US6898729B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for transmitting MIDI data over a lossy communications channel
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 2002-03-19
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Granted: 2005-05-24
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Expires: 2022-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are disclosed for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors. The method includes parsing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category, and transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol. As an example, a non-critical category of MIDI message is a Note On message, and a critical category MIDI message is a corresponding Note Off message. The step of parsing preferably includes atomizing certain MIDI messages, such as Note On/Note Off pairs, that in turn can include encapsulating the certain MIDI messages within a common transmission packet. In a presently preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of this invention the steps of parsing and transmitting occur within a mobile terminal, and the link comprises a low power, short range radio frequency link that can be a uni-directional radio frequency link, or a bi-directional radio frequency link that provides an indication from a receiver to the transmitter when MIDI data is received with an error. The mobile terminal may provide a user with knowledge of when MIDI data has been received with an error. Link error management may be adaptive as a function of at least the link quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Jussi Virolainen
- 👤 Pauli Laine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:53
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0058; G10H1/0066; G10H1/0083; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors, comprising: parsing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category; and transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors, comprising: parsing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category; and transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 , where a critical category MIDI message is a Note Off message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 , where a non-critical category of MIDI message is a Note On message, and where a critical category MIDI message is a corresponding Note Off message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1 , where parsing comprises atomizing to find related MIDI messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 4 , where atomizing comprises encapsulating the related MIDI messages within a common transmission packet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 4 , where atomizing comprises placing a Note On message and a corresponding Note Off message within a common transmission packet, and associating a time stamp with at least the Note Off message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the reliable transmission protocol has a greater latency than the less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the link comprises a wireless link.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the steps of parsing and transmitting occur within a mobile terminal, and where the link comprises a radio frequency link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the steps of parsing and transmitting occur within a mobile terminal, and where the link comprises a low power, short range radio frequency link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the link is comprised of a packet data network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the link is comprised of a bi-directional radio frequency link that provides an indication from a receiver to the transmitter when MIDI data is received with an error.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 12 , and further comprising providing a user with knowledge of when MIDI data has been received with an error.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the link is comprised of one of a uni-directional radio frequency link or a bi-directional radio frequency link, and where link error management is adaptive as a function of at least the link quality.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 , where a decision as to an amount of polyphony is made according at least to link conditions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 , where an amount of polyphony is controlled in accordance with a Scalable Polyphony MIDI Maximum Instantaneous Polyphony MIP value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , where a tradeoff exists between the efficiency of a selected error correction technique and the use of Scalable Polyphony MIDI.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 1 , where in the presence of a link impairment the transmitter reduces a Maximum Instantaneous Polyphony MIP value and where lower priority channels are masked to allow only higher priority channels to be transmitted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 4 , where atomizing comprises transmitting only a Note On message, and in the receiver automatically terminating a playing of the note after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 4 , where atomizing comprises transmitting only a Note On message and an indication of the duration that the note is to be played, and in the receiver automatically terminating a playing of the note after the indicated duration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 , and further comprising buffering received MIDI messages in the receiver, and controlling scheduling of at least some of the buffered messages in accordance with information transmitted with the MIDI messages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 21 , where the information comprises a time stamp.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 21 , where the information comprises a sequence number.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 , where MIDI messages are transmitted using an error correction code.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors, comprising a parsing and control function in said transmitter for placing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category and for transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors, comprising a parsing and control function in said transmitter for placing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category and for transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 25 , where a critical category MIDI message is a Note Off message.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 25 , where a non-critical category of MIDI message is a Note On message, and where a critical category MIDI message is a corresponding Note Off message.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 25 , where said parsing and control function operates to atomize to find related MIDI messages.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 28 , where atomizing comprises encapsulating the related MIDI messages within a common transmission packet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 28 , where atomizing comprises placing a Note On message and a corresponding Note Off message within a common transmission packet, and associating a time stamp with at least the Note Off message.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 25 , where the reliable transmission protocol has a greater latency than the less reliable transmission protocol.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 25 , where the link comprises a wireless link.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 25 , where said parsing and control function resides within a mobile terminal, and where the link comprises a radio frequency link.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 25 , where said parsing and control function resides within a mobile terminal, and where the link comprises a low power, short range radio frequency link.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 25 , where the link is comprised of a packet data network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 25 , where the link is comprised of a bi-directional radio frequency link that provides an indication from a receiver to a transmitter when MIDI data is received with an error.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 36 , and further comprising at least one of visual or auditory means for providing a user with knowledge of when MIDI data has been received with an error.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 25 , where the link is comprised of one of a uni-directional radio frequency link or a bi-directional radio frequency link, and where link error management is adaptive as a function of at least the link quality.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 25 , where a decision as to an amount of polyphony is made according at least to link conditions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 28 , where atomizing comprises transmitting only a Note On message, and in the receiver automatically terminating a playing of the note after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as in claim 28 , where atomizing comprises transmitting only a Note On message and an indication of the duration that the note is to be played, and in the receiver automatically terminating a playing of the note after the indicated duration.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as in claim 25 , and further comprising a receiver buffer for buffering received MIDI messages, and a controller coupled to the buffer for controlling scheduling of at least some of the buffered messages in accordance with information transmitted with the MIDI messages.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 42 , where the information comprises a time stamp.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 42 , where the information comprises a sequence number.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 25 , where an amount of polyphony is controlled in accordance with a Scalable Polyphony MIDI Maximum Instantaneous Polyphony MIP value.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 25 , where a tradeoff is made between the efficiency of a selected error correction technique and the use of Scalable Polyphony MIDI.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as in claim 25 , where in the presence of a link impairment said transmitter reduces a Maximum Instantaneous Polyphony MIP value and where lower priority channels are masked to allow only higher priority channels to be transmitted.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 25 , where MIDI messages are transmitted using an error correction code.
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) | 2008-05-23 | 2008-11-22 | 2009-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-23 | 2012-11-22 | 2013-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-23 | 2016-11-22 | 2017-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |