Apparatus and methods for music and lyrics broadcasting

• US 5,408,686 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Bismuth Landless Wire LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Roy J. Mankovitz
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US07/969,013
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 455/45, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/66, 381/2, 381/4, 381/6, 381/14, 370/110.1, 370/110.4, 370/111, 369/6, 369/33, 369/47, 369/48, 369/86, 369/92, 358/86, 358/335, 358/342, 358/310, 84/645
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/48 for FM stereophonic broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter

Abstract

A system for broadcasting audio music and broadcasting lyrics for display and highlighting substantially simultaneously with the occurrence of the lyrics in the accompanying audio music is provided. The system includes a audio music source that provides a data output and a analog audio signal output. A computer receives the data output by the music source and generates lyric text data and lyric timing commands. A subcarrier generator generates a subcarrier signal carrying the lyric text data and lyric timing commands. An FM transmitter broadcasts a composite signal that combines the analog output of the music source with the subcarrier signal. A lyric display unit receives the composite signal, separates and decodes the subcarrier signal and displays and highlights lyrics according the lyric text data and lyric timing commands decoded from the subcarrier signal.

Claims

1. A method of generating and transmitting data for use in displaying lyrics of a musical selection and highlighting the displayed lyrics at substantially the same time the lyrics occur in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection comprising the steps of:

creating one or more files for storing lyric text and timing data for a musical selection comprising the steps of;

separating the lyrics of such musical selection into phrases of lyrics that are shorter than a predetermined length,

for each word occurring in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection, determining the length of time from a predetermined temporal reference point in said musical selection to the occurrence of such word in such corresponding reproduction of such musical selection, and

storing the separated phrases of lyrics and representations of said determined lengths of time for each word occurring in the musical selection into said one or more files,

transmitting a reproduction of the musical selection over an analog radio channel,

transmitting the text of each of said separated phrases of lyrics stored in said one or more files prior to said predetermined temporal reference point or within the determined length of time for the first word of such phase after said predetermined temporal reference point, and

for each of such phrases, transmitting highlight commands for each word of such phrase when said determined length of time for such word has elapsed since the occurrence of said predetermined temporal reference point.

2. A method of generating and transmitting data for use in displaying lyrics of a musical selection and highlighting the displayed lyrics at substantially the same time the lyrics occur in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection comprising the steps of

creating one or more files for storing lyric text and timing data for a musical selection comprising the steps of:

separating the lyrics of such musical selection into phrases of lyrics that are shorter than a predetermined length,

for each word occurring in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection, determining the length of time from a predetermined temporal reference point in said musical selection to the occurrence of such word in such corresponding reproduction of such musical selection

storing the separated phrases of lyrics and representations of said determined lengths of time for each word occurring in the musical selection into said one or more files,

transmitting a reproduction of the musical selection over an analog radio channel,

transmitting each word in said one or more files, its determined length of time from said temporal reference point and a phrase code if the word is the last word of a separated phrase, and

transmitting a command signifying the occurrence of said predetermined temporal reference point.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of transmitting each word further comprises transmitting each word before the occurrence of the predetermined temporal reference point.