The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 02, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 02, 1999
Todor C. Fay, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mark T. Burton, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
The invention utilizes segments and tracks to generate and playback musical performances. A segment is implemented as a programming object, and represents a specified musical piece. The segment comprises a plurality of tracks, each of which is implemented as a programming object. The tracks are of different types, and generate music in a variety of ways. However, every track supports an identical track interface that is utilized by the segment object. To play the musical piece, a performance supervisor makes repeated calls to the segment object to play specified intervals of the musical piece. In response, the segment object calls its track objects, requesting them to play the specified interval. The tracks generate the requested interval in accordance with their own methods. In some cases, the track objects communicate and cooperate with each other to generate their musical tracks.