Patent Liability AnalysisTeam 14:Faris IssaSean KingDavid RecordPrateek Singhal

Potential Infringements▫Music Transcription

US 7,667,125 B2 Feb. 1, 2008

▫ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING AND DISPLAYING TABLATURE WITH A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT US 2006/0107826 A1 May 25, 2006

▫TRAINING APPARATUS FOR LEARNING TO PLAY THE GUITAR: US 2008/0105108 A1 Nov. 3, 2006

MUSIC TRANSCRIPTION :▫ Claim:

1. A system for generating score data from an audio signal, the system comprising: an audio receiver operable to process the audio signal; and a

note identification unit operable to receive the processed audio signal and generate a note onset event associated with a time location in the processed audio signal in response to at least one of:▫ Identifying a change in frequency exceeding a first threshold value▫ Identifying a change in amplitude exceeding a second threshold

value

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING AND DISPLAYING TABLATURE WITH A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

▫11. A data conversion method comprising: receiving string data from a

guitar pickup; receiving motion data from a

motion capture means; Combining said motion and

sound data; and generating output in either

standard notation from said combined data, wherein said output is a visual representation of music played.

TRAINING APPARATUS FOR LEARNING TO PLAY THE GUITAR:

▫2. The self teaching apparatus for training a user to play guitar of claim 1, further comprising computer executable code having features including: Audio format conversion between

audio formats including mp3, MIDI, and WAV;

File transfer between the apparatus and an external computer;

Recording of guitar practice sessions;

Composing and printing sheet music at computer

Distinguishing Features•1: Patent covers musical notes and scores

not tabs.

•2: Uses motion detection data in combination with audio processing to generate tabs

•3: Focuses mainly on guitar mountable LCD display and uses MIDI instead of obtaining tabs from the audio signal directly

Dealing with Liability

•Try to have patents overturned since some claims are obvious

•Beg investors to provide money for licensing

•Come up with a new product