DECLARATION
`
`~"tl~_Mu .
`EPO-MUnWir
`69
`2 6. Juli 2000
`
`I Harutoshi Suzuki, of 3-6-5 Fujigaoka, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-
`
`ken, 251-0004 Japan, declare that I am a Patent Agent and conversant with
`
`the Japanese and English languages and that the accompanying translation,
`
`which was prepared by me, is a true translation of Japanese Patent
`
`Application No. 11-214083.
`
`Signed this 18th day of July 2000
`
`Harutoshi Suzuki
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0001
`
`

`

`.
`
`....
`
`'
`
`PATENT OFFICE
`JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
`
`This is to certify that the annexed is a true copy of the following
`
`application as filed with this Office.
`
`Date of Application:
`
`July 28, 1999
`
`Application Number:
`
`Tokuganhei 11-214083
`
`Applicant(s):
`
`YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`Commissioner, Patent Office
`
`1
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0002
`
`

`

`[Document]
`
`Patent Application
`
`[Docket No.]
`
`C27972
`
`[Addressee]
`
`Commissioner of Patent Office
`
`[I.P.C.]
`
`G10H 7/00
`
`H04M 1/00
`
`[Inventor]
`
`[Residence]
`
`c/o YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken
`
`[Name]
`
`Tsuyoshi Futamase
`
`[Inventor]
`
`[Residence]
`
`c/o YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken
`
`[Name]
`
`Yasushi Kurakake
`
`[Inventor]
`
`[Residence]
`
`c/o YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken
`
`[Name]
`
`Kensuke Ide
`
`[Inventor]
`
`[Residence]
`
`c/o YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken
`
`[Name]
`
`Shigehiko Mizuno
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0003
`
`

`

`' '\.'
`
`[Inventor]
`
`[Residence]
`
`c/o YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken
`
`[Name]
`
`Shuzo Karakawa
`
`[Applicant]
`
`[Identification Code] 000004075
`
`[Name]
`
`YAMAHA CORPORATION
`
`[Agent]
`
`[Identification Code] 100107995
`
`[Patent Agent]
`
`[Name]
`
`Keiko OKABE
`
`[Indication of fees]
`
`[Account No]
`
`[Amount]
`
`056384
`
`21000
`
`[List of Items]
`
`[Item]
`
`[Item]
`
`[Item]
`
`Specification
`
`Drawings
`
`Abstract
`
`1
`
`1
`
`1
`
`[General power of attorney No]
`
`9803919
`
`[Proof]
`
`Requested
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0004
`
`

`

`[Name of Document] Specification
`[Title of the Invention] A Sounding Control Apparatus And
`An Apparatus And A System Using The Same
`[Claims for Patent]
`[Claim 1]
`A sounding control apparatus for use in a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone,
`comprising:
`an information acquiring means for acquiring
`performance information and timbre-associated setting
`information and effect-associated setting information;
`given a timbre set on the basis of said timbre(cid:173)
`associated setting information, a tone generating means for
`generating a tone signal corresponding to said performance
`information;
`an effect imparting means for imparting an effect
`set on the basis of said effect-associated setting
`information to the generated tone signal; and
`an output means for outputting .the tone signal
`imparted with said effect.
`[Claim 2]
`A sounding control apparatus for use in a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone,
`comprising:
`a storage means for storing tone information;
`a tone generating means for generating, on the
`basis of said tone information stored in said storage
`means, a tone signal having a predetermined timbre and
`imparted with a predetermined effect; and
`a control means for controlling said storage
`means and said tone generating means independently of said
`portable terminal apparatus.
`[Claim 3]
`A portable terminal apparatus comprising:
`a storage means for storing tone information,
`audio information, and video information;
`a sounding control apparatus for generating, on
`the basis of said tone information stored in said storage
`means, a tone signal given with a predetermined timbre
`and/or a predetermined effect corresponding to setting
`information included in said tone information; and
`a means for generating, on the basis of said
`audio information and said video information stored in said
`storage means, an audio signal and a video signal.
`[Claim 4]
`The portable terminal apparatus according to
`claim 3, wherein said tone information stored in said
`storage means is described in a format which is downsized
`as compared with a general-purpose tone information format
`in correspondence with a storage size of said storage
`means.
`[Claim 5]
`
`-1-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0005
`
`

`

`A tone information using system composed of a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone and
`a base station having a tone information source,
`comprising:
`an information selecting means for selecting,
`according to selecting information sent from said portable
`terminal apparatus, corresponding tone information from
`said tone information source;
`setting information imparting means for
`imparting, for the selected tone information, setting
`information indicative of a timbre and an effect to be
`given to said tone to be sounded in said portable terminal
`apparatus; and
`a sounding control apparatus for generating, on
`the basis of said tone information imparted with said
`setting information, a tone signal given with a
`predetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effect.
`[Claim 6]
`The tone information using system according to
`claim 5, further comprising:
`an accounting means for executing an accounting
`operation on said portable terminal apparatus which sent
`said selecting information.
`[Claim 7]
`A tone information using system composed of a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone and
`a tone information processing apparatus capable of creating
`or editing tone information, comprising:
`an information compressing means for compressing
`the created or edited tone information; and
`a sounding control apparatus for generating, on
`the basis of the compressed tone information, a tone signal
`given with a predetermined timbre and/or a predetermined
`effect.
`[Claim 8]
`A tone information using system composed of a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone and
`a tone information source storing tone information,
`comprising:
`an information capturing means for capturing said
`tone information stored in said tone information source
`into said portable terminal apparatus;
`an information editing means for editing the
`captured tone information; and
`a sounding control apparatus for generating, on
`the basis of the edited tone information, a tone signal
`given with a ~redetermined timbre and/or a predetermined
`effect.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Industrial Field of Utilization]
`
`-2-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0006
`
`

`

`The present invention generally relates to a
`sounding control apparatus and an apparatus and a system
`that use this sounding control apparatus. More
`particularly, the present invention relates to sounding
`control apparatus built in a portable terminal apparatus
`such as a portable telephone terminal, and an apparatus and
`a system for providing various pieces of information such
`as music information to this sounding control apparatus.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art]
`Some recently developed portable telephone
`terminals have a capability of sounding a melodious ringing
`tone to tell call termination on them. This ringing melody
`is a sequence of monotones based on buzzer sound. The
`sounding information for use in creating the melodious
`ringing tone can be downloaded from a base station for
`example.
`[0003]
`However, melodious tone reproducing devices such
`as mentioned as for use in conventional portable telephone
`terminals can neither reproduce music that sounds two or
`more tones at a time nor allow various settings such as
`timbre and effect. Namely, the conventional melody tone
`reproducing devices cannot reproduce various kinds of music
`for user enjoyment.
`[0004]
`[Problem Intended to Be Solved by the Invention]
`It is therefore a main object of the present
`invention to provide a sounding control apparatus that
`facilitates the setting, editing, and creating of tone
`information such as timbre and effect for producing a
`melody sound at call termination or background music (BGM)
`during talking by sounding two or more tones at a time by
`use of an FM tone generator for example in a portable
`terminal device. So constituted, the sounding control
`apparatus according to the invention can realize the
`reproduction of rich and various sounds adapted to the
`processing capacity of portable terminals and user
`preferences.
`It is another object of the present invention
`to provide a portable terminal apparatus that provides
`various operating modes in which audio and video signals
`are used along with reproduced tones for user enjoyment.
`[0005]
`[Means for Solving the Problem]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`first aspect thereof, there is provided a sounding control
`apparatus for use in a portable terminal apparatus capable
`of sounding a tone, comprising: an information acquiring
`means for acquiring performance information and timbre(cid:173)
`associated setting information and effect-associated
`setting information; given a timbre set on the basis of the
`timbre-associated setting information, a tone generating
`
`-3-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0007
`
`

`

`means for generating a tone signal corresponding to the
`performance information; an effect imparting means for
`imparting an effect set on the basis of the effect(cid:173)
`associated setting information to the generated tone
`signal; and an output means for outputting the tone signal
`imparted with the effect.
`[0006]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`second aspect thereof, there is provided a sounding control
`apparatus for use in a portable terminal apparatus capable
`of sounding a tone, comprising: a storage means for storing
`tone information; a tone generating means for generating,
`on the basis of the tone information stored in the storage
`means, a tone signal having a predetermined timbre and
`imparted with a predetermined effect; and a control means
`for controlling the storage means and the tone generating
`means independently of the portable terminal apparatus.
`[0007]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`third aspect thereof, there is provided a portable terminal
`apparatus comprising: a storage means for storing tone
`information, audio information, and video information; a
`sounding control apparatus for generating, on the basis of
`the tone information stored -in the storage means, a tone
`signal given with a predetermined timbre and/or a
`predetermined effect corresponding to setting information
`included in the tone information; and a means for
`generating, on the basis of the audio information and the
`video information stored in the storage means, an audio
`signal and a video signal. The tone information stored in
`the storage means is described in a format which is
`downsized as compared with a general-purpose tone
`information format in correspondence with a storage size of
`the storage means.
`[0008]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`fourth aspect thereof, there is provided a tone information
`using system composed of a portable terminal apparatus
`capable of sounding a tone and a base station having a tone
`information source, comprising: an information selecting
`means for selecting, according to selecting information
`sent ~rom the portable terminal apparatus, corresponding
`tone information from the tone information source; setting
`information imparting means for imparting, for the selected
`tone information, setting information indicative of a
`timbre and an effect to be given to the tone to be sounded
`in the portable terminal apparatus; and a sounding control
`apparatus for generating, on the basis of the tone
`information imparted with the setting information, a tone
`signal given with a predetermined timbre and/or a
`predetermined effect. This tone information using system
`further comprising: an accounting means for executing an
`
`-4-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0008
`
`

`

`' '
`
`accounting operation on the portable terminal apparatus
`which sent the selecting information.
`[0009]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`fifth aspect thereof, there is provided a tone information
`using system composed of a portable terminal apparatus
`capable of sounding a tone and a tone information
`processing apparatus capable of creating or editing tone
`information, comprising: an information compressing means
`for compressing the created or edited tone information; and
`a sounding control apparatus for generating, on the basis
`of the compressed tone information, a tone signal given
`with a predetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effect.
`[0010]
`In carrying out the invention and according to a
`sixth aspect thereof, there is provided a tone information
`using system composed of a portable terminal apparatus
`capable of sounding a tone and a tone information source
`storing tone information, comprising: an information
`capturing means for capturing the tone information stored
`in the tone information source into the portable terminal
`apparatus; an information editing means for editing the
`captured tone information; and a sounding control apparatus
`for generating, on the basis of the edited tone
`information, a tone signal given with a predetermined
`timbre and/or a predetermined effect.
`[0011]
`[Function]
`According to the first aspect of the invention, a
`portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding tones has a
`sounding control apparatus that is given a timbre to be set
`on the basis of timbre-associated setting information to
`generate a tone signal corresponding to performance
`information and impart an effect to be set on the basis of
`effect-associated setting information to the generated tone
`signal. Consequently, two or more tones can be sounded at
`a time by use of an FM tone generator for example,
`providing rich and various ringing melodies, BGM during
`talking, and music at any time desired.
`[0012]
`According to the second aspect of the invention,
`a control means (CPU), which operates independently of the
`portable terminal apparatus, is used to generate a tone
`signal having a predetermined timbre and imparted with a
`predetermined effect. Consequently, tone signal generation
`processing can be executed with relatively high degree of
`freedom without being restricted by the control of the
`portable terminal apparatus main.
`[0013]
`According to the third aspect of the invention, a
`tone signal imparted with a predetermined timbre and/or
`effect corresponding to setting information included in
`
`-5-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 037-0009
`
`

`

`' ....
`
`tone information is generated on the basis of the tone
`information and, at the same time, an audio signal and a
`video signal are generated on the basis of audio
`information and video information. Consequently, the user
`can enjoy the reproduced tone in various modes supported by
`the audio and video signals.
`In addition, according to the
`storage size of the storage means used, tone signals are
`generated by use of tone information described in a format
`which is downsized as compared with a general-purpose tone
`information format. Consequently, quality tones can be
`reproduced within the maximum allowable range of the data
`processing and storage capacities of the portable terminal
`apparatus without weighing upon the memory of the
`apparatus.
`[0014]
`According to the fourth aspect of the invention,
`a tone information using system is formed by portable
`terminal apparatus and the base station (server) having a
`tone information source. According to the selection
`information sent from any of the portable terminal
`apparatus, the base station selects corresponding tone
`information from the tone information source. The base
`station imparts setting information indicative of a timbre
`and/or an effect to be imparted to a tone which is sounded
`in the portable terminal apparatus. On the basis of the
`tone information imparted with the setting information, the
`portable terminal apparatus generates a tone signal
`imparted with the predetermined timbre and/or effect.
`Consequently, rich and various tones can be provided by
`effective use of the server database.
`In addition, this
`system accounting processing is executed to the portable
`terminal apparatus that sent the selection information,
`thereby providing appropriate services to the users of
`particular portable terminal apparatus.
`[0015]
`According to the fifth aspect of the invention,
`tone information is shared by a tone information processing
`apparatus based on a personal computer or an intelligent
`electronic musical instrument. Tone information of a
`desired format is created or edited in the tone information
`processing apparatus to compress the created or edited tone
`information into a size suitable for the portable terminal
`apparatus. Therefore, the novel constitution facilitates
`the setting, editing, and creation of timbres and effect of
`the tone information suitable for the capacity of the
`portable terminal_apparatus.
`[0016]
`According to sixth aspect of the invention, tone
`information stored in tone information sources such as
`external recording media and telephone terminals is
`captured in the portable terminal apparatus for editing.
`Consequently, tone information of various forms can be
`
`-6-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0010
`
`

`

`'
`' '
`
`processed into the tone information suitable for the
`capacity of the portable terminal apparatus or user
`preferences.
`[0017]
`To sum up, according to the present invention, a
`tone generator capable of sounding two or more tones at a
`time is arranged in a sounding control apparatus in a
`portable terminal apparatus to impart a timbre and an
`effect for example to a generated tone on the basis of
`setting information associated with tone sounding. This
`novel constitution reproduces music which is various in
`kind and rich in musicality as ringing melodies, BGM
`sounded during talking, and music which the user enjoys as
`desired.
`In the present invention, each piece of
`information including tone information can be captured any
`time from external information sources such as base
`station, personal computer, other telephone terminals, and
`small-size storage media, which enhances system
`extensibility, thereby reproducing a wide range of a wide
`variety of music as ringing melodies and BGM for example.
`[0018]
`In addition, according to the present invention,
`the information to be captured in the portable terminal
`.apparatus is attached with setting information associated
`with tone sounding, compressed by deleting unnecessary
`information so as to fit the storage size of the terminal
`apparatus, and format-converted so as to available in the
`own model namely the terminal apparatus concerned, thereby
`enhancing system extensibility still further. Besides, use
`of an editing means facilitates the acquisition of the tone
`information attached with setting-associated information
`while downsizing the amount of the information.
`[0019]
`[Preferred Embodiments]
`This invention will be described in further
`detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying
`drawings.
`It should be noted that the following
`embodiments are for illustrative purpose only and therefore
`variations and modifications may be made within the scope
`of the invention.
`[0020]
`Terminal system overview:
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block
`diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a portable
`telephone terminal to which a sounding control apparatus
`according to one embodiment of the invention is applied. A
`terminal system TS comprises a terminal system central
`processing unit (main unit CPU) 1, a terminal system read(cid:173)
`only memory (main unit ROM) 2, a terminal system random
`access memory (main unit RAM ) 3, a detector 4, a display
`circuit 5, a receiver/transmitter 6, an audio controller 7,
`a sounding controller 8, a connecting circuit 9, and a
`
`-7-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0011
`
`

`

`. '
`
`communication interface (I/F) 10. These components 1
`through 1 are interconnected by a terminal system bus (main
`body bus) 11.
`[0021]
`In the above-mentioned mentioned terminal system
`TS, the main unit CPU 1 for controlling the terminal system
`in its entirety executes various control operations such as
`talk control, screen control, and sounding control
`according to predetermined computer programs. The main
`unit ROM 2 holds predetermined control programs and control
`data necessary for executing these control operations. For
`example, as for music, the main unit ROM 2 holds music
`information, performance information, setting information,
`tables for information format conversion, and tables for
`information compression, each in plurality, for sounding
`call termination notice melodies and background music (BGM)
`to be played during talking. As for non-music information,
`the main body ROM 2 holds predetermined audio and video
`information as setting information. The setting
`_
`information herein denotes information which is set as
`conditions for executing the processing associated with
`acoustic sounding or image display during talking or at
`other times. This setting information includes audio
`information, video information, and audio and video control
`information in addition to the music-associated setting
`information such as tone timbre and effect (including DSP).
`[0022]
`The main unit RAM 3 holds data and parameters
`necessary for executing the above-mentioned talk control,
`screen control, and sounding control. To be specific, this
`memory stores plural pieces of music information,
`performance information, and setting information which are
`additionally installed or newly created in the terminal
`system TS.
`[0023]
`The detector 4 has an operator section 12
`composed of controls such as push-button switches arranged
`on the surface of the body of the portable telephone
`terminal and detects the operation performed by the user on
`these ·controls. These controls include a talk switch for
`talking, a request switch for requesting the downloading of
`call termination melodies, a setting switch for setting the
`sounding controller 8 (tone generator/effector), and
`switches for creating and editing various pieces of
`information. The display circuit 5 is connected to a
`display 13 on LED screen of which various pieces of talk
`information, various pieces of melody information
`associated with sounding control, and various pieces of
`visual check information are shown.
`[0024]
`The receiver/transmitter 6 has a communication
`antenna and communicates with other telephone terminals via
`
`-8-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0012
`
`

`

`. ...
`
`•'
`
`a base station (or a server station or a repeater station)
`for talking. This circuit is also used for requesting and
`receiving music information and setting information. The
`audio controller 7 controls voice signals at talking and
`tone input/output signals. This controller has a voice
`transmitting capability for transmitting an input voice
`from a microphone (MIC) 17 to the receiver/transmitter 6, a
`voice reproducing capability for sending a talk voice
`signal received at the receiver/transmitter 6 to a talk
`speaker 15 and an external output terminal 16, and BGM
`reproducing capability for sending a tone signal received
`from the sounding controller 8 to the talk speaker 15 and
`the output terminal 16.
`[0025]
`The sounding controller 8 uniquely executes a
`sequence of processing operations for controlling tone
`signals such as melodious ringing tone and BGM tone and can
`sound two or more tones at. a time. Namely, the sounding
`controller 8 has a capability of synthesizing a tone signal
`and sending it to the sounding speaker 17 or the audio
`controller 7, thereby sounding tones such as melodious
`ringing tone and BGM.
`In addition, the sounding controller
`8 has a digital output terminal 18 for sending a digital
`tone signal to other devices that use digital tone signals.
`It should be noted that the sounding speaker 17 may be
`configured to function as the talk speaker 15.
`[0026]
`The connecting circuit 9 allows a portable
`detachable small-size recording medium 19 to be loaded on
`this terminal system TS. The connecting circuit 9 captures
`various pieces of information including music information
`from the loaded small-size recording medium 19 into the
`terminal system and writes these pieces of information to
`the loaded small-sized recording medium 19. The
`communication I/F 10 has a cable connection terminal for
`connection with external equipment and communicates with
`other telephone terminals and personal computer (PC)
`terminals through a communication cable 20 connected to
`this terminal, capturing various pieces of information
`including music information from these devices into the
`terminal system TS and providing these pieces of
`information from the terminal system TS to these devices.
`[0027]
`Sounding controller (1)
`Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a block
`diagram illustrating a detail configuration of a sounding
`controller practiced as one embodiment of the invention.
`In this example, the sounding controller 8 contains no CPU:
`therefbre, the sounding controller 8 is controlled by the
`main unit CPU 1 of the portable telephone terminal (the
`terminal system TS). The sounding controller 8 transfers
`music information, performance information, setting
`
`-9-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0013
`
`

`

`. .. .
`
`information, and other information (such as about
`start/stop of reproduction) through a bus connection path
`connected to the system bus 11.
`[0028]
`A controller 21 executes bidirectional
`communication with the terminal system TS main through the
`above-mentioned bus connection path. The performance
`information and setting information prepared on the main
`side or supplied from the outside are stored in the main
`unit ROM 2 or the main unit RAM 3. The controller 21
`stores the performance information in a first-in first-out
`(FIFO} memory 22 and the setting information about timbre
`and effect in a timbre/effect RAM 23.
`[0029]
`The controller 21 reads the timbre setting
`information and effect setting information (including DSP
`program) from the timbre/effect RAM 23 on the basis of the
`timbre and effect specified by the main side to set the
`timbre and the effect in a tone generator 24 and an
`effector 25 respectively. Further, the controller 21 sends
`information about the limits of storage capacities of the
`FIFO 22 and the timbre/effect RAM 23 to the main side,
`thereby requesting the main side to pause the information
`communication from the main side.
`[0030]
`The FIFO 22 and a read circuit 26 function as
`performance information supply controller that sequentially
`sends the performance information received from the main
`unit ROM 2 or the main unit RAM 3 to a resource circuit.
`To be more specific, the FIFO 22 temporarily stores the
`received performance information in the order of reception.
`The read circuit 26 accesses the FIFO 22 at predetermined
`time intervals to sequentially read information if any and
`output it to the tone generator 24.
`[0031]
`The tone generator 24 is an FM tone generator for
`example and can sound two or more tones at a time. The
`tone generator 24 sets a timbre to be sounded on the basis
`of timbre-associated setting information received from the
`timbre/effect RAM 23 and, on the basis of the performance
`information received from the read circuit 26, sequentially
`synthesizes tone signals corresponding to the specified
`timbre to send them to a mixer (MIX) 27.
`[0032]
`The effector 25 sets effects such as
`reverberation to be imparted on the basis of the effect(cid:173)
`associated setting information received from the
`timbre/effect RAM 23. The effector 25 imparts the
`specified effect to a signal inputted from the MIX 27
`according to the DSP program and outputs the effected
`signal to the MIX 27.
`[0033]
`
`-10-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0014
`
`

`

`.. -
`
`A talk tone is inputted in the MIX 27 in the form
`of a digital signal through the connection path with the
`audio controller 7 of the terminal system TS main. The MIX
`27 adds up the signals supplied from the tone generator 24,
`the effector 25, and the audio controller. To be more
`specific, the following signals are inputted in the MIX 27:
`(1) a synthesized tone signal SM from the tone generator;
`(2) a talk tone signal ST from the audio controller 7; and
`{3) an effected signal SE from the effector 25.
`[0034]
`The input signals SM and ST are selectively
`outputted fr9m the MIX 7 to the effector 25 to be imparted
`with an effect. Which signal is to be effected may be
`selected by operating a predetermined switch on the
`operator section 12 of the terminal system TS. Then, the
`MIX 27 outputs all synthesized signals to a digital-to(cid:173)
`analog converter (DAC) 28 and, at the same time, outputs
`these signals in the form of digital signals to the digital
`output terminal 18.
`[0035]
`The DAC 28, an amplitude controller (VOL) 29, and
`an amplifier (AMP) 30 form an analog output unit. An
`analog music signal outputted from the DAC 28 is adjusted
`in volume by the VOL 29 to be outputted to the audio
`controller 7 of the terminal system TS main or sent to the
`sounding speaker 17 through the AMP 30 for sounding as a
`tone. Namely, all the synthesized signals are outputted
`from the VOL 29 to the audio controller 7 in the form of
`analog signals and also from the AMP 30 to the speaker 17
`in the form of analog signals for sounding.
`[0036]
`Sounding controller (2)
`Referring FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram
`illustrating a detail configuration of a sounding
`controller practiced as another embodiment of the
`invention.
`In this example, the sounding controller 8
`contains a sounding control CPU 31 which controls the
`operations of the sounding controller 8 independently of
`the main unit CPU 1. The sounding controller of this
`example has the sounding control CPU 31, a communication
`circuit 32, a timer 33, a sounding control ROM 34,. a
`sounding control RAM 35, a tone generator 36, an effector
`37, a mixer (MIX) 38, and an amplitude controller (VOL) 39.
`These circuits 31 through 39 are interconnected through a
`sounding controller bus (sounding control bus) 40.
`[0037]
`The communication circuit 32 has the following
`two communication capabilities:
`(1) Bidirectional communication with the main
`unit bus 11. The communication circuit 32 records the
`music information, performance information, and setting
`information received from the outside of the terminal
`
`-11-
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1037-0015
`
`

`

`' '
`
`system TS through the main unit bus 11 into the sounding
`control RAM 35 (it should be noted that the sounding
`control ROM 34 holds various tables for sounding control).
`The communication circuit 32 also various pieces of
`information (about the operations done on the operator
`section of the TS main) associated with the selection of
`timbre and effect, parameter change, and selection of music
`information for reproduction. The received information is
`interpreted by the operation of the sounding control CPU
`31. Processing according to the interpreted information,
`for example, the setting of a selected timbre, is executed
`on the tone generator 35.
`[0038]
`(2) Bidirectional communication with the audio
`controller 7. The communication circuit 32 sends a tone
`signal for example synthesized inside the sounding
`controller 8 to the audio controller 7, manipulates, inside
`the sounding controller 8, a talk signal for example
`received from the audio controller 7, and sends the
`manipulated signal to the audio controller 7. The
`manipulation includes effect imparting to a talk tone and
`pitch/timbre conversion of talking voice for example.
`[0039]
`The sounding control CPU 31 controls the
`operations inside the sounding controller 8 independently
`of the terminal system TS main and, on the basis of a
`signal generated by the timer 33, sequentially reads the
`performance information stored in the sounding control ROM
`34 and the sounding control RAM 35, thereby reproducing
`melodious ringing tone and BGM.
`In addition, the sounding
`control CPU 31 sends the setting information from the
`sounding control ROM 34 and the sounding control RAM 35 to
`the tone generator 36 and the effector 37 through the
`sounding control bus 40 for reproduction and controls tone
`timbre settings and effect impartment settings.
`[0040]
`The timer 33 generates a signal at predetermined
`time inte