IP Library Granted Patent US 7,842,875
Granted Patent B2
US 7,842,875 · App. 12/249,696 · Granted Nov 30, 2010

Scheme for providing audio effects for a musical instrument and for controlling images with same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,842,875
App. No.
12/249,696
Granted
Nov 30, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.

Claims (33)

1. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps comprising:

receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by a musical instrument;

receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, wherein the wireless controller is coupled to the musical instrument and includes a motion sensing capability;

applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument;

providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument;

receiving a signal from the wireless controller representative of motions of the musical instrument as the musical instrument is played by a user; and

causing a displayable image representative of the user playing the musical instrument to be responsive to the signal representative of motions of the musical instrument.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless controller comprises a game controller; and

the steps of receiving a signal, receiving a selection, applying the audio effect, and providing an output signal are performed by a game console.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:

the image comprises an avatar playing a representation of the musical instrument; and

the step of causing the displayable image representative of the user playing the musical instrument to be responsive to the signal representative of motions of the musical instrument comprises:

causing the representation of the musical instrument played by the avatar to substantially track the motions of the musical instrument as the musical instrument is played by the user; and

causing the avatar to move with movements of the representation of the musical instrument played by the avatar.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the computer program is further adapted to cause the processor based system to execute a step comprising:

displaying in an online community images that are representative of one or more additional players interacting with the displayable image that is representative of the user playing the musical instrument.

5. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps comprising:

receiving a signal representative of sound produced by a musical instrument as the musical instrument is played by a user;

generating an image for display that is representative of the user playing the musical instrument;

causing the image to be responsive to the signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument;

wherein the computer program is further adapted to cause the processor based system to execute steps comprising:

receiving a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument as the musical instrument is played by a user; and

causing the image to be responsive to the signal representative of motions of the musical instrument.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein:

the image comprises an avatar playing a representation of the musical instrument; and

the step of causing the image to be responsive to the signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument comprises:

deciphering what user manipulation of the musical instrument is required to create the sound produced by the musical instrument; and

causing the avatar to mimic the deciphered user manipulation of the musical instrument on the representation of the musical instrument.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the computer program is further adapted to cause the processor based system to execute a step comprising:

displaying in an online community the image that is representative of the user playing the musical instrument.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the computer program is further adapted to cause the processor based system to execute a step comprising:

displaying in the online community images that are representative of one or more additional players interacting with the image that is representative of the user playing the musical instrument.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 053323/0567 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 4, 2016
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 038611/0846 →