System and method for learning, composing, and playing music with physical objects

• US 9,183,755 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zheng Shi
• Original Assignee: Zheng Shi
• Inventors: Shi, Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/489,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20150068387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method for learning, composing, accessing and playing music. The system includes a plurality of physical objects each includes an identifier and assigned a music-related indicator. The system further includes an interactive surface configured to recognize the identifier and location information relative to the interactive surface of a physical object placed on top of the interactive surface. Upon a plurality of objects being placed on the interactive surface to form a structural pattern, the processor is configured to derive a music piece from the structural pattern.

Claims

1. A system for learning, composing and playing music, comprising:

a plurality of objects configured to be placed next to or on top of each other to form a structural pattern, wherein each object comprises an identifier, is assigned with a music-related indicator, and is selected from a group consisting of a note rhythm object, a music pitching defining object and a music control object;

an interactive surface configured to recognize the identifier and location information of an object placed on or near the interactive surface;

a physical sheet configured to cover the interactive surface, comprising a first area labeled with graphics delineating a series of placement spaces for receiving a series of note rhythm objects and musical pitch defining objects, and a second area for receiving a series of music control objects;

a processor operatively linked to the interactive surface; and

a memory operatively linked to the processor and configured to store a database of correlation relationship between identifier and music-related indicator,

wherein upon the plurality of objects being placed on or near the interactive surface to form a structural pattern, the processor is configured to derive a music piece from the structural pattern, and wherein the note rhythm objects and the music pitching defining objects in the first area define music notes and their durations in the musical piece, and the music control objects in the second area control playback sounds to be produced for the music piece and trigger the starting and stopping of the playback sounds.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the music-related indicator of a first object comprises a music symbol, and the processor is configured to derive the music piece in accordance with the music symbol and the location information of the first object.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the music-related indicator for a second object comprises a programming symbol, and upon the first object and the second object being placed on or near the interactive surface, the processor is configured to program the music symbol of the first object in accordance with the programming symbol of the second object.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the music-related indicator for a third object comprises a music instrument symbol, and upon the first object and the third object being placed on or near the interactive surface, the processor is configured to derive the music piece in accordance with the music symbol of the first object and the music instrument symbol of the third object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the object comprises a unique identification code (UID), and the UID is encoded with a device selected from a group consisting of a radio frequency identification chip, a pattern of capacitive tabs, and a pattern of magnetic tabs.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the object correlates to a unique optical pattern, and the interactive surface is configured to recognize the unique optical pattern through a camera or a sensor array operatively linked to the interactive surface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the unique optical pattern is pre-fabricated on the object.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the unique optical pattern is a marking on the object by a user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the object is a music-related indicator assigned to the object.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic screen operatively linked to the interactive surface and configured to display the music-related indicator.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensory accessory operatively linked to the processor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensory accessory comprises an audio device, and the processor is configured to play the music piece on the audio device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensory accessory comprises a display device, and the processor is configured to display a notation of the music piece on the display device.

14. A method for learning, composing and playing music, the method comprising:

placing a plurality of objects next to or on top of each other on an interactive surface covered with a physical sheet to form a structural pattern, wherein each object comprises an identifier, is assigned with a music-related indicator, and is selected from a group consisting of a note rhythm object, a music pitching defining object and a music control object, and wherein the physical sheet comprises a first area labeled with graphics delineating a series of placement spaces for receiving a series of note rhythm objects and musical pitch defining objects, and a second area for receiving a series of music control objects;

recognizing the identifier and location information of an object;

deriving the music-related indicator from the identifier of the object using a database of correlation relationship between identifier and music-related indicator; and

deriving a music piece from the structural pattern, wherein the note rhythm objects and the music pitching defining objects in the first area define music notes and their durations in the musical piece, and the music control objects in the second area control playback sounds to be produced for the music piece and trigger the starting and stopping of the playback sound.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the music-related indicator of a first object comprises a music symbol, and the method further comprises deriving the music piece in accordance with the music symbol and the location information of the first object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the music-related indicator for a second object comprises a programming symbol, and the method further comprises, upon the first object and the second object being placed on or near the interactive surface, programming the music symbol of the first object in accordance with the programming symbol of the second object.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the music-related indicator for a third object comprises a music instrument symbol, and the method further comprises, upon the first object and the third object being placed on or near the interactive surface, deriving the music piece in accordance with the music symbol of the first object and the music instrument symbol of the third object.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier of the object comprises a unique identification code (UID), and the UID is encoded with a device selected from a group consisting of a radio frequency identification chip, a pattern of capacitive tabs, and a pattern of magnetic tabs.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier of the object correlates to a unique optical pattern, and the method further comprises recognizing the unique optical pattern through a camera or a sensor array operatively linked to the interactive surface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising pre-fabricating the unique optical pattern on the object.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising marking the object to form the unique optical pattern.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the identifier of the object is a music-related indicator assigned to the object.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a music-related symbol on an electronic screen operatively linked to the interactive surface.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending the music piece to a sensory accessory.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensory accessory comprises an audio device and the method further comprises playing the music piece on the audio device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensory accessory comprises a display device, and the method further comprises displaying a notation of the music piece on the display device.