JPH0984958A - Game machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine system capable of reducing the signal line number of transmission lines and being hardly influenced by noise. SOLUTION: Plural game machine devices 4 are successively serially connected through a serial data transmission line 5 to a host computer 2. That is, the host 2 and the game machine devices A C as terminal equipments are serially successively connected through the transmission lines 5a, 5b and 5c. Intrinsic addresses are attached to the respective game devices 4 and the host 2 specifies the respective game devices 4 by the addresses and transfers required data. That is, at the time of receiving the address from the host 2, the respective game devices 4 compare it with their own addresses, and when they match, receive the data further from the host 2 or send the data to the host 2. The host 2 controls the respective game machine devices 4 or recognizes the state and using conditions by cyclically accessing the respective game machine devices 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine system including a host device such as a host computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a host) and a gaming machine device such as a plurality of game machines connected to the host.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system has been developed in which each game machine is connected to a host for centralized management in order to sequentially grasp the usage status of each game machine at a game center.

When a player plays a game on a game machine,
There is also known a system in which a magnetic card or the like that can be commonly used by a plurality of game machines is used in advance without using coins.

Such a game system is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-2581.

[0005]

In the above conventional game system, each game machine is a central processing unit (CPU).
Built-in, it exchanges parallel signals with the host via the bus. Therefore, it is necessary to route a thick communication cable from the host to a large number of game machines in the game center, which not only complicates installation and maintenance but also increases the risk of disconnection as the number of signal lines increases, and reduces noise. There was a problem that it was easy to pick up.

This problem becomes more remarkable as the number of game machines increases. The game center has 10 game consoles
This problem cannot be overlooked because there are cases where there are as many as 0 units.

In view of the above problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine system in which the number of signals on a transmission line is reduced and noise is less likely to affect it.

[0008]

A gaming machine system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of gaming machine devices serially connected via a transmission line, and each of the plurality of gaming machine devices is connected to the transmission line. Has a data transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives data between the
It is characterized in that it is configured to transmit data to the transmission line and receive data from the transmission line.

As a preferred mode of the above-mentioned gaming machine system, the gaming machine system further includes a host device for sequentially supplying the predetermined timing to the plurality of gaming machine devices, and each gaming machine device via the transmission path at the predetermined timing. And transmitting data to the host device.

Further, as a preferred mode of the above-mentioned gaming machine system, the data transmitting / receiving unit sends the data transmitted from its own gaming machine device to the transmission path at the timing sent from the host device, and the preceding stage. It has a means for retransmitting the data received from the gaming machine device to the transmission path, and the data sent to the transmission path is sequentially transmitted and received by the data transmission and reception section of the gaming machine device at the subsequent stage, and the data is sent to the host device. It is configured to be transferred to.

According to the above features, the present invention is particularly adapted to a game machine system in which a plurality of game machine devices are managed by a host computer so that each game machine device and the host are sequentially connected in series by a serial data transmission line. The number of signal lines of the connection cable can be reduced, and as a result, the possibility of disconnection and the influence of noise can be minimized.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components will be described with the same reference numerals or symbols. Embodiment <System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gaming machine system according to the present invention. The plurality of gaming machine devices 4 are sequentially connected in series to the host 2 via the serial data transmission line 5. That is, the transmission line 5a is connected from the host 2 to the gaming machine device A as a terminal device, and the gaming machine device A to the gaming machine device B is connected.
The transmission line 5b is connected to the gaming machine device B, and the transmission line 5c is connected from the gaming machine device B to the gaming machine device C.
From that to the succeeding game machine device, the game machine devices are sequentially connected in series in a one-stroke writing manner.

In the serial data transmission method, RS232C and RS422 are used to reduce the number of signal lines.
A serial interface such as RS is preferable, and RS422 is suitable in terms of transmission speed, transmission distance, and noise resistance.

The game machine system of the present invention is not limited to application to a game system, and each game machine device 4 need not have the same configuration. For example, a card vending machine or the like can be included in addition to various game machines. Further, the present invention can be applied to other purposes, for example, a ball lending machine system in a golf driving range.

<Operation of System> Each game machine device 4 is provided with a unique address, and the host 2 designates each game machine device by the address to exchange necessary data.
That is, when each of the gaming machine devices 4 receives the address from the host 2, it compares the address with its own address and, when the addresses match, receives further data from the host 2 or sends data to the host 2.

In the present embodiment, the host 2 periodically accesses each gaming machine device 4 (for example, all gaming machine devices 4 sequentially.
The game machine device 4 is controlled by repeating the operation of specifying every 5 minutes), or the state and usage status of each game machine device 4 are grasped.

With this system configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of signal lines of the transmission cable (4 in the example of FIG. 3, which will be described later), and to reduce the influence of noise.

<Structure Example of Gaming Machine Device> FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the gaming machine device 4 of FIG.

The gaming machine device 4 of FIG. 2 has a power-on detection unit 10, a self-diagnosis unit 12, a data transmission / reception unit 14, switching units 16 and 18, and a bypass line 17.
The transmission / reception data passing through the data transmission / reception unit 14 is used by another circuit unit (not shown) in the gaming machine device 4.

The self-diagnosis unit 12 may be realized by using a CPU. The switching units 16 and 18 can be configured by using a relay of a type that automatically returns to one contact side when not driven.

<Operation of the gaming machine device> When the power of the gaming machine device 4 is off, the switching units 16 and 18 are in the return state, and the terminal on the side where the serial data transmission line bypasses the gaming machine device 4 Switched to.

That is, the a terminal of the switching unit 16 connected to the transmission line 5a is connected to the c terminal of the switching unit 16 connected to the bypass line 17. Similarly, the transmission line 5
The terminal a of the switching unit 18 connected to b is the bypass line 1
7 is connected to the c terminal of the switching unit 18 connected to 7.

When the power of the gaming machine device 4 is turned on, the power-on detector 10 detects this and activates the self-diagnosis unit 12. The self-diagnosis unit 12 inspects a predetermined check item of the gaming machine device 4, and if it determines that the check items are normal, it drives the switching units 16 and 18 to switch both switching units to the b terminal side.

As a result, the data transmitting / receiving unit 14 is inserted in the serial data transmission line 5, and the gaming machine device 4 can communicate with the host 2. As will be described later, the data transmission / reception unit 14 has means for receiving data from the host 2 and retransmitting the data as it is to the subsequent gaming machine device 4.

When it is determined as abnormal as a result of the diagnosis of the self-diagnosis unit 12, the switching units 16 and 18 maintain the state set on the c terminal side.

With such a configuration, in a system in which a plurality of gaming machine devices 4 are connected in series in a so-called one-stroke type as shown in FIG. 1, even when the preceding gaming machine device 4 is powered off, The bypass line 17 allows the subsequent gaming machine device 4 to communicate with the host 2 without any trouble.

Further, even when the power of the gaming machine apparatus 4 is turned on, when the operation is not normal, the gaming machine apparatus 4 is disconnected from the serial data transmission line 5, so that the gaming machine apparatus in an abnormal state. It is possible to avoid the risk that 4 adversely affects the system.

<Specific Example of Data Transmission / Reception Unit and Switching Unit>
FIG. 3A shows a specific example of the data transmitting / receiving unit 14 and the switching units 16 and 18 shown in FIG. In this example, an RS422 interface is adopted, and one parallel line composed of two signal lines is shared for transmission and reception.

The data transmitter / receiver 14 includes drivers 22, 3
2 and receivers 24, 34. Driver 22
Is for transmitting the transmission data of the gaming machine device 4 to the host 2, and receives the transmission data of the gaming machine device 4.

The driver 22 also receives the output of the receiver 24 which receives the transmission data to the host 2 of the game machine device 4 in the subsequent stage, and retransmits this to the host 2. Receiver 3
Reference numeral 4 is for receiving data from the host 2, and is provided to the gaming machine device 4 as received data.

At the same time, this data is transmitted as data from the host 2 via the driver 32 to the game machine device 4 in the subsequent stage.
Be retransmitted to. The driver 22 and the receiver 24 are enabled by the transmission permission signal TE. The output is in a high impedance state while it is not enabled. Similarly, the driver 32 and the receiver 34 are enabled by the reception permission signal RE, and are not enabled during the period.
The output goes into a high impedance state.

The complementary output terminal of the driver 22 is connected to the relay 6
The receiver 2 is connected to the transmission line 5a via 3, 64.
The complementary input terminal of 4 is connected to the transmission line 5b via relays 83 and 84.

Similarly, the complementary output end of the driver 32 is connected to the transmission line 5b via the relays 83 and 84, and the complementary input end of the receiver 34 is connected to the transmission line 5a via the relays 63 and 64. .

As described above, when the gaming machine device 4 is powered off and in an abnormal state, each relay is set so as to bypass the data transmission / reception unit 14, that is, the relays 63, 64 and 83, 84. , Are driven so as to select the c terminals connected to the bypass lines 37 and 38, respectively.

An example of the operation of the circuit of FIG. 3 (A) is shown in FIG. 3 (B).
This will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. It should be noted that the timing waveforms other than the signals RE and TE in this figure do not show actual specific signal waveforms, but show temporal changes in state.

Now, assuming that all the gaming machine devices are powered on and operating normally, the b terminal is selected in each relay of the switching units 16 and 18 of FIG. 3A, and the transmission / reception of each gaming machine device is performed. The unit 14 is inserted in the serial data transmission line 5. Therefore, communication between the gaming machine device 4 and the host 2 becomes possible.

First, during the period t1, all gaming machine devices have a signal R.
When the host 2 is in the reception permitted state due to the “high” state, the host 2 attaches the address of the gaming machine apparatus A and inquires about the number of times the game of the gaming machine apparatus is executed. All gaming machines receive the address and compare it with their own address.

During the period t2, the signals RE and TE both become "low", and the outputs of all drivers and receivers become high impedance. This period is for avoiding inconvenience due to variation in the timing of switching the relay.

During the next period t3, the signal TE of all gaming machine devices becomes "high", and the gaming machine device A having the same address.
Sends data to respond to the inquiry, and host 2 receives this data. The signal TE of the gaming machine device that is not transmitted is also set to "high" in order to pass the transmission data of the gaming machine device in the subsequent stage.

In the period t4, after the signals RE and TE both become "low" again, the signal RE of all the gaming machine devices becomes "high" in the period t5, and the reception is permitted. Then, the host 2 gives the address of the gaming machine A again and issues a command to reset the number of game executions to zero.

Only the gaming machine device A having the same address responds to this command. After the period t6 in which both the signals RE and TE are "low", the signals TE of all gaming machine devices become "high" in the period t7, and the state becomes ready for transmission. During this period, the effect that the gaming machine device A has responded to the previous command is returned to the host 2.

After the period t8 in which the signals RE and TE are both "high", the signal RE becomes "high" in the period t9. After this period t9, the communication between the host 2, the gaming machine device B, and the succeeding other gaming machine devices is sequentially performed similarly to the case of the gaming machine device A. However, the types and the number of transmission / reception data described above are merely examples, and are not actually limited thereto, and may take various different forms.

FIG. 4 shows another specific example of the data transmitting / receiving unit 14 and the switching units 16 and 18 shown in FIG. This example is also RS4
Although the 22 interface is adopted, two parallel lines composed of two signal lines are separately provided for transmission and reception.

Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 4, the relays 61 to 64 and 81 to which the four signal lines correspond respectively are individually provided.
~ 84 a terminal, a new bypass line 37,
The configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 3A except that 38 is provided.

In the example of FIG. 3A, since one parallel line is shared by the host 2 and each gaming machine device 4, normally, the gaming machine device 4 transmits data while the host 2 is transmitting data. Although not possible, in the example of FIG. 4, the host 2 and the gaming machine device 4 can simultaneously transmit data. Therefore, the signals RE and TE are not necessary, and the gaming machine device that has acquired the transmission right can immediately transmit the data.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the host of the gaming machine system and the plurality of gaming machine devices are sequentially connected in series by the serial data transmission line, so that the number of signal lines of the communication cable can be reduced. .

As a result, the possibility of disconnection of the signal line and the influence of noise can be reduced, and the installation cost and maintenance cost of the gaming machine system can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an example of the gaming machine device of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of a data transmission / reception unit and a switching unit in FIG. 2, and an operation timing chart thereof.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another specific configuration of the data transmitting / receiving unit and the switching unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Host computer 4 Gaming machine device 5 Serial data transmission line 10 Power-on detection unit 12 Self-diagnosis unit 14 Data transmission / reception unit 16, 18 Switching unit 17 Bypass line 22, 32 Driver 24, 34 Receiver 37, 38 Bypass line 61-64 Relay 81-84 relay

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data transmission / reception unit that comprises a plurality of gaming machine devices connected in series via a transmission line, each of the plurality of gaming machine devices transmitting and receiving data to and from the transmission line. The gaming machine system is characterized in that the data transmitting / receiving unit is configured to transmit data to the transmission line and receive data from the transmission line at a predetermined timing. 2. The host device according to claim 1, further comprising a host device that sequentially supplies the predetermined timing to the plurality of gaming machine devices, and from each gaming machine device via the transmission path at the predetermined timing. A gaming machine system configured to transmit data to the host device. 3. The data transmission / reception unit according to claim 2, wherein the data transmission / reception unit sends out data transmitted from its own gaming machine device to the transmission path at a timing sent from the host device, and receives from the preceding gaming machine device. And a means for retransmitting the transmitted data to the transmission path, and the data transmitted to the transmission path is retransmitted by the data transmission / reception unit of the subsequent gaming machine device and transferred to the host device. A gaming machine system characterized by being played.