System and method for learning music in a computer game

• US 7,893,337 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evan Lenz
• Original Assignee: Evan Lenz
• Inventors: Lenz, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US12/456,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 844/70.R, 844/77.R, 846/09, 846/16
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/02 Boards or like means for providing an indication of notes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/091 for performance evaluation, i.e. judging, grading or scoring the musical qualities or faithfulness of a performance, e.g. with respect to pitch, tempo or other timings of a reference performance

Abstract

A system comprising means for receiving a first input from an electronic device, said first input pertaining to performance of music by a user, means for receiving a second input, said second input pertaining at least to music intended to be performed by the user; and a comparison module software executing on a computer and adapted to receive said first input and to receive said second input, wherein the comparison module compares the first input from a user to the second input to produce at least one indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly, the comparison module sends to a display module associated with the user information including at least the music intended to be performed by the user and the indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly, and the comparison module further sends to the display module associated with the user a timing signal suitable for indicating the speed at which the music should be shown on the display and played by the user, said timing signal computed according to one or more tempo modes selectable by the user, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

means for receiving a first input from an electronic device, said first input pertaining to performance of music by a user;

means for receiving a second input, said second input pertaining at least to music intended to be performed by the user; and

a comparison module software executing on a computer and adapted to receive said first input and to receive said second input;

wherein the comparison module compares the first input from a user to the second input to produce at least one indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly; and

wherein the comparison module sends to a display module associated with the user information including at least the music intended to be performed by the user and the indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly; and

wherein the comparison module further sends to the display module associated with the user a timing signal suitable for indicating the speed at which the music should be shown on the display and played by the user, said timing signal computed according to two or more tempo modes selectable by the user, at least one of which varies continuously based at least in part based on the user'"'"'s actual performance of the music being displayed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison module provides an audio feedback signal to the display module associated with the user, the audio signal based on at least one indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second input is a MIDI data file.

4. A method for conducting a musical computer game, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first input from an electronic device, said first input pertaining to performance of music by a user;

(b) receiving a second input pertaining at least to music intended to be performed by the user;

(c) comparing the first input and the second input and computing at least one indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music;

(d) sending to a display module associated with the user information including at least the music intended to be performed by the user and the indicia of the user'"'"'s success in performing the intended music correctly;

(e) computing a timing signal suitable for indicating the speed at which the music should be shown on the display and played by the user, said timing signal computed according to two or more tempo modes selectable by the user, at least one of which varies continuously based at least in part based on the user'"'"'s actual performance of the music being displayed; and

(f) sending the timing signal to the display module.