Reproduction controller, reproduction control method, program for the same, and recording medium with the program recorded therein

• US 7,317,158 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLIKIN, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US11/048,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 846/12
• US Class Current: 84/612
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm

Abstract

The sound reproducer (100) generates and outputs, when any external situation such as a running sound is recognized by an external input rhythm detecting section (110), generates external rhythm information concerning the recognized running sound. When the external rhythm information is acquired, a rhythm setting section (173) of a processing section 170) generates set rhythm information for setting a rhythm of a music corresponding to the rhythm of the running sound. Because of this feature, even when a running state of the vehicle changes, the sound reproducer (100) can reproduce a rhythm of a music with a rhythm corresponding to the running state. Because of this feature, the music can be reproduced in better conditions in correspondence to the external situation.

Claims

1. A reproduction controller for controlling reproduction of a music comprising;

a situation information generating section for recognizing an external situation that changes in accordance with a movement of a vehicle as a rhythm factor and generating external rhythm information based on the rhythm factor to output the external rhythm information; and

a rhythm setting section for setting a reproduction rhythm of the reproduced music to the rhythm corresponding to the external situation based on the external rhythm information.

2. The reproduction controller according to claim 1,

wherein said situation information generating section recognizes a change in said rhythm factor, generates the external rhythm information based on the recognized change in the rhythm factor, and outputs the external rhythm information.

3. The reproduction controller according to claim 2,

wherein said change in the rhythm factor is a shift between a recognizable state and an unrecognizable state of any sound generated from the exterior.

4. The reproduction controller according to claim 2,

wherein said change in the rhythm factor is a shift between a recognizable state and an unrecognizable state of any object existing in the exterior.

5. The reproduction controller according to claim 2,

wherein said change in the situation rhythm factor is a change of the situation outside a moving body associated with movement of said moving body.

6. The reproduction controller according to claim 1,

wherein said situation information generating section generates said external rhythm information from substantially same events occurring at substantially same intervals obtained by recognizing said rhythm factor, and outputs the external rhythm information;

and

wherein said rhythm setting section sets a reproduction rhythm of said reproduced music to the rhythm corresponding to said substantially same intervals based on said external rhythm information.

7. The reproduction controller according to claim 6,

wherein said rhythm setting section synchronizes a reproduction rhythm of said reproduced music with said substantially same intervals.

8. The reproduction controller according to claim 1,

wherein reproduction data for reproducing said music is correlated with music rhythm information concerning a reproduction rhythm of said music, and

wherein said rhythm setting section recognizes a reproduction rhythm of said music based on said music rhythm information, and sets the recognized reproduction rhythm of said music to the rhythm corresponding to said rhythm factor.

9. The reproduction controller according to claim 8,

wherein said music rhythm information has peak interval information concerning intervals of a portion in which output of the music relatively becomes larger, and

wherein said rhythm setting section recognizes intervals of a portion in which output of said music relatively becomes larger based on said peak interval information, and sets said recognized intervals to a rhythm corresponding to said rhythm factor.

10. The reproduction controller according to claim 1, wherein the rhythm factor is running sound of the vehicle.

11. The reproduction controller according to claim 1, wherein the rhythm factor is a speed of the vehicle.

12. The reproduction controller according to claim 1, wherein the rhythm factor is an image recognized by a driver of the vehicle.

13. The reproduction controller according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rhythm factors, including at least running sound of the vehicle and speed of the vehicle, are recognized, and the reproduction controller includes a rhythm factor setting section for selecting one of the plurality of rhythm factors.

14. A reproduction control method for controlling reproduction of a music comprising the steps of:

recognizing an external situation that changes in accordance with a movement of a vehicle as a rhythm factor and generating external rhythm information based on the rhythm factor to output the external rhythm information; and

setting a reproduction rhythm of the reproduced music to the rhythm corresponding to the external situation based on the external rhythm information.

15. A recording medium with a reproduction control program stored therein in a readable state with a computing section, wherein the program make the computing section to function as a reproduction controller for controlling reproduction of a music, the reproduction controller comprising;

a situation information generating section for recognizing an external situation that changes in accordance with a movement of a vehicle as a rhythm factor and generating external rhythm information based on the rhythm factor to output the external rhythm information; and

a rhythm setting section for setting a reproduction rhythm of said reproduced music to the rhythm corresponding to the rhythm factor based on the external rhythm information.

16. A recording medium with a reproduction control program stored therein in a readable state with a computing section, wherein the program executing a reproduction control method for controlling reproduction of a music by the computing section, the method comprising the steps of:

recognizing an external situation that changes in accordance with a movement of a vehicle as a rhythm factor and generating external rhythm information based on the rhythm factor to output the external rhythm information; and

setting a reproduction rhythm of the reproduced music to the rhythm corresponding to the external situation based on the external rhythm information.