US5331111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sound model generator and synthesizer with graphical programming engine
Assignee: Korg Inc
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Filing: 1992-10-27
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2012-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for generating sound includes a user input and a graphical programming engine which the user manipulates to generate and connect graphic symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program on a display. A translation mechanism coupled with the graphical programming engine translates the graphical model into a sound generating program, and a digital signal processor executes the sound generating program in response to user input to generate output data in real time representative of sound. This output data may then be coupled to a converter, amplifier and speaker to produce sounds in real time in response to modifications of the graphical model or in response to real time input data from a MIDI standard instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven S. O'Connell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/02; G09B15/04; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/325; G10H2210/331; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/091; G10H2220/101; G10H2220/106; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/281; G10H2240/311; G10H2250/00; G10H2250/055; G10H2250/061; G10H2250/541; G10H2250/615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: a user input to supply input data; graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input, to generate and connect graphic symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to display the graphical model; a translation engine, coupled with the graphical programming engine, which translates the graphical model into a sound generating program for execution; and a processor, coupled with the user input and the translation engine, to process input data in real time according to the sound generating program to generate output data representative of sound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: a user input to supply input data; graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input, to generate and connect graphic symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to display the graphical model; a translation engine, coupled with the graphical programming engine, which translates the graphical model into a sound generating program for execution; and a processor, coupled with the user input and the translation engine, to process input data in real time according to the sound generating program to generate output data representative of sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translation engine includes: resources to produce a first portion of the sound generating program including routines synchronous with the output data representative of sound; and resources to produce a second portion of the sound generating program including routines asynchronous of the output data representative of sound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor includes a first processor synchronized with the output data representative of sound for executing the first portion of the sound generating program, and a second processor asynchronous with the first processor for executing the second portion of the sound generating program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translation engine includes: resources to produce a first portion of the sound generating program including routines synchronous with the output data representative of sound; and resources to produce a second portion of the sound generating program including routines asynchronous of the output data representative of sound; and resources to produce a third portion of the sound generating program for connecting data generated in the second portion to locations accessed by routines in the first portion of the sound generating program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user input includes a first instrument port for supplying input data to the graphical programming engine, and a second instrument port for supplying input data to the processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user input includes an alphanumeric keyboard port, and a port for a position indicating means for supplying input data to the graphical programming means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user input includes an instrument port for supplying MIDI standard input data for supply to the processing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine include a set of function symbols, and the translation engine includes; a set of function code segments corresponding to the function symbols; a preprocessor, responsive to the graphic model, which selects function code blocks from the set and establishes connections for communication of data between the function code blocks; and a compiler to compile an executable sound generating program in response to the connected function code blocks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a converter, coupled with the processor, which converts the output data into sound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine includes: a set of function symbols representative of function code blocks; and at least one external data source symbol representative of a source of input data for the sound generating program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine further include: at least one controllable data source symbol representative of input data having a controllable value selected by user input data; and the graphical programming engine includes means for manipulating the controllable data source symbol to select a parameter for the sound generating program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the graphical programming engine includes means for editing parameters of the function code block corresponding to a graphic symbol in the graphical model.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical programming engine includes means for indicating an order of execution in association with the graphic symbols.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a host data processor and a digital signal processor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sound generating program includes modules executed by the digital signal processor, and modules executed by the host data processor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the graphical programming engine further includes: means for displaying a graphical representation of a control panel including icons corresponding to controllable data source symbols included in the graphical model.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: a user input to supply input data; a host data processor; a graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input and the host data processor, to generate and connect graphic symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine and the host data processor, to display the graphical model; a signal processor coupled with the host data processor; a translation engine, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to translate the graphical model into a sound generating program for execution by a combination of the signal processor and the host data processor; and an execution, engine, coupled with the user input and the translation engine, to cause real time execution by the signal processor and the host data processor, in response to input data, of the sound generating program to generate output data representative of sound.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: a user input to supply input data; a host data processor; a graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input and the host data processor, to generate and connect graphic symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine and the host data processor, to display the graphical model; a signal processor coupled with the host data processor; a translation engine, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to translate the graphical model into a sound generating program for execution by a combination of the signal processor and the host data processor; and an execution, engine, coupled with the user input and the translation engine, to cause real time execution by the signal processor and the host data processor, in response to input data, of the sound generating program to generate output data representative of sound.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the translation engine includes: resources to produce a first portion of the sound generating program for execution by the signal processor synchronously with the output data representative of sound; resources to produce a second portion of the sound generating program for execution by the host data processor asynchronously relative to the output data representative of sound; and resources to produce a third portion of the sound generating program for connecting the first portion and the second portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user input includes a first instrument port for supplying input data to the graphical programming means, and a second instrument port for supplying input data to the execution means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user input includes an alphanumeric keyboard pod, and a port for a position indicating means for supplying input data to the graphical programming means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user input includes an instrument port for supplying MIDI standard input data for supply to the execution engine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine includes a set of function symbols, and the translation engine includes; a set of function code segments corresponding to the function symbols; preprocessing resources, responsive to the graphic model, which select function code segments from the set and establish connections for communication of data between the function code segments; and compiling resources which compile an executable sound generating program in response to the connected function code blocks, the sound generating program including objects executed by the host data processor and objects executed by the signal processor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further including: a converter, coupled with the execution engine, which converts the output data into sound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine include: a set of function symbols representative of function code segments; and at least one external data source symbol representative of a source of input data for the sound generating program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming engine further include: at least one controllable data source symbol representative of input data having controllable values selected by user input data; and the graphical programming engine includes resources to manipulate the controllable data source symbol to select a parameter for the sound generating program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the graphical programming engine includes means for editing parameters of the function code segment corresponding to a graphic symbol in the graphical model.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the graphical programming engine includes means for indicating an order of execution in association with the graphic symbols.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the graphical programming engine further includes: means for displaying on the display a graphical representation of a control panel including icons corresponding to controllable data source symbols included in the graphical model.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for developing a sound generating program, comprising: a user input to supply input data; graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input and including a set of graphical function symbols, to generate and connect graphic function symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to input data, the set of graphical function symbols including a symbol for a real time output function that supplies output data and a symbol for a real time input function that receives at least a portion of the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to display the graphical model; translation resources coupled with the graphical programming engine, to translate the graphical model into an ordered list of object names with associated parameters specifying a sound generating program.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for developing a sound generating program, comprising: a user input to supply input data; graphical programming engine, coupled with the user input and including a set of graphical function symbols, to generate and connect graphic function symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to input data, the set of graphical function symbols including a symbol for a real time output function that supplies output data and a symbol for a real time input function that receives at least a portion of the input data; a display, coupled with the graphical programming engine, to display the graphical model; translation resources coupled with the graphical programming engine, to translate the graphical model into an ordered list of object names with associated parameters specifying a sound generating program.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 29, further including: means, coupled with the translation resources, for producing a first portion of the sound generating program in response to the ordered list including routines synchronous with the output data representative of sound; and means coupled with the translation resources, for producing a second portion of the sound generating program in response to the ordered list including routines asynchronous of the output data representative of sound.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 30, further including a first processor synchronized with the output data representative of sound to execute the first portion of the sound generating program, and a second processor synchronous with the first processor to execute the second portion of the sound generating program.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
116 words
The apparatus of claim 29, further including: means, coupled with the translation resources, for producing a first portion of the sound generating program in response to the ordered list including routines synchronous with the output data representative of sound; means, coupled with the translation resources, for producing a second portion of the sound generating program in response to the ordered list including routines asynchronous of the output data representative of sound; and means, coupled with the translation resources, for generating a third portion of the sound generating program in response to the ordered list for connecting data generated in the second portion to locations accessed by routines in the first portion of the sound generating program.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
114 words
The apparatus of claim 29, further including: a set of function code segments corresponding to the object names; a preprocessor, responsive to the ordered list, to select function code segments from the set and establishing connections for communication of data between the function code segments; a compiler to compile an executable sound generating program in response to the connected function code blocks; execution means, coupled with the user input and the compiler, for executing the sound generating program in real time to generate output data representative of sound; and a converter, coupled with the execution means, to convert the output data into sound to provide real time feedback to a user developing a model.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: user input means for supplying input data; a host data processor; graphical programming means, coupled with the user input means and the host data processor and including a set of function symbols, for selecting and connecting function symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; display means, coupled with the graphical programming means and the host data processor, for displaying the graphical model; a signal processor coupled with the host data processor; means, coupled with the graphical programming means, for translating the graphical model into an ordered list of object names with associated parameters specifying a sound generating program; a set of function code segments corresponding to the object names; preprocessing means, responsive to the ordered list, for selecting function code segments from the set and establishing connections for communication of data between the function code segments; compiling means for compiling an executable sound generating program in response to the connected function code blocks; and execution means, coupled with the user input means and the means for translating, for causing execution by the signal processor of a first portion of the sound generating program in real time to generate output data representative of sound, in response to input data, and execution by the host data processor of a second portion of the sound generating program asynchronously with the first portion for supplying input data to the first portion.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for generating sound, comprising: user input means for supplying input data; a host data processor; graphical programming means, coupled with the user input means and the host data processor and including a set of function symbols, for selecting and connecting function symbols into a graphical model representative of a sound generating program in response to the input data; display means, coupled with the graphical programming means and the host data processor, for displaying the graphical model; a signal processor coupled with the host data processor; means, coupled with the graphical programming means, for translating the graphical model into an ordered list of object names with associated parameters specifying a sound generating program; a set of function code segments corresponding to the object names; preprocessing means, responsive to the ordered list, for selecting function code segments from the set and establishing connections for communication of data between the function code segments; compiling means for compiling an executable sound generating program in response to the connected function code blocks; and execution means, coupled with the user input means and the means for translating, for causing execution by the signal processor of a first portion of the sound generating program in real time to generate output data representative of sound, in response to input data, and execution by the host data processor of a second portion of the sound generating program asynchronously with the first portion for supplying input data to the first portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the graphical programming means includes means for editing parameters of the function code segment corresponding to a graphic symbol in the graphical model.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the graphical programming means includes means for indicating an order of execution in association with the graphic symbols.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the user input means include a first instrument for supplying input data to the graphical programming means, and a second instrument for supplying input data to the execution means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the user input means include an alphanumeric keyboard, and a position indicating means for supplying input data to the graphical programming means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the user input means include an instrument for supplying MIDI standard input data for supply to the execution means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming means further include: at least one external data source symbol representative of a source of input data for the sound generating program.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the graphic symbols in the graphical programming means include: at least one controllable data source symbol representative of input data having a controllable value selected by user input data; and the graphical programming means includes means for manipulating the controllable data source symbol to select a parameter for the sound generating program.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the graphical programming means further includes: means for displaying a graphical representation of a control panel including icons corresponding to controllable data source symbols included in the graphical model.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for developing a model for a sound generating program using a set of graphical symbols representing functional code blocks for processing sound data and tools for interconnecting the graphical symbols on a display, comprising: selecting a first graphical symbol from the set; positioning the first graphical symbol on the display; selecting a second graphical symbol from the set; positioning the second graphical symbol on the display; connecting an output of the first graphical symbol to an input of the second graphical symbol; assigning an order of execution to the selected graphical symbols; generating a computer program for generating sound in response to the selected graphical symbols, the connections between the selected graphical symbols and the assigned order; and executing the computer program to generate sound to provide feedback concerning the model.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for developing a model for a sound generating program using a set of graphical symbols representing functional code blocks for processing sound data and tools for interconnecting the graphical symbols on a display, comprising: selecting a first graphical symbol from the set; positioning the first graphical symbol on the display; selecting a second graphical symbol from the set; positioning the second graphical symbol on the display; connecting an output of the first graphical symbol to an input of the second graphical symbol; assigning an order of execution to the selected graphical symbols; generating a computer program for generating sound in response to the selected graphical symbols, the connections between the selected graphical symbols and the assigned order; and executing the computer program to generate sound to provide feedback concerning the model.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for developing a sound generating program, comprising: providing a set of object names with associated parameters, object names in the set representing a function used in generating sound and the parameters associated with objects in the set representing variables of the associated functions, the set of objects including at least one object representing a synchronous function to be executed synchronously with respect to audio output data, and at least one object representing an asynchronous function to be executed asynchronously with respect to audio output data; selecting a subset of the set of objects for execution by the sound generating program, the subset including an object representing a real time audio output function; specifying connections among members of the subset to identify sources and destinations of data to be generated by the associated functions; specifying an order of execution for the functions associated with members of the subset; and setting the parameters for members of the subset to establish an instantiation of the sound generating program.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for developing a sound generating program, comprising: providing a set of object names with associated parameters, object names in the set representing a function used in generating sound and the parameters associated with objects in the set representing variables of the associated functions, the set of objects including at least one object representing a synchronous function to be executed synchronously with respect to audio output data, and at least one object representing an asynchronous function to be executed asynchronously with respect to audio output data; selecting a subset of the set of objects for execution by the sound generating program, the subset including an object representing a real time audio output function; specifying connections among members of the subset to identify sources and destinations of data to be generated by the associated functions; specifying an order of execution for the functions associated with members of the subset; and setting the parameters for members of the subset to establish an instantiation of the sound generating program.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 44, wherein the step of selecting includes: providing a set of graphical symbols representing the objects in the set of objects; selecting a graphical symbols from the set of graphical symbols; positioning the graphical symbols on a display.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 45, wherein the step of specifying connections includes: connecting an output of a first one of the selected graphical symbols to an input of a second one of the selected graphical symbols using tools for drawing connections on the display.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 44, further including: generating a computer program for generating sound in response to the selected objects, the connections between the objects and the assigned order; executing the computer program to generate sound using the audio output function to provide feedback concerning the model.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 44, wherein the selected subset includes an object representing a real time input function, and further including: generating a computer program for generating sound in response to the selected objects, the connections between the objects and the assigned order; executing the computer program in response to data supplied by the real time input function to generate sound.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 44, wherein the selected subset includes an object representing a real time input function for processing input data supplied by a user asynchronously with respect to the audio output data, and further including: generating a computer program for generating sound in response to the selected objects, the connections between the objects and the assigned order; and executing the computer program in response to the data supplied to a synchronous function executed synchronously with the audio output data by the real time input function to generate sound.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |