JP2006141754A - Game machine and game machine inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine inspection system capable of jointly inspecting whether a game machine one-chip CPU is a regular article or not and whether the game machine one-chip CPU confirmed to be the regular article actually controls the game machine or not. <P>SOLUTION: An inspection device 3 can read the ID attached to the game machine one-chip CPU 2a of a game machine control board 2, determine whether it is the regular article or not, determine whether there is a possibility that the game machine one-chip CPU 2a is disconnected to I/O ports 2c, etc. or not from the connecting state with a sensor 5, a display control device 6 and a discharge control device 7, and when determining that it is not properly connected, writes an error code in RAM incorporated therein, so that the inspection device 3 can inspect the presence/absence of the fraudulent alteration which the game machine one-chip CPU 2a does not properly control the game machine, based on error information read from the game machine one-chip CPU 2a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a function of checking the legitimacy of a gaming machine in a game hall or the like, and a gaming machine inspection system that performs legitimacy inspection using the gaming machine.

  Game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are usually controlled by a single-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a single-chip CPU for gaming machines) containing a ROM storing a game control program. It is controlled by a control device that houses the substrate in a storage case.

  Since the above-described one-chip CPU for gaming machines is directly related to important characteristics of the gaming machine such as the probability of jackpot, the gaming machine that has been illegally replaced or forged by the forged one-chip CPU for gaming machines If a gaming machine control board equipped with a single-chip CPU is illegally replaced for each case, the gaming machine will be different from the appropriate gaming machine that is suitable for testing by the testing institution, and it is unforeseen for game shops and players. Will cause damage.

  Therefore, as a technique for preventing forgery of the gaming machine one-chip CPU or for easily detecting that it has been forged, each individual ID is set in the gaming machine one-chip CPU and this ID is read out. Therefore, by using a special device (for example, an inspection device such as an ID reader), the confidentiality is increased, the forged one-chip CPU for gaming machines is easily found, and the one-chip CPU for gaming machines is forged. A technique for making this difficult is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-262710 A

  However, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to confirm whether a gaming machine control board is mounted with a regular gaming machine one-chip CPU or an unauthorized gaming machine one-chip CPU. However, there is a problem in that it cannot be determined whether or not the gaming machine one-chip CPU is actually performing various controls of the gaming machine.

  In other words, an illegal act is performed in which another illegal CPU is mounted on the same board while a regular gaming machine one-chip CPU is mounted on the gaming machine control board, and the actual gaming machine is controlled by the unauthorized CPU. In such a case, an inspection device such as an ID reading device reads an appropriate ID from a regular one-chip CPU for gaming machines and results in an inspection result indicating that the gaming machine is appropriate, and game control is performed by an unauthorized CPU. Until fraud is not detected.

  Therefore, the present invention can check whether or not the gaming machine one-chip CPU is a genuine product by reading out and checking the unique ID assigned to each gaming machine one-chip CPU. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine inspection system that can also confirm that a one-chip CPU for gaming machines that has been confirmed as a product is actually controlling the gaming machine, and a gaming machine that can be inspected by this gaming machine inspection system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine controlled by a gaming machine computer having a function of communicating with the outside and provided with unique identification information used for aptitude inspection. The gaming machine computer includes at least a gaming machine control unit, a connection state checking unit for checking whether or not a connection state between components and / or equipment connected to the gaming machine computer is appropriate, and the connection state checking unit. A connection state confirmation result holding unit for holding the confirmation result of the connection state, and a connection state confirmation result notification unit for outputting the content held by the connection state confirmation result holding unit to the outside via the communication function. .

  The invention according to claim 2 is a gaming machine inspection system comprising the gaming machine according to claim 1 and an inspection device capable of communicating with the gaming machine computer of the gaming machine, wherein the inspection The apparatus communicates with a connection state confirmation result notification unit of the gaming machine, and a connection state confirmation result acquisition unit that can obtain a connection state confirmation result from the gaming machine, and a connection state confirmation result acquired by the connection state confirmation result acquisition unit An abnormality determination means for determining that the inspection result of the gaming machine is normal based on being appropriate, and determining that the inspection result of the gaming machine is abnormal based on an inappropriate connection state confirmation result; and the abnormality determination means And an informing means for informing the determination result.

  According to the gaming machine according to claim 1, the gaming machine computer confirms whether or not the connection state between at least the gaming machine control means and the components and / or equipment connected to the gaming machine computer is appropriate. State confirmation means, connection state confirmation result holding means for holding the confirmation result of the connection state confirmation means, and connection state confirmation result notifying means for outputting the contents held by the connection state confirmation result holding means to the outside via a communication function In addition to being able to output unique identification information used for checking whether or not the computer is an appropriate gaming machine to the outside, it is possible to control the gaming machine with an unauthorized gaming machine computer. When the connection between the machine computer and various parts and devices is cut off, the state can be output to the outside as a connection state confirmation result.

  According to the gaming machine inspection system according to claim 2, the inspection device capable of communicating with the gaming machine computer of the gaming machine communicates with the connection state confirmation result notifying means of the gaming machine, and the connection state confirmation result is obtained from the gaming machine. Based on the fact that the connection state confirmation result acquisition means that can be acquired and the connection state confirmation result acquired by the connection state confirmation result acquisition means are appropriate, the gaming machine inspection result is determined to be normal, and the connection state confirmation result is inappropriate. Since there is an abnormality determination unit that determines that the inspection result of the gaming machine is abnormal based on the fact that it is, and a notification unit that notifies the determination result of the abnormality determination unit, the gaming machine appropriate for the inspection based on the unique identification information In addition to being able to determine whether or not it is a computer for gaming, the connection between a legitimate gaming machine computer and various parts and devices has been broken in order to perform gaming machine control with an unauthorized gaming machine computer Determines normal, it can be notified it.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a gaming machine inspection system. A gaming machine computer (ROM) that controls the gaming machine control board 2 by connecting an inspection device 3 to the gaming machine control board 2 of the gaming machine 1. , RAM and CPU are integrated into a one-chip IC that is integrated into a one-chip IC) Inspection based on ID (unique identification information) assigned to the one-chip CPU, and the one-chip CPU for the gaming machine properly exhibits a gaming machine control function Inspect whether or not The notification of the inspection result is displayed visually on the display screen of the inspection apparatus 3, is displayed by lighting / flashing of a blue lamp or a red lamp, is performed by sound output, or any known method is used. It doesn't matter.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the gaming machine 1, and the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a mounted on the gaming machine control board 2 communicates with the testing device 3 via the testing terminal 2b. Each of the I / O ports 2c is connected to a plurality of I / O ports 2c through a select signal and a data bus. Switch, detector, etc.), display control device 6 for controlling the display device, discharge control device 7 for controlling the game medium discharge device for discharging game media (pachinko balls and medals), sound effect output from the speaker and various displays It is connected to an effect control device 8 for effect control by lamp light emission control or the like.

  Then, the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a reads the signal input from the sensor 5 via the I / O port 2c, and displays it via the I / O port 2c in order to execute the operation of the gaming machine 1 according to the signal. The control data and commands are output to the control device 6 and the discharge control device 7, and the display control device 6 and the discharge control device 7 receiving the control control the operation of the display device and the discharge device, thereby allowing the gaming machine 1 The game by will progress.

  When the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a performs gaming machine control as described above, a command is sent to a device controlled by another independent one-chip CPU, such as the discharge control device 7, and then a response to the command is sent. Is not returned, the discharge control device 7 is not operating properly, the connection line with the discharge control device is disconnected, or between the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines and the I / O port 2c There is a possibility that the connection is disconnected (the bus line is intentionally disconnected), and this is stored in a predetermined location on the RAM in the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines as an error state.

  In addition, when the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines performs the gaming machine control as described above, a command output is not performed for a device having a specification that does not return a response to the received command, such as the display control device 6. If the command output from another I / O port 2c different from the used I / O port 2c is input and returned to the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machine, and the same command as the output command is returned, If it can be determined that the command is properly transmitted from the gaming machine control board 2 to the peripheral device such as the display control device 6 and the output command does not return, the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a and the I / O port 2c May be disconnected (the bus line is intentionally disconnected), and this is regarded as an error state, and the RA in the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines is Stored in a predetermined location in the above.

  When the signal indicating that the sensor 5 is connected is not input to the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a, the sensor 5 is disconnected from the gaming machine control board 2, or the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a and the I / O There is a possibility that the connection with the port 2c is disconnected (the bus line is intentionally disconnected), and this is regarded as an error state and a predetermined location on the RAM in the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines Remember it.

  In the error state stored as described above, when the command to the discharge control device 7 is retried, a response is returned, or the same command as the command output to the display control device 6 is another I / O port 2c. When the event that caused the error state is resolved by returning from the sensor or when a signal from the sensor 5 is input, the error state is canceled and the normal state is restored.

  Since the I / O port 2c shown in FIG. 2 has an input only or output only function for the interface with the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a, an output command to the display control device 6 is provided. In order to confirm recursively, it is configured to return to the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a via another I / O port 2c. For example, the written data can be read from the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a. When the / O port is used, each time the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a writes data to the I / O port, the written data is compared with the data read from the I / O port. It is possible to check whether the interface between the CPU 2a and the I / O port is normal.

  The inspection device 3 connected to the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a via the inspection terminal 2b as described above communicates with the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a by a non-public protocol, and is given to the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a. The error state stored on the RAM as described above can be acquired together with the ID that has been set.

  The schematic configuration of the gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 3 shows a gaming machine control board 2 that has been tampered with to which an unauthorized one-chip CPU 2a ′ that operates according to an inappropriate gaming machine control program is attached.

  The gaming machine control board 2 'in FIG. 3 is made to resemble the regular gaming machine control board 2 shown in FIG. 2 so that it cannot be distinguished from the regular control board from the outside. However, one I / O port 2c (for example, an I / O port that receives an input from the sensor 5) is replaced with an unauthorized one-chip CPU 2a ', and the regular one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines and each I / O port 2c Are disconnected, and all the I / O ports 2c are controlled by the unauthorized one-chip CPU 2a '.

  However, even if the gaming machine control board 2 'is configured in this way, if the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a is connected to the testing terminal to which the testing device 3 is connected, the testing device 3 will generate error information ( By checking the information on whether or not the error state is stored in the RAM of the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a, the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a actually uses the I / O port 2c to It can be confirmed that it is not connected to any other board or component.

  Further, since the inspection device 3 can also read the ID of the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a at the same time, by checking this ID, it can be confirmed that the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a is a genuine product. Even if the regular gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a in which the previous version of the program that enables error monitoring as described above is written is removed from other gaming machines and mounted on the unauthorized gaming machine control board 2a, The fraud can be detected.

  In other words, the game machine includes a gaming machine control board 2 having a one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines that can perform error monitoring as described above, and an inspection device 3 that has a function for reading and determining error information from the gaming machine 1. According to the gaming machine inspection system, it is possible to easily confirm whether the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a used for the gaming machine control board 2 is a genuine product, and the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a confirmed to be a regular product. Since it can be easily confirmed whether or not the gaming machine 1 is actually controlled, whether or not the gaming machine control board 2 itself has been tampered with can be easily and reliably confirmed.

  The inspection of the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a by the inspection device 3 is performed in a state where the gaming machine 1 is in operation, that is, in a state where the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a is functioning. Even when tampered with, the supply of operation power, operation clock, etc. of the regular one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines is not cut off (if the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines is disabled, the ID reading inspection by the inspection device 3) Therefore, even if it is an unauthorized gaming machine control board 2 ′ to which the unauthorized one-chip CPU 2a ′ is attached, the regular gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a can detect abnormalities in connection state and error information. You can write.

  FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines. The address bus signal output from the CPU 21 is converted into a chip select signal by the address decoder 22, and is output to the outside of the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a together with the data bus signal, and is connected to the I / O port 2c. The CPU 21 operates in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 23. However, when the CPU 21 detects that the connection state is not appropriate as described above (a device external to the gaming machine control board 2 is not properly connected), the predetermined value in the RAM 24 is obtained. The error state is stored in the position of. When the state of the gaming machine 1 is requested from the outside via the inspection terminal 2 b, the communication function 25 reads the error state code from a predetermined position in the RAM 24 and transmits it to the external inspection device 3.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a determines a connection state by outputting a command to the discharge control device 7 as an example of a device capable of returning a response to the command. is there.

  First, a command is sent to the discharge control device 7 (step S01), a response is acquired from the discharge control device 7 (step S02), and it is determined whether or not there is a response within a certain time (step S03). If there is a response within a certain time, the connection state can be determined to be normal, and the connection state determination process is terminated. On the other hand, if the response is not received within the predetermined time in step S03, it can be determined that the I / O port 2c or the discharge control device 7 is not connected, so an error code is stored in a predetermined position of the RAM 24 and connected. An error state based on the abnormality is stored (step S04).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a determines the connection state by outputting a command to the display control device 6 as an example of a specification device that does not return a response to the command. .

  First, a command is sent to the display control device 6 (step S11), the command output to the display control device 6 is read (step S12), and it is determined whether or not the read command matches the sent command ( Step S13) If the read command matches the sent command, the connection state can be determined to be normal, and the connection state determination process is terminated. On the other hand, if the commands read in step S13 do not match, it can be determined that the I / O port 2c or the display control device 6 is not connected, so an error code is stored at a predetermined position in the RAM 24 and connected. An error state based on the abnormality is stored (step S14).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the gaming machine one-chip CPU 2a determines the connection state from the state of the switches and sensors. The sensor 5 supplies the OFF state at the time of non-detection and the ON state at the time of detection to the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines at different potential levels, and when the sensor 5 is detached from the gaming machine control board 2 The signal having the same potential level as that at the time of detection is designed to be input to the one-chip CPU 2a for gaming machines. In addition, a lot of gaming machine switches and sensors such as award winning sensors for pachinko machines that are gaming machines, start levers and stop buttons for revolving gaming machines do not continue to be on for more than a certain period of time. If it continues for a certain time or more, it is considered that there is a high possibility that it is not in the ON state and the I / O port 2c or the sensor 5 is not connected.

  First, the state of the sensor 5 is read (step S21), and it is determined whether or not the potential level of the sensor is in an ON state (step S22). If it is determined in step S22 that the sensor is in the ON state, it is determined whether or not the ON state has continued for a certain period of time (step S23). If it does not continue for a certain period of time, it can be determined that the sensor output is normal, so the connection state determination process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the ON state of the sensor 5 has continued for a certain time, it can be determined that the I / O port 2c or the sensor 5 is not connected, so an error code is stored at a predetermined position in the RAM 24. Then, the error state based on the connection abnormality is stored (step S24).

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the gaming machine and the gaming machine inspection system according to the present invention has been described in detail based on the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration described in the claims is changed. As long as it is not, it can be realized by employing various equivalent techniques.

It is a schematic block diagram of the gaming machine inspection system according to the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the gaming machine (proper) related to the gaming machine inspection. It is a schematic block diagram of the gaming machine (unauthorized) related to the gaming machine inspection. It is a schematic block diagram inside the one-chip CPU for gaming machines. It is a flowchart which shows the connection state determination process by the command transmission to a discharge control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the connection state determination process by the command transmission to a display control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the connection state determination process by the input level from various sensors, a switch, etc.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Game machine control board 2a One-chip CPU for game machines
21 CPU
22 Address decoder 23 ROM
24 RAM
25 communication function 2b inspection terminal 2c I / O port 3 inspection device 5 sensor 6 display control device 7 discharge control device 8 effect control device

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine that has a communication function with the outside and is controlled by a gaming machine computer provided with unique identification information used for aptitude inspection,
The gaming machine computer includes at least a gaming machine control unit, a connection state checking unit for checking whether or not a connection state between components and / or equipment connected to the gaming machine computer is appropriate, and the connection state checking unit. A connection state confirmation result holding unit for holding the confirmation result of the connection state, and a connection state confirmation result notifying unit for outputting the content held by the connection state confirmation result holding unit to the outside via the communication function. Gaming machine. A gaming machine inspection system comprising the gaming machine according to claim 1 and an inspection device capable of communicating with the gaming machine computer of the gaming machine,
The inspection device includes:
A connection state confirmation result acquisition unit capable of communicating with the connection state confirmation result notification unit of the gaming machine and capable of acquiring the connection state confirmation result from the gaming machine;
Based on the fact that the connection state confirmation result acquired by the connection state confirmation result acquisition means is appropriate, it is determined that the inspection result of the gaming machine is normal, and the inspection of the gaming machine is based on that the connection state confirmation result is inappropriate. An abnormality determining means for determining the result as abnormal;
An informing means for informing the determination result of the abnormality determining means;
A gaming machine inspection system characterized by comprising:

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