JP2007095210A - Music information search method and device, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable music information (meta-information) for a music CD, not registered in a CDDB, to be simply and easily inputted and registered by a user unfamiliar to the operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a HDD15 for storing data bases 151, 152, in which an artist name, an album name of the music CD and a word comprising a tune name, registered in a CDDB3, are retrieved and registered in advance; and a display part 20 for displaying the search result of the data bases 151, 152 by incremental search based on a character externally input when the artist name, the album name and/or the tune name for the music CD loaded are not registered in the CDDB3. When the search results displayed on the display part 20 are plural, designated one is registered as the artist name and/or a part or whole of the album name or the tune name. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for retrieving information associated with a song, such as artist name, album name, song name, etc., not music data, i.e., music information. In particular, the contents of a music recording medium such as a music CD are stored in a hard disk or the like. The present invention relates to a search method for inputting music information as described above when copying (dubbing) to a recording medium, a device capable of searching such music information, and a more general audio device Alternatively, the present invention relates to a computer program that enables a general-purpose computer to function as such a device.

  In recent years, music CDs have become common as music recording media. Various devices such as portable type, in-vehicle type, and stationary type that reproduce music data as music data itself recorded on HDD or solid recording medium (semiconductor memory) as music reproducing device (audio device). (Hereinafter referred to as a recording medium built-in audio apparatus) has been commercialized. Such an audio apparatus with a built-in recording medium can not only reproduce music, but also can capture and record music data according to user preferences from various sources and reproduce it. When recording music data on such an audio device with a built-in recording medium, downloading from music distribution websites on the Internet is becoming widespread, but dubbing from music CDs is still the mainstream. . Needless to say, the above-described recording medium built-in audio apparatus includes a personal computer in which various music recording / playback software is installed, and some mobile phones.

  By the way, when dubbing music data recorded on a music CD to the above-described recording medium built-in audio apparatus, except for a music CD called a part of CD text, the artist name, album name, song name, etc. Such music information (hereinafter referred to as meta information for music data that is audio data itself of music) is generally obtained from a CDDB (CD DataBase) as a music recording medium database. CDDB uses TOC information, which is information for specifying the recording contents of a music CD, which is a music recording medium, specifically, information such as the number of recorded songs and the recording time (performance time) of each song as keys. This is a database in which a huge number of music CDs registered in the database can be specified and meta information of the music CDs, that is, information such as artist names, album names, and song names can be downloaded. In the CDDB, information representing the music genre, for example, rock, folk, jazz, classical music, enka, etc. is also registered for each music CD.

  The CDDB is basically a database built on a website existing on the Internet, and its usage is as follows. When a music CD is loaded into the recording medium built-in audio apparatus, the TOC information of the music CD is automatically read in the same manner as a general CD player. Then, the TOC information is transmitted to the CDDB website via the Internet automatically or triggered by a user instruction. The CDDB website specifies a music CD using the received TOC information as a key, and returns the above-described meta information related to the specified music CD to the recording medium built-in audio apparatus via the Internet. The recording medium built-in audio apparatus can receive the meta information transmitted from the CDDB, display it on the display device, and record it on the recording medium together with the music data.

  As another usage method of the CDDB, there is a standalone type usage method instead of the network type as described above. For example, in a car audio device or the like, CDDB data at a certain point in time is stored, and meta information corresponding to a music CD loaded in the device itself is stored in data stored in the CDDB stored in the device itself. Utilization methods such as searching and reading directly have also been put into practical use. As described above, there are two methods for acquiring meta information from the CDDB: a method of directly downloading via the Internet and a method of reading from data registered in the CDDB stored in the device itself. It is said that “meta information is acquired” without distinguishing between the two.

  However, the registration (uploading) of new data (music CD meta information) to the CDDB as described above has a history of being voluntarily performed by the user, so that the music CD with an old issue date, a very minor artist's In many cases, meta information is not uploaded for music CDs, personally produced music CDs, and music CDs (so-called new music) immediately after publication. In addition, when the device itself stores the CDDB data, such as the car audio device described above, the contents become older than the data registered in the CDDB on the Internet. The possibility of not being able to obtain information on the new music, especially information on the new music, is higher than when using the CDDB of the website.

  In any case, for a music CD whose meta information cannot be obtained from the CDDB even if it is loaded into the recording medium built-in audio device, when downloading from the website, the user can obtain the meta information from the CDDB (the music). You will be forced to either wait (until the CD meta-information is uploaded to the CDDB) or enter and register the artist name, album name, song name, etc. in the recording device built-in audio device. Also, if the CDDB data is stored in the device itself like a car audio device, it is uploaded to the latest CDDB data by some method, or the artist name, album name, song name, etc. are input and registered by itself. One of them will be forced. However, even if the meta information cannot be acquired and registered, the music data itself can be recorded on the recording medium and dubbed.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for acquiring meta information of a music CD using CDDB will be briefly described. FIG. 25 to FIG. 28 are schematic views showing screens displayed on the display unit of a music CD loaded in a recording medium built-in audio device.

  First, when a music CD is loaded into a recording medium built-in type audio device, the TOC information of the loaded music CD is read out, and as shown in FIG. Only the song title (track 01, track 02, etc.) and each performance time (recording time) are displayed. These pieces of information are basically information recorded as TOC information on all music CDs.

  In FIG. 25, “001 track 01” and “0:00” are displayed in the upper left part of the screen, and the temporary track name “track 01” of “track No1” is highlighted. This means that when the user starts reproduction in this state, the music of “track No. 1” is reproduced.

  Thereafter, when the meta information is acquired from the CDDB automatically or according to a user instruction, meta information such as an album name (album title), an artist name, and a song name is displayed as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. The user instructs whether the entire music CD, in other words, all the music recorded on the music CD is to be dubbed on a recording medium such as an HDD or a part (one or a plurality of music) is dubbed. Can do. In addition, when dubbing a part of the music instead of all of the music recorded on the music CD, the user can arbitrarily designate the music to be dubbed. In response to such an instruction from the user, the audio device with a built-in recording medium stores the music data and corresponding meta information of the specified music (all of the music recorded on the music CD or one or more specified music). Dubbing is performed by recording on a recording medium such as a built-in HDD.

  FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a display state of the display unit of the recording medium built-in audio apparatus during dubbing when the user instructs dubbing of all the songs recorded on one music CD. This means that a mark imitating the hard disk on the left side of each track number is designated as dubbing. Thereafter, when the dubbing of all the songs designated by the user is completed, the display state of the display unit is as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. Each music piece dubbed in this way, that is, recorded on the recording medium, is searched for by artist name or album name, for example, so that the artist name and album name are displayed on the display device, and the music corresponding to the artist name. The song names corresponding to the song names or album names are displayed in a list on the display device. Then, the user can see the song names displayed in the list and designate and reproduce all or part of the music CDs in the same manner as when playing a music CD. In particular, when searching by album name, the display state is the same as when meta information is acquired from the CDDB shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 26, so that the user can play music in the same way as when playing a music CD. It becomes possible to listen.

  In any case, with respect to a music CD that can obtain meta information from data registered in the CDDB, the user instructs the meta information such as the artist name, album name, and song name of the music CD as described above. Although it may be necessary as a trigger, it can be acquired substantially automatically, and when music data is dubbed in such a state, meta information is also recorded (registered) at the same time. When searching by album name, meta information can be reused. However, for music CDs for which no data is registered in the CDDB, the “genre” column, “artist” column, and “track name” for each track number in the display state of the display unit of the recording medium built-in audio device shown in FIG. The user himself / herself inputs the artist name and the song title in the column, or dubbing without the information.

  By the way, in addition to a music CD, for example, an MD, a CD-R, a CD-RW, an audio cassette tape or the like dubbed a music CD or an analog record as a source to which music data is dubbed into the above-described recording medium built-in type audio apparatus. In addition to the direct dubbing from the analog record itself, it is also possible to capture and record AM, FM or TV broadcast audio signals. Even when dubbing from various music recording media and broadcasts to an audio device with a built-in recording medium, there is a sufficient demand for adding artist names, album names, song names, and the like. However, when dubbing from these music recording media or broadcasts to an audio device with a built-in recording medium, CDDB cannot be used because there is no information corresponding to the TOC information of a normal music CD. Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary for the user to input characters completely for the artist name, album name, song name, and the like.

  In particular, with respect to analog records, many relatively big name artists are not made into music CDs in the fields of classical music and jazz. For this reason, there is a demand that the owner of the analog record himself / herself wants to convert it into digital data in fear of deterioration of the record board, and more specifically, wants to convert it into a CD using a recording medium such as a CD-R or CD-RW. In response to such demands, various capture and application software for capturing an audio signal in a personal computer are provided, and a recording medium built-in audio apparatus often has a similar function.

  When the music recorded in the analog record is dubbed on the recording medium built-in type audio device, the user himself / herself needs to separate the tracks, but finally, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. The music recorded in one analog record is displayed as a track in the same state as when a new music CD is loaded in the apparatus. Therefore, if the user himself / herself inputs the artist name, album name, each song name, and the like in this state, it can be handled in the same manner as when dubbing the meta information from the CDDB to the music CD. Furthermore, it is possible to copy the state with meta information attached to CD-R, CD-RW, etc. as CD text. However, it is a fact that the user himself / herself inputs meta information such as artist name, album name, and each song name, which is a troublesome work.

In view of such circumstances, for example, an invention as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In this Patent Document 1, when a user inputs an artist name or any song name regarding a music CD in which meta information as described above, specifically, an album name, an artist name, and a song name are not registered, an input is made. An audio device that automatically registers an artist name or a song title as an album name is disclosed. In general, when searching for music in this type of apparatus, searching by album name is often performed, it is certainly practical to assign an artist name or a representative music name as a temporary album name.
JP-A-2005-44403

  As described above, the input operation for registering each piece of meta-information data as described above uses a keyboard attached to the personal computer when a personal computer with music recording / playback software installed is used as an audio device with a built-in recording medium. It is relatively easy to do so. However, it is necessary to input the artist name, album name, and more generally about 10 music names for one music CD, and it goes without saying that it is a troublesome work. In addition, a dedicated audio device called a car audio device or a mini component or a micro component does not generally include a keyboard such as a personal computer, and therefore, for example, by using an operation such as a numeric keypad of a remote control device. I must. Therefore, the input of meta information as described above is very cumbersome, and it is a very difficult task for a user unfamiliar with such operations.

  In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, an artist name is often adopted as an album name as it is in a so-called debut album. In such a case, although it is extremely effective, it is automatically given. The album name is only temporary, and it cannot be denied that it can be used as a memorandum of the user himself. Also, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an artist name is entered and registered, it is given as an album name, but a song name is not given, but conversely when a song name is entered and registered There is a problem that it is given as an album name but not an artist name.

  Furthermore, in order to register the artist name, album name, song name, etc. in the music data dubbed without assigning the artist name, album name, song name, etc. from the music recording medium other than the music CD, the user must always input characters. There is a problem that it is necessary to register. In particular, as described above, when a large number of analog records are converted into digital data, if the user does not input meta information such as artist names, album names, and song names, the analog records are digitally recorded in the recording medium. There is a possibility that a large number of data is recorded and cannot be collected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and music information (meta information) of music CDs not registered in the CDDB, or meta information of data dubbed from sources other than music CDs, particularly analog records. The main object of the present invention is to provide a music information search method and a music information search device that realizes such a method that can be easily input and registered even by a user who is not familiar with the operation. In addition, a music information search apparatus that realizes such a music information search method, a realization of such a music information search method as a part of a function of a general audio device, or a personal computer for such music information search Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer program for functioning as an apparatus.

  In short, the present invention first searches a web page on the Internet using the artist name in the music information (meta information) as a keyword, and the web page of the search result, that is, the characters in the web page including the artist name as the keyword. The configuration is such that the column is searched as a candidate for album name and song name in music information (meta information). As a result, album names and song names can be easily searched by simply inputting the artist name. As for artist names, a database in which artist name data is extracted in advance from data registered in the CDDB is created separately, and by searching such a database by so-called incremental search, all characters of the artist name are obtained. It is also possible to prevent the user himself / herself from inputting.

  When searching for a web page using an artist name as a keyword, for example, a music CD online shop website, a music CD publisher's website, an artist's own website, a fan club website, etc. By targeting only such specific websites, it becomes possible to narrow down the search target websites.

  Furthermore, when searching for album names and song names from the search results web page with the artist name as a keyword, for example, “”, “” etc. for Japanese, If there is a character string between “”, “”, etc., it is highly possible that it is an album name or song title, and the display state is different from the surrounding text (for example, bold, different color, different fonts such as Gothic font) In the case of a song title, there is a high possibility that it is numbered in order from “1”, and there is a high possibility that it is numbered after a new line. Therefore, by searching for such a character string, it is highly likely that a character string as a candidate that is highly likely to be an album name or a song name can be easily found.

  Furthermore, when the search result web page is created in a so-called tag language such as HTML or XML, for example, an album name or a song name character string is sandwiched between tags for setting a link, In many cases, a character string is sandwiched between tags for displaying an image of an album jacket, or a character string of a song name is sandwiched between tags for downloading music data for trial listening. Therefore, by searching for a character string sandwiched between such tags, it is possible to narrow down search target websites as candidates for album names and song names.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is a music information search method in which a search device searches for music information as character information relating to a song recorded on a music recording medium, and the web page with the artist name of the music information as a keyword. Is searched on the Internet, and a character string in the web page including the keyword is searched as a candidate for an album name and / or a song name in the music information.

  Also, the music information search device according to the present invention is a music information search device for searching music information as character information related to music recorded on a music recording medium, and an artist name that accepts input of an artist name in the music information. Input means, web page search means for searching a web page on the Internet using the artist name received by the artist name input means as a keyword, and a character string in the web page including the keyword used by the web page search means for the search Album name / song name search means for searching for album names and / or song name candidates in music information.

  In such a music information search method and apparatus of the present invention, a web page is searched on the Internet using the artist name of the music information as the character information related to the music recorded on the music recording medium as a keyword, and further searched. The character string in the web page including the used keyword is searched as a candidate for the album name and / or song name in the music information.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is the music information search method invention described above, wherein the search device uses a character string in a predetermined display state in a web page including the keyword as an album name and / or song name candidate. It is characterized by searching.

  Also, the music information search device according to the present invention is the music information search device invention described above, wherein the album name / song name search means uses an album name and / or a character string in a predetermined display state in a web page including the keyword. Or it is made to search as a character string of a tune name candidate.

  In such a music information search method and apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, album name and / or song name candidates are narrowed down to a character string of a predetermined display state in the web page including the keyword used for the search. Searched.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is the music information search method invention described above, wherein the search device is configured such that, when a web page including the keyword is described in a tag language, the characters sandwiched between predetermined tags. The column is searched as a candidate for album name and / or song name.

  In the music information search device according to the present invention, the album name / song name search means uses a predetermined tag when the web page including the keyword is described in a tag language. The sandwiched character string is searched as an album name and / or song name candidate character string.

  In such a music information search method and apparatus according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, when a web page including a keyword used for the search is described in a tag language, a character string sandwiched between predetermined tags is used. Narrow down the album name and / or song name candidates.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is the music information search method according to any one of the above music information search methods, wherein the search device includes an artist name used for the search as the keyword and an album name and / or a song name as a search result. An album name / song name database in which candidate character strings are associated is created.

  Also, the music information search device according to the present invention is the music information search device according to any one of the above-mentioned music information search devices, wherein the album name / song name search means is an album name and / or song name candidate searched using the artist name as a keyword. An album name / song name database in which a character string is associated with a keyword used for the search is created.

  In such a music information search method and apparatus according to the present invention, in any one of the above inventions, the artist name used for the search as a keyword is associated with the search result album name and / or the song name candidate character string. A new album name / song name database is created.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is the music record according to any one of the above-mentioned music information search method inventions, wherein the information specifying the recording contents of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other. An artist name database is created by previously searching for and registering artist names in music information from a medium database, and stored in a storage device accessible by the search device. The search device is input from the outside. Based on character information, an artist name registered in an artist name database stored in the storage device is searched by an incremental search, and the artist name of the search result is used as the keyword.

  The music information search device according to the present invention is the music record according to any one of the above-described music information search devices, wherein the information specifying the recording content of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other. An artist name database creating means for creating an artist name database registered in advance by searching for an artist name in music information from a medium database and storing it in a storage means; and a character information input means for receiving input of character information from the outside Based on the character information received by the character information input means, an artist name search means for searching for an artist name registered in the artist name database by an incremental search, and an artist name searched by the artist name search means are displayed. Display means and search results displayed on the display means Selection accepting means for accepting an instruction to select one of the artist names when there are a plurality of artist names, wherein the artist name input means accepts an input of an artist name for which the selection accepting means has accepted the selection. It is characterized by being.

  In such a music information searching method and apparatus according to the present invention, in any one of the above inventions, the music recording medium in which the information specifying the recording content of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other An artist name database is created in which the artist names in the music information are previously searched from the database and registered. Then, the artist name registered in this artist name database is searched by incremental search based on the character information inputted from the outside, and the artist name of this search result is used as it is as a keyword for searching the album name and song name. Is done.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is the music information search method invention described above, wherein the music recording medium database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication, and the search device stores necessary information. Is obtained from the music recording medium database stored in the remote storage device by Internet communication, thereby creating and updating the artist name database.

  The music information search device according to the present invention is the music information search device invention described above, wherein the music recording medium database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication, and the artist name database creation means includes: The artist name database is created and updated by acquiring necessary information from the music recording medium database stored in the remote storage device by Internet communication.

  In such a music information retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, the music recording medium database is stored in a remote storage device that can be accessed by Internet communication. Necessary information for the recording is acquired from the music recording medium database stored in the remote storage device by Internet communication.

  The music information search method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the music information search method invention, the artist name database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication.

  The music information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the music information retrieval apparatus, the artist name database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication.

  In such a music information retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, only when necessary, an artist name database stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication may be accessed.

  The computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to search for music information as character information relating to a song recorded on a music recording medium, the web page using an artist name in the music information as a keyword. The computer is caused to execute a procedure for searching for a title on the Internet and a procedure for searching for a character string in a web page including a keyword as an album name and / or song name candidate in music information.

  The computer program according to the present invention further includes a step of causing the computer to search for a character string in a predetermined display state in the web page including the keyword as an album name and / or song name candidate in the computer program invention described above. It is characterized by making it.

  Further, in the computer program invention according to the present invention, when the web page including the keyword is described in a tag language, a character string sandwiched between predetermined tags is used as an album name and / or song title. The computer is further caused to execute a procedure for searching as a candidate.

  The computer program according to the present invention is registered in the music recording medium database in which the information specifying the contents of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other in any one of the above computer program inventions. The artist name database is created by searching for and registering the artist name in the music information in advance, and stored in a storage device accessible by the computer, and the artist based on the character information input from the outside The computer may further execute a procedure for searching for an artist name registered in a name database by an incremental search and a procedure using an artist name as a keyword as a search result.

  In the computer program according to the present invention as described above, the above-described method of the present invention is executed by the search device of the present invention, and when installed in a general-purpose computer, the computer program can function as the search device of the present invention.

  According to the music information retrieval method and apparatus of the present invention as described above, the artist name in the music information as the character information relating to the music recorded on the music recording medium is only input as a keyword, and the artist name is related. Since the character string of the album name and / or song name candidate to be searched is searched from the web page on the Internet, the character string of the album name and / or song name candidate not registered in the music recording medium database such as CDDB It becomes possible to search and input easily.

  Further, according to the music information searching method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in the above invention, in the rare web page searched using the artist name as a keyword, the album name and / or Since song name candidates are searched, a character string that is an album name and / or song name can be searched with high probability.

  Further, according to the music information retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in the above invention, when a rare web page searched using the artist name as a keyword is described in a tag language, it is sandwiched between predetermined tags. Since the album name and / or song name is searched by narrowing down the character string, the character string that is the album name and / or song name can be searched with high probability.

  Also, according to the music information search method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in any one of the above inventions, the artist name used for the search as a keyword is the album name and / or song name candidate character of the search result. An album name / song name database in which columns are associated with each other is created. By using this album name / song name database, it is possible to search for a character string that is an album name and / or a song name without having to search on the Internet. It becomes possible.

  Further, according to the music information searching method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in any one of the above inventions, the information specifying the recording content of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other. The artist name registered in the artist name database registered in advance by searching for the artist name in the music information from the existing music recording medium database is searched by the incremental search based on the character information inputted from the outside. Then, the artist name of the search result is used as it is as a keyword for searching for the album name and song name, so that it is not necessary for the user to input the artist name as the keyword.

  Further, according to the music information retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in the above-described invention, it is possible to keep the contents of the music recording medium database always up-to-date.

  Also, according to the music information retrieval method and apparatus according to the present invention as described above, in the above invention, the artist name database stored in the remote storage device accessible via the Internet communication is accessed only when necessary. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the artist name database, and therefore the storage capacity of the storage means can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the computer program according to the present invention as described above, an audio device incorporating the method of the present invention as a search device can be easily realized. Further, when the computer program according to the present invention is installed in a general-purpose computer, it can function as the search device of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance when a music information retrieval apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a minicomponent as an audio apparatus. The audio device 1 includes at least left and right speakers SL and SR, a main body MU, and a remote control device 2. The main body MU is provided with a CD drive 17, a display unit 20, an operation unit 21, a remote control signal receiving unit 22 for receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the remote control device 2, and the like as components visible from the outside.

  Note that the main unit MU of the audio device 1 is similar to a general device of this type, in addition to the above-described components, for example, playback / reproduction of recording media such as FM and / or AM radio receivers, cassette tapes, MDs, etc. Needless to say, a recording device or the like is provided, and an audio signal processing circuit generally necessary for reproducing music (audio signal), such as an amplifier and an equalizer, is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a key arrangement state of the remote control device 2 of the audio device 1. The remote control device 2 (hereinafter referred to as the remote control device 2) includes a power switch 50 for turning on / off the power of the audio device 1, a cross key 51 for moving the cursor up / down / left / right on the display unit 21, and "edit". Key 52, “OK” key 53, “Clear (Cancel: CL)” key 54, “Play” key 55, “Stop” key 56, “Track up” key 57, “Track down” key 58, numeric keypad 59, etc. Arranged appropriately. The numeric keypad 59 is assigned not only numbers “0” to “9” but also alphabets and kana so that the numeric keys can be used for inputting kana and alphabets. However, the function and operation method of these keys are basically the same as those of the conventional remote control device of this type.

  Further, the remote controller 2 is provided with a “CDDB” key 60 and a “record” key 61. The “CDDB” key 60 is a key for giving an instruction to acquire meta information from a CDDB website (remote storage device) on the Internet, and the “record” key 61 is a music recording medium loaded in the CD drive 17. This is a key for giving an instruction to record, that is, dubb, a music piece recorded on a music CD. Note that the dubbing is specifically a process of copying music data recorded on a music CD to the HDD 15 to be described later regardless of the presence or absence of meta information. However, it goes without saying that recording (dubbing) from a source other than the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 is also possible.

  Note that the operation unit 21 is provided with the same keys as those of the remote control device 2 described above, and the user basically performs the same operation regardless of which of the operation unit 21 or the remote control device 2 is used. It is possible.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the main body MU of the audio apparatus 1. Inside the main body MU, a control unit 11 composed of a CPU or the like that controls the entire audio apparatus 1, a ROM 12 in which a program for basic control as the audio apparatus 1 is recorded, and various data are temporarily stored. A communication unit 14 capable of communicating with and accessing a CDDB website on the Internet via the Internet IN, an HDD 15 as a large-scale recording medium, mainly a radio Tuner 16 for receiving broadcasts, mainly for reproducing music CDs, CD drive 17 for reading data recorded on music CDs, and CD format data read by CD drive 17 to normal digital audio data Convert or directly to other formats For example, a data converter 18 for converting MP3 format data or the like, a D / A conversion and pre-amplifier 19 for converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal and outputting it to both speakers SL and SR, and the display unit 20 described above. The operation unit 21 and the remote control signal receiving unit 22 are connected to each other by the bus 10.

  As described above, the main body MU of the audio apparatus 1 may include an MD recording / reproducing apparatus, an audio cassette tape recording / reproducing apparatus, etc. in addition to the CD drive 17. When an MD recording / reproducing apparatus is provided, the data converter 18 needs to be configured to perform ATRAC data conversion. Further, a CD-RW drive may be provided instead of the CD drive 17. In this case, the music data dubbed from the music CD to the audio apparatus 1 can be further dubbed to the CD-R or CD-RW.

  Furthermore, the audio apparatus 1 is provided with a line-in terminal 23 for inputting an analog audio signal from the outside. An analog audio signal input from the line-in terminal 23 is converted into a digital audio signal by an analog-digital converter (A / D) 24 and taken into the audio apparatus 1. In addition to the line-in terminal 23, a phono amplifier for connecting a record player may be provided. In CDDB, a technique called MusicID that specifies not only the music CD by TOC information that is information for specifying the recording content of a music CD as a music recording medium but also the waveform of the audio signal of the music itself, When the waveform of the audio signal of music input from the record player or the waveform of the audio signal of the radio broadcast received by the tuner unit 16 is specified, and the meta information such as the artist name, album name, and song name related to the song is recorded on the music CD It is possible to search similarly. However, it goes without saying that such functions cannot be used unless data is registered in the CDDB.

  In the HDD 15, an artist name DB 151, an album name / song name DB 152, a genre name DB 153, a music DB 154, and a search program 150, which will be described later, are stored in appropriate storage areas. The artist name DB 151 is a database in which only the artist name is extracted in advance from the meta information of many music CDs registered in the CDDB and registered as data. Although details will be described later, the album name / song name DB 152 is a database in which character strings that are candidates for album names and song names retrieved from websites on the Internet IN are registered. The character strings registered in the album name / song name DB 152 are registered in association with the keyword (artist name) used for the search when the respective character strings are registered. The genre name DB 153 is a database in which only the genre name is extracted in advance from the meta information of many music CDs registered in the CDDB and registered as data.

  In the music DB 154, data dubbed from a music CD or the like, that is, audio signal data of each music (hereinafter referred to as music data) and information attached thereto, that is, genre name, artist name, album name, music name, etc. Are registered in association with each other. Note that the music data is registered in the music DB 154 as one folder for each album (music CD), and each music data recorded on the music CD is stored as a file in each folder. In addition, album names, artist names, genre names, and music names of stored music are attached to each folder as meta information.

  The artist name DB 151 and the genre name DB 153 are created by the control unit 11 accessing the CDDB website at an appropriate timing according to the search program 150, and the registration contents are updated. However, it goes without saying that such database creation and update processing can be performed by a known technique.

  It is also possible to store folders of the same artist in a folder with the artist name as the folder name. It is also possible for the user to create a dedicated folder, for example, a folder having a name such as “favorite”, and store the favorite music piece in the folder by copying it from various other folders. In this case, the original meta information of each music piece is copied and added as meta information.

  The music data registered in the music DB 154 may be unified into any one of various audio data formats such as a music CD format, an ATRAC format, an MP3 format, or the like. May be. However, in order to enable registration in the music DB 154 in a different format, it is necessary to add information specifying the format of each piece of music data (more specifically, a data file), and the data conversion unit 18 It is necessary to support each format. On the other hand, for example, when music data is registered in the music DB 154 only in the MP3 format, it is possible to save the storage capacity of the music DB 154, but at the time of registration of music data in the music DB 154 and the music DB 154. Each time the music data in the MP3 format registered in is reproduced, it is necessary to convert the format in the data converter 18.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of registered contents in the artist name DB 151. In the artist name DB 151, only an artist name is extracted in advance from the meta information of each music CD registered in the CDDB, and an ID (artist name ID) for specifying each artist name, the artist name itself, and a genre are a set. It is registered as data. Note that there may be no data regarding the genre, and there may be a case where a plurality of genres are assigned (an example indicated by “/” in FIG. 4).

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of registered contents of the album name / song name DB 152. The album name / song name DB 152 will be described in detail later, but an album name (album title) searched from a website on the Internet and a character string (word or word string) that identifies a song name candidate respectively identify the character string. The ID and the character string itself are registered in association with the ID of the artist name (artist ID shown in FIG. 4), which is the keyword used when each is searched. In the example shown in FIG. 5, each artist name ID is classified, but this is not always necessary.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of registered contents in the genre name DB 153. In the genre name DB 153, only the genre name in the meta information of each music CD registered in the CDDB is extracted in advance, the number of times of selection is counted, an ID for specifying each genre name, and the genre name itself. And the number of selections are registered as a set of data. The artist name DB 151 and the genre name DB 153 are desirably updated periodically when the audio apparatus 1 can be connected to the CDDB website via the Internet.

  The basic operation of the mini-component as the audio device 1 and the remote control device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is the same as that of a conventional general device of this kind, and a description thereof will be omitted. In the following, the operation as a music information search device for searching and inputting meta information when a music CD not registered in the CDDB is loaded in the CD drive 17 of the audio device 1 will be mainly described. .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a main routine showing a basic processing procedure by the control unit 11 of the audio apparatus 1. The process shown in the flowchart of the main routine is realized by the control unit 11 executing a control program stored in advance in the ROM 12. In the following description, the operation of the audio device 1 by the user is described as being performed by the remote control device 2, but the same operation can be performed by the operation of the operation unit 21.

  The control unit 11 constantly monitors whether or not a music CD is newly loaded in the CD drive 17, and an unregistered music CD, specifically, a music CD that has never acquired meta information from the CDDB in the past. Whether or not it has been loaded is constantly monitored. Except when it is detected that an unregistered music CD is newly loaded in the CD drive 17 (NO in step S11), the control unit 11 performs other processing (step S12), and proceeds to step S19 described later. To proceed.

  When an unregistered music CD is loaded in the CD drive 17 (YES in step S11), the control unit 11 first reads the TOC information of the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 (step S13), and reads the read TOC information. Displayed on the display unit 20 as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 8 (step S14). Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, music CDs for which meta information has been obtained from CDDB in the past can be stored in the HDD 15 by storing the TOC information and meta information of the music CD as a set. Even when the music data is not dubbed from the CD, it is possible to automatically display the meta information without accessing the CDDB.

  Here, the configuration of the screen displayed on the display unit 20 will be described. A rectangular portion displaying “genre” in the upper right of the screen is a genre name display field 201 for displaying the genre of the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17. A rectangular portion displayed as “Artist” immediately below is an artist name display field 203 for displaying the artist name of the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17. A rectangular portion displayed as “album title” on the left side of the screen is an album name display column 202 for displaying the album name of the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17.

  Also, the track information display field 204 is displayed to the full left and right width at the center in the vertical direction of the screen. In this track information display column 204, the number of track information display columns corresponding to the number of tracks (the number of music pieces) recorded on the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 is automatically displayed. The portion on the left side of these track information display fields 204 is a song name display field 205 for each track. A message display field 206 is prepared at the lower end of the screen, and messages such as various guidance and instructions for the user are appropriately displayed. In the screen shown in FIG. 8, a message “Unregistered CD. Information is acquired by pressing the CDDB key” is displayed in the message display field 206.

  Next, the control unit 11 controls the communication unit 14 to transmit the TOC information to the CDDB website in accordance with the operation of the “CDDB” key 60 of the user's remote control device 2 (step S15). It will be in the state which waits for the reply from a website (it is NO at step S16). However, when an unregistered music CD is loaded in the CD drive 17, the TOC information may be automatically transmitted to the CDDB website.

  When a reply from the CDDB website is received (YES in step S16), the control unit 11 determines whether or not meta information corresponding to the previously transmitted TOC information has been received (step S17). Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, there may be a plurality of music CD data corresponding to one TOC information. In that case, the corresponding album name (album title) is returned from the CDDB website. However, as a result of searching using one TOC information as a key, if data of multiple music CDs is hit, it is the same music CD released in different countries, or the music CD of the same content was re-released It is often the case. In any case, in such a case, the control unit 11 displays all album names (may be scrolled if the number is more than a predetermined number) with the cursor positioned at the top album name of the received album name. Displayed on the unit 20.

  The user operates the “cross” key 51 of the remote control device 2 to move the cursor to the desired album name position and operates the “decision” key 53 to select one of the album names. Accordingly, even when there are a plurality of data corresponding to the TOC information transmitted to the CDDB website, only one piece of meta information is transmitted from the CDDB website. 9 is displayed on the display unit 20 as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 9 (step S18). In this display, a message “CD information is displayed. Pressing the record key starts recording (dubbing)” is displayed in the message display field 206.

  Further, when there is no data corresponding to the TOC information transmitted to the CDDB website, a reply that there is no data is returned, and the control unit 11 receives the reply (NO in step S17). In this case, the control unit 11 displays, for example, a message “No CD information” in the message display field 206 while maintaining the display state shown in FIG.

  As described above, when a music CD is newly loaded in the CD drive 17, if the data of the music CD is already registered in the CDDB, the corresponding meta information is displayed in the corresponding display fields of the display unit 20. If not registered, meta information is not displayed. However, in any case, if the user instructs playback of the music CD by operating the “play” key 55 of the remote control device 2 (YES in step S19), the control unit 11 is loaded in the CD drive 17. A music CD playback process is executed (step S20). In this case, not only the “play” key 55 but also the “stop” key 56, “track up” key 57, “track down” key 58 and the like are operated to operate the audio apparatus 1 in the same manner as a normal CD player. It is possible.

  On the other hand, if the user wants to input meta information, an instruction is given by operating the “edit” key 52 of the remote controller 2 (NO in step S19, YES in S21). As a result, the control unit 11 executes meta information search / input processing (step S22). This meta-information search / input process can be executed in order to change the meta-information when it can be acquired, as well as when meta-information cannot be acquired from the CDDB. For example, you can change the song name in English to Katakana, or change the song name in English to a well-known Japanese song (for example, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” becomes “Blue Shadow”) It is also possible to change to the opposite (for example, “walk upward” to “Sukiyaki”).

  Further, the meta information can be registered by the user inputting characters into music data that is already dubbed (music data is recorded in the music DB 154) but does not have meta information. This means that, for example, when music CDs are dubbed without meta information, it is possible to add meta information to music data dubbed from audio cassette tapes, analog records, etc. later. Yes. Details of the meta information search / input process in step S22 will be described later.

  If the user does not input meta information but wants to perform dubbing (copying of music data to the music DB 154 of the HDD 15) recorded on the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17, the "recording" of the remote controller 2 is performed. "Key 61 is operated (NO in step S21, YES in S23). As a result, the controller 11 performs a dubbing process for each piece of music recorded on the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 (step S24). The dubbing process itself to the music CD recording medium (the music DB 154 of the HDD 15) is a well-known technique, and a description thereof is omitted. However, in this case, even if meta information does not exist (not input), a temporary album name (such as “CD01”) and a temporary song name (such as “track 01”) are automatically provided as meta information. It is given, and the genre name is not given. Such processing itself is the same as that of a conventional apparatus of this type.

  The reproduction process in step S20 described above, the meta information search / input process in step S22, and the dubbing process in step S24 are all performed at any time by the user by a predetermined operation of the remote control device 2 during each process. It can be terminated. Therefore, when these processes are terminated by an instruction from the user, or when no execution of any process is instructed, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S11. When the power switch 50 is operated, the control unit 11 turns off the power of the apparatus itself and ends the series of processes. However, as long as the user does not turn off the power, the control unit 11 plays back an unregistered music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 when an unregistered music CD is registered in the CD drive 17. In this state, the system waits for an instruction for either meta-information search / input processing or dubbing processing.

  Therefore, the user can play the music CD regardless of the presence / absence of the meta information of the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17, and can interrupt the playback halfway and input (can be changed) the meta information. It is also possible to perform dubbing regardless of whether meta information is input or not. Further, in the other processing of step S12, for example, when music data already dubbed without meta information is read out, the music data reproduction processing or meta information search / input processing is performed as described above. Is possible. However, in this case, the dubbing process cannot be performed.

  Next, the meta information search / input process in step S22 will be described. 10 and 11 are flowcharts of a subroutine showing details of the meta information search / input processing in step S22. The meta information search / input process in step S22 is executed by the control unit 11 in accordance with the search program 150 stored in the HDD 15 in advance.

  As described above, when the user operates the “edit” key 52 to instruct execution of the meta information search / input process, first, the control unit 11 instructs the user to determine whether or not the music is new. For example, “If the CD is a new score, press the“ 1 ”key. If not, press the“ 2 ”key. A message for allowing the user to designate whether or not the music is a new score is displayed in the message display field 206, and designation by the user's operation of the numeric keypad 59 is accepted (step S27). If the user presses the “1” key to specify that it is a new score (YES in step S28), the control unit 11 sets the “NEW” flag to “1” (step S29). . On the other hand, when the user presses the “2” key in order to specify that it is not new or unknown (NO in step S28), the control unit 11 sets the “NEW” flag to “0”. Set (step S30). When the user operates a key other than “1” or “2”, the control unit 11 displays in the message display field 206 that only the “1” or “2” key is valid. It may be.

  Next, the control part 11 detects the cursor position on the screen currently displayed on the display part 20 (step S31). Note that the “cross” of the remote controller 2 is positioned so that the cursor is positioned in any of the genre name display field 201, the album name display field 202, the artist name display field 203, and the track name display field 205 of each track. It can be moved by operating the key 51.

  However, in the present invention, the song name cannot be entered in the song name display column 202 unless the artist name is entered in the artist name display column 203. The reason is that in the present invention, the album name and the song name are searched using the artist name as a keyword. In other words, according to the present invention, an album name and a song name are searched as long as an artist name is input. Therefore, the artist name may be directly input by the user without performing the above-described artist name search / input processing. In this case, the artist name DB 151 may not be provided.

  When the “edit” key 52 is operated, the cursor is usually positioned in the genre name display field 201. Then, the control unit 11 waits for monitoring whether the user has operated the numeric keypad 59 of the remote controller 2 to input characters (step S32) and whether the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated. (Step S33). As a result, if no character is input (NO in step S32) and the “play” key 55 or “record” key 61 is not operated (NO in step S33), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S31. To return. Therefore, the control unit 11 only detects the cursor position until a character is input or the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated. If the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated without inputting characters, the control unit 11 ends the search / input process of the meta information and returns the process to the main routine (step S1). NO in S32, YES in S33).

  If a character is input (YES in step S32), it is first determined whether or not a genre has been set (step S34). If the genre is not set (NO in step S34), the control unit 11 once sets the genre setting to “all” (step S35).

  Next, the control unit 11 performs different processing depending on the cursor position detected at that time, more specifically, the display field in which the character input is performed in step S31. Specifically, when the cursor is positioned in the genre name display field 201 (YES in step S36), the control unit 11 performs a genre name search / input process prepared as a subroutine (step S37). Is set to the genre name input by this processing (step S38). If the cursor is positioned in the artist name display field 203 (NO in step S36, YES in S39), the control unit 11 performs an artist name search / input process prepared as a subroutine (step S40).

  If the cursor is positioned in the album name display field 202 or any song name display field 205 (NO in step S39), the control unit 11 determines whether or not an artist name has already been input (step S39). S41). If the artist name has not been input (NO in step S41), the control unit 11 displays a message prompting the artist name to be input in the message display field 206 (step S42), and proceeds to step S46 described later.

  If the artist name has already been entered (YES in step S41) and the cursor is positioned in the album name display field 202 (YES in step S43), the control unit 11 searches for the album name prepared as a subroutine. An input process is performed (step S44). If the artist name has already been input (YES in step S41) and the cursor is positioned in the song name display field 205 of any track (NO in step S43), the control unit 11 is prepared as a subroutine. A search / input process for the current song name is performed (step S45). However, the album name search / input process and the song name search / input process are executed by the same subroutine.

  If the process returns to the meta information search / input process due to the movement of the cursor to another display field during the processing of each subroutine (YES in step S46), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S31 again. In this case, the meta information search / input process is continued in accordance with the display field of the cursor destination. However, if the user has operated the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 during the processing of each subroutine and returns to the meta-information search / input process (NO in step S46), the control unit 11 Return processing to the main routine. Accordingly, if an album name or a song name is to be input before the artist name is input, the input is not accepted, and the album name or the song name is displayed only when the artist has input the artist name in the artist name display field 203. The song title can be entered.

  FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts of subroutines showing details of the genre name search / input process in step S37 in the meta information search / input process shown in FIGS. The genre name search / input subroutine is executed according to the search program 150 stored in the HDD 15. At the time when the execution of the genre name search / input process subroutine is started, one character has already been input to the genre name display field 201 in step S32 of the meta information search / input process.

  First, the control unit 11 displays the characters input in the genre name display column 201 in addition to the characters already input in the genre name display column 201 (step S51). However, only the characters input in step S32 of the meta information search / input process are initially displayed. The controller 11 searches the genre name corresponding to this character from the data registered in the genre name DB 153 (step S52). Specifically, if one character is initially input in the genre name display field 201, that one character is displayed in the genre name display field 201, and the genre name with the one character as the first character is the genre name. Retrieved from the DB 153.

  As a result of the search as described above, if there is one or more hit data (a genre name in which the input characters are characters from the head side) (YES in step S53), the control unit 11 has hit. All genre names are read out from the genre name DB 153 and displayed as a list in a pull-down menu below the genre name display field 201 of the display unit 20 (step S54). If the number of corresponding genre names is more than a certain level, scroll display is performed.

  On the other hand, if the genre name does not exist as a result of the search in step S52 (NO in step S53), the control unit 11 displays a list of all genre names (step S55). There are not many genre names, and the user cannot register any genre name. If the user cannot input appropriate characters, all genre names are displayed and selected. It is preferable to make it. However, if the user cannot determine the genre of the music CD loaded in the audio device, or if the user cannot understand the meaning of the genre, “all” or “not selected” in addition to the individual genre names. It is desirable to have the option of When these “all” or “not selected” options are selected, the genre setting is automatically set to “all”.

  In any case, when the user moves the cursor from the list of genre names displayed on the display unit 20 by operating the “cross” key 51 of the remote controller 2 and operates the “decision” key 53, any genre is selected. When a name is selected (YES in step S56), the control unit 11 displays the selected genre name in place of the first character input in the genre name display field 201 (step S57).

  For example, when the user operates the numeric keypad 59 of the remote controller 2 to input one character “R” into the genre name display field 201, the control unit 11 reads “Rock”, “Reggae”, “ Search for genre names whose first character is “R” such as “R & B” and display a list in the pull-down menu below the genre name display column 201 of the display unit 20 If there is, scroll it.) The schematic diagram of FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram which shows the display state of the display part 20 in such a case. Therefore, the user can select a genre name at this point. In the screen shown in FIG. 14, a message “Select a genre and press the enter key” is displayed in the message display field 206.

  In the example shown in FIG. 14, it is preferable to display genre names in order of frequency based on the number of times the user has selected in the past. However, for example, English display may be in alphabetical order, Japanese display may be in alphabetical order. In this case, it is easy to find a genre name that the user has rarely selected in the past. It is highly possible.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the “clear” key 54 has been operated, whether or not the cursor has been moved to another display field, and whether or not the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated. A monitoring standby state is entered (NO in steps S58, S60 and S61). When the “clear” key 54 is operated (YES in step S58), the control unit 11 returns the display state of the display unit 20 to the state before the time when the user selects a genre name in step S56 (step S59). The process returns to S56. Accordingly, the user can cancel the genre name once selected from the list by operating the “clear” key 54 and select the genre name from the list again.

  When the “clear” key 54 is not operated and the cursor is moved to another display field (NO in step S58, YES in S60), or when the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated ( In steps S58 and S60, NO, and in S61, YES, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S38 of the meta information search / input process.

  By the way, it may be difficult to select only the first character because there are many corresponding genre names. Accordingly, after displaying the list of genre names in step S54, the control unit 11 displays whether the next character has been input, whether the genre name has been selected, the cursor has been moved to another display field, or “play”. A standby state for monitoring whether the key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated is entered (NO in steps S56, S62, S63 and S64). If a character is input without selecting a genre name from the list (YES in step S62), control unit 11 returns the process to step S51. In this case, the control unit 11 adds the newly input character to the previously input character and displays it in the genre name display field 201 (step S51). Therefore, thereafter, in the same manner as described above, a genre name having the characters displayed in the genre name display field 201 (two characters in this case) as the first two characters is retrieved from the genre name DB 153 and displayed in the same manner as described above. A so-called incremental search displayed at 20 is performed. However, since there are not so many absolute numbers regarding genre names, it is usually possible to select from genre names displayed in a list by inputting the first character.

  If the cursor is moved to another display field (YES in step S60 or S63), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S38 of the meta information search / input process. When the process returns to step S38, the control unit 11 sets the genre setting (including “all”) selected in step S56 and displayed in the genre name display field 201. Thereafter, the control unit 11 detects the cursor position (step S46), and executes processing corresponding to the display field in which the cursor is detected. In addition, when the cursor is not moved to another display field, but returns to the meta information search / input process from the genre name search / input process by operating the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 ( In step S61 or S64, YES, the control unit 11 sets the genre setting to the selected genre name (including “all”) as described above, and returns the process to the main routine. Therefore, in this case, if the user has operated the “play” key 55, for example, the control unit 11 starts playing the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 at that time.

  If the user wants to change the genre name, specifically, if he wants to change the genre name input as described above or the genre name that has already been input, the genre after dubbing without inputting the genre name. When inputting a name, the “edit” key 52 of the remote control device 2 may be operated to position the cursor in the genre name display field 201 and enter characters. In this case, the process of step S37 in the flowchart of the meta information search / input process shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, that is, the genre name search / input process shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. The name search / input process can be redone.

  By the way, as described above, in the present invention, without providing the artist name DB 151, it is also possible for the user to search and input the album name and the song name by directly inputting the artist name. In such a case, the genre name DB 153 does not necessarily have to be provided, and therefore it is not necessary to input a genre name. However, the genre of music is not of a nature that can be arbitrarily created by the user, and a predetermined genre limited to a certain number is generally known, so the artist name DB 151 is not provided. Of course, it is possible to adopt a configuration including the genre name DB 153. On the other hand, when the artist name DB 151 is not provided, it is possible to use a method in which a genre personally classified by a user different from a known musical genre is registered in the genre name DB 153. The genre personally classified by the user is, for example, a genre classified by age, or a genre classified by keywords of the user's own sensibilities (for example, keywords representing seasons, keywords representing love songs, protest songs, etc.).

  FIGS. 15 and 16 are flowcharts of subroutines showing details of the artist name search / input process in step S40 in the meta information search / input process shown in FIGS. The artist name search / input subroutine is executed according to the search program 150 stored in the HDD 15. Further, at the time when execution of the artist name search / input processing subroutine is started, one character has already been entered in the artist name display field 203 in step S32 of the meta information search / input processing.

  First, the control unit 11 displays the characters input in the artist name display column 203 in addition to the characters already input in the artist name display column 203 (step S71). However, only the characters input in step S32 of the meta information search / input process are initially displayed. The control unit 11 searches for the artist name corresponding to this character from the data (artist name) registered in the artist name DB 151 (step S72). Specifically, if one character is initially entered in the artist name display field 203, that one character is displayed in the artist name display field 203, and the artist name with that one character as the first character is the artist name. Retrieved from DB 151.

  As a result of the search as described above, if there is one or a plurality of hit data (name of artist whose input character is the character from the head side) (YES in step S73), the control unit 11 has hit All artist names are read from the artist name DB 151 and displayed as a list in a pull-down menu below the artist name display field 203 of the display unit 20 (step S74). If the number of corresponding artist names is more than a certain level, scroll display is performed.

  For example, when “Rock” is set as the genre, and the user operates the numeric keypad 59 of the remote control device 2 and inputs the letter “B” in the artist name display field 203, the control unit 11 performs the artist name DB 151. The artist name starting with the letter “B” in the genre “Rock” is searched for and displayed in the artist name display field 203 of the display unit 20 as a list in the pull-down menu (for example, about 5 or more corresponding artist names). If there is, scroll it.) The schematic diagram of FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the display state of the display unit 20 in such a case. Therefore, the user can select an artist name at this point, but it is not practical to input only the first character because there are so many artist names.

  In the example shown in FIG. 17, it is preferable to display artist names in order of frequency based on the number of times the user has selected in the past. However, for example, English display may be in alphabetical order and Japanese display may be in alphabetical order. In this case, it is easy to find an artist name that the user has hardly selected in the past. Probability is high.

  The user selects one of the artist names by moving the cursor by operating the “cross” key 51 of the remote control device 2 and operating the “decision” key 53 from the list of artist names displayed on the display unit 20. If so (YES in step S76), the control unit 11 displays the selected artist name in place of the first character input in the artist name display field 203 (step S77).

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the “clear” key 54 has been operated, whether or not the cursor has been moved to another display field, and whether or not the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated. A monitoring standby state is entered (NO in steps S78, S80, and S81). When the “clear” key 54 is operated (YES in step S78), the control unit 11 returns the display state of the display unit 20 to the state before the time when the user selects the artist name in step S76 (step S79). The process returns to S76. Therefore, the user can cancel the artist name once selected from the list by operating the “clear” key 54 and select the artist name from the list again.

  When the “clear” key 54 is not operated and the cursor is moved to another display field (NO in step S78, YES in S80), or when the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated ( In steps S78 and S80, NO, and in S81, YES, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S46 of the meta information search / input process.

  By the way, it may be difficult to select only the first character, because there are many corresponding artist names. Therefore, after displaying the artist names in a list in step S74, the control unit 11 selects an artist name from the list, inputs the next character, moves the cursor to another display field, or “plays”. A standby state for monitoring whether the key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated is entered (NO in steps S76, S82, S83 and S84).

  If, for example, one character is newly input without selecting an artist name from the list (YES in step S82), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S71. In this case, the control unit 11 adds the newly input character to the previously input character and displays it in the artist name display field 203 (step S71). Therefore, thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the artist name having the characters displayed in the artist name display field 203 (in this case, two characters) as the first two characters is searched from the artist name DB 151 and displayed in the same manner as described above. A so-called incremental search displayed at 20 is performed.

  For example, when the user inputs “O” as the second character, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 17, two of the artist names beginning with “B” that have been listed up to that point (including scroll display) are displayed. Only “B”, for example “Bob Dylan”, “Bob Marley”, “Boston”, “Bonnie Tyler”, “Bon Jovi”, etc., are incrementally searched and displayed in a list. The schematic diagram of FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the display state of the display unit 20 in such a case. If no genre is specified, for example, “Bob James”, an artist of the genre “Jazz”, is also displayed.

  Further, by repeating the same processing as described above, when the user inputs, for example, “B” as the next first character (third character), only “Bob Dylan”, “Bob Marley”, etc. are obtained as the search results as described above. Incremental search and list display. At this time, for example, if the user performs an operation of selecting “Bob Dylan” by operating the operation unit 21, the control unit 11 displays “Bob Dylan” in the artist name display field 203.

  On the other hand, as a result of the search in step S72, if the corresponding artist name does not exist (NO in step S73), the control unit 11 displays that the corresponding artist name does not exist (for example, the display of the display unit 20 shown in FIG. 17). In the state, the pull-down menu is not displayed, and “message does not exist” is displayed in the message display field 206 (step S75). As described above, when the artist name corresponding to the already input character does not exist in the artist name DB 151 and when the artist name is not selected from the list displayed on the display unit 20 in the previous step S76 (step S76). The control unit 11 determines whether the artist name has been selected, the next character has been input, the cursor has been moved to another display field, or the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated. It becomes a standby state for monitoring whether or not (NO in steps S82, S83, S84 and S76).

  If character input is performed without selecting an artist name from the list or when there is no corresponding artist name (YES in step S82), control unit 11 returns the process to step S71. As described above, the character input is performed without selecting the artist name from the list. When character input is performed when there is no corresponding artist name, the control unit 11 adds the newly input character to the previously input character and displays it in the artist name display field 203. However, when an incremental search is performed, there is no corresponding artist name, so the list is not displayed. Therefore, if the user performs the same operation thereafter, the user can arbitrarily input characters one after another in the artist name display field 203 as described above.

  In this way, after character input is arbitrarily performed one after another, the character is not input and the cursor is moved to another display field (YES in step S83), or “play” key 55 or “record”. When the key 61 is operated (YES in step S84), the control unit 11 determines that the character string input in the artist name display field 203 at that time is directly input as the artist name. The control unit 11 displays the characters directly input in the artist name display field 203 as the artist name as it is (step S85), and returns the process to step S46 of the meta information search / input process. Such determination is different from the genre name, for example, that there may be a so-called new artist who is not registered in the CDDB, and there is a minor artist who is not registered in the CDDB. , Etc. That is, for an artist name that is not registered in the CDDB, the user can directly input the artist name and register it.

  When the cursor is moved to another display field (YES in step S80 or S83), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S46 of the meta information search / input process. When the process returns to step S46 of the meta information search / input process from step S80, the artist name is selected from the search result list, and the artist name is displayed in the artist name display field 203, and the artist name is changed. Determine. If the process returns from step S83 to step S46 of the meta information search / input process, the process goes through step S85, so that the character string input in the artist name display field 203 is displayed in the artist name display field 203 as an artist name. The artist name is confirmed.

  As described above, when the cursor is moved to another display field and the process returns to step S46 of the meta information search / input process, the control unit 11 detects the cursor position (step S31), and thereafter the process from step S32 onward. Execute the process. In addition, when the cursor is not moved to another display field but the “replay” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated, the artist name search / input process returns to the meta information search / input process ( In step S81 or S84, the artist name is determined as described above, but since the determination in step S46 is “NO”, the control unit 11 returns the process to the main routine. In this case, if the user has operated the “play” key 55, for example, the control unit 11 starts playing the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 at that time.

  If the user wants to change the artist name, specifically, the artist name entered as described above or the artist name that has already been entered, or the artist after dubbing without entering the artist name. When inputting a name, it is only necessary to operate the “edit” key 52 of the remote control device 2 to position the cursor in the artist name display field 203 and input characters. In this case, the process of step S40 in the flowchart of the meta information search / input process shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, that is, the artist name search / input process shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, is executed. The name search / input process can be redone.

  As described above, when an artist name is input regardless of whether the search is an incremental search or a manual input by the user, an album name and a song name can be input. By the way, when the album name and the song title are not registered in the CDDB, the music CD is mainly not yet registered because it is a so-called new music, and because it is a CD of a minor artist such as a so-called indilabel. And a source that is not converted to a CD, that is, an LP record that is not converted to a CD is converted into digital data.

  In the case of new music, there are many cases where the announcement is made on the website of the online shop of music CDs, the website of the publisher of music CDs, the website of artists, etc. before release. Therefore, by searching the above website under the search condition ““ artist name ”AND (“ new ”OR“ NEW ”OR“ new ”)”, a web page for a new music release announcement, reservation reception, etc. is displayed. There is a good chance of a hit. Then, by searching for a character string satisfying a predetermined condition in such a web page, it is possible to find a character string candidate that seems to be the album name and / or song name of the new music.

  For example, if the hit webpage is a Japanese webpage, the character string between “”, “”, etc., and the English webpage between “”, “”, etc. can be the album name or song name. The display state is different from the surrounding text regardless of whether it is Japanese or English (for example, different colored characters such as bold and red, different fonts such as Gothic) There is a high possibility, and in the case of a song title, there is a high possibility that it is numbered sequentially from “1”, and there is a high possibility that it is numbered after a line feed. Therefore, by searching for such a character string, it is highly possible that a character string as an album name or song name candidate can be easily found.

  Furthermore, if the hit web page is created in a so-called tag language such as HTML or XML, for example, the album name and the song name character string are sandwiched between the tags for setting the link, or the album name characters. In many cases, the column is sandwiched between tags for displaying the album jacket image, or the character string of the song title is sandwiched between the tags for downloading the music data for viewing. Therefore, by searching for a character string sandwiched between such tags, it is highly likely that a character string as an album name or song name candidate can be easily found. Therefore, in the present invention, a character string that satisfies the above-described predetermined condition is extracted as an album name and / or song name character string candidate and registered in the album name / song name DB 152. Then, from the character string data registered in the album name / song name DB 152, the user is made to select and input an album name and a song name by an incremental search.

  On the other hand, as a case where data is not registered in the CDDB, in addition to the case of a new music CD as described above, if it is a music CD released from a so-called indie label, the music of a very minor artist It may be a CD. Furthermore, data cannot be acquired from the CDDB even when the user digitally records an LP record that has not been converted into a music CD. Therefore, when searching for and inputting album names and / or song names other than these new music CDs, the website is searched using only the artist name as a keyword, and the above-described web page including the artist name used as the keyword is used. Similarly, if character strings satisfying predetermined conditions are extracted, these character strings can be used as album name and / or song name character string candidates and registered in the album name / song name DB 152. It is also possible to use it.

  19, 20, 21, and 22 are flowcharts of subroutines showing details of the album name search / input process in step S44 in the meta-information search / input process shown in FIGS. However, this album name search / input process is shared with the song name search / input process subroutine of step S45 in the meta information search / input process as the album name / song name search / input process. The album name / song name search / input subroutine is executed according to the search program 150 stored in the HDD 15. At the time when the execution of the album name / song name search / input processing subroutine is started, one character has already been input to the album name display field 202 in step S32 of the meta information search / input processing.

  First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the “NEW” flag is “1” (step S91). If the “NEW” flag is “1” (YES in step S91), the control unit 11 has been previously input in the artist name display field 203 because the user has designated that it is a new score. A specific website under the condition of ““ Artist Name ”AND (“ New ”OR“ NEW ”OR“ New ”)”, for example, a music CD Internet sales site, a music CD publisher's website, the artist himself A web page is searched for the website of the company and the website of the fan club (step S92). If there is a web page hit under the above conditions (YES in step S93), the control unit 11 searches the hit web page for a character string that satisfies the predetermined condition as described above (step S94). As a result, if there is a hit character string (YES in step S95), the control unit 11 extracts the hit character string and registers the extracted character string in association with the artist name in the album name / song name DB 152. (Step S96).

  As a result of the search, if there is no hit web page (NO in step S93), or there is a hit web page, but a character string satisfying a predetermined condition is not hit in the web page (in step S95). NO), the control unit 11 advances the process to step S105 described later.

  If the “NEW” flag is not “1” in step S91 (NO in step S91), the control unit 11 has already registered the “artist name” input in the artist name display field 203. It is determined whether or not already registered in the album name / song title DB 152 (step S97). If the artist name has been registered (YES in step S97), the control unit 11 causes the user to select whether or not to perform a new search. Specifically, a message for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform a new search is displayed in the message display field 206. For example, when the user operates the “1” key of the numeric keypad 59, a new search is performed. However, when the user operates the key “2”, it is assumed that no new search is performed (step S98).

  When the user selects to perform a new search (YES in step S98), the control unit 11 searches for a predetermined website in the same manner as in step S92 using only “artist name” as a keyword (step S99). ). In this case, since the search is performed using “artist name” as a keyword, the album name and song name character strings related to the new music are also extracted. Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs the processing after step S93 in the same manner as described above. In any case, when a search is performed a plurality of times with the same artist name, only a character string other than those already registered in the album name / song name DB 152, that is, a newly extracted character string is added. Are registered in the album name / song name DB 152. On the other hand, when the user selects not to perform a new search (NO in step S98), control unit 11 advances the process to step S101 described later.

  As described above, when a new character string is registered in the album name / song title DB 152 in step S95 and when the user selects not to perform a new search in step S98, the control unit 11 displays the album name display field. The characters input in 202 are added to the characters already input in the album name display field 202 and displayed (step S101). However, only the characters input in step S32 of the meta information search / input process are initially displayed. The control unit 11 searches the data registered in the album name / song name DB 152 for a character string corresponding to this character (step S102). Specifically, assuming that one character is initially input in the album name display field 202, that one character is displayed in the album name display field 202, and a character string having the one character as the first character is an album. The name / song name DB 152 is searched.

  As a result of the search as described above, if there is one or more hit data (a character string in which the input character is a character from the top) (YES in step S103), the control unit 11 has hit All character strings are read from the album name / song name DB 152 and displayed as a list in a pull-down menu below the album name display field 202 of the display unit 20 (step S104). If the number of hit character strings exceeds a certain level, scroll display is performed.

  For example, when the user operates the numeric keypad 59 of the remote control device 2 to input the letter “H” into the album name display field 202, the control unit 11 reads from the album name / song title DB 152 the first letter is “H”. A character string is searched, and a list is displayed in the album name display field 202 of the display unit 20 in the order of new registration by using a pull-down menu with a limit of, for example, about five (if there are more character strings, scroll display is performed). The schematic diagram of FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the display state of the display unit 20 in such a case.

  In the example shown in FIG. 23, the time registered in the album name / song name DB 152 is displayed in order from the newest side (see FIG. 5). This is to make it easier for the user to select a character string that is likely to be the album name and song name of a new song when a character string related to the new song is newly registered in the album name / song name DB 152. However, if no new music is specified, for example, English display may be in alphabetical order, and Japanese display may be in alphabetical order. It is also possible to select character strings in order.

  The user selects one of the character strings by moving the cursor by operating the “cross” key 51 of the remote control device 2 and operating the “decision” key 53 from the list of character strings displayed on the display unit 20. If so (YES in step S106), the control unit 11 displays the selected character string in place of the first character input in the album name display field 202 (step S107).

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 enters a state of monitoring whether or not the “clear” key 54 or the “decision” key 53 has been operated (NO in steps S108 and S110). When the “clear” key 54 is operated (YES in step S108), the control unit 11 returns the display state of the display unit 20 to the state before the time point when the user selected a character string in step S106 (step S109). The process returns to S106. Therefore, the user can cancel the character string once selected from the list by operating the “clear” key 54 and select the album name from the list again.

  When the “OK” key 53 is operated without operating the “Clear” key 54 (NO in step S108, YES in S110), the control unit 11 confirms the selected character string as a part or all of the album name. (Step S111). Thereafter, the control unit 11 monitors whether or not a character has been input, whether or not the cursor has been moved to another display field, and whether or not the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated. A standby state is entered (NO in steps S112, S113, and S114). If a character is input (YES in step S112), control unit 11 returns the process to step S101. Therefore, in this case, the same processing as described above is executed for characters that are input again after the character string is confirmed in step S111.

  When the character is not input and the cursor is moved to another display field (NO in step S112, YES in S113), or when the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated (steps S112 and S113). NO, YES in S114), the control unit 11 determines the character string currently displayed in the album name display field 202 as the album name (step S115), and proceeds to step S46 of the meta information search / input process. Return processing.

  By the way, it may be difficult to select only the first character because there are many corresponding character strings. Therefore, after displaying the character strings in a list in step S104, the control unit 11 selects a character string from the list, operates the “determine” key 53, inputs the next character, or displays another cursor. It enters a standby state for monitoring whether it has been moved to the column or whether the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 has been operated (NO in steps S106, S116, S118, S119 and S120).

  If the “OK” key 53 is operated without selecting a character string from the list (NO in step S106, YES in S116), the control unit 11 displays the character input in the album name display field 202 at that time. The column is confirmed as a character string corresponding to a part or all of the album name (step S117), the next character input is performed, the cursor is moved to another display field, or the “play” key 55 or “ A standby state for monitoring whether the “record” key 61 has been operated or whether a character string has been selected from the list is entered (NO in steps S118, S119, S120, and S106). However, in this case, since the character string has already been confirmed, the character string is not selected from the list, and therefore step S106 is skipped.

  Regardless of whether or not “OK” key 53 is operated in step S116, for example, when one character is newly input (YES in step S118), control unit 11 returns the process to step S101. In this case, when the confirmed character (character string) is already displayed in the album name display field 202, the control unit 11 keeps the character (character string) as it is, and sets the newly input character first. Next to the input character, it is added as an undetermined character and displayed in the album name display field 202 (step S101). Therefore, after that, in the same manner as described above, the character string having the unconfirmed characters (in this case, two characters) displayed in the album name display column 202 as the first two characters is searched from the album name / song name DB 152. As described above, a so-called incremental search displayed on the display device 20 is performed.

  For example, when the user inputs “I” as the second character, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 23, two of the character strings starting with “H” that have been listed up to that point (including scroll display) are displayed. For example, only “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Highway 51” whose characters are “I” are incrementally searched and displayed in a list. The schematic diagram of FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the display state of the display unit 20 in such a case. At this point, for example, if the user performs an operation of selecting any character string by operating the operation unit 21, the control unit 11 displays the selected character string in the album name display field 202. Further, by repeating the same process as described above, when the user inputs the next character (third character), an incremental search is further performed in the same manner as described above.

  On the other hand, as a result of the search in step S102, if the corresponding character string does not exist (NO in step S103), if the web page does not hit in the previous step S93 (NO in step S93), or the character in step S95 If the column is not hit (NO in step S95), the control unit 11 displays that the corresponding character string does not exist (for example, does not display the pull-down menu in the display state of the display unit 20 shown in FIG. 22, and further displays a message). In the display field 206, “No corresponding character string exists” or the like is performed (step S 105). As described above, when the character string corresponding to the already input character does not exist in the album name / song name DB 152 and when the album name is not selected from the list displayed on the display unit 20 in the previous step S106 ( In step S106, NO), the control unit 11 executes the processing after step S116 as described above.

  If a character string is not selected from the list, or if there is no corresponding character string and the “enter” key 53 is not operated (NO in step S116, YES in S118), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S101. The case where character input is performed without selecting a character string from the list has been described above. When character input is performed when there is no corresponding character string, the control unit 11 adds the newly input character to the previously input character after the already determined character string and adds an album name display field. 202. However, when an incremental search is performed, there is no corresponding character string, so a list is not displayed. Therefore, if the user performs the same operation thereafter, the user can arbitrarily input characters one after another in the album name display field 202 in the same manner as described above.

  In this way, after character input is arbitrarily performed one after another, the character is not input and the cursor is moved to another display field (YES in step S119), or “play” key 55 or “record”. When the key 61 is operated (YES in step S120), the control unit 11 determines that the character string input in the album name display field 202 at that time is directly input as the album name. Then, the control unit 11 displays the character string input in the album name display field 202 as the album name as it is (step S121), and returns the process to step S46 of the meta information search / input process. Such determination is made when the user inputs all or a part of the character string constituting the album name, for example, “blank”, “a”, “the”, etc. when inputting the album name in English letters Can be used to input a particle or the like when inputting an album name in Japanese. That is, it is possible to simplify the operation by making it possible to directly input a character string or characters that can be easily input without searching the album name / song title DB 152.

  When the cursor is moved to another display field (YES in step S113 or S119), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S46 of the meta information search / input process. In either case, a character string determined as the album name in the album name display field 202 is displayed. As described above, when the cursor is moved to another display field and the process returns to step S46 of the meta information search / input process, the control unit 11 detects the cursor position (step S31), and thereafter the same as described above. The process after step S32 is executed. In addition, when the cursor is not moved to another display field but the “play” key 55 or the “record” key 61 is operated to return from the album name search / input process to the meta information search / input process ( In step S114 or S120, the album name is determined in the same manner as described above, but since the determination in step S46 is “NO”, the control unit 11 returns the process to the main routine. In this case, if the user has operated the “play” key 55, for example, the control unit 11 starts playing the music CD loaded in the CD drive 17 at that time.

  As described above, one or both of the operations of searching and selecting a character string registered in the album name / song title DB 152 using an incremental search and directly inputting characters by the user A character string is displayed in the album name display field 202 by combining. Therefore, the user can input the album name relatively easily and simply without directly inputting characters for the entire album name.

  In addition, when the user wants to change the album name, specifically, when the user wants to change the album name input as described above or the album name already input, the dubbing is performed without inputting the album name. If the album name is to be input later, the user may operate the “edit” key 52 of the remote control device 2 to position the cursor in the album name display field 202 and enter characters. In this case, the process of step S44 in the flowchart of the meta information search / input process shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, that is, the album name search / input process shown in FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22 is executed. Therefore, the user can redo the album name search / input process.

  When inputting the title of a music CD loaded in the CD drive 17, it is detected that the cursor position is in the song name display field 205 in step S31 of the meta information search / input process. 19, the album name / song title search / display subroutine shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22 is executed. However, in this case, in the song name search / input processing, character input is performed in the track name display column 205 of each track, and the selected or directly input character (character string) is displayed in the track name display column 205 of each track. The basic processing procedure other than the above is the same as the album name search / input processing described above.

  When the control unit 11 performs the above-described processing according to the user's operation, meta information such as genre name, artist name, album name, song name, etc. can be relatively easily obtained for music CDs for which meta information cannot be obtained from the CDDB. Can be input by the user himself. This can also be applied to a new record in which meta information cannot be obtained from a CDDB website on the Internet or a music CD of an extremely minor artist.

  Regarding genre name search / input processing, if artist name search / input processing is performed without specifying a genre, the artist name is attached to the genre information and can be used. is there. However, since the number of genres is limited, there is no problem even if the user selects all genres by displaying a list.

  By the way, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the case where the meta information of music CD was not able to be acquired from CDDB, for example, when music data converted into digital data from an analog record was recorded on music DB 154 etc., music CD is meta information. It becomes the same state as when dubbing without acquiring. Therefore, in this case, for example, by specifying an album name (of course, a temporary album name), a screen similar to the screen shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. However, unlike the message shown in FIG. 8 in this case, the album name, song name, etc. can be entered by pressing the “Edit” key. Is displayed. When the user operates the “edit” key 52 in response to this message, the meta information search / input process in step S22 of the flowchart of the main routine shown in FIG. 7 is started. Such a method of using the audio apparatus 1 is effective in converting various sources, particularly analog records, into which digital information cannot be automatically acquired from the CDDB.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the artist name is searched and input using the artist name DB 151, but the user may input the artist name directly by inputting characters. In order to acquire meta information from the CDDB, a predetermined setting is required. However, if the setting for acquiring the meta information from the CDDB is not made, but it is possible to connect to the Internet, according to the present invention, the artist name is directly input by the user himself / herself by inputting the name of the album. It is possible to perform a search / input process.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of performing alphabet input has been described. However, it is of course possible to perform Japanese (kana, kanji) input. When inputting Japanese, there are two cases: searching for kana input converted to kanji and searching for kanji using the input kana as a kana, but reducing the user's effort. Considering the latter, the latter is preferable. In other words, when searching for an album name / song name, for example, when “a” is entered as “a”, “love”, “love song”, “morning”, “asahi”, “house where the sun hits”, “morning glory” ”, Etc., and when“ sa ”is added and entered, character strings such as“ morning ”,“ morning sun ”,“ house where morning sun hits ”,“ morning glory ”are searched. It is desirable to do.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the music data recorded on the music recording medium such as a music CD is dubbed (more specifically, the music data is read from the music recording medium and another recording medium such as a hard disk, for example). The case of copying and recording to the above has been described. However, the present invention can be used for the purpose of creating a database of only meta information such as album names and song names by inputting artist names without performing such dubbing of music data. Utilizing the present invention in creating such a database is very beneficial to individuals who own large amounts of music CDs, analog records, etc., or businesses called “jazz cafes”, for example.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the labor when the user inputs characters by himself / herself on meta information of an unregistered music CD in a music recording medium database such as CDDB. Therefore, even in the case where a large number of music CDs are conventionally dubbed without meta information and cannot be collected, the user can input at least the artist name, album name, etc. relatively easily, The music data recorded in the music DB 154 can be managed. Furthermore, the present invention provides the meta information such as album name and song name of the music CD before the meta information of the so-called new music CD that has been released on various websites is registered in the CDDB. It is possible to search and input from the site.

  In addition, when an analog record that is not converted to a music CD is converted into digital data, the user can manage the digital data by inputting at least the artist name, album name, etc. relatively easily. .

It is a schematic diagram which shows the external appearance at the time of applying the music information retrieval apparatus which concerns on this invention to the minicomponent as an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of key arrangement | positioning of the remote control apparatus of an audio apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structural example of the main body of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the registration content of the artist name database of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the registration content of the album name and music title database of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the registration content of the genre name database of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the main routine which shows the basic process sequence by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the meta information by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the meta information by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the genre name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the genre name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the artist name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the artist name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the album name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the album name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the album name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows the detail of the search / input process of the album name by the control part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of an audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of the conventional audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of the conventional audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of the conventional audio apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display screen of the display part of the conventional audio apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Audio device 2 Remote control device (remote control device)
3 CDDB (Music Recording Medium Database)
11 Control unit 12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Communication Unit 15 HDD (Large Scale Recording Medium)
17 CD drive 20 Display unit 21 Operation unit 22 Remote control signal receiving unit 150 Search program 151 Artist name database 152 Album name / song name database 154 Music database 51 “Cross” key 52 “Edit” key 53 “Enter” key 54 “Clear” key 55 “Play” key 59 Numeric keypad 60 “CDDB” key 61 “Recording” key 202 Album name display field 203 Artist name display field 204 Track information display field 205 Song name display field

Claims (18)

In a music information search method in which a search device searches for music information as character information related to a song recorded on a music recording medium.
Search the web page on the Internet using the artist name in the music information as a keyword,
A music information search method, wherein a character string in a web page including the keyword is searched for as an album name and / or song name candidate in the music information.   The music information search method according to claim 1, wherein the search device searches for a character string in a predetermined display state in a web page including the keyword as an album name and / or song name candidate.   2. The search device according to claim 1, wherein when a web page including the keyword is described in a tag language, a character string sandwiched between predetermined tags is searched as an album name and / or song name candidate. 2. The music information search method according to 1.   2. The search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search apparatus creates an album name / song name database in which an artist name used in the search as the keyword is associated with a search result album name and / or a song name candidate character string. 4. The music information search method according to any one of 3. Creating an artist name database by previously searching for and registering an artist name in music information from a music recording medium database in which information for specifying the recording content of the music recording medium and music information are registered in association with each other; Store it in a storage device that can be accessed by the search device,
The search device searches an artist name registered in the artist name database stored in the storage device based on character information input from the outside by an incremental search, and uses the search result artist name as the keyword. The music information search method according to claim 1, wherein the music information search method is used. The music recording medium database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication,
The search device creates and updates the artist name database by acquiring necessary information from the music recording medium database stored in the remote storage device by Internet communication. The described music information search method.   6. The music information retrieval method according to claim 5, wherein the artist name database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication. In a music information search device for searching for music information as character information related to music recorded on a music recording medium,
Artist name input means for accepting the input of the artist name in the music information;
Web page search means for searching for a web page on the Internet using the artist name received by the artist name input means as a keyword;
The web page search means comprises album name / song name search means for searching for a character string in the web page including the keyword used for the search as an album name and / or song name candidate in the music information. Music information retrieval device.   The album name / song name search means searches for a character string in a predetermined display state in a web page including the keyword as an album name and / or a song name candidate character string. Item 9. The music information search device according to Item 8.   The album name / song name search means searches for a character string sandwiched between predetermined tags as album name and / or song name candidate character strings when a web page including the keyword is described in a tag language. 9. The music information retrieval apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the music information retrieval apparatus is configured as described above.   The album name / song name search means creates an album name / song name database in which an album name and / or song name candidate character string searched using the artist name as a keyword is associated with the keyword used for the search. The music information search device according to claim 8, wherein the music information search device is a music information search device. Create and store an artist name database in which an artist name in music information is searched in advance and registered from a music recording medium database in which information specifying the recording contents of the music recording medium and music information are registered in association with each other. Means for creating an artist name database to be stored in the means;
Character information input means for receiving input of character information from the outside;
Based on the character information received by the character information input means, an artist name search means for searching an artist name registered in the artist name database by an incremental search;
Display means for displaying the artist name searched by the artist name search means;
Selection accepting means for accepting an instruction to select one of the search results displayed on the display means when there are a plurality of artist names;
The music information search apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the artist name input unit is configured to receive an input of an artist name for which the selection receiving unit has received a selection. The music recording medium database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication,
The artist name database creating means creates and updates the artist name database by acquiring necessary information from the music recording medium database stored in the remote storage device by Internet communication. The music information search apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the music information search apparatus is a music information search apparatus.   13. The music information retrieval apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the artist name database is stored in a remote storage device accessible by Internet communication. A computer program for causing a computer to search for music information as character information relating to music recorded on a music recording medium,
Searching the web page on the Internet using the artist name in the music information as a keyword,
A computer program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for searching a character string in a web page including a keyword as a candidate for an album name and / or a song name in music information.   16. The computer program according to claim 15, further causing the computer to execute a procedure for searching a character string in a predetermined display state in the web page including the keyword as an album name and / or song name candidate.   When the web page including the keyword is described in a tag language, the computer is further caused to execute a procedure for searching a character string sandwiched between predetermined tags as an album name and / or song title candidate. The computer program according to claim 15. Create an artist name database by searching in advance and registering the artist name in the music information registered in the music recording medium database in which the information for identifying the contents of the music recording medium and the music information are registered in association with each other And storing it in a storage device accessible by the computer;
A procedure for searching for an artist name registered in the artist name database based on character information input from the outside by an incremental search;
The computer program according to any one of claims 15 to 16, further causing the computer to execute a procedure using an artist name as a keyword as a search result.

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