JP2001017715A - Maintenance control system and maintenance control method for game center - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance control system capable of appropriately diagnosing a failure generated in a game center and rapidly coping with it. SOLUTION: This maintenance control system adopted in a game center game center with a pachinko machine P and its peripheral equipments installed, is provided with a web camera 41 of photographing ability to permit discrimination of failure parts of at least the pachinko machine P and peripheral equipments, and a web server 158 for transmitting image data photographed by the web camera 41, to a service center through the Internet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a maintenance management system and a maintenance management method effective in a game arcade such as a pachinko parlor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a game arcade of this type, a plurality of gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines are installed to constitute a gaming island. Further, in the game arcade, a transport device for supplying or collecting pachinko balls or medals as a game result value to these gaming machines or collecting the game result value is installed, and a device for transporting bills and the like is also installed.

In addition, a plurality of sensors for detecting the passage of pachinko balls and medals are attached to a gaming machine, and in recent years, many electronic components such as a variable display device using a liquid crystal screen are provided.

[0004]

In the case of such a game arcade, if a sensor or an electronic component of various transporting devices or a gaming machine fails, it may be difficult for a person in charge to repair it. Calls a pachinko machine maker or a specialized maintenance company to inquire about repair methods or request the dispatch of a maintenance worker.

However, in recent years, the structure of gaming machines has become increasingly complex and sophisticated, and it is practically difficult to explain the details of the failure or the repair method only by such verbal exchanges. Has become. Therefore, in most cases, maintenance workers will go to the amusement arcade.However, in such cases, since the details of the failure cannot be sufficiently grasped in advance, it will be necessary to return to the necessary parts for repairs. In addition to the necessity, it has been a problem for the maintenance manager to force extremely inefficient work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and a maintenance management system and a maintenance system capable of appropriately diagnosing a failure that has occurred in a game arcade and promptly coping with the failure. The purpose is to provide a management method.

[0007]

A maintenance management system according to the first aspect of the present invention is employed in a game arcade in which a gaming machine and its peripheral devices are installed, and at least a failure portion of the gaming machine and the peripheral devices is determined. It is characterized by comprising a photographing means having a photographing capability capable of being made possible, and a communication control means for transmitting image data photographed by the photographing means to a maintenance manager via a network.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining at least a failure portion of a game machine or its peripheral device, and image data photographed by the photographing means are transmitted to a network. Communication control means for transmitting to the maintenance manager via the communication control means, when a failure occurs in the gaming machine or its peripheral device in the game arcade, the failed portion is photographed by the photographing means, and the photographed image is transmitted to the communication control means. Thus, the data can be transmitted to the maintenance manager via the network.

[0009] Thereby, the staff at the amusement arcade can explain the failure situation to the maintenance manager using the image, and the maintenance manager makes a diagnosis while looking at the image of the failure location, and performs a repair method. And necessary parts can be determined. In particular, by sending a voice instruction to a staff at the game arcade as described in claim 3, it is possible to complete the repair only at the game arcade side, and to arrange necessary parts in advance even when a maintenance worker goes. To be able to visit.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately diagnose a failure of a gaming machine and its peripheral devices installed in a game arcade, and
It is possible to carry out quickly and to achieve efficient maintenance management.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the game arcade maintenance management system, in the first aspect of the present invention, the photographing unit includes a voice input unit and a voice output unit, and the communication control unit includes a voice input from the voice input unit. Send the data to the maintenance manager,
The voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager is transmitted to the photographing means, and the voice output means of the photographing means converts the voice data transmitted from the communication control means into voice.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the photographing means is provided with a voice input means and a voice output means, and the communication control means maintains and manages the voice data inputted from the voice input means. And the voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager is transmitted to the photographing means, and the voice output means of the photographing means converts the voice data transmitted from the communication control means into voice. The staff at the amusement arcade can explain the situation to the maintenance manager by voice input means on the spot while photographing the failed part of the equipment such as the failed gaming machine.

[0013] Then, the voice output means can receive an instruction from the maintenance manager by voice on the spot and take necessary measures, thereby further improving the workability in the game hall. is there.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the present system when applied to a pachinko parlor (game room). In this figure, P indicates a plurality of pachinko machines which are arranged side by side in a pachinko parlor to form an island, and a game board 1 of this pachinko machine P is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board 1 of the pachinko machine P.

On the surface of the game board 1, a guide rail device 2 for guiding a shot hit is planted in a substantially circular shape, and an area defined by the guide rail device 2 is a game area 3 Have been. A glass plate holding frame (not shown) provided with transparent glass is attached to the front side of the game board 1 so as to be openable and closable, and the front surface of the game area 3 is covered with the transparent glass.

At the approximate center of the game area 3 of the game board 1, a special symbol is variably displayed on the character image display section 26 (hereinafter, referred to as "variable display").
(Also referred to as fluctuation) is arranged. Below the special variable display device 30, there is provided a mounting board 4 for mounting various components such as a normal variable prize ball device 5 and a special variable prize ball device 9 to the game board 1.

At the upper end of the center of the mounting board 4, the ordinary variable winning prize ball device 5 having a starting function for allowing a change of a special symbol is arranged. This ordinary variable winning ball device 5
Is configured as a so-called tulip-type accessory having a pair of movable wing pieces 7A and 7B that are movably controlled between a vertical (normally open) position and a tilting (enlarged and open) position by a solenoid 6, and are normally variable. The winning ball device 5 is provided with a starting ball detector (sensor) 8 for detecting a winning ball.

Note that the variable prize ball device 5 can win even when the movable wing pieces 7A and 7B are in the vertical (normally open) position. The change of the special symbol based on the winning in the normal variable winning prize ball device 5 is stored a predetermined number of times (four times in this embodiment) except during the change, and the effect is displayed by the special symbol storage display LED 36. Is configured.

The special variable prize ball device 9 is disposed at the center of the mounting board 4. The special variable prize ball device 9 includes an opening / closing plate 11 for controlling opening and closing of the prize area 14. The open / close plate 11 is movable between a tilted position and a vertical position based on the driving of a solenoid 10 disposed on the back surface of the game board 1.
When N is reached, the prize area 14 is tilted to open, and when the solenoid 10 is turned off, the prize area 14 is closed to a vertical state.

In the prize area 14, a specific ball detector (sensor) 12 and a prize ball detector (sensor) 13 for detecting a prize ball are provided. The specific ball detector 12 is configured to allow establishment of a continuation right by detecting a winning ball.

Further, on the left and right of the special variable display device 30, a projecting member 16 having a passage opening is provided, and in the projecting member 16 on the left side, a passing ball detector (sensor) 15 is provided. I have. The passing ball detector 15 is configured to allow a variation of the ordinary symbol displayed on the ordinary symbol display 34 when a passing ball is detected.

The ordinary symbol display 34 controls the opening of the movable wing pieces 7A and 7B of the ordinary variable winning ball device 5 until a predetermined time elapses when the ordinary symbol is hit. When a change (game state in which the jackpot determination probability has been changed to a higher probability different from the normal case) occurs,
The opening time is set to be long. The fluctuation of the ordinary symbol is stored a predetermined number of times (four times in this embodiment) except during the fluctuation, and the effect is indicated by the ordinary symbol storage display LED.
Indicated by 35.

The fluctuation time of the ordinary symbol is configured to be shorter at the time of the probability fluctuation than at the normal time. It should be noted that it is not always necessary to always set the variation storage of the symbol at a fixed value (for example, four times). For example, it is possible to set one time during normal times and four times during probability fluctuation. A winning opening 18 provided with a decorative lamp 17 is provided at each of the right and left ends of the mounting board 4.

An LCD display 33 having the character image display section 26 is attached to the special variable display device 30. The ordinary symbol display 34 and the ordinary symbol storage display LED 35 are provided above the LCD display 33 and below the LCD display 33. Is provided with the special symbol storage display LED 36.

The special variable winning ball device 9 configured as described above operates as follows. That is, when the hit ball wins the normal variable winning ball device 5 and the starting ball detector 8 is turned on, the special variable display device 30 starts changing the special symbol. Thereafter, a display result is derived after a lapse of a predetermined time, and when the display result becomes a predetermined big hit symbol, a specific game state is generated.

In this specific game state, the opening / closing plate 11 of the special variable winning prize ball device 9 is kept in a predetermined period (for example, 2
9.5 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls is set to open (opening cycle) until a winning ball is generated. It is configured to receive. Further, when the hit ball received turns on the specific ball detector 12, the above-described opening cycle is repeated again, and the specific ball detector 12 is turned on.
Each time the continuation right is established, the opening cycle can be repeated up to 16 times.

It should be noted that the specific game state may be a state in which any one of the following controls or a combination of these controls is executed. That is, first, the variable winning prize ball device that can be changed to a first state that facilitates winning of a hit ball and a second state in which the hitting ball cannot win or hard to win, for a predetermined time continuously or Control to make the first state intermittently.

Second, a first state in which hitting of a hit ball is facilitated by intervening the detection of a hit ball in a specific winning or passing area, and a second state in which a hit ball cannot be won or hard to win. A variable winning prize ball device that can be changed to the first state for a predetermined time or intermittently.

Third, a control for directly discharging a predetermined number of prize balls regardless of winning of a hit ball. Fourth, a storage medium having a valuable value (a card, a receipt, etc., or a membership card 10
Control for adding valuables to 6). Fifth, there is control for giving a score to a pachinko machine capable of playing based on the fact that there is a score.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the surface of the game board 1 including the game area 3 is provided with a windmill 20 having a built-in windmill lamp 20A, a winning opening 22 having a built-in sleeve lamp 22A, and a side lamp 23A. A side lamp decoration 23, an out port 24 located at the lower end of the center of the game area 3, and the like are provided. Furthermore, the pachinko machine is provided with a game effect lamp (not shown) and a game effect LED (not shown) which are lit or flashed at the time of a specific game state or when it fluctuates to notify the effect, and a speaker (not shown) which generates a sound effect.

Each of the pachinko machines P is provided with a corresponding inter-unit unit 101, and the pachinko machine P and the inter-unit unit 101 are connected by a communication line (using a communication interface RS-232C; the same applies hereinafter). Connected to the home line.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a POS register (hereinafter, referred to as a POS register).
This is also connected to the home line, and the POS register 103 issues a member (ID) card 106 and reads the card. In this case, the personal identification number is input from an external input terminal (key pad) 109, and the data is stored in a member management server (a personal computer or the like; the same applies hereinafter) 10.
2 The card information read / write (R / W) device 103a is an example in which a card information read / write unit is provided externally. Card information reading / writing (R / W) device 103
a may be built in the POS register 103 in some cases.

The balls obtained after the pachinko game are also counters (jet counters) connected to the home line.
Counted at 105. At that time, the member card 106 is inserted into the card information reading / writing (R / W) device 107 to specify the customer, and the data (the number of remaining balls) is transmitted via the home line together with the customer's code number. Membership management server 1
02 is stored. Member card 1 in the unit 101
When 06 is inserted, a prize can be purchased according to the number of remaining balls stored in the member management server 102. At that time,
A receipt 113 is issued instead of a receipt.

The member management server 102 performs data processing for pachinko parlors. Although FIG. 1 shows an example of only one store, the member management servers 102 of a plurality of stores can be connected to a central processing computer via a public line to centrally process data of those stores. is there.

At the POS register 103, member registration (ID, ID,
Work such as introduction and input of the personal identification number and the number of stored balls to the member management server 102, input of the number of stored balls to be withdrawn, and calculation of deduction are performed.

The member management server 102 creates a data file, manages data for each member, and processes total data of stores. That is, a record card of the number of balls for each member is made, and the date, item (special prize, storage (saving) ball, other prize), store number, number of balls, amount of money, remaining ball, etc. are data as a member management server. 102.

Also, the prize server 104 stores and manages the name and appearance image of the prize and the number of balls that can be exchanged (unit price). (Number of balls) is transmitted to the inter-unit unit 101. The data is also transmitted to the POS register 103 when the prize is exchanged at the POS register 103.

Next, the stand-to-stand unit 101 has not only a normal information display function or a television image display function but also a ball sales and storage (storage) ball payout function and an electronic catalog terminal function. That is, the inter-unit unit 101 includes a prepaid card,
It sells balls in cash and pays out stored balls (hereinafter used in the same meaning as savings). Reading / writing card information (R
/ W) The device 131 reads and writes data on the card. In the case of a prepaid card, payment is made to the card itself by equivalent exchange, and data corresponding to the paid amount is rewritten.

Reading / writing member card 106 (R / W)
When inserted into the device 131, the unit 101
The store data and the like are specified, the data is read out from the member management server 102 in which the data of the customer is recorded, and displayed on the CRT 134 so that the customer can know the number of stored balls. 132 is an input key switch. Also, C
The number of stored balls is displayed on the RT 134. The selection is performed by the key switch 132. The display method is 1 of the amount display
There are two types: 00 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen, and 500 yen, and 50 pieces, 100 pieces, 150 pieces, 200 pieces, and 250 pieces of number display. Then, the required number of balls is paid out to the pachinko machine P via the nozzle 135A according to the selection / instruction of the customer.

When the game starts, the pachinko machine P
The ball hit from a hitting ball firing device (not shown) is guided by the guide rail device 2 and hits the game area 3.

When the customer operates the key switch 132 to request display of a catalog prize, the inter-stand unit 101 sends the prize appearance image data, the product name, and the unit price (ball) to the prize server 104 as described above. Is requested, and the data is transmitted and displayed on the CRT 134.

When the customer selects a prize displayed on the CRT 134 and selects it with the key switch 132, the name of the prize displayed on the CRT 134 together with the appearance image of the prize is displayed.
The unit price (number of balls) data is data that is subtracted by the member management server 102 from the member's storage ball data.

Next, 158 is a Web server (communication control means) for managing communication control using an external network.
It is. The Web server 158 is connected to a home line, and is connected to the Internet via a public line (ISDN line) and a provider 159, and a home page 161 established by the store on the Internet.
To manage The main function of the Web server 158 is to manage services provided to each member on the homepage 161 of the store, and in addition to information on the store, the prize server 104 outputs appearance image data and product names of the prize, A unit price (number of balls) is received and posted on the homepage 161. When a failure occurs in a store or the like, a so-called Internet telephone that transmits and receives live video and audio to and from a service sensor of a manufacturer as described later. It also has noh.

On the other hand, reference numeral 41 denotes a web site located in a pachinko parlor.
b camera. The Web camera 41 is a handy-type digital video camera capable of transmitting moving images, and has a resolution and a zoom function capable of photographing at least thin parts inside the pachinko machine P. That is, the Web camera 41
3, a CCD image sensor 44, an input signal processing unit 46, a liquid crystal display unit 45, an encoding processing unit 47, a transmission control unit 48, a low power wireless communication interface 49, an antenna 42, a voice coder 51, and a microphone 52 as shown in FIG. (Audio input means), an audio decoder 53, and an earphone 43 (audio output means).
3 is attached to the headset 50. When the attendant wears the headset 50 on the head, the earphone 43 corresponds to the ear and the microphone 52 corresponds to the mouth.

The moving image fetched from the CCD image pickup device 44 is sent to an encoding processing unit 47 and a liquid crystal display unit 45 via an input signal processing unit 46. Then, the liquid crystal display unit 45
, The redundancy is reduced and quantization is performed in the encoding processing unit 47. The encoding method includes predictive encoding, transform encoding, vector quantization, subband Coding and the like are known.

The moving image data (MPEG data) encoded by the encoding processing unit 47 is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 42 via the low power wireless communication interface 49 by the transmission control unit 48. The sound input from the microphone 52 is converted into sound data by the sound coder 51, and is similarly wirelessly transmitted by the transmission control unit 48.

Further, the transmission control section 48 sends the audio data received from the antenna 42 to the audio decoder 52, and outputs the audio data through the earphone 43 as audio. A low-power wireless communication interface 156 that manages wireless data communication with the Web camera 41 via the antenna 157 is connected to the home line.

Next, a pachinko parlor maintenance management method using the web camera 41 and the web server 158 will be described. In a pachinko parlor, for example, when a failure occurs in the starting ball detector 8, the specific ball detector 12, the winning ball detector 13, the solenoid 10, the character image display unit 26 of the special variable display device 30, and the like of the pachinko machine P, The staff is W first
The user operates the web server 158 to activate the Internet videophone function described above.

As a result, the Web server 158
The camera enters a standby state for the moving image data and the audio data from the camera 41. The clerk accesses the address of the service center via the provider 159 by the web server 158. A personal computer 162 installed at the service center (maintenance manager) is also connected to the Internet via a provider 163. In this case, the personal computer is not limited to the one installed at the service center, but may be a portable terminal (such as a mobile personal computer) carried by a maintenance worker.

The service center receives access from the web server 158 of the pachinko parlor, and the personal computer 162 and the web server 158 via the Internet.
And establish a line between them.

In this state, the staff in the pachinko parlor puts on the headset 50, turns on the power of the Web camera 41, goes to the failed pachinko machine P, and locates the failed part on We.
b Shoot with the camera 41. Then, a description of the symptom is input by voice using the microphone 52. The moving image data captured by the CCD image sensor 44 and the voice data spoken by the attendant are received by the low-power wireless communication interface 156 as described above, and transmitted to the Web server 158 via the home line.

The Web server 158 transmits the moving image data and the audio data to the personal computer 162 of the service center in real time via the Internet. As a result, the failed portion of the failed personal computer P is displayed as a live image on the personal computer 162, and the voice spoken by the attendant is also output.

The maintenance worker of the service center diagnoses a failure state (symptom) by the live video and audio output, and inputs a repair method by voice in the case of a simple failure. The voice of the maintenance worker is captured by the personal computer 162 and received by the Web server 158 via the Internet. The home line and the low power wireless communication interface 156
Is transmitted to the Web camera 41 via the.

The Web camera 41 converts the received voice data into voice using the earphone 43 as described above, and the attendant hears the voice and performs repair. Then, the status and result of the repair are also sent to the service center as live images. In pachinko parlors that are open, pachinko machines P
It becomes difficult to exchange conversations due to sound effects and the BGM in the store, but since the earphone 43 and the microphone 52 are attached to the headset 50 and attached to the staff, the conversation between the staff and the maintenance worker is difficult. It will be done very smoothly.

The web camera 41 is provided with the liquid crystal display unit 45 for images taken by the CCD image sensor 44, so that the attendant can exchange and repair with the maintenance worker while viewing the taken images.

When the service center determines that on-site repair is necessary as a result of the diagnosis, the maintenance worker prepares parts necessary for the symptoms grasped by live video and audio and goes to the personal computer store. .

Here, the island where the pachinko machine P is installed is:
Usually, a pachinko machine P is installed before and after, and a ball polishing and ball reducing machine (ball circulating device) is installed inside, and is formed in a box shape so that the inside cannot be seen. And
Opening the pachinko machine P (supported to be openable and closable) and the curtain plate, which is an opening / closing door that opens and closes above the pachinko machine P, makes it possible to see the island interior, but the interior space is extremely narrow. Has become. Therefore, it is more preferable that the Web camera 41 be of a type that can separate the liquid crystal display unit 45 from the CCD image pickup device 44 and its peripheral circuits. According to such a configuration, it becomes possible to insert only the CCD image pickup element 44 into the narrow island to take a picture, and it is possible to eliminate the trouble of a staff member inserting the Web camera 41 and his / her own head inside the narrow island to take a picture.

Further, a connection port (jack) for inputting an image and a sound is provided in the head-to-head unit 101 so that the image data and the voice data photographed by the Web camera 41 are transmitted to the home line via the head-to-head unit 101. The low-power wireless communication interface 156 may be
May be provided, and data transmission / reception between the web camera 41 and the inter-unit unit 101 may be performed wirelessly.

In such a case, the CR of the unit 101
By displaying the image data from the Web camera 41 on T134, the CRT 134 of the head-to-head unit 101 can be used as the liquid crystal display unit (45), so that the number of components can be reduced. In addition, if a voice input / output unit is provided in the inter-unit unit 101, the headset 50 is not required, and the number of parts can be further reduced. In particular, according to such a configuration, it is possible to expect a secondary effect in which communication between the customer and the service counter can be performed using the inter-unit unit 101.

Although the Web camera 41 has been described as a handy type, it may be a movable camera mounted on the wall or ceiling of a store. In that case, the direction and the enlargement ratio (zoom) are remotely controlled by the Web server 158 of the store or the personal computer 163 of the service center. The image is also naturally displayed on the Web server 158. In particular, with such a fixed camera, the moving image data and the audio data may be transmitted to the home line by wire without performing wireless transmission in the store.

When the fixed Web camera 41 capable of automatically adjusting the directivity and the enlargement ratio is provided, when a failure occurs in the pachinko machine P, the data relating to the failure location is automatically transmitted from the pachinko machine P to the Web. It is also possible to construct a system in which the image is transmitted to the camera 41, automatically pointed to the faulty part, the zoom is adjusted, and the image is captured. Further, when the pachinko machine P has an error code display section,
It is preferable that the error code is photographed and data is transmitted at the same time. According to such a system, it is not necessary for the attendant to go to the photographing of the failure location, and more rapid and accurate failure notification can be realized. The self-determination of the fault location and the transmission of the control signal to cause the Web camera 41 to photograph the fault location are not limited to the pachinko machine P but also to peripheral devices (particularly ball circulation devices on the island). good.

In this case, it is conceivable that the web camera 41 is attached to the inside of the island where the pachinko machine P is installed.
However, since the inside of the island is dark because it is configured as described above, in that case, a lighting device for photographing is also attached. According to such a configuration, it is possible to photograph a failure point such as the back of the pachinko machine P from the inside of the island, so that there is no need for an attendant to open the pachinko machine P or the curtain plate when a failure occurs, and it does not obstruct the customer during the game. .

If the Web camera 41 is detachably mounted, and if it is difficult to take a picture by automatic control, the staff can take the picture with the Web camera 41 as in the above embodiment. Becomes

Further, the Web camera is not limited to a video camera capable of capturing a moving image, but a digital still camera capable of capturing a still image can also be used. In such a case, the image data (JPEG data) is sent as a still image to the service center. Furthermore, in the embodiment, data communication between the store and the service center is performed using the Internet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a line may be established by a personal computer communication using a normal ISDN line.

As described above, the Web camera 41 having the photographing capability capable of determining the faulty parts of the pachinko machine P and its peripheral devices, and the image data photographed by the Web camera 41 are transmitted to the Internet. And a web server 158 for transmission to the maintenance manager of the service center via a pachinko parlor, so that if a failure occurs in the pachinko machine P or its peripheral device at the pachinko parlor, the failed part is photographed by the web camera 41. , The captured image to W
The data can be transmitted to the maintenance manager of the service center via the network by the eb server 158.

Thus, the staff in the pachinko parlor can explain the failure situation to the maintenance manager of the service center using the images, and the maintenance manager of the service center can look at the image of the failed part while viewing the failure location image. Diagnosis can be performed, and repair methods and necessary parts can be determined.

In particular, when a failure occurs in the character image display section 26 of the special variable display device 30, it is extremely difficult to grasp the situation with verbal explanations. Since the display state of the display unit 26 can be shown to the maintenance manager of the service center, it is easy for the staff of the pachinko parlor to explain the symptoms, and it is very easy for the maintenance worker of the service center to grasp the situation. .

In the case of a relatively simple failure, by sending an instruction to the attendant by voice, the repair can be completed only at the pachinko parlor side, and the failure required for the maintenance worker to go to is also possible. Also in this case, it is possible to make necessary visits in advance with necessary parts. As described above, the failure diagnosis of the pachinko machine P and its peripheral devices installed in the pachinko parlor can be performed accurately and promptly, and efficient maintenance management can be achieved.

A microphone 52 and an earphone 43 are provided in the Web camera 41, and the Web server 158
2 is transmitted to the maintenance manager of the service center, the voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager is transmitted to the web camera 41, and the
Since the earphone 43 of the camera 41 converts the voice data transmitted from the Web server 158 into voice, the staff at the pachinko parlor can take a picture of the malfunctioning pachinko machine P or the like while taking a picture of the faulty part. Microphone 52
Thus, the situation can be explained to the maintenance manager.

Then, the earphone 43 can receive an instruction from the maintenance manager of the service center by voice on the spot and take necessary measures, so that the workability in the pachinko parlor is further improved.

As described above, the maintenance management system of the present invention is employed in a game arcade in which a gaming machine and its peripheral devices are installed, and has at least a photographing capability capable of discriminating a failed portion of the gaming machine and peripheral devices. Imaging means (We
b camera 41) and communication control means (Web server 158) for transmitting image data photographed by the photographing means to a maintenance manager via a network.

That is, according to the present invention, when a failure occurs in a gaming machine or its peripheral device in a game arcade, the location of the failure is photographed by the photographing means (Web camera 41), and the photographed image is transmitted to the communication control means (Web camera). The server 158) allows transmission to the maintenance manager via the network.

As a result, the staff at the amusement arcade can explain the failure situation to the maintenance manager by using the image, and the maintenance manager can make a diagnosis while viewing the image of the failure location, and can perform the repair method. And necessary parts can be determined. In particular, by sending a voice instruction to the staff at the amusement arcade, it is possible to complete the repair only at the amusement arcade side, and also to allow the maintenance worker to visit necessary parts in advance when visiting. Become.

As described above, according to the present invention, the failure diagnosis of the gaming machine and the peripheral devices installed in the game arcade can be accurately performed, and
It is possible to carry out quickly and to achieve efficient maintenance management.

In addition to the above, the maintenance management system for a game arcade according to the present invention further comprises a photographing means (Web camera 41) having a sound input means (microphone 52) and a sound output means (earphone 43), and a communication control means. (Web server 158)
Transmits the voice data input from the voice input means (microphone 52) to the maintenance manager, transmits the voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager to the photographing means (Web camera 41), and Voice output means (earphone 4
The third feature is that voice data transmitted from the communication control means (Web server 158) is converted into voice.

According to this configuration, the staff at the amusement arcade can explain the situation to the maintenance manager using the voice input means (microphone 52) on the spot while photographing the failed part of the failed game machine or the like. become able to. Then, the voice output means (earphone 43) can receive an instruction from the maintenance manager by voice on the spot and perform necessary treatment, so that the workability in the game hall is further improved.

In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the method of simultaneously transmitting and receiving the image data and the audio data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The image data is transmitted to the service center using a network, and the audio is transmitted over a normal public line. It is effective to send and receive using the mobile phone used. In the embodiment, the live video is transmitted to the service center.
The present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is also effective by a method in which image data obtained by capturing a moving image or a still image is transmitted to an e-mail address of a service center, and the image is shown to the service center for diagnosis. Instead of sending and receiving such e-mails, image data and audio data are sequentially transmitted directly from the Web server 158 of the pachinko parlor to the personal computer 162 of the service center, and the personal computer 162 also transmits repair instruction data (image data and image data). The present invention also includes the notification of a faulty location and the exchange of a repair instruction using a so-called video teleconference system or an Internet video telephony system of a two-way system which sequentially receives audio data (including audio data). In this case, when data is transmitted from the pachinko parlor, the PC 162 of the service center switches to the previously displayed screen and automatically displays the image (moving image, etc.) transmitted from the pachinko parlor on the display. Is what you do.

Further, in the embodiment, the gaming machine (pachinko machine P)
Has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and is also effective when a pachinko ball, a medal, or a bill transfer device as a game result value fails. Further, the member management server 102 or the premium server 104 (these In this case, an error screen or the like is photographed), and a great effect can be obtained even when the head-to-head unit 101, the POS register 103, and the jet counter 105 break down.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the service center of the manufacturer is taken as the maintenance manager, but the invention is not limited to this, and a personal computer or server provided at the owner's house of the pachinko parlor may be accessed.

The above-mentioned game result value is not limited to the pachinko ball of the embodiment, but may be a coin or a medal.
The gaming machine is not limited to the pachinko machine of the embodiment, but may be a slot machine or the like. The game result value includes the game media (balls and coins) paid out as a result of the game, but also includes the points and credits given as a result of the game.

Further, an enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which a gaming machine is played with a score (balls are circulated in the machine, the number of balls to be paid out is given as a point, and a pachinko ball can be fired for the number of points), a credit-type slot machine (For example, all are displayed as points), and furthermore, a so-called video-type pachinko game machine or the like using a virtual board in which the board is entirely constituted by a liquid crystal display or the like and balls are imaged may be used. In the case of such an image-type pachinko gaming machine, it is possible to take an image of the board itself (the display screen of the liquid crystal display) with the Web camera 41 and to prompt a failure diagnosis by a live image.

Here, the following can be grasped from the embodiments described above. (1) In a game arcade where a gaming machine and its peripherals are installed, at least a photographing unit having a photographing ability capable of determining a failure portion of the gaming machine and the peripherals, and an image photographed by the photographing unit. And a communication control means for transmitting data to the maintenance manager via the Internet. (2) The maintenance management system for a game arcade, wherein the photographing means is capable of changing the direction and the enlargement ratio by remote control from the communication control means or the maintenance manager. (3) In the above, the photographing means is provided inside the island where the gaming machine is installed, and shoots a failed part based on a control signal from the gaming machine (or peripheral equipment thereof), which is characterized by maintenance of the game arcade. Management system. (4) In a game arcade where a gaming machine and its peripherals are installed, at least a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining a failure point of the gaming machine and the peripherals, and an image photographed by the photographing means. Communication control means for transmitting data to a maintenance manager via a network, wherein the photographing means has voice input means and voice output means provided in a headset, and wherein the communication control means Send the voice data input from the input means to the maintenance manager,
The voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager is transmitted to the photographing unit, and the voice output unit of the photographing unit is
A game arcade maintenance management system, which converts audio data transmitted from communication control means into audio. (5) In a game arcade where a gaming machine and its peripherals are installed, at least a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining a failure portion of the gaming machine and the peripherals, and an image photographed by the photographing means. A game arcade maintenance management system comprising: communication control means for transmitting data to a maintenance manager via a network; and display means for displaying the image data. (6) A maintenance management system for a game arcade, wherein the photographing means and the display means are separable. (7) In a game arcade in which a gaming machine and its peripheral devices are installed, a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining at least a failure portion of the gaming machine and peripheral devices, and an image photographed by the photographing means. And a communication control means for automatically transmitting data to a maintenance manager via a network and automatically switching a displayed image.

[0083]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining at least a failure portion of a game machine or its peripheral equipment, and photographing is performed by the photographing means. And communication control means for transmitting the image data to the maintenance manager via the network, so that if a failure occurs in the gaming machine or its peripheral devices in the amusement arcade,
The failed part can be photographed by the photographing means, and the photographed image can be transmitted to the maintenance manager via the network by the communication control means.

As a result, the staff at the amusement arcade can explain the trouble situation to the maintenance manager by using the image, and the maintenance manager makes a diagnosis while looking at the image of the faulty part and repairs it. And necessary parts can be determined. In particular, by sending a voice instruction to a staff at the game arcade as described in claim 3, it is possible to complete the repair only at the game arcade side, and to arrange necessary parts in advance even when a maintenance worker goes. To be able to visit.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately diagnose a failure of a gaming machine installed in a game arcade and peripheral devices thereof, and
It is possible to carry out quickly and to achieve efficient maintenance management.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the photographing means is provided with a sound input means and a sound output means, and the communication control means maintains and manages the sound data inputted from the sound input means. And the voice data transmitted from the maintenance manager is transmitted to the photographing means, and the voice output means of the photographing means converts the voice data transmitted from the communication control means into voice. The staff at the amusement arcade can explain the situation to the maintenance manager by voice input means on the spot while photographing the failed part of the equipment such as the failed gaming machine.

Then, the voice output means can receive an instruction from the maintenance manager by voice on the spot and take necessary measures, thereby further improving the workability in the game hall. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a game arcade maintenance management system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a gaming board of a pachinko machine as an example of the gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a Web camera used in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Pachinko machine 1 Game board 41 Web camera (photographing means) 43 Earphone (voice output means) 44 CCD image sensor 49, 156 Low power wireless communication interface 52 Microphone (voice input means) 101 Inter-unit unit 102 Membership management server 103 POS cash register 104 Premium server 158 Web server (communication control means) 162 Personal computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page F term (reference) 2C088 BC54 BC68 CA08 CA21 CA31 5C087 AA09 AA24 AA25 AA37 AA41 BB03 BB12 BB14 BB48 BB64 BB65 BB74 DD08 DD20 EE05 FF01 FF02 FF17 FF19 FF20 FF23 GG3 03

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a game arcade where a gaming machine and its peripheral devices are installed, at least a photographing means having a photographing ability capable of determining a failure portion of the gaming machine and peripheral devices, and photographing by the photographing means. And a communication control means for transmitting the image data to a maintenance manager via a network. 2. The photographing unit includes a voice input unit and a voice output unit, and the communication control unit transmits voice data input from the voice input unit to a maintenance manager, and transmits the voice data from the maintenance manager. 2. The maintenance management system according to claim 1, wherein the voice data is transmitted to the photographing means, and the voice output means of the photographing means converts the voice data transmitted from the communication control means into voice. 3. A photographing unit photographs a failure point of a gaming machine or a peripheral device thereof, transmits image data photographed together with audio to a maintenance manager via a network, and transmits the image data from the maintenance manager. A game arcade maintenance management method for repairing the gaming machine based on a voice instruction.