JP5114330B2 - Network system for game hall using PLC communication - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system for a game hall using PLC communication in which data transmission between a PLC master modem and a large number (up to 2400) PLC slave modems is performed in a network using PLC communication.

  A network system using a so-called PLC (Power Line Communication) technology that performs communication by superimposing a signal for data transmission on a power line that supplies power has been put into practical use. The basic technology of communication using PLC is to modulate a digital signal for data transmission into an analog high-frequency signal and superimpose the analog high-frequency signal obtained by this modulation process on the power line through which AC power flows. There is a process of transmitting and performing a process of separating an analog high frequency signal superimposed on a power line and demodulating it into a digital signal, and transmitting the digital signal to a terminal device or the like. A PLC modem is used as a communication device that performs these processes. Various network systems in which various terminal devices are connected to the PLC modem have been proposed and put into practical use.

  For a network system using a PLC modem, particularly a system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, a PLC modem (hereinafter referred to as a PLC modem) is used for each terminal device constituting the network, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below. , "PLC cordless handset modem") and a PLC modem for controlling the operation of these PLC cordless handset modems (hereinafter referred to as "PLC master phone modem") via a power line has been proposed. Yes.

  Non-Patent Document 1 describes a network system example using a PLC modem in an apartment building. In this system example, the PLC main unit modem is connected to the transformer that constitutes the power receiving equipment of the apartment house, and the power line wired from this transformer to each house is connected to the distribution board installed in each house. An example is shown in which a PLC cordless handset modem is connected to a power line wired from the distribution board to each room.

  Further, as a technique for ensuring communication reliability in a network system using PLC communication, for example, as described in Patent Document 3 below, a PLC repeater is arranged in the network system, and this PLC relay is performed. It has been proposed to connect a PLC slave modem via a machine.

  Patent Document 4 discloses an island network that transmits and receives information in each gaming hall as a centralized monitoring and management system for gaming halls, each gaming hall, various management terminals (server / client), certificate authority terminal (server / client). 2 layer network composed of a global network outside the game hall that transmits and receives mutual information.

  Further, Patent Document 4 discloses information in which an information signal is superimposed as a high frequency signal on a commercial 100V or 200V power line supplied to the gaming machine and the island computer connected to the island network, and is superimposed on the power line. It is described that power line superimposed signal modulation / demodulation means for separating signals is added.

JP 2008-42623 A JP 2008-72579 A JP-A-2005-286631 JP 2007-44217 A Ohm Co., Ltd., High Speed Power Line Communication System (PLC) and EMC, pages 26-27, Figure 2.5, issued on November 20, 2007

  A large-scale network system using PLC modem communication is constructed in one building or building, and a large number of terminal devices, for example, more than 2000 (up to about 2400) terminal devices are connected to this network system. In order to operate the network system stably, it is necessary to solve the following problems.

(1) The first problem is to reduce the loss due to branching. In a large-scale system, it is necessary to branch a power line serving as a transmission path for data transmission into a large number by a distribution board. However, as the number of branches increases, a loss associated with the branch increases. In addition, noise is generated from a large number of terminal devices connected to the network system, and this noise enters a power line serving as a transmission path to reduce communication reliability. For this reason, in PLC communication, it is considered necessary to reduce the loss caused by the transmission path between the PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem to 60 dB or less.

  In order to solve the first problem, as described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, a system for controlling the operation of the PLC slave unit based on the control of the PLC master unit modem, or a PLC repeater It is desirable to adopt. However, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 specifically describe a network system using PLC communication in which a large number of terminal devices of a maximum of 2400 are connected to reduce loss due to branching, which is the first problem. No means are disclosed.

(2) The second problem is how to secure the maximum effective speed of communication in the network system and secure a high-speed response between the PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem and stable communication. Conventionally, the CSMA-CA method has been adopted as means for ensuring the effective communication speed. In the CSMA-CA system, since multiple access is performed based on carrier sense, high-speed response and high-speed transmission are possible. However, in a system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, noise increases. Therefore, the CSMA-CA method cannot perform stable carrier sense, and it is difficult to realize stable communication.

  In a network system using PLC communication in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, a polling method in which a PLC slave modem responds by polling processing of the PLC master modem is suitable for performing stable communication. Since the response time of the machine modem is determined by the polling period of the PLC master modem, high-speed response is impossible. Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3 described above also disclose specific means for ensuring the maximum effective speed and stable communication, which is the second problem, in a network system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected. Absent.

(3) The third issue is how to notify emergency information generated in the terminal device to the host server or the like in a short time via the PLC master modem. The above-mentioned “emergency information” is information related to the jackpot when a jackpot occurs in a terminal device connected to the PLC slave modem, for example, a gaming machine (terminal device) installed in a large-scale game hall, or When an illegal act occurs in the gaming machine, information such as a detection signal related to the illegal act is shown.

  In order to solve this third problem, the means described in Patent Document 4 monitors a player's image taken by a surveillance camera with an administrator server connected to the global network. is there. However, Patent Document 4 discloses that anomaly occurrence information related to this gaming machine is quickly transmitted from a gaming machine installed in the gaming hall to an administrator server installed in the gaming hall using PLC communication. The configuration of the transmission path is not disclosed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Even when a PLC master unit modem and a large number (up to 2400 units) of PLC slave units are connected to a network using PLC communication, stable data can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game hall network system using PLC communication capable of realizing transmission / reception and improvement in effective speed of data transmission.

  A network system for a gaming hall using PLC communication of the present invention controls a PLC slave device modem communicably connected to a gaming machine constituting a gaming machine island arranged on a floor, and the operation of the PLC slave device modem. A network system for a game hall using PLC communication in which a PLC master modem is connected to be communicable via a PLC repeater, and the PLC master modem and the PLC repeater are installed at the entrance of the floor. An island entrance PLC slave modem and a broadband island entrance PLC master modem are disposed at the entrance of the gaming machine island; the broadband PLC PLC slave modem is disposed at the gaming machine; and A PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter, the PLC repeater is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter, and the PLC repeater is connected to the PLC repeater. The island entrance PLC slave unit modem is connected, the island entrance PLC slave unit modem is connected to the island entrance PLC master unit modem via a LAN cable, and the communication line connection port of the island entrance PLC master unit modem is the second branch adapter. The PLC slave unit modem is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter, and the PLC master unit modem and the island entrance PLC are relayed through the PLC relay unit. Data transmission with the slave modem is shared by at least the first synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting the synchronization signal, the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the island entrance PLC slave modem. And data between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem, based on a first master frame configured to have a shared band of one user data. The transmission has at least a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, and a shared band of second user data shared by the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem. Based on the second master frame, the island entrance PLC master modem receives the second user data including information from the gaming machine, and transmits the second user data over the LAN. When the data is transferred to the island entrance PLC slave modem according to the format, the data is transmitted to the PLC master modem in synchronization with the PLC repeater.

  The first synchronization signal transmission band is used to set the first synchronization signal for synchronization between the PLC master modem and the PLC repeater and the transmission right of the PLC repeater. Based on the first transmission right time slot for transmitting information and the first synchronization signal, a second for synchronizing between the PLC repeater and the island entrance PLC slave modem A second transmission right time slot for transmitting a synchronization signal and information for setting the transmission right of the island entrance PLC slave modem, and the second synchronization signal transmission band includes the island entrance Third transmission for transmitting a third synchronization signal for establishing synchronization between the PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem and information for setting the transmission right of the PLC slave modem May have a rights time slot

  The first master frame and the second master frame have an emergency call band for transmitting information related to an emergency call transmitted from the gaming machine to the PLC slave modem to the PLC repeater. It may be provided.

  In the network system for the game hall using the PLC communication of the present invention, the PLC main unit modem and the PLC repeater are arranged at the entrance of the floor, and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem and the broadband island entrance at the entrance of the gaming machine island. A PLC master unit modem is arranged, a wideband PLC slave unit modem is arranged in the gaming machine, and the PLC master unit modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter, and after the branch of the first branch adapter A PLC repeater is connected to the port, an island entrance PLC slave modem is connected to the PLC repeater, the island entrance PLC slave modem is connected to the island entrance PLC master modem via a LAN cable, and the island entrance PLC master The communication line connection port of the remote modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter, and the PLC slave modem is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter. The data transmission between the PLC master modem and the island entrance PLC slave modem that is performed by relaying the repeater is at least a first synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, a PLC master modem, and a PLC relay And the first master frame shared with the island entrance PLC slave unit modem, and the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem. The data transmission between the two has at least a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal and a shared band for second user data shared by the island entrance PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem Is performed based on the second master frame, and the island entrance PLC main unit modem receives the second user data including information from the gaming machine, and the second user data is transmitted to the LA. Passing the island inlet PLC handset modem in accordance with the format of the data transmission, the data is transmitted to the PLC base unit modem in accordance with the synchronization between the PLC repeater.

  In this case, the PLC main unit modem and the PLC repeater are arranged at the entrance of the floor, and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem and the broadband island entrance PLC master unit modem are arranged at the entrance of the gaming machine island. A broadband slave PLC modem is arranged, and the PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter, and the PLC repeater is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter. Is connected to the island entrance PLC slave unit modem, the island entrance PLC slave unit modem is connected to the island entrance PLC master unit modem via a LAN cable, and the communication line connection port of the island entrance PLC master unit modem is the second branch adapter. Because the PLC slave unit modem is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter, the PLC repeater at the floor entrance and the island entrance PL at the entrance of the gaming machine island Since the branch adapter is not interposed between the slave modem and the branch loss between the floor entrance and the gaming machine island entrance is reduced, the floor entrance and the gaming machine island entrance This is effective when the loss between the two is abnormally large.

  Moreover, since data transmission between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem arranged in the gaming machine is performed using a wide band, between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem. It becomes possible to increase the speed of data transmission.

  Also, the first master frame for data transmission between the PLC master unit modem and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem that is performed by relaying the PLC repeater transmits at least a first sync signal. A band and a shared band of first user data shared by the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the island entrance PLC slave modem, and the island entrance PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem; A second master frame for data transmission between the second user and at least a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, and a second user shared by the island entrance PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem Since the data sharing band is used, the first user data and the second user data are respectively included in a number of bands in the first master frame and the second master frame. It is possible to allocate shared bandwidth of data.

  According to the network system for gaming halls using PLC communication of the present invention, the branching loss between the entrance of the floor and the entrance of the gaming machine island is reduced, and is further arranged in the island entrance PLC master modem and the gaming machine. It is possible to increase the speed of data transmission to and from the PLC slave unit modem using a wide band, and between the PLC master unit modem and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem that are relayed through the PLC repeater. The first master frame for data transmission between the first master signal is shared by at least the first sync signal transmission band for transmitting the sync signal, the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the island entrance PLC slave modem. At least a second master frame for data transmission between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem. A second synchronization signal transmission band to be transmitted, and a shared band of second user data shared by the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem, and the first master frame and the second Since the shared bandwidth of the first user data and the second user data can be allocated to each of many bands in the master frame, the PLC master unit modem and a large number (up to 2400 units) of PLC slave units Even if the modem is connected to a network using PLC communication, stable data transmission / reception and improvement of the effective speed of data transmission can be realized.

  The network system for game halls using PLC communication according to the present embodiment is capable of stable data even when a PLC master unit modem and a large number (up to 2400 units) of PLC slave units are connected to a network using PLC communication. Improvement of effective speed of transmission / reception and data transmission is realized. Here, in this embodiment, a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a pachislot gaming machine is connected to a large number (up to 2400) of PLC slave machine modems. The PLC slave modems include pachislot machines, game media lending machines that lend out game media (pachinko balls and medals) used in pachislot machines, surveillance cameras (web cameras, etc.) that monitor the floor, etc. Can also be connected.

  In order to realize such stable transmission / reception of data and improvement of the effective speed of data transmission, in this embodiment, a PLC master modem and a PLC repeater are arranged at the entrance of the floor, and the entrance of the gaming machine island An island entrance PLC slave unit modem and a broadband {M (mega) band} island entrance PLC master modem are arranged, and a broadband {M (mega) band} PLC slave unit modem is arranged in the gaming machine. Further, the PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter, the PLC repeater is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter, and the PLC repeater is connected to the island entrance PLC slave modem. And connecting the island entrance PLC slave unit modem to the island entrance PLC master modem with a LAN cable, connecting the communication line connection port of the island entrance PLC master unit modem to the port before branching of the second branch adapter, Second branch adapter By connecting a PLC slave unit modem to the post-branch port, a branch adapter is not interposed between the PLC repeater at the entrance of the floor and the island slave PLC modem at the entrance of the gaming machine island. Is made effective when the loss between the entrance of the floor and the entrance of the gaming machine island is abnormally large. .

  Further, data transmission between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem arranged in the gaming machine is performed using a wide band, and between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem. To increase the speed of data transmission. When the number of gaming machines is large, the number of gaming machines connected may be increased by further connecting a second branch adapter to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter.

  In addition, a first synchronization signal transmission that transmits at least a synchronization signal is transmitted as a first master frame for data transmission between the PLC master modem and the island entrance PLC slave modem that is performed by relaying the PLC repeater. A band and a shared band of the first user data shared by the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the island entrance PLC slave modem, and the island entrance PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem A second master frame for data transmission between them, at least a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, and second user data shared by the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem The first user data and the second user data are shared in many bands in the first master frame and the second master frame. So that it is possible to assign a frequency.

  In this way, branch loss between the entrance of the floor and the entrance of the gaming machine island is reduced, and further, data transmission between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem arranged in the gaming machine is reduced. A first master frame for data transmission between the PLC master modem and the island entrance PLC slave modem, which is performed by using a broadband to increase the speed and relayed by the PLC repeater; A shared band of the first user data and the second user data can be allocated to many bands of the second master frame for data transmission between the PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem. Therefore, even if a PLC master unit modem and a large number (up to 2400 units) of PLC slave units are connected to a network using PLC communication, stable data transmission / reception and effective data transmission speed are achieved. It can be achieved and improved.

  Also, a first synchronization signal for synchronizing the first synchronization signal transmission band between the PLC master modem and the PLC repeater and information for setting the transmission right of the PLC repeater are transmitted. And the second synchronization signal and the island entrance PLC child for synchronization between the PLC repeater and the island entrance PLC slave modem based on the first transmission right time slot and the first synchronization signal And a second transmission right time slot for transmitting information for setting the transmission right of the machine modem, and the second synchronization signal transmission band is set to the island entrance PLC master unit and the PLC slave unit modem. If a third transmission right time slot for transmitting a third synchronization signal for synchronization with the communication terminal and information for setting the transmission right of the PLC slave modem is provided, data transmission is performed. Can improve the effective speed of That.

  That is, the establishment of synchronization between the PLC master unit modem and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem via the PLC repeater is performed by the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal. Data transmission of the second synchronization signal to the island entrance PLC slave modem using two transmission right time slots can be performed by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and a large number of island entrance PLC slave modems can be used. Can be established in a short time, and data transmission of the third synchronization signal from the island entrance PLC master unit modem to the PLC slave unit modem using the third transmission right time slot is orthogonal. Frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) can be performed, and synchronization of many PLC slave modems can be established in a short time. This enables frequency-division multiplexing of synchronization signals by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which enables transmission in a short time and establishes synchronization between a large number of island entrance PLC slave units and PLC slave unit modems. This is because it can be performed in a short time.

  Further, the first master frame and the second master frame are provided with an emergency call band for transmitting information related to an emergency call transmitted from the gaming machine to the PLC slave modem to the PLC repeater. Then, when one of the PLC slave modems receives information on the emergency call from the gaming machine, the information on the emergency call is immediately sent to the PLC repeater located on the higher level on the network even if there is no transmission right. You can report. This is because an emergency call to the host can be made in the specific relay band because access from the PLC master modem located at the upper position on the network to the PLC repeater is frequently performed.

  Details of the embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example according to an embodiment of a network system for a game hall using PLC communication of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a distribution board for each floor (hereinafter referred to as “ Fig. 3 shows an example of the power line route to the floor entrance distribution board and the transmission path including the power line from the floor entrance distribution board to the gaming machine. Fig. 3 shows the game hall as a three-story building. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example at the time of doing.

  For example, a large-scale game hall with 2000 or more (up to about 2400) pachinko and pachislot machines (hereinafter referred to as “game machines”) has multiple floors (floors) such as 3 to 5 floors. ). On each floor, a large number of gaming machines are arranged in rows, so-called “gaming machine islands”, and these “gaming machine islands” are arranged in multiple rows in the horizontal or vertical direction of the floor. . In such a gaming hall, a power receiving facility (A) for supplying power to a large number of gaming machines (pachislot machines, pachislot gaming machines, etc.) and various facilities and lighting equipment installed on each floor Is installed on the rooftop (or basement).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, AC 6.6 KV is led to the power receiving facility (A) by the AC high voltage line, and is converted to AC 100 V (or 200 V) by the transformer 1. The converted AC 100 V power supply is branched by, for example, a six-branch distribution board 2 and supplied to a plurality of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Via a power line 4a. The plurality of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are distribution board rooms (for example, floor entrances shown in FIG. 3) provided on a predetermined floor (floor (B1) in the example shown in FIG. 1). It is installed in the distribution board room (F).

  These floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are composed of, for example, 32 branch distribution boards. In addition, the floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are used for each floor as distribution boards that supply power to gaming machines, lighting equipment, and other equipment installed on each floor. It is installed according to.

  The building example of the game hall shown in FIG. 3 shows an example in which a floor entrance distribution board room (F) and a monitoring room in the hall (D) are installed on the floor (B1). As shown in the figure, the floor where the gaming machines are installed in a normal gaming hall has a predetermined interval (hereinafter referred to as “intra-island gap”) with the back sides of the two gaming machines facing each other. The game machine islands are arranged in the horizontal direction, and so-called “game machine islands” are configured, and these game machine islands C1, C2, C3,. A layout in which a plurality of passages are arranged while securing the passage. Furthermore, a device for supplying a game ball to the game machine 8 is installed in the above-mentioned gap in the island.

  Further, for example, a 32-branch island distribution board 5 is installed in the center of the gaps in the islands of the gaming machine islands C1, C2, C3,. As the island distribution board 5, an existing island distribution board can be used. Further, the island distribution board 5 is connected to the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... For the gaming machine in the floor entrance distribution board room (F) by a power line 4b laid on the ceiling or under the floor. . Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the power lines 4c branched from the island distribution board 5 installed on each gaming machine island C1 etc. are connected to the outlets Cn1, Cn2 provided at predetermined intervals in each gaming machine island. ,···It is connected to the.

  2, for example, each of the outlets Cn1 to Cn3 installed in the gaming machine island is connected to a conversion transformer 6 (not shown) for supplying power to the gaming machine 8, and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a and 30b are connected. ,... Are connected via the communication line (LAN cable) 10e to the wideband {M (mega) band} island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Is connected. Further, the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter 7 is connected to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... Via the communication line 10f. A PLC slave modem 9 is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter 7 via a communication line 10d. The second branch adapter 7 is a four-branch adapter having, for example, four post-branch ports, and one broadband {M (mega) band} PLC slave unit modem 9 is connected to each post-branch port. It is connected.

  In this way, the island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave unit modem 9 are for broadband {M (mega) band}, so that these island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b. ,... And the PLC slave device modem 9 arranged in the gaming machine 8 can be increased in data transmission speed.

  The second branch adapter 7 also includes means for branching the transmission line into a large number, reduction of branch loss associated with the large number of branches of the high-frequency signal superimposed on the power line 4c, and impedances in the upstream and downstream directions in the transmission line. This is provided to ensure consistency.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2), individual gaming machines 8 constituting a gaming machine island are connected to the RS232CI / F port of each PLC slave modem 9. In addition, RS232CI / F etc. can be used for the communication port of the game machine 8 connected so that communication with the PLC cordless handset modem 9 is possible. Further, the PLC slave device modem 9 connected to the gaming machine 8 may be installed in the island facility of each gaming machine 8 in the island gap formed on the gaming machine island. Here, the island facility is a facility that is separate from each gaming machine 8 and replenishes each gaming machine 8 with, for example, gaming media (pachinko balls or medals).

  A conversion transformer 6 that converts AC100V to AC24V is connected to the outlets Cn1 to Cn4 and the like connected from other branch points of the island distribution board 5 through the power line 4c. This conversion transformer 6 is a transformer for supplying AC 24V as the driving power of the gaming machine 8, and for example, the AC 24V driving power is supplied from one conversion transformer 6 to four to five gaming machines through the power line 4d. be able to. The number of conversion transformers 6 to be installed may be determined according to the number of gaming machines 8 constituting the gaming machine island.

  In this way, the transmission path (power line 4c → communication line 10d) connecting the island distribution board 5 and the gaming machine 8 and the path 4c → 4d of the power line supplied from the island distribution board 5 to the gaming machine 8 The other system, that is, the power line 4c → conversion transformer 6 → 4d supplied from the island distribution board 5 to the gaming machine 8 constitutes a bypass path.

  As described above, when constructing a network system for a gaming hall using PLC communication in this embodiment, an island entrance PLC slave unit is formed in the island gap formed in the gaming machine island in units of gaming machine islands. .., The island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,..., The second branch adapter 7 and the PLC slave modem 9 are installed, and only simple wiring work associated with these installations is performed. It's okay. Therefore, since it is not necessary to carry out a large-scale power line or communication line wiring work, the system of the present invention can be easily adopted in an existing game hall.

  Next, connection between the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... And the PLC master unit modem (first master unit modem) 13 will be described. As described above, in the floor entrance distribution board room (F), a large number of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d,... Are installed to supply power to each floor. And several of them, for example, floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... Are used to supply power to the island distribution boards 5 installed on each floor (B1) and (B2). The

  Further, the AC 100V connection port (line side) of the PLC relay 16 is connected to the branch point of the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... Via the power line 4e, and the communication line connection port of the PLC relay 16 is connected. The first branch adapter 15 is connected to the post-branch port via the communication line 10c. As a result, the PLC repeater 16 is connected to each post-branch port of the first branch adapter 15, and the PLC repeater 16 is connected to any one of the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,. become. The configurations of the branch adapter 15 and the second branch adapter 7 will be described later.

  Further, the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter 15 is connected to the line side port of the PLC master modem 13 whose line side port is set to the communication mode via the communication line 10b. As a result, a synchronization signal from the PLC master modem 13 and user data transferred from the store server 12 or the like, which will be described later, to the PLC master modem 13 via the PLC slave modem 18 and the PLC master modem 14 are transmitted via the PLC communication. It is possible to transmit to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... That are communicably connected under the control of these PLC repeaters 16 through a number of downstream PLC repeaters 16. Become. In addition, the upstream data, that is, the general effect information displayed on the gaming machine 8, the information on the jackpot generated on the gaming machine 8, the information on the fraud occurrence, etc., from the PLC slave modem 9 to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b ,..., The island entrance PLC slave modems 30 a, 30 b,..., Can be transmitted to the PLC master modem 13 via the PLC repeater 16 and further to the store server 12.

  Note that the PLC slave unit modem 9 monitors not only the gaming machine 8 but also a pachislot gaming machine, a gaming media lending machine for lending gaming media (pachinko balls and medals) used in the pachislot gaming machine, and the inside of the floor. A monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) can also be connected. In this case, user data transmitted from the store server 12 or the like, which will be described later, can be information that controls, for example, a game medium lending machine, a monitoring camera (such as a Web camera), or the like. That is, the information for controlling the game medium lending machine can be, for example, a content for permitting or stopping a lending operation by the game medium lending machine. Further, the information for controlling the monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) can be the content of changing the direction of shooting, zooming up or zooming out.

  In addition, user data from the PLC slave device modem 9 connected to a game medium lending machine, a monitoring camera (web camera, etc.) is information indicating the state of the game medium lending machine, monitoring camera (web camera, etc.), etc. be able to. That is, the information indicating the state of the game medium lending machine can be content indicating whether or not the operation of the game medium lending machine is normally performed. The information indicating the state of the monitoring camera (web camera or the like) can be image information obtained by photographing the inside of the floor.

  In addition, in the game hall, in order to grasp the information on the operating status of each gaming machine 8, the status of the game, the number of occurrence of jackpots, and the information from the game media lending machine and the monitoring camera (Web camera, etc.) described above. A network system using the in-hall LAN 11 is constructed. A terminal device (hereinafter referred to as “PC terminal”) 19 composed of a store server (hall computer) 12 and a personal computer installed in the monitoring room (D) in the hall is connected to the in-hall LAN 11. Yes.

  Here, the gaming hall network system using PLC communication in this embodiment is also characterized in that it has a system configuration that can be connected to a network system using the existing intra-hall LAN 11. In the following, a configuration for connecting to the network system by the LAN 11 in the hall will be exemplified by a game hall in which a floor entrance distribution board room (F) and a monitoring room in the hall (D) are installed on the floor (B1). explain.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the Ethernet connection port of the PLC master device modem (first master device modem) 13 is connected to the Ethernet connection port of the PLC master device modem (second master device modem) 14. Further, the power connection port of the PLC master modem 14 is connected to the power line 4f branched from the floor entrance distribution board 3a. This floor entrance distribution board 3a is a floor entrance distribution board different from the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c... Connected to the island distribution board 5 and has a monitoring room (D) wall in the hall. It is a distribution board that supplies AC 100V to an outlet 17 or the like disposed in the outlet.

  The outlet 17 already arranged on the wall of the monitoring room (D) in the hall is connected to the AC 100 V port of the PLC slave modem 18 and the Ethernet connection port of the PLC slave modem 18 is connected to the LAN 11 in the hall. It is connected to the. 1 and 3 is connected to the existing power line 4g branched from the power line 4f connecting the PLC master device modem 14 and the distribution board 3a.

  In addition, the above-mentioned PLC master unit modem 13, PLC master unit modem 14, and first branch adapter 15 have floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,. It is installed in the room (F). As a result, the wiring work for connecting these devices becomes easy and the length of the wiring can be shortened, so that the transmission loss can also be reduced.

  Further, for example, the store server 12 and the PC terminal 19 connected to the existing in-hall LAN 11 can be integrally connected to the game hall network system using PLC communication according to the present embodiment. Even if the monitoring room (D) in the hall and the distribution board room (F) at the floor entrance are arranged on different floors, the LAN 11 in the hall in the monitoring room (D) and the PLC master modem 14 are connected. There is also an advantage that it is not necessary to newly install a LAN cable.

  Further, the intra-hall LAN 11 can be configured to be connected to the center server 21 of the central monitoring center (E) via the WAN 20. The center server 21 is provided for centrally monitoring a plurality of stores, for example.

  Next, configuration examples of the various PLC modems described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the PLC master modems 13 and 14, the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... And the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the PLC slave modem 9, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the PLC slave modem 18, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the PLC repeater 16 It is. 4, the circuit configurations of the PLC master modems 13 and 14, the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... And the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Therefore, the PLC master modem 13 will be described as a representative.

(Configuration of PLC master modem 13)
As shown in FIG. 4, the PLC master modem 13 includes an Ethernet PHY unit 31, an Ethernet MAC unit 32, a PLC / MAC unit 33, and a PLC / TX connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN cable (100BASE-TX). -PHY unit 34, D / A conversion unit 35, low-pass filter (LPF) unit 36, driver (DV) unit 37, line coupling unit 38 connected to AC 100V power line, gain switch (GSW) unit 39, band-pass filter (BPF) unit 40, A / D conversion unit 41, PLC / RX-PHY unit 42, PLL control unit 43, control unit 44, power supply unit 45, and the like. The control unit 44 includes a CPU 44a, a ROM 44b, and a RAM 44c.

  The ether PHY unit 31 is a circuit unit that manages a PHY layer (physical layer) of transmission or reception data. The Ether MAC unit 32 is a circuit unit that manages a MAC layer (Media Access Control layer) of transmission or reception data based on the control of the control unit 44. The PLC / MAC unit 33 is a circuit unit that manages the MAC layer of the PLC for transmission or reception data based on the control of the control unit 44.

  The PLC / TX-PHY unit 34 is a circuit unit that processes data processed by the PLC / MAC unit 33 as transmission data. The D / A conversion unit 35 is a circuit unit that performs D / A conversion processing on the data processed by the PLC / TX-PHY unit 34. The LPF unit 36 is a filter circuit unit that removes unnecessary bands from the data converted into the high-frequency analog signal by the D / A conversion unit 35. The data of the high frequency analog signal from which the unnecessary band is removed by the LPF unit 36 is sent to the line coupling unit 38 by the DV unit 37 and superimposed on the power line by the line coupling unit 38. In this way, digital signal data input from the LAN cable line (100BASE-TX) to the Ethernet PHY unit 31 is converted into a high-frequency analog signal, which is superimposed on the power line that passes AC 100 V from the line coupling unit 38 and transmitted. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the high frequency analog signal superimposed on the power line is input to the line coupling unit 38, the high frequency analog signal is separated by the line coupling unit 38 and sent to the GSW unit 39, and the GSW unit 39 performs gain adjustment (amplification) Processing). The high frequency analog signal whose gain has been adjusted by the GSW unit 39 is removed from the unnecessary frequency band by the BPF unit 40, and is converted to a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 41. The digital signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 41 is processed as PLC reception data by the PLC / RX-PHY unit 42, and passes through the PLC / MAC unit 33, the Ethernet MAC unit 32, and the Ethernet PHY unit 31. Are sent to the LAN base 100BASE-TX (10a).

  In addition, the line coupling unit 38 serving as a line side port includes two terminals for connecting the communication line terminal and the AC 100V, so that either of these terminals can be switched by an internal switch or used together. It has become.

  The control unit 44 controls the overall operation of the PLC master modem 13 and the operations of the Ethernet MAC unit 32 and the PLC / MAC unit 33 by various control programs stored in the ROM 44b. The power supply unit 45 includes an AC-DC converter and the like for supplying a DC power supply of about DC5V to each circuit unit.

Here, the ROM 44b stores various programs for performing the following processing.
1) A process of transmitting the first synchronization signal to each PLC repeater 16a, 16b,... At a predetermined time interval, for example, an interval of 10 ms to 50 ms is performed. When each of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Receives this synchronization signal, it immediately establishes synchronization based on the synchronization signal, and the second synchronization signal is controlled by the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. To the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,.

  2) When user data transmitted from the server 12 or the like is stored in the RAM 44c, the user data is transmitted to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Based on polling control. In this process, referring to a polling table (PT) shown in FIG. 15B, which is stored in advance in the ROM 44b, the PLC relay is sent to the designated island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. User data is transmitted via the machines 16a, 16b,. Further, user data from the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Via the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. Control for transmitting to the server 12 or the like is performed.

  3) When polling control is performed when calling a number of island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... From the PLC master modem 13 via the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. Control to avoid collision (control of transmission right) is performed. In this polling control, for example, when the PLC master modem 13 transmits the first synchronization signal to the PLC repeater 16a, a BC1 signal (BC: beacon described later) in which address information of transmission right is added to the first synchronization signal. ) Is transmitted to the PLC repeater 16a. This address information is information indicating the transmission right of the transmission path.

The ROM 44b of the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... Stores various programs for performing the following processing.
1) A process of transmitting the third synchronization signal to each PLC slave modem 9 at a predetermined time interval, for example, an interval of 10 ms to 50 ms is performed. Each PLC slave modem 9 receives this synchronization signal and immediately establishes synchronization based on the synchronization signal.

  2) When user data transmitted from the server 12 or the like is stored in the RAM 44c, a process of transmitting the user data to the PLC slave modem 9 is performed based on polling control. In this processing, user data is transmitted to the instructed PLC slave modem 9 with reference to a polling table (PT) shown in FIG. Also, user data from the PLC slave modem 9 which is user data in the upstream direction is received, and control is performed to transmit the received user data to the server 12 or the like. In this case, the received user data is transferred to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... According to the data transmission format on the LAN.

(Configuration of PLC slave unit modem)
The PLC slave device modem 9 shown in FIG. 5 has substantially the same configuration as the PLC master device modem 13 described above, but includes an RS232 I / F (interface) unit 31 a for performing serial communication with the gaming machine 8. It is different in point. The line coupling unit 38 on the line side is also different in that it includes a terminal for connecting to the second branch adapter 7 via the communication line 10d.

  On the other hand, the PLC slave unit modem 18 shown in FIG. 6 has substantially the same configuration as the PLC slave unit modem 9 described above, but the RS232 I / F (interface) 31a of the PLC slave unit modem 9 is replaced with the Ethernet PHY 31. Is different.

  Here, a program for performing the following processing is stored in the ROM 44b of the PLC slave modem 9. That is, the third synchronization signal (BC3 signal described later) and address information received from the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Further, when the above-described user data is stored in the RAM 44c, a process of transmitting the user data to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... In synchronization with the third synchronization signal is performed. The user data is, for example, information related to jackpots generated in the gaming machine 8 or information related to abnormality detection signals. Further, when information relating to an emergency call is transmitted from, for example, the gaming machine 8 connected to the PLC slave modem 9, a process of transmitting this information to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,.

(Configuration of PLC repeater)
The PLC repeater 16 (16a, 16b,...) Shown in FIG. 7 has substantially the same configuration as the PLC master modem 13 shown in FIG. 4, but the line coupling unit 38 serving as a line side port is a communication line. It is different in that a terminal for connection and two terminals for connecting AC100V are provided, and any of these terminals can be switched or used together by an internal switch.

The ROM 44b of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Stores various programs for performing the following processing.
1) Synchronization is established based on the first synchronization signal (BC1 signal described later) received from the PLC master modem 13, and new to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Processing for transmitting a second synchronization signal (BC2 signal described later) is performed.
2) A process of transmitting user data received from the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... To the PLC master modem 13 is performed. Moreover, the process which transmits the information which concerns on the emergency call received from island entrance PLC subunit | mobile_unit modem 30a, 30b, ... to the PLC main | base station modem 13 is performed. The processing related to this emergency call is performed using a specific repeater band described later.
3) Processing for transmitting information (address information) related to the transmission right received from the PLC master modem 13 to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Using a specific repeater band described later is performed.

(Branch adapter configuration)
Next, the configuration of the first branch adapter 15 and the second branch adapter 7 will be described. Conventionally, a transformer that branches in two directions has been put into practical use as a means for branching a transmission line. However, in order to connect a large number of gaming machines 8 and the like on a network as in this embodiment, for example, a transmission line is used. There arises a need to use a branch adapter having means for branching into four or more branches and many. Furthermore, such a branch adapter needs to have a function for satisfying the requirements described in 1) to 3) below.

  1) Bidirectional branch loss increases because the transmission path is branched into a large number, but this is minimized. Furthermore, bidirectional impedance matching is taken.

  2) It is possible to couple with a power line of AC 100V, and when realizing a branch adapter composed of a transformer, it is configured to ensure insulation between the primary and the ground and between the primary and the secondary. Further, when the PLC modem (or PLC repeater 16) is connected to all of the post-branch ports of the branch adapter, and the PLC modem (or PLC repeater 16) is not connected to a part of the post-branch port. In some cases, the termination resistor can be automatically or manually opened or connected, and the above-described bidirectional (downward and upward) impedance matching can be achieved.

  3) Since this is a network that connects a large number of gaming machines of 2400 at the maximum, one transmission path is configured to be capable of multi-branching that can perform a maximum of 16 branches.

FIG. 8 shows the second branch adapter 7 with a four-branch configuration. Each high-frequency transformer shown in the figure can be manufactured in a small size of about 1 cm ^3. Further, by forming a circuit by arranging these high-frequency transformers on a substrate, one branch adapter can be formed. Can be a unit.

  The second branch adapter 7 shown in the figure connects five transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) so as to form a circuit having a bridge structure, and has four branch output terminals (branches). The PLC slave unit modem 9 is connected to the post-branch port on the primary side of each of the four transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5).

  In the second branch adapter 7, the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) connected to the communication line 10f of the island entrance PLC master unit 31a is a pre-branch port. One side of the secondary side of the transformer element (51-1) is connected to one connection point 52a on the secondary side of the transformer element (51-2) and the transformer element (51-4). The other secondary side of the transformer element (51-1) is connected to the other connection point 52b on the secondary side of the transformer element (51-3) and the transformer element (51-5).

  Furthermore, the other of the secondary side of the transformer element (51-2) and the transformer element (51-4) and one of the secondary side of the transformer element (51-3) and the transformer element (51-5) are connected to each other. 53a and 53b. Further, the connection points 53a and 53b are connected via a 50Ω resistor 54. Further, a capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) connected to the island distribution board 5, and the capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of the transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5). The PLC slave modem 9 is connected.

  In such a second branch adapter 7, even if the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) is used as a pre-branch port and connected to the power line from the island distribution board 5 that supplies AC100V, the AC100V is Since only the high frequency wave that is cut and becomes transmission data flows through the branch adapter, loss due to branching is reduced.

  Furthermore, since the transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) are connected to form a bridge configuration, the transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5) constituting the second branch adapter 7 are connected. The secondary side and the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) both have the same impedance in the upstream direction and the downstream direction, that is, impedance matching can be achieved both in the downstream direction and the upstream direction of the transmission path.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the branch loss even if the transmission path is branched into four. In addition, since the capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of each of the transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) and the primary side is connected to an external device or the like, it is possible to ensure the breakdown voltage of the branch adapter. It becomes possible.

  In the second branch adapter 7 shown in FIG. 9, when it is not necessary to connect the PLC slave unit 9 to one of the primary sides of the transformer element, for example, the transformer element (51-5), as shown in FIG. The impedance matching described above can be achieved by connecting a 50Ω termination resistor 56 to the primary side of the transformer element (51-5).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) connected to form a bridge configuration are set as one bridge configuration pattern, and this bridge configuration pattern is set to four bridge configurations. When connected to, a branch adapter having 16 branches as shown in FIG. 20 described later can be configured.

  Next, the structure of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Will be described. Since the floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Have almost the same configuration, the floor entrance distribution board 3b will be described below as a representative.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, a single-phase circuit generally composed of one neutral wire L0 and electric wires L1 and L2 having a potential difference of 100V is provided from the rooftop distribution board 2 to the floor entrance distribution board 3b. Three wires are wired. Moreover, the A phase and the B phase are formed on the single-phase three-wire. In this case, PLC master modem 13 → first branch adapter 15 → PLC repeater 16 → floor entrance distribution board 3b → island distribution board 5 → island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... → island entrance PLC A transmission path by communication lines 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, etc. and power lines 4e, 4b, 4c, etc. is formed from the master modems 31a, 31b,..., The second branch adapter 7 to the PLC slave modem 9. At that time, the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the A phase and the B phase which are different from each other in the wiring work, so that different ones of the respective phases are mixed.

  Further, if there is an island entrance PLC slave modem 30a connected to the different A phase and B phase via the first branch adapter 15, a reverse phase loss occurs, so that the specific island entrance PLC slave modem 30a communicates. The phenomenon that becomes impossible occurs. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection between the floor entrance distribution board 3b, the PLC relays 16a, 16b,... And the island distribution board 5 is configured as shown in FIG.

  That is, the figure shows a configuration in which the floor entrance distribution board 3b has a 32-branch configuration, and a breaker is connected to 16-branch A-phase and B-phase wires L1 and L2 and a neutral wire L0. . When such a 32-branch floor entrance distribution board 3 is used, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Are connected to the midpoints of the A phase (in-phase) and the B phase (reverse phase). To. The midpoint of each of the A phase (in-phase) and the B phase (reverse phase) is the position of the breaker (a8) serving as a branch point located at the center of the 16 branch points arranged on the A phase side, The position of the breaker (b8), which is the branch point located at the center of the 16 branch points arranged on the B phase side, that is, the center part of the branch point arranged on the A phase side, and the branch arranged on the B phase side The center of the point.

  As described above, when the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Are connected to the midpoints of the A phase (in-phase) and the B phase (reverse phase) of the floor entrance distribution board 3b, the floor entrance distribution board 3b Branch loss can be minimized.

  In addition, FIG. 11 has shown the example in the case of wiring the floor entrance distribution board 3b by 3 lines. Also in this case, by connecting the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... To the breaker (8) that is the midpoint of the 16 branches, the branch loss can be minimized or the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. It is possible to eliminate the loss associated with the reverse phase connection.

  Next, a connection method between the island distribution board 5 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Will be described with reference to FIGS.

  12 is connected to the power line 4 (breaker (a1) and breaker (b1) for supplying power to the outlet located closest to the island distribution board 5 of 32 branches (16 branches on one side) by 3-wire wiring. The AC 100V connection port (line side) of any one of the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Is connected to both of the power lines).

  Further, FIG. 13 shows an island entrance to the power line 4 (power line connected to the breaker (1)) that supplies power to the outlet located closest to the 16-branch island distribution board 5 by 3-wire wiring. This shows a case where any AC 100V connection port (line side) of the PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Is connected.

  As shown in these figures, among the outlets in the gaming machine island wired from the island distribution board 5, the outlets of the island entrance PLC slave units 30a, 30b,. .. If any of the AC100V connection ports (line side) is connected, the branch loss of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Minimized. If there is no need to install a distribution board on the gaming machine island, the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Any one of the AC100V connection ports (line side) may be connected.

  Next, data transmission between the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., The island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,.

  As described above, the PLC master modem 13 transmits the synchronization signals T1, T2,... Serving as clock pulses to each PLC relay at a predetermined time interval, for example, at a specific time interval within a range of 10 ms to 50 ms. To the machines 16a, 16b,. Then, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Establish synchronization based on the synchronization signal received from the PLC master modem 13, and synchronize with the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Send a sync signal tailored to. At this time, synchronization signals from the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... To the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Are code division multiplexed and frequency division multiplexed by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). And transmitted. In this OFDM system, for example, the frequency is divided into 16 and the code is divided into 4 parts.

  14 shows the configuration of the first master frame used for data transmission between the PLC master modem 13 → PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... → island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. It is a figure which shows an example. The first master frame shown in the figure includes a synchronization signal transmission band, an emergency call band (event flag (IF) transmission band) used for an emergency call, and a user data transmission band (user data ( UD) transmission band). The synchronization signal transmission band has a synchronization signal band and a specific repeater band.

  The synchronization signal band is a band used for transmission / reception of the BC1 signal (beacon signal) serving as the first synchronization signal and the BC2 signal (beacon signal) serving as the second synchronization signal. The BC1 signal is used for data transmission / reception between the PLC master modem 13 and the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., And the BC2 signal is the PLC repeater 16a, 16b,. It is used to transmit a synchronization signal which is a reference for performing data transmission / reception with 30a, 30b,.

  In addition to the first synchronization signal, the BC1 signal includes information related to the transmission right set by the PLC master modem 13, that is, address information for performing polling control. The address information included in the BC1 signal is information for setting the transmission right for data transmission between the PLC master modem 13 and the PLC relay units 16a, 16b,..., And the first transmission right time slot. become. In addition, the BC2 signal is established in a state where the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Have established synchronization based on the first synchronization signal received from the PLC master modem 13, and have established synchronization with the PLC master modem 13. , Used to transmit a new synchronization signal (second synchronization signal) to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,.

  Further, the specific repeater band includes information on the transmission right between the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. That is, the specific repeater band is used as a band for transmitting the address information transmitted from the PLC master modem 13 to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Transmission right time slot.

  Note that the BC2 signal is divided into four codes, so that four different beacon signals, a BC2A signal, a BC2B signal (not shown), a BC2C signal (not shown), and a BC2D signal are transmitted and received. By dividing into 16 parts, for each BC2A signal, BC2B signal, BC2C signal and BC2D signal, 16 types of BC2A signal (# 1) to BC2A signal (# 16), BC2B signal (# 1) to BC2B signal ( # 16), BC2C signal (# 1) to BC2C signal (# 16) and BC2D signal (# 1) to BC2D signal (# 16) are transmitted and received.

  Thus, the BC2 signal as the second synchronization signal is simultaneously transmitted to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Under the control of all the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. The frequency division and the code division are multiplexed so that they can be separated even if multiplexed. Further, the specific repeater band is provided in the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... So as not to cause a collision when transmission right information from the PLC master modem 13 is transmitted.

  The specific repeater band is used when the transmission right information from the PLC master modem 13 is transferred to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,..., Or the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Used when transferring event information to the PLC master modem 13.

  The emergency call band (event flag (IF) transmission band) indicates that the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Urgently send event information (information related to emergency calls) to the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. It is provided for reporting. When the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Receive the event flag (IF) from the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,..., The PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. To the modem 13. The event information includes, for example, information on a big hit when a big hit occurs in the gaming machine 8, or when various sensors provided in the gaming machine 8 detect some abnormality (for example, information on fraud) It is information related to illegal information, and it is desirable that the data length be as short as several bytes.

  When detecting this fraudulent information, for example, a photoelectric or contact detection sensor for detecting that the door of the gaming machine 8 is opened, a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic force of the magnet, a game, etc. A detection signal detected by a vibration detection sensor such as a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects the vibration of the machine 8 can be used.

  The shared band for data transmission is that the user data (UD) requested to be transmitted from the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 is the store server 12 (or PC terminal 19) in the down direction → the PLC slave modem 18 → the second PLC. Master modem 14 → PLC master modem 13 → PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... → island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... → island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. This is a band for transmission to the PLC slave modem 9.

  In addition, the shared bandwidth for data transmission is that the user data (UD) received by the PLC slave device modem 9 from the gaming machine 8 is the upstream direction of the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Slave unit modems 30a, 30b,... → PLC relay units 16a, 16b,... → PLC master unit modem 13 → second base unit modem 14 → PLC slave unit modem 18 → store server 12 (or PC terminal 19) ) Is a band for transmission. However, the line between the PLC slave unit modem 18 and the PLC master unit modem 14, the line between the PLC master unit modem 13 to the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., The island entrance PLC slave unit modems 30a, 30b, and the island entrance The lines between the PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9 are independent of each other. As described above, the shared band for data transmission is a band that is commonly used when transmitting user data (UD) in the downlink direction and the uplink direction, and therefore, most of the band in the master frame is used. This is effective in increasing the effective speed of data transmission.

(Polling table configuration)
The polling control in this embodiment is based on the first synchronization signals T1, T2, T3,... Transmitted by the PLC master modem 13 at predetermined time intervals, and the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. It is executed in a state where the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. In order to execute this polling control, the address information (hereinafter referred to as “polling table”) in which the order (order) in which the PLC master modem 13 polls the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Need.

  FIG. 15 (a) identifies the address information of the PLC master modem 13, the plurality of PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the plurality of island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. .., And the connection relationship between the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,.

  Here, the identification number serving as the address information is information indicating the transmission right for data transmission of the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., The island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. .., And address information for specifying a specific PLC relay device 16a, 16b,... And a specific island entrance PLC slave modem 30a, 30b,.

  That is, as PLC model identification information (at1) consisting of 2 bits, [00] is set in the PLC master modem 13, [01] is set in the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. [10] is set in 30a, 30b,. In addition, since a plurality of PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Are installed, each PLC repeater 16a, 16b,. An identification number (at2) consisting of any one of 6 bits is set. In this case, since 3F = 63, it is indicated that a maximum of 63 PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Can be installed.

  Similarly, since there are a plurality of island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,..., Each island entrance PLC slave modem 30a, 30b,. FF) is set to an identification number (at3) consisting of any 8 bits. In this case, since FF = 255, a maximum of 256 units can be installed for one PLC relay device 16a, 16b,.

  Therefore, in the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Under the control of the identification number (at2) of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. , 30b,... [00], the address information is expressed in binary, the PLC master modem is [00], the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. The island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Can be expressed as information consisting of a total of 16 bits (2 bytes: 1 word) with [00000000]. The information expressed by these 2 bytes represents the physical address (address information) of these specific island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,..., And at the same time, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. The connection configuration between the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,...

  Then, in order for the PLC master modem 13 to perform polling control, the information arranged as a data table in the order of polling control of the address information consisting of one word as described above is stored in the ROM 44b of the PLC master modem 13 as a polling table (PT). Register in advance. FIG. 15B shows an example of the data structure of this polling table (PT).

  That is, when the identification information is set in the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. When the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Are under the control of [01], the identification information (at3) of the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. , The connection between the PLC master modem 13 and, for example, the PLC repeater 16a and the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Is regarded as one device. In this case, since the model identification information of one PLC master device modem 13 is 2 bits [00], 16 bits (2 bytes: 1) of 6 bits [0000001] and 8 bits [00000000] are arranged on this. Word) as unique identification information. The 2-byte identification information is as shown in the order 1 column of the polling table PT in FIG.

  Similarly, the unique identification information of, for example, the PLC repeater 16a represented by 6-bit identification information [000001] is the model identification information [01], so that the 6-bit identification information [000001] and the 8-bit identification information [00000000] of 16 bits (2 bytes: 1 word) can be expressed as unique identification information. This 2-byte identification information is unique identification information of the PLC relay # 1 as shown in the column of order 2 of the polling table PT in FIG.

  Similarly, for example, the unique identification information of the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a (# 0) that is under the control of the PLC repeater # 1 and is represented by the 8-bit identification information [00000000] has the model identification information [ 10], 16-bit identification information [000001] (indicating that it is under the control of PLC repeater # 1) and 8-bit [00000000] are arranged 16 bits (2 bytes: 1 word). It can be expressed as identification information. The 2-byte identification information is unique identification information of the PLC slave unit # 1 as shown in the column of order 3 of the polling table PT in FIG.

  A procedure example in which the PLC master modem 13 performs polling control based on the polling table (PT) shown in FIG. 15B will be described as follows.

  1) First, the 2-byte address information (identification information unique to the PLC master modem 13) shown in the order 1 shown in FIG. 15B, together with the beacon BC1 signal, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. Transmit to. And PLC relay machine 16a, 16b, ... will transmit beacon BC2 signal to island entrance PLC cordless handset modem 30a, 30b, ... under control of PLC, if this address information is received.

  2) Subsequently, the PLC master modem 13 sends the 2-byte address information (specific identification information of the PLC repeater # 1) indicated by the order 2 shown in FIG. 15B together with the beacon BC1 signal to the PLC repeater. 16a, 16b,... And PLC relay machine 16a, 16b, ... will transmit beacon BC2 signal to island entrance PLC cordless handset modem 30a, 30b, ... under control of PLC, if this address information is received.

  3) Subsequently, the PLC master device modem 13 relays the 2-byte address information (identification information unique to the PLC slave device # 1) shown in the order 3 shown in FIG. 15B together with the beacon BC1 signal through the PLC relay. To the machines 16a, 16b,. And PLC relay machine 16a, 16b, ... will transmit beacon BC2 signal to island entrance PLC cordless handset modem 30a, 30b, ..., if this address information is received. At this time, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Determine whether the upper 8 bits of the received address information correspond to the upper 8 bits of the unique identification information of the own station. The 16-bit address information received from the PLC master modem 13 is transmitted to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Then, when the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Under the control of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Receive the address information, the received address information is uniquely assigned by the control program. It is determined whether or not it matches the identification information (16 bits). If they match in this determination process, the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Determine that the transmission right has been granted to their own stations, and from the gaming machine 8 (terminal device) stored in the RAM 44c. The user data is transmitted to the PLC repeater 16 using the transmission band of the user data.

  4) Subsequently, the PLC master modem 13 sends the 2-byte address information (specific identification information of the PLC repeater # 1) shown in the order 4 shown in FIG. 15B together with the beacon BC1 signal to the PLC repeater. 16a, 16b,... And PLC relay machine 16a, 16b, ... will transmit beacon BC2 signal to island entrance PLC cordless handset modem 30a, 30b, ..., if this address information is received. At this time, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Determine whether or not the 16 bits of the received address information match the 16 bits of the unique identification information of the own station. , The user data received from the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Is transmitted to the PLC master unit 13 using the transmission band of the user data. When receiving the user data, the PLC master device 13 immediately transmits the user data to the second PLC master device modem 14.

  5) Subsequently, the PLC master modem 13 repeats the polling control according to the order set by the polling table PT shown in FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the second master frame used for data transmission between the island entrance PLC master modems 31 a, 31 b,... → the PLC slave modem 9. The second master frame shown in the figure is substantially the same as the first master frame described above, and the synchronization signal transmission band (second synchronization signal transmission band) and the emergency notification band used for emergency notification ( Event flag (IF) transmission band) and user data transmission band (user data (UD) transmission band) serving as a shared band, but the BC3 signal (beacon signal) in the synchronization signal transmission band is described above. It differs from the BC1 signal (beacon signal) in that it is asynchronous.

  Here, the BC3 signal is used for data transmission / reception between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9. In addition to the synchronization signal, the BC3 signal includes information on the transmission right set by the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,..., That is, address information for performing polling control.

  The emergency call band (event flag (IF) transmission band) is provided for the PLC slave unit modem 9 to make emergency notifications of event information (information related to emergency call) to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. It has been. When receiving the event flag (IF) from the PLC slave modem 9, the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... Receive the event flag (IF) according to the format of data transmission in the LAN. To the modems 30a, 30b,. Here, the data passed to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Incidentally, user data (UD) passed from the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... To the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Is done.

  When detecting this fraudulent information, as described above, for example, a photoelectric or contact type detection sensor for detecting that the door of the gaming machine 8 is opened, or detecting the magnetic force of the magnet. A detection signal detected by a vibration detection sensor such as a magnetic sensor that detects vibration of the gaming machine 8 or a three-axis acceleration sensor that detects vibration of the gaming machine 8 can be used.

  As described above, the shared band for data transmission is the store server 12 (or PC terminal 19) in which the user data (UD) requested to be transmitted from the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 is in the downstream direction → PLC slave modem 18 → Second PLC master modem 14 → PLC master modem 13 → PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... → Island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... → Island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b ... → A band for transmission to the PLC slave modem 9.

  In addition, the shared bandwidth for data transmission is that the user data (UD) received by the PLC slave device modem 9 from the gaming machine 8 is the upstream direction of the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Slave unit modems 30a, 30b,... → PLC relay units 16a, 16b,... → PLC master unit modem 13 → second base unit modem 14 → PLC slave unit modem 18 → store server 12 (or PC terminal 19) ) Is a band for transmission. As described above, the shared band for data transmission is a band that is commonly used when transmitting user data (UD) in the downlink direction and the uplink direction, and therefore, most of the band in the master frame is used. This is effective in increasing the effective speed of data transmission.

  FIG. 17A shows address information of the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And a plurality of PLC slave modems 9, and PLC type identification information for identifying each, and each island entrance PLC. This shows the connection relationship between the master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9.

  Here, as described above, the identification number serving as the address information is information indicating the transmission right of data transmission between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... This is address information for specifying the PLC slave modem 9.

  FIG. 17B is an example of a data configuration of a polling table (PT) for the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... To perform polling control of the PLC slave modem 9.

  That is, when the identification information is set in the island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave unit modem 9, the identification information of the island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b,. If the identification information (at3) of the PLC slave modem 9 is [00] in the PLC slave modem 9 under the control of [00] at1), the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. .. And the PLC slave modem 9 are regarded as one device. In this case, since each of the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... Has 2 bits [00], the model identification information is 16 bits (2 bytes: 2 bytes: 8 bits [00000000]). 1 word) of unique identification information. The 2-byte identification information is as shown in the order 1 column of the polling table PT in FIG. Note that the identification information (at2) [00] indicates that the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,.

  Then, the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... Repeat polling control according to the order set by the polling table PT shown in FIG.

(Polling control procedure)
Next, the procedure of polling control will be described based on the time chart shown in FIG. In the figure, synchronization is established based on the first synchronization signals T1, T2, T3,... Sent by the PLC master modem 13 at predetermined time intervals, and a plurality of PLC relays are transmitted from the PLC master modem 13. .. Shows a case where the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b under the control of the PLC relay 16a are subjected to polling control via the PLC relay 16a of the machines 16a, 16b,.

  First, the PLC master modem 13 refers to the above-described polling table (PT) set in advance based on the first synchronization signals T1, T2, T3,. Polling control of user data transmission is sequentially performed on the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. The procedure for performing the polling control can be performed in the order of the following (procedure 1) to (procedure 6). This polling control is executed in accordance with a control program stored in each ROM 44b of the PLC master modem 13 and the PLC repeater 16a.

(Procedure 1)
The PLC master modem 13 performs a process of transmitting the synchronization signal T1 serving as the first synchronization signal as a BC1 signal to each of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. At this time, if the address information included in the BC1 signal indicates the PLC repeater 16a, it is possible to identify the address information included in the BC1 signal by determining whether the PLC repeater 16a corresponds to itself. .

  The example shown in FIG. 18 shows an example in which the PLC master modem 13 polls the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a by relaying the PLC repeater 16a. In this case, a time slot in which the PLC master modem 13 synchronizes with the synchronization signal T1, uses this synchronization signal T1 and the address (transmission right) information obtained in the above processing as a BC1 signal, and sends the BC1 signal of the master frame. (1st transmission right time slot) is transmitted to all the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., But when the address information included in the BC1 signal indicates the PLC repeater 16a, the PLC By determining whether or not the relay 16a corresponds to itself, the address information included in the BC1 signal is identified.

(Procedure 2)
When receiving the BC1 signal from the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeater modem 16a establishes synchronization based on the first synchronization signal T1 as shown in (P2), and all the island entrance PLCs under control are connected. A second synchronization signal (BC2 signal) is transmitted to the slave modems 30a, 30b,. This BC2 signal is transmitted by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) as described above. In this case, as described above, all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Establish synchronization based on the BC2 signal.

  Thus, the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Share the same transmission right information on the same time axis. Will be able to. Further, when user data (UD) is transmitted from the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeater modem 16a performs reception processing of the user data (UD).

  In the process of (procedure 2) described above, when the PLC relay modem 16a transmits the transmission right information received from the PLC master modem 13 using the BC1 signal band, for example, to the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a. The following processing can be used. That is, in the control program of the PLC relay modem 16a, the transmission right information (address information of the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a) transmitted from the master modem PLC 13 corresponds to itself and the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a under control. It is possible to determine whether or not to do so. If it is determined that this is the case, the specific repeater band can be used, and the received address information is transmitted as it is to the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a. On the other hand, if not applicable, the specific repeater band is not used and no processing is performed.

(Procedure 3)
The PLC repeater modem 16a establishes synchronization based on the reception of the next synchronization signal T2, and transmits the BC2 signal as a new synchronization signal to all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. P3). At this time, as described above, all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Establish synchronization based on the BC2 signal. Further, the PLC repeater modem 16a transmits the address information to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Under its own using the time slot of the specific repeater band.

(Procedure 4)
In (P4) shown in FIG. 18, when the island entrance PLC slave unit modem 30a receives the address information included in the specific relay unit band from the PLC relay unit modem 16a, the address information matches the own address information. Determine whether you are doing it. When it is determined that they match, it is determined that the transmission right is given to the user, and some user data (UD) is received from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Is received. As a result of the determination, if user data (UD) has been received from the gaming machine 8, as shown in (P5), based on the BC2 signal established by the next synchronization signal T3, the island entrance PLC master unit modem The user data (UD) from the gaming machine 8 obtained through 31a, 31b,... Is transmitted to the PLC relay device 16a using the transmission band of the user data (UD) of the master frame.

(Procedure 5)
When the PLC repeater modem 16a receives the upstream user data (UD) from the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a based on the above (procedure 4) (P6), the PLC repeater modem 16a receives the user data received in accordance with the instruction of the PLC master modem 13 Processing to transmit to the PLC master modem 13 is performed in synchronization with the next synchronization signal T4 (P7).

(Procedure 6)
When receiving the upstream user data (UD) by the processing of (Procedure 5), the PLC master device modem 13 immediately transmits the received user data (UD) to the second PLC master device modem 14 in FIG. The transmission process is performed at a timing different from that of the master frame (P8). When receiving the data from the PLC master device modem 13, the second PLC master device modem 14 synchronizes with a synchronization signal (BC1 signal of the second PLC master device modem 14) transmitted to the PLC slave device modem 18. Then, the received user data (UD) is transmitted to the PLC slave modem 18. The PLC slave modem 18 performs processing for transmitting the received uplink user data (UD) to the LAN 11 in accordance with the data transmission format of the LAN 11.

  Through the processing of (Procedure 6), the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 installed in the monitoring room (D) in the hall can acquire information from the gaming machine 8. The PLC master modem 13 refers to the polling table (PT) based on the next synchronization signal T5, and performs polling control for the PLC slave modem corresponding to the next polling order, for example, the island entrance PLC slave modem 30b. Execute. In this manner, the PLC master modem 13 repeatedly executes the polling control for all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... According to the polling order registered in the polling table (PT). I do.

  Further, the polling control between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9 is substantially the same as the above-described polling, but the third master frame third described above. .. Is different in that it includes information on the transmission right set by the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,..., That is, address information for performing polling control. . Therefore, synchronization is established between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9, based on the BC3 signal, and the PLC slave modem 9 receiving its own address information is called. Will be. Further, when user data (UD) is sent from the PLC slave modem 9 to, for example, the island entrance PLC master modem 31a, the user entrance (UD) is used as a format for data transmission by the island entrance PLC master modem 31a over the LAN. Accordingly, it is passed to the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a. In this case, the data passed to the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a is a long packet.

  By such polling control, all the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Establish synchronization based on the synchronization signal transmitted from one PLC master modem 13, and When the second synchronization signal is transmitted to all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Under the control, with the synchronization established, all the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Based on the second synchronization signal, synchronization is established with the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... And between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Since the synchronization is established on the basis of the synchronization signal 3, the effective speed can be achieved even when 2000 or more (up to about 2400) gaming machines 8 or the like are connected to the network system using PLC communication. Data can be transmitted without decreasing.

(Emergency call procedure)
Next, an emergency call from the gaming machine 8 will be described. This emergency call refers to the control of the PLC master modem 13 polling the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... In a predetermined order with reference to the polling table (PT). When 30a, 30b,... Receives information related to an emergency call from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master unit modem 31a, 31b,. .. 30a, 30b,... Are urgently notified to the PLC master modem 13 by relaying information related to the emergency notification via the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. Is.

  Note that the information related to the emergency call is, for example, information when a big hit occurs in the gaming machine 8 or content indicating that the gaming machine 8 has been cheated as described above.

  FIG. 19 shows that after the BC2 signal (second synchronization signal) based on the first synchronization signal T10 is received by the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a, the gaming machine 8 from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master modem 31a. This indicates that information (K) related to the emergency call has been input. It should be noted that the control program for the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a is a big hit from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master modem 31a, and when an abnormal signal or other information is transferred, the received information is temporarily stored in the RAM 44c. It is stored and it is determined whether or not the information is to be notified to the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 in an emergency manner. It can be determined whether the information (K) is an emergency call by determining, for example, the type of information transmitted from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master modem 31a.

  And as a processing procedure about an emergency call, it becomes like the following (procedure 10)-(procedure 15).

(Procedure 10)
When the control program for the island entrance PLC slave unit modem 30a determines that the information received from the gaming machine 8 via the island entrance PLC master unit modem 31a is the information (K) to be urgently notified, (K1) in FIG. Then, processing for creating data related to the event flag (IF) shown in FIG. 14 is performed. Among them, the data relating to the event flag (IF) includes, for example, information indicating that a big hit has occurred, information relating to the gaming machine number of the gaming machine 8 which has won a big hit, or identification information of abnormalities such as fraudulent acts, PLC slave unit modem 9a Address information and the like.

(Procedure 11)
In (K1) shown in FIG. 19, the island entrance PLC slave unit modem 30a immediately transmits the data related to the event flag (IF) created in the process of (procedure 10) to the emergency report band (event flag (IF)) of the master frame. A process of transmitting to the PLC repeater 16a is performed using a time slot. Note that it is preferable to reduce the data capacity of the data related to the event flag (IF) as much as possible only as information indicating a big hit or identification information of abnormality such as fraud. Further, depending on the timing at which the emergency notification information (K) is received from the gaming machine 8, the island entrance PLC slave modem 30a is transmitted to the PLC repeater 16a in synchronization with the beacon BC2 signal based on the next synchronization signal. It may be.

(Procedure 12)
When the island entrance PLC slave unit modem 30a receives the event flag (IF) from the PLC slave unit modem 9a via the island entrance PLC master unit modem 31a (K2), the island entrance PLC slave unit modem 30a is connected to the next local station (PLC relay unit modem 16a). In synchronization with the timing for the time slot of the specific repeater band, the received data related to the event flag (IF) is transmitted to the PLC master modem 13 using the specific repeater band of the master frame shown in FIG. (K3). In this transmission process, the PLC repeater modem 16a simultaneously transmits the information transmitted to the PLC master modem 13 to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b under the control of the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,.・ Transfer processing is also performed. As a result, the control program for the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... That has transmitted the event flag (IF) to the PLC repeater modem 16a has the PLC repeater modem 16a send the event flag (IF) to the PLC master unit. It can be determined that the transmission to the modem 13, that is, the ACK (Acknowledgement) of the PLC repeater modem 16a has been received.

(Procedure 13)
When receiving the data related to the event flag (IF) from the PLC repeater 16a based on the specific repeater band (K4), the PLC master modem 13 immediately receives the data related to the received event flag (IF) to the second PLC. The data is transmitted to the base unit modem 14. The second PLC master device modem 14 transmits the received data relating to the event flag (IF) to the PLC slave device modem 18 in synchronization with the BC1 signal of the second PLC master device modem 14. Then, the PLC slave unit modem 18 performs processing for immediately transmitting data relating to the event flag (IF) to the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 of the higher management system.

(Procedure 14)
Upon receiving the data related to the event flag (IF), the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 of the upper management system needs to analyze this data and make a transfer request for detailed user data (detailed user data (UD)). It is determined whether or not. Here, the data related to the event flag (IF) includes the address information of the PLC slave modem 9a to which the event flag (IF) is transferred, the information related to the jackpot, or the detection signal related to the fraud. Processing for determining the type of information and the like is performed. If it is determined that a detailed user data (UD) transfer request is required, the transfer request command and the address information of the PLC slave modem 9a are sent to the PLC slave modem 18 and the second PLC master device. Processing to transmit to the PLC master modem 13 via the modem 14 is performed.

(Procedure 15)
When receiving the detailed user data (UD) transfer request according to the above (procedure 14), the PLC master modem 13 changes the polling control order as shown in (K5) of FIG. Polling control is performed on the PLC slave modem 9a that has transferred (IF), and the user data (detailed user data (UD)) related to the event flag (IF) is based on the above (procedure 1) to (procedure 6). Make a transfer request.

  Thereby, when the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 requests the detailed user data (UD) related to the emergency call, the PLC master modem 13 changes the order of the normal polling control, and the user data ( UD) can be obtained. Further, when acquiring user data (UD) relating to an emergency call, for example, polling control is performed by concentrating the PLC slave unit modems 9a to be polled at predetermined intervals based on an instruction from the store server 12, for example. May be.

  Further, as described above, when the store server 12 or the PC terminal 19 performs a process of analyzing the received emergency call (event flag (IF)) and determines that some sort of fraud has occurred, the in-hall monitoring room The monitor in (D) can operate the surveillance camera or the like to take measures for grasping in detail the abnormality occurrence state. In this case, as described above, when a monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) is connected to any PLC slave modem 9, the address information of the monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) and the monitoring camera in the above-described procedure. Information for controlling the direction of shooting (such as a Web camera) or zooming in or out is transmitted using a shared band for data transmission.

  In this case, user data from the PLC slave modem 9 connected to a monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) can be image information obtained by photographing the floor, so that the monitoring camera (Web camera or the like) Remote operation is possible.

  In addition, when a big hit or an abnormality occurs simultaneously in a plurality of gaming machines 8, a collision occurs in the transmission of the emergency call transmitted from the PLC slave modem 9 to the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,. There can be. In order to avoid this transmission collision, the following collision avoidance method can be employed.

  That is, in the above-described data transmission master frame, an emergency call band (event flag (IF) transmission band) for making an emergency call is configured by dividing the time axis, for example, by dividing the time axis into five bands. These bands can be used to simultaneously transmit five emergency calls.

  Further, in order to avoid a collision of transmission with respect to an emergency call, based on a value set as an initial value of a contention window size (CW: Contention Window) by the control program of the PLC slave modem 9, for example, “5”. , One of five integer values “1” to “5” is selected by lottery by a random number generating means. Then, the event flag (IF) data is sent to the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,..., As an emergency call, using a preset event flag (IF) transmission time band in association with the selected integer value. As a transmission.

  Furthermore, even if an emergency call using the above-described random number generation means is performed, there is a possibility that a transmission collision occurs between the PLC slave modems 9. In order to avoid a collision between the PLC slave modems 9, the event flag (IF) is transmitted (retransmitted) to the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... A predetermined number of times when a collision occurs. Do processing.

  In addition, when retransmitting, the CW size is set from “5” to “10” which is doubled, and when collision occurs, the method is set to “20” which is doubled when the collision occurs. Try to avoid collisions. In this way, when the CW size is set to double, the time frame of the master frame shown in FIG. 14 becomes a band divided into 10 and 10 emergency calls can be transmitted. Thus, if the CW size is set twice each time it is retransmitted, the retransmission time interval becomes longer, so it becomes possible to avoid transmission collision.

  Note that the process for determining whether or not an emergency call conflict has occurred between the PLC slave modems 9 described above is determined by the PLC relay devices 16a, 16b,. IF) can be made by determining whether or not there is an ACK transmitted simultaneously with transmitting the information related to (IF) to the PLC master modem 13.

  Further, by using the above-described method for emergency notification from the PLC slave modem 9, even if a maximum of 2400 gaming machines 8 are connected to the PLC network, the jackpot or unauthorized information (emergency notification) is sent to the PLC slave. Transmission from the modem 9 to the store server 12 is possible within 2 to 3 seconds.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the PLC master modem 13 and the PLC repeater 16 are arranged at the entrance of the floor, and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. Are arranged at the island entrance PLC master device modems 31a, 31b,..., A {S (M) band} PLC slave device modem 9 is provided in the gaming machine 8, and a PLC master device modem 13 is further provided. Are connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter 15, the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter 15, and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30 a, 30 b,. Are connected to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... By LAN cables, and the island entrance PLC master modem 31a is connected to the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. 31b, ... The PLC connection unit is connected to the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter 7, the PLC slave modem 9 is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter 7, and the PLC relay unit 16 is relayed. The data transmission between the machine modem 13 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,..., At least a first synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, a PLC master machine modem, a PLC relay machine, and an island It is performed based on the first master frame configured to have a shared band of the first user data shared by the entrance PLC slave unit modem, and the island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b,. The data transmission with the PLC slave modem 9 is performed by at least the second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting the synchronization signal, the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. Information from the gaming machine 8 is performed based on the second master frame configured to have the shared bandwidth of the second user data to be present, and the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. And the second user data is passed to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... According to the data transmission format on the LAN, the data is sent to the PLC repeater 16. The data is transmitted to the PLC master modem 13 in synchronization with each other.

  In this case, there is no branch adapter between the PLC relay 16 at the floor entrance and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... At the entrance of the gaming machine island. Since the branch loss between the entrance and the entrance is reduced, this is effective when the loss between the entrance of the floor and the entrance of the gaming machine island is abnormally large.

  Further, the island entrance PLC master unit modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave unit modem 9 arranged in the gaming machine 8 are for a wide band {for M (mega) band}. It is possible to increase the speed of data transmission between the entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9 arranged in the gaming machine 8.

  Further, at least a first master frame for data transmission between the PLC master modem 13 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. And a shared band of first user data shared by the PLC master modem 13, the PLC repeater 16, and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... , And the second master frame for data transmission between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9, at least a synchronization signal is transmitted. The first master frame and the second master have a signal transmission band and a shared band of second user data shared by the island entrance PLC master unit and the PLC slave unit modem. In each of a number of bands in the frame it is possible to allocate shared bandwidth of the first user data and second user data.

  In this way, the branch loss between the entrance of the floor and the entrance of the gaming machine island is reduced, and the PLC slave units arranged in the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,. The speed of data transmission to and from the modem 9 is increased by using a wide band, and the PLC master unit 13 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,. , And a second master frame for data transmission between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9. The shared bandwidth of the first user data and the second user data can be allocated to each of the many bands, so that the PLC master unit modem 13 and a large number (up to 2400 units) of the PLC slave unit modems 9 P Be connected to the network using the C communication, it is possible to achieve the improvement of the stability transmission and reception of data and the data transmission effective speed of.

  In the present embodiment, the first synchronization signal transmission band is assigned to the first synchronization signal for synchronizing the PLC master unit modem 13 and the PLC repeater 16 with the transmission right of the PLC repeater 16. Based on the first transmission right time slot for transmitting information for setting and the first synchronization signal, between the PLC repeater 16 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... , And a second transmission right time slot for transmitting information for setting the transmission right of the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... The third synchronization signal and the PLC slave for synchronizing the second synchronization signal transmission band between the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... And the PLC slave modem 9. Sending information for setting the transmission right of the modem 9 Because you have to have a third transmission right time slot for, you can improve the effective rate of data transmission.

  In this case, the establishment of synchronization between the PLC master modem 13 and the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Relaying the PLC repeater 16 is the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization. In particular, data transmission of the second synchronization signal to the island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Using the second transmission right time slot is performed using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system ( OFDM) and synchronization of a large number of island entrance PLC slave modems 30a, 30b,... Can be established in a short time. Further, data transmission of the third synchronization signal from the island entrance PLC master modems 31a, 31b,... To the PLC slave modem 9 using the third transmission right time slot is performed by an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). ), It is possible to establish synchronization of a large number of PLC slave modems 9 in a short time.

  In this embodiment, an emergency call for transmitting information related to an emergency call sent from the gaming machine 8 to the PLC master modem 13 to the PLC repeater 16 in the first master frame and the second master frame. If a bandwidth is provided, when any PLC slave modem 9 receives information related to an emergency call from the gaming machine 8, the information related to the emergency call is immediately transmitted on the network even if there is no transmission right. It is possible to relay to the store server 12 urgently by relaying the PLC relay machine 16 located at the upper level.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the second branch adapter 7 has been described as having a four-branch configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the transformer elements (51-1) to (51- 5) can be configured as one bridge configuration pattern, and this bridge configuration pattern can be configured as a 16-branch configuration that is connected to form a four-bridge configuration.

  That is, the four high-frequency transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5) having the bridge configuration of FIG. 8 are set as one bridge configuration pattern, and the bridge configuration pattern is changed to four patterns P1 as shown in FIG. To P4, the patterns P1 to P4 are arranged to form a bridge configuration, and one high-frequency transformer element (51-1) is arranged as an input side of a 16-branch adapter.

  This 16-branch branch adapter branches the primary side of each of the 16 high-frequency transformer elements (51-2) to (51-17) constituting the four bridge configuration patterns P1, P2, P3, and P4. Are 16 branch terminals for connection to an external device.

The connection method in this case is as follows.
1) One side of the secondary side of the transformer elements (51-2) and (51-4) constituting the pattern P1 is connected by a conducting wire. Similarly, one of the secondary sides of the transformer elements (51-10) and (51-12) constituting the pattern P2 is connected to each other, and connection points (52a-1) and (52a-2) of these connected conductors are connected. Are connected to each other by a conducting wire 56a.

  2) Similarly to the above 1), the connection points 52b-3 and 52b-4 are provided for the patterns P3 and P4, and the patterns P3 and P4 are connected via these connection points (52b-3) and (52b-4). .

  3) One side of the secondary side of the transformer elements (51-3) and (51-5) constituting the pattern P1 is connected by a conducting wire. Similarly, one of the secondary sides of the transformer elements (51-6) and (51-8) constituting the pattern P3 is connected to each other, and connection points (52b-1) and (52a-3) of these connected conductors are connected. ) Are connected by a conductive wire 56c.

  4) One side of the secondary side of the transformer elements (51-11) and (51-13) constituting the pattern P2 is connected by a conducting wire. Similarly, one of the secondary sides of the transformer elements (51-14) and (51-14) constituting the pattern P4 is connected to each other, and connection points (52b-2) and (52a-4) of these connected conductors are connected. Are connected to each other by a conductive wire 56d.

5) The conducting wires 56c and 56d are connected via a 50Ω resistor 54.
6) One of the secondary sides of the transformer element (51-1) arranged as the input side of the branch adapter is connected to the conducting wire 56a, and the other secondary side is similarly connected to the conducting wire 56b.
7) A capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of each of the high-frequency transformers (51-2) to (51-17) constituting the four patterns P1 to P4. Other circuit configurations are the same as those shown in FIG.

  In the 16-branch branch adapter having the circuit configuration described above, external devices are connected to the 16 primary sides (post-branch ports) of the high-frequency transformers (51-2) to (51-17) constituting the four patterns P1 to P4. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the PLC slave modem 9 or the PLC repeaters 16a, 16b,... Are connected. In addition, the island distribution board 5 or the PLC master modem 13 is connected to the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) that is the pre-branch port of the branch adapter.

  The network system using the PLC communication of the present invention includes a game hall, a production line at a manufacturing site where a large number of production facilities and personal computers are disposed, a hospital where a large number of measuring devices and personal computers are disposed, It can be applied as a network system for schools or laboratories.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example based on one Example of the network system for game halls using the PLC communication of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a path | route of the transmission line containing the path | route of the power line from the power receiving installation of the game hall of FIG. 1 to the floor entrance distribution board for each floor, and the power line from this floor entrance distribution board to a game machine. It is a figure which shows the system structural example when a game hall is made into a three-story building. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a basic circuit structure of the PLC main | base station modem of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the basic circuit structural example of the PLC subunit | mobile_unit modem connected to the gaming machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a basic circuit structure of the PLC cordless handset modem arrange | positioned at the monitoring room side in a hall | hole of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a basic circuit structure of the PLC repeater of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd branch adapter of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd branch adapter of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the floor entrance distribution board of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the floor entrance distribution board of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the island distribution board of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the island distribution board of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the 1st master frame transmitted / received by the network system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the polling table referred when the polling control by the PLC main | base station modem of FIG. 1 is performed. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the 2nd master frame transmitted / received by the network system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the polling table referred when the polling control by the island entrance PLC master modem of FIG. 1 is performed. It is a time chart for demonstrating the polling control from the PLC main | base station modem of FIG. 1 to an island entrance PLC subunit | mobile_unit modem. It is a time chart for demonstrating the case where the emergency call from the PLC cordless handset modem of FIG. 1 is transmitted. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the 1st branch adapter and 2nd branch adapter of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

3a, 3b, 3c, ... Floor entrance distribution board 4, 4a to 4g Power line 5 Island distribution board 6 Conversion transformer 7 Second branch adapter 8 Game machine 9, 9a, 9b, 18 PLC slave machine modem 10a to 10d Communication line 12 Store server 13, 14 PLC master unit modem 15 First branch adapter 19 PC terminal 21 Center server 16, 16a, 16b, ... PLC relay unit 30a, 30b, ... Island entrance PLC slave unit modem 31a, 31b, ... Island entrance PLC main unit modem

Claims (3)

A PLC slave unit modem communicably connected to a gaming machine constituting a gaming machine island arranged on the floor and a PLC master unit modem for controlling the operation of the PLC slave unit modem are communicated via a PLC relay unit. A network system for a game hall using PLC communication that is connected,
The PLC master modem and the PLC repeater are arranged at the entrance of the floor,
An island entrance PLC slave modem and a broadband island entrance PLC master modem are arranged at the entrance of the gaming machine island,
The PLC slave modem for broadband is arranged in the gaming machine,
further,
The PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter,
The PLC repeater is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter;
The island entrance PLC slave modem is connected to the PLC repeater,
The island entrance PLC slave modem is connected to the island entrance PLC master modem by a LAN cable,
The communication line connection port of the island entrance PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter,
The PLC slave modem is connected to the post-branch port of the second branch adapter;
A data transmission between the PLC master unit modem and the island entrance PLC slave unit modem performed by relaying the PLC repeater is at least a first synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, and the PLC master unit Based on the first master frame configured to have a shared band of the first user data shared by the modem, the PLC repeater and the island entrance PLC slave modem,
Data transmission between the island entrance PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem is performed by at least a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting a synchronization signal, the island entrance PLC master modem, and the PLC slave modem. Performed based on a second master frame configured to have a shared band of second user data to be shared,
The island entrance PLC master unit modem receives the second user data including information from the gaming machine, and passes the second user data to the island entrance PLC slave unit modem according to a data transmission format on the LAN. And the data is transmitted to the PLC master modem in synchronization with the PLC repeater. A network system for a game hall using PLC communication. The first synchronization signal transmission band is:
A first transmission right for transmitting a first synchronization signal for establishing synchronization between the PLC master modem and the PLC relay and information for setting a transmission right of the PLC relay A time slot,
Based on the first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal for establishing synchronization between the PLC repeater and the island entrance PLC slave modem and the transmission right of the island entrance PLC slave modem are set. And a second transmission right time slot for transmitting information for
The second synchronization signal transmission band is:
A third synchronization signal for synchronizing between the island entrance PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem and a first synchronization signal for transmitting information for setting the transmission right of the PLC slave unit modem The game hall network system using PLC communication according to claim 1, comprising three transmission right time slots.   The first master frame and the second master frame are provided with an emergency call band for transmitting information related to an emergency call transmitted from the gaming machine to the PLC slave modem to the PLC repeater. The game hall network system using PLC communication according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the network system is based on PLC communication.

Images