Method and apparatus for composing and performing music

• US 7,723,603 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fingersteps, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fingersteps, Inc.
• Inventors: Moffatt, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher; Marlon T
• Application Number:
  US11/554,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20070107583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 84615-616, 84622-625, 846/34, 846/45, 84653-654, 84659-660, 846/66, 844/77.R, 84D/IG.6
• US Class Current: 84/610
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/121 for graphical editing of a musical score, staff or tablature mere score display G10H2220/015; score transcription G10H2210/086

Abstract

The present invention is method and apparatus for music performance and composition. More specifically, the present invention is an interactive music apparatus comprising actuating a signal that is transmitted to a processing computer that transmits output signals to a speaker that emits sound and an output component that performs an action. Further, the present invention is also a method of music performance and composition. Additionally, the present invention is an interactive wireless music apparatus comprising actuating an event originating on a remote wireless device. The transmitted event received by a processing host computer implements the proper handling of the event.

Claims

1. An interactive music apparatus comprising:

a remote wireless device having a touch-sensitive LCD screen, a processor, and software;

a processing host computer;

a transmit/receive device enabling wireless transmission between the remote wireless device and the processing host computer; and

a speaker and a second output component, each configured to receive an output signal from the processing host computer and emit an output based on the output signal; and

wherein the remote wireless device is configured to receive data from the processing host computer comprising LCD x-y coordinate location information defining an area of the LCD screen for providing a cue or series of cues related to a musical performance, and the remote wireless device is further configured to transmit data comprising LCD x-y coordinate location identification information when a user of the remote wireless device contacts the area defined by the x-y coordinate location information in response to the cue or series of cues; and

wherein the processing host computer is configured to receive the data transmitted from the remote wireless device, convert the data into a first output signal and a second output signal, and transmit the first output signal to the speaker and the second output signal to the second output component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output of the speaker is a sound based on the first output signal and the output of the second output component is an action based on the second output signal and the sound and the action are interactive.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second output component comprises a web browser and a display monitor and the action comprises launching the web browser and displaying the browser on the display monitor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the action further comprises displaying an image on the browser.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the action further comprises displaying sheet music on the browser.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the action further comprises displaying text on the browser.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second output component comprises a display monitor and the action further comprises displaying a keyboard on the display monitor.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second output component comprises a display monitor and the action further comprises displaying a music staff on the display monitor.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second output component comprises a lighting controller and at least one light and the action comprises displaying light at the at least one light.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a MIDI sound card operably coupled to the processing host computer, the MIDI sound card configured to receive the first output signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a MIDI sound module operably coupled to the MIDI sound card, the MIDI sound module configured to receive the first output signal from the sound card, process the first output signal, and transmit the output signal to the processing host computer.

12. A method of music performance and composition comprising:

establishing a connection with one or more remote wireless devices, each wireless device controlled by a musical performer;

assessing at least one of the cognitive or physical abilities of each user of the one or more remote wireless devices;

assigning at least a portion of a music performance to each of the one or more remote wireless devices based on the respective performer'"'"'s cognitive or physical abilities;

transmitting a cue or series of cues to the one or more remote wireless devices, wherein the cue or series of cues transmitted to each remove wireless device is related to the respective portion of a music performance assiged to the remote wireless device, the cue or series of cues based on the respective performer'"'"'s cognitive or physical abilities;

receiving transmission of a remote wireless device event, wherein the remove wireless device event represents a response to the cue or series of cues;

converting the device event at a processing computer into an output signal;

emitting sound at a speaker based on the output signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising filtering, correcting, assisting, and quantizing a remote wireless device event to aid the performer.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising converting the device event at a processing computer into a second output signal and performing an action at an output component based on the second output signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein performing an action at an output component comprises launching a web browser on a display monitor.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein performing an action at an output component comprises displaying an image at a display monitor.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein performing an action at an output component comprises launching a web browser and displaying an image at a display monitor.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein performing an action at an output component comprises displaying lights at an at least one light with a lighting controller.

14. An interactive music apparatus comprising:

a remote wireless device having a touch-sensitive LCD screen, a processor, and software;

a processing host computer;

a transmit/receive device enabling wireless transmission between the remote wireless device and the processing host computer; and

a speaker and a second output component, each configured to receive an output signal from the processing host computer and emit an output based on the output signal;

wherein the remote wireless device is configured to receive and transmit data related to at least a portion of a musical performance; and

wherein the processing host computer is configured to assess at least one of the cognitive or physical abilities of the user of the remote wireless device and assign at least a portion of a music performance to the remote wireless device based on the user'"'"'s cognitive or physical abilities and further configured to receive data from the remote wireless device, convert the data into a first output signal and a second output signal, and transmit the first output signal to the speaker and the second output signal to the second output component.