JP2003181099A - Game information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a game parlor simply offer service and make player enjoy the service. <P>SOLUTION: The game information processing system 100 has a communication means to communicate data with a cellular phone 200 as a personal digital assistant and a communication means to communicate data with a parlor computer 300 as a data base server. A telephone number as identification information peculiar to the terminal is entered from the cellular phone 200, using the communication means, and game information corresponding with the telephone number is read from the parlor computer 300. Service offered to the player, using the game information read. A password is registered in the cellular phone 200 in addition to the telephone number. B making the player enter the password, reception of service, using a cellular phone of another person is prohibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a game information processing system for providing various services in a game arcade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in providing a service to a member at a game hall, the player identifies the member by presenting a card specialized for each game hall or each chain store. Generally, as such a card, a magnetic card, an IC card or the like is used, and various services are obtained by inserting the card into a card reader provided in a game hall and further inputting a personal identification number. be able to.

The services provided here are:
For example, there is a so-called ball storage service in which a game medium (ball / medal) acquired by a member player is stored.

[0004]

However, in the prior art as described above, a player who uses a plurality of amusement halls uses many magnetic cards and ICs to prove that he is a member of each amusement hall. It was very inconvenient for the player because he had to carry around the card and remember each PIN.

On the other hand, if the card readers have different specifications for each amusement hall, they are expensive because of poor productivity, and the installation burden of the card readers on the amusement hall is heavy. Further, the amusement hall also needs to prepare a card for a new member and a card issuing device, and the demerit of using the card for identifying the member is extremely large.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a game information processing in which a game hall and a player can easily provide and enjoy services. To provide a system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides first communication means for performing data communication with a portable information terminal, identification information unique to the portable information terminal, and unique information of the player. Second communication means for performing data communication with a database associated with the game information, acquisition means for acquiring the identification information from the portable information terminal via the first communication means, and the second communication Through the means, a read means for reading the game information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition means from the database, and a service for the player using the game information read by the read means And a service providing means for providing.

The mobile information terminal is a mobile phone, and the identification information includes a telephone number.

The acquisition means includes means for inputting a password, and the identification information is acquired from the portable information terminal on condition that a predetermined password is input.

The game information includes the number of game media that each player can use in the game. The input means for inputting the number of the game media and the number of the game media input by the input means are included in the game information. Accordingly, an update unit for updating the number of the game media stored in the area of the database according to the identification information is further included.

The input means includes a counting means for counting the game media, and the number of the game media counted by the counting means is the number of the game media stored in the database in association with the identification information. It is characterized by adding only.

It is characterized by further comprising output means for outputting the game media as many as the number of the game media input to the input means, with the number of the game media included in the game information as an upper limit.

The service providing means is a notification means for notifying the player of the game information.

In another game information processing system according to the present invention, first communication means for communicating with a telephone owned by a player via a public line, a telephone number of the telephone, and game information unique to the player. When a call is received from the telephone via the first communication means and a second communication means for performing data communication with a database in which is associated with, a telephone number of the telephone is acquired using a caller number notification function. And a reading means for reading the game information peculiar to the player from the database through the second communication means using the acquisition means and the telephone number acquired by the acquisition means, and the reading means. Service providing means for providing a service to the player using game information unique to the player.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of the constituent elements, the display screen, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified.

Here, as one embodiment of the game information processing system according to the present invention, a telephone number is acquired from a mobile phone, the player is identified using the telephone number, and various services are provided to the player. The service providing system provided will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of this service providing system. The system 100 includes communication means for performing data communication with a mobile phone 200 as a mobile information terminal, and communication means for performing data communication with a hall computer 300 as a database server. Using these communication means, a phone number as identification information unique to the terminal is input from the mobile phone 200, the game information corresponding to the phone number is read from the hall computer 300, and the player is read using the read game information. Provide services to. A personal identification number other than the telephone number is registered in the mobile phone 200, and by allowing the player to input the personal identification number, it is configured so that the service cannot be provided using the other person's mobile phone. There is.

Although not shown, the service providing system 100 includes at least a CPU for executing a program and controlling the entire system and a memory for storing the program, in addition to the communication means, and is stored in the memory. When the CPU executes the program, the processing shown in the following flow chart is realized in the entire system.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining a method of providing a service in the service providing system 100.

Here, in step S101, it is determined whether or not data communication with the mobile phone 200 of the player is possible. If it is determined that the data communication with the mobile phone 200 is possible, then in step S102, the player is notified to enter the personal identification number. This notification may be displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 200 or may be displayed on the display unit of the system 100.
The personal identification number is registered in the mobile phone in advance and is a number embedded in the ROM in the mobile phone.

When the personal identification number is input in step S103, the personal identification number is collated in the mobile phone 200,
If it is determined that it is the registered personal identification number, step S1
In 04, the telephone number is read from the mobile phone 200. Here, the personal identification number may be input directly from the number key of the mobile phone 200, or may be input from the operation unit of the system 100 and sent from the system 100 to the mobile phone 200. In addition, the system for collating the secret code 10
You may go on the 0 side.

When the telephone number is obtained from the mobile telephone 200 in step S104, the inquiry command including the telephone number is sent to the hall computer 30 in step S105.
0, and the telephone number is searched for in the database prepared in the hall computer 300. If the telephone number is registered as a member's number in the database, the hall computer 300 returns an inquiry OK command to the service providing system 100. When the service providing system 100 receives the inquiry OK command within the predetermined time, the process proceeds from step S107 to step S108 to provide various services to the player. If the command is not received within the predetermined time, or if the received command is not the inquiry OK command, the process proceeds from step S106 or step S107 to step S109, and NG is displayed.

Although the personal identification number is unique to the mobile phone here, it may be a personal identification number predetermined between the hall and the player. Further, if the password is for illuminating that the player is the owner of the mobile phone, it may be a character string instead of a number. Further, depending on the service content, there is a case where it is not necessary to request the input of the personal identification number.

Here, the hall computer 30 is used.
However, the service providing system according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a system that functions integrally with a database and a hall computer. That is, a database, a communication means with a mobile phone,
A system including a database search means by telephone number is also included in the scope of the present invention.

<First Specific Example> As a first specific example of the service providing system 100, a service station equipped with a touch panel as a notification means for notifying a player of various game information will be described.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the outer appearance of the service station 600. The service station 600 is arranged at a position that can be freely used by a player in the game arcade. The service station 600 is provided with a touch panel type display 601, which covers the functions of both the key input means and the liquid crystal display means. The service station 600 also includes a mobile phone mounting unit 602, and by mounting the mobile phone 200 on the mobile phone mounting unit 602, the telephone number can be read from the mobile phone. On the touch panel display 601, a display prompting the user to input a personal identification number, an error display, etc. are displayed. Further, by displaying a ten-key on the touch panel display 601 and touching the ten-key image, the personal identification number can be input. The service station 600 is connected to a computer terminal on the hall side by a LAN (local area network) and is configured to be able to access the database of the hall computer.

If there is an access from the user, the service station 600 confirms whether or not the mobile phone 200 is connected. If the service station 600 can confirm, the service station 600 acquires the telephone number of the mobile phone 200 and makes the database inquire. When it is confirmed by the database inquiry that the player is a member, for example, game information corresponding to the telephone number is read from the database and displayed on the display of the service station 600. In addition to the accumulated ball information, this display also displays various information such as ball output information for each game table, player's ball output history, privilege information for players, prize information, and fortune telling. May be.

In this way, since the members are collated with the mobile phone and various kinds of information are presented to the player, it is not necessary to carry a membership card and it is not necessary to set a personal identification number for each game hall. It is very easy to receive membership services. The amusement hall side can identify the member easily, safely and at low cost. Second Example of Savings Ball Lending Service FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a service providing system as a second specific example of the present embodiment.

This system is a hall computer 300.
And a ball counting machine 700 and / or a ball lending machine 800, which are connected to each other via a LAN.

Of these, the ball counting machine 700 is
It is a machine that counts pachinko balls as game media acquired from a game table. When a ball is poured into the ball slot 701 and the start button 702 is pressed, counting is performed by a built-in counter (not shown).

Here, in order to receive a coin-collection service of storing the balls acquired from the game table in the game hall so that the balls can be used the next time they come to the game hall, it is necessary to identify the member. Therefore, the mobile phone 2 is connected to the connector 703.
00 is connected and the telephone number of the mobile phone 200 is used as the identification information of the member of the amusement hall, thereby providing a ball saving service without complicated procedures such as issuing a membership card.

On the other hand, the ball lending machine 800 is mainly arranged between the game tables, and lends a predetermined number of balls from the ball lending unit 802 according to the coins inserted from the coin slot 801. Is.

Here, if a hall member who can use the coin-paying rental service can connect his / her mobile phone to the connector 803 and prove that he / she is a member by the telephone number, the hall computer 300 can be used without inserting coins.
The maximum number of coins recorded in the database of
You can borrow balls.

The database of the hall computer 300 stores the member name associated with the telephone number and the number of balls accumulated, as well as game information unique to the member (for example, the coin output history).

First, the internal processing of the ball counter will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the processing flow of the ball counting machine in the case of providing a ball storage service using a mobile phone.

First, in step S501, a start button 702
When it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S502 and counting processing is performed. As the counting process, the number of balls thrown into the ball throwing port 701 is counted, and the result is displayed on the counting result display portion 707. When the counting process ends, step S50
Then, the process proceeds to 3 to detect the press of the print / ball-saving button 704. When the press of the print / ball saving button 704 is detected,
In step S504, it is determined whether the mobile phone 200 is connected to the connector 703. If not connected, the process proceeds to step S515 to issue a receipt showing the number of balls counted from the receipt issuing port 705.

If the mobile phone 200 is connected, the process proceeds from step S504 to step S505, and a liquid accumulation start message such as "I will accumulate the coin" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 706. At the same time, in step S506, the mobile phone 200
To obtain the phone number, and then step S50
In step 7, the inquiry command B including the acquired telephone number is transmitted to the hall computer 300. Hall computer 3
00 analyzes this inquiry command, determines whether or not a member having such a telephone number is registered, and sends back the determination result to the ball counting machine 700 in the command format. Ball counting machine 7
00, in step S508, the reception of a command is waited for a predetermined time, and if a command is received, step S5
In step 09, it is determined whether the command is the inquiry OK command.

When the owner of the mobile phone 200 is registered in the hall computer 300 as a member,
The inquiry OK command is transmitted from the hall computer 300, and the process proceeds to step S510. In step S510, the counting result is transmitted to the hall computer 300, and an instruction to update the stored coin data in the database is issued. When the hall computer 300 updates the ball storage data, it transmits a ball storage completion command to the ball counting machine 700, and when the ball counting machine 700 receives this ball storage completion command, it proceeds from step S511 to step S512 to step S512.
The process proceeds to step 513, and a message indicating that the ball has been stored is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 706.
To display.

If the command has not been received for a predetermined time in steps S508 and S511, or if the desired command has not been received in steps S509 and S512, the process proceeds to step S514, and the liquid crystal display unit 706 fails. Display.

Here, the counting result is automatically transmitted to the hall computer 300 as it is, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is desired to save as data, which is less than or equal to the number of balls as the counting result. The number of balls may be designated by the player and transmitted by the hall computer. That is, only a part of the number of balls counted by the counter may be stored.

Next, the internal processing of the ball lending machine will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the flow of processing of the ball lending machine 800 when providing a ball storage and lending service using a mobile phone.

When the ball lending machine 800 detects that the mobile phone 200 is connected to the connector 803 in step S601, the process proceeds to step S602, and guidance is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 804 to prompt the input of the personal identification number. Next, in step S603, when the player inputs the personal identification number to the key input unit 805, the personal identification number is transmitted to the mobile phone 200, and the personal identification number registered in advance in the mobile phone 200 is compared. To do. As a result of the collation, if the personal identification number is correct, the telephone number is acquired from the mobile phone in step S604, the inquiry command A including the telephone number is generated in step S605, and the hall computer 300
Send to.

When the hall computer 300 receives the inquiry command A from the ball lending machine, it analyzes the inquiry command and determines whether or not a member with such a telephone number is registered. As a result of the determination, member registration is performed. If so, the number of balls of the member is sent back to the ball lending machine 800 in the form of a command. In the ball lending machine 800, in step S606, the reception of a command is waited for a predetermined time, and when the command is received, the process proceeds to step S607, and it is determined whether or not the command is the number-of-payments command. If the received command is the coin-saving number command, the process proceeds to step S608, and the liquid crystal display unit 8
The number of balls accumulated is displayed on 04. Further on, step S6
At 09, a guidance for prompting the player to input the number of balls desired to be rented (hereinafter referred to as the number of loans) is displayed, and step S61
Enter the number of loans with 0. Next, in step S611, it is determined whether or not the input number of loans is a number less than or equal to the number of stored balls, and if it is greater than or equal to the number of stored balls, the user is prompted to input again. If the number is less than or equal to the number of balls accumulated, the flow proceeds to step S612, and the balls for the number of loans are output from the ball lending unit 802. At the same time, in step S613, the number of rented coins is transmitted to the hall computer 300 to update the number-of-coins-payment data in the database of the hall computer 300. When the hall computer 300 has completed updating the database, the hall computer 300 transmits to the ball lending machine 800 a ball deposit updating command for notifying the update of the number of ball deposits, and the ball lending machine 800 receives the command in step S614 and then executes the processing. finish. Although not shown,
If this command is not received, step S613
Then, the lending number is transmitted to the hall computer 300 again.

If the personal identification number entered in step S603 is incorrect, it is determined that the user is not the owner of the mobile phone 200, and the steps S606 and S607 are performed.
If the command cannot be received with
It is assumed that the owner of the mobile phone is not a hall member, and an error message is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 804 in step S615.

Next, the processing of the hall computer 300 corresponding to the processing of the ball counting machine 700 and the ball lending machine 800 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The hall computer 300 executes step S
When a command is received through the network in step 701, the command is received in step S702.
It is determined whether or not the inquiry request command is transmitted from the ball lending machine. If the received command is the inquiry request command transmitted from the ball lending machine, the process advances to step S703 to search the telephone number in the database. As a result of the inquiry, if the phone number is registered as a member, step S70.
In step 5, it is determined whether the inquiry command is from the ball lending machine 800. If it is an inquiry command from the ball lending machine 800, the process proceeds to step S706, and the stored coin number data corresponding to the inquired telephone number is read from the database. Then, in step S707, a command including the stored number-of-balls data is transmitted to the ball lending machine 800.

Next, waiting for a command including the number of loans to be sent from the ball lending machine 800, when a command including the number of loans is received, steps S708 to S709.
After that, the process proceeds to step S710, the number of loans is subtracted from the number of accumulated balls, and the calculation result is overwritten in the database in step S711. As a result, the game information in the database is updated, and in step S712, a coin-saving update command is transmitted to the ball lending machine 800.

On the other hand, if the telephone number cannot be inquired in step S704, or if the command including the lending number data cannot be received from the ball lending machine 800 in step S708 or step S709, the process proceeds to step S713. The command is transmitted to the ball lending machine 800.

If it is determined in step S702 that the received command is not the inquiry command, the process proceeds to step S714, and another process corresponding to the command is performed.

In step S705, the ball lending machine 800
If it is determined that the inquiry command is not from
In step S801, it is determined whether the inquiry command is from the ball counter 700. If the inquiry command is from the ball counter 700, an inquiry OK command is transmitted to the ball counter 700 in step S802. Next, in step S803, the reception of a counting result notification command (command including the stored coin number data) from the ball counter 700 is waited, and if received, steps S804 to S805.
In step S703, the current number of stored coins corresponding to the telephone number inquired in step S703 is read from the database. Next, in step S806, the counting result notification command is analyzed, and the number of additional coins designated by the ball counter 700 is added to the current number of coins accumulated.

After that, the process returns to step S711,
The calculation result is stored in the database. This completes the update of the game information on the database. Then, in step S712, the coin counting command is issued to the coin counting command.
To 00.

If it is determined in step S801 that it is not the inquiry command from the ball counter 700, the flow advances to step S714 to perform processing according to the inquiry command. If the count result notification command cannot be received in step S803 or step S804, the process proceeds to step S713, and an NG command is transmitted to the ball counter 700.

According to the second specific example configured as described above, since only a mobile phone is required for the ball counting machine or the ball lending machine to receive the ball storing / ball storing service, it is very simple for the player. You will be able to receive services.

In this specific example, the counting machine and the ball lending machine are
Although it is configured to be usable even by non-members, it may be a dedicated member machine.

<Third Concrete Example> The ball lending machine 8 of the second concrete example.
00 has a liquid crystal display unit 804 and a key input unit 805,
Although these are user interfaces, the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid crystal display unit and a key input unit mounted on a mobile phone are used to display the number of coins stored, guidance, and the desired number of loans. Input or NG display may be performed.

In that case, in the flow chart shown in FIG.
In step S608, the stored number data is stored in the mobile phone 200.
The data indicating the guidance is transmitted to the mobile phone 200 in step S609, and the lending number data is received from the mobile phone 200 in step S610. Further, in step S615, the NG display data is transmitted to the mobile phone 200.

As described above, by using the display unit and the key input unit of the mobile phone, the display unit and the key input unit of each device can be omitted, and the productivity of each device can be improved. If necessary, a program for displaying the above data on the mobile phone or inputting the number of loans from the mobile phone may be downloaded to the mobile phone in advance.

<Other Specific Examples> In the above first to third specific examples, the mobile phone and the service providing system are physically connected by wire, but the present invention is not limited to this, and Bluetooth is used. You may connect by wireless technologies, such as.
Further, the telephone number may be acquired from the mobile phone via the public line. For example, the telephone number of the mobile phone may be extracted by making the mobile phone call a predetermined number and utilizing the caller number notification function. In that case, the information does not have to be a mobile phone, and information can be retrieved from a landline phone at home.

That is, when the player calls the system several times, the system detects the telephone number of the player's telephone by using the caller number notification function and uses the telephone number. And provide services to the player. If the phone is a fax terminal, game information can be notified by fax, and if the phone supports short mail (L-mode compatible machine, etc.), mail can be sent to the phone number. Since the player is only making a call, there is an advantage that he does not have to pay the telephone charge. For the amusement hall, since only the caller number function is used, it is sufficient to develop software, and it is not necessary to prepare a connector for a mobile phone or the like.

In the present embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example of a mobile information terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and identification information unique to the mobile information terminal is included in the mobile information terminal. Anything that does

Further, in this embodiment, the personal identification number registered in the mobile phone is used as the personal identification number, but the personal identification number registered in advance for the hall may be used as in the case of using the membership card. Good. In that case, the personal identification number is stored in the database in association with the telephone number, and the personal identification number input by the player is transmitted to the hall computer,
The collation may be performed in the hall computer.

In the present embodiment, the expression "ball" such as "stored ball" is used, but the present invention is not limited to pachinko balls, and is a concept including all game media such as medals used in slot machines. However, it goes without saying that, when storing in the database, it is stored for each type of game media stored (for example, the number of pachinko balls and the number of medals are divided).

Further, the identification information in the portable information terminal may be stored in the database in association with the detailed payout information of the gaming table (the change in the number of thrown balls and the number of payouts at every predetermined time). In other words, after identifying who is the player playing at each game table by the identification information in the portable information terminal, the information about what kind of game state the game table is in is accumulated. You may. If this is applied, it becomes possible to notify the player of how a payout was made later on the game table where the player played the game. For the player, at the game table where the game is finished for some reason, immediately after the game is completed, it is possible to know whether another player has obtained a large number of balls, or whether there has been no ball for a long time after that. be able to.

[0066]

According to the present invention, a game hall and a player can easily provide and enjoy services.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a service providing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a service in a service providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of a service station as a first specific example of a service providing system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second specific example of the service providing system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a ball counter as a second specific example of the service providing system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a ball lending machine as a second specific example of the service providing system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a hall computer corresponding to processing of a ball counter and a ball lending machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a hall computer corresponding to processing of a ball counter and a ball lending machine.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first communication means for performing data communication with a portable information terminal possessed by a player, and a database which associates identification information unique to the portable information terminal with game information unique to the player. A second communication means for performing data communication between the two; an acquisition means for acquiring the identification information from the portable information terminal via the first communication means; and a database from the database via the second communication means. A reading means for reading the game information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquiring means; and a service providing means for providing a service to the player using the game information read by the reading means. A game information processing system characterized by the above. 2. The game information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile information terminal is a mobile phone, and the identification information includes a telephone number. 3. The acquisition means includes means for inputting a password, and acquires the identification information from the portable information terminal on condition that a predetermined password is input. Game information processing system. 4. The game information includes the number of game media that each player can use for a game, input means for inputting the number of game media, and the game media input by the input means. 4. The game information according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: update means for updating the number of the game media stored in the area of the database according to the identification information. Processing system. 5. The input means includes counting means for counting the game media, and the game media obtained by counting the number of the game media stored in the database in association with the identification information by the count means. 5. The game information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the number is added. 6. An output means for outputting the game media as many as the number of the game media input to the input means, with the upper limit of the number of the game media included in the game information. Item 4. The game information processing system according to item 4. 7. The game information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the service providing means is a notification means for notifying the player of the game information. 8. Data between a first communication means for communicating with a telephone possessed by a player via a public line, a database in which a telephone number of the telephone and game information unique to the player are associated with each other. When a second communication means for performing communication and an incoming call from the telephone via the first communication means,
Using a calling number notification function to obtain a telephone number of the telephone, and using the telephone number obtained by the obtaining means, a game peculiar to the player via the second communication means from the database. A game information processing system comprising: a reading unit that reads information; and a service providing unit that provides a service to the player using the game information unique to the player read by the reading unit.