US5689078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Music generating system and method utilizing control of music based upon displayed color
Assignee: Hologramaphone Res Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-30
•
Granted: 1997-11-18
•
Expires: 2015-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for generating music from color input data is disclosed. Color data extracted from a selected portion of a still or moving picture image displayed on a color graphical output means is converted by a central processing unit into a signal comprising musical information which is played by a sound output means. The images are retrieved from a storage device. The image portion converted into musical information corresponds to the location of a cursor displayed over the image. The central processing unit is programmed and controlled by a keyboard and mouse to move the cursor to varying positions on the displayed image and to generate different musical information depending on the color data at each position. The apparatus and method can also be used to transform audio input from a musical device and a MIDI interface into color data for display as an image on a color graphical output means.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter T. McClard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:29
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; A; A63; A63J; A63J17/00; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/091; G10H2220/101; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/046; G10H2240/056; G10H2250/00; G10H2250/541; G10H2250/615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for generating music from input data comprising: a central processing unit; an input device connected to said central processing unit; storage means for storing data output by said central processing unit, graphical images for display and commands for directing the operation of said central processing unit; color graphical output means, connected to said central processing unit, for displaying images in response to information input via said input device; screen buffer means communicating with said central processing unit for storing information corresponding to images displayed on said color graphical output means; sound output means responsive to input from said central processing unit; and conversion means interacting with said CPU for converting selected color data, corresponding to a selected portion of an image displayed on said color graphical output means, into a signal comprising musical information, such that music can be output by said sound output means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for generating music from input data comprising: a central processing unit; an input device connected to said central processing unit; storage means for storing data output by said central processing unit, graphical images for display and commands for directing the operation of said central processing unit; color graphical output means, connected to said central processing unit, for displaying images in response to information input via said input device; screen buffer means communicating with said central processing unit for storing information corresponding to images displayed on said color graphical output means; sound output means responsive to input from said central processing unit; and conversion means interacting with said CPU for converting selected color data, corresponding to a selected portion of an image displayed on said color graphical output means, into a signal comprising musical information, such that music can be output by said sound output means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said sound output means comprises a MIDI device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said sound output means further comprises a MIDI interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pointer means for identifying the portion of a displayed image which is to serve as the source of color data for said conversion means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 4, comprising at least two pointer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 5, comprising at least three pointer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 4, further comprising pointer read means for reading the color data identified by each of said pointer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 7, further comprising sensitivity means for selectively varying the number of times the color data is read by said pointer read means within a given period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 8, further comprising tolerance means for selectively determining the amount of change in the color data necessary to cause the generation of musical information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 9, further comprising velocity means for selectively determining the manner of play of notes which correspond to said color data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one primary voice means corresponding to said pointer means for selectively determining an instrument which will influence the sound of at least one note derived from said color data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein three primary voice means correspond to each said pointer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein all said selected color data comprises red, blue and green components and wherein said three voice means each correspond to one of said red, green or blue components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein at least one harmony voice means corresponds to said pointer means for selectively determining an instrument which will influence the sound of at least one note derived from said color data, wherein said harmony voice means selectively offsets one or more notes to be played from notes derived from said color data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein at least one harmony voice means corresponds to each said primary voice means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 14, further comprising orchestrator means for selectively determining harmonic offsets for each said harmony voice means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 16, wherein said harmonic offsets can be fixed, modal or algorithmic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein all said selected color data comprises hue, saturation and brightness components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein three primary voice means correspond to each said pointer means and wherein said three primary voice means each correspond to said hue component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein at least four pointers are available for selecting color data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 20, further comprising at least one duet pointer which follows one of said other pointers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 11, further comprising orchestrator means for selectively directing signals comprising musical information to at least one of a plurality of patches.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 11, further comprising scale means for selecting at least one scale to influence the musical information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said scale means selectively provides access to any combination of notes or microtones.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein said scale means creates an indexed array of scale data based on the particular scales available for selection and the notes available in each scale.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 23, further comprising rhythm means for selectively modifying the effect of said sensitivity means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 26, wherein rhythm patterns generated by said rhythm means increase or decrease in speed in proportion to increases or decreases in speed selected via said sensitivity means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 27, further comprising drum means associated with a selected rhythm or color component.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 14, further comprising key means for selecting at least one key to influence the musical information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 14, further comprising mixer means for selectively adjusting the volume of each said primary or harmony voice.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 4, comprising autoplay means for automatically generating music from an image by automatically moving said pointer means to different points of said displayed image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 31, wherein said automatic movement of said pointer is in accordance with a predetermined pattern.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 32, wherein a plurality of predetermined patterns are selectable and include at least one of the following: scan; pattern; circular; zig zag; or scrolling.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of predetermined patterns are subject to selective modification.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 31, wherein said automatic movement of said pointer is random.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 35, wherein said sound output means comprises a sound card.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising music input means for providing an input signal containing music information to said CPU such that said color conversion means converts said input music information into color data for displaying a corresponding image on said graphical display means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising song template means for generating an image in which the color data corresponds to notes of a selected song.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising music paint means for generating an image based on selected musical parameters or input music information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising movie control means for selectively controlling the display of images in the form of videos or movies.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 40, wherein said movie control means include means to reverse, stop and increase or decrease the frame display of movies or videos displayed as a plurality of sequential frames.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 41, wherein said movie control means includes means to move an entire movie or video image around said graphical display means when an image is displayed in space comprising less than the entire portion of said graphical display means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 42, wherein said movie control means can selectively cause the movement of said entire movie or video image in at least one of the following manners: rectilinear, curvilinear, random or input device follow.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for making music comprising: providing a preprogrammed computer with data storage and retrieval equipment and at least one input device; generating signals sufficient to cause the display of a color image on a display; creating a record of the color value of each addressable point capable of being mapped onto a display; selecting at least one of said addressable points; reading the color value of said selected point from said record; converting the read out color value of said selected point to music information; and sending a signal corresponding to said music information, to sound output means capable of rendering said music information as audible sound.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for making music comprising: providing a preprogrammed computer with data storage and retrieval equipment and at least one input device; generating signals sufficient to cause the display of a color image on a display; creating a record of the color value of each addressable point capable of being mapped onto a display; selecting at least one of said addressable points; reading the color value of said selected point from said record; converting the read out color value of said selected point to music information; and sending a signal corresponding to said music information, to sound output means capable of rendering said music information as audible sound.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 44, further comprising the step of setting music parameters to influence any final audible sound rendered by said sound output means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 45, further comprising the step of moving at least one pointer over a color image on said display and reading a plurality of color values from at least some of the points passed over by said pointer(s).
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 46, wherein the x,y coordinates are determined for each point to be read by said pointer(s) and wherein color values corresponding to said x,y coordinates are read directly from said record.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 47, further comprising the steps of: determining whether the read out color values fall within the selected music parameters; and setting music play values based on the read out color values and the selected music parameters.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of assigning a music play value indicating no music play when a read out color value falls outside the selected music parameters.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of providing at least one primary and one secondary pointer for selective activation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 50, wherein each said secondary pointer is offset from said primary pointer by a selected amount.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 51, wherein the value of the x,y coordinates of each said secondary pointer is determined based on an amount by which each is offset from said primary pointer.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of storing said music play values in a temporary scan buffer.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of setting a tolerance value as a music parameter to determine the amount of change in the color value necessary to cause the generation of music information.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of setting a sensitivity value as a music parameter to determine the number of time the color values are read at each pointer location with in a given period of time.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 55, further comprising the step of selecting a rhythm to modify the effect of the sensitivity setting.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of setting a velocity value to determine the manner of play of notes which correspond to said color values.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of assigning at least one primary voice to each said pointer, wherein each said primary voice corresponds to a selected instrument, which instrument influences the sound of at least one note derived from said color values, wherein the selective activation of any of said primary voices causes the generation of music information derived from said color values.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 58, wherein three primary voices correspond to each said pointer.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 59, wherein said read out color values comprise red, green and blue components and wherein said three primary voices each correspond to one of said red, green or blue components.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 60, further comprising the step of selectively assigning at least one harmony voice to each said pointer, wherein each said harmony voice corresponds to a selected instrument, which instrument influences the sound of at least one note derived from said color values, and wherein the selection of any said harmony voice causes the generation of music information derived from said color values which music information corresponds to notes offset from notes corresponding to the music information of one of said primary voices.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 61, wherein at least one harmony voice corresponds to each said primary voice.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of selecting harmonic offsets for each said harmony voice.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 63, wherein said harmonic offsets can be fixed, modal or algorithmic.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 59, wherein said read out color values comprise hue, saturation and brightness components and wherein said three primary voices each correspond to one of said hue component.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of selecting at least one scale to influence the musical information.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 66, further comprising the step of creating an indexed array of scale data based on the particular scales available for selection and notes available in each scale.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of automatically moving at least one pointer over an image on a display to automatically generate music.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 68, wherein the movement of said pointer is in accordance with a predetermined pattern.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of inputting a signal containing music information and converting said input music information to color values to create an image on a display.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of selecting a song comprising particular music information and converting said particular music information into color values to create an image on a display.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of selectively controlling the display of images in the form of videos or movies.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for generating music from input data comprising: a central processing unit; at least one input device connected to said central processing unit; storage means for storing data output by said central processing unit, graphical images for display and commands for directing the operation of said central processing unit; color graphical output means, connected to said central processing unit, for displaying images in response to information input via said input device; screen buffer means communicating with said central processing unit for storing information corresponding to images displayed on said color graphical output means; sound output means responsive to input from said central processing unit; pointer read out means for selecting and reading out color data from said screen buffer means, wherein said read out color data corresponds to the location of a cursor displayed over an image shown on said color graphical output means at a given time; and conversion means interacting with said CPU for converting selected color data, corresponding to a selected portion of an image displayed on said color graphical output means, into a signal comprising musical information, such that music can be output by said sound output means.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for generating music from input data comprising: a central processing unit; at least one input device connected to said central processing unit; storage means for storing data output by said central processing unit, graphical images for display and commands for directing the operation of said central processing unit; color graphical output means, connected to said central processing unit, for displaying images in response to information input via said input device; screen buffer means communicating with said central processing unit for storing information corresponding to images displayed on said color graphical output means; sound output means responsive to input from said central processing unit; pointer read out means for selecting and reading out color data from said screen buffer means, wherein said read out color data corresponds to the location of a cursor displayed over an image shown on said color graphical output means at a given time; and conversion means interacting with said CPU for converting selected color data, corresponding to a selected portion of an image displayed on said color graphical output means, into a signal comprising musical information, such that music can be output by said sound output means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |