US5684259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of computer melody synthesis responsive to motion of displayed figures
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1994-09-09
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2014-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for synthesizing musical melodies on a computer displays a plurality of figures on a display device, one or more of which can be selected by a user for conversion into a series of sounds to create a melody to be played through an electronic musical instrument. In operation, various sub-routines stored within a system processor are used to manipulate attributes such as position, shape, color, and size of the displayed figures to generate corresponding sounds having a desired pitch, intensity, timbre, and sound length. The displayed figures are then made to move in accordance with user-selected rules, or with melodies played on an electronic musical instrument. An octave filter or wide range filter may be employed to change other attributes of the individual sounds comprising the melody, or of the entire melody itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Youichi Horii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:20
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H5/00; G10H5/16; G10H7/00; G10H7/002; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/091; G10H2220/101; G10H2220/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer, said computer connected to a display device, an input device, and a sound generating device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position on said display device, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; and outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating device, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer, said computer connected to a display device, an input device, and a sound generating device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position on said display device, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; and outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating device, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said figure-position change rule is a rule specifying a mode in which automatic figure moving takes place in a predetermined manner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: determining a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of said selected figure using random numbers; and changing the position of the selected figure by said determined displacements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: computing a vector whose length is a predetermined integer multiple of a unit vector pointing in a direction towards a predetermined reference point; and moving the selected figure by a distance direction indicated by said computed vector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the step of changing the position of the selected figure by predetermined horizontal and vertical displacements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: moving the selected figure in a rectilinear motion with uniform velocity; and changing a direction of a velocity vector of the motion of the selected figure when that figure arrives at a boundary of a display area of said display device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the step of rotating the position of the selected figure around a predetermined point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: selecting a predetermined number of figures, which includes the selected figure; determining a vector using random numbers; and moving said predetermined number of figures by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a pointing device with a button, and said figure-position change rule is a rule specifying a manner in which figure moving is partly directed by a user through use of said pointing device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises steps of: computing a vector from a first point, at which said button on said pointing device is pressed, to a second point, at which said button is released; and moving figures, residing within a circle of a predetermined size with its center at said first point, by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: computing a vector from a first point, at which said button is pressed, to a second point, at which said button is released; and moving said plurality of figures by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the step of: rearranging said plurality of figures on a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the steps of: computing an angle formed by a point at which said button is pressed, a predetermined reference point, and a point at which said button is released; and rotating positions of said plurality of figures around said reference point by said angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the step of: moving said plurality of figures to a position inside a rectangle having a diagonal formed by a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the step of: moving said plurality of figures to a position inside an ellipse inscribed in a rectangle that has as a diagonal a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises the step of: moving the selected figure to a point indicated by said pointing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said changing step comprises: moving the selected figure to a position within a circle of a predetermined size with its center at a point indicated by said pointing device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said outputting step includes the step of: outputting automatically a percussion rhythm specified by a rhythm play rule included within said figure-to-sound conversion rule.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: expressing the position of each of said plurality of figures in three-dimensional coordinates; displaying, during said displaying step, a projection of said plurality of figures having three-dimensional positions onto a two-dimensional plane; and moving, during said changing step, said plurality of figures in a three-dimensional space.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to a display device, an input device, and a sound generating device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating device, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures; assigning different tonalities to different pitch ranges using a filter within said figure-to-sound conversion rule; and adjusting pitch of said sound in conformity with a tonality assigned by said filter.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to a display device, an input device, and a sound generating device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating device, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures; assigning different tonalities to different pitch ranges using a filter within said figure-to-sound conversion rule; and adjusting pitch of said sound in conformity with a tonality assigned by said filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of: updating said filter in response to play information input from an external electronic musical instrument; p1 turning on a filter portion for defining a pitch that corresponds to a key selected by a user; and turning off a filter portion when a predetermined time has elapsed after previous filtering.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to a display device, an input device, and an electronic musical instrument, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of position of each figure, including attributes on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least a first figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said first figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; establishing at least a second figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said second figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure positions change in response to sound information derived from said electronic musical instrument; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with said first figure-position change rule; changing, in response to sound information derived from said electronic musical instrument, a position of at least one of said plurality of figures in accordance with said second figure-position change rule; and outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said electronic musical instrument, a sound whose attributes correspond to attributes of the selected figure in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to a display device, an input device, and an electronic musical instrument, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of figures on said display device; establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of position of each figure, including attributes on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; establishing at least a first figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said first figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; establishing at least a second figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said second figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure positions change in response to sound information derived from said electronic musical instrument; selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with said first figure-position change rule; changing, in response to sound information derived from said electronic musical instrument, a position of at least one of said plurality of figures in accordance with said second figure-position change rule; and outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said electronic musical instrument, a sound whose attributes correspond to attributes of the selected figure in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
204 words
A system for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to an input device, comprising: means for displaying a plurality of figures; means for establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position of said figures on said display means, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; means for establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input means, said figure-position change rules specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; means for selecting, in turn, successive ones of said displayed plurality of figures automatically; means for changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; means for generating a sound; and means for outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating means, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
204 words
A system for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to an input device, comprising: means for displaying a plurality of figures; means for establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position of said figures on said display means, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; means for establishing at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input means, said figure-position change rules specifying a manner in which positions of said figures change; means for selecting, in turn, successive ones of said displayed plurality of figures automatically; means for changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; means for generating a sound; and means for outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said sound generating means, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said figure-position change rule is a rule specifying a manner in which automatic figure moving takes place in a predetermined manner.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for determining a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of said selected figure using random numbers; and means for changing the position of the selected figure by said determined displacements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for computing a vector having a length which is a predetermined integer multiple of a unit vector pointing in a direction towards a predetermined reference point; and means for moving the selected figure by a distance and in a direction indicated by said computed vector.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for changing the position of the selected figure by predetermined horizontal and vertical displacements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for moving the selected figure in a rectilinear motion with uniform velocity; and means for changing a direction of a velocity vector of the motion of the selected figure when that figure arrives at a boundary of a display area in said display means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for rotating the position of the selected figure around a predetermined point.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said changing means includes: means for selecting a predetermined number of figures, which includes the selected figure; means for determining a vector using random numbers; and means for moving said predetermined number of figures by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said input means includes a pointing means with a button, and wherein said figure-position change rule is a rule specifying a manner in which figure moving is partly directed by a user through use of said pointing means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for computing a vector from a first point, at which said button on said pointing means is pressed, to a second point, at which said button is released; and means for moving figures, residing within a circle of a predetermined size with its center at said first point, by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for computing a vector from a first point, at which said button is pressed, to a second point, at which button is released; and means for moving said plurality of figures by a distance and in a direction indicated by said vector.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for re-arranging said plurality of figures on a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for computing an angle formed by a point at which said button is pressed, a predetermined reference point, and a point at which said button is released; and means for rotating positions of said plurality of figures around said reference point by said angle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for moving said plurality of figures to a position inside a rectangle having a diagonal formed by a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for moving said plurality of figures to a position inside an ellipse inscribed in a rectangle that has as a diagonal a line segment connecting a point at which said button is pressed and a point at which said button is released.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for moving the selected figure to a point indicating by said pointing means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said changing means includes: means for moving the selected figure to a position within a circle of a predetermined size with its center at a point indicated by said pointing device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said outputting means includes: means for outputting automatically a percussion rhythm specified by a rhythm play rule included within said figure-to-sound conversion rule.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 23, further comprising: means for expressing the position of each of said plurality of figures in three-dimensional coordinates; and wherein said display means displays a projection of said plurality of figures having three-dimensional positions onto a two-dimensional plane, and wherein said changing means moves said plurality of figures in a three-dimensional space.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 23, further comprising: filtering means, within said figure-to-sound conversion rule, for assigning different tonalities to different pitch ranges for said generated melody.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 42, further comprising: means for adjusting pitch of sounds corresponding to said figures in conformity with a tonality assigned by said filter.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
266 words
A system for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to an input device, comprising: means for displaying a plurality of figures; means for establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position of said figures on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; means for establishing a first figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said first figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure-positions change; means for establishing a second figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said second figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure-positions change in response to sound information derived from an external source; means for selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; means for changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with said first figure-position change rule; means for changing, in response to sound information derived from said external source, a position of at least one of said plurality of figures in accordance with said second figure-position change rule; and means for outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said external source, a sound whose attributes correspond to attributes of the selected figure in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
266 words
A system for synthesizing a melody using a computer connected to an input device, comprising: means for displaying a plurality of figures; means for establishing a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifying relationships between attributes of each figure, including attributes of position of said figures on said display device, and attributes of a sound corresponding to each figure; means for establishing a first figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said first figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure-positions change; means for establishing a second figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said second figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure-positions change in response to sound information derived from an external source; means for selecting, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; means for changing, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with said first figure-position change rule; means for changing, in response to sound information derived from said external source, a position of at least one of said plurality of figures in accordance with said second figure-position change rule; and means for outputting, each time a figure is selected, through said external source, a sound whose attributes correspond to attributes of the selected figure in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said external source is an electronic musical instrument.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said attributes of each figure also include shape, color, and size of said figures as displayed on said display means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 42, wherein said attributes of each figure also include shape, color, and size of each figure as displayed on said display means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said attributes of each figure also include shape, color, and size of each figure as displayed on said display means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said attributes of each figure also include pitch, timbre, intensity, and sound length.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 42, wherein said attributes of said sound include pitch, timbre, intensity, and sound length.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 44, wherein said attributes of said sound include pitch, timbre, intensity, and sound length.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
257 words
A computer program product for use with a computer having a display device, comprising: a computer readable medium with a computer program recorded thereon, the program including: a first code section for causing the computer to display a plurality of figures on a display device; a second code section for causing the computer to establish a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by an input device, in such a manner that said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifies relationships between attributes of each figure including attributes of position on a display means, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; a third code section for causing the computer to establish at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure positions change; a fourth code section for causing the computer to select, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; a fifth code section for causing the computer to change, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; and a sixth code section for causing the computer to output, each time a figure is selected, through a sound generating means, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
257 words
A computer program product for use with a computer having a display device, comprising: a computer readable medium with a computer program recorded thereon, the program including: a first code section for causing the computer to display a plurality of figures on a display device; a second code section for causing the computer to establish a figure-to-sound conversion rule in response to directions designated by an input device, in such a manner that said figure-to-sound conversion rule specifies relationships between attributes of each figure including attributes of position on a display means, and attributes of sound corresponding to each figure; a third code section for causing the computer to establish at least one figure-position change rule in response to directions designated by said input device, said figure-position change rule specifying a manner in which figure positions change; a fourth code section for causing the computer to select, in turn, successive ones of the displayed plurality of figures automatically; a fifth code section for causing the computer to change, each time a figure is selected, a position of at least the selected figure in accordance with the figure-position change rule; and a sixth code section for causing the computer to output, each time a figure is selected, through a sound generating means, a sound having attributes which correspond to attributes of the selected figure determined in accordance with the figure-to-sound conversion rule, to thereby generate a melody which corresponds to the attributes of the selected figures and which changes in accordance with changes in position of said figures.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 52, further comprising: a seventh code section for causing the computer to assign different tonalities to different pitch ranges in accordance with a filter within said figure-to-sound conversion rule.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer program product of claim 52, further comprising: an eighth code section for causing the computer to adjust pitch of said sound in conformity with a tonality assigned by said filter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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