Automatic music selecting system in mobile unit

• US 7,132,596 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakabo, Masatoshi, Yamashita, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Russell, Christina
• Application Number:
  US10/847,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 846/15, 846/09, 846/11, 705/64, 701/1, 701/200, 701/208
• US Class Current: 84/615
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/351 Environmental parameters, e.g. temperature, ambient light, atmospheric pressure, humidity, used as input for musical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

An automatic music selecting system is provided which can select a piece of music more suitable for an occupant of a mobile unit. It includes a music data storing section that stores music data corresponding to a plurality of pieces of music; a navigation system for detecting the current position of the mobile unit; a first keyword generating section for generating a first keyword in response to current position information indicating the current position detected by the navigation system; sensors for detecting environment of the mobile unit; a second keyword generating section for generating a second keyword in response to the environment information indicating the environment detected by the sensors, a music selecting section for selecting a piece of music in response to the first keyword and second keyword; and a reproducing section for reading the selected music data from the music data storing section to reproduce.

Claims

1. An automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit comprising:

a music data storing section for storing music data corresponding to a plurality of pieces of music;

a current position detecting section for detecting a current position of the mobile unit;

a first keyword generating section for generating a first keyword in response to current position information indicating the current position detected by said current position detecting section;

an environment detecting section for detecting environment of the mobile unit;

a second keyword generating section for generating a second keyword in response to environment information indicating the environment detected by said environment detecting section;

a music selecting section for selecting a piece of music in response to the first keyword generated by said first keyword generating section and to the second keyword generated by said second keyword generating section; and

a reproducing section for reading music data corresponding to the piece of music selected by said music selecting section from said music data storing section, and for playing back the music data.

2. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 1, wherein

said music selecting section is installed in a server connected to a network, wherein said automatic music selecting system further comprises:

a communication section for transmitting the first keyword and the second keyword to a music selecting section of said server via the network, and for receiving music selection information indicating a piece of music selected by said music selecting section in response to the first keyword and the second keyword, and wherein

said reproducing section reads music data corresponding to the music selection information received by said communication section from said music data storing section, and plays back the music data.

3. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 2, wherein said reproducing section downloads, when said music data storing section does not store music data of the piece of music selected by said music selecting section of the server, the music data from the server, and plays back the music data.

4. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user information input section for inputting user information specified by a user; and

a third keyword generating section for generating a third keyword in response to the user information input from said user information input section, wherein,

said music selecting section selects a piece of music in response to the first keyword generated by said first keyword generating section, the second keyword generated by said second keyword generating section and the third keyword generated by said third keyword generating section.

5. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 4, wherein

said music selecting section is installed in a server connected to a network, wherein said automatic music selecting system further comprises:

a communication section for transmitting the first keyword, the second keyword and the third keyword to a music selecting section of said server via the network, and for receiving music selection information indicating a piece of music selected by said music selecting section in response to the first keyword, the second keyword and the third keyword, and wherein

said reproducing section reads music data corresponding to the music selection information received by said communication section from said music data storing section, and plays back the music data.

6. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 5, wherein said reproducing section downloads, when said music data storing section does not store music data of the piece of music selected by said music selecting section of the server, the music data from the server, and plays back the music data.

7. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 4, further comprising:

a timer section for inputting present time and date information indicating present time and date; and

a fourth keyword generating section for generating a fourth keyword in response to the present time and date information input from said timer section, wherein

said music selecting section selects a piece of music in response to the first keyword generated by said first keyword generating section, the second keyword generated by said second keyword generating section, the third keyword generated by said third keyword generating section and the fourth keyword generated by said fourth keyword generating section.

8. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 7, wherein

said music selecting section is installed in a server connected to a network, wherein said automatic music selecting system further comprises:

a communication section for transmitting the first keyword, the second keyword, the third keyword and the fourth keyword to a music selecting section of said server via the network, and for receiving music selection information indicating a piece of music selected by said music selecting section in response to the first keyword, the second keyword, the third keyword and the fourth keyword and wherein

said reproducing section reads music data corresponding to the music selection information received by said communication section from said music data storing section, and plays back the music data.

9. The automatic music selecting system in a mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein said reproducing section downloads, when said music data storing section does not store music data of the piece of music selected by said music selecting section of the server, the music data from the server, and plays back the music data.