Programmed music on demand from the internet2010-03-11/>
Software block 90 generally designates a portion of the program which interfaces with subscribers for the purposes of allowing subscribers to place orders for products or services that are advertised or presented in the advertising messages that are appended to the music. In well known manner, the various software routines eventually reach end block 67, so that the program may loop and return to the start block to permit the orderly and reliable operation thereof.
The specific task of responding to a subscriber's request for particular musical works and the delivery of that music to the subscriber is illustrated in the general software block diagram of FIG. 3. At block 100, the program initiates a search for the specific piece of music or other data content the subscriber has requested. The program proceeds to software block 102 where the request for the particular music/information is recorded in the accounting database and an independently running subroutine at block 104 proceeds to create a "response packet" for the individual subscriber. Such a response packet typically consists of one or more pieces of music which has been encoded/encrypted for transmittal over the Internet, to which an advertiser's message for each piece has been appended as a leader or header thereof, along with a generic or music specific voice over. Also, a message may be appended at the end of each piece of music, for example, in the form of a statement from the artist, i.e. "a wrapper".
While the response packet is being prepared at block 104, the program proceeds to block 106 to determine the availability of the selection. If available, the program proceeds to block 108 pertaining to music data selection and block 110 for advertiser selection. If an audio message is authorized to be added, the program proceeds from block 110 to validate and attend to the audio message authorization. If authorized, the audio message is looked up at block 126 (from database block 66) and is added to the response packet at block 128. Block 130 registers the audio message delivery in the accounting database at block 130, as previously described. The program proceeds to block 124 which consists of a sequence of software instructions that are responsible for adding the response packet to the queue at block 104.
As described above, simultaneously, block 108 validates content authorization by prohibiting replay of the same music in a single request and limiting the number of requests to a programmed limit, i.e., 10 selections. If the request is validated, the program proceeds to collect the musical work(s) selected and its related generic or individualized identity audio message at block 112 and 114. The program then delivers the partial response packet at block 124 where it is appended to the audio message packet and delivered to block 104
ready to receive further response packets, if any, and for delivery via block 10 to subscribers . . . 12, 14, 16.
However, if no authorization to provide a particular type of response packet is noted, the program creates at software block 118 an "access denied" message which is then transmitted without any music or other data content (other than a request to select another offering) to the subscriber at block 124. Simultaneously, a record of the inability to deli...
Control system for a musical instrument2010-03-09a new amplitude preset while playing the instrument 102 by depressing the tremolo depth button 220 (FIG. 4). If the musician 100 has selected a new amplitude preset value, the controller 300 recalls the corresponding preset value from the memory 330 and sends an appropriate signal in state 534 to the signal modifier 336 to change the amplitude component of the tremolo characteristic being applied to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument 102.
The controller 300 then determines in decision state 536 whether the tremolo operation function 454 has ended. The tremolo operation ends and the controller enters an end state 540, when the musician 100 selects a different operating mode for the system 104 or turns the system 104 off. Otherwise, the controller 300 returns to decision state 522 to loop through states 522-536 in the previously described fashion. The controller 300 thus can apply a tremolo characteristic to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument that can be varied by the musician changing to different present frequencies and amplitudes using the buttons 218 and 220 (FIG. 4) or by dynamically varying the frequency using the tactile member 106 (FIG. 1).
The foregoing description has described how the controller 300 operates when the musician 100 is playing a musical instrument 102. The musician 100 can vary the volume characteristic of an audio signal produced by the musical instrument and can also apply a tremolo characteristic wherein the components of the tremolo characteristic can be selected from a plurality of preset or prerecorded components. Hence, in operation, the control system 104 of the preferred embodiment significantly enhances the ability of the musician 100 to easily change the audio signal produced by the musical instrument 102.
FIGS. 10-12 are flow charts which illustrate the operation of the controller 300 and the control system 104 when the musician 100 is programming volume characteristic and frequency and amplitude components of the tremolo characteristics. Referring initially to FIG. 10, the overall operation of the controller 300 in the program function 420 (FIG. 6) is shown. The controller 300 proceeds initially from a start state 600 to activate the program LED 214 in state 602. The program LED 214 is preferably activated so that it is a solid red. This provides the musician 100 with an indication that the control system 104 is in the program mode or performing the program function 420.
The controller 300 then determines in decision states 604 and 610 which program function the musician is going to select. The musician 100 can select to program the starting volume by depressing the volume select button 216 which would cause the controller 300 to enter the program volume function 600. The program volume function 606 enables the musician to set the initial starting volume characteristic value during operation of the control system 104 and is described in greater detail in reference to FIG. 11 hereinbelow.
The controller 300 also determines in decision state 610 whether the musician 100 has selected to program the components of the tremolo characteristic. The musician can select to program the tremolo characteristic by simultaneously depressing both the tremolo speed button 218 and the tremolo depth button 220 (FIG. 4) while in the program mode. This causes the controller 300 to enter the program tremolo function 612.
The controller 300 then determines whether the program function has ended in decision state 614. The program function 420 ends when the musician turns power switch 200 off or turns the program switch 212 (FIG. 4) to the operating position. If the controller 300 determines that the musician has not ended or exited the program function 420, the controller returns to state 604 to await further commands from the musician 100 via the buttons 216, 218 and 220. Otherwise the controller 300 enters an end state 616 wherein it returns to the flow at state 420 (FIG. 6).
FIG. 11 illustrates the program volume function 606 shown in FIG. 10. The program volume function 606 in this preferred embodiment allows the musician to set the initial volume characteristic for an audio signal produced by the musical instrument 102 when the system 104 is in the operating function 620. Advantageously, the musician 100 can program this volume characteristic by playing the musical instrument 100 and raising the volume using the tactile member 106 to a desired volume and then recording this volume.
Specifically, from a start state 630, the controller proceeds to induce the volume LED 216a (FIG. 5) to flicker. This informs the musician 100 that the system 100 is in the volume program function 606. The controller 300 then determines in decision state 536 whether the program button 216 has been depressed again by the musician 100. The musician 100 depresses the program button 216 again when he wants to program the initial volume characteristic. Once the musician had depressed the button 216, the controller 300 proceeds to state 636 wherein it causes the program LED 214 (FIG. 4) to flicker red at a fast rate. This informs the musician 100 that the initial volume characteristic is
ready to be programmed.
The initial volume characteristic is programmed by the musician playing the instrument 102 and exerting pressure on the tactile member 106 causing the sensor 320 (FIG. 5) to send an appropriate signal to the controller 300 in state 640. The controller 300 then adjusts the volume characteristic in state 642, to correspond to the pressure input signal, by sending an appropriate signal to the signal modifier 330 (FIG. 5). This characteristic is then applied to the audio signal produced by the musical instrument 102 so that the musician 100 can hear the volume characteristic of the audio signal.
When the volume characteristic is acceptable to the musician 100, the musician manipulates the program switch 214 causing the controller 300 to record, in state 646, the initial volume characteristic in the memory 330. The controller 300 then determines whether the programming of the volume has ended in decision state 650. The program volume function 606 ends when the musician leaves the program mode or turns the device off causing the controller 300 to enter an end state 65...
