US6188010B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Music search by melody input
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1999-10-29
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Granted: 2001-02-13
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Expires: 2019-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method to enable one to search for a song title when only its melody is known. An interface is used which allows the user to enter the melody in an easy to understand manner. A remote music database with melody information is searched for the melody entered by the user. using, for example, a peak or differential matching algorithm. Upon receiving a search request, a database server, i.e., a remote computer, which can be accessed by the user via a client PC, sends a web page, for example, in HTML or Java containing the search results to the client PC. The client PC receives and displays the search results on the monitor and exchanges data with the server. Sound may also be played through the sound card to connected speakers.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryuichi Iwamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:57
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/046; G10H2240/056; G10H2240/121; G10H2240/131; G10H2240/141; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/281; G10H2240/295; G10H2240/305; G10H2250/00; G10H2250/131; G10H2250/215; G10H2250/235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for searching for a musical piece which includes at least one melody comprising the steps of: a) receiving note information representing the melody provided by a user; b) converting the received information to a series of values corresponding to each received note information; c) calculating relative pitch values from said series of values d) comparing said relative pitch values to values stored in said database representing stored melodies; e) selecting as the musical piece being searched one of said stored melodies which produces a closest match based on said comparing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for searching for a musical piece which includes at least one melody comprising the steps of: a) receiving note information representing the melody provided by a user; b) converting the received information to a series of values corresponding to each received note information; c) calculating relative pitch values from said series of values d) comparing said relative pitch values to values stored in said database representing stored melodies; e) selecting as the musical piece being searched one of said stored melodies which produces a closest match based on said comparing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of marking pitch peaks in said stored values and determining peak pitch values from said relative pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined by claim 2 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative pitch values to match a first peak in said relative pitch values with a first peak in said stored values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined by claim 3 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative peak values to match subsequent peaks in said relative pitch values with corresponding subsequent peaks in said stored values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined by claim 4 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted relative peak values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of marking pitch dips in said stored values and determining dip pitch values from said relative pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined by claim 5 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative pitch values to match a first dip in said relative pitch values swith a first dip in said stored values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined by claim 7 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative dip values to match subsequent dips in said relative pitch values with corresponding subsequent dips in said stored values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined by claim 8 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted relative dip values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of marking largest pitch differentials in said stored values and determining largest differential pitch values from said relative pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined by claim 10 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative pitch values to match a first largest difference in said relative pitch values with a first largest difference in said stored values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined by claim 11 further comprising the step of time shifting said relative dip values to match subsequent largest differences in said relative pitch values with corresponding subsequent largest differenes in said stored values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined by claim 12 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted relative largest difference values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein said note information is received from a user based on a piano roll grid interface in which cells within an array represent pitch values and are selected by a user using a pointing device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein said note information is received from a user based on a piano keyboard grid interface in which keys on a piano keyboard represent pitch values and are selected by a user using, a pointing device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein said note information is received from a user based upon sounds input to a microphone representing the melody.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined by claim 1 farther comprising the step of playing said note information for verification of its correctness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined by claim 1 wherein note information includes at least one wildcard character.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of playing the selected musical piece.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of enabling the user to make an on-line purchase of the selected musical piece.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for searching for a musical piece which includes at least one melody comprising the steps of: a) receiving note information representing the melody provided by a user; b) converting the received information to a series of values corresponding to each received note information; c) adjusting said series of values by key shifting said values; d) comparing said key shifted pitch values to absolute pitch values stored in said database representing stored melodies; e) selecting as the musical piece being searched one of said stored melodies which produces a closest match based on said comparing.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for searching for a musical piece which includes at least one melody comprising the steps of: a) receiving note information representing the melody provided by a user; b) converting the received information to a series of values corresponding to each received note information; c) adjusting said series of values by key shifting said values; d) comparing said key shifted pitch values to absolute pitch values stored in said database representing stored melodies; e) selecting as the musical piece being searched one of said stored melodies which produces a closest match based on said comparing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of marking pitch peaks in said stored values and determining peak pitch values from said key shifted pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined by claim 22 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted pitch values to match a first peak in said relative pitch values with a first peak in said stored values.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined by claim 23 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted peak values to match subsequent peaks in said relative pitch values with corresponding subsequent peaks in said stored values.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined by claim 24 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted and key shifted peak values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of marking pitch dips in said stored values and determining dip pitch values from said key shifted pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted pitch values to match a first dip in said key shifted pitch values with a first dip in said stored values.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined by claim 27 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted dip values to match subsequent dips in said key shifted pitch values with corresponding subsequent dips in said stored values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method defined by claim 28 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted and key shifted dip values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of marking largest pitch differentials in said stored values and determining largest differential pitch values from said key shifted pitch values for said comparison step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined by claim 30 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted pitch values to match a first largest difference in said key shifted pitch values with a first largest difference in said stored values.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined by claim 31 further comprising the step of time shifting said key shifted dip values to match subsequent largest differences in said key shifted pitch values with corresponding subsequent largest differenes in said stored values.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined by claim 32 wherein the closest match is determined by calculating absolute differences between said time shifted and key shifted largest difference values and said stored values, said closest match being one have a smallest calculated absolute difference.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined by claim 21 wherein said note information is received from a user based on a piano roll grid interface in which cells within an array represent pitch values and are selected by a user using a pointing device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method defined by claim 21 wherein said note information is received from a user based on a piano keyboard grid interface in which keys on a piano keyboard represent pitch values and are selected by a user using a pointing device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined by claim 21 wherein said note information is received from a user based upon sounds input to a microphone representing the melody.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of playing said note information for verification of its correctness.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined by claim 21 wherein note information includes at least one wildcard character.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of playing the selected musical piece.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined by claim 21 further comprising the step of enabling the user to make an on-line purchase of the selected musical piece.
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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) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |