Scoring a musical performance after a period of ambiguity

• US 8,076,564 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Inventors: Applewhite, Douglas Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US12/474,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/477.R
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/368 displaying animated or moving pictures synchronized with the music or audio part
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/005 Non-interactive screen display of musical or status data graphical user interfaces specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments G10H2220/091; fingering displays G10H2220/041
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/145 Multiplayer musical games, e.g. karaoke-like multiplayer videogames
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/151 Musical difficulty level setting or selection

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for scoring a musical performance after a period of ambiguity in a rhythm-action game. This is accomplished by displaying a first target music data and a second target music data where the first target music data'"'"'s tolerance threshold overlaps with a second target music data'"'"'s tolerance threshold. When a music performance input data is received, the game platform determines if the music performance input data is within both tolerance thresholds. Then scores are determined, based on a degree of matching between the music performance input data and the first target music data and between the music performance input data and the second target music data. The game platform then assigns the music performance input data to whichever target music data has the higher score when the difference between the first and second scores is greater than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method executed on a game platform in signal communication with a display and an input device, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, on the display, a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps with a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

(b) receiving a music performance input data via the input device;

(c) determining that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

(d) determining a first score based on a first degree of matching between the music performance input and the first target music data;

(e) determining a second score based on a second degree of matching between the music performance input and the second target music data; and

(f) assigning the music performance input data to the first target music data or the second target music data when the difference between the first score and second score is greater than a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the music performance input data is assigned to the part associated with the higher score.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second degrees of matching are determined by comparing a pitch component of the music performance input data to a pitch component of the respective first and second target music data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating a pitch arrow with the music performance input.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pitch arrow points up if the music performance input data is flat compared to the assigned target music data and the pitch arrow points down if the music performance input data is sharp as compared to the assigned target music data.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before step (f), displaying the first score on the display.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein after step (f), if the assigned score is the second score, ceasing to display the first score and instead displaying the second score on the display.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein assigning the music performance input data to either the first or second target music data alters a visual property of the assigned target music data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the assigned target music data glows or flashes.

10. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps with a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

receive a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the data processing apparatus;

determine that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

determine a first score based on a degree of matching with the first target music data;

determine a second score based on a degree of matching with the second target music data; and

assign the music performance input data to the first target music data or the second target music data when the difference between the first score and second score is greater than a predetermined value.

11. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus configured to;

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps with a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

receive a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the data processing apparatus;

determine that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

determine a first score based on a degree of matching with the first target music data;

determine a second score based on a degree of matching with the second target music data; and

assign the music performance input data to the first target music data or the second target music data when the difference between the first score and second score is greater than a predetermined value.

12. An apparatus comprising:

means for displaying, on a display in signal communication with the apparatus, a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps with a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

means for receiving a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the apparatus;

means for determining that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

means for determining a first score based on a degree of matching with the first target music data;

means for determining a second score based on a degree of matching with the second target music data; and

means for assigning the music performance input data to the first target music data or the second target music data when the difference between the first score and second score is greater than a predetermined value.

13. A method executed on a game platform in signal communication with a display and an input device, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, on the display, at least a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

(b) receiving, by the game platform, a music performance input data via the input device;

(c) determining, by the game platform, that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

(d) assigning, by the game platform, the music performance input data to the first target music data when the first target music data tolerance threshold and the second target music data tolerance threshold no longer overlap.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

(e) assigning, by the game platform, a score based on a degree of matching between the music performance input data and the first target music data.

15. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, at least a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

receive a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the data processing apparatus;

determine that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

assign the music performance input data to the first target music data when the first target music data tolerance threshold and the second target music data tolerance threshold no longer overlap.

16. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus configured to;

display, on a display in signal communication with the data processing apparatus, at least a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

receive a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the data processing apparatus;

determine that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

assign the music performance input data to the first target music data when the first target music data tolerance threshold and the second target music data tolerance threshold no longer overlap.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for displaying, on a display in signal communication with the apparatus, at least a first target music data and a second target music data associated with a musical composition, the first target music data having a tolerance threshold that overlaps a tolerance threshold of the second target music data;

means for receiving a music performance input data via an input device in signal communication with the apparatus;

means for determining that the music performance input data is within the first target music data tolerance threshold and within the second target music data tolerance threshold;

means for assigning the music performance input data to the first target music data when the first target music data tolerance threshold and the second target music data tolerance threshold no longer overlap.