Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for generating by computer a musical performance for a sequence of chords, comprising: (a) storing in a memory a musical performance comprised of data representing a sequence of musical sounds and timing for the sounds and, associated with the timing data, a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (c) selecting from the memory a first portion of the musical performance having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (d) receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) selecting from the memory a second portion of the musical performance having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) assembling the first portion and the second portion into a performance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for generating by computer a musical performance for a sequence of chords, comprising: (a) storing in a memory a musical performance comprised of data representing a sequence of musical sounds and timing for the sounds and, associated with the timing data, a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (c) selecting from the memory a first portion of the musical performance having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (d) receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) selecting from the memory a second portion of the musical performance having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) assembling the first portion and the second portion into a performance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for generating by computer a musical performance for a sequence of chords, comprising: (a) storing in a memory a musical performance comprised of data representing a sequence of musical sounds and timing for the sounds and, associated with the timing data, a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots wherein a plurality of portions of the musical performance are each identified by data in said memory as a riff, each riff having an associated sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; and (c) selecting from said memory a first one of said riffs of the musical performance having an associated stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for generating by computer a musical performance for a sequence of chords, comprising: (a) storing in a memory a musical performance comprised of data representing a sequence of musical sounds and timing for the sounds and, associated with the timing data, a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots wherein a plurality of portions of the musical performance are each identified by data in said memory as a riff, each riff having an associated sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; and (c) selecting from said memory a first one of said riffs of the musical performance having an associated stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
The method of claim 4 further including: (d) storing in the memory, associated with the stored sequence of chord roots a stored sequence of parameters, one parameter for each chord root; (e) in said step receiving a first specification of an input sequence of chords input by a user, also receiving each chord an extension; (f) converting each input chord to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; and (g) in said step selecting from said memory a first riff, said riff has a stored sequence of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the first input sequence of chords after converting each input extension to a parameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 5 further including: (a) receiving a second specification of an input sequence of a plurality of chords, each chord having a root and an extension; (b) converting each input chord to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; (c) selecting from the memory a second riff having a stored sequence of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the second input sequence of chord roots and parameters; and (d) assembling the first riff and the second riff into a performance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 5, further including: (a) storing in the memory associated with each riff data indicating the degree to which the musical sounds of the riff deviate from musical sounds of a scale; (b) receiving from a user an indication of a preference for a degree to which a selected riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale; and (c) selecting a riff based in part on whether the riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale to the degree preferred by the user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
The method of claim 6 further including the sub-steps of: (a) also storing in the memory, associated with the stored sequence of chord roots, a phrase end marker associated with a particular chord root and a phrase begin marker associated with the next chord root in the sequence; (b) when selecting the second riff reading the memory to determine whether the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker; (c) if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker; and (d) if the last chord root of the first riff does not have an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which does not begin with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the substep of, if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, inserting a period of silence between the first riff and the second riff.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 6 further including the substeps of: (a) when selecting the second riff reading the memory to determine for the last musical sound of the first riff a musical pitch; and (b) selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a musical sound which has a musical pitch which is close to the musical pitch of the last musical sound of the first riff.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
192 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (b) reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots, one for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (c) selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots, (d) receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
192 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (b) reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots, one for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (c) selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots, (d) receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data storage medium of claim 13 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data storage medium of claim 13 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
The data storage medium of claim 13 which further causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) storing in the memory associated with each riff data indicating the degree to which the musical sounds of the riff deviate from musical sounds of a scale; (b) receiving from a user an indication of a preference for a degree to which a selected riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale; and (c) selecting a riff based in part on whether the riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale to the degree preferred by the user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
185 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots and for each chord root an associated parameter, one sequence of chord roots and parameters for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (c) converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; and (d) selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
185 words
A data storage medium containing a computer program for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots and for each chord root an associated parameter, one sequence of chord roots and parameters for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (b) receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (c) converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; and (d) selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
The data storage medium of claim 17 which further causes the computer to perform the following steps: (a) receiving a second specification of an input sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (b) converting each input chord to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; (c) selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter; and (d) assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data storage medium of claim 18 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data storage medium of claim 18 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
162 words
The data storage medium of claim 15 which further causes the computer to perform the substeps of: (a) also storing in the memory, associated with the stored sequence of chord roots, a phrase end marker associated with a particular chord root and a phrase begin marker associated with the next chord root in the sequence; (b) when selecting the second riff, reading the memory to determine whether the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker; (c) if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker; and (d) if the last chord root of the first riff does not have an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which does not begin with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The data storage medium of claim 21 which further causes the computer to perform the substep of, if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, inserting a period of silence between the first riff and the second riff.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
The data storage medium of claim 18 which further causes the computer to perform the substeps of: (a) when selecting the second riff, reading the memory to determine for the last musical sound of the first riff a musical pitch; and (b) selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a musical sound which has a musical pitch which is close to the musical pitch of the last musical sound of the first riff.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation, comprising: (a) means for receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (b) means for reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots, one for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (c) means for selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (d) means for receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) means for selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) means for assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation, comprising: (a) means for receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (b) means for reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots, one for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (c) means for selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; (d) means for receiving a second specification of a sequence of a plurality of chord roots input by a user; (e) means for selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chord roots; and (f) means for assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 24 further including: (a) means for storing in the memory associated with each riff data indicating the degree to which the musical sounds of the riff deviate from musical sounds of a scale; (b) means for receiving from a user an indication of a preference for a degree to which a selected riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale; and (c) means for selecting a riff based in part on whether the riff includes musical sounds which deviate from musical sounds of a scale to the degree preferred by the user.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation, comprising: (a) means for reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots and for each chord root an associated parameter, one sequence of chord roots and parameters for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (b) means for receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (c) means for converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; and (d) means for selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for operating with a database of recorded musical performances to generate an improvisation, comprising: (a) means for reading from a memory data representing a plurality of stored sequences of chord roots and for each chord root an associated parameter, one sequence of chord roots and parameters for each of a plurality of sequences of musical sounds stored in the memory; (b) means for receiving a first specification of a sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (c) means for converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and a parameter where the parameter is based in part on the extension of the input chord; and (d) means for selecting from the memory a first sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the first input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 28 further comprising: (a) means for receiving a second specification of an input sequence of a plurality of chords input by a user, each chord having a root and an extension; (b) means for selecting from the memory a second sequence of musical sounds having a stored sequence of a plurality of chord roots and parameters which is the same as the second input sequence of a plurality of chords after converting each input chord root and extension to a chord root and parameter; and (c) means for assembling the first sequence of musical sounds and the second sequence of musical sounds into a performance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
158 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: (a) means for also storing in the memory, associated with the stored sequence of chord roots, a phrase end marker associated with a particular chord root and a phrase begin marker associated with the next chord root in the sequence; and (b) means for, when selecting the second riff, reading the memory to determine whether the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker; and (i) if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker; and (ii) if the last chord root of the first riff does not have an associated phrase end marker, selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which does not begin with a chord root associated with a phrase begin marker.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 32 further comprising means for, if the last chord root of the first riff has an associated phrase end marker, inserting a period of silence between the first riff and the second riff.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: (a) means for, when selecting the second riff, reading the memory to determine for the last musical sound of the first riff a musical pitch; and (b) means for selecting for the second riff a sequence of chord roots which begins with a musical sound which has a musical pitch which is close to the musical pitch of the last musical sound of the first riff.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
130 words
A data storage medium containing a database of recorded musical performances suitable for generating improvisations, comprising: (a) data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds including at least two musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff, and at least two of the riffs identifying portions of the sequence of musical sounds which portions overlap each other; and (c) data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
130 words
A data storage medium containing a database of recorded musical performances suitable for generating improvisations, comprising: (a) data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds including at least two musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff, and at least two of the riffs identifying portions of the sequence of musical sounds which portions overlap each other; and (c) data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data storage medium of claim 35 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data storage medium of claim 35 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
60 words
The data storage medium of claim 35, further comprising: (a) phrase begin data associated with each riff indicating whether the riff follows a period of silence in the data representing the musical performance, and (b) phrase end data stored with each riff indicating whether the riff is followed by a period of silence in the data representing the musical performance.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The data storage medium of claim 35 further comprising data associated with each riff indicating the degree to which the musical sounds of the riff deviate from musical sounds of a scale.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data storage medium of claim 35 further comprising, associated with the timing data, data representing a sequence of parameters, each parameter based in part on a chord extension.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for creating a database of riffs, comprising: (a) recording in a memory data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) adding to the memory data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds, including at least tow musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff; and (c) adding to the memory data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for creating a database of riffs, comprising: (a) recording in a memory data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) adding to the memory data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds, including at least tow musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff; and (c) adding to the memory data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 41 wherein at least two of the riffs identify overlapping portions of the sequence of musical sounds.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 41 further including the additional step of adding to the memory, associated with the timing data, data representing a sequence of parameters, each parameter based on a chord extension.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for creating a database of riffs, comprising: (a) means for recording in a memory data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) means for adding to the memory data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds including at least two musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff; and (c) means for adding to the memory data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for creating a database of riffs, comprising: (a) means for recording in a memory data representing a musical performance consisting of a sequence of musical sounds and timing data for the sounds; (b) means for adding to the memory data identifying within the sequence of musical sounds a plurality of riffs, each riff consisting of a portion of the sequence of musical sounds including at least two musical sounds, each riff identifying a different portion of the sequence of musical sounds from each other riff; and (c) means for adding to the memory data representing a sequence of chord roots, each chord root associated with the timing data, the sequence including at least one chord root for each riff.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is MIDI data.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the data representing a sequence of musical sounds is digital audio data.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 46 further including means for causing at least two of the riffs to identify overlapping portions of the sequence of musical sounds.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 46 further including means for adding to the memory, associated with the timing data, data representing a sequence of parameters, each parameter based on a chord.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 46 further comprising means for generating and adding to the memory data associated with each riff indicating whether the riff follows a period of silence in the data representing the musical performance, and (a) phrase end data stored with each riff indicating whether the riff is followed by a period of silence in the data representing the musical performance.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 46 further comprising means for generating and adding to the memory data associated with each riff indicating the degree to which the musical sounds of the riff deviate from musical sounds of a scale.