Interactive system for synchronizing and simultaneously playing predefined musical sequences

• US 5,915,288 A
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Music Corporation
• Inventors: Gabriel, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/026,232
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 84/600, 84/601, 84/609, 84/613, 84/649, 84/650, 84/743, 84/745
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0033 Recording/reproducing or transmission of music for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/106 using icons, e.g. selecting, moving or linking icons, on-screen symbols, screen regions or segments representing musical elements or parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/315 for joystick-like proportional control of musical input; Videogame input devices used for musical input or control, e.g. gamepad, joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings

Abstract

A plurality of pre-recorded, generated or other sound tracks (e.g. voice, karaoke) are selectable and de-selectable by a user for synchronously mixing with a main song track and all other sound tracks that are playing. The sound tracks are matched and synchronized to the song track. A visual display depicts icons which represent the sound tracks, and indicate which sound tracks are selected and de-selected. The user creates an individual musical performance by interactively selecting and de-selecting one or more sound tracks using a joystick or keyboard on a real-time basis with instantaneous visual and audible feedback. Depending on the musical content of each sound track, various operational modes ensure that whenever a track is selected, the result is always immediate, musically synchronized and aesthetically pleasing.

Claims

1. A system for playing predefined musical sequences, comprising:

display means having visual icons corresponding to said sequences respectively;

input means for interactively selecting and de-selecting icons;

player means for playing selected sequences corresponding to said selected icons simultaneously, and controlling the display means such that said icons distinguish said selected sequences from de-selected sequences; and

synchronizer means for musically synchronizing said selected sequences;

in which the input means includes;

a body which is ergonomically conjugate to a human hand; and

actuator means extending from the body for mechanically inputting a plurality of discrete direction indications corresponding to said icons respectively.

2. A system as in claim 1, in which the actuator means comprises a joystick handle.

3. A system as in claim 1, in which the actuator means comprises a plurality of buttons which are oriented to correspond to said direction indications respectively.

4. A system as in claim 3, in which said buttons are illuminatable to indicate different status conditions.

5. A system as in claim 3, in which said buttons are arranged in a rectangular pattern.

6. A system as in claim 3, in which said buttons are arranged in a radial pattern.

7. A system as in claim 1, in which the body comprises a backstrap.

8. A system as in claim 7, in which said buttons extend from the backstrap.

9. A system as in claim 8, in which:

the body comprises a base from which the backstrap extends; and

the input means further comprises a plurality of buttons extending from the base that are shaped as finger grips.

10. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buttons that extend from the body and are shaped as finger grips.