Music session support method, musical instrument for music session, and music session support program

• US 7,164,075 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Tada, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US11/002,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/610
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence

Abstract

A music session support method which enables each of players in a music session which is performed via a network to immediately recognize whether or not the other players are in the state of being able to participate in the session. A session support apparatus 10 transmits sets of status information indicative of whether or not each of players is in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information which identifies the players, to each of session terminals 20. Each of the session terminals 20 which have received the sets of status information and player identification information causes a touch display 24 thereof to display the status information for each of the players. The session support apparatus 10 acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of at least one of the session terminals 20 in which the detecting device has detected the performance preparatory operation has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for a session terminal 20, from the session terminal 20. The session support apparatus 10 transmits the acquired set of status transition information and player identification information to the session terminals 20. Each of the session terminals 20 updates contents displayed on the touch display 24 thereof, based upon the status transition information and player identification information transmitted from the session support apparatus 10.

Claims

1. A music session support method executed by a music session system comprising a plurality of session terminals, each having a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player, and a session support apparatus which is connected to the plurality of session terminals, for acting as a go-between for transmission and reception of music data between the plurality of session terminals, comprising:

a status information transmitting step in which the session support apparatus transmits sets of status information indicative of whether or not each of players is in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information which identifies the players, to the session terminals;

a status information display step in which each of the session terminals which have received the sets of status information and player identification information causes the display device thereof to display the status information for each of the players;

a status transition information acquiring step in which the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of at least one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected the performance preparatory operation has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the session terminal, from the session terminal;

a status transition information transmitting step in which the session support apparatus transmits the acquired set of status transition information and player identification information to the session terminals; and

a status information updating step in which each of the session terminals updates contents displayed on the display device thereof, based upon the status transition information and player identification information transmitted from the session support apparatus.

2. A music session support method executed by a music session system comprising a plurality of session terminals, each having a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player, and a session support apparatus which is connected to the plurality of session terminals, for acting as a go-between for transmission and reception of music data between the plurality of session terminals, comprising:

a status information transmitting step in which the session support apparatus transmits sets of status information indicative of whether or not each of players is in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information which identifies the players, to the session terminals;

a status information display step in which each of the session terminals which have received the sets of status information and player identification information causes the display device thereof to display the status information for each of the players;

a status transition information acquiring step in which the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of a first one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected start of a performance by the player has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the first session terminal, from the first session terminal, and the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of a second one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected stoppage of a performance by the player over a predetermined time period has gone into a state of being unable to participate in a session, and player identification information for the second session terminal, from the second session terminal;

a status transition information transmitting step in which the session support apparatus transmits the acquired set of status transition information and player identification information to the session terminals; and

a status information updating step in which each of the session terminals updates contents displayed on the display device thereof, based upon the status transition information and player identification information transmitted from the session support apparatus.

3. A musical instrument for music sessions, which implements a music session by performing transmission and reception of music data to and from one or a plurality of players, comprising:

a display device that displays status information indicative of whether or not players are in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the players, in association with one another;

a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player;

a transmission device operable when the performance preparatory operation has been detected by said detecting device, to transmit a set of status transition information indicating that the player has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information identifying the player;

a receiving device that receives sets of status transition information indicating that at least one of the one or plurality of players has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session and player identification information identifying the at least one player; and

an updating device operable when the set of status transition information and player identification information has been received by said receiving device, to update contents of the status information which is displayed on said display device in association with the received player identification information.

4. A musical instrument for music sessions, which implements a music session by performing transmission and reception of music data to and from one or a plurality of players, comprising:

a display device that displays status information indicative of whether or not players are in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the players, in association with one another;

a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player;

a transmission device operable when the performance preparatory operation has been detected by said detecting device, to transmit a set of status transition information indicating that the player has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information identifying the player, said transmission device being operable when said detecting device has detected stoppage of a performance by the player over a predetermined time period, to transmit a set of status transition information indicating that the player has gone into a state of being unable to participate in a session, and player identification information identifying the player;

a receiving device that receives sets of status transition information indicating that at least one of the one or plurality of players has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session or the state of being unable to participate in a session and player identification information identifying the at least one player; and

an updating device operable when the set of status transition information and player identification information has been received by said receiving device, to update contents of the status information which is displayed on said display device in association with the received player identification information.

5. A computer including a program to implement a music session support method executed by a music session system comprising a plurality of session terminals, each having a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player, and a session support apparatus which is connected to the plurality of session terminals, for acting as a go-between for transmission and reception of music data between the plurality of session terminals, comprising:

a status information transmitting module in which the session support apparatus transmits sets of status information indicative of whether or not each of players is in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information which identifies the players, to the session terminals;

a status information display module in which each of the session terminals which have received the sets of status information and player identification information causes the display device thereof to display the status information for each of the players;

a status transition information acquiring module in which the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of at least one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected the performance preparatory operation has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the session terminal, from the session terminal;

a status transition information transmitting module in which the session support apparatus transmits the acquired set of status transition information and player identification information to the session terminals; and

a status information updating module in which each of the session terminals updates contents displayed on the display device thereof, based upon the status transition information and player identification information transmitted from the session support apparatus.

6. A computer including a program to implement a music session support method executed by a music session system comprising a plurality of session terminals, each having a detecting device that detects a performance preparatory operation by a player, and a session support apparatus which is connected to the plurality of session terminals, for acting as a go-between for transmission and reception of music data between the plurality of session terminals, comprising:

a status information transmitting module in which the session support apparatus transmits sets of status information indicative of whether or not each of players is in a state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information which identifies the players, to the session terminals;

a status information display module in which each of the session terminals which have received the sets of status information and player identification information causes the display device thereof to display the status information for each of the players;

a status transition information acquiring module in which the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of a first one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected start of a performance by the player has gone into the state of being able to participate in a session, and player identification information for the first session terminal, from the first session terminal, and the session support apparatus acquires a set of status transition information indicating that a player of a second one of the session terminals in which the detecting device has detected stoppage of a performance by the player over a predetermined time period has gone into a state of being unable to participate in a session, and player identification information for the second session terminal, from the second session terminal;

a status transition information transmitting module in which the session support apparatus transmits the acquired set of status transition information and player identification information to the session terminals; and

a status information updating module in which each of the session terminals updates contents displayed on the display device thereof, based upon the status transition information and player identification information transmitted from the session support apparatus.