JP2001170338A - Probability generating device for game machine and monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system for a game machine with higher quality by accurately detecting various frauds and abnormalities on a probability generating device for the game machine, and quickly transmitting them to the monitor side. SOLUTION: This probability generating device 2 comprises a random pulse generator 5, a probability generating circuit 6, and an optical communication circuit 10. The probability generating device 2 is provided with an abnormality detecting circuit 8 detecting the frauds and abnormalities on the probability generating device 2, judges hits and misses based on the HIT signals from a winning sensor 4, and outputs the results to a game machine circuit 3. The hit information, abnormality monitoring information, and individual identification information are formatted in a series of monitor data and transmitted to an administrative computer 21. The computer 21 compares the hit information from the game machine circuit 3 with the hit information of the formatted monitor data to monitor an abnormality and instantaneously specifies the content based on the other layout information when the abnormality occurs.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a probability generation device and a monitoring system for a game machine having a function of monitoring fraudulent activities and abnormal operations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a game machine monitoring system, an event monitoring apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-192532. Such a device, as shown in FIG. 7, measures a random pulse generator, a random pulse signal of the random pulse generator, and a measurement time at which a maximum probability is obtained on a Poisson distribution and an expected number of pulse signals. Comparing the stored circuit and the measured numerical value with the expected number, a probability generating device including a comparing circuit that outputs a hit signal when they match with each other is provided, and the management computer has the same configuration as the probability generating device. And a monitoring probability generation device that generates a hit signal in synchronization with the control computer, and the management computer generates a hit signal generated by the monitoring probability generation device based on a random pulse and a synchronization signal from the hit generation device communicated using infrared rays. The signal is compared with the hit signal output from the probability generation device to operate the game machine circuit, and when there is a mismatch, a wrongdoing is performed. It is configured to generate an alarm as.

[0003]

However, in the above configuration, it is necessary to equip the management computer with a monitoring probability generation device, and two infrared systems for signal communication are required. Because of the complexity,
In a game hall where a large number of game machines are installed, a large amount of equipment is required.

Further, since both the random pulse and the synchronization pulse transmitted to the management computer are analog signals, it has been difficult to incorporate a plurality of information for other purposes into this signal. For this reason, a very important hit generating device for determining an event (hit / miss) of the game machine and a variety of direct and indirect frauds on the peripheral circuit thereof and a detecting means for abnormal operation and a means for specifying the cause thereof are provided. In order to obtain an advanced monitoring system, it was necessary to separately provide an inspection sensor and a circuit according to the purpose. As described above, the conventional configuration is not satisfactory not only in cost but also in security.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a simpler system configuration and can instantaneously identify the contents of an abnormality. It is intended to provide.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine with a probability generating device which measures a random pulse generator and the number of output pulses of the random pulse generator. A probability generation circuit (2) for generating a probability according to the probability based on a hit signal from the game machine circuit (3); Further, an abnormality detection circuit (8) for detecting an irregularity or abnormality of the probability generation device (2) and the game machine circuit (3) connected thereto,
A monitoring data generation circuit (9) for formatting the hit signal, abnormality detection information, and other individual information of the probability generation device (2) into a series of monitoring data. As described above, by formatting various information of the probability generation device together with the hit signal into a series of monitoring data, the information communication system to the outside can be simplified.

[0007] The probability generating device for a game machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an optical communication means (10) for transmitting the monitoring data to outside the device. The use of light as a communication means for monitoring data reduces the chances of electrical fraud (data tampering, communication interruption, etc.) between transmission and reception compared to wired or wireless data communication, and reduces security. Can be improved.

The monitoring system for a game machine according to claim 3, wherein the optical receiving means (11) for receiving the monitoring data from the optical communication means (10) and converting it into an electric signal, and the optical receiving means. (21) a management computer (21) for collectively monitoring for irregularities or abnormalities of the game machine (1) connected to the network based on the monitoring data from (11) and the game machine operation hit signal from the game machine circuit (3); And characterized in that: The management computer can judge fraudulent actions and abnormalities performed on the probability generation device side based on the received monitoring data, and also can instantaneously identify the details, so that the results can be accurately used in future fraud prevention measures. Can prosper. This allows
A fairer and more secure game hall environment can be constructed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a monitoring system for a game machine according to the present invention. The monitoring system according to the present invention includes a plurality of game machines 1 and a management computer 21 that collectively monitors improper activities and operation abnormalities in these game machines 1, and an alarm device 22 is connected to the management computer 21. The game machine circuit 3 is connected to the management computer 21 via an existing transmission line A, and the output of an optical receiving unit 11 of the optical communication circuit 10 to be described later is connected via a transmission line B.

The game machine 1 is provided with a game machine circuit 3 for controlling a hitting / unmoving operation of the game machine and a probability generating device 2 for generating a hit probability (event). Is connected to various sensors 4 such as a winning sensor arranged at a predetermined location in the machine.

The probability generation device 2 has a random pulse generator 5 using radiation emitted from a weakly radioactive substance that naturally decay, and a probability of obtaining an arbitrary probability by measuring the number of output pulses of the random pulse generator 5. A generating circuit 6 for receiving a hit / HIT signal from the game machine circuit 3;
In addition to a base probability generation function of determining a deviation and generating a hit signal with a predetermined probability, a memory circuit 7, an abnormality detection circuit 8, a monitoring data generation circuit 9, and an optical communication circuit 10 described below.
The system is configured so that a more advanced monitoring system than ever before can be realized with respect to fraud or abnormality of the device. The random pulse generator 5, the probability generating circuit 6, the optical communication circuit 10, and the like are housed in an integral shielded housing that is difficult to open.

Here, the abnormality detecting circuit 8 is a circuit for detecting an improper act or an abnormal operation in the probability generating device 2 and, for example, for detecting a continuous hit count error (continuous hit count error is a predetermined hit count). It means that the number of hits exceeds the maximum number of consecutive hits), power supply voltage abnormality detection, electrical spike noise detection, electrical delay time fluctuation due to opening of the shield case, and also opening of the case Various detections shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such as detection of inflow of light into a housing, detection of disconnection or short-circuit on a specific circuit, detection of improper replacement of a hit signal on an output terminal for connection to a game machine circuit 3, and the like. It has a detection mechanism.

Further, the memory 7 circuit includes individual identification information for individually specifying the probability generation device 2, current operation information, probability generation reference table information set for generating base probability, random pulse information, The basic operation information and the like are stored, and the monitoring data generation circuit 9 collects the abnormality detection information, the individual identification information, the basic operation information, and the like together with the hit signal generated by the probability generation circuit 6 as shown in FIG. Format into a simple set of monitoring data. This monitoring data is transmitted by a communication mechanism that is difficult for electrical fraud to intervene, for example,
In the case of using infrared light as a medium, the light is transmitted outside from the optical communication circuit 10 provided with an infrared light transmission unit.

In the above configuration, the hit signal output from the probability generating circuit 6 is used for controlling the hitting operation of the game machine circuit 3 and the control computer 2
1 is transmitted. At the same time, the monitoring data transmitted from the optical communication circuit 10 is converted into an electric signal by the optical receiving unit 11 outside the device and transmitted to the management computer 21 via the transmission path B.

The management computer 21 transmits a hit signal from the game machine circuit 3 transmitted via the transmission line A to the transmission signal B
Of the monitoring data transmitted from the optical receiving unit 11 via the optical communication unit 11 and, if the hitting and the departure of the two do not match, it is determined that a fraudulent act has been performed on the probability generation device 2 and an alarm is issued. An alarm is issued from the device 22.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to instantaneously specify the contents of the fraud or abnormality based on the abnormality detection information laid out in the monitoring data. In the same manner, it is also possible to monitor fraud and abnormalities based on differences from the individual identification information registered on the monitoring side, differences in base setting information, transitions from the start of the current operation status, and the like. .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an abnormality determination process based on the individual identification information.
1 is registered with the individual identification information of the probability generation device 2 and the probability generation device 2 laid out in the monitoring data is registered.
The probability identification device 2
It is determined that the illegal replacement of the memory circuit 7 or the unauthorized rewriting of the memory circuit 7 has been performed, and a warning is issued.

The probability generation criterion table shown in FIG. 4 is the probability generation criterion information which is constantly calculated as an exponential function table while the average number of pulses per unit time of the random pulse generator is in operation. If the number of random pulses is manipulated or the table value itself is falsified due to an abnormality, the result will be out of the prescribed exponential curve. Therefore, by monitoring this probability occurrence reference table, it is possible to determine whether it is appropriate or not. [Example]

Next, an embodiment of a game machine monitoring system according to the present invention constructed in a game hall will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that a plurality of game machines are arranged in a row in the game hall for each model, and this model-specific block is called a stripe. FIG. 1 shows one of the game machines constituting the sima.

As shown in FIG. 5, the probability generation device 2 of the present invention is mounted on a main board on the back surface of the main body of the game machine 1. As described above, the HIT signal generated by the winning sensor (4) or the like of the game machine 1 is input to the probability generation device 2 to determine a hit / miss, and the information is passed to the main board as a game machine operation signal. The game machine circuit (3) in the main board controls the contact / disengagement of the game machine, and the game machine operation signal passing through the game machine circuit is installed in another room via the existing transmission line A. It is transmitted to the management computer (21). Here, if the game machine operation signal of the game machine circuit has been tampered with illegally, the information has a different property from the information generated by the probability generation device 2.

In this embodiment, in order to reliably receive the monitoring data transmitted from the optical communication circuit (10) in the probability generating device 2, the optical receiving unit 11 is installed close to the infrared transmitting unit. . Also, since a large number of game machines 1 are arranged in a line in the Shima, in order to prevent mutual interference with an infrared signal emitted from an adjacent other game machine 1 and unauthorized intervention or obstruction to infrared communication, Suitable considerations are made in various points such as communication distance, installation interval, directivity of transmitted and received light, transmission power, installation of a light shielding hood cover, and the like.

The monitoring data from the receiving unit 11 is combined with the monitoring data of the other game machines 1 in the stripe by the line concentrator 12 and sent to the management computer through the existing or dedicated network B. Also, monitoring data from other stripes are connected on the same network, and the monitoring data is similarly sequentially transmitted to the management computer. Further, in the communication within the hall, it is also possible to perform infrared communication in a unique format using the infrared transmission unit 13 installed in the stripe without using a cable (in this case, the information transmission path is shown in FIG. 5). The transmission path C is indicated by a broken line).

The details of the abnormality monitoring by the management computer are as described above. By providing an alarm display function at the time of detection of fraud or abnormality on the probability generation device 2 side, if the monitoring system stops due to a trouble, the alarm display of the probability generation device 2 can be performed without using the monitoring system. By visually observing, unauthorized or abnormal situations can be confirmed.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing a function for monitoring fraud and abnormalities in the probability generation device and generating a lot of information as a series of monitoring data,
The monitoring system including the optical communication system can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the monitoring data can be used to detect fraudulent acts and abnormalities, and at the same time the contents thereof can be instantaneously specified, a more fair and safe game hall environment can be constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a monitoring system for a game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a probability generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an abnormality detection mechanism of the probability generation device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a layout of monitoring data.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a monitoring system according to the present invention installed in a game hall.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining individual identification information of a probability generation device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional event monitoring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Probability generator 3 Game machine circuit 5 Random pulse generator 6 Probability generation circuit 8 Abnormality detection means (Abnormality detection circuit) 9 Monitoring data generation circuit 10 Optical communication means (Optical communication circuit) 11 Optical reception means (Optical reception Part) 21 management computer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine circuit (5) comprising: a random pulse generator (5); and a probability generation circuit (6) for measuring an output pulse number of the random pulse generator (5) to generate an arbitrary probability. The probability generating device (2) that generates a hit signal of the game machine according to the probability based on the hit signal from the device (3), further comprising: the probability generating device (2) and a game machine circuit (3) connected thereto. An abnormality detecting means (8) for detecting the irregularity or abnormality of (1), a monitoring data generating circuit (9) for formatting the hit signal, abnormality detection information and other individual information of the probability generation device (2) into a series of monitoring data. A probability generation device for a game machine, comprising: 2. The probability generation device for a game machine according to claim 1, further comprising an optical communication unit (10) for transmitting the monitoring data to the outside of the device. 3. An optical receiving means (11) for receiving monitoring data from an optical communication means (10) of the probability generating device according to claim 2 and converting the monitoring data into an electric signal; A management computer (21) for collectively monitoring the game machine (1) connected on the network for irregularities and abnormalities based on the monitoring data of the game machine and the game machine operation hit signal from the game machine circuit (3). A monitoring system for a game machine, comprising: