Music search system

• US 7,227,071 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tagawa, Junichi, Misaki, Masayuki, Yamane, Hiroaki, Ono, Masako, Yagi, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US10/609,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 84600-609, 455/3.06, 701/200, 701/207, 701/213, 340/988, 340/989
• US Class Current: 84/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

The present invention provides a music search system for conducting music search, which allows the user to easily listen to music matched to situation. The music search system includes a music data storage section, a location acquisition section, a parameter converting section, a music search section, and a reproducing section. The music data storage section stores a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters. The location acquisition section acquires a situation parameter. The parameter converting section converts the situation parameter acquired by the location acquisition section into the music parameter. The music search section uses the music parameter resulted from conversion by the parameter converting section to search through the plurality of pieces of music data stored in the music storage section and selects a piece of music to be reproduced. The reproducing section reproduces the piece of music selected by the music search section.

Claims

1. A music search system for conducting a music search, comprising:

a music data storing section for storing a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music;

a situation acquisition section for acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

a parameter converting section for converting the situation parameter acquired by the situation acquisition section into the music parameter;

a music search section for searching through the plurality of music data stored in the music data storage section using the music parameter resulted from the conversion by the parameter converting section, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

a reproducing section for reproducing the piece of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user, and the music search system is mounted on the mobile unit,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein the music search system comprises;

a location table storage section for storing a location table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with a location category representing a feature of the location indicated by the set of location coordinates; and

an impression value table storage section for storing an impression value table in which the location category is associated with an impression value for a piece of music to be reproduced at the location category, and

wherein the parameter converting section comprises;

a location category converting section for converting the set of location coordinates acquired by the situation acquisition section into a corresponding location category using the location table; and

an impression value converting section for converting the corresponding location category resulted from conversion by the location category converting section into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.

2. The music search system according to claim 1, wherein the music parameter is an impression value obtained by quantifying an impression left on the user by the piece of music.

3. The music search system according to claim 1, further comprising a conversion table storage section for storing a conversion table in which the situation parameter is associated with the music parameter, wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter into the music parameter using the conversion table.

4. The music search system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a recording accepting section for accepting a recording instruction from the user; and

an association recording section for adding to the conversion table a set of a music parameter for a piece of music being reproduced and a current situation parameter when the recording accepting section accepts the recording instruction while the reproducing section is reproducing the piece of music.

5. A music search system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a route generating section for generating a route between two prescribed points;

a point determination section for determining a prescribed point on the route; and

a list generating section for generating a list of pieces of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section acquires the set of location coordinates at the prescribed point as the situation parameter, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces the pieces of music in accordance with the list.

6. The music search system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the music data storage section;

the parameter converting section; and

the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section selects a piece of music and transmits data for the selected piece of music to the mobile terminal, and

wherein the reproducing section receives the data for the selected piece of music transmitted from the music search section, and reproduces the selected piece of music.

7. The music search system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the music data storage section;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the parameter converting section;

the music search section; and

a server music data storage section for storing at least information having the same contents as those stored in the music data storage section,

wherein the music data storage section stores music IDs, each identifying a piece of music, so as to be associated with the plurality of pieces of music data,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section transmits to the mobile terminal a music ID for identifying a selected piece of music, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces a piece of music indicated by the music ID transmitted from the music search section.

8. A music search system for conducting a music search, comprising:

a music data storage section for storing a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music;

a situation acquisition section for acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

a parameter converting section for converting the situation parameter acquired by the situation acquisition section into the music parameter;

a music search section for searching through the plurality of music data stored in the music data storage section using the music parameter resulted from the conversion by the parameter converting section, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

a reproducing section for reproducing the piece of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user, and the music search system is mounted on the mobile unit,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein the music search system comprises;

an impression word table storage section for storing an impression word table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with an impression word representing an impression of a piece of music to be reproduced at the location indicated by the set of location coordinates; and

an impression value table storage section for storing an impression value table in which the impression word is associated with the impression value, and

wherein the parameter converting section comprises;

an impression word converting section for converting the set of location coordinates acquired by the situation acquisition section into a corresponding impression word using the impression word table; and

an impression value converting section for converting the corresponding impression word resulted from conversion by the impression word converting section into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.

9. The music search system according to claim 8, wherein the music parameter is an impression value obtained by quantifying an impression left on the user by the piece of music.

10. The music search system according to claim 8, further comprising a conversion table storage section for storing a conversion table in which the situation parameter is associated with the music parameter, wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter into the music parameter using the conversion table.

11. The music search system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a recording accepting section for accepting a recording instruction from the user; and

an association recording section for adding to the conversion table a set of a music parameter for a piece of music being reproduced and a current situation parameter when the recording accepting section accepts the recording instruction while the reproducing section is reproducing the piece of music.

12. A music search system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a route generating section for generating a route between two prescribed points;

a point determination section for determining a prescribed point on the route; and

a list generating section for generating a list of pieces of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section acquires the set of location coordinates at the prescribed point as the situation parameter, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces the pieces of music in accordance with the list.

13. The music search system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the music data storage section;

the parameter converting section; and

the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section selects a piece of music and transmits data for the selected piece of music to the mobile terminal, and

wherein the reproducing section receives the data for the selected piece of music transmitted from the music search section, and reproduces the selected piece of music.

14. The music search system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the music data storage section;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the parameter converting section;

the music search section; and

a server music data storage section for storing at least information having the same contents as those stored in the music data storage section,

wherein the music data storage section stores music IDs, each identifying a piece of music, so as to be associated with the plurality of pieces of music data,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section transmits to the mobile terminal a music ID for identifying a selected piece of music, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces a piece of music indicated by the music ID transmitted from the music search section.

15. A music search system for conducting a music search, comprising:

a music data storage section for storing a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music;

a situation acquisition section for acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

a parameter converting section for converting the situation parameter acquired by the situation acquisition section into the music parameter;

a music search section for searching through the plurality of music data stored in the music data storage section using the music parameter resulted from the conversion by the parameter converting section, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

a reproducing section for reproducing the piece of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user, and the music search system is mounted on the mobile unit,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein the music search system comprises;

a location table storage section for storing a location table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with a location category representing a feature of the location indicated by the set of location coordinates;

an impression word table storage section for storing an impression word table in which the location category is associated with an impression word representing an impression of a piece of music to be reproduced at a location indicated by the location category; and

an impression value table storage section for storing an impression value table in which the impression word is associated with the impression value, and

wherein the parameter converting section comprises;

a location category converting section for converting the set of location coordinates acquired by the situation acquisition section into a corresponding location category using the location table;

an impression word converting section for converting the location category resulted from conversion by the location category converting section into a corresponding impression word using the impression word table; and

an impression value converting section for converting the impression word resulted from conversion by the impression word converting section into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.

16. The music search system according to claim 15, wherein the music parameter is an impression value obtained by quantifying an impression left on the user by the piece of music.

17. The music search system according to claim 15, further comprising a conversion table storage section for storing a conversion table in which the situation parameter is associated with the music parameter, wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter into the music parameter using the conversion table.

18. The music search system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a recording accepting section for accepting a recording instruction from the user; and

an association recording section for adding to the conversion table a set of a music parameter for a piece of music being reproduced and a current situation parameter when the recording accepting section accepts the recording instruction while the reproducing section is reproducing the piece of music.

19. A music search system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a route generating section for generating a route between two prescribed points;

a point determination section for determining a prescribed point on the route; and

a list generating section for generating a list of pieces of music selected by the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section acquires the set of location coordinates at the prescribed point as the situation parameter, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces the pieces of music in accordance with the list.

20. The music search system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the music data storage section;

the parameter converting section; and

the music search section,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section selects a piece of music and transmits data for the selected piece of music to the mobile terminal, and

wherein the reproducing section receives the data for the selected piece of music transmitted from the music search section, and reproduces the selected piece of music.

21. The music search system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

the music data storage section;

the situation acquisition section; and

the reproducing section,

wherein the server comprises;

the parameter converting section;

the music search section; and

a server music data storage section for storing at least information having the same contents as those stored in the music data storage section,

wherein the music data storage section stores music IDs, each identifying a piece of music, so as to be associated with the plurality of pieces of music data,

wherein the situation acquisition section transmits the acquired situation parameter to the server,

wherein the parameter converting section converts the situation parameter transmitted from the situation acquisition section into the music parameter,

wherein the music search section transmits to the mobile terminal a music ID for identifying a selected piece of music, and

wherein the reproducing section reproduces a piece of music indicated by the music ID transmitted from the music search section.

22. A music search method for conducting a music search, comprising:

storing a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music;

acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

converting the acquired situation parameter into the music parameter;

searching through the plurality of stored music data using the music parameter resulted from the conversion, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

reproducing the selected piece of music,

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein said searching comprises;

storing a location table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with a location category representing a feature of the location indicated by the set of location coordinates; and

storing an impression value table in which the location category is associated with an impression value for a piece of music to be reproduced at the location category, and

wherein said converting comprises;

converting the set of location coordinates into a corresponding location category using the location table; and

converting the corresponding location category into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.

23. A program for allowing a computer to implement a music search method for conducting a music search,

wherein the computer stores a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music, and

wherein the music search method comprises:

acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

converting the acquired situation parameter into the music parameter;

searching through the plurality of stored music data using the music parameter resulted from the conversion, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

reproducing the selected piece of music,

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein said searching comprises;

storing a location table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with a location category representing a feature of the location indicated by the set of location coordinates; and

storing an impression value table in which the location category is associated with an impression value for a piece of music to be reproduced at the location category, and

wherein said converting comprises;

converting the set of location coordinates into a corresponding location category using the location table; and

converting the corresponding location category into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.

24. A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded therein, the program allowing a computer to implement a music search method for conducting a music search,

wherein the computer stores a plurality of pieces of music data so as to be associated with a corresponding one of music parameters each representing a feature of a piece of music, and

wherein the music search method comprises:

acquiring a situation parameter representing a situation surrounding a user;

converting the acquired situation parameter into the music parameter;

searching through the plurality of stored music data using the music parameter resulted from the conversion, and selecting a piece of music to be reproduced; and

reproducing the selected piece of music selected at the music search steps

wherein the situation parameter is a movement parameter representing a movement status of a mobile unit moving together with the user,

wherein the movement parameter is a set of location coordinates indicating a location of the mobile unit,

wherein said searching comprises;

storing a location table in which the set of location coordinates is associated with a location category representing a feature of the location indicated by the set of location coordinates; and

storing an impression value table in which the location category is associated with an impression value for a piece of music to be reproduced at the location category, and

wherein said converting comprises;

converting the set of location coordinates into a corresponding location category using the location table; and

converting the corresponding location category into a corresponding impression value using the impression value table.