Patent Publication Number: US-2002012900-A1

Title: Song and image data supply system through internet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/331,900, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 9, 1999, and which claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 98-8310, filed Mar. 12, 1998, in the Korean Patent Office and International Application No. PCT/KR 98/00397 filed Dec. 2, 1998, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying sound and image data to a lyrics accompaniment device, and more particularly, to a song and image data supply system through internet by which images and captions appearing on a monitor of the lyrics accompaniment device and the corresponding sound data being output from a speaker can be downloaded through an internet work system, so that a user can selectively receive new pieces of music without being tied to time and place.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] Generally, a lyrics accompaniment device is an apparatus for allowing a user easily to sing a song to the accompaniment melodies recorded therein even without any specific musical instruments. The conventional lyrics accompaniment device is provided therein with a memory device in which various melodies and the corresponding images and captions are stored. When a user selects any melody stored in the memory device, the device outputs the melody and the corresponding images and captions to a speaker and the screen of a monitor thereof, respectively. So, a user can sing a song to the sound accompaniment of the melody output from the speaker, watching the images and captions appearing on the screen of the monitor.  
       [0006] Since such a conventional lyrics accompaniment device outputs only melodies stored in the memory device and cannot provide a user with any new piece of music, a user cannot sing the song to the accompaniment of the new melodies that are not stored in the memory device. In order to sing a song to the accompaniment of the melody of a new piece of music, a user has to exchange the existing memory device provided in the accompaniment device with a new memory device stored therein with a new piece of melody of the new music, or update the existing memory device by inputting a melody of the new music to the memory device by a separate input device.  
       [0007] However, there is a problem in that a user has to visit a commercial agent that provides sound and image data to exchange the existing memory device with a new memory device stored therein with a new piece of music, or to update the existing memory device by inputting the new piece of music to the memory device at the agent, thereby requiring, a lot of time spent in updating the existing memory device of exchanging the existing memory device with a new memory device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] In order to solve the above and other problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a song and image data supply system through the internet by which images and captions appearing on a monitor of the lyrics accompaniment device and the corresponding sound data being output from a speaker can be downloaded through an internet work system.  
       [0009] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
       [0010] In order to accomplish the above and other objects of the present invention, a song and image data supply system according to an embodiment of the invention includes a server computer to store music and image data to be provided to a user or a company, a user computer linked to the server computer to download the music and image data, and a recorder to store the downloaded music and image data.  
       [0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, the user computer is programmed to allow a user allows to be registered as a member in the server computer and the user computer is linked to the server computer to thereby receive the music and the image data to be downloaded from the server computer whenever a user requires.  
       [0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the recorder stores the downloaded music and image data from the server computer in a memory device.  
       [0013] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the memory device is detachably coupled to an accompaniment device.  
       [0014] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the server computer allows encoded data to be directly recorded in the memory device through the recorder linked to the user computer when supplying data to the user computer.  
       [0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recorder comprises a data input/output interface to transmit music and image data from a user computer, a microcomputer connected to the interface to perform a program in response to a control command of the user computer and to control the recording of the music and image data in a memory device through a logic array, a memory interface to create addresses and data signals appropriate to the rule to of the memory device to record the music and the image data therein, and connectors to connect the memory interface to the memory device to store the music and image data output from the memory interface.  
       [0016] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the memory device is a memory card or any storage device that is detachably mounted in lyrics accompaniment devices so that it is easy for a user to carry.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system of an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection structure between a recorder and a user computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an accompaniment device including microphone and a receiver therefor according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a microphone for the accompaniment according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating image control data transmitting device as shown in FIG. 4.; and  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
     [0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the song and image data supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a server computer  1 , a user computer  2  having a corresponding recorder  3 . The server computer  1  stores the music and image data to be supplied to a user through the internet work system, and directly inputs encoded data to the recorder  3  that is connected to the user computer  2  while the data is transmitted to the user computer  2 .  
     [0026] The user computer  2  is linked to a home page of the server computer  1  using the internet to thereby receive the music and the image data downloaded from the server computer  1 . After a user is registered as a member in the server computer  1 , if the user wants, the user computer  2  is linked to the server computer  1  and programmed so that the music and the image data selected by the user are downloaded from the server computer  1  to the user computer  2 .  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the recorder  3  comprises a data input/output interface  5 , a microcomputer  6  connected to the interface  5 , a memory interface  7  connected to the microcomputer  6 , a connector  9  to connect the memory interface  7  to a memory device  8 , and the memory device  8 .  
     [0028] The data input/output interface  5  transmits the music and the image data from the user computer  2  through an interface  4 . The microcomputer  6  performs a program in response to a control command of the user computer  2  and controls the storage of the music and the image data in the memory card  8  through the memory interface  7 . The memory interface  7  serves to generate addresses and data signals appropriate to a rule of the memory card  8  to store the music and image data therein.  
     [0029] The memory card  8  stores the music and image data output from the memory interface  7 . It is preferred that the memory card  8  be detachably mounted to the lyrics accompaniment device so that it is convenient to supply it to a user or an agent and to be carried along with it. Examples of such a lyric accompaniment device is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/331,900, which is incorporated herein by reference. One such lyric accompaniment device is shown in FIGS.  3 - 6 . Specifically, the memory card  8  would be stored in the microphone  100 , either detachably or permanently, after storing the data received through the memory interface  7 .  
     [0030] Now the operation of the song and image supply system through the internet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. A user contacts the server computer  1  using the user computer  2  to receive song and image data corresponding to a new piece of music or other music. At that time, the user can select selected data and delete non-selected data, thereby effectively managing the song and image data in the lyrics accompaniment device. The song and image data downloaded from the server computer  1  are stored in a database on the user computer  2  to be controlled by a user. The song and image data are encoded when being supplied to a user over the internet. Thereafter, the encoded data are directly stored in the memory card  8  through the user&#39;s recorder  3 , thereby preventing the data from being lost or drained.  
     [0031] A user can search song and image data through the user computer  2  after registering as a member on the server computer  1  by utilizing the user computer  2 . Since all of the above-mentioned procedures (i.e., searching and selecting a list of the database of the server computer  1  and downloading the selected data) is computerized according to an embodiment of the present invention, data concerning user&#39;s age, occupation, favorite songs, etc. can be stored in a database on the server computer  1 . Data concerning the user&#39;s registration as a member may be used to improve services to the user. The server computer  1  can function as a home page of the song and image data supply system for public information of a company, receipt of users&#39; opinions, production guide of a company, etc. in addition to supplying the song and image data to the user computer  2 .  
     [0032] In order for a user to link the user computer  2  to the server computer  1  and search a database therein, the user should follow security instructions from the server computer  1  with an identification code (ID) and a secret number. Accordingly, such a set of procedures prevents data of the database in the server computer  1  from being divulged through the internet to any other person who is not registered as a member on the server computer  1 . In addition, a user just can search, select and receive a list of data, but cannot control or manipulate data themselves in the server computer  1 . The server computer  1  is open to users any time everyday so that users can link, search, select, and receive data stored in the server computer  1 .  
     [0033] Accordingly, there is an advantage that the song and image data supply system can provide a new piece of music and image data that are downloaded through internet to lyrics accompaniment devices by utilizing the memory device storing the downloaded data without being tied to time and places.  
     [0034] An example of a lyric accompaniment device is shown in FIGS. 3 through 6.  
     [0035]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the microphone for automatic accompaniment and a receiver therefor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral  100  indicates the microphone for automatic accompaniment. The microphone  100  serves to store the accompaniment melody selected by a user and the mixed voice signal mixed with the song voice signal according to the accompaniment melody, to convert the mixed voice signal into a FM signal to transmit it, and to convert the image control data according to the selected accompaniment melody into a FM signal to transmit it.  
     [0036] Reference numeral  200  indicates a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. The receiver  200  serves to receive the mixed voice signal transmitted from the microphone  100  for automatic accompaniment to output it to the television receiver set  300 , to generate a caption image of song words and a background image according to the image control data transmitted from the microphone  100 , and to output the background image and caption image to the television receiver set  300  so that the images appear on the screen the television receiver set  300 .  
     [0037]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the microphone  100  for automatic accompaniment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The microphone  100  for automatic accompaniment as shown in FIG. 4 comprises a system controller  110  for controlling transmission of a song and an accompaniment melody selected by user&#39;s manipulation, for controlling store and playback, and for controlling transmission of image control data corresponding to caption image for song words and a background image according to the selected accompaniment; a key input means  120  for inputting an operation instruction into the system controller  110 ; display means  130  for displaying an operation state in response to control of the system controller  110 ; mixed voice signal output means  140  for outputting an accompaniment melody selected by a user according to control of the system controller  110  and at the same time mixing the song voice signal and the accompaniment melody; record and playback means  150  for storing and outputting the mixed voice signal of the mixed voice signal output means  140  in response to control of the system controller  110 ; a switch  160  for outputting selectively the output signal of the output means  140  and record/playback means  150  in response to control of the system controller  110 ; transmitting means  170  for converting the mixed voice signal selected by the switch  160  into a FM signal to transmit it through an antenna  180 ; and image data transmitting means  190  for converting the image control data outputted from the system controller  110  into a FM signal to transmit it through the antenna  180 .  
     [0038] The mixed voice signal output means  140  comprises accompaniment melody store means  141  for storing in separate zone of memory units accompaniment melody data for lyrics, nursery songs, hymn and the like to thereafter output the selected accompaniment melody in response to control of the system controller  110 , accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  for controlling the accompaniment melody output from the store means  141  in response to control of the system controller  110  to synthesize and output the corresponding echo signal, a digital-to-analogue converter  143  for converting the output signal of the accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  to an analogue signal, a filter  144  for filtering the output signal of the converter  143 , an amplifier  145  for amplifying the output signal of the filter  144 , an amplifier  147  for amplifying a song sound signal inputted through a microphone  146 , echo means  148  for echoing the output signal of the amplifier  147  in response to control of the system controller  110 , mixing means  149  for mixing the output signals of the amplifier  145  and echo means  148 .  
     [0039] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the memory  8  of FIG. 2 comprises the accompaniment melody store means  141  shown in FIG. 4.  
     [0040] The accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  includes a digital signal processing unit  1421  for converting the accompaniment melody read by the store means  141  into a digital signal, an accompaniment melody synthesizer unit  1422  for synthesizing the output signal of the digital signal processing unit  1421  into an accompaniment melody signal, and echo signal synthesizer unit  1423  for echoing the signal synthesized in the accompaniment melody synthesizer unit  1422  in response to a user&#39;s selection.  
     [0041] The record and playback means  150  comprises an analogue-to-digital converter  151  for converting the output signal of the mixed voice signal output means  140  into a digital signal, a memory unit  152  for storing and outputting the output signal of the analogue/digital converter  151  in response to control of the system controller  10 , and a digital to analogue converter  153  for converting the output signal of the memory unit  152  into an analogue signal to thereafter output it to the switch  160 .  
     [0042] The image control data transmitting means  190 , as shown in the FIG. 5, comprises a FM modulator  191 , a first amplifier  192  and a second amplifier  193 . The FM modulator  191  generates a FM modulating signal while a crystal XTAL oscillates according to a time constant of oscillation predetermined by a variable capacitance diode VD, condenser C 2  and coil L 1 , where the variable capacitance diode VD varies in its capacitance according to the image control data outputted from the system controller  110 . The first amplifier  192  serves to amplify the output signal of the FM modulator  191  with a transistor Q 1 . The second amplifier  193  serves to amplify the output signal of the first amplifier  192  with transistors Q 2  and Q 3  to thereafter transmit it through the antenna  180 .  
     [0043] With the microphone for automatic accompaniment thus constructed, if a user selects a desired song by manipulating the key input means  120  provided within the microphone prior to singing a song, the system controller  110  is activated to determine the desired accompaniment melody to display it through the display means  130 , and also to output the desired accompaniment melody through the accompaniment melody store means  141  and at the same time output the image control data according to the accompaniment melody to the image control transmitting means  190 .  
     [0044] The accompaniment melody outputted from the accompaniment melody store means  141  is input into the accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  through the system controller  110  so that the accompaniment melody is synthesized and outputted. Specifically, the accompaniment melody outputted from the accompaniment melody store means  141  is processed in the digital signal processing unit  1421  of the accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  as a piano sound signal or signals of any other musical instruments, and synthesized by the synthesizer unit  1422 . When the user selects an echo function by manipulating the key input means  120 , the accompaniment melody synthesized by the synthesizer unit  1422  is echo-processed by the echo signal synthesizer unit  1423  to be output.  
     [0045] The accompaniment melody outputted from the accompaniment melody synthesizing means  142  is converted into an analogue signal by the digital-to-analogue converter  143 , filtered through the filter  144 , and amplified by the amplifier  145  to thereafter be outputted to a fixing terminal (a 1 ) of the switch  160  through the mixing means  149 .  
     [0046] When the user allows the melody stored in the accompaniment melody store means  141  to be outputted to sing a song, the moving terminal of the switch  160  is electrically connected to the fixing terminal (a 1 ) by the system controller  110 . Then, the accompaniment melody outputted from the mixing means  149  is outputted through the switch  160  and converted into an FM signal by the transmitting means  170  to be wirelessly transmitted via the antenna  180 .  
     [0047] In this state, when a user sings a song to the accompaniment of the melody outputted an audio system, the song sound signal is input to the microphone  146  to be amplified by the amplifier  147 , and is echo-processed by the echo means  148  in response to the system controller  110  to thereafter be input to the mixing means  149 .  
     [0048] The mixing means  149  serves to mix the accompaniment melody outputted from the amplifier  145  with the song sound signal outputted from the echo means  148 . The sound signal mixed by the mixing means  149  is outputted via the switch  160 , and converted into a FM signal by the transmitting means  170  to thereafter be transmitted wirelessly via the antenna  180 .  
     [0049] During such operations, the mixed sound (voice) signal of the accompaniment melody outputted from the mixing means  149  is converted into a digital signal by the analogue-to-digital converter  151  of the record and playback means  150  and inputted into the memory unit  152 . The memory unit  152  successively stores the digital signals outputted from the analogue-to-digital converter  151  in response to address signals outputted from the system controller  110 .  
     [0050] And, the image control data according to the accompaniment outputted from the system controller  110  is inputted into the FM modulator  191  and the capacitance of the variable capacitance diode VD varies in response to the image control data, thereby the oscillation time constant predetermined by the variable capacitance diode VD, condenser C 2  and coil L 1  varies.  
     [0051] As a result, the FM-modulated signal is generated while the oscillation frequency of the crystal XTAL varies in response to the image control data, the FM modulation signal of the image control data generated by the FM modulator  191  is amplified through the transistor Q 1  and is again amplified through the transistors Q 2 , Q 3  in the second amplifier  193  to thereafter to be transmitted through the antenna  180 .  
     [0052] When the user finishes singing a song and selects playback function by manipulating the key input means  120 , the system controller  110  controls the switch  160  so that the moving terminal is electrically connected to the other fixing terminal (b 1 ), and at the same time controls the memory unit  152  of the record and playback means  150  so that the stored signal is outputted in order.  
     [0053] The signal outputted from the memory unit  152  is converted into the analogue signal by the digital-to-analogue converter  153  to thereafter be outputted through the switch  160  and is converted into the FM signal by the transmitting means  170  to thereafter be transmitted through the antenna  180 .  
     [0054]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0055] The receiver  200  comprises a first receiving unit  220  for receiving a mixed voice signal in high frequency received through the antenna  210 , a second receiving unit  230  for receiving an image control data in high frequency received through the antenna  210 , an image generator  240  for generating a background image and caption image of song words according to the image control data received by the second receiving unit  230 , a modulator  250  for modulating the mixed sound (voice) signal received by the first receiving unit  220 , the background image and caption image of song words generated by the image generator  240  into a television broadcasting signal to be output, and a switch  260  for selecting a television antenna/CATV signal or a modulation signal of the modulator  250  in response to the control signal to output to the antenna terminal of the television receiver set  300 .  
     [0056] The first receiving unit  220  comprises a high-frequency amplifier  221  for amplifying a received signal of the antenna  210 , a local oscillator  222  for generating a local oscillating signal, a first mixer  223  for outputting an intermediate-frequency signal by mixing output signals of the high frequency amplifier  221  and the local oscillator  222 , an intermediate frequency amplifier  224  for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal outputted by the first mixer  223 , a FM detector  225  for detecting a mixed voice signal from the output signal of the intermediate frequency amplifier  224 , and an amplifier  226  for amplifying the mixed voice signal detected by the FM detector  225 .  
     [0057] The second receiving unit  230  comprises a high-frequency amplifier  231  for amplifying a received signal of the antenna  210 , a local oscillator  232  for generating a local oscillating signal, a second mixer  233  for outputting an intermediate-frequency signal by mixing output signals of the high frequency amplifier  231  and the local oscillator  232 , an intermediate frequency amplifier  234  for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal outputted by the second mixer  233 , a FM detector  235  for detecting an image control data signal from the output signal of the intermediate frequency amplifier  234 , and a wave shaping unit  236  for wave-shaping the image control data detected by the FM detector  235  to transmit it an image generator  240 .  
     [0058] According to the receiver  200  of the present invention thus constructed, the high frequency signal transmitted by the microphone  100  is inputted into the first receiving unit  220  and second receiving unit  230  through the antenna  210 .  
     [0059] The first receiving unit  220  serves to generate the intermediate frequency signal by amplifying the received high-frequency signal through the high frequency amplifier  221  and mixing it with the local oscillating signal of the local oscillator  222  through the mixer  223 .  
     [0060] The intermediate frequency signal generated by the mixer  223  is amplified through the intermediate frequency amplifier  224 , the mixed voice signal is detected by the FM detector  225 , and the detected mixed voice signal is amplified by the amplifier  226  to be output.  
     [0061] The second receiving unit  230  generates the intermediate frequency signal by amplifying the received high-frequency signal through the high-frequency amplifier  231  and mixing it with the local oscillating signal of the local oscillator  232  through the mixer  233 .  
     [0062] The intermediate frequency signal generated by the mixer  233  is amplified by the intermediate frequency amplifier  234 , the image control data is detected by the FM detector  235 , and the detected image control data is wave-shaped through the wave shaping unit  236  to thereafter be outputted.  
     [0063] The image control data outputted from the second receiving unit  230  is inputted into the image generator  240 .  
     [0064] Then, the image generator  240  generates the caption image of song words and the background image corresponding to the image control data to output.  
     [0065] As a result of such construction, the mixed voice signal outputted from the first receiving unit  220  and the background image and caption image of song words outputted from the image generator  240  are inputted into the audio/video terminal of the television receiver set  300 , the television receiver set  300  serves to amplify the inputted mixed audio signal to output it through the speaker and to display the background image and caption image of song words on its screen, thereby a user can sing a song to the accompany of a melody outputted from the speaker, watching the background image and caption image of song words which appear on the screen.  
     [0066] In addition, the mixed audio signal outputted from the first receiving unit  220  and the background image and caption image of song words outputted from the image generator  240  are inputted into the modulator  250 , the modulator  250  modulates the inputted mixed audio signal and the background image and caption image of song words into the television broadcasting signal to output it to a fixing terminal a 2  of the switch  260 .  
     [0067] The switch  260  enables the moving terminal to be connected to the fixing terminal a 2  in response to input of the control signal when the receiver  200  is turned-on, the mixed audio signal modulated by the modulator  250  and images of the background and caption are inputted into the television receiver set, the mixed audio signal is outputted through the speaker, and the background image and the caption image appear on the screen the television receiver set, thus the user can sing a song to the accompaniment of the selected melody outputted from the speaker, watching the background image and caption image on the screen.  
     [0068] Further, when the receiver  200  is turned-off, the control signal is not inputted so that the moving terminal of the switch  260  is connected to the other fixing terminal b 2 , and the user can again watch television as usual.  
     [0069] In the foregoing, storing and playing the mixed audio signal resulting from mixing of the accompaniment melody and song voice signal into the record and playback means  150  was explained as an embodiment. However, the present invention is not restricted to a limit of the record and playback means  150 , but can varies in various types. For example, the present invention may be constructed in such a manner that the echo means  148  can be connected to the record and playback means  150  so that only the song sound signal can be stored in the record and playback means  150  and outputted.  
     [0070] As another example, the present invention may be constructed in such a manner that the output signals of the echo means  148  and the amplifier  145  are outputted to two units of the record and playback means  150  in which the song sound signal and accompaniment melody are separately and respectively stored, and when the stored song sound signal and accompaniment melody are played-back, the audio signal and/or accompaniment melody could be selected from the separate two record and playback means  150  to be output.  
     [0071] As the other embodiment, even without providing the microphone  100  with the image control data transmitting means  190 , the mixed audio signal of the song voice signal and the accompaniment melody or the song voice signal could be FM-modulated to be transmitted, and alternatively could be recorded and played by the record/playback means  150  to thereafter be FM-modulated to be transmitted, thereby an audio system provided with a FM receiver receives and outputs the signals transmitted from the microphone  100 .  
     [0072] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.