US6093881A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic note inversions in sequences having melodic runs
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1999-02-02
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Granted: 2000-07-25
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Expires: 2019-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of generating music includes steps of specifying a note sequence and a chord progression against which the note sequence is played. The notes of the note sequence are defined relative to chord elements, and melodic runs are identified within the note sequence. Each melodic run consists of a series of notes. Inversion conditions are specified in terms of inversion boundaries and in terms of legal inversion notes relative to the individual chords of the chord progression. When interpreting the note sequence in conjunction with the chord progression to generate output notes, the output notes are compared against the inversion conditions and inverted if appropriate. If a note belongs to an identified melodic run, the run is evaluated against the inversion conditions as a whole. More specifically, one note of the melodic run is compared against the inversion conditions. If the one note satisfies the inversion conditions, the entire run is inverted. If the one note does not satisfy the inversion conditions, none of the notes of the run are inverted.
Inventors
- 👤 Todor C. Fay
- 👤 Robert S. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:47
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H1/0008; G10H1/0025; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/571; G10H2210/576; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/046; G10H2240/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of processing music notes, comprising the following steps: identifying a group of notes that form a melodic run; determining whether at least one of the notes meets pre-defined conditions for inversion; inverting all of the notes of the group if said at least one of the notes meets the predefined conditions for inversion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of processing music notes, comprising the following steps: identifying a group of notes that form a melodic run; determining whether at least one of the notes meets pre-defined conditions for inversion; inverting all of the notes of the group if said at least one of the notes meets the predefined conditions for inversion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the notes is the first-occurring note of the group of notes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the notes is the highest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the notes is the lowest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the notes includes a plurality of the notes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the notes includes all of the notes of the group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether at least one of the notes meets pre-defined conditions for inversion comprises: determining whether said at least one of the notes is outside of a predefined range of notes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether at least one of the notes meets pre-defined conditions for inversion comprises: determining whether there is a predefined inversion note between said predefined range of notes and said at least one of the notes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether at least one of the notes meets pre-defined conditions for inversion comprises: determining whether said at least one of the notes is outside of a predefined range of notes; and determining whether there is a predefined inversion note between said predefined range of notes and said at least one of the notes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer that is programmed to perform steps comprising: specifying a note sequence, wherein the notes of the sequence are defined relative to chord elements; identifying one or more melodic runs within the note sequence, each melodic run comprising a plurality of the notes of the note sequence; specifying upper and lower inversion boundaries for the note sequence; specifying a progression of chords; specifying inversion notes relative to the chords of the progression; interpreting the note sequence in conjunction with the progression of chords to generate output notes; determining whether at least one of the output notes generated from a particular melodic run meets pre-defined conditions for inversion; inverting all of the output notes generated from the particular melodic run if said at least one of the output notes meets the pre-defined conditions for inversion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer that is programmed to perform steps comprising: specifying a note sequence, wherein the notes of the sequence are defined relative to chord elements; identifying one or more melodic runs within the note sequence, each melodic run comprising a plurality of the notes of the note sequence; specifying upper and lower inversion boundaries for the note sequence; specifying a progression of chords; specifying inversion notes relative to the chords of the progression; interpreting the note sequence in conjunction with the progression of chords to generate output notes; determining whether at least one of the output notes generated from a particular melodic run meets pre-defined conditions for inversion; inverting all of the output notes generated from the particular melodic run if said at least one of the output notes meets the pre-defined conditions for inversion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises: determining whether there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises: determining whether said at least one of the output notes is outside of the inversion boundaries.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises: determining whether said at least one of the output notes is outside of the inversion boundaries; determining whether there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the step of specifying inversion notes comprises specifying inversion notes for each chord of the chord progression.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one of the notes is the first-occurring note of the group of notes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one of the notes is the highest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one of the notes is the lowest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one of the notes includes a plurality of the notes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one of the notes includes all of the notes of the group.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
189 words
A computer program stored on one or more computer-readable storage media for generating music, the program comprising the following steps: specifying a note sequence, wherein the notes of the sequence are defined relative to chord elements; identifying one or more melodic runs within the note sequence, each melodic run comprising a plurality of the notes of the note sequence; specifying upper and lower inversion boundaries for the note sequence; specifying a progression of chords; specifying inversion notes relative to the chords of the progression; interpreting the note sequence in conjunction with the progression of chords to generate output notes; determining whether at least one of the output notes generated from a particular melodic run is outside of the inversion boundaries; determining whether there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes; inverting all of the output notes generated from the particular melodic run if said at least one of the output notes is outside of the inversion boundaries and if there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
189 words
A computer program stored on one or more computer-readable storage media for generating music, the program comprising the following steps: specifying a note sequence, wherein the notes of the sequence are defined relative to chord elements; identifying one or more melodic runs within the note sequence, each melodic run comprising a plurality of the notes of the note sequence; specifying upper and lower inversion boundaries for the note sequence; specifying a progression of chords; specifying inversion notes relative to the chords of the progression; interpreting the note sequence in conjunction with the progression of chords to generate output notes; determining whether at least one of the output notes generated from a particular melodic run is outside of the inversion boundaries; determining whether there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes; inverting all of the output notes generated from the particular melodic run if said at least one of the output notes is outside of the inversion boundaries and if there is an inversion note specified between the inversion boundaries and said at least one of the output notes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program as recited in claim 20, wherein the step of specifying inversion notes comprises specifying inversion notes for each chord of the chord progression.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one of the notes is the first-occurring note of the group of notes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one of the notes is the highest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one of the notes is the lowest-pitched note of the group.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one of the notes includes a plurality of the notes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said at least one of the notes includes all of the notes of the group.
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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) | 2003-07-25 | 2004-01-24 | 2004-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-25 | 2008-01-24 | 2008-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-25 | 2012-01-24 | 2012-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |