block  52 . During the course of the song, the user inputs his/her voice, which is received from the microphone  30  at block  54  and buffered along with the song to permit mixing as in block  56 . Once both audio inputs are buffered, they may be mixed at block  58  and audibly played through TV speakers  34  or home sound system  36  at block  60 . 
     As recognized herein, the processor with mixer, however implemented, establishes a volume for the microphone (voice) input that matches the volume of the soundtrack with which the voice is mixed. Or, the soundtrack volume may be established to match that of the microphone (voice) input. Or, both volumes may be changed to some intermediate value, but in any case the decibel level of the microphone (voice) input is matched within a threshold range with the decibel level of the soundtrack with which the voice is mixed, so that neither audibly overwhelms the other when played on the speaker. 
     While the particular TV-BASED KARAOKE is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.