US6063994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simulated string instrument using a keyboard
Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
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Filing: 1997-05-01
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2017-05-01
Abstract
Abstract An economical simulated string instrument system that facilitates a performance both visually and aurally similar to a real string instrument performance. One particular embodiment is a simulated guitar implemented on a personal computer where standard personal computer keyboard keys are mapped to guitar controls so that the performer can hold and manipulate the keyboard in much the same way as a real guitar. This embodiment, however, provides flexibility and ease of play not offered by the real instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Yong Fatt Kew
- 👤 Kok Leong Chia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:02
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/221; G10H2220/231
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a string instrument comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a string instrument comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said simulated string instrument is a guitar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein two adjacent keys on said personal computer keyboard are a semitone apart.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each selective ones of function keys on said personal computer keyboard corresponds to an associated chord.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a selected key on said personal computer keyboard simulates plucking.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said guitar is simulated to be one of "nylon", "steel", "jazz", "clean", "muted", "overdriven", "distortion", "harmonics", and "MIDI" guitar styles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; and controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling step comprises selecting a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; and controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling step comprises selecting a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: receiving user input specifying a mapping between particular chords and particular ones of said plurality of function keys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; and controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard and said controlling step comprises: simulating a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer-implemented method for simulating a guitar comprising the steps of: receiving from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; and controlling musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard and said controlling step comprises: simulating a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a string instrument, said product comprising: code that controls an electronic device to receive from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a string instrument, said product comprising: code that controls an electronic device to receive from a personal computer keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product of claim 10 wherein said simulated string instrument is a guitar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The product of claim 10 wherein two adjacent keys on said personal computer keyboard are a semitone apart.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product of claim 10 wherein each selective ones of function keys on said personal computer keyboard corresponds to an associated chord.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The product of claim 10 wherein a selected key on said personal computer keyboard simulates plucking.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The product of claim 11 wherein said guitar is simulated to be one of "nylon", "steel", "jazz", "clean", "muted", "overdriven", "distortion", "harmonics", and "MIDI" guitar styles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising: code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes; wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling code comprises code that selects a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising: code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes; wherein said particular key is one of a plurality of function keys and said controlling code comprises code that selects a chord for said musical output responsive to which one of said plurality of function keys was depressed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The product of claim 16 further comprising: code that directs said personal computer to receive from said keyboard user input specifying a mapping between particular chords and particular ones of said plurality of function keys.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising: code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar, wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard, and wherein said controlling code comprises code that simulates a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer program product for simulating operation of a guitar, said product comprising: code that directs a personal computer to receive from a keyboard a signal indicating depression of a particular key; code that controls musical output responsive to said key depression signal in accordance with a position of said particular key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar, wherein said particular key is in a numerical keypad portion of said personal computer keyboard, and wherein said controlling code comprises code that simulates a sound of a guitar string being plucked responsive to which key on said numerical keypad was depressed; and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
A simulated string instrument system comprising: a processor; a personal computer keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
A simulated string instrument system comprising: a processor; a personal computer keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 19 wherein musical output resulting from operation of said keyboard simulates operation of a guitar.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 19 wherein two adjacent keys on said personal computer keyboard are a semitone apart.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 19 wherein each selective ones of function keys on said personal computer keyboard corresponds to an associated chord.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 19 wherein a selected key on said personal computer keyboard simulated plucking.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said guitar is simulated to be one of "nylon", "steel", "jazz", "clean", "muted", "overdriven", "distortion", "harmonics", and "MIDI" guitar styles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
88 words
A simulated guitar system comprising: a processor; a personal computer keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein depression of a function key simulates selection of a guitar chord.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
88 words
A simulated guitar system comprising: a processor; a personal computer keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said personal computer keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said guitar; wherein depression of a function key simulates selection of a guitar chord.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
89 words
A simulated string instrument system comprising: a processor; a keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument, wherein depression of a numeric key of said keyboard simulates plucking of a guitar string.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
89 words
A simulated string instrument system comprising: a processor; a keyboard; a speaker; a memory system storing sound data to be audiblized by said speaker and instructions to be executed by said processor, said instructions including: instructions that control musical output through said speaker responsive to a position of a particular depressed key on said keyboard, wherein said position of said particular key is interpreted as corresponding to a particular position on said string instrument, wherein depression of a numeric key of said keyboard simulates plucking of a guitar string.
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) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |