Electronic music apparatus and music-related data display method Number:7,385,132 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Electronic music apparatus and music-related data display method

Abstract: There are provided a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data, and a second storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with a performance environment set on the basis of the performance environment setting information. Registration data is selected from the second storage section, and the text file associated with the performance environment is selected, in accordance with the text file selection information of the selected registration data, from among the text files stored in the first storage section. The text data included in the selected text file is displayed on the basis of the selected text file. In an alternative, control is performed to display lyrics data included in currently-reproduced automatic performance data or text data included in the text file stored in the first storage section.

Patent Number: 7,385,132 Issued on 06/10/2008 to Komano,   et al.

---

Inventors:	Komano; Takeshi (Iwata, JP), Nakazono; Hiroki (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee:	Yamaha Corporation (Hamamatsu-Shi, JP)
Appl. No.:	11/230,762
Filed:	September 19, 2005

---

Foreign Application Priority Data

---

Sep 22, 2004 [JP]			2004-275358
Sep 22, 2004 [JP]			2004-275359

Current U.S. Class:

84/615 ; 84/477R; 84/605; 84/653

---

References Cited [Referenced By]

---

U.S. Patent Documents

5808223	September 1998	Kurakake et al.
6206704	March 2001	Tsai
6321383	November 2001	Funahashi et al.
6374260	April 2002	Hoffert et al.
6429366	August 2002	Terada
6928423	August 2005	Yamanaka
2002/0163533	November 2002	Trovato et al.
2004/0092226	May 2004	Tsutsui et al.
2005/0058319	March 2005	Rhoads et al.
2006/0209448	September 2006	Hirano et al.

Foreign Patent Documents

	0911830		Apr., 1999		EP

Primary Examiner: Fletcher; Marlon T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Morrison & Foerster LLP

---

Claims

---

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit and a performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus comprising: a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data; a second storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information; a selection section that selects registration data from said second storage section; a text selection section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said selection section, selects the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and a display section that, on the basis of the text file selected via said text selection section, displays the text data included in the selected text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

2. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when said display section is already displaying text data at the time of selection, by said selection section, of the registration data, said display section immediately displays the text data of the text file selected by said text selection section, but, when said display section is not yet displaying text data at the time of the selection, by said selection section, of the registration data, said display section, instead of immediately displaying the text data of the selected text file, displays the text data of the selected text file later when a state for displaying the text data arrives.

3. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a setting section that performs predetermined inhibition setting, and wherein, when the inhibition setting is in operation, said text selection section does not select the text file associated with the performance environment.

4. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said registration data stored in said second storage section further includes predetermined performance data specifying information and second text file selection information specifying a second text file associated with automatic performance data specified on the basis of the performance data specifying; and wherein said text selection section, in accordance with the second text file selection information of the registration data selected via said selection section, further selects the second text file associated with the automatic performance data from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and wherein said display section displays text data included in the selected second text file.

5. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein, when said display section is already displaying text data at the time of selection, by said selection section, of the registration data, said display section immediately displays the text data of the selected second text file, but, when said display section is not yet displaying text data at the time of the selection, by said selection section, of the registration data, said display section, instead of immediately displaying the text data of the selected second text file, displays the text data of the selected second text file later when a state for displaying the text data arrives.

6. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises a setting section that performs predetermined inhibition setting, and wherein, when the inhibition setting is in operation, said text selection section does not select the second text file associated with the automatic performance data.

7. An electronic music apparatus capable of communicating with an external device that stores text files each including at least text data, said electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit and a performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus comprising: a storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a particular one of the text files, stored in the external device, which is associated with a performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information; a selection section that selects the registration data from said storage section; a communication section that communicates with the external device; a text acquisition section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said selection section, acquires any one of the text files stored in the external device; and a display section that, on the basis of the text file acquired by said text acquisition section, displays the text data included in the acquired text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

8. A method for displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit, a first storage section and a second storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said first storage section storing text files each including at least text data, said second storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information, said method comprising: a step of selecting registration data from said second storage section; a text selection step of, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, selecting the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and a display step of, on the basis of the text file selected via said text selection step, displaying the text data included in the selected text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said registration data stored in said second storage section further includes predetermined performance data specifying information and second text file selection information specifying a second text file associated with automatic performance data specified on the basis of the performance data specifying information, and wherein said text selection step, in accordance with the text file selection information of the second registration data selected via said step of selecting, further selects the second text file associated with the automatic performance data from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and wherein said display step displays text data included in the selected second text file.

10. A method for displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus capable of communicating with an external device that stores text files each including at least text data, said electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit and a storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a particular one of the text files, stored in the external device, which is associated with a performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information, said method comprising: a step of selecting the registration data from said storage section; a text acquisition step of in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, acquiring any one of the text files stored in the external device; and a step of, on the basis of the text file acquired by said text acquisition step, displaying the text data included in the acquired text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

11. A computer-readable medium containing a program for causing a computer to perform a procedure for displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit, a first storage section and a second storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said first storage section storing text files each including at least text data, said second storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by performance environment setting information, said procedure comprising: a step of selecting registration data from said second storage section; a text selection step of, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, selecting the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and a step of, on the basis of the text file selected via said text selection step, displaying the text data included in the selected text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

12. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein said registration data stored in said second storage section further includes predetermined performance data specifying information and second text file selection information specifying a second text file associated with automatic performance data specified on the basis of the performance data specifying information, and wherein said text selection step, in accordance with the text file selection information of the second registration data selected via said step of selecting, further selects the second text file associated with the automatic performance data from among the text files stored in said first storage section; and wherein said display step display text data included in the selected second text file.

13. A computer-readable medium containing a program for causing a computer to perform a procedure for displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus capable of communicating with an external device that stores text files each including at least text data, said electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit and a storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a particular one of the text files, stored in the external device, which is associated with a performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information, said method comprising: a step of selecting the registration data from said storage section; a text acquisition step of, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, communicating with the external device to acquire any one of the text files stored in the external device; and a step of, on the basis of the text file acquired by said text acquisition step, displaying the text data included in the acquired text file, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

14. An electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit and a performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said electronic music apparatus comprising: a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data; a second storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information; a third storage section that stores automatic performance data including lyrics data; a selection section that selects registration data from said second storage section; a text selection section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said selection section, selects the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; a reproduction section that reproduces the automatic performance data stored in said third storage section; a display section; and a display switching section that performs control to display, on said display section, the lyrics data included in the automatic performance data being reproduced by said reproduction section or the text data included in the text file selected via said text selection section, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone according to the reproduced automatic performance data and based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

15. An electronic music apparatus as claimed in claim 14 which further comprises a display control section that, during indication by said display section of the lyrics data or text data, controls the display by said display section while changing, per predetermined display unit, contents of the data to be displayed, and wherein, when the text data is being displayed during reproduction of the automatic performance data, said display control section changes the contents per said predetermined display unit irrespective of a progression of the automatic performance, while, when the lyrics data is being displayed during reproduction of the automatic performance data, said display control section does not change the contents per said predetermined display unit.

16. A method for displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit, a first storage section, a second storage section and a third storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said first storage section storing text files each including at least text data; said second storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information, said third storage section storing automatic performance data including lyrics data, said method comprising: a step of selecting registration data from said second storage section; a text selection step of, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, selecting the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; a step of reproducing the automatic performance data stored in said third storage section; and a step of displaying the lyrics data included in the automatic performance data being reproduced by said step of reproducing or the text data included in the text file stored in said first storage section, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone according to the reproduced automatic performance data and based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

17. A computer-readable medium containing a program for causing a computer to perform a procedure for displaying music-related data displaying music-related data in an electronic music apparatus having a performance operator unit, a performance environment setting operator unit, a first storage section, a second storage section and a third storage section, said electronic music apparatus generating a tone according to an operation of the performance operator unit and based on a performance environment set by the performance environment setting operator unit, said first storage section storing text files each including at least text data; said second storage section storing registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information representative of a performance environment to be automatically set in association with the performance environment setting operator unit and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information, said third storage section storing automatic performance data including lyrics data, said method comprising: a step of selecting registration data from said second storage section; a text selection step of, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via said step of selecting, selecting the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in said first storage section; a step of reproducing the automatic performance data stored in said third storage section; and a step of displaying the lyrics data included in the automatic performance data being reproduced by said step of reproducing or the text data included in the text file stored in said first storage section, wherein said electronic music apparatus generates a tone according to the reproduced automatic performance data and based on the performance environment represented by the performance environment setting information.

---

Description

---

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electronic music apparatus, methods and programs capable of displaying various information, such as lyrics, in response to reproduction of performance data. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved electronic music apparatus, method and program which allow a user to readily select a user-created text data file containing various information. The present invention also relates to an improved electronic music apparatus, method and program which, during reproduction of performance data, can display lyrics based on a lyrics data file and display various information based on a user-created text file while switching as necessary between the lyrics and the text-file information.

Apparatus have been known which are constructed to prestore lyrics data along with performance data forming a basis of an automatic performance and display lyrics of a music piece, to be automatically performed by reproduction of the performance data, on the basis of the lyrics data. One example of such apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-9-152876 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,223. In the disclosed apparatus, lyrics data are embedded in performance data so that lyrics corresponding to a currently-automatically-performed music piece can be displayed in accordance with reproduction of the performance data. The disclosed apparatus is also constructed to, instead of embedding lyric data in performance data, prepare in advance a lyrics data file separately from a performance file with a same file name, but different file extensions, allocated to both of the files so as to associate the performance data and lyrics data with each other, so that the apparatus can read out lyrics corresponding to a currently-automatically-performed music piece by reading out the lyrics data associated with the currently-reproduced performance data.

However, the prior art publication merely discloses lyrics data for displaying lyrics corresponding to a currently-automatically-performed music piece, and it does not contain any particular disclosure of, or give any particular consideration to, non-lyrics data for displaying various other information than lyrics (e.g., memos about how to operate an electronic music apparatus and how to play music, and what is to be the by a singer on the stage). Thus, it is conceivable to prepare in advance a non-lyrics data file separately from a performance file similarly to the above-mentioned lyrics data file (or previously embed non-lyrics data in performance data), and display for example various other information than lyrics, pertaining to a music piece automatically performed by reproduction of the performance data, on the basis of the prepared non-lyrics data file (or embedded non-lyrics data). However, each conventionally-known lyrics data file is in a dedicated format where combinations of "time data" indicative of timing for displaying individual words and "lyrics event data" indicative of words to be displayed are arranged in time series. Thus, it tends to be very difficult for a user, who is unfamiliar with such a dedicated format, to create a non-lyrics data file (or embed non-lyrics data) with similar arrangements to a lyrics data file using a personal computer or the like. Further, because, in order to associate non-lyrics data with performance data, there is a significant constraint that the non-lyrics data file be assigned a file name having some relationship with a file name assigned to the performance file, the user can not create in advance a non-lyrics data file with a desired file name assigned thereto. Further, the conventional technique could not display various other information than lyrics on a display of the electronic music apparatus although the user so desired; thus, for display of various other information than lyrics, there was no choice but to, for example, take notes of the information on a piece of paper or the like and attach the paper or the like to the electronic music apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic music apparatus, method and program which can readily select a user-created text data file of a desired file name and display contents of the selected text data file, by previously including text file selection information in a registration data file and allowing a text data file to be selected in response to selection of the registration data file.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic music apparatus, method and program which, during reproduction of performance data including lyrics data indicative of lyrics, permit a display of lyrics based on a lyrics data file and a display of various information based on a user-created text data file, including various desired information, while switching as necessary between the displays of the lyrics and various information.

The present invention provides an improved electronic music apparatus, which comprises: a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data; a second storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with a performance environment set on the basis of the performance environment setting information; a selection section that selects registration data from the second storage section; a text selection section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the selected registration data, selects the text file associated with the performance environment from among the text files stored in the first storage section; and a display section that, on the basis of the selected text file, displays the text data included in the selected text file.

According to the present invention, in response to selection of registration data from the second storage section, a user-created text file text file is automatically selected which is associated with a performance environment set by the performance environment setting information of the selected registration data. Namely, in the second storage section, there are stored registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with a performance environment set on the basis of the performance environment setting information, and any desired one of the registration data can be selected. In accordance with the selected registration data, the text selection section selects the text file associated with the performance on the basis of the text file selection information. On the basis of the selected text file, the display section displays the text data included in the selected text file. Namely, in the registration data, the performance environment setting information and any one of the stored text files are associated with each other by the text file selection information. Because of such arrangements, the user is allowed to use a personal computer etc. to create, as a text file, various information to be displayed during an automatic performance, and, by only selecting registration data, the user can readily select and display a user-created text file containing various information (text data) fitting a desired performance environment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic music apparatus, which comprises: a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data; a second storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance data specifying information and text file selection information specifying a text file associated with automatic performance data specified on the basis of the performance data specifying information; a selection section that selects registration data from the second storage section; a text selection section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the selected registration data, selects the text file associated with the automatic performance data from among the text files stored in the first storage section; and a display section that, on the basis of the text file selected via the text selection section, displays the text data included in the selected text file. Because the automatic performance data specified on the basis of the performance data specifying information in the registration data and any one of the stored text files is associated with each other by the text file selection information, the text selection section can select a text file of contents associated with the automatic performance data in response to selection of the registration data, which thereby permits selection of a user-created text file associated with automatic performance data, so that various information pertaining to an automatically-performed music piece can be readily displayed on the basis of the selected text file.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic music apparatus capable of communicating with an external device that stores text files each including at least text data, which comprises: a storage section that stores registration data including predetermined performance environment setting information and text file selection information specifying a particular one of the text files, stored in the external device, which is associated with a performance environment set on the basis of the performance environment setting information; a selection section that selects the registration data from the storage section; a communication section that communicates with the external device; a text acquisition section that, in accordance with the text file selection information of the registration data selected via the selection section, acquires any one of the text files stored in the external device; and a display section that, on the basis of the text file acquired by the text acquisition section, displays the text data included in the acquired text file. With such arrangements, a Web page or the like stored in the external device can be displayed on the electronic music apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic music apparatus, which comprises: a first storage section that stores text files each including at least text data; a second storage section that stores automatic performance data including lyrics data; a reproduction section that reproduces the automatic performance data stored in the second storage section; a display section; and a display switching section that performs control to display, on the display section, the lyrics data included in the automatic performance data being reproduced by the reproduction section or the text data included in the text file stored in the first storage section.

The present invention thus arranged can display, during reproduction of automatic performance data, lyrics data or text data on the display section while switching as necessary between the displays of the lyrics data and text data. Text file including at least text data and automatic performance data including lyrics data are prestored separately from each other, and an automatic performance is executed by reproducing any of the automatic performance data. The display section can display lyrics of an automatically-performed music piece on the basis of the lyrics data included in the automatic performance data being reproduced, or various user-created information on the basis of the stored text file. During reproduction of the automatic performance data, the display switching section controls the display section to display the lyrics data or text data. In this way, the user can prestore a text file containing various information, other than lyrics, created using a personal computer etc. and thus, during reproduction of automatic performance data, can readily cause the lyrics and various user-created information other than the lyrics to be readily displayed while switching as necessary between the displays of the lyrics and various user-created information.

The present invention may be constructed and implemented not only as the apparatus invention as discussed above but also as a method invention. Also, the present invention may be arranged and implemented as a software program for execution by a processor such as a computer or DSP, as well as a storage medium storing such a software program. Further, the processor used in the present invention may comprise a dedicated processor with dedicated logic built in hardware, not to mention a computer or other general-purpose type processor capable of running a desired software program.

The following will describe embodiments of the present invention, but it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications of the invention are possible without departing from the basic principles. The scope of the present invention is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the objects and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general hardware setup of an electronic music apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing examples of data formats of various files, where (a), (b) and (c) show data formats of an automatic performance data file, registration data file and text data file, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a lyrics display screen;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a text file selection screen;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a text display screen;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are flow charts showing an embodiment of main processing performed by a CPU in the electronic music apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of an automatic performance process;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing specific examples of screen switching processes responsive to user's operation of registration selection switches; and

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing specific examples of screen switching processes responsive to user's switch operation during an automatic performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general hardware setup of an electronic music apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This electronic music apparatus is controlled by a microcomputer comprising a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read-only memory (ROM) 2 and a random-access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls behavior of the entire electronic music apparatus. To the CPU 1 are connected, via a data and address bus 1D, the ROM 2, RAM 3, detection circuits 4 and 5, display circuit 6, tone generator (T.G.) circuit 7, effect circuit 8, external storage device 10, MIDI interface (I/F) 11 and communication interface 12. Also connected to the CPU 1 is a timer 1A for counting various time periods and intervals, for example, to signal interrupt timing for a timer interrupt process. For example, the timer 1A generates clock pulses, which are given to the CPU 1 as processing timing instructions or as interrupt instructions. The CPU 1 carries out various processes in accordance with such instructions.

The ROM 2 has prestored therein various programs to be executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated as the CPU 1 executes a predetermined program, as a memory for storing the currently-executed program and data related thereto, and for various other purposes. Predetermined address regions of the RAM 3 are allocated and used as registers, flags, tables, memories, etc. Particularly, in the instant embodiment, the RAM 3 is used as a data memory for temporarily storing respective paths of (or to) automatic performance files and text files (AP_PATH and TXT_PATH), an image buffer memory for temporarily storing various other information, such as image data to be used for displaying a lyrics screen.

Performance operator unit 4A is, for example, in the form of a keyboard having a plurality of keys for selecting pitches of tones, which also includes key switches in corresponding relation to the keys. The performance operator unit (e.g., keyboard) 4A can be used not only for a manual performance by the user, but also as an input means for selecting a music piece to be automatically performed in the electronic music apparatus and setting performance environments. The detection circuit 4 detects depression and release of the keys on the performance operator unit to thereby produce detection outputs. For example, a setting operator unit 5A includes: an automatic performance switch for instructing start/stop of reproduction of automatic performance data; performance data selection switches for selecting an automatic performance file (hereinafter also referred to simply as "performance file") to be automatically performed; registration selection switches for selecting a registration data file (hereinafter also referred to simply as "registration file") that is cable of collectively setting performance environments, such as a performance tempo, tone color, tone volume and effect; function switches disposed around a display 6A and operating in correspondence with contents displayed on a screen of the display 6A (see screens shown in FIGS. 3-5); a "freeze" instruction switch for instructing validity/invalidity of inhibition setting such that even an item, setting of which has been instructed by a registration file as a performance environment, is excluded from among objects of setting; etc. Needless to say, the setting operator unit 5A may include various other operators than the above-mentioned, such as a numeric keypad for inputting numerical value data to be used for selecting, setting and controlling a tone pitch, color, effect, etc., a keyboard for inputting text or character data, a mouse for operating a pointer displayed on the display 6A, etc. The detection circuit 5 detects operational states of the above-mentioned switches to output switch information, corresponding to the detected operational states, to the CPU 1 via the data and address bus 1D.

The display circuit 6 displays, on the display 6 which is in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, CRT or the like, a list of automatic performance data (sets) capable of being automatically performed, types of performance environments to be used in an automatic performance, current settings, various screens, such as a "lyrics display screen", "text file selection screen" and "text display screen", (see FIGS. 3-5), controlling states of the CPU 1, etc. With reference to these various information displayed on the display 6A, the user can select a desired automatic performance file, registration file or text data file ((hereinafter also referred to simply as "text file"). Also, by switching as necessary between the various screens, the user can check, on the displayed screens, lyrics and various other information than lyrics. In the instant embodiment of the electronic music apparatus, lyrics data included in an automatic performance file and text data included in a text file are not transferred directly to a predetermined image memory (not shown) of the display circuit 6 for displays of the lyrics and text; instead, screen data, comprising lyrics and text images created on a page-by-page basis on the basis of the lyrics data and text data, are temporarily stored in an image buffer memory provided in the RAM 3, and the thus-buffered screen data are then transferred to the image memory of the display circuit 6 as necessary so that the lyrics and text are displayed on the display 6A. Of course, the present invention is not necessarily so limited.

The tone generator (T.G.) circuit 7, which is capable of simultaneously generating tone signals in a plurality of channels, receives, via the data and address bus ID, various performance information generated in response to user's manipulation on the performance operator unit 4A or generated on the basis of performance data of an automatic performance file, and it generates tone signals on the basis of the received performance information. Each of the tone signals thus generated by the tone generator circuit 7 is audibly reproduced or sounded by a sound system 9, including an amplifier and speaker, after being imparted with a desired effect via the effect circuit 8. The tone generator circuit 7, effect circuit 8 and sound system 9 may be constructed in any conventionally-known manner. For example, any desired tone signal synthesis method may be used in the tone generator circuit 7, such as the FM, PCM, physical model or formant synthesis method. Further, the tone generator circuit 7 may be implemented by either dedicated hardware or software processing performed by the CPU 1.

The external storage device 10 is provided for storing various files, such as automatic performance files, registration files and text files, various control-related data, such as various control programs for execution by the CPU 1, etc. Where a particular control program is not prestored in the ROM 2, the control program may be prestored in the external storage device (e.g., hard disk device) 10, so that, by reading the control program from the external storage device 10 into the RAM 3, the CPU 1 is allowed to operate in exactly the same way as in the case where the particular control program is stored in the program memory 2. This arrangement greatly facilitates version upgrade of the control program, addition of a new control program, etc. The external storage device 10 may comprise any of various removable-type media other than the hard disk (HD), such as a flexible disk (FD), compact disk (CD-ROM or CD-RAM), magneto-optical disk (MO) and digital versatile disk (DVD), and a semiconductor memory, such as a flash memory.

The MIDI interface (I/F) 11 is provided for inputting performance data of the MIDI format (i.e., MIDI data) from externally-connected other MIDI equipment 11A or the like to the electronic music apparatus, and for outputting performance data of the MIDI format (i.e., MIDI data) from the electronic music apparatus to the other MIDI equipment 11A or the like. The other MIDI equipment 11A may be of any desired type (or operating type), such as the keyboard type, string instrument type, wind instrument type, percussion instrument type or gesture type, as long as it can generate MIDI data in response to operation by a user of the equipment. The MIDI interface 11 may be a general-purpose interface rather than a dedicated MIDI interface, such as RS232-C, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394, in which case other data than MIDI event data may be communicated at the same time. In the case where such a general-purpose interface as noted above is used as the MIDI interface 11, the other MIDI equipment 11A connected with the electronic music apparatus of the present invention may be designed to communicate other data than MIDI event data. Of course, the performance data handled in the present invention may be of any other data format than the MIDI format, in which case the MIDI interface 11 and other MIDI equipment 11A are constructed in conformity to the data format used. The communication interface (I/F) 12 is connected to a wired or wireless communication network X, such as a LAN or Internet, via which it can be connected to a desired server computer 12A to input any of various programs and various data from the server computer 12A to the electronic music apparatus. Namely, where a particular control program or data is not stored in the ROM 2 or external storage device 10 (e.g., hard disk), the communication interface 12 is used to download the particular control program or data from the server computer 12A. It should be appreciated that the communication interface 12 may be of either or both of wired and wireless types.

Furthermore, in the electronic music apparatus of the invention, the performance operator unit 4A may be of any other type than the keyboard type, such as the stringed instrument type, wind instrument type or percussion instrument type. Moreover, the electronic music apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the type where the performance operator unit 4A, display 6, tone generator circuit 7, etc. are incorporated together within the body of the electronic music apparatus; for example, the electronic music apparatus may be constructed in such a manner that the above-mentioned components are provided separately and interconnected via communication facilities such as a MIDI interface, communication network and/or the like. Furthermore, the electronic music apparatus of the present invention may be applied to any desired type of apparatus or equipment other than the above-described electronic musical instrument type, such as a personal computer, karaoke apparatus or game apparatus.

The following paragraphs describe a plurality of automatic performance files, registration files and text files stored in the external storage device 10 or the like for use in the electronic music apparatus, with reference to FIG. 2. Sections (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 2 are conceptual diagrams showing example data structures of the automatic performance files, registration files and text files, respectively. Although other data than those illustrated in the figure may be included in the automatic performance files, registration files and text files, such other data are not essential to the present invention and will not be described.

As shown in section (a) of FIG. 2, each of the automatic performance files includes performance data and lyrics data. The performance data are data indicative of contents of a music piece to be automatically performed, which, as conventionally known, comprise combinations of performance timing data and performance event data stored in performance progression order. Each of the performance event data is indicative of content of a music-piece-reproducing performance event, such as tone generation or tone deadening (i.e., silencing). More specifically, the performance event is any one of a key-on event, key-off event, tempo change event, tone color change event, etc., and an automatic performance is executed on the basis of such performance events. The performance timing data are each indicative of a time point (i.e., timing) at which the corresponding performance data is to be processed; for example, the performance timing data indicates generation timing of a performance event by an absolute time from the beginning of the music piece or measure, or by a relative time from an immediately preceding performance event. The lyrics data are each indicative of words to be displayed on the display 6A. As known in the art, the lyrics data comprise combinations of timing data each indicative of timing for displaying words of a predetermined range in accordance with a progression of a performance and lyrics event data indicative of words to be actually displayed; these combinations are stored in predetermined display order.

The performance data handled in the instant embodiment may be in any desired format, such as: the "event plus absolute time" format where the time of occurrence of each performance event (or lyrics event) is represented by an absolute time within the music piece or a measure thereof; the "event plus relative time" format where the time of occurrence of each performance event (or lyrics event) is represented by a time length from the immediately preceding event; the "pitch (rest) plus note length" format where each performance data is represented by a pitch and length of a note or a rest and a length of the rest; or the "solid" format where a memory region is reserved for each minimum resolution of a performance and each performance event (or lyrics event) is stored in one of the memory regions that corresponds to the time of occurrence of the performance event.

In the memory, time-serial performance data (or lyrics data) may be stored in successive regions, or performance data (or lyrics data) stored in dispersed regions may be managed as successive data; namely, it is only necessary that the performance data (or lyrics data) be managed as successive performance data (or lyrics data), and it does not matter whether or not the performance data (or lyrics data) are actually stored in succession in the memory. Whereas section (a) of FIG. 2 shows performance data and lyrics data as arranged independently of each other and a combination of mutually-related (or associated) performance data and lyrics data stored as a single automatic performance file, the present invention is not so limited; for example, the lyrics event data may be mixedly included at appropriate locations in the performance data.

Each of the registration file comprises data pertaining to various parameters that have to be set in advance for shared use by all of performance parts included in an object of a performance (i.e., music piece to be performed), such as data that pertain to, for example, setting of a performance tempo, time (or meter), tone color and effect of each of the performance parts, etc. By selecting a desired one of the registration files, the user can collectively set performance environments in the electronic music apparatus with ease. As illustrated in section (b) of FIG. 2, each of the registration files includes paths of an automatic performance file and text file, freeze item data, and other setting data. The path of an automatic performance file is automatic performance data selection information that points to a hierarchical storage location in the external storage device 10 or the like storing the automatic performance file to which the performance environments in question are to be applied; the path is indicative of, for example, names of a disk, directory and automatic performance file. Needless to say, where no automatic performance file, to which the performance environments in question are to be applied, has been set in advance, the registration file need not include any path of an automatic performance file. Where any path of an automatic performance file, to which the performance environments in question are to be applied, is included, the automatic performance data and text file are associated with each other. The path of the text file is text file selection information that points to a hierarchical storage location in the external storage device 10 or the like storing the automatic performance file to which the performance environments in question are to be applied; the path includes, for example, names of a disk, directory, text file, etc.

The freeze item data is data indicative of an item that can be excluded from among objects of setting (to permit no setting therefor) although the registration file instructs setting of the item as a performance environment. For the item designated as the freeze item data, the user can use the freeze instruction switch to set, as necessary, validity/invalidity of inhibition setting as to whether a performance environment should be reflected or not. For example, where a "text file" is designated as the freeze item data and a "freeze" has been instructed by the user operating the freeze instruction switch, readout of the text file based on the path and a new screen display based on the text file are not carried out, so that the last (immediately preceding) screen display is continued as before. Further, where a "text file" is designated as the freeze item data but no freeze has been instructed by the user operating the freeze instruction switch, readout of the text file based on the path and a new screen display based on the text file are carried out. The above-mentioned other setting data are performance environment setting information for setting performance environments, such as a tone color, volume, time (or meter) and tempo, to be used in a manual performance and/or automatic performance.

Each of the text files comprises data that can be created by the user using a personal computer etc. As illustrated in section (c) of FIG. 2, the text file comprises text data including lyrics and various other information than lyrics. In the context of the present invention, the terms "text file" are used to refer to any one of a plain text file comprising text data represented only in pure letters, markup language file including various tags (e.g., HTML, XML or the like), and rich text file or word processing file including format information etc. In short, each text file may be of any format as long as it includes text data and it can be created with ease via a personal computer etc. Further, the text file may also include other data than the text data, such as image data. The electronic music apparatus of the invention is equipped with a program that can read and visually display such text files of various formats.

Some registration file may include a plurality of pieces of text file selection information (in this case, paths of text files) so that the text files can be selected sequentially or in any desired manner through operation of predetermined operators of the electronic music apparatus. In another alternative, after the end or beginning of one text file has been reached through page switching or turning operation, the next text file may be selected by further page switching operation.

It is desirable that one or more registration files be assigned to one or more operators (registration selection switches) of the electronic music apparatus so that the user can readily select any desired one of the registration files by operating a corresponding one of the operators (registration selection switches). In another alternative, a sequence of a plurality of registration files to be sequentially selected may be preset so that the registration files are sequentially read out automatically or in response to operation, by the human operator, of predetermined operators in accordance with a progression of a performance so that performance environments can be set in accordance with the performance progression.

Now, a description will be made about various screens displayed on the display 6A. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the "lyrics display screen" for displaying lyrics on the basis of lyrics data. Specifically, this example of the "lyrics display screen" displays words of a predetermined range corresponding to a page, in accordance with lyrics screen data including a plurality of lyrics images of the music piece in question which were divided into a plurality of pages in accordance with a size of the display 6A determined by a size of the display screen (or display window); lyrics of a predetermined range are displayed per page. On the display area A, a "Text" indication B and "Text File" indication C are given in addition to and immediately beneath the lyrics display of one page. The "Text" indication B and "Text File" indication C show what function has been allocated to each of a number of function switches disposed around the display 6A. Once any one of the function switches D, corresponding in position to the "Text" indication B, is depressed, the displayed screen is switched from the "lyrics display screen" to a "text display screen" that will be later described with reference to FIG. 5. Namely, to each of the function switches D is allocated a function for switching between the "lyrics display screen" and the "text display screen". Further, once any one of the function switches E, corresponding in position to the "text file" indication C, is depressed, the displayed screen is switched from the "lyrics display screen" to a "text file selection screen" that will be later described with reference to FIG. 4. Namely, to each of the function switches E is allocated a function for switching between the "lyrics display screen" and the "text file selection screen". "Back" and "Next" switches F and G shown on an upper right area of FIG. 3 are provided for turning to pages immediately preceding and succeeding the currently-displayed page; however, no page switching is made during an automatic performance.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the "text file selection screen" that displays a list of user-created text files to permit selection of a desired one of the text files. More specifically, the "text file selection screen" displays, on the display area A, a list of file names (aaaa.txt, bbbb.txt, etc.) of one or more text files created in advance by the user. Once any one of function switches H disposed to the left and right of the display 6A is depressed, the text file of the file name corresponding to the depressed function switch H is selected, and the displayed screen is switched from the "text file selection screen" back to the last screen ("lyrics display screen" or "text display screen") that was being displ