Systems and methods for creating, modifying, interacting with and playing musical compositions
A method of providing a file structure for use in a music playback device is disclosed. A slotted structure is provided that has a header portion that precedes a plurality of slot portions. The header portion includes a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of the following: header length, checksum, file type, file version, and number of slots. A first slot portion includes a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of the following: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data. A second slot portion includes a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of the following: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data. The first slot data parameter location contains audio waveform data, and slots can be added and removed via firmware/operating system without affecting the other slots.
1. A method of providing a the structure for use in a music playback device, comprising:
providing a slotted structure, wherein a header portion precedes a plurality of slot portions, wherein the header portion is comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: header length, checksum, file type, file version, and number of slots;
providing a first slot portion comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data;
providing a second slot portion comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data;
wherein a first slot data parameter location contains audio waveform data, and wherein slots can be added and removed via firmware/operating system without affecting the other slots,
wherein the file structure stores information on or in a storage medium.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing an alien file management feature as part of the firmware/operating system, wherein alien slots are ignored when detected, and are preserved when the file structure is modified.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the file structure is used to store a music file on a compact disk.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein checksum parameter locations are used as part of a checksum calculation directed to protect the file structure against read/write errors.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the checksum calculation is computed word by word.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein all of the slot portions in the file structure are word aligned.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second slot portion further comprises a nested slot structure.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the second slot portion further comprises musical data in accordance with a data structure for a complete music piece, wherein the musical data comprises one or more seed parameter values;
causing the execution of a music algorithm by the firmware/operating system, wherein music rules are applied to the musical data to generate a music piece, wherein at least one seed parameter value is processed, by the music algorithm.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the file structure stores non-musical data.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the music playback device comprises a game device.
11. A the structure stored in machine readable form for use in a music playback device, comprising:
a slotted structure, wherein a header portion precedes a plurality of slot portions, wherein the header portion is comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: header length, checksum, file type, file version, and number of slots;
a first slot portion comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data;
a second slot portion comprised of a set of parameter locations indicating one or more of: slot type, name length, name, data length, and data;
wherein a first slot data parameter location contains audio waveform data, and wherein slots can be added and removed via firmware/operating system without affecting the other slots,
wherein the file structure stores information on or in a storage medium.
12. The file structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
an alien file management feature located as part of the firmware/operating system, wherein alien slots are ignored when detected, and are preserved when the file structure is modified.
13. The file structure of claim 11 , wherein the file structure contains a music file on a compact disk.
14. The file structure of claim 11 , wherein checksum parameter locations are used as part of a checksum calculation directed to protect the file structure against read/write errors.
15. The file structure of claim 14 , wherein the checksum calculation is computed word by word.
16. The file structure of claim 15 , wherein all of the slot portions in the file structure are word aligned.
17. The file structure of claim 11 , wherein the second slot portion further comprises a nested slot structure.
18. The file structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the second slot portion further comprises musical data in accordance with a data structure for a complete music piece, wherein the musical data comprises one or more seed parameter values;
a music algorithm executing by the firmware/operating system, wherein music rules are applied to the musical data to generate a music piece, wherein at least one seed parameter value is processed by the music algorithm.
19. The file structure of claim 11 , wherein the file structure stores non-musical data.
20. The file structure of claim 11 , wherein the music playback device comprises a game device.