Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/7451330
Timestamp: 2019-11-14 18:53:31
Document Index: 193080244

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'Application No. 2000']

US Patent for Portable appliance, power saving method and sound volume compensating method, and storage medium Patent (Patent # 7,451,330 issued November 11, 2008) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Computer Power ControlUS Patent for Portable appliance, power saving method and sound volume compensating method, and storage medium Patent (Patent # 7,451,330)
Nov 7, 2005 - Yamaha Corporation
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/239,812, filed Feb. 19, 2003, which was a 371 National Phase filing of PCT application PCT/JP01/02902, filed Apr. 3, 2001.
This invention relates to a mobile device having musical composition-reproducing means, a power saving method for saving power thereof and a volume compensating method for compensating for lowering of the volume of musical tones reproduced thereby, storage media storing respective programs for executing these methods, and more particularly to those which can be suitably applied to a car telephone, a cellular phone, and the like.
In a cellular phone system, such as a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular telecommunication system), known as an analog cellular system or a digital cellular system, and a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), when a cellular phone or mobile phone device carried by a user receives an incoming call, an alert sound is generated to notify the user of the incoming call. As the alert sound, a beep has been conventionally used, but recently, a music including a melody has come to be used in place of the beep since the beep is offensive to the ear.
To attain the first-mentioned object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile device comprising musical composition-reproducing means that is capable of reproducing a musical composition composed of a plurality of parts, power supply means that supplies power to the musical composition-reproducing means, charge state-monitoring means that monitors an amount of charge in the power supply means, and control means that provides control such that the number of parts of the musical composition reproduced by the musical composition-reproducing means is reduced when the monitored amount of charge in the power supply means becomes lower than a predetermined value.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the whole arrangement of a cellular phone to which a mobile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing respective first and second formats of musical composition data which can be used by the cellular phone according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 1 shows the whole arrangement of a cellular phone to which is applied a mobile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cellular phone shown in FIG. 1 includes an antenna 1a, which is usually configured to be retractable, and connected to a communication section 13 having a modulating/demodulating function. A system CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 controls the operations of component parts of the cellular phone 1 by executing telephone function programs, and includes a timer for indicating a time period elapsed during operation thereof and generating a timer interrupt at predetermined time intervals. Further, the system CPU 10 carries out a power saving process and a process for aiding a musical composition-reproducing process in response to an intervention required (IRQ) signal. A system RAM (Random Access Memory) 11 is allocated to a musical composition data storage area for storing data of musical compositions each composed of a plurality of parts and downloaded from a download center or the like, user configuration data storage area for storing data of a configuration by the user, a work area for operation of the system CPU 10, and the like. A system ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 stores various telephone function programs for transmitting and receiving messages, and other programs for the process for aiding the musical composition-reproducing process, and others, and various data including data of preset musical compositions.
Further, a communication section 13 carries out demodulation of a signal received by the antenna 1a, and modulation of a signal to be transmitted via the antenna 1a to supply the modulated signal to the antenna. A received message signal demodulated by the communication section 13 is compression-decoded by a voice processing section (coder/decoder) 14, while a sending message signal input via a microphone 21 is compression-encoded by the same. The voice processing section 14 carries out compression-encode/decode of speech with high efficiency, and is implemented by a coder/decoder based on a CELP (Code Excited LPC) method or an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) method. A musical composition-reproducing section 15 reproduces voice messages based on the received message signal from the voice processing section 14 and causes the reproduced voice messages to be sounded via a received message speaker 22, or reproduces a incoming call sound (music-on-incoming call), a hold sound (music-on-hold), a BGM (background music), or a listening music, based on data of a musical composition (musical composition data). The music-on-incoming call and the listening music are sounded via an incoming call speaker 23, while the music-on-hold and the BGM are mixed with a received message signal and sounded via the received message speaker 22.
The musical composition data is comprised of a plurality of parts, and includes tone color parameters and sequence data for each part. When a predetermined amount of a free area occurs during reproduction of a musical composition by the musical composition-reproducing section 15, this section 15 sends an intervention required (IRQ) signal to the system CPU 10. In response to the IRQ signal, the system CPU 10 reads out a continued portion of the sequence data stored in the system RAM 11 or the system ROM 12 and forwards the same to the musical composition-reproducing section 15. An interface (I/F) 16 provides interface for use in downloading data of a musical composition composed of a plurality of parts, from an external device 20, such as a personal computer. An input section 17 is comprised of dial buttons for inputting “0” to “9”, respectively, and other buttons and switches for inputting data and instructions, including a music reproduction button, a call hold button, a connection button and a power save switch.
FIG. 2 shows a first configuration of the musical composition-reproducing section 15 of the FIG. 1 cellular phone. Before describing this configuration, a first format and a second format of musical composition data based on which a musical composition is reproduced by the musical composition-reproducing section 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).
The illustrated example of musical composition data in the first format in FIG. 4(a) is assigned with a musical composition number 1 (musical composition data No. 1). The musical composition data No. 1 is comprised of four parts: part 1 (melody part), part 2 (accompaniment part 1), part 3 (accompaniment part 2), and part 4 (rhythm part). Each part is formed of tone color parameters and sequence data. The sequence data is formed by alternately arranging duration data indicative of a time interval between adjacent tone generation events, and tone generation data. Further, the tone generation data is formed of a key code indicative of tone pitch, and a gate time indicative of length of tone generation. The musical composition data in the first format is not necessarily required to have the above-mentioned four parts, but only required to have two or more parts.
The illustrated example of musical composition data in the second format shown in FIG. 4(b) is assigned with a musical composition number 2 (musical composition data No. 2). The musical composition data No. 2 is a mixture of four parts: part 1 (melody part), part 2 (accompaniment part 1), part 3 (accompaniment part 2), and part 4 (rhythm part), which are mixed together to form one sequence data. FIG. 4(b) shows part of the sequence data in which duration data indicative of a time interval between adjacent tone generation events, and tone generation data are alternately arranged. Further, the tone generation data is formed of a key code indicative of tone pitch, and a gate time indicative of length of tone generation, with part designating information (flag) attached thereto. Tone color parameters, not shown, of each part are written at the leading end of the tone generation data of the part. The musical composition data in the second format is also not necessarily required to have the above-mentioned four parts, but only required to have two or more parts.
The musical composition-reproducing section 15 having the first configuration shown in FIG. 2 is capable of reproducing musical compositions based on musical composition data shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). In the musical composition-reproducing section 15, an interface (I/F) 30 provides interface for transmitting and receiving various data via a bus 26, thereby supplying musical composition data received from the system CPU 10 to a read/write (R/W) controller 31, and supplying a power save signal received from the battery voltage level detector 24 to a power save control section 36.
Further, when the musical composition-reproducing section 15 is initialized (when musical composition data is initially set), tone color parameters of each part supplied from the interface 30 are set to a corresponding one of first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d of a musical tone synthesis means 34, which reproduces musical tone data of the part, via the R/W controller 31 and the sequencer 33, and at the same time, a predetermined amount of sequence data is stored in a free area of the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31.
The sequencer 33 receives sequence data of each part read out by the R/W controller 31, and sets tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis section 34a to 34d, which is assigned to the part. Then, after waiting for timing of tone generation of the part, the sequencer 33 causes the corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d to start musical tone reproduction, i.e. reproduction of musical tone data of the part. It should be noted that the tone generator parameters include pitch data, and volume data.
The musical tone synthesis means 34 is comprised of the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (melody part), the second musical tone synthesis section 34b (accompaniment part 1), the third musical tone synthesis section 34c (accompaniment part 2), and the fourth musical tone synthesis section 34d (rhythm part), and is capable of simultaneously reproducing musical tones of the four parts. As described above, when the musical composition-reproducing section 15 is initialized (musical composition data is initially set therein), tone color parameters of each part supplied from the interface 30 are set to a corresponding one of the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (melody part), the second musical tone synthesis section 34b (accompaniment part 1), the third musical tone synthesis section 34c (accompaniment part 2), and the fourth musical tone synthesis section 34d (rhythm part). Then, when reproduction of a musical tone of each part is started, the musical tone data of the part is reproduced under the control of the sequencer 33.
The musical tone data reproduced by the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d are synthesized and converted to an analog musical tone signal by a mixer 35, which is output from the musical composition-reproducing section 15.
The power save control section 36 operates in response to the power save signal received via the bus 26 and the interface 30 from the battery voltage level detector 24 when the monitored voltage level of the batter 25 becomes lower than the reference value, to carry out a power save mode-setting process to set the cellular phone to a power save mode, thereby causing the musical tone synthesis means 34 to reproduce a reduced number of parts to reduce consumption of power of the battery 25. The number of parts reproduced in the power save mode may be set to one, thereby allowing only the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (melody part) to carry out musical tone reproduction. To carry out such power save control, switching devices SW1 to SW4 are arranged between the sequencer 33 and the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (melody part), the second musical tone synthesis section 34b (accompaniment part 1), the third musical tone synthesis section 34c (accompaniment part 2), and the fourth musical tone synthesis section 34d (rhythm part), respectively.
In the power save mode, the power save control section 36 controls the switching devices SW1 to SW4 such that some of them are open to inhibit supply of tone generator parameters necessary for musical tone reproduction from the sequencer 33 to corresponding ones of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d. For instance, when the switching devices SW2 to SW4 except the switching device SW1 are opened, only data necessary for reproduction of the melody part are supplied from the sequencer 33 to allow the first musical tone synthesis section 34a to reproduce musical tone data of the melody part. However, data necessary for reproduction of the accompaniment part 1, the accompaniment part 2 and the rhythm part are not supplied from the sequencer 33 to the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34b to 34d to inhibit these sections from reproducing musical tone data of these parts assigned thereto. This makes it possible to cut off power consumed by the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34b to 34d, thereby reducing the consumption of power of the battery 25.
Next, the reproducing operation of the musical composition-reproducing section 15 will be described assuming that the musical composition data in the first format shown in FIG. 4(a) is used for reproduction of musical tone data.
More specifically, a predetermined amount of sequence data from the leading end of sequence data of each part is written by the system CPU 10 into the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31. Further, tone color parameters of each part are set to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d via the R/W controller 31 and the sequencer 33.
Then, in response to a read request signal from the sequencer 33, the R/W controller 31 sequentially reads sequence data of each part from the T-RAM 32 and supplies the read sequence data to the sequencer 33. The T-RAM 32 is designed to have a smaller capacity than necessary for storing sequence data of one musical composition, but is capable of storing thirty-two words of sequence data for each part of the musical composition. The sequencer 33 sequentially reads the sequence data from the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31, interprets the read sequence data, and then supplies tone generator parameters corresponding to the sequence data to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d. Then, after waiting for timing of tone generation of each part, the sequencer 33 causes a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d to start musical tone reproduction for the part. Further, in timing corresponding to the end of length of tone generation defined by the sequence data, the sequencer 33 causes a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d to terminate musical tone reproduction. Musical tone data thus reproduced by the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d are supplied to the mixer 35, which synthesizes these data and converts the resulting data to the analog musical tone signal.
When the power save mode is set, a message notifying the user of this fact is displayed on the display 18, and under the control of the power save control section 36, some of the switching devices SW1 to SW4 (SW2 to SW4 in the case of the present embodiment) are opened to inhibit supply of data necessary for musical tone reproduction from the sequencer 33 to corresponding ones of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d (the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34b to 34d in the case of the present embodiment). As a result, parts corresponding to the opened ones of the switching devices SW1 to SW4 are no longer reproduced. However, in the present embodiment, the melody part alone, which is the most important part of all, is controlled to be always reproduced. This makes it possible to cut off power consumed by the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34b to 34d, thereby reducing the consumption of power of the battery 25.
Assuming that the musical composition-reproducing section 15 constructed according to the first configuration shown in FIG. 2 reproduces musical tone data from musical composition data in the FIG. 4(b) format, sequence data in which data of a plurality of parts are mixed is written into the T-RAM 32. Therefore, the sequencer 32 detects a part or parts of the read sequence data, and sets tone generator parameters based on the read sequence data to one or more of the musical tone synthesis sections assigned to the detected part or parts. Thereafter, four parts of musical tones are reproduced at the maximum, by carrying out the same operation as in the reproduction of musical tone data from the musical composition data in the first format, and therefore description thereof is omitted. Further, the operation carried out when the power save mode is set is the same as described above, and therefore description thereof is also omitted.
In the musical composition-reproducing section 15 constructed according to the first configuration, the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d may be formed by a single musical tone synthesis section which operates in a time-sharing manner. In this case, a single switching device SW is arranged between the single musical tone synthesis section which operates in a time-sharing manner and the sequencer 33, and the power save control section 36 controls the switching device SW such that the switching device SW turns on in synchronism with timing in which the sequencer 33 outputs necessary data for reproduction of each part to be reproduced.
The musical composition-reproducing section 15 constructed according to the second configuration shown in FIG. 3 is capable of reproducing musical tone data from musical composition data in the formats shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). The second configuration is distinguished from the first configuration in that a power save control section 136 controls the power supply to first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d. Therefore, the FIG. 3 musical composition-reproducing section 15 has no switching device, and except for this point, it is identical to the FIG. 2 musical composition-reproducing section 15 constructed according to the first configuration.
When the system CPU 10 issues the reproduction start signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15 in response to an interrupt signal as described above, a predetermined amount of sequence data from the leading end of sequence data formed of mixed data of the four parts is written by the system CPU 10 into the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31. Further, tone color parameters of each part are set to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d via the R/W controller 31 and the sequencer 33.
Then, in response to a read request signal from the sequence 33, the R/W controller 31 sequentially reads sequence data formed of mixed data of the four parts from the T-RAM 32 and supplies the read sequence data to the sequencer 33. The T-RAM 32 is designed to have a smaller capacity than necessary for storing sequence data of one musical composition, but is capable of storing thirty-two words of sequence data of a musical composition. The sequencer 33 sequentially reads the sequence data from the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31, interprets the read sequence data, and then supplies tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d assigned to the part. Then, after waiting for timing of tone generation of each part, the sequencer 33 causes a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d to start musical tone reproduction, i.e. reproduction of musical tone data of the part. Further, in timing corresponding to the end of length of tone generation of a part defined by sequence data, the sequencer 33 causes a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d to terminate musical tone reproduction of the part. Musical tone data thus reproduced by the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d are supplied to the mixer 35 which synthesizes these data and converts the resulting data to the analog musical tone signal.
In response to the power save signal received via the bus 26 and the interface 30 from the battery voltage level detector 24, the power save control section 136 carries out the power save mode-setting process to set the cellular phone 1 to the power save mode in which the power supply to the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d is controlled such that a reduced number of parts is reproduced to reduce the drainage of the battery 25. The number of parts reproduced in the power save mode may be set as desired, and may be progressively decreased by decreasing the number of the musical tone synthesis sections to which power is supplied, according to the degree of lowering of the voltage level of the battery 25. Further, even when the number of parts reproduced is reduced, the power save control section 136 causes the power to be supplied to at least the first musical tone synthesis section 134a to allow the melody part to continue to be reproduced.
When the power save mode is set, a message notifying the user of this fact is displayed on the display 18, and at the same time, under the control of the power save control section 136, the power is inhibited from being supplied to some of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d (the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134b to 134d in the case of the present embodiment). As a result, parts corresponding to the ones of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d to which power is no longer supplied are not reproduced. However, in the present embodiment, to allow at least the melody part alone, which is the most important part of all, to continue to be reproduced, the power supply to the first musical tone synthesis section 134a is always carried out. This makes it possible to cut off power consumed by the second to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34b to 34d to which the power is now inhibited from being supplied, thereby reducing the consumption of power of the battery 25.
When the musical composition-reproducing section 15 of the second configuration shown in FIG. 3 reproduces musical tones from the musical composition data in the first format, sequence data of each part is written into the T-RAM 32 on a part-by-part basis. Therefore, the sequencer 33 detects a part of sequence data based on an address location from which the sequence data is read, and sets tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d which is assigned to the detected part. Thereafter, four parts of musical tones are reproduced at the maximum by carrying out the same operation as in the reproduction of musical tones from musical composition data in the second format. However, the operation is the same as carried out when musical tones are reproduced from the musical composition data in the second format, and hence description thereof is omitted.
In the musical composition-reproducing section 15 constructed according to the second configuration, the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d may be formed by a single musical tone synthesis section which operates in a time-sharing manner. In this case, the power save control section 136 controls the supply of power to the single musical tone synthesis section which operates in a time-sharing manner, in synchronism with timing in which the sequencer 33 outputs data necessary for reproduction of each part to be reproduced.
In the musical composition-reproducing sections 15 according to the first and second configurations, the sequencer 33 detects a part of sequence data read from the T-RAM 32, and sets tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to a corresponding one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d, which is assigned to the detected part. Therefore, by supplying a control signal from the power save control section 36 (136) to the sequencer 33, data necessary for reproduction of musical tone data can be selectively supplied to one of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a (134a) to 34d (134d). That is, by causing the sequencer 33 to supply data necessary for musical tone reproduction to musical tone synthesis sections assigned to the four parts, it is possible to control the number of parts to be reproduced. This makes it possible to dispense with the switching devices SW1 to SW4. Further, musical tone synthesis sections which are not supplied with data necessary for musical tone reproduction do not consume almost any power, so that means provided in the second configuration for controlling power supply to the musical tone synthesis means 134 can be omitted.
In the above musical composition-configuring section 15, even when the power save mode is set during musical tone reproduction by the section 15, the number of parts reproduced can be decreased, thereby enabling reduction of consumption of power of the battery 25. It should be noted that if the cellular phone 1 is configured such that the reduction of consumption of power of the battery 25 is inhibited when the battery voltage level detector 25 issues the power save signal during the musical tone reproduction, and if only musical composition data in the first format shown in FIG. 4(a) is used for reproduction of a musical composition, the configuration of the musical composition-reproducing section 15 can be simplified.
When the power save mode-setting process is started, it is determined at a step S1 whether or not the power save switch (PS switch) is in on state. If the PS switch has been turned on by the user, a power save flag (PS flag) is inverted at a step S2. If the PS switch has not been turned on by the user, the program skips the step S2 over to a step S3, wherein it is determined whether or not the battery voltage is lower than a reference value n. If the power save signal indicating that the voltage of the battery 25 is lower than the reference value n has been received from the battery voltage level detector 24, the program proceeds to a step S4, wherein the PS flag is set to “1”. If the power save signal has not been received from the battery voltage level detector 24, the program skips the step S4.
Then, at a step S5, it is determined whether or not the value of the PS flag assumes “1”. When the PS flag has been inverted at the step S2 to be set to “1”, or when the same has been set to “1” at the step S4, the answer to the question of the step S5 is affirmative (YES), and the program proceeds to a step S6, wherein “Power Save Mode” is displayed on the display 18, followed by terminating the present program. If it is not determined at the step S5 that the PS flag assumes “1”, the program proceeds to a step S7, wherein “Normal Mode” is displayed on the display 18, followed by terminating the program.
It should be noted that at the step S2, whenever the user operates the PS switch, the PS flag is inverted, whereby the power save mode and the normal mode can be selected as desired. However, when the voltage level of the battery 25 is lower than the reference value n, the PS flag is necessarily set to “1” at the step S4, thereby setting the power save mode.
Next, referring to FIG. 6, description will be made of an incoming call-receiving process (first method) which is executed upon receipt of an incoming call. This incoming call-receiving process (first method) is carried out when musical composition data in the first format shown in FIG. 4(a) is used.
When the cellular phone 1 receives an incoming call to start the incoming call-receiving process, the incoming call is detected at a step S11, and it is determined at a step S12 whether or not the PS flag assumes “1”. If the power save mode has been set and hence the PS flag assumes “1”, the program proceeds to a step S13, wherein musical composition data is initially set for the power save mode (PS mode). In this initial setting of the musical composition data for the PS mode, only sequence data of the part 1 of the musical composition data selected for a music-on-incoming call is sent to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and written into the T-RAM 32. Further, tone color parameters of the part 1 are set to the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (134a). Further, a process for selecting only the part 1 (melody part) for reproduction is carried out. More specifically, only the switching device SW1 arranged before the first musical tone synthesis section 34a is turned on, or the power is supplied to the first musical tone synthesis section 134a alone.
On the other hand, if the normal mode has been set and hence the PS flag assumes “0”, the program proceeds from the step S12 to a step S14, wherein musical composition data is initially set for the normal mode. In this initial setting of the musical composition data for the normal mode, the musical composition data selected for the music-on-incoming call is supplied to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and sequence data thereof is written into the T-RAM 32. Further, tone color parameters of the four parts are set to the first to fourth musical tone synthesis section 34a (134a) to 34d (134d). Further, a process for selecting all the parts for musical tone reproduction are carried out. More specifically, the switching devices SW1 to SW4 arranged before the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d are turned on, or the power is supplied to all of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 134a to 134d. Then, the program proceeds to a step S15, wherein an instruction for starting the reproduction of the music-on-incoming call is supplied to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and the sequencer 33 reads sequence data from the T-RAM to set tone generation parameters to the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (134a) selected at the step S13 or all of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a (134a) to 34d (134d), for staring the reproduction. This causes the music-on-incoming call to be reproduced and sounded via the incoming call speaker 23.
Next, referring to FIG. 7, description will be made of an incoming call-receiving process (second method) carried out when musical composition data in the second format shown in FIG. 4(b) is used.
When the cellular phone 1 receives an incoming call to start the incoming call-receiving process, the incoming call is detected at a step S21, and then musical composition data is initially set at a step S22. In the initial setting of musical composition data, the musical composition data selected for the music-on-incoming call is sent to the musical composition-reproducing section 15 and written into the T-RAM 32. Further, tone color parameters of the four parts are set to the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a to 34d. Then, it is determined at a step S23 whether or not the PS flag assumes “1”. If the power save mode has been set and hence the PS flag assumes “1”, the program proceeds to a step S24, wherein an instruction for execution of the power save control is sent to the power save control section 36 (136) of the musical composition-reproducing section. In response to this instruction, the power save control section 36 (136) carries out a process for selecting, for example, the part 1 (melody part) alone for musical tone reproduction. More specifically, only the switching device SW1 arranged before the first musical tone synthesis section 34a is turned on, or the power is supplied to the first musical tone synthesis section 134a alone. Then, the program proceeds to a step 25.
On the other hand, when the normal mode has been set and hence the PS flag assumes “0”, the program skips the step S24 over to the step S25. At the step S25, an instruction for starting the reproduction of the music-on-incoming call is supplied to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and the sequencer 33 reads sequence data from the T-RAM 32 to cause the musical tone synthesis means 34 (134) to start reproduction of musical tone data from the musical composition data. In this case, if the power save mode has been set and the step S24 has been executed, only the first musical tone synthesis section 34a (134a) alone is caused to carry out musical tone reproduction, whereas if the normal mode has been set and the step S24 has been skipped, all of the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 34a (134a) to 34d (134d) are caused to carry out musical tone reproduction. This causes the music-on-incoming call to be reproduced and sounded via the incoming call speaker 23.
FIG. 8 shows a configuration of the musical composition-reproducing section 15 according to the present embodiment. This musical composition-reproducing section 15 is also capable of reproducing musical tones from both of musical composition data in the first format and musical composition data in the second format in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b). Further, the volume-compensating signal delivered from the battery voltage level detector 24 is input via the interface 30 to the sequencer 33 or a volume control section 37.
A musical tone synthesis means 234 is comprised of eight musical tone synthesis sections, i.e. first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h, and is capable of simultaneously reproducing two series of musical composition data each composed of a melody part, an accompaniment part 1, an accompaniment part 2, and a rhythm part. This is for allowing the musical tone synthesis means 234 to simultaneously reproduce musical tones based on two series, i.e. an original and a duplicate, of musical composition data formed of four parts so as to prevent lowering of the volume of musical tones reproduced by the musical composition-reproducing section 15 when the voltage level of the battery 25 lowers below the reference value. That is, when the voltage level of the battery 25 lowers, the volume of musical tones reproduced by the musical composition-reproducing section 15 also lowers. To cope with this, one part is assigned to an intrinsic corresponding musical tone synthesis section and a musical tone synthesis section which is not assigned to any part, and the musical tones reproduced by the two musical tone synthesis sections are superposed upon each other to compensate for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical composition.
For instance, when sequence data of the first part is read from the T-RAM 32, the sequencer 33 sets the data to the first musical tone synthesis section 234a and the fifth musical tone synthesis section 234e. When sequence data of the second part is read from the same, the sequencer 33 sets the data to the second musical tone synthesis section 234b and the sixth musical tone synthesis section 234f. When sequence data of the third part is read from the same, the sequencer 33 sets the data to the third musical tone synthesis section 234c and the seventh musical tone synthesis section 234g. When sequence data of the fourth part is read from the same, the sequencer 33 sets the data to the fourth musical tone synthesis section 234d and the eighth musical tone synthesis section 234h. This causes each part to be reproduced by two musical tone synthesis sections, and by superposing the musical tones thus reproduced, it is possible to compensate for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tone of the musical composition. It should be noted that in this case, the volume-compensating signal is sent to the sequencer 33 via the interface 30, and in response to this signal, the sequencer 33 carries out the operation of compensating for the lowered volume as described above.
Further, the musical tone data reproduced by the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h are synthesized by the mixer 35, and amplified by a variable-gain amplifier 38, as required.
The volume control section 37 is configured to be capable of controlling the gain of the variable-gain amplifier 38. More specifically, if the volume control section 37 receives the volume-compensating signal delivered from the battery voltage level detector 24 via the interface 30, a gain control signal is supplied to the variable-gain amplifier 38 to increase the gain thereof. This can compensate for lowering of the volume level of musical tones reproduced by the musical composition-reproducing section 15 due to the lowered voltage level of the battery 25, since the gain of the variable-gain amplifier 38 is controlled to be increased in such a case. Thus, the combination of the volume control section 37 and the variable-gain amplifier 38 can also compensate for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tones caused by lowered voltage level of the battery 25. In this case, the musical tone synthesis means 234 is not required to reproduce each single part by using two musical tone synthesis sections thereof, and hence the musical tone synthesis means 234 may be formed by four musical tone synthesis sections. Further, conversely, if the musical tone synthesis means 234 is formed by the eight musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h for compensating for the lowered volume of reproduced musical tones, the volume control block 37 and the variable-gain amplifier 38 may be omitted.
Tone color parameters of each part are set to one or two corresponding ones of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h via the R/W controller 31 and the sequencer 33.
In this case, when the system CPU 10 has received the volume-compensating signal from the battery voltage level detector 24 in advance, the system CPU 10 duplicates musical composition data e.g. formed of four parts to thereby convert the same into musical composition data formed of eight parts in total when it sends the reproduction start signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15. Then, the system CPU 10 writes a predetermined amount of sequence data from the leading end of sequence data of each of the eight parts into the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 31. Further, tone color parameters of the eight parts of musical composition data are set via the R/W controller 31 and the sequencer 33 to corresponding ones or all of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h.
The sequencer 33 sequentially reads out sequence data from the T-RAM 32, interprets the read sequence data of each part, and set tone generator parameters corresponding to the sequence data to one or two of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h assigned to the part. In this case, if the voltage level of the battery 25 is equal to or higher than the reference value, tone color parameters of e.g. four parts, which consititute the musical composition, are set to the first to fourth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234d, and the remaining fifth to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234e to 234h are left unassigned to parts.
On the other hand, when the voltage level of the battery 25 is lower than the reference value, and the system CPU 10 has received the volume-compensating signal, the musical composition data is formed e.g. by twofold, i.e. eight parts of the original musical composition data. Tone generator parameters of the eight parts are set to the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h, respectively. In this case, for instance, the melody part is assigned to the first and fifth musical tone synthesis sections 234a and 234e, the accompaniment part 1 to the second and sixth musical tone synthesis sections 234b and 234f, the accompaniment part 2 to the third and seventh musical tone synthesis sections 234c and 234g, and the rhythm part to the fourth and eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234d and 234h.
Then, after waiting for timing of the tone generation defined by sequence data of each part, the sequencer 33 causes one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h assigned to the part to start musical tone reproduction, i.e. reproduction of musical tone data of the part. Further, in timing corresponding to the end of length of tone generation of sequence data of each part, the sequencer 33 causes one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h assigned to the part to terminate musical tone reproduction. Musical tone data of four parts or eight parts thus reproduced by the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h are supplied to the mixer 35 for synthesis, and then amplified by the variable-gain amplifier 38, as required, to be output.
Alternatively, the battery voltage level detector 24 may send the volume-compensating signal to the sequencer 33, and the sequencer 33 may carry out the operation for compensating for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tones. That is, if the sequencer 33 has received the volume-compensating signal, the sequencer 33 sequentially reads out sequence data from the T-RAM 32 via the R/W controller 31, interprets the read sequence data, and sets tone generator parameters based on the read sequence data to two of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h. This causes each part to be reproduced by two musical tone synthesis sections, and similarly to the case of duplicating musical composition data, it is possible to compensate for the lowered volume level caused by the lowered voltage level of the battery 25. If the sequencer 33 carries out the operation of compensating for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tone, it is possible to carry out the volume compensation even when the volume-compensating signal is generated during reproduction of musical tones.
Next, description will be made of the reproducing operation of the FIG. 8 musical composition-reproducing section 15 of the second embodiment carried out using musical composition data in the second format shown in FIG. 4(b).
When the system CPU 10 delivers the reproduction start signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, this signal is input to the sequencer 33 to start the reproduction of a selected musical composition. The system CPU 10 reads out a predetermined amount of sequence data from the leading end of sequence data of musical composition data of the selected musical composition, and writes the read data into the T-RAM 32 under the control of the R/W controller 3-1. In this case, sequence data formed of mixed data of a plurality of parts is written into the T-RAM 32. The sequencer 33 detects a part of the read sequence data, and sets tone generation parameters based on the sequence data to one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h assigned to the detected part.
More specifically, when sequence data of a first part is read out from the T-RAM 32, the sequencer 33 sets tone generator parameters based on the read sequence data of the first part, e.g., to the first and fifth musical tone synthesis sections 234a and 234e, and similarly, tone generator parameters based on sequence data of a second part to the second and sixth musical tone synthesis sections 234b and 234f, tone generator parameters based on sequence data of a third part to the third and seventh musical tone synthesis sections 234c and 234g, and tone generator parameters based on sequence data of a fourth part to the fourth and eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234d and 234h. Thus, each part is reproduced by two musical tone synthesis sections, and by superposing the reproduced musical tones, it is possible to compensate for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tones. It should be noted that in this case, the volume-compensating signal is sent to the sequencer 33 via the interface 30, and in response to the volume-compensating signal received, the sequencer 33 carries out the operation of compensating for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tones in the above described manner. If the sequencer 33 carries out the operation of compensating for the lowered volume of the reproduced musical tones as described above, it is possible to carry out the volume compensation even when the volume-compensating signal is generated during reproduction of musical tones.
The musical tone data reproduced by the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h are supplied to the mixer 35, which synthesizes these data and converts the resulting data to an analog musical signal, which is further amplified by the variable-gain amplifier 38, as required, for outputting.
Although in the FIG. 8 musical composition-reproducing section 15, the musical tone synthesis means 234 is formed of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h, this is not limitative, but the number of musical tone synthesis sections may be smaller than eight. In such a case, if the musical composition data is formed of four parts, when the voltage level of the battery 25 lowers, at least the melody part, which is the most important part, is assigned with two or more musical tone synthesis sections for reproduction thereof.
Further, in the musical composition-reproducing section 15, the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h may be formed by a single musical tone synthesis section which operates in a time-sharing manner.
The battery voltage level detector 24 delivers the volume-compensating signal when the voltage level of the battery 25 lowers. However, whether or not the volume compensation is to be carried out can be set by the user. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user can set one of “High Quality Mode” and “Normal Quality Mode”. When “High Quality Mode” is set, the volume compensation is carried out, but when “Normal Quality Mode” is set, the volume compensation is not carried out. In the following, referring to FIG. 9, description will be made of a high quality mode-setting process which is actuated when the user changes the mode e.g. by operating a high-quality mode switch.
First, it is determined at a step S101 whether or not the user has operated the high-quality mode switch. If the user has operated this switch, a high-quality mode flag is inverted at a step S102. On the other hand, if the user has not operated the switch, the program skips the step S102 over to a step S103, wherein it is determined whether or not the high-quality mode flag assumes “1”. If it is determined here that the high-quality mode flag assumes “1”, “High Quality Mode” is displayed on the display 18, and the program proceeds to a step S106. On the other hand, if it is determined that the high-quality mode flag does not assume “1”, “Normal Quality Mode” is displayed on the display 18 at a step S105, and then, the program proceeds to the step S106.
At the step S106, it is determined whether or not the voltage level of the battery 25 detected by the battery voltage level detector 24 is lower than the reference value n. This determination is carried out by determining whether or not the battery voltage level detector 24 has issued the volume-compensating signal, and when the signal has been issued, the determination is affirmative (YES), while it has not been issued, the same is negative (NO). Assuming here that the volume-compensating signal has been issued, the program proceeds to a step S107, wherein it is determined whether or not the high-quality mode flag assumes “1”. If the high-quality mode flag assumes “1”, a volume compensation flag is set to “1” at a step S108, for execution of the volume compensating process when musical tone reproduction is carried out, whereas if the high-quality mode flag does not assume “1”, the program proceeds to a step S109, wherein the volume compensation flag is set to “0”, to inhibit the execution of the volume compensating process when musical tone reproduction is carried out. Further, when the answer to the question of the step S106 is negative (NO) since the volume-compensating signal has not been issued, the program proceeds to the step S109, wherein the volume compensation flag is set to “0”, to inhibit the execution of the volume compensation when musical tone reproduction is carried out. Execution of the step S108 or S109 terminates the high-quality mode-setting process.
It should be noted that at the step S101, whenever the user operates the high-quality mode switch to turn it on, the high-quality mode flag is inverted, whereby the user can select the high quality mode and the normal quality mode as he desires. Then, when the high quality mode has been set and at the same time the voltage level of the battery 25 becomes lower than the reference value n, the volume compensation flag is set to “1”, to set the volume compensating process ready for execution.
Next, referring to FIG. 10, a musical composition-reproducing process (first method) will be described which is actuated when the system CPU 10 issues the reproduction start signal. In this musical composition-reproducing process (first method), musical composition data in the first format shown in FIG. 4(a) is used, and the CPU 10 carries out the volume compensating process.
When the music reproduction button of the cellular phone 1 is operated for instructing reproduction of a BGM or a listening music, or an incoming call is received, or the call-hold button is operated, at a step S111, the CPU 10 delivers the reproduction start signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15. Then, it is determined at a step S112 whether or not the volume compensation flag assumes “1”. Assuming here that the high quality mode has been set and at the same time the voltage level of the battery 25 is lower than the reference value n, so that the volume compensation flag has been set to “1”, the program proceeds to a step S113, wherein the system CPU 10 carries out a process for producing musical composition data for volume compensation. In this process, if the musical composition data is formed of four parts, the system CPU 10 duplicates these parts to produce musical composition data formed of eight parts.
Then, the program proceeds to a step S114, wherein the musical composition data for volume compensation is initially set. In the initial setting of the musical composition data for volume compensation, the musical composition data doubled in number of parts by the duplication is sent to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and a leading portion of sequence data of each part is written into the T-RAM 32. Further, tone color parameters of each part are set to a corresponding one of the first to eighth musical synthesis sections 234a to 234h.
On the other hand, when the normal quality mode is set, or when the voltage level of the battery 25 is equal to or higher than the reference value n and hence the volume compensation flag does not assume “1”, the step S113 is skipped, and the original musical composition data from which the musical composition data for volume compensation is produced by duplication is initially set at the step S114. Thus, when the process for initially setting musical composition data is completed, an instruction for starting reproduction of a musical composition is sent to the musical composition-reproducing section 15 at a step S115. This causes the sequencer 33 to read out sequence data from the T-RAM 32, and set tone generation parameters to a corresponding one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h, to cause the reproduction of musical tones to be started.
In this case, when the T-RAM 32 stores four parts of sequence data, musical tones formed of the four parts are reproduced. On this occasion, four musical tone synthesis sections of the musical tone synthesis means 234 are left unassigned to parts. On the other hand, when the high quality mode is set, and at the same time the voltage level of the battery 25 becomes lower than the reference value n, so that the T-RAM 32 stores eight parts of sequence data, musical tones of the eight parts are reproduced. On this occasion, the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h for all the parts are used for reproduction of musical tones.
Next, referring to FIG. 11, a musical composition-reproducing process (second method) using musical composition data in the second format shown in FIG. 4(b) will be described. In this process (second method), the sequencer 33 carries out the volume compensating process.
When the music reproduction button of the cellular phone 1 is operated to instruct reproduction of a BGM or a listening music, or an incoming call is received, or the call-hold button is operated, at a step S121, the CPU 10 delivers the reproduction start signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15. Then, it is determined at a step S122 whether or not the volume compensation flag assumes “1”. Assuming here that the high quality mode has been set and at the same time the voltage level of the battery 25 is lower than the reference value n, so that the volume compensation flag has been set to “1”, the program proceeds to a step S123, wherein a volume compensation-instructing process is carried out to send a volume compensation executing signal to the musical composition-reproducing section 15.
On the other hand, when the normal quality mode is set, or when the voltage level of the battery 25 is equal to or higher than the reference value n and hence the volume compensation flag has not been set to “1”, the step S123 is skipped, and the program proceeds to a step S124, wherein the musical composition data is initially set. In this process for initially setting musical composition data, musical composition data is supplied to the musical composition-reproducing section 15, and a leading portion of sequence data is written into the T-RAM 32. Further, tone color parameters of each part are set to a corresponding one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h.
When the process for initially setting musical composition data is thus completed, the program proceeds to a step S125, wherein an instruction for starting the reproduction of musical tones is sent to the musical composition-reproducing section 15. This causes the sequencer 33 to read out sequence data from the T-RAM 32, and sets tone generation parameters to one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h assigned to the part of the sequence data to cause the reproduction to be started.
When this process for starting reproduction of musical tones is carried out, if the volume compensation-instructing process has been carried out at the step S123, the sequencer 33 sequentially reads sequence data from the T-RAM 32 via the R/W controller 31, interprets the read sequence data, and sets tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to two of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h. Thus, each part is reproduced by two musical tone synthesis sections. On the other hand, if the volume compensation-instructing process has not been carried out at the step S123, the sequencer 33 sequentially reads sequence data from the T-RAM 32 via the R/W controller 31, interprets the read sequence data, and sets tone generator parameters based on the sequence data to one of the first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h. Thus, each part is reproduced by one musical tone synthesis section.
Further, although the musical tone synthesis means 234 is formed of eight musical tone synthesis sections, i.e. first to eighth musical tone synthesis sections 234a to 234h for the eight parts, the number of musical tone synthesis sections is not limited to this, but the number of musical tone synthesis sections has only to be set to such a number that some musical tone synthesis sections are not assigned to parts when musical tone reproduction is carried out in the normal quality mode. In such a case, when the volume compensating process is carried out, the musical tone synthesis sections not assigned to parts in addition to musical tone synthesis sections for original parts may be assigned to an increased number of parts created by the duplication, in the order of more important parts to less important parts. This makes it possible to compensate for the lowered volume of parts of the musical composition, starting from the most important part to less important parts.
The mobile device according to the present invention is capable of curtailing the battery drain as much as possible by decreasing the number of parts that are reproduced or by assigning musical composition data to musical tone synthesis sections unassigned to parts in addition to musical tone synthesis sections for original parts to thereby cause each part to be reproduced by a plurality of musical tone synthesis sections, thereby enabling compensation for a lowered volume of each part. Therefore, the mobile device according to the present invention can be applied to mobile devices, such as cellular phones, personal computers, and other information devices which include musical composition-reproducing means.
wherein said setting step comprises duplicatively setting tone generation parameters regarding each of at least one of the second number of performing parts to two of the first number of the musical tone synthesis sections when the voltage level monitored at said voltage level-monitoring step becomes lower than a predetermined value.
4750203 June 7, 1988 Defretin
5099513 March 24, 1992 Kim et al.
5808542 September 15, 1998 Hwang
5986540 November 16, 1999 Nakagaki et al.
6255577 July 3, 2001 Imai
6337972 January 8, 2002 Jones et al.
0463411 January 1992 EP
H4-236544 August 1992 JP
H10-39272 February 1993 JP
H06-167969 June 1994 JP
H07-271358 October 1995 JP
H11-088478 March 1999 JP
1992-1424 January 1992 KR
1999-73832 October 1995 KR
Official Action for the Korean Patent Application, dated Feb. 18, 2005.
Decision of Rejection for the Korean Patent Application, dated Jun. 28, 2005.
Official Office Action for Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-100503, dated Aug. 24, 2005 (corresponding to present application).
Patent Publication Number: 20060059379
Inventor: Takahiro Tanaka (Hamamatsu)
Application Number: 11/268,166
Current U.S. Class: Computer Power Control (713/300); Having Power Source Monitoring (713/340); Electrical Musical Tone Generation (84/600); Loudness Control (84/633); Loudness Control (84/665)
International Classification: G06F 1/00 (20060101); G06F 11/30 (20060101); G10H 1/00 (20060101); G10H 1/46 (20060101); G10H 5/00 (20060101);