JP3712475B2 - Renewal card issuance system at amusement hall - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an update card issuing system, and more particularly to a system that enables a prepaid card to be updated in a game store such as a pachinko store.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a card system in a pachinko parlor, for example, a customer purchases a prepaid card in advance, the customer inserts the card into a ball lending machine installed next to the pachinko machine, and uses a ball lending button (generally , Provided on the pachinko machine) once, for a preset amount of money, for example, 300 yen (this amount unit may vary depending on the store, or the type that the customer can set freely) ) Comes out on the upper plate of the pachinko machine. You can borrow a ball with the ball lending button until the remaining amount of the card runs out, and if you want to stop halfway, press the card return button (also provided on the pachinko machine) and the remaining amount will be recorded and the card will be returned It is like that.
[0003]
The prepaid card is generally 10,000 yen, 5000 yen, 3000 yen, 1000 yen or the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this card system has been a big social problem because the counterfeiting of cards has been rampant, while the prepaid card can be used in any store for customer convenience.
[0005]
A card system that prevents this has also been proposed. For example, there is JP-A-61-143085. In this system, an ID number is assigned to each card to prevent forgery. However, in this system, the use of the card is limited to one store, and there is an inconvenience that even if there is a remaining amount in the card, it cannot be used in another store.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and within a predetermined period, the card is used only at the issued store. When the predetermined period has passed, an update card is issued so that it can be used at other stores. The purpose is to facilitate customer convenience. In addition, forgery can be prevented by checking the card data at the time of update, and at the time of update, the update card is printed and recorded, and at the same time, the management computer is asked to confirm the data, and the update is required. An object of the present invention is to provide an update card issuing system capable of reducing time.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The renewal card issuance system in the game hall of the present invention is recorded with valuable data equivalent to currency and a unique ID number, and a prepaid card that is valid only within the issuing store for a predetermined period from the time of issuance, and this prepaid card A game medium lending machine that lends a game medium by inserting the game medium, a management computer configured to manage a plurality of game stores, and managing at least the ID number and the remaining amount information of the prepaid card that has passed the predetermined period; When there is a balance in the prepaid card whose period has passed, the remaining data of the prepaid card is printed and magnetically recorded on another update card , and the received prepaid card data is inquired of the management computer, and the management computer in is determined that may be updated, it receives a message including the update OK Can the update card is discharged, when it is determined that updatable by the management computer, and and a card updating unit for returning the prepaid card acceptance is recovered disable printing recording of the update card It is characterized by that.
[0008]
Preferably, the management computer is provided outside the store, and the data can be confirmed by accumulating data of all prepaid cards used in each store every day. .
[0009]
Preferably, the management computer is configured to delete update information when there is an update deletion request from the card updating machine due to occurrence of an abnormality.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A prepaid card as shown in FIG. 11 can be used only at the issuing store for a predetermined period from the date of issue (for example, 8 days, where the predetermined period is indicated as an expiration date). After that, if the card has a remaining amount within a certain period (for example, within one month from the date of issue), the remaining amount can be reissued. At that time, even a card issued at another store can be reissued (updated). The mechanism is that each store sends the ID number and balance to the management computer for every prepaid card used at that store at the end of the day, and the management computer checks all data for each store. And accumulate. At the time of updating, the management computer confirms the data on the card at the own store or at another store, and if it is OK, the update is issued. At this time, a predetermined period and a fixed time limit are set again as in the first issue. Although not shown, a magnetic stripe is provided on the back side of the card and magnetic recording is performed.
[0011]
When the card is updated, data is read from the old card, and printing and magnetic recording are once performed on the new card based on the data, and at the same time, the data of the old card is inquired of the management computer. In case of an abnormality such as data being falsified or copied and already issued for update, an update card that has already been printed and magnetically recorded is overwritten with a mark indicating that printing is invalid. In addition to printing, 0 is written in all magnetic data, the update card is collected, and the old card is returned. (You may make it take in without returning an old card.)
When the data is OK, the renewal card that has already been printed and magnetically recorded is immediately ejected, the old card is recovered, and the magnetic data is invalidated.
[0012]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a schematic diagram and a system block diagram showing an outline of the game medium supply system of the present invention. In this apparatus, a terminal controller 10 is provided at each amusement store connected to a management computer 2 of this center through a public line network 3 with a center 1 as a center. Consists of a plurality of gaming units 50 controlled by the island controller 40, a ticket vending machine 20 for selling prepaid cards, and a card updating machine 30 for updating prepaid cards. Normally, each game store is provided with about one card renewal machine 30. When the expiration date of eight days has passed since the first card issuance date and within one month from the card issuance date, When the card is inserted, the card ID number and the card data are collated by the management computer, and if OK, a new card is issued with the remaining amount as the initial frequency (see FIG. 3). At this time, a new 8 day expiration date is recorded. Within 8 days from the date of issue, the card can only be used at the card issuer. After that, other stores that have installed this system can also play at that store by inserting the card into the renewal machine. . Updates can be repeated. Further, the gaming unit 50 reads and writes valuable data from a prepaid card in which valuable data equivalent to currency is recorded and, based on the player's request for lending gaming media to the gaming machine, within the range of valuable data, The game unit is composed of a card unit (CR unit) 70 configured to lend the game media and a game table 60, and each component is connected via a LAN (local area network) so that data can be exchanged with each other. It has become. The game unit 50 corresponds to the game medium lending machine of the first invention.
[0013]
The terminal controller 10 includes a control unit that controls the entire system, a display unit such as a memory and a display, and an input / output unit such as a keyboard and a printer. The terminal controller is connected to the management computer 2 of the center 1 through the public line network 3 so that data in the terminal controller 10 can be managed using the management computer 2.
[0014]
Further, the ticket vending machine 20 sells “house cards” that can be used only at stores where this system has been introduced (however, it can be used only when the conditions described above are satisfied except at the issuing store). In this embodiment, a unique ID number is assigned to each card when the card is issued, and the card data is collectively managed by the terminal controller.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 4, the card renewal machine 30 is provided with an external display unit 31 having a built-in light emitter such as an LCD at the top of the front panel of the housing. It flashes when it occurs or when it is not connected to a management computer. Below that, an operation door 32 is provided (only the operation door can be opened and various operations can be performed by an attendant without opening the entire door). Furthermore, a card insertion display section 33, a card insertion opening 34, a card payout display section 35, and a card outlet 36 are provided below that.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the entire door is opened. From the top, the external display unit 31, the operation unit 37, the card reader unit 38, the collection box 39, the control unit 41, the update unit 30d, the power source 42, the sub-controller 43, an external output unit 44 is provided. If the magnetic data of the card cannot be read by the apparatus for some reason, the card can be reissued using the card updating machine 30. That is, when the customer makes a request to the staff, the staff checks the ID by the terminal controller 10 by opening the operation door 32 of FIG. 4 and operating the operation unit 37 to input the ID number printed on the card. Then, you can reissue the remaining amount of the card with that ID. At this time, if an invalid number such as a number that does not actually exist or a number that is currently being played is entered, the update machine will go down in error if it becomes NG three times in succession, preventing unauthorized issuing by an attendant.
[0016]
Further, as shown in the functional block diagram of the control system in FIG. 6, the update machine 30 for the prepaid card includes a CPU 30a that performs arithmetic processing, a ROM 30b that stores control programs and control data, a RAM 30c, and an actual update. The update unit 30d for performing the operation, the communication interface 30e for performing data communication with the terminal controller 10 via the island controller 40, and receiving and transporting the inserted prepaid card to read the magnetic data, and this card to the collection box 39 A card receiving / collecting return unit 30g for collecting or returning the card to the card insertion slot 34 is provided.
[0017]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the update unit 30d. The magnetic roll paper is cut into a desired size by a cutter via a conveyance unit C composed of rollers, and magnetic data is written by the magnetic head A. Printing is performed at the B printing section. On the other hand, when collecting, it is collected by the reject stacker 30f. Here, 36 is the exit of the updated card.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the prepaid card updating machine according to the present invention.
In the update machine, it is determined whether or not a card has been inserted (step 101). If it is determined that a card has been inserted, the magnetic data stored in the card is read using the magnetic head of the card reader unit 38. Reading is performed (step 102). First, it is determined whether or not the card is a regular card (step 103). If it is determined that the card is not a regular card, the card is returned (step 104). On the other hand, if it is determined that the card is a legitimate card, it is determined whether there is a remaining amount (step 105). If it is determined that there is no remaining amount, the card is returned (step 104).
If it is determined that there is a remaining amount, it is determined whether or not the expiration date has passed (step 106), and it is determined that the predetermined expiration date (8 days from the date of issue) has not passed. In this case, the card is returned as not requiring updating (step 104).
When it is determined that the expiration date has passed, it is determined whether or not it is within a predetermined time limit (30 days) determined in advance from the date of issue (step 107). The card is returned because it cannot be updated (step 104).
[0019]
When it is determined that it is within 30 days from the date of issue, printing is recorded on the update card, and at the same time, an update request is made to the management computer 2 of the center 1 (step 108). Since the terminal controller 10 in each amusement store stores only data within the expiration date, a card issued by the ticket vending machine 20 in the same store must be in the center 1 as long as the expiration date is exceeded. An inquiry message (a message in which various information before update and various information after update are encrypted) is sent to the management computer 2 as data.
[0020]
On the other hand, the center management computer 2 collates the transmitted telegram data with the stored data and determines whether or not the update may be performed (step 109). When it is determined that the update can be performed without a communication error or a registration error, the registration information is rewritten, and a message including an update OK is transmitted from the center, and the update machine receives this (step 110). Then, the CPU of the card unit determines whether the response message and the card printing and magnetic light already performed on the update card have been normally completed (step 111). An update deletion request is made (step 112). Here, the term “not normal” refers to a case where there is an abnormality in the response of the message, or whether the card printing and magnetic writing already performed on the update card have not been completed normally. Then, it is determined whether or not it is a deletion OK (step 113), and if it is a deletion OK, the renewal card is invalidated, recovered and the old card is returned (step 115).
[0021]
When it is determined in the determination step 111 that the data is normal, that is, when the response of the message is normal and the card printing and the magnetic light are normally completed, an update card is displayed at the card exit 36. The old card is invalidated and taken into the collection box 39 (step 116).
[0022]
Next, the operation of the card updating machine will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the card renewal machine is turned on, the hardware is first initialized (step 201). Whether or not update registration is in progress is determined based on the presence or absence of an update completion flag (step 202). If it is determined that update registration is in progress, an error is detected and a message is sent to the staff (step 203). Then, a reset operation is performed (step 204), and an update deletion request message is sent to the center management computer to make an update deletion request (step 205).
The center management computer sends a response message to the card renewal machine, and the renewal machine determines whether or not the response result from the center is normal (step 206). (Step 207).
If it is determined that the response result is normal or that there is no pre-update data, it is determined whether or not the old and new cards remain (step 208), and if they remain, the old card is returned. In addition, the renewal card invalidation process and collection to the reject stacker 30f are performed (step 209), and a standby state is entered (step 210). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an update card that has been invalidated. A cross is marked in the data print area of the update card shown in FIG. Here, the response result is normal if the center requests update registration before a power failure, rewrites data at the center, and then a power failure occurs while sending a registration OK message to the update machine. If the response result indicates that there is no pre-update data, a power failure occurs while requesting update registration from the center. That is, even if a deletion request is transmitted, there is no corresponding data in the center. On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination (step 208) that there are no new and old cards remaining, the standby state is maintained (step 210).
[0023]
In the above embodiment, the issued amount and the remaining amount (displayed as a percentage of the issued amount) are recorded on the prepaid card, but instead, the number of game media may be recorded (displayed). .
[0024]
In the present invention, the card renewal machine is provided independently. However, the card vending machine 20 may be integrated with the card vending machine 20 so that the card sales and the card renewal can be performed by one unit.
[0025]
In addition, when a card is updated, the old card is collected and a new card is issued. If a recycling card is sold at the ticket vending machine 20, data is updated and printed on the inserted recycling card when the card is updated. It can be returned.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the card is used only at the issued store within a predetermined period, but when the predetermined period has passed, an update card is issued so that it can be used at other stores. By checking the card data at the time of update, counterfeiting can be prevented, and at the time of update, the update card is printed and recorded, and at the same time, the management computer is asked to confirm the data. It is possible to shorten the time required for the update.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a processing system used in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an update card. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control system of the renewal machine. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the renewal unit. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an update card formed by the apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a prepaid card (issued) formed by the apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. Figure showing the time card) [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Terminal controller 20 Ticket vending machine 30 Card renewal machine 40 Island controller 50 Game unit 60 Game stand A Magnetic head B Printer C Card conveyance control part 70 Card unit 30a CPU
30b ROM
30c RAM
30d Update unit 30e Communication interface

Claims (3)

Valuable data equivalent to currency and a unique ID number are recorded, and for a predetermined period from the time of issuance, a prepaid card that is valid only within the issuing store;
A game media lending machine that lends game media by inserting this prepaid card,
A management computer configured to manage a plurality of amusement stores and managing at least the ID number and the remaining amount information of the prepaid card that has passed the predetermined period;
If there is a balance in the prepaid card after the predetermined period, the remaining data of the prepaid card is printed and magnetically recorded on another update card , and the received prepaid card data is inquired of the management computer, When it is determined that the management computer can update , the update card is ejected when a message including update OK is received. When the management computer determines that the update is not possible, the update card is printed. A renewal card issuing system in a game hall, comprising: a card renewal machine that returns the prepaid card received while being invalidated and collected. The management computer
2. An update card issuance according to claim 1, wherein the data can be confirmed by accumulating data of all prepaid cards used outside the store every day. system. The management computer
The update card issuance system in the game hall according to claim 1 or 2, wherein update information is deleted when an update deletion request is issued from the card update machine due to occurrence of an abnormality. .

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