JPH07204341A - Data transmitter for game hall - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit management data accurately even if the management data stored is destroyed in a structure which is so arranged to transmit the management data indicating the state of a game of a game machine as communication data. CONSTITUTION:In a control circuit 23, input accumulated values of number of qualified balls signals Pa, number of disqualified balls signals Pb and the like to be outputted from the side of a pachinko game machine 1 are stored in an RAM all through the day while the accumulated values of qualified and disqualified balls and the like stored in the RAM are transmitted to a computer 4 for centralized management when a demand for data transmission is sent from the computer 4 for centraized management. The control circuit 23 demands the computer 4 for centralized management to return the data when the accumulated values stored in the RAM are destroyed. When the return of the data is demanded, the computer 4 for centralized management returns the newest accumulated values inputted from the control circuit 23 to the control circuit 23.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmission device for a game arcade which transmits management data such as the number of safe balls and the number of out balls of a pachinko game machine to a centralized management computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pachinko hall, for example, when an out-ball is ejected from a pachinko game machine in order to grasp the operating status of each pachinko game machine,
Alternatively, when a safe ball is released from a pachinko game machine, a pulse signal indicating that is output from each pachinko game machine to the centralized management computer. Therefore, in the centralized management computer, while accumulating out balls and safe balls based on the pulse signal transmitted from each pachinko game machine, it is possible to judge the ball output rate of each pachinko game machine and refer to it for nail adjustment. The number of difference balls between the number of out balls and the number of safe balls is calculated, and when the number of difference balls reaches the set stop value, the pachinko game machine is forcibly stopped.

By the way, in the above-mentioned structure,
Since the centralized management computer side has to accumulate the out balls and safe balls of each pachinko game machine, the centralized management computer has a heavy load.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a terminal device in the pachinko game machine, accumulate the out balls and the safe balls generated in the pachinko game machine by the terminal device, and transmit the accumulated value to the central control computer at a predetermined timing. Has been. In this case, when the cumulative value is transmitted, the terminal device updates it by subtracting the transmitted cumulative value from the stored cumulative value. With such a configuration, the centralized management computer can accumulate the out balls and the safe balls of each pachinko game machine by accumulating the communication data from the terminal devices. It is possible to judge the operating status of the pachinko game machine.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the terminal device stores the accumulated values of out balls, safe balls, etc., and simply transmits them. If it disappears once due to the influence of noise or the like, the cumulative value thereafter will be significantly different from the normal value. For this reason, there is a drawback that the centralized management computer based on the accumulated value received from the terminal device makes a mistake in determining the sales situation of the pachinko game machine, makes an error in adjusting the nail of the pachinko game machine, or makes an incorrect stop timing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to destroy stored management data in a configuration in which management data indicating a gaming state of a gaming machine is transmitted as communication data. Despite this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data transmission device for a game arcade that can reliably transmit management data.

[0007]

According to the data transmission apparatus for a game hall of the present invention, a storage means for storing at least one day of management data including at least the number of out balls and the number of safe balls as a game state cumulative value in a game machine. Correspondingly provided, transmission means for transmitting the game state accumulated value stored in this storage means at a predetermined transmission timing is provided, and the game state accumulated value is received from this transmitting means and is received as the game state accumulated value. Based on the judgment means for judging the gaming state of the gaming machine based on the above, the transmission means sends back data to the judgment means when the cumulative gaming state value stored in the storage means is destroyed. And the determination means is configured to return the latest accumulated game state value when the storage means requests data return.

[0008]

The storage means provided corresponding to the gaming machine stores the cumulative gaming state value for at least one day, and the transmitting means transmits the gaming state cumulative value stored in the storing means at a predetermined transmission timing. Therefore, the judging means can judge the gaming status of the gaming machine over the day based on the cumulative gaming status value transmitted from the transmitting means.

At this time, for example, when the game state cumulative value stored in the storage means is destroyed due to the influence of noise,
The transmission means requests the determination means to return the data.
Then, the judging means returns the latest cumulative gaming state value, and the storing means can accurately store the subsequent gaming state cumulative value based on the reply data.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a data transmission device for pachinko halls will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a connection state of each device in the pachinko hall. In FIG. 2, in the pachinko hall, a pachinko game machine 1 and a stand ball rental machine 2 are provided as game machines.
Are arranged side by side in a one-to-one correspondence, and a calling lamp unit 3 is arranged above the pachinko game machine 1. The calling lamp unit 3 has a function of relaying the exchange of signals between the pachinko game machine 1 and the inter-lens ball lending machine 2 and the centralized management computer 4 which is a judging means. Further, the centralized management computer 4 is for grasping the operating status of each pachinko game machine 1 and the sales status of the inter-lens ball lending machine 2 based on various data transmitted from the calling lamp unit 3.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure of the pachinko game machine 1. In FIG. 3, the pachinko game machine 1
Is an electric ball firing mechanism 6 for the pachinko balls in the upper plate 5.
It is configured to play a game by launching through the board surface 7 through. Further, the ball firing mechanism 6 is configured to shut off the power supply thereof and prohibit the game on the pachinko game machine 1 when the stop signal Sz is given.

On the board 7, in addition to the outlet 7a, for example, a slot machine 8 having a three-digit number sequence, a normal winning hole 9, a special winning hole 10 having an electric accessory 10a, and a starting hole A winning hole 11 is provided.

In this case, the slot machine 8 is started in response to a pachinko ball winning in the start winning hole 11, and is stopped when a predetermined time elapses after that, and the operation is stopped. When the combination of the numbers of each digit at the time becomes a predetermined prize start condition (for example, when the digits of each digit are aligned like "333" and "777"), the prize state is presented. In such a special prize state, the electric accessory 10a is operated and the special prize hole 10
The winning rate against will be extremely high.

The safe ball storage tank 12 provided on the upper portion of the back side of the pachinko game machine 1 temporarily stores the pachinko balls supplied from the replenishing ball counter 13 from a ball replenishing path (not shown), and also stores the stored pachinko balls. The balls are supplied to the prize ball discharging mechanism 14 of the pachinko game machine 1. The prize ball discharging mechanism 14 is provided to discharge the pachinko balls in the safe ball storage tank 12 to the upper plate 5 as prize balls, and has a predetermined number according to the winning of the pachinko balls to the winning holes 9 to 11. It is configured to emit pachinko balls.

The supply ball counter 13 counts the number of pachinko balls supplied to the safe ball storage tank 12.
The pulse-shaped safe ball number signal Pa is output every time the counting result reaches "10". Therefore, by counting the number of outputs of this safe ball number signal Pa,
It is possible to count the number of safe balls as prize balls.

The out-ball storage tank 15 provided on the lower portion of the back side of the pachinko game machine 1 is designed to allow the pachinko balls that have been driven into the board surface 7 to flow into the out-ball counter 16. It is supposed to be collected through.

The out-ball counter 16 counts the number of pachinko balls discharged from the out-ball storage tank 15, and outputs a pulse-shaped out-ball number signal Pb every time the counting result reaches "10". Has become. Therefore, by counting the output of the out-ball number signal Pb, it is possible to count the number of pachinko balls struck in the pachinko game machine 1.

The signal generation circuit 17 provided on the back side of the pachinko game machine 1 outputs a start signal Ss when the slot machine 8 starts, and when a special prize start condition is satisfied in response to the start (Sling machine 8). When the game machine 1 is in the special prize state), the special prize signal St is output.

In addition, the inter-mountain ball lending machine 2 releases pachinko balls with the number of balls corresponding to the price of coins thrown in, and the sales signal Su indicating the price (for example, 1 pulse for 100 yen, 200 In the case of a circle, it outputs 2 pulses).

As shown in FIG. 4, the call lamp unit 3 arranged above the pachinko game machine 1 has a call switch 18 and a prize display 19 on the front side of the main body, and a call lamp 20 on the upper portion of the main body. Special prize display lamp 2 indicating that the corresponding pachinko game machine 1 is in the special prize state
1. A stop indicator lamp 22 indicating that the corresponding pachinko game machine 1 is in a stop state is provided in the upper and lower three stages.

FIG. 1 shows the electrical construction of the calling lamp unit 3, which will be described below. That is, the control circuit 23, which is a storage unit and a transmission unit included in the calling lamp unit 3, is configured to include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a CLOCK, and the like, operates according to a program stored in the ROM, and stores predetermined data in the RAM. To remember.

The control circuit 23 outputs a safe ball number signal Pa and an out ball number signal P output from the pachinko game machine 1 side.
b, the start signal Ss, the special prize signal St, etc., as well as the sales signal Su from the pedestrian ball rental machine 2, the input interface 24.
It is designed to be input via. When a signal is input, the input interface 24 holds and outputs the input signal, and releases the held state in response to a command from the control circuit 23. Control circuit 2
When a signal is input from the input interface 24, the number 3 accumulates the number of times the signal has been input and stores it in the RAM, and transmits the accumulated value to the central control computer 4 through the communication interface 25 at a predetermined timing. ing.

Further, the control circuit 23 uses the call switch 18
When an ON signal is input from the input circuit 26,
In response to the input, lighting of the call lamp 20 is output circuit 27.
When the special prize signal St is input through the input interface 24, the special prize display lamp 21 is turned on through the output circuit 27 and the number of special prizes stored in the RAM is displayed on the special prize indicator 19. Furthermore, the control circuit 2
When the stop command is input from the centralized management computer 4 through the communication interface 25, the reference numeral 3 outputs the stop signal Sz to the pachinko game machine 1 through the output circuit 28 and the stop indicator lamp 22 through the output circuit 27. Light.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In this case, only the operation related to the present invention will be described, and the description of other operations will be omitted. That is, the control circuit 23 of the calling lamp unit 3 operates according to the program shown in FIG. 5 when the power is turned on at the start of business. In other words, the control circuit 23 clears the held output of the input interface 24 by the initialization operation, and at the same time, its own RAM.
Is cleared (step S1). Then, the control circuit 23
Stands by until a signal is input from the input interface 24 (step S2) or transmission request data is received from the communication interface 25 (step S3).

When a player borrows a pachinko ball from the pedestrian ball rental machine 2, the sales signal S from the pedestrian ball rental machine 2 is sent.
u is output. And the pachinko game machine 1
When a game is played in, the safe balls are supplied to the pachinko game machine 1 as the game progresses and the pachinko game machine 1
Since the out-balls are discharged from the out-ball, the supply-ball counter 13 outputs the safe-ball-number signal Pa accordingly and the out-ball counter 16 outputs the out-ball number signal Pb.
Is output. Further, when the slot machine 8 rotates in response to a pachinko ball winning in the start winning hole 11, the start signal Ss is output from the signal generating circuit 17 and the numbers of the slot machine 8 are aligned, and the special prize is won. When a prize state with a high winning probability for the hole 10 occurs, the signal generation circuit 17 outputs the prize signal St.

The control circuit 23 receives the safe ball number signal Pa and the out ball number signal P from the input interface 24.
When a game state signal such as b is input, the process proceeds to step S4 to execute the signal input processing program.

FIG. 6 shows a signal input processing program. In FIG. 6, the control circuit 23 is a RAM corresponding to the game state signal input from the input interface 24.
The game state cumulative value ("0" in the initialized state) is read from the storage area of (step S401), 1 is added to the cumulative value and the result is stored in the RAM (step S40).
2) After releasing the signal output holding state of the input interface 24 (step S403), the process returns.

FIG. 13 schematically shows the storage area of the RAM of the control circuit 23. That is, the RAM of the control circuit 23
Is set to store a maximum of 32 types of game state cumulative values, and 2 bytes (16 bits) are set for one game state cumulative value. In this case, the capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits) for indicating one gaming state cumulative value is sufficient to store a value larger than the number of out balls that is most likely to occur during the business hours of the day. Capacity.

On the other hand, the centralized management computer 4 requests data transmission to the calling lamp unit 3 through the communication path every 2 seconds. That is, the centralized management computer 4 transmits the transmission request data indicating the unit number of the pachinko game machine 1 every 2 seconds through the communication path.

FIG. 10 shows the format of the transmission request data transmitted from the centralized management computer 4 to the calling lamp unit 3. In FIG. 10, the transmission request data includes STX (1 byte) indicating the start of text, “D” (1 byte) that is an identification code of transmission content,
It is 5-byte data consisting of the ID (identification number) (2 bytes) of the calling lamp unit 3 for which the data is requested and ETX (1 byte) indicating the end of the text. When the transmission request data is received from the centralized management computer 4, the control circuit 23 of the calling lamp unit 3 executes the transmission request data determination process (step S shown in FIG. 5).
5).

FIG. 7 shows a transmission request data determination processing program. In FIG. 7, the control circuit 23 sets the ID indicated by the received transmission request data to its own I
It is determined whether or not it is the same as D (step 501), and if they are not the same, the process returns. In other words, if the transmission request data transmitted from the centralized management computer 4 is not transmitted to itself, no processing is necessary. The ID indicated by the received transmission request data
Is the same as the ID set for itself, RAM
The game state cumulative value is sequentially read from (step S50
2) The read accumulated values are processed into communication data (step S503), and the communication data is output to the communication interface 25 (step S504).
To return. FIG. 11 shows a format of communication data transmitted from the call lamp unit 3 to the centralized management computer 4. In FIG. 11, the communication data includes STX (1 byte) indicating the start of a text, identification code “D” (1 byte) indicating the transmission content, ID (2 bytes) of the calling lamp unit 3 that is transmitting, and pachinko. It is 69-byte data consisting of data indicating up to 32 types of game states of the game machine 1 (64 bytes each consisting of 2 bytes) and ETX (1 byte) indicating the end of the text.

When the communication data is transmitted from the calling lamp unit 3 to the centralized management computer 4 as described above, the centralized management computer 4 causes the difference between the received out ball cumulative value and the safe ball cumulative value. It is possible to determine the stop timing for each pachinko game machine 1 based on the number of balls, determine the payout rate of each pachinko game machine 1, and total the sales of each inter-mountain ball lending machine 2.

By the way, when noise or momentary power failure occurs, the control circuit 23 of the calling lamp unit 3 may destroy the accumulated game state value stored in the RAM. In such a case, the cumulative value of out balls, safe balls, and the like thereafter by the control circuit 23 becomes uncertain, and the centralized management computer misunderstands the gaming state of each pachinko game machine 1, but in the present embodiment. , As follows.

In other words, the control circuit 23 of the calling lamp unit 3 checks each bit based on the following arithmetic expression when storing the gaming state cumulative values such as the out ball cumulative value and the safe ball cumulative value in the RAM. While adding data,
When reading the game state cumulative value stored in RAM, check data is calculated for each bit by the following arithmetic expression, and when both check bits match in all bits, RA
It is determined that the cumulative gaming state value stored in M is accurate, and if even one bit is different, it is determined that the stored gaming state cumulative value is destroyed.

Calculation data of check data Ci = (1) EXOR (b1i) EXOR (b2i) EXOR (b3
i) ... EXOR (bni) Ci: i-th bit (i = 0 to 1) of check data
5) bni: i-th bit of the gaming state cumulative value EXOR: exclusive OR The control circuit 23 determines that the gaming state cumulative value stored in the RAM as described above is abnormal. , Execute the abnormality occurrence processing program.

FIG. 9 shows an abnormality occurrence processing program. In FIG. 9, when the control circuit 23 determines that the RAM has been destroyed, it sends the reply request data to the centralized management computer 4 through the communication interface 25, and then enters a data reception standby state.

FIG. 12 shows reply request data. In FIG. 12, the reply request data includes STX (1 byte) indicating the start of the text, 'E' (1 byte) that is an identification code of the transmission content, and ETX (1
3 bytes data composed of bytes).

Here, when the central management computer 4 receives the reply request data, it returns the last received data from the calling lamp unit 3 to the calling lamp unit 3.

FIG. 13 shows the format of reply data returned from the central control computer 14 to the calling lamp unit 3. In FIG. 13, the reply data is STX (1 byte) indicating the start of the text, identification code “E” (1 byte) indicating the transmission content, ID (2 bytes) of the calling lamp unit 3 that is transmitting, and pachinko. It is 69-byte data consisting of data (64 bytes) indicating the game state of the game machine 1 up to 32 types and ETX (1 byte) indicating the end of the text.

When the control circuit 23 of the calling lamp unit 3 receives the reply data from the centralized management computer 4, the control circuit 23 stores the reply data in a predetermined area of the RAM. As a result, the control circuit 23 outputs a signal input from the input interface 24 to the game state accumulated value received from the centralized management computer 4 even when the various game state accumulated values stored in the RAM are destroyed by noise or the like. Since the number of times of inputting is added, it is possible to reliably store the cumulative gaming state value thereafter (see FIG. 14). Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which the cumulative value of the number of out balls and the number of safe balls of the pachinko game machine is stored and simply transmitted to the centralized management computer, even if the gaming state cumulative value is once destroyed Regardless, it is possible to transmit the accurate game state accumulated value to the centralized management computer 4, so that the centralized management computer 4 can determine the operating status of the pachinko game machine 1 and the sales status of the pedestrian ball rental machine 2. There is no mistake.

Further, the control circuit 2 of the calling lamp unit 3
Even if the accumulated special prize value stored in the RAM 3 is destroyed, the accumulated special prize value can be restored as described above. The number of times special prizes have been generated can be displayed.
Therefore, the player can surely select the pachinko game machine 1 by using the number of times of special prize displayed on the display 19 as a guide.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the data transmission device for a game arcade of the present invention, the storage for storing the management data indicating the game condition of the game machine as the accumulated game condition value up to the predetermined maximum value. When the means is provided corresponding to the gaming machine and the accumulated game state value stored in the storage means is destroyed,
Since the latest cumulative gaming state value sent to the judging means by the sending means is to be returned, the management data stored in the configuration for sending the management data indicating the gaming status of the gaming machine as communication data This has an excellent effect that the management data can be surely transmitted even if the data is destroyed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical configuration of a calling lamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between a pachinko game machine, a pedestal ball lending machine, and a centralized management computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection relationship of calling lamp units.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a calling lamp unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main program of a control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a signal input processing program of the control circuit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a transmission request data determination processing program of the control circuit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a storage area for accumulated game state values.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control circuit abnormality generation processing program.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing transmission request data.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing communication data.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing reply request data.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing reply data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing changes in the cumulative gaming state value over time.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a pachinko game machine (gaming machine), 2 is a stand ball rental machine, 4
Is a central management computer (determination means), and 23 is a control circuit (storage means, transmission means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit which is provided corresponding to a gaming machine, and stores management data including at least the number of out balls and the number of safe balls for at least one day as a game state cumulative value, and this storage unit. Transmitting means for transmitting the accumulated game state value at a predetermined transmission timing, and provided so as to receive the accumulated game state value from this transmitting means, and determine the game state of the gaming machine based on the received accumulated game state value The transmitting means requests a data reply to the judging means when the accumulated game state value stored in the storing means is destroyed, and the judging means stores the storing means. A data transmission device for a game hall, which is configured to send back the latest accumulated game state value when a data reply is requested.