Player piano system interface

• US 20060272483A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Burgett, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Burgett, Inc.
• Inventors: Honeywell, David R.
• Application Number:
  US11/410,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272483A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10F 1/02 Pianofortes with keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/101 for graphical creation, edition or control of musical data or parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/011 Hybrid piano, e.g. combined acoustic and electronic piano with complete hammer mechanism as well as key-action sensors coupled to an electronic sound generator

Abstract

A player piano system including a player piano having a core computing device with programming, a storage device installed therein configured to communicate with at least one second computing device such as an Internet server. A remote controller device communicates with the core computing device and provides remote access to the player piano controls.

Claims

1. A player piano interface, comprising:

a core computing device with programming configured for installation within a player piano and operably coupled to key and pedal controls of the player piano;

means for communication between said core computing device and a second computing device;

at least one storage device connected to the core computing device; and

a controller providing access to said core computing device.

2. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said core computing device further comprises a display.

3. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said core computing device further comprises a plurality of speakers.

4. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said core computing device further comprises at least one input device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of a microphone, a camera, a floppy disk drive, a CD drive, and a DVD drive.

5. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communication comprises an Internet connection.

6. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communication comprises a telephonic connection.

7. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said second computing device is a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of:

a core computing device of a second player piano;

a personal computer; and

a music database server.

8. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is a wireless device.

9. A player piano interface as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of a portable data assistant remote, a handheld remote, a laptop computer and a web slate.

10. A player piano interface as recited in claim 8, wherein said controller is a wireless device having a touchscreen with a graphical user interface configured to communicate with the core computing device, the wireless device providing access to at least one player piano control.

11. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device selected from the group of storage devices consisting essentially of a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a CD Drive, a DVD drive, and an Internet server.

12. A player piano interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said programming of said core computing device provides functional control over the key and pedal controls of a player piano with an audio interface, a program interface, a performance interface and a backstage interface.

13. A player piano interface as recited in claim 12, wherein the audio interface comprises at least one piano volume control, symphony volume control, a digital volume control, an auxiliary device volume control, or microphone volume control.

14. A player piano interface as recited in claim 12, wherein the program control comprises at least one repeat, shuffle, queue, scheduled playback, create playlist, edit playlist, or file management function.

15. A player piano system, comprising:

a player piano;

a core computing device with programming configured for installation within a player piano and operably coupled to key and pedal controls of the player piano;

means for communication between said core computing device and a second computing device;

at least one storage device connected to the core computing device; and

a controller providing access to said core computing device.

16. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said core computing device further comprises a display.

17. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said core computing device further comprises a plurality of speakers.

18. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said core computing device further comprises at least one input device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of a microphone, a camera, a floppy disk drive, a CD drive, and a DVD drive.

19. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for communication comprises an Internet connection.

20. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for communication comprises a telephonic connection.

21. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said second computing device is a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of:

a core computing device of a second player piano, a personal computer, and a music database server.

22. A player piano system as recited in claim 15, wherein said controller is a wireless device.

23. A player piano interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the controller is a device selected from the group of devices consisting essentially of a portable data assistant remote, a handheld remote, a laptop computer and a web slate.

24. A player piano system as recited in claim 22, wherein said controller is a wireless device having a touchscreen with a graphical user interface configured to communicate with the core computing device, the wireless device providing access to at least one player piano control.