JPH11267332A - Prepaid card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent erroneous operations on a game medium dispensing control part and to enable accurate operations that match actual conditions, without substantially inhibiting the functions of the dispensing control part. SOLUTION: When a card return switch 44 is depressed, an article vending control part 41 unloads a prepaid card from a reader/writer 24 via the consumption process part 22 of a reading device 2. When a medium dispensing switch 45 is depressed, the article vending control part 41 imparts consumption demand information to the consumption process part 22 of the reading device 2 for each unit sum of money within the range of the remaining balance of the prepaid card and provides the amount of game media corresponding to the unit sum of money to a user from a medium processing part 42. The article vending control part 41 receives jackpot end information from a game process part 43, and immediately after a jackpot condition ends, the medium dispensing switch 45 does not become effective unless operated twice in succession in order to prevent the medium dispensing switch 45 from being operated mistakenly as the card return switch 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for processing a prepaid card in accordance with the consumption of money, and more particularly to a prepaid card system suitable for a system for utilizing a prepaid card for paying for a rental of a game medium in a game service. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A prepaid card system has been realized in which a prepaid card storing amount information corresponding to a monetary value is used for monetary settlement. In a prepaid card system, a service is usually provided in a plurality of stores. For example, each store is provided with a plurality of reading devices, a vending machine, a relay device that is a higher-level processing device of the reading devices, and the like. The reading device is a terminal device for using a prepaid card, and in this reading device,
Based on the price information stored in the prepaid card, the prepaid card is consumed as consideration for lending game media. The vending machine is incorporated in, for example, a game machine, and lends a game medium at the time of consumption. The reading device performs consumption processing of the prepaid card based on the operation of the vending machine. The relay device couples a plurality of reading devices and the like in the store to, for example, a settlement center installed at the issuer of the prepaid card, and communicates with the settlement center to manage the reading devices and settle the consumption amount. Perform processing.

[0003] That is, a prepaid card is consumed as a price for renting a game medium, for example, by using a game device having a vending machine installed in a store and a reading device attached to the game device. When the prepaid card is consumed, the reading device counts the amount of consumption and provides the payment processing, and updates the amount information stored in the prepaid card according to the amount of consumption. The sales information of the reading device due to the consumption of the prepaid card is collected, for example, by a relay device, and the relay device compiles the sales information of each reading device under control and transmits the total to the settlement center. In this way, the prepaid card consumption settlement is performed.

Game media that can be lent using a prepaid card include coin-shaped medals used for slot machines and pachinko balls used for pachinko machines. These gaming media are simply set on a gaming device to enable one game per piece.
When a specific condition is satisfied, the gaming machine returns to the user instead of a prize.

[0005] The specific conditions include a case where a specific pattern or number is aligned and a case where a specific hole or a number is entered. When such a condition is satisfied, a predetermined amount of game media is provided to the user. Provided. This will be referred to as a winning event, that is, "winning". Furthermore, when a complex condition or a condition with a low frequency of occurrence is satisfied, a situation equivalent to a normal prize is continuously generated a plurality of times, such as a so-called fever, so that a normal prize is obtained. Many game media may be provided. Although there are various types and sizes of such prizes, they will be referred to as big hit events, that is, "big hits".

[0006] As described above, the game media returned to the user can be used not only for playing the game more continuously, but also for exchanging the game media with various prizes in accordance with the quantity of the game media. Often you can.

When a user desires to lend a game medium, the user presses a lend button provided on the game apparatus, whereby a predetermined amount of the game medium is rented out and the game apparatus is lent to the game apparatus. Supplied. When ending the game, a return button for returning the prepaid card provided in the gaming machine is pressed to return the prepaid card.

[0008] Immediately after the end of the jackpot state, a large number of game media should have been provided, so that it is usually unnecessary to press the lend button. Further, some gaming machines are called "one-time exchange fever", and when a big hit state is reached, the use of the same gaming machine cannot be continued after the end. In that case,
It is necessary to return the prepaid card, finish using the gaming device, and count the acquired gaming media with a counter in the store. Therefore, immediately after the end of the jackpot state, the return button should be operated in most cases.

[0009]

As described above, immediately after the jackpot state, a large number of game media should have been provided, so there is no need to press the lend button. In most cases, the return button is not used. Should be pressed. However, in reality, the rental button is often pressed.

[0010] In many gaming machines, the lending button and the return button are arranged adjacent to each other, and the positional relationship between the lending button and the return button is arranged to be opposite to each other depending on the gaming machine. There are different kinds of devices. This means that there is a high possibility that the user mistakenly presses the rent button, for example, by pressing the return button by himself / herself. Moreover, even immediately after the end of the jackpot state, there is no possibility of pressing the lending button, and in all cases, it cannot be concluded that the lending button is pressed by mistake as a return button.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and effectively prevents erroneous operation of a game medium lending operation unit, and does not substantially hinder the function of the lending operation unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a prepaid card system capable of performing an accurate and actual operation.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a prepaid card system according to the present invention uses a prepaid card for storing predetermined card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value in a game service. In a prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement relating to the lending of a used game medium, the system includes a lending request operation unit, generates a lending request based on the operation of the lending request operation unit, and transmits a game medium to a user. In a predetermined situation in a game service that uses the game media one by one while providing and consuming the prepaid card, a prize event in which the user is provided with a predetermined amount of the game media and another in the game service In a predetermined situation, providing the user with a jackpot event that continuously generates the winning event a plurality of times, Immediately after the end of the jackpot event, a service providing unit that validates the lending request only when the lending request operation unit is continuously operated a predetermined number of times, and the amount information of the prepaid card according to a consumption amount. A reading unit that updates and stores sales information based on the consumption amount; and a higher-level processing unit that communicates with the reading unit and collects the sales information from the reading unit.

According to such a configuration, immediately after the end of the jackpot, the operation of the lending operation section of the game medium is slightly complicated, and erroneous operation of the lending operation section is effectively prevented. , And the operation can be performed accurately and in accordance with the actual situation.

[0014] The service providing means has a return operation unit, and includes means for giving a return request to the reading means based on an operation of the return operation unit, and the reading means responds to the return request. Means for returning the prepaid card.

[0015] The service providing means may include light-emitting display means for displaying a light near the return operation unit immediately after the occurrence of the jackpot event to prompt a return operation.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a prepaid card system applied to a game service according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The main part of the prepaid card system according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a reading device 2 and a vending machine 4 are provided.
In this case, the vending machine 4 is included in the gaming device, and the reading device 2 is attached to the gaming device.

The reading device 2 is connected to the relay device 3, and receives a data request command from the relay device 3, generates a response including sales information and the like in response to the command, and transmits the response to the relay device 3. Further, the reading device 2 updates the storage information of the prepaid card in accordance with the consumption amount or the like as a consideration for renting the game medium by the vending machine 4. Reading device 2
Includes a communication processing unit 21, a consumption processing unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a reader / writer 24.

The communication processing unit 21 forms a communication path between the consumption processing unit 22 of the reading device 2 and the relay device 3, and processes transmission and reception of information such as sales information between the two. Consumption processing unit 22
A reader / writer 24 based on information such as a consumption amount corresponding to a game medium lending request given from the vending machine 4.
To update the stored information of the prepaid card. The consumption processing unit 22 accumulates in the storage unit 23 sales information based on information such as the amount of consumption according to a request from the vending machine 4. Further, the consumption processing unit 22 includes the communication processing unit 21
The sales information stored in the storage unit 23 is connected to the relay device 3 via the communication processing unit 21.
Send to The transmission of the sales information from the consumption processing unit 22 to the relay device 3 is performed in response to a request from the relay device 3.

The storage unit 23 stores cumulative sales information and the like based on information provided by the vending machine 4 such as the amount of money consumed in the vending machine 4. The reader / writer 24 loads a prepaid card, reads information such as money amount information from the prepaid card under the control of the consumption processing section 22, and updates and writes the information on the prepaid card. Further, the reader / writer 24 ejects the prepaid card in response to the card return request of the vending machine 4.

In the gaming machine, a prize or a big hit occurs in the course of the game. At the time of a prize, a predetermined amount of game media is returned to the user, and at the time of a big hit, for example, by successively generating a situation equivalent to a normal prize a plurality of times, a much larger amount of game media than a normal prize is obtained. Provided to the user.

The vending machine 4 includes a product sales control unit 41, a medium processing unit 42, a game processing unit 43, a card return switch 44, and a medium lending switch 45. The product sales control unit 41
In response to the operation of the medium lending switch 45, the medium processing unit 42 provides the game medium for each unit price within the remaining amount of the prepaid card. At the same time, the product sales control unit 41
The consumption request information for each unit price corresponding to the game medium provided to the user is provided to the consumption processing unit 22 of the reading device 2.

The medium processing unit 42 is controlled by the product sales control unit 41 to rent out, for example, a game medium for each unit amount to the user, and when the game processing unit 43 receives the prize information, the medium processing unit 42 responds to the prize information. A predetermined number of game media is provided to the user. The game processing unit 43 responds to a user's operation of the game device and causes the game to be executed using the game medium. Upon a prize or a jackpot of the game, the game processing unit 43 provides a predetermined number of game media from the medium processing unit 42.

The card return switch 44 is depressed when the use of the gaming machine is finished and the card is returned.
When the card return switch 44 is pressed, the product sales controller 41
Ejects the prepaid card from the reader / writer 24 via the consumption processing unit 22 of the reading device 2. The card return switch 44 is provided with a light emitting display element such as a lamp in the vicinity, and when it is desired to operate the card return switch 44, the light emitting display element is turned on under the control of the product sales control unit 41, The operation is prompted.

The medium lending switch 45 is depressed when a game medium is lent. When the medium lending switch 45 is depressed, the product sales control unit 41 provides the consumption request information to the consumption processing unit 22 of the reading device 2 for each unit amount within the remaining amount of the prepaid card as described above. Is provided from the medium processing unit 42 to the user. The medium lending switch 45 is also provided with a light emitting display element such as a lamp in the vicinity. When it is desired to operate the medium lending switch 45, the light emitting display element is turned on under the control of the product sales control unit 41. The operation is prompted.

Immediately after the end of the jackpot state, the product sales control section 41 performs special control on the card return switch 44 and the medium lending switch 45. Product sales control unit 41
Receives the jackpot end information from the game processing unit 43,
For a predetermined period immediately after the end of the jackpot state, the light-emitting display element near the card return switch 44 is turned on and the light-emitting display element near the medium lending switch 45 is turned off to prompt the user to operate the card return switch 44. Furthermore, in order to prevent the medium lending switch 45 from being erroneously operated as the card return switch 44, the medium lending switch 45 must be operated a plurality of times, for example, twice, so that it is not effective. I do.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of a gaming machine having a vending machine 4 and a reading device 2 attached to the gaming machine. The card insertion hole 2 of the reader / writer 24 is
4a is provided. A return button 44a of a card return switch 44 and a return lamp 4 disposed near the return button 44a are provided on the front of the vending machine 4 provided in the gaming machine.
4b, and a lending button 45a of the medium lending switch 45
And a lending lamp 45b arranged near the lending button 45a.

The prepaid card system according to the embodiment of the present invention including the reading device 2 and the vending machine 4 configured as described above has a recording device 1, a reading device 2, a relay device 3, a product sales device as shown in FIG. And a settlement center 5. The recording device 1 and the settlement center 5 are installed at a card issuer D such as a card issuing company or a card manufacturing factory. In general, there are a plurality of stores S corresponding to the card issuer D, and each store S is provided with a plurality of reading devices 2 and a relay device 3 for connecting the reading devices 2 to the settlement center 5. The number of the relay devices 3 is not limited to one in each store S. For example, one relay device 3 may be provided in a predetermined area in the store S, for example, in each hall or floor. That is, the relay device 3 includes a plurality of reading devices 2 for each store S, a plurality of reading devices 2 for each hall in the store S, or a plurality of reading devices 2 for each floor in the store S and the settlement center 5.
And provided between them.

In this prepaid card system, a prepaid card manufactured and issued by the card issuer D is sold to the store S, and further sold to the user at the store S.
At the store S, the user can pay for the lending of the game media using a prepaid card.

The lending and payment of the game media are performed as described above using the vending machine 4 and the reading device 2 constituting the game device installed in the store S, for example, and are stored in the prepaid card as the amount information. That amount is consumed. The store S totals the sales information based on the money amount information consumed in the relay device 3 and transmits the sales information to the settlement center 5 of the card issuer D. The card issuer D pays each store S an amount corresponding to the amount information received from each store S at the settlement center 5 as a sales amount.

A prepaid card used in the prepaid card system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the prepaid card C has a magnetic information storage unit A using a magnetic layer, for example. The information storage unit A includes:
It has an amount information area A1 and another information area A2. In the money amount information area A1, money amount information such as a balance is recorded. In the other information area A2, information other than the credit information and the money amount information, for example, card identification information (card ID) of the prepaid card C, a manufacturer code indicating a manufacturer, manufacturing date (encoding date) information, and information when an error occurs. An error code and the like are recorded.

The recording device 1 is a device for issuing a prepaid card C at a card issuer D. The reading device 2 realizes consumption of the prepaid card C by subtracting the price of the game medium provided by the vending machine 4 to the user from the amount information stored in the prepaid card C. In this case, the vending machine 4 has a gaming medium lending function as described above, and constitutes a gaming device that executes a game using the gaming medium. The relay device 3 aggregates the money amount information processed as the consumption amount in each of the reading devices 2 in the store S, and transmits the collected money amount information to the settlement center 5.

Next, the consumption processing in the above-described prepaid card system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The consumption process shown in FIG.
Card insertion hole 24a of reader / writer 24 of reading device 2
Is activated each time the prepaid card C is set in the. When the processing is started, the remaining amount of the prepaid card C is confirmed by the consumption processing unit 22 via the reader / writer 24 and stored in the storage unit 23 (step S11). If there is a balance, it is checked whether or not there is a card return request by the card return switch 44 from the vending machine 4 (step S12).
If there is no card return request, it is checked whether there is a medium lending request from the vending machine 4 by the medium lending switch 45 (step S13).

If there is a medium lending request from the vending machine 4 in step S13, the game medium is lent to the user via the sales controller 41 and the medium processor 42 of the vending machine 4 to be consumed (step S14). ). The consumption processing unit 22 subtracts the consumption amount from the original balance, and stores it as a new balance in the storage unit 2.
3 is updated (step S1).
5). Then, it is checked whether or not the new balance is "0" (step S16). If the balance is "0", a message to that effect is displayed (step S17), and the process proceeds to the end processing (step S17). S18). After the end processing, the consumption processing ends.

In step S11, if there is no remaining amount of the prepaid card C or if it cannot be confirmed, the process immediately jumps to step S18 to execute an end process.
If the card return request is recognized in step S12, the process immediately jumps to step S18 to execute the end processing. If there is no media lending request in step S13, the process returns to step S12 and waits for an end request or a consumption request. In step S16, if the remaining balance does not become "0" and the remaining balance remains, the process returns to step S12 and waits for a card return request or a medium lending request.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the termination processing in step S18. When the end process is started, the balance of the amount information area of the prepaid card C is updated and recorded based on the final balance stored in the storage unit 23 at that time (step S21), and the prepaid card is read from the reader / writer 24. C is discharged (step S22). Then, the process ends, the process returns to the consumption process, and returns to the main routine.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, of a switching process in the sales controller 41 of the vending machine 4 during a game in the above-mentioned prepaid card system. FIG. 7 shows a switch process that is started when a standby state in which a switch can be operated is set at a normal time, not a big hit. When the switch process is activated, the rental lamp 45b
And the return lamp 44b is turned on (step S31),
It is checked whether the card return switch 44 has been pressed (step S32). If the card return switch 44 has not been pressed, it is checked whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S33). If the medium lending switch 45 is depressed, a medium lending request is issued (step S34), and the process ends. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the switch processing is started.

In step S32, if the card return switch 44 is depressed, a card return request is issued (step S35), and the process ends. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the switch processing is started. If it is determined in step S33 that the medium lending switch has not been pressed, the process returns to step S32 and waits for the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 to be pressed.

FIG. 8 shows a switch process activated at the time of a big hit, that is, immediately after the end of the big hit. When the switch process is activated, the lending lamp 45b is turned off and the return lamp 44b is turned on, and the card return switch 44 is turned on.
Is prompted (step S41). Then, it is checked whether or not the card return switch 44 has been pressed (step S42). If the card return switch 44 has not been pressed, it is checked whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S43). If the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed, it is checked again whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S44). If the media lending switch 45 is pressed again,
A medium lending request is issued (step S45), and the process ends. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started.

In step S42, if the card return switch 44 has been pressed, a card return request is issued (step S46), and the process is terminated. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started. If it is determined in step S43 that the medium lending switch 45 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S43.
The process returns to step S42, and waits until the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 is pressed. If the medium lending switch 45 is not pressed again in step S44, the process proceeds to step S44.
The process returns to step S42, and waits until the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 is pressed.

In this way, immediately after the end of the so-called "fever" jackpot, the medium lending switch 45 does not issue a medium lending request unless the lending button 45a is pressed twice, and the medium lending function is not activated. . Therefore, even if the user presses the lending button 45a of the medium lending switch 45 by mistake for the card return switch 44, the pressing of the lending button 45a is ignored only once.

The rental button 45a and the return button 4
A rental lamp 45b and a return lamp 44b are provided near 4a. At the time of a big hit of a fever or the like, only the return lamp 44b is turned on and the lending lamp 45b is turned off to visually prompt the operation of the return lamp 44b. However, also in this case, the function of the medium lending switch 45 operates effectively by pressing the lending button 45a twice. Note that the lending lamp 45b is turned off at the time of a big hit, so it is unnecessary and need not be particularly provided. Also, the return lamp 44b does not necessarily need to be provided.

That is, in the switch processing at the time of the big hit, the processing when the lending lamp 45b is not provided is as follows.
As shown in FIG. When the switch processing is activated, the return lamp 44b is turned on, and the depression of the card return switch 44 is prompted (step S51). Then, it is checked whether the card return switch 44 has been pressed (step S52). If the card return switch 44 has not been pressed, it is checked whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S53). If the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed, it is checked again whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S54). If the media lending switch 45 is pressed again,
A medium lending request is issued (step S55), and the process ends. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started.

In step S52, if the card return switch 44 has been pressed, a card return request is issued (step S56), and the process is terminated. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started. If the medium lending switch 45 is not pressed in step S53, the process proceeds to step S53.
Returning to 52, the system waits for the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 to be pressed. If the medium lending switch 45 is not pressed again in step S54, the process proceeds to step S54.
Returning to 52, the system waits for the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 to be pressed.

Further, in the switch processing at the time of the big hit, the processing when the lending lamp 45b and the return lamp 44b are not provided is as shown in FIG. When the switch process is activated, it is checked whether the card return switch 44 has been pressed (step S61). If the card return switch 44 has not been pressed, it is checked whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S62). If the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed, it is checked again whether the medium lending switch 45 has been pressed (step S63). If the medium lending switch 45 is pressed again, a medium lending request is issued (step S64), and the process ends. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started.

In step S61, if the card return switch 44 has been pressed, a card return request is issued (step S65), and the process is terminated. If no special processing has been performed, the process returns to the standby state, and the normal switch processing of FIG. 7 is started. If it is determined in step S62 that the medium lending switch 45 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S62.
The flow returns to step 61 to wait for the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 to be pressed. If the medium lending switch 45 is not pressed again in step S63, the process proceeds to step S63.
The flow returns to step 61 to wait for the card return switch 44 or the medium lending switch 45 to be pressed.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The operation of the lending operation unit is made effective only by a plurality of consecutive operations, thereby effectively preventing erroneous operation of the lending operation unit of game media, and further substantially impairing the function of the lending operation unit. It is possible to provide a prepaid card system which enables accurate and practical operation without any trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a reading device and a vending machine which are main parts of a prepaid card system for a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an external configuration of a gaming machine used in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a prepaid card system into which the configuration of FIG. 1 is incorporated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of a prepaid card used in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining consumption processing in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an end process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a normal switch process in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a switch process immediately after a jackpot in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the switch processing immediately after the big hit in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the switch processing immediately after the jackpot in the prepaid card system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 recording device 2 reading device 3 relay device 4 vending machine 5 settlement center 21 communication processing unit 22 consumption processing unit 23 storage unit 24 reader / writer 24 a card insertion hole 41 product sales control unit 42 medium processing unit 43 game processing unit 44 card return switch 44a Card return button 44b Return lamp 45 Medium lending switch 45a Lending button 45b Lending lamp C Prepaid card D Card issuer S Store

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid card system for performing a financial settlement relating to a lending of a game medium used in a game service using a prepaid card storing predetermined card information including money amount information corresponding to a monetary value. A request operation unit for generating a lending request based on the operation of the lending request operation unit, providing a game medium to a user to consume the prepaid card, and using the game medium one by one A winning event in which a predetermined amount of the game medium is provided to the user in a predetermined situation in the game service, and a big hit event in which the winning event is continuously generated a plurality of times in another predetermined situation in the game service. Is provided to the user, and immediately after the end of the jackpot event, the lending request operation unit is continuously performed a predetermined number of times. A service providing unit that validates the lending request only when operated, a reading unit that updates the amount information of the prepaid card according to a consumption amount, and stores and holds sales information based on the consumption amount; And a higher-level processing unit that communicates with the unit and collects the sales information from the reading unit. 2. The service providing means has a return operation unit, and includes means for giving a return request to the reading means based on an operation of the return operation unit, and wherein the reading means responds to the return request. The prepaid card system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for returning the prepaid card in response. 3. The light-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the service providing means includes a light-emitting display means for displaying a light near the return operation unit immediately after the end of the jackpot event to prompt a return operation. Prepaid card system.