11617results about "Electrophonic musical instruments" patented technology

A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that most closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample. The method can be used for any type of sound or music, and is particularly effective for audio signals subject to linear and nonlinear distortion such as background noise, compression artifacts, or transmission dropouts. The sample can be identified in a time proportional to the logarithm of the number of entries in the database; given sufficient computational power, recognition can be performed in nearly real time as the sound is being sampled.

A method and apparatus for uploading, analyzing, searching and displaying multimedia files based on the context and content of the multimedia files.

A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

Affordable methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting position, attitude (orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of Computer Aided Design, Painting, Medicine, Teaching, Gaming, Toys, Simulations, Aids to the disabled, and internet or other experiences. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from specialized datum's on objects and / or natural features of objects. Objects can be both static and in motion, from which individual datum positions and movements can be derived, also with respect to other objects both fixed and moving. Real-time photogrammetry is preferably used to determine relationships of portions of one or more datums with respect to a plurality of cameras or a single camera processed by a conventional PC.

The present invention relates to systems and / or methods that generate playlist(s) for a library or collection of media items via selecting a plurality of seed items, at least one of which is an undesirable seed item. Some of the seed items are desirable indicating that a user prefers additional media items similar to the desirable seed items and others are undesirable indicating that the user prefers additional media items dissimilar to the undesirable seed items. Additionally, the seed items can be weighted to establish a relative importance of the seed items. The invention compares media items in the collection with the seed items and determines which media items are added into the playlist by computation of similarity metrics or values. The playlist can be regenerated by adding desirable seed items to the playlist and removing media items from the playlist (e.g., undesirable seed items).

The invention generally pertains to a hand-held computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a computing device that is capable of controlling the speed of the music so as to affect the mood and behavior of the user during an activity such as exercise. By way of example, the speed of the music can be controlled to match the pace of the activity (synching the speed of the music to the activity of the user) or alternatively it can be controlled to drive the pace of the activity (increasing or decreasing the speed of the music to encourage a greater or lower pace). One aspect of the invention relates to adjusting the tempo (or some other attribute) of the music being outputted from the computing device. By way of example, a songs tempo may be increased or decreased before or during playing. Another aspect of the invention relates to selecting music for outputting based on tempo (or some other attribute). For example, the computing device may only play songs having a particular tempo. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to both selecting music based on tempo and adjusting the tempo of the music.

A system for selecting, erasing or reproducing program recordings using marking and descriptive data which is transmitted to a client location from a remote processing location. A database of identification signals specifying the characteristics of a known programming is maintained at a remote processing location. In a first embodiment, selected identification signals are downloaded from the database to the client location and are used by a processor at the client location to identify desired programming within a locally stored collection of previously received broadcast programming signals. In a second arrangement, locally stored programming signals are processed to extract identification data which is uploaded from the client location to the remote processing location for comparison to the database, and information describing the content of the matching programs is returned to the client location for use as a program guide, facilitating the selection, permanent storage, or playback of desired program records and / or the erasure of undesired programming. To conserve local storage space, identified program records may be uploaded and stored at the remote processing location, or shared program records in a central library may be made available for remote playback after an the identity of equivalent locally stored programming is confirmed.

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to jukebox systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features along with karaoke jukebox and / or photo booth features. A combined karaoke / photo booth / jukebox may enable more integrated performance-like experiences in an in-home or out-of-home location or venue. By leveraging vast audio media libraries, trusted rights-respecting network infrastructure, and on-site image / video capturing from integrated recorders and / or remote portable devices, a more sociable experience may be created for karaoke jukebox patrons, e.g., where custom content can be generated and shared in a safe and legally appropriate manner.

Acoustic device including a member extending transversely of its thickness and capable of sustaining bending waves at least over an intendedly consequentially acoustically active area of the transverse extent of said member, the member having, by reason of orderly design methodology disclosed and claimed, a distribution of resonant modes of its natural bending wave vibration at least over said area that is dependent on values of particular parameters of said members, including geometrical configuration and directional bending stiffness(es), which values have been selected to predetermine said distribution of natural resonant modes being consonant with required achievable acoustic action of said member for operation of said device over a desired operative acoustic frequency range.

Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files.

Hashes are short summaries or signatures of data files which can be used to identify the file. Hashing multimedia content (audio, video, images) is difficult because the hash of original content and processed (e.g. compressed) content may differ significantly. The disclosed method generates robust hashes for multimedia content, for example, audio clips. The audio clip is divided (12) into successive (preferably overlapping) frames. For each frame, the frequency spectrum is divided (15) into bands. A robust property of each band (e.g. energy) is computed (16) and represented (17) by a respective hash bit. An audio clip is thus represented by a concatenation of binary hash words, one for each frame. To identify a possibly compressed audio signal, a block of hash words derived therefrom is matched by a computer (20) with a large database (21). Such matching strategies are also disclosed. In an advantageous embodiment, the extraction process also provides information (19) as to which of the hash bits are the least reliable. Flipping these bits considerably improves the speed and performance of the matching process.

A method of synchronizing visual information with audio playback includes the steps of selecting a desired audio file from a list stored in memory associated with a display device, sending a signal from the display device to a separate playback device to cause the separate playback device to start playing the desired audio file; and displaying visual information associated with the desired audio file on the display device in accordance with timestamp data such that the visual information is displayed synchronously with the playing of the desired audio file, wherein the commencement of playing the desired audio file and the commencement of the displaying step are a function of the signal from the display device.

A wireless control device includes a small, lightweight housing worn by an operator, for example on the operator's wrist, and a controlled device, for example a personal computer. Several optical emitters, preferably light emitting diodes operating in the infrared range, and several optical detectors are provided on the housing. At least one x-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture, and at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture. This motion can then be used to cause a response in the controlled device. For example, angles of the operator's hand at the wrist can be interpreted to induce motion of a cursor on a computer display. The device may also include a motion sensor, an environmental condition sensor, or a voice recognition sensor, and can also be adapted for gesture recognition and image scanning applications.

A World Wide Web-based melody retrieval system takes a sung melody as a query and retrieves the song's title or other information from a music database over a WWW network which comprises a method of obtaining search clues with the maximum quantity of information from pitch and span (dynamic threshold determination) and a method of effectively reducing the number of answer candidates (coarse-to-fine matching), thus increasing the matching accuracy, and it is characterized in that a user can retrieve music or media with music by singing.

A portable handheld digital content player has an integrated wireless interface, an integrated FM transmitter and an integrated auto on and auto off feature for ease of use in vehicles. The player and associated software on a base content server provide automated broadband wireless content downloads to the player while in a vehicle and transfer of audio to the vehicle stereo via FM band transmission without the use of an accessory. The player integrates an FM scan function to search for a suitable frequency for transmitting within the FM band. The player integrates some PDA-like functionality including personal contact information, appointment calendar, user schedule, email in addition to others.

Audio data are played back by a personal computer, a relationship with a playback process is recognized easily. Displays showing the contents of play lists are arranged and displayed so that the contents become continuous in sequence in a playback sequence from content that is currently being played back from a display of an operation element that causes an image of a playback process to appear or from a display showing the content which is currently being played back. When the playback of one piece of content of one play list from among a plurality of play lists is terminated and one piece of content of an other play list is played back, at least the content that is currently being played back and content to be subsequently played back are displayed so that the contents can be distinguished.

A system for on-line user-interactive multimedia based point-of-preview. The system provides for a network web site and accompanying software and hardware for allowing users to access the web site over a network such as the internet via a computer. The user is uniquely identified to the web site server through an identification name or number. The hardware associated with the web site includes storage of discrete increments of pre-selected portions of music products for user selection and preview. After user selection, a programmable data processor selects the particular pre-recorded music product from data storage and then transmits that chosen music product over the network to the user for preview. Subscriber selection and profile data (i.e. demographic information) can optionally be collected and stored to develop market research data. Since the system provides for multiple embodiments, the system contemplates previewing of audio programs such as music on compact discs, video programs such as movies and text from books and other written documents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the network web site can be accessed from a publicly accessible kiosk, available, e.g. at a retail store location, or from a desk top computer.

A method of producing a playlist of music for a personal music station comprising the steps of assigning a artist block rating to each of a plurality of predefined artist blocks, using the artist block rating to produce an artist rating for each artist in the artist block, generating a list of artists, wherein the number of times each artist appears in the list is related to the artist rating for each artist, randomly selecting artists form the list of artists, producing a prioritized list of songs for each of the randomly selected artists, and selecting songs from the prioritized list of songs for inclusion in a playlist. The playlist can be subsequently edited to create a playlist having a less than a first predetermined number of songs by each of the artists for broadcast within a predetermined time period and having less than a second predetermined number of adjacent songs by each of the artists. A method of distributing songs on a personal music station using the playlist is also included.

A technique for enhancing audio signals generated from compressed digital audio files is described. The technique uses a Bass Maximizer module, a Harmonic Exciter module and a Quasi Stereo module. The Bass Exciter module enhances the intensity, depth and punch of the bass audio content by creating harmonic sequences from low frequency components contained in the original input signal. The Harmonic Exciter module adds to the treble audio content of the original input signal by generating harmonic series from the high frequency components contained in the input signal. The Quasi Stereo Module creates a stereo image of the enhanced input signal by adding and subtracting delayed and filtered versions of the enhanced input signal with itself to create left and right channeled stereo-like outputs. The technique provides a useful tool to regenerate from an audio signal more pleasant and joyful sounds.

A wireless control device includes a small, lightweight housing worn by an operator, for example on the operator's wrist, and a controlled device, for example a personal computer. Several optical emitters, preferably light emitting diodes operating in the infrared range, and several optical detectors are provided on the housing. At least one x-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture, and at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture. This motion can then be used to cause a response in the controlled device. For example, angles of the operator's hand at the wrist can be interpreted to induce motion of a cursor on a computer display. The device may also include a motion sensor, an environmental condition sensor, or a voice recognition sensor, and can also be adapted for gesture recognition and image scanning applications.

Improved techniques for presenting sound effects at a portable media device are disclosed. The sound effects can be output as audio sounds to an internal speaker, an external speaker, or both. In addition, the audio sounds for the sound effects can be output together with other audio sounds pertaining to media assets (e.g., audio tracks being played). In one embodiment, the sound effects can serve to provide auditory feedback to a user of the portable media device. A user interface can facilitate a user's selection of sound effect usages, types or characteristics.

A media organizer and entertainment center includes an importer for importing individual media / data selections and automatically assigning each selection at least one associated category flag pursuant to predetermined or user defined criteria. The center also includes a storage device for storing compressed data corresponding to the plurality of individual media / data selections and the associated category flags and a retriever for retrieving selections from the storage device based upon user selection of one or more of the associated category flags, and a data decompresser that translates the compressed data into playable digital or audio media data. With the center, playable digital or audio media data can be advantageously transported, organized, played or recorded through or on a variety of products or devices.

A system and method for tailoring music to an activity based on an activity goal is provided that includes: a system for defining the activity goal for the user, wherein the activity goal comprises an activity value that varies; a database of songs; a system for selecting songs from the database of songs and causing the selected songs to be played as the user performs the activity, wherein each selected song includes a tempo that guides the user to maintain an associated activity value defined in the inputted activity goal; and a feedback system that obtains feedback regarding the activity being performed by the user and determines if the user is on target to meet the inputted activity goal, wherein the feedback system automatically makes adjustments to the tempo during song playback if the user is not on target to meet the inputted activity goal.

Music piece sequence data are composed of a plurality of event data which include performance event data and user event data designed for linking a voice to progression of a music piece. A plurality of voice data files are stored in a memory separately from the music piece sequence data. In music piece reproduction, the individual event data of the music piece sequence data are sequentially read out, and a tone signal is generated in response to each readout of the performance event data. In the meantime, a voice reproduction instruction is output in response to each readout of the user event data. In accordance with the voice reproduction instruction, a voice data file is selected from among the voice data files stored in the memory, and a voice signal is generated on the basis of each read-out voice data.

The present invention provides an innovative technique for rapidly and accurately determining whether two audio samples match, as well as being immune to various kinds of transformations, such as playback speed variation. The relationship between the two audio samples is characterized by first matching certain fingerprint objects derived from the respective samples. A set (230) of fingerprint objects (231,232), each occurring at a particular location (242), is generated for each audio sample (210). Each location (242) is determined in dependence upon the content of the respective audio sample (210) and each fingerprint object (232) characterizes one or more local features (222) at or near the respective particular location (242). A relative value is next determined for each pair of matched fingerprint objects. A histogram of the relative values is then generated. If a statistically significant peak is found, the two audio samples can be characterized as substantially matching.

A multi-dimensional audio processor receives as an input either a single channel signal or a two channel signal from an audio signal source; for example a musical instrument or an audio mixer. The processor is programmable to divide the input among at least 3 output channels in a user-defined manner. The processor is also user programmable to provide a variety of effect and mixing functions for the output channel signals.