Karaoke apparatus responsive to oral request of entry songs

A method of performing an entry song using a karaoke apparatus by responding to a request message, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing music data representative of a plurality of entry songs;
• storing reference data representative of a multiple of key items which specify the entry songs;
• collecting an oral request message and converting the same into a corresponding voice signal;
• analyzing the voice signal to extract therefrom key information including key terms which suggest a desired entry song;
• searching the reference data to identify the desired entry song by detecting coincidence between successive key terms of the key information and at least one of the key items to determine a level of coincidence between each of the key terms and a corresponding key item such that a field of possible corresponding entry songs is narrowed through performing a stepwise matching of each of the key terms and the corresponding key item until the desired entry song is identified, and wherein the level of coincidence indicates a degree of matching between each of the key terms and the corresponding key item;
• and
• retrieving music data of the desired entry song to perform the desired entry song according to the retrieved music data.

A karaoke apparatus responsive to a request message for performing an entry song, comprising:

• music data storage means for storing music data representative of a plurality of entry songs;
• reference data storage means for storing reference data representative of a multiple of key items which specify the entry songs;
• collecting means that include a microphone for collecting an oral request message and for converting the same into a corresponding voice signal;
• extraction means for analyzing the voice signal to extract therefrom key information including key terms which suggest a desired entry song;
• search means for searching the reference data storage means to identify the desired entry song by detecting coincidence between successive key terms of the key information and at least one of the key items to determine a level of coincidence between each of the key terms and a corresponding key item such that a field of possible corresponding entry songs is narrowed through performing a stepwise matching of the key term and the corresponding key item until the desired entry song is identified, and wherein the level of coincidence indicates a degree of matching between each of the key terms and the corresponding key item;
• and
• performance means for retrieving music data of the desired entry song from the music data storage means to perform the desired entry song according to the retrieved music data.