Patent ID: 7368652

Claim:
A music search system comprising: a music search apparatus; and a music search terminal, wherein the music search apparatus includes: an input unit that inputs a time-series signal represented by on/off signals; a data storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of rhythm data in association with music-associated information associated with music corresponding to the rhythm data; a search unit that searches the plurality of pieces of rhythm data stored in the data storage unit for rhythm data having the same fluctuation pattern as or a similar fluctuation pattern to the time-series signal input to the input unit; and a search result output unit that reads the music-associated information stored in association with the rhythm data found by the search unit from the data storage unit and outputs the read music-associated information as the search result of the search, wherein the music search terminal includes: a communication unit that communicates with the music search apparatus via a communication line; a operation unit that inputs the time-series signal to the input unit through the communication unit; a receiving unit that receives the search result of the input time-series signal through the communication unit from the search result output unit; a display unit that displays the received search result; a terminal-side input unit that inputs a time-series signal represented by on/off signals; a terminal-side data storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of rhythm data in association with music-associated information associated with music corresponding to the rhythm data; a terminal-side search unit that searches the plurality of pieces of rhythm data stored in the data storage unit for rhythm data having the same fluctuation pattern as or a similar fluctuation pattern to the time-series signal input to the input unit; a terminal-side search result output unit that reads the music-associated information stored in association with the rhythm data found by the search unit from the data storage unit and outputs the read music-associated information as the search result of the search; a determination unit that determines whether or not rhythm data of a predetermined similarity degree or more has been found as the result of the search of the search unit; and a control unit that controls the display unit so as to display the search result of the terminal-side search unit when rhythm data of the predetermined similarity degree or more has been found as the result of the determination of the determination unit, and controls the display unit so as to display the search result of the search unit of the music search apparatus when rhythm data of the predetermined similarity degree or more has not been found as the result of the determination of the determination unit.