US5801694A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method and apparatus for interactively creating new arrangements for musical compositions
Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC
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Filing: 1995-12-04
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2015-12-04
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided for interactively creating new arrangements of prerecorded musical works. The musical work is represented on a digital medium in the form of a database comprising a plurality of fixed musical sequences, and a template comprising a plurality of sequence positions. Each sequence position may represent one track of a musical arrangement, such as the performance of one instrumental group, or a musical solo. The various tracks are intended to be played simultaneously, in parallel. In addition, some of the sequence positions may represent fixed-length, partial segments of a single track that are intended to be played serially. Using a menu-driven, graphical interface, a user interactively selects a plurality of the fixed musical sequences, as desired, and allocates the selected sequences among the various fixed sequence positions specified by the template. The musical sequences are then combined in accordance with the user's selections, thus creating a new arrangement of the musical work. In this way, users of varying levels of sophistication can be given a musically structured framework for interactively constructing new arrangements of recorded musical works.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S. Gershen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:40
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0008; G10H1/0025; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/031; G10H2210/086; G10H2210/101; G10H2210/125; G10H2210/151; G10H2210/375; G10H2210/381; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/091; G10H2220/101; G10H2220/106; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for creating a new arrangement of a musical work, said method for use with a digital processor and comprising the following steps: storing a musical database defining a plurality of fixed musical sequences representing the musical work, and a musical template defining a plurality of fixed sequence positions with reference to time, said template representing the musical work; providing the musical database and the musical template as an input to the digital processor; interactively selecting a plurality of the fixed musical sequences, as desired by an end-user; interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the fixed sequence positions of the template, as desired by the end-user; and combining the selected musical sequences in accordance with the desired allocation, thereby creating the new arrangement of the musical work.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for creating a new arrangement of a musical work, said method for use with a digital processor and comprising the following steps: storing a musical database defining a plurality of fixed musical sequences representing the musical work, and a musical template defining a plurality of fixed sequence positions with reference to time, said template representing the musical work; providing the musical database and the musical template as an input to the digital processor; interactively selecting a plurality of the fixed musical sequences, as desired by an end-user; interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the fixed sequence positions of the template, as desired by the end-user; and combining the selected musical sequences in accordance with the desired allocation, thereby creating the new arrangement of the musical work.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the fixed sequence positions of the template represent parallel tracks, and wherein the step of combining the selected musical sequences includes integrating the selected musical sequences allocated to the parallel tracks in a parallel manner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the selected musical sequence allocated to each of the parallel tracks represents a performance of the musical work in a distinctive style.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the selected musical sequence allocated to each of the parallel tracks represents a distinctive instrument group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sequence positions of the template are component segments of a single track; and wherein the step of combining the selected musical sequences includes integrating the selected musical sequences allocated to the component segments in a serial manner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the step of interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the sequence positions includes assigning one of the selected musical sequences to each of the component segments and specifying a desired playing order for the musical sequences assigned to the component segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein each of the component segments is a fixed number of musical measures in length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the fixed number of musical measures is two.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the fixed number of musical measures is any fixed number of measures the length of which roughly corresponds to the length of natural musical phrases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the musical sequences each comprise digitally sampled music.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the musical database is stored on a read-only digital medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of interactive selection are performed using a menu-driven graphical user interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the sequence positions include means for assigning one of the selected musical sequences to each of the component segments, and means for specifying a desired playing order for the musical sequences assigned to the component segments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the component segments is a fixed number of musical measures in length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fixed number of musical measures is two.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fixed number of musical measures is any fixed number of measures the length of which roughly corresponds to the length of natural musical phrases.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for creating a new arrangement of a musical work, comprising: one or more digital media storing a musical database, said database defining a plurality of fixed musical sequences with reference to time, said template representing the musical work, and further storing a musical template defining a plurality of fixed sequence positions representing the musical work; and a digital processor system further comprising: input means for reading the contents of the digital media; means for interactively selecting a plurality of the fixed musical sequences, and for interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the fixed sequence positions of the template, as desired by the end-user; and means for combining the selected musical sequences in accordance with the desired allocation, thereby creating the new arrangement of the musical work.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for creating a new arrangement of a musical work, comprising: one or more digital media storing a musical database, said database defining a plurality of fixed musical sequences with reference to time, said template representing the musical work, and further storing a musical template defining a plurality of fixed sequence positions representing the musical work; and a digital processor system further comprising: input means for reading the contents of the digital media; means for interactively selecting a plurality of the fixed musical sequences, and for interactively allocating the selected musical sequences among the fixed sequence positions of the template, as desired by the end-user; and means for combining the selected musical sequences in accordance with the desired allocation, thereby creating the new arrangement of the musical work.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a plurality of the fixed sequence positions of the template represent parallel tracks, and wherein the means for combining the selected musical sequences include means for integrating the selected musical sequences allocated to the parallel tracks in a parallel manner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each one of a plurality of the selected musical sequences represents a performance of the musical work in a distinctive style.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each one of a plurality of the selected musical sequences represents a distinctive instrument group.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a plurality of the sequence positions of the template are component segments of a single track; and wherein the means for combining the selected musical sequences include means for integrating the selected musical sequences allocated to the component segments in a serial manner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the musical sequences each comprise digitally sampled music.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the digital media comprise one or more read-only digital media.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for performing interactive selections comprise means for generating a menu-driven graphical user interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |