Method and apparatus for simulating a jam session and instructing a user in how to play the drums

• US 6,369,313 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: John R. Devecka
• Inventors: Devecka, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/790,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 844/77.R, 846/00, 847/43, 434/307.A, 463/35, 463/48, 273/440, D21/325, D21/326, D21/353
• US Class Current: 84/743
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0016 Means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• 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 2220/041 Remote key fingering indicator, i.e. fingering shown on a display separate from the instrument itself or substantially disjoint from the keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/046 Drumpad indicator, e.g. drumbeat strike indicator light on a drumpad or rim
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/061 LED, i.e. using a light-emitting diode as indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/141 Games on or about music, i.e. based on musical knowledge, e.g. musical multimedia quizzes teaching of music per se G09B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/315 for joystick-like proportional control of musical input; Videogame input devices used for musical input or control, e.g. gamepad, joysticks joysticks per se G06F3/033, G05G9/047, A63F13/20
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/265 Spint maracas, i.e. mimicking shells or gourds filled with seeds or dried beans, fitted with a handle, e.g. maracas, rumba shakers, shac-shacs
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/281 Spint drum assembly, i.e. mimicking two or more drums or drumpads assembled on a common structure, e.g. drum kit multi-toned percussion instruments G10H2230/255
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/285 Spint drum tomtom, i.e. mimicking side-mounted drums without snares, e.g. in a drumkit
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/291 Spint drum bass, i.e. mimicking bass drums; Pedals or interfaces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/305 : Spint drum snare, i.e. mimicking using strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, e.g. snare drum, side drum, military drum, field drum
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/325 : Spint cymbal crash, i.e. mimicking thin-edged cymbals designed to produce a loud, sharp "crash", either mounted on a stand and played with a drum stick, e.g. crash cymbal, or played in pairs by hand, e.g. clash cymbals
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/331 : Spint cymbal hihat, e.g. mimicking high-hat cymbal; Details of the pedal interface, of the pedal action emulation or of the generation of the different sounds resulting from this pedal action
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/365 : Gensound applause, e.g. handclapping; Cheering; Booing crowd sounds G10H2250/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/146 : using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument

Abstract

An interactive electronic drum system and training techniques suitable for use in a coin-operated environment such as an arcade are described. Electronic drum pads, audio speakers, a visual display, training lights and an overall control system are combined to simulate the excitement of a live drum or inactive musical jam session for a user. Positive feedback and, as necessary, instructive aid are provided to make the experience a positive one for both the novice and the expert player. Learning and playing a musical instrument becomes an intuitive, exciting experience and not a boring chore to be endured. Players can simulate the experience of playing in a rock band before a live and appreciative audience. In short, this interactive electronic drum system makes drums and the jamming experience widely accessible to the public.

Claims

1. An audio-visual interactive drum apparatus comprising:

a money validation unit to accept and validate a user'"'"'s money;

a plurality of electronic drum pads;

a lighting system;

an audio speaker system;

a video display system; and

a control system for receiving an input from the money validation unit;

for receiving inputs from the electronic drum pads; and

for controllably driving the lighting system, the audio speaker system and the video display system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a musical source to provide musical accompaniment for the user of said drum apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control apparatus is suitably programmed to analyze inputs received from the electronic drum pads during a user'"'"'s playing of the electronic drum pad to score the user'"'"'s playing, and to drive the audio speaker system and the video display system to provide feedback to the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of user cuing light indicia of which at least one of said plurality of light indicia is associated with each one of said plurality of electronic drum pads.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the control apparatus is connected to said plurality of light indicia and is suitably programmed to drive said plurality of light indicia to guide the user to play the plurality of electronic drum pads in the correct sequence and with the correct rhythm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the video display system includes a touch-screen CRT display which is utilized by the user to provide mode selection data to the control system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system is suitably programmed to drive the video display system to display a visual representation of the plurality of electronic drum pads and mode selection prompts to the user and the user enters mode selection data by striking an appropriate one of the plurality of electronic drum pads corresponding to an appropriate mode selection prompt.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least two user cuing light indicia, at least a first of said at least two for a left hand cue and at least a second of said at least two for a right hand cue, associated with at least one of said plurality of electronic drum pads.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising at least a third cuing light indicia for a raise hi-hat cue.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sound resistant cabinet.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lighting system further comprises one or more lighting components selected from the group comprising:

an overhead white light, a black light, a strobe light and colored stage lights.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the lighting system is controlled in response to a user'"'"'s activities.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two drumsticks flexibly cabled to a cabinet.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of drum pads include a snare, a hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals, a plurality of toms and a bass foot pedal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the video display system is controllably driven to display the plurality of electronic drum pads.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system is programmed to controllably drive the audio speaker system and the video display system to provide user feedback.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system is programmed to controllably drive the audio speaker system and the video display system in a rest mode to demonstrate the capability of the apparatus and to attract user interest.

18. An audio-visual interactive drum play method comprising the steps of:

inserting a predetermined amount of money into a money validation unit;

activating a plurality of electronic drum pads, a lighting system, an audio speaker system and a video display system upon recognition of the insertion of the predetermined amount of money;

controllably driving the lighting system, the audio speaker system, and the video display system;

utilizing a control system to cue a user; and

monitoring the plurality of electronic drum pads as they are played by a user in response to said cue.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

providing musical accompaniment for said playing.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

analyzing inputs received from the electronic drum pads during said playing;

scoring the playing; and

providing feedback concerning the playing.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

lighting a plurality of light indicia associated with the electronic drum pads to guide said playing.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said video display system includes a touch screen and the method further comprises the steps of:

displaying a menu of selectable modes of operation to a user; and

utilizing said touch screen to select a preferred mode of operation.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a visual representation of the plurality of electronic drum pads on the video display system; and

entering user data by striking an appropriate one of the plurality of electronic drum pads.

24. An audio-visual interactive music apparatus comprising:

a plurality of user input sensors;

an audio speaker system;

a video display system; and

a control system for receiving inputs from the user input sensors; and

for controllably driving the audio speaker system and the video display system;

said control system being programmed to drive the audio speaker system and the video display system to provide a user musical instruction and user feedback as a user is actuating the plurality of user input sensors.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein at least one of said user input sensors is incorporated in an electronic drum pad.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a musical source to provide musical accompaniment for the user of said apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the musical source is a multi-disk CD player controlled by the control system.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a VCR controlled by the control system.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the control apparatus is suitably programmed to analyze inputs received from the plurality of user input sensors during a user'"'"'s playing of the music apparatus to score the user'"'"'s playing, and to drive the audio speaker system and the video display system to provide feedback to the user.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said feedback comprises crowd clapping and crowd cheering output by the audio speaker system.

31. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a plurality of user cuing light indicia of which at least one of said plurality of light indicia is associated with each one of said plurality of user input sensors.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein at least two of said plurality of user cuing light indicia cue a user to strike a particular user input sensor with either the left or the right hand.

33. An audio-visual interactive arcade apparatus comprising:

a cabinet having an entrance and a suitably small footprint;

a plurality of electronic drum pads;

an audio speaker system;

a video display system; and

a control system for receiving inputs from the electronic drum pads and for controllably driving the audio speaker system and the video display system.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic drum pads is mounted on a length of hollow plastic pipe one end of which is beveled at an angle at which it is desired to mount said at least one of the plurality of electronic drum pads.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a strobe light.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a black light.