Methods and apparatus for acoustic model based soundtracks

• US 20080154403A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lamere, Paul B., Alexander, Jeffrey L., Proctor, Seth T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,180,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A system provides a model for use within a digital environment. The model comprises at least one music segment, and supplies music for the digital environment. The system identifies a location within the digital environment. The location requires at least one music segment supplied by the model. The system selects at least one music segment to play within the digital environment. The music segment is selected based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment. The selecting of the music segment is operable to be modified based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment.

Claims

1. A method of providing music within a digital environment, the method comprising:

providing a model for use within the digital environment, the model comprising at least one music segment, the model supplying music for the digital environment;

identifying a location within the digital environment, the location requiring the at least one music segment supplied by the model; and

selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the at least one music segment selected based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment, selecting the at least one music segment operable to be modified based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a model for use within the digital environment comprises:

receiving at least one example music segment;

comparing the at least one example music segment to a plurality of music segments, including the at least one music segment, to identify a similarity between the at least one example music segment and the at least one music segment; and

associating the at least one music segment with the model.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving at least one example music segment comprises:

identifying at least one attribute associated with the at least one example music segment, the at least one attribute indicative of a characteristic identifying the model.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a model for use within the digital environment comprises:

selecting the at least one music segment from a plurality of music segments supplied by a user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a location within the digital environment, the location requiring the at least one music segment supplied by the model comprises:

identifying at least one attribute associated with the location, the at least one attribute corresponding to the model.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

selecting the at least one music segment when the location is active within the digital environment during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

providing an interface allowing a user to provide input associated with the model selected during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein providing an interface allowing a user to provide input associated with the model selected during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user comprises:

allowing the user to specify a source of the at least one music segment.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein providing an interface allowing a user to select provide input associated with the model selected during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user comprises:

allowing the user to provide at least one sample music segment used to match the model.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

selecting the at least one music segment based on a performance of a user at the location in the digital environment.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

associating at least one new music segment with the model; and

selecting the at least one new music segment from the model.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising

removing an association between the at least one music segment and the model such that the at least one music segment is not operable to be selected.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

receiving an incentive to select the at least one music segment over another music segment within the model; and

selecting the at least one music segment.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment comprises:

verifying the at least one music segment has not previously been selected during an interaction between the digital environment and a user.

15. A computerized device comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface;

wherein the memory is encoded with a acoustical model supplying application that when executed on the processor is capable of supplying music segments on the computerized device by performing the operations of;

providing a model for use within the digital environment, the model comprising at least one music segment, the model supplying music for the digital environment;

identifying a location within the digital environment, the location requiring the at least one music segment supplied by the model; and

selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the at least one music segment selected based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment, selecting the at least one music segment operable to be modified based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment.

16. The computerized device of claim 15 wherein when the computerized device performs the operation of providing a model for use within the digital environment, the computerized device performs the operations of:

receiving at least one example music segment;

comparing the at least one example music segment to a plurality of music segments, including the at least one music segment, to identify a similarity between the at least one example music segment and the at least one music segment; and

associating the at least one music segment with the model.

17. The computerized device of claim 15 wherein when the computerized device performs the operation of selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the computerized device performs the operations of:

selecting the at least one music segment when the location is active within the digital environment during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user.

18. The computerized device of claim 15 wherein when the computerized device performs the operation of selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the computerized device performs the operations of:

providing an interface allowing a user to provide input associated with the model selected during an interactive session between the digital environment and a user.

19. The computerized device of claim 15 wherein when the computerized device performs the operation of selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the computerized device performs the operations of:

selecting the at least one music segment based on a performance of a user at the location in the digital environment.

20. A computer readable medium encoded with computer programming logic that when executed on a process in a computerized device supplies music segments, the medium comprising:

instructions for providing a model for use within the digital environment, the model comprising at least one music segment, the model supplying music for the digital environment;

identifying a location within the digital environment, the location requiring the at least one music segment supplied by the model;

selecting the at least one music segment to play within the digital environment, the at least one music segment selected based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment, selecting the at least one music segment operable to be modified based on the model, the location requiring the at least one music segment, and the digital environment.