Apparatus and methods for music and lyrics broadcasting

Abstract

A system for broadcasting audio music and broadcasting lyrics for display and highlighting substantially simultaneously with the occurrence of the lyrics in the accompanying audio music is provided. The system includes <DEL-S DATE="20010410" ID="DEL-S-00001">a<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001"> <INS-S DATE="20010410" ID="INS-S-00001">an <INS-E ID="INS-S-00001">audio music source that provides a data output and <DEL-S DATE="20010410" ID="DEL-S-00002">a<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00002"> <INS-S DATE="20010410" ID="INS-S-00002">an <INS-E ID="INS-S-00002">analog audio signal output. A computer receives the data output by the music source and generates lyric text data and lyric timing commands. A subcarrier generator generates a subcarrier signal carrying the lyric text data and lyric timing commands. An FM transmitter broadcasts a composite signal that combines the analog output of the music source with the subcarrier signal. A lyric display unit receives the composite signal, separates and decodes the subcarrier signal and displays and highlights lyrics according <INS-S DATE="20010410" ID="INS-S-00003">to <INS-E ID="INS-S-00003">the lyric text data and lyric timing commands decoded from the subcarrier signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of generating and transmitting data for use in displaying lyrics of a musical selection and highlighting the displayed lyrics at substantially the same time the lyrics occur in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection comprising the steps of: 
       creating one or more files for storing lyric text and timing data for a musical selection comprising the steps of:  
       separating the lyrics of such musical selection into phrases of lyrics that are shorter than a predetermined length,  
       for each word occurring in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection, determining the length of time from a predetermined temporal reference point in said musical selection to the occurrence of such word in such corresponding reproduction of such musical selection, and  
       storing the separated phrases of lyrics and representations of said determined lengths of time for each word occurring in the musical selection into said one or more files,  
       transmitting a reproduction of the musical selection over an analog radio channel,  
       transmitting the text of each of said separated phrases of lyrics stored in said one or more files prior to said predetermined temporal reference point or within the determined length of time for the first word of such phase after said predetermined temporal reference point, and  
       for each of such phrases, transmitting highlight commands for each word of such phrase when said determined length of time for such word has elapsed since the occurrence of said predetermined temporal reference point.  
     
     
       2. A method of generating and transmitting data for use in displaying lyrics of a musical selection and highlighting the displayed lyrics at substantially the same time the lyrics occur in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection comprising the steps of 
       creating one or more files for storing lyric text and timing data for a musical selection comprising the steps of:  
       separating the lyrics of such musical selection into phrases of lyrics that are shorter than a predetermined length,  
       for each word occurring in a corresponding audible reproduction of such musical selection, determining the length of time from a predetermined temporal reference point in said musical selection to the occurrence of such word in such corresponding reproduction of such musical selection  
       storing the separated phrases of lyrics and representations of said determined lengths of time for each word occurring in the musical selection into said one or more files,  
       transmitting a reproduction of the musical selection over an analog radio channel,  
       transmitting each word in said one or more files, its determined length of time from said temporal reference point and a phrase code if the word is the last word of a separated phrase, and  
       transmitting a command signifying the occurrence of said predetermined temporal reference point.  
     
     
       3. The method of claim  2  wherein the step of transmitting each word further comprises transmitting each word before the occurrence of the predetermined temporal reference point. 
     
     
       4. A method of retrieving, from a database coupled to a computer system, lyrics of a song recorded on a digital storage medium and being played by a player and displaying the lyrics on a display device for viewing by a user, the method comprising the steps of: 
       
         storing in the database lyrics of a plurality of songs such that the stored lyrics are resident in the database at the same time;  
       
       
         sending an identifier of the song being played to the database to identify the stored song lyrics;  
       
       
         configuring the computer system to retrieve the lyrics of the song being played based on the song identifier;  
       
       
         generating a signal representing elapsed time from a reference point of the song being played;  
       
       
         sending the retrieved lyrics to the display device in timed response to the elapsed time signal; and  
       
       
         displaying the lyrics on the display device while the song is being played by the player such that the displayed lyrics are in synchronism with the song being played.  
       
     
     
       5. The method of claim  4 , wherein the sending by the CD player, locating, sending from the database, and displaying steps are performed automatically, without user intervention, after commencement of playing the CD by the CD player.  
     
     
       6. The method of claim  4 , wherein information in addition to lyrics is stored in the database.  
     
     
       7. The method of claim  6 , wherein the information comprises lyric timing data and the elapsed time signal is generated from the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       8. The method of claim  7 , wherein the displaying step displays the lyrics on the display device in synchronization with playing of the song by the CD player according to the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       9. The method of claim  8 , wherein the displaying step further comprises the step of highlighting individual words of the displayed lyrics in synchronization with playing of the song by the CD player according to the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       10. The method of claim  8 , wherein the displayed lyrics comprise phrases of several words and wherein the displaying step displays the lyrics one phrase at a time in synchronization with the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       11. The method of claim  6 , wherein the information is sent to the displayed device to be displayed with the lyrics and the information comprises one or more of a title of the CD, a name of a recording artist for the CD, and a title of the audio track.  
     
     
       12. The method of claim  4 , wherein the song is recorded on a CD on which lyrics of the song are not stored.  
     
     
       13. A system for retrieving lyrics of a song on an audio track of a digital audio compact disc ( CD )  and displaying the lyrics for viewing by a user, comprising:    
       
         a CD player for playing a song on an audio track of a CD;  
       
       
         means for generating an identifier of a CD being played, an identifier of an audio track being played, and a signal indicating time elapsed from a reference point of the audio track being played, when the CD is being played by the CD player;  
       
       
         a display device for displaying the lyrics while the CD is being played by the CD player; and  
       
       
         a computer system comprising:  
       
       
         a database for storing lyrics of songs on audio tracks of a plurality of CD's such that the lyrics are resident in the database at the same time;  
       
       
         means for receiving the CD identifier, the audio track identifier, and the elapsed time signal;  
       
       
         means for locating the lyrics of the song on the audio track, in the database, based on the CD identifier and the audio track identifier; and  
       
       
         means for sending the lyrics from the database to the display device in response to receipt of the CD identifier, audio track identifier, and time elapsed signal, by the computer system, such that the displayed lyrics are in synchronism with the audio track being played.  
       
     
     
       14. The system of claim  13 , wherein the CD player, the display device and the computer system operate to display the information automatically, without user intervention, while the CD is being played by the CD player.  
     
     
       15. The system of claim  13 , wherein information in addition to lyrics is stored in the database.  
     
     
       16. The system of claim  15 , wherein the information comprises lyric timing data and the elapsed time signal is generated from the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       17. The system of claim  16 , wherein the display device displays the lyrics in synchronization with playing of the song by the CD player according to the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       18. The system of claim  17 , wherein the display device further comprises means for highlighting individual words of the displayed lyrics in synchronization with playing of the song by the CD player according to the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       19. The method of claim  17 , wherein the displayed lyrics comprise phrases of several words and wherein the display device displays the lyrics one phrase at a time in synchronization with the lyric timing data.  
     
     
       20. The system of claim  13 , wherein the information is sent to the display device to be displayed with the lyrics and the information comprises one or more of a title of the CD, a name of a recording artist for the CD, and a title of the audio track.  
     
     
       21. A method of playing music and displaying lyrics for the music comprising the steps of: 
       
         accessing a storage medium on which music is recorded without lyrics for the music;  
       
       
         playing the music;  
       
       
         storing in a database separate and apart from the storage medium, lyrics for the music being played;  
       
       
         sending an identifier of the music being played to the database to identify the lyrics for the music being played;  
       
       
         using the identifier to retrieve the lyrics of the music being played from the database;  
       
       
         generating a synchronizing signal representing elapsed time from a reference point of the music being played; and  
       
       
         using the synchronizing signal to display the lyrics in synchronism with the music being played.  
       
     
     
       22. The method of claim  21 , in which the identifier is stored on the storage medium with the music.  
     
     
       23. The method of claim  22 , in which the reference point of the music being played is stored on the storage medium with the music.  
     
     
       24. The method of claim  23 , in which the storage medium is a CD.