JPH11219319A - Maintenance method for information management device and information management device executing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the storage content of an information management device from being illegally rewritten or read and to execute the maintenance processing of high security. SOLUTION: An exterior floppy disk device 30 is connected to the control part 40 of a device main body for the maintenance processing in the information management device connected to a plurality of electronic game machines through a communication line. When a floppy disk where a maintenance processing program is recorded is set in the floppy disk device 30, CPU 35 loads the program and stores it in RAM 37. CPU 35 executes the program, executes prescribed maintenance and deletes a maintenance program in RAM 37 in accordance with a command from an input part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is to carry out a maintenance process for an information management apparatus for centrally managing transaction information of various vending machines, financial transaction processing machines and the like, or information in a game hall such as a pachinko hall. And an information management apparatus in which the method is implemented.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, pachinko halls have introduced a system for renting out game media using a prepaid card (in the industry, this is called a "CR system").
This system issues a prepaid card having a predetermined value in the hall and rents out gaming media with the prepaid card.In the gaming hall, there is a pachinko machine, a slot machine, and other gaming machines. In addition,
A large number of card processing machines (generally referred to as "inter-machines"), which are arranged between these game machine bodies and which accept prepaid cards and lend game media to the game machine bodies, are provided.

[0003] These gaming machine bodies and stand-to-face machines (hereinafter collectively referred to as "game terminal devices") are connected to an information management device in the hall via a communication line, and the operation status of each device, sales of prepaid cards, and the like. Information such as information and usage status is centrally managed by the information management device. Further, this information management device is connected to a host computer on the card management company side of the card supplier via a public line.

The information management device is lent to a game arcade by a card management company, and at a predetermined time period, such as when the store is closed, a card in the game arcade is used by using information transmitted from each game terminal device. Aggregate sales and usage figures,
It is obliged to transmit the result of the tally to the host computer of the card management company. The card computer company's host computer recognizes the total profit of the prepaid card on the gaming site side based on the transmitted tally result, determines the amount to be charged according to the number of prepaid cards sold, and charges the gaming site side I do.

[0005] For this purpose, the control section of the management information device stores a control program for managing the inside of the amusement arc and communicating with the host computer. A control program (hereinafter, referred to as a “maintenance program”) for performing maintenance operations such as operation check and data rewriting is stored.

[0006]

However, the maintenance program includes a control program for reading out and editing data of a predetermined file from a memory and outputting the contents of various programs stored in the apparatus to the outside. Therefore, there is a possibility that an illegal act such as falsification of a program or reading of the contents of a non-disclosed file may be performed on the game arcade side.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and eliminates the possibility that information stored in the information management device will be illegally rewritten or read out, and implements maintenance processing with high security. Is a technical task.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a maintenance process is performed for an information management device that is connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a communication line and that centrally manages information in each terminal device. Setting a recording medium on which the control program for the maintenance process is recorded in the information management device, and causing the control unit of the information management device to read and execute the control program. The control program read in the step (c) is erased.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information management apparatus in which the above-described maintenance method is performed, wherein the information management apparatus receives a recording medium on which a control program for maintenance processing of the apparatus main body is recorded, and reads the control program. Program reading means, memory for storing the read control program, program executing means for executing the control program stored in the memory, and program erasing for erasing the control program in the memory after execution of the control program Means.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the program storage means is constituted by a volatile memory.

[0011]

When a maintenance process is performed, a recording medium is set in the information management device, a control program for the maintenance process recorded on the recording medium is read, and read into a control unit in the device. Thereafter, when the control unit executes the control program and performs necessary maintenance processing, the control program read into the control unit is deleted. Therefore, there is no possibility that the control program will be misused after the maintenance process, and the security of the maintenance process can be protected.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the control program for the maintenance processing is stored in the volatile memory, the control program can be securely erased by turning off the power of the apparatus.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a prepaid card system in a game arcade. In this prepaid card system, a plurality of electronic gaming machines 2 provided in a game arcade are connected to an information management device 1 via a communication line L1, and the information management device 1 is connected to a host computer on the card company side via a public line L2. 6.

Each of the electronic gaming machines 2 has a card processing machine 3 arranged next to a gaming machine body 4 for playing a game. The game machine main body 4 and the card processor 3 are electrically connected, and the card processor 3 is connected to the communication line L1.

The card processing machine 3 has a bill insertion slot 7 and a prepaid card entrance 8 at the front of the machine body, and accommodates a magnetic card inside the machine body. When the card is inserted, ticketing information such as the frequency of use is written on the magnetic card and issued from the card entrance 8. When the issued prepaid card is inserted into the machine through the card entrance 8,
After the appropriateness determination of the card and recognition processing of the frequency balance are performed, a predetermined frequency is subtracted from the retained frequency, and a control signal for instructing the adjacent gaming machine main unit 4 to lend the game media for the consumed frequency is transmitted. Is done. This allows the gaming machine body 4
Performs a medal lending process such as discharging the designated number of game media (medals in the embodiment) from the inside of the machine or virtually storing the same in the machine.

The card processing machine 3 appropriately transmits the operation status of its own device to the information management device 1. The information management device 1 collects the transmission information from each card processing machine and collects the information at the game hall. Recognize the sales and number of prepaid cards used. This recognition result is transmitted to the card management company-side host computer 6 at a predetermined timing, such as at the time of a store closing process. The host computer uses this transmission data to charge the amount to the game hall or the number of cards to be refilled. Decide etc.

Although the gaming machine body 4 in the illustrated example has a slot machine configuration, the gaming machine body 4 is not limited to this, and may be another gaming machine such as a pachinko machine. The gaming machine body 4 also has a communication line L similar to the card processing machine 3.
1 and may transmit data such as the number of lending times from the card processing machine 3 and the number of hits to the information management device 1.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the information management apparatus 1. The information management device 1 is composed of a personal computer, and includes an input unit 11 for inputting data and commands related to various processes, a monitor 12, and a printer 10 in addition to a main unit 10 in which a control unit 40 described later is accommodated. An output unit 14 comprising the host computer 6
And a communication unit (modem) 15 for communication with the device. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a lamp indicating the power-on state of the main body unit 10. Reference numeral 17 denotes a key switch used to change setting data of the main unit 10 during a maintenance process described later.

The input unit 11 is not a full keyboard provided as standard equipment in a normal personal computer, but
A numeric keyboard 18 is used. The numeric keypad 18 has numeric keys 0-9, an enter key,
Operation keys for data input such as a derate key and a back space key, and operation keys for moving a cursor position such as a scroll key are provided. The ten-key keyboard 18 has a connector (not shown) for connection on the rear surface thereof. By connecting this connector to the keyboard connector 9 (shown in FIG. 4) on the front of the main body, the main body 10 is connected to the keyboard. Is fixedly provided on the front surface of the device with the operation surface facing the user.

The body of the main body 10 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the main body 19 has an upper surface and both side surfaces opened, and a cover body 20 shaped to cover the opening. The cover body 20 is fixed to the body main body 19 by screwing a plurality of positions of a joint portion with the body main body 19.
Fixed on top. A lock 21 is provided at a rear position on the upper surface of the cover body 20. Normally, an operating piece of the lock 21 is engaged with an edge 19a on the body body 19 side, so that the cover body 20 is 19 in a locked state. The key for unlocking the lock 21 is owned by the card management company.

A box-shaped protection case 25 is provided inside the body 19, and a control board (not shown) in which a control unit 40 and I / O ports 38a to 38d described later are formed in the protection case 25. , A hard disk device 26, a power supply device 27, and the like. Also, the protective case 25
An external floppy disk drive 30
And a connector 23 for connecting a keyboard. In the drawing, reference numeral 24a denotes an output line from the connector 9 for the numeric keyboard 18, and 24b denotes a connector attached to the end of the output line 24a. Usually, the connector 24b is connected to the connector 23. Thus, the numeric keypad 18 is in a state of being electrically connected to the control board.

The configuration of the information management device 1 described above is intended to prevent the specification of the main unit 10 and the program of the control unit from being changed on the game arcade side. Is constituted by the numeric keyboard 18, so that commands necessary to access the control unit are
It can be prevented from being entered without permission of the card management company. Also, the main body 10 is locked by the lock 21,
Further, by housing the internal control unit and the hard disk device 26 in the protective case 25, the main unit 10 is opened to replace the control board and the hard disk device 26 or to modify the control substrate without permission of the card management company. Such misconduct can be prevented.

Each connector 22, 23 inside the main body 10
Is used only at the time of maintenance processing by the card management company. At the time of maintenance processing, the main body 10 is unlocked and the floppy disk device is connected to the connector 22. The keyboard connection connector 23 is disconnected from the numeric keyboard connector 24b, and is connected to the full keyboard 31.

The processing normally performed by the information management apparatus 1 includes communication processing with each card processor 3 and a host computer, sales of prepaid cards, collection processing of usage status, and output of the collection results from the output unit 14. The processing includes a system start-up process at the time of opening a store, a settlement process at the time of closing a store, a process of changing a set place in each card processing machine 3, and the like. These processes are set so that they can be selected by inputting a predetermined numerical value using the numeric keypad 18.

The maintenance process performed by the card management company includes a process for confirming the power and operation of the information management device 1 and each card processing machine 3, a process for reading or updating file data and programs in the hard disk device 26, and the like. . These processes are selected by a command input from the full keyboard 31 and are set so that they cannot be executed by simple numerical input.

FIG. 5 shows the electrical configuration of the information management device 1. The control unit 40 in the main body 10 includes a CPU 35, an R
The OM 36 and the RAM 37 are the main components, and the hard disk device 26 is added as an auxiliary storage device. The input / output units 11, 14, and 15 and the floppy disk device 30 are respectively provided with I / O ports 38a to 38d.
Connected to the control unit 40 via the bus 39 and the CPU
Under the control of 35.

The ROM 36 stores programs and fixed data relating to basic control of the device, and the hard disk device 26 stores programs for various processes which the information management device 1 normally executes in a game arcade. I have.

In the information management apparatus 1, in order to protect the security of the maintenance program, the maintenance program is recorded on a floppy disk and is managed by a card management company. During the maintenance process, as described above, after the main body 10 is opened and the floppy disk device 30 and the full keyboard 31 are connected to the connectors 22 and 23, the maintenance program is recorded in the floppy disk device 30. The inserted floppy disk is set. Thereafter, when a predetermined command is input, a program loading process by the CPU 35 is performed.

In the information management apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the loaded program is stored in the RAM 37 in the control unit 40 so that the loaded program is not used illegally. The maintenance program is deleted. Although the original of the maintenance program is recorded on a floppy disk here, the recording medium is not limited to this, and another recording medium such as a CD-ROM may be used.

FIG. 6 shows a control procedure by the CPU 35 of the control section 40. In the figure, each step is indicated as “ST”. First, when the apparatus power is turned on, the CPU 35 performs various initial setting processes and checks the connection state of each input / output unit. In the normal state, the floppy disk drive 30 is not connected, so that step 1 is "YE
S ”, and thereafter, the process shifts to a normal process according to a numerical value input from the input unit 11.

On the other hand, if the connection with the floppy disk device 30 is confirmed, step 1 becomes "YES" and C
The PU 35 accesses the floppy disk set in the floppy disk device 30 in response to the read instruction command, reads the maintenance program recorded in the disk, and stores it in the RAM 37 (step 2).

Thereafter, a maintenance program is executed in response to a command input from the input unit 11.
Thereafter, the instructed maintenance process is performed until the end operation is performed by the input unit 11 (Step 3, Step 3).
4).

When the operation of terminating the program is performed, step 4 becomes "YES", and the CPU 35 terminates the ongoing maintenance process (step 5). Further, when a predetermined program erasing command is input, step 6 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step 7, where the RAM
The maintenance program in 37 is erased.

In the above processing procedure, the maintenance program in the control unit 40 is erased by inputting a command instructing to erase the program. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When
The program erasing process may be performed immediately.
Alternatively, the maintenance program may be deleted when some input is made from the input unit 11 after the maintenance processing is completed.

As described above, the maintenance program in the control section 40 is erased at the same time as the maintenance processing is completed, so that the security of the program can be protected and illegal acts can be prevented. In addition, since the maintenance program is loaded into the RAM 37, even if the user forgets to erase the program and terminates the process, the program can be reliably erased by turning off the power of the apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to an information management apparatus for managing a game terminal device in a game arcade. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a vending machine, a financial transaction processing machine, etc. The present invention can also be applied to an information management device that centrally manages a plurality of terminal devices.

[0037]

According to the present invention, as described above, a recording medium on which a control program for maintenance processing is recorded is set in the information management device, and the control program is read and executed by the control section of the information management device. By keeping this recording medium under the control of the system administrator, it becomes difficult for a third party to execute the control program for maintenance processing without the permission of the system administrator. Also, since the control program is deleted from the control unit after execution,
The security of the control program can be maintained, and the above-mentioned fraudulent acts can be more reliably prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the control program for the maintenance process is stored in the volatile memory, even if the program erasing process is skipped, the control program can be securely executed by turning off the apparatus power. Can be erased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a prepaid card system in a game arcade.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the information management device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a main body of the information management device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the information management device, partially cut away;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the information management device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information management device 2 Gaming machine main body 35 CPU 37 RAM 40 Control part L1 Communication line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for performing a maintenance process on an information management device connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a communication line and integrally managing information in each terminal device, comprising: After setting the recording medium on which the control program for the maintenance processing is recorded, causing the control unit of the information management device to read and execute the control program, erasing the control program read in the control unit. A maintenance method for the information management device which is a feature. 2. An information management device which is connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a communication line and centrally manages information in each terminal device, comprising: a recording medium on which a control program for maintenance processing of the device main body is recorded. Program reading means for receiving the control program and reading the control program; a memory for storing the read control program; a program executing means for executing the control program stored in the memory; and the memory after executing the control program. An information management apparatus, comprising: a program erasing means for erasing a control program in the information management apparatus. 3. The information management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said program storage means comprises a volatile memory.