Musical compositions communication system, architecture and methodology

• US 6,084,168 A
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 28 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: David H Sitrick
• Inventors: Sitrick, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon T.
• Application Number:
  US09/039,952
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 84/461, 84/462, 84/464 A, 84/464 R, 84/477 R, 84/478, 84/601-602, 84/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 1/00 Means for the representation of music
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/015 Musical staff, tablature or score displays, e.g. for score reading during a performance. graphical musical score editing G10H2220/121; musical score displays resulting from a transcription G10H2210/086
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/06 Cathode-ray tube

Abstract

A musical workstation system produces a display presentation in one of a musical composition responsive to musical composition data and responsive to one or both of input variables and a selected operating mode. The system is comprised of (1) means to provide the musical composition data (such as local storage (ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, hard disk etc.), or via a communications interface to an external device (such as another music workstation, a master controller, a computer), a memory, a selection subsystem, a controller, and a display subsystem. The memory selectively stores the received original musical compositions. The selection subsystem determines a selected operating mode and display format. The controller, responsive to the selection subsystem, provides means for selectively controlling the storing of the musical composition data in memory and selectively processing (e.g. altering) the stored musical composition data responsive to the selected operating mode and the input variables to produce a particular one of a plurality of processed results, such as external communications, operating, mode, transformation to derivative musical compositions, etc. The music workstation can communicate with one or more external devices, such as other music workstations, a master workstation, a controller, etc. The display system provides for selection of original compositions, creation of derivative compositions, distribution of compositions, monitoring of each performer'"'"'s performance, group virtual performances, and also allows for local and distributed retrieval and editing of musical compositions, such as changing keys, pitch, tempo, and many other parameters. The music transformation can be performed locally or at the central or distributed music database, which stores the scores of musical composition. The musical composition data can be transposed via a controller, and can be transmitted to a plurality of the individual music workstations that then display the music composition, to permit playing by musical instruments or vocalists, and for location presentation.

Claims

1. A music workstation system for use by a user in providing a performance of a displayed video display presentation of a selected musical composition, said system comprising:

storage means for storing composition data representative of the selected musical composition;

display means for displaying the video display presentation responsive to the composition data;

input means, responsive to the performance by the user, for providing user performance data output;

analysis means for comparing the user performance data to the respective associated composition data; and

control means for modifying the display of the composition data responsive to the analysis means.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the modifying is comprised of resynchronizing the fixed rate to resynchronize the display of the composition data to the performance by the user responsive to the analysis means.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the modifying is comprised of displaying performance variance data responsive to the analysis means.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the workstation system is further comprised of means for modifying the sequencing and timing of the display presentation responsive to input from the users.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein the composition data is comprised of timing information data and wherein the sequencing and timing of the display presentation is controlled responsive to the timing information data.

6. The music workstation system as in claim 1, wherein the

control means provides for a display presentation of the differences between the displayed composition data and the performance data, responsive to the analysis means.

7. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:

processor means for generating a video display output responsive to the composition data in the storage means for the selected musical composition;

wherein the display means provides the video display presentation responsive to the video display output;

wherein the input means is further comprised of storage for storing user performance data concurrent with the corresponding display presentation; and

wherein the control means modifies the video display presentation to reflect the result of the comparing the user performance, data, and the composition data.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user performance data is comprised of at least one of audible performance data, visual performance data, and control data.

36. The system as in claim 1, wherein the local presentation is a video display.

9. A music display presentation system for use by a user in viewing a selected musical composition, said system comprising:

a workstation apparatus, comprising;

storage means for storing musical composition data representative of musical notation and display presentation corresponding thereto;

display means for providing a display presentation responsive to the musical composition data;

means for progressing the display presentation responsive to the musical composition data;

mode controller means for managing the operation of the workstation in at least one selected automated operational mode to provide for automated progression of the display presentation of the musical composition;

wherein the selected automatic operational mode is comprised of at least one of marching band mode, conductor mode, orchestra mode and networked virtual performance mode.

10. The system as in claim 9 further comprising:

input means, for providing an output of user performance data responsive to performance by the user

analysis means for analyzing at least one of the user performance data, the musical composition data, and

control means for providing an output of individual workstation data responsive to the analysis means.

11. The system as in claim 9 wherein the musical composition data is further comprised of temporal data,

wherein the display presentation is logically sequenced responsive to the temporal data.

12. The system as in claim 9, wherein the workstation provides user instrument type data, wherein the mode controller manages selection of the transposition responsive to the user instrument type data responsive to the user instrument type data.

13. The system as in claim 12 wherein the user instrument type data is determined responsive to at least one of a live performance by the user, a performance by the user and a user input selection.

14. The system as in claim 12, wherein the user instrument type data is representative of at least one of voice, musical instrument by type and electronically generated.

15. The system as in claim 9, wherein the workstation is operable in a plurality of operational modes concurrently.

16. The system as in claim 9 wherein the workstation is coupled for communication with at least one other one of the workstations to form a network of workstations.

17. The system as in claim 16 wherein one of the workstations in the network functions as a master controller and collects and stores the individual workstation performance data from the plurality of workstations coupled in the network.

18. The system as in claim 17 wherein the master controller processes the stored individual workstation performance data to provide an output of combined stored performance data to all the workstations.

19. The system as in claim 18, wherein the plurality of workstations in the network are synchronized to each commence the display presentation at approximately the same time.

20. The system as in claim 19, wherein the individual workstation performance data for the plurality of workstation are synchronized and combined to provide the combined performance data.

21. A virtual music performance system for use by a plurality of users in providing a plurality of display presentations of a selected musical composition, said system comprising:

a plurality of individual music workstation (IMW), each IMW comprising

a communication interface providing for communications of musical composition data of the selected musical composition with the respective IMW;

a computing subsystem providing processing and memory for locally storing the musical composition data responsive to the communications interface; and

a music display apparatus for providing a local visual display presentation of the selected musical composition responsive to the computing subsystem;

wherein the system further comprises means for controlling a plurality of the IMWs to concurrently provide a plurality of local display presentations of the selected musical composition.

22. The system as in claim 21, further comprising:

an input device responsive to a performance by the user of the displayed musical composition for providing an output of user performance data.

23. The system as in claim 22, wherein the computing subsystem provides processing means responsive to said user performance data for providing an output of individual performance data out.

24. A musical data communication system enables a presentation of a selected musical composition for use by a plurality of users, said system comprising:

a plurality of individual workstations each providing means for independently capturing the musical performance of a respective user and communicating individual performance data;

control means for synchronizing and combining the individual performance data from the individual workstations to provide an output of combined performance data;

means for communicating said combined performance data to the plurality of individual workstations;

wherein at least one of the individual workstations provide at least one of an audio, video, and audiovisual output representative of the combined musical performances for all of the communicating plurality of individual workstations.

25. The system as in claim 24 wherein the plurality of individual workstations provide for synchronized display presentation.

26. The system as in claim 25, wherein each of the individual workstations provide for output of individual performance data representative of the musical performance by the user corresponding to the display presentation.

27. The system as in claim 25 wherein the individual performance data is further comprised of timing synchronization data.

28. The system as in claim 26 wherein the control means provides a synchronization signal, wherein the individual workstations provide said timing synchronization data responsive to the synchronization signal.

29. The system as in claim 24 wherein each of the individual workstations is further comprised of a network interface subsystem and a music data processor.

30. The system as in claim 24, wherein a plurality of the individual workstations provide at least one of an audio, video, and audiovisual output representative of the combined musical performance.

33. The system as in claim 29, further comprising:

operational selection means for determining a selecting operating mode wherein the data processing means is responsive to the selected operating mode for controlling progression of the video presentation.

31. A musical display system comprising:

a memory, for selectively storing musical composition data representative of a selected musical composition;

means for producing a display presentation responsive to the respective musical composition data;

selection means for determining a selected display format;

data processing means responsive to the selection means for selectively processing the stored musical composition data responsive to the selected display format to produce a corresponding particular display presentation format responsive to the musical composition data; and

at least one display subsystem, responsive to the selected music composition data and the selected display format, for displaying a video presentation of the musical composition in the selected display format.

32. The system as in claim 31, wherein said processing comprises at least one of transposing and communicating external to the musical display system.

34. The system as in claim 31, wherein responsive to the selection of the display format, the data processing means provides for additionally displaying at least one of user fingering and user motions.

35. The system as in claim 31, wherein the selection of the operating mode provides for selection of the visual advancement of the display presentation as at least one of scrolling of display music notation, page turn, page flip, and page push.

37. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of individual music workstations, each comprising a music display apparatus for providing a local visual display presentation of a selected musical composition and a music input for selectively providing a performance data output, responsive to a performance by a user of that respective individual music subsystem;

wherein the system further comprises means, responsive to the performance data output from each of the plurality of individual music workstations, to provide a combined output of composite virtual performance data.

38. The communications system as in claim 37, wherein the plurality of individual music subsystems each provide means for independently capturing the musical performance of the respective user and generate respective individual performance data;

wherein the means responsive to the performance data is further comprised of means for synchronizing and combining the individual performance data from the plurality of individual music subsystems to generate combined performance data; and

means for communicating said combined performance data to the plurality of individual music subsystems;

wherein at least one of the individual music subsystems provide a local presentation representative of the combined musical performances for all of the communicating plurality of individual music subsystems responsive to the combined performance data.

39. The system as in claim 38 wherein the plurality of individual music subsystems provide for synchronized display presentation of the musical composition.

40. The system as in claim 38, wherein each of the individual music subsystems provide for output of individual performance data representative of the musical performance by the user corresponding to the display presentation.

41. The system as in claim 38, wherein the selected musical composition is performed in discrete time segments, wherein the means responsive to the performance data generates a synchronization signal for start of performance, and each of the time segments is synchronized relative to the synchronization signal from the master means responsive to the performance data.

42. The system as in claim 37, wherein the composite virtual performance data is communicated back to the individual music subsystems.

43. The system as in claim 37 wherein the individual workstations provide at least one of an audio output and a visual presentation, responsive to the composite virtual performance data.

44. The system as in claim 37 wherein each of the individual workstations is further comprised of a network interface subsystem and a music data processor.

45. The system as in claim 37, wherein the processor is responsive to the composite virtual performance data to generate a presentation on the local display.

46. A method for communication with a source of distribution of musical data representative of a musical score in a computer-usable form to a music workstation for video presentation of musical notation for the respective musical score, the method comprising:

accepting at least a part of the musical data from the source;

evaluating the at least a part of the musical data to determine if the musical data is to be downloaded to the respective music workstation;

selectively storing in local storage the musical data responsive to the evaluating; and

locally displaying a video presentation of the musical score responsive to the selectively stored musical data.

47. The method as in claim 46, further comprised of:

providing a plurality of separate ones of the music workstations, each of which provides for selectively storing and locally displaying.

48. A method for music via performance, for integrating simultaneous musical performances from a plurality of locations of music display workstations into a cohesive whole, the method comprising:

accepting performance data from each of the plurality of music display workstations;

processing the live performance data into discrete time samples;

communicating the discrete time samples for combination into combined virtual performance data;

communicating the combined virtual performance data to at least one of the plurality of music display workstations; and

providing at least one of an audio and a video presentation responsive to the combined virtual performance data.

49. A method of providing a video display presentation of a selected musical composition and of a user'"'"'s performance, said method comprising:

storing composition data representative of the selected musical composition;

generating a video display output responsive to the composition data for the selected musical composition;

displaying the video display presentation responsive to the video display output;

storing user performance data concurrent with the corresponding display presentation responsive to the performance by the user;

comparing the user performance data to the respective associated composition data; and

modifying the display presentation to reflect the result of the comparing concurrent with the performance of the composition data.

50. A music performance system for use by a user in providing a performance of a display presentation of a selected musical composition, said system comprising:

an individual music workstation (IMW) comprising

a communication interface providing for communications of musical composition data corresponding to the selected musical composition;

a computing subsystem providing processing and memory for locally storing the musical composition data responsive to the communication interface; and

a music display apparatus for providing a visual display presentation of the selected musical composition responsive to the computing subsystem and the musical composition data.

51. The system as in claim 50, further comprising:

association means for associating an Instrument Type to the IMW;

control means for broadcasting musical display data for multiple separate graphical display presentations corresponding to multiple separate respective multiple Instrument Types;

wherein the IMW is further comprised of discrimination means for discriminating between the multiple separate graphical presentations to select a specific one representative of the corresponding respective one of the Instrument Types, responsive to the association means and the discrimination means.

52. The system as in claim 51, further comprising:

a source of secondary video data representative of a secondary video image;

video controller means for displaying the secondary video image as a picture-in-picture within a subpart of the visual display presentation.

53. A communications system comprising:

an individual music subsystem comprising a music input for selectively providing a performance data output, responsive to a performance by a user of that respective individual music subsystem, and a music data receiver for coupling communicated music data for storage in memory of the respective individual music subsystem; and

a display for providing a visual presentation to the user from at least one of the stored music data and the performance data output from the individual music subsystem.

54. The system as in claim 53, further comprising a plurality of individual music subsystems, the system further comprising:

means to provide a combined output of composite virtual performance data responsive to communicated performance data out from at least two from the plurality of the individual music subsystems.