JP2001187180A - Amusement machine for trasportation equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an amusement machine which is full of presence can change boring time of passengers on board for a longtime trip to a pleasant and useful time. SOLUTION: A field condition obtaining means to obtain information on the field condition in an amusement facilities so as to approach the experience of a visitor to the amusement facilities is equipped on the amusement facilities as fixed facilities. A field condition replaying means to replay the field condition in the amusement facilities as to approach the experience of the visitor is equipped on a transportation equipment used in the amusement facilities. Data of the field condition in the amusement facilities obtained by the field condition obtaining means are enabled to replay in real time on the filed condition replaying means via an interactive communication network in the transportation equipment so that a visitor is enabled to virtually experience the experience of the visitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle that takes a long time to reach a destination, such as a ship, an airplane, and a long-distance train, and changes a restraining time in a vehicle that tends to be boring to a pleasant time. Entertainment device that can be.

2. Description of the Related Art In transportation systems such as ships, airplanes, and long-distance trains, if it takes a long time to reach a destination, it may be difficult to reduce the time. It can even be painful, especially when you are not allowed to get off the vehicle until you reach your destination. For this reason, in order to spend these times effectively, each person takes measures such as bringing in a book or bringing in a portable game machine.

[0002]

However, in these methods, each of the passengers is left with a measure for the surplus time, and the passenger has to think of a method of squeezing time every time he / she gets on the train. There is a limit to what you can choose,
It was also lacking in fun. The present invention does not rely on the individual passengers to take measures against excess time, but rather provides the passengers with various and enjoyable entertainment by actively participating in the vehicle manager.

[0003]

As a method of solving such a problem, it is conceivable to install a display device in a vehicle and provide various entertainments through the display device. There is no restriction on the type of entertainment, and it can be gambling, watching theater musicals,
Further, shopping or the like performed through a display screen may be used.

[0004] However, if it is merely for displaying an image, it lacks real power and lacks a sense of reality. For example, if the entertainment content is gambling, a fictitious game can be created on a computer, but such cannot be as enthusiastic as real gambling.
Also, if the entertainment is a theater musical, no matter how much the high-quality and high-quality reproduction of the show that takes place on the stage alone, the musical feeling seen in the theater is poor because of the lack of realism. The reason they are not fun without excitement is that in the case of the former gambling, it is artificial, and in the case of the latter theatrical musical, there is no realism there, because the crowd sighs and sighs, Furthermore, there is no applause, and there is no real feeling that they are in the audience and share excitement.

The inventor of the present invention has noticed such a problem.
In order to make the entertainment offered to passengers truly enjoyable, instead of using fictitious entertainment created solely on computers, the entertainment provided to passengers is actually held in entertainment facilities that actually exist on the ground. I came up with the idea of reproducing the same entertainment in a moving vehicle so as to create a simulated experience closer to the visitor's experience. In order to make this possible, the content that the visitor experiences at the entertainment facility is transmitted as information (data) to the moving vehicle using communication means. In addition, the information to be conveyed is not limited to the contents of entertainment itself, but also, for example, information on surrounding sounds and lighting.

[0006] The present invention, which has been completed based on such an idea, provides a site condition acquiring means for acquiring information on site conditions in an entertainment facility as a fixed facility so as to approach the experience of a visitor to the entertainment facility. Provided on a vehicle used in transportation means, a site situation reproducing means for reproducing a site situation in the entertainment facility so as to approach the experience of a visitor to the entertainment facility, and the entertainment facility acquired by the site situation acquiring means. That the data of the site conditions inside the vehicle can be reproduced in real time through a two-way communication network by means of reproducing the site conditions inside the vehicle, so that the passengers in the vehicle can simulate the experience of the visitor. It is characterized by.

The elements necessary for reproducing the scene situation vary depending on the type of entertainment. The scene situation acquiring means includes at least a function of photographing a real image of the entertainment contents, and the scene situation reproducing means includes the photographing means. It is preferable to include a function of reproducing a real shot image in real time. It is also preferable that the site situation acquisition means includes a function of acquiring sound of entertainment contents, and the site situation reproduction means includes a function of reproducing the acquired sound in real time.

[0008] The site situation acquisition means includes a function of acquiring one or more of video, sound, smell, and light of the surrounding environment of the entertainment facility in addition to collecting information about the entertainment content itself. It is desired that the reproducing means has a function of reproducing the acquired environment element in real time.

[0009] A variety of recreational facilities are the objects of the present invention, and examples thereof include casinos, racetracks, theaters, movie theaters, and shopping facilities. There are cases where money is transferred when enjoying entertainment or as a result of entertainment, and such money transfer is preferably settled online using electronic currency. In particular, when the entertainment facility is a casino, it is desired to settle the casino wagers and payouts online.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention provides an experience similar to that of a visitor visiting an entertainment facility, which is a fixed facility, so that a passenger in a vehicle traveling at a location away from the entertainment facility is as if it were there. This makes it possible to have a simulated experience with a sense of realism and realism as described above, so that a detained time in a vehicle leading to a destination that tends to be boring can be enjoyed and meaningful. Amusement facilities targeted by the present invention are various, and elements constituting the experience of the visitor are also various. Recreational facilities include casinos, racetracks,
Gambling facilities such as boat racetracks, bicycle racetracks, theaters, cinemas,
Facilities such as a theater and shopping facilities such as a department store and a shopping street can be exemplified, but the objects are not limited to these. In addition, vehicles that take a long restraint time to reach a destination, such as an airplane, a ship, and a long-distance train, are targeted. However, depending on the contents of entertainment, there are some that can be applied even if the restraint time is short.

The reproduction of the experience is performed by means of a site situation obtaining means provided on the entertainment facility side, a site situation reproducing means provided on the vehicle side, and a communication network which enables bidirectional and real-time information distribution between the two. And is realized by The on-site situation obtaining means obtains the experience of the visitor by converting the information into a form capable of distributing information, for example, data of an electric signal. On the other hand, the on-site situation reproducing means obtains the on-site situation based on the data received through the communication network. Is reproduced so that the passenger of the vehicle can obtain an experience close to the visitor's experience. The degree of reproduction of the experience need not be perfect, as long as the scene situation reproduced in the vehicle can give the passenger a sense of realism and power. The information distribution between the site situation obtaining means and the site situation reproducing means is performed not in one direction but in two directions. This means that the action performed by the passenger in the vehicle is reflected in real time to the entertainment facility through the on-site situation acquisition means. For example, when the entertainment content is gambling, the action selected by the passenger in the vehicle is transmitted to the entertainment facility side in real time, thereby affecting the progress of the game. In the present invention, the site situation acquiring means and the site situation reproducing means have such a broad concept.

The specific contents of the scene situation acquiring means and the scene situation reproducing means vary depending on the contents of the entertainment facility. For example, site conditions to be acquired or site conditions to be reproduced include those that can be felt through the five senses of a human, such as images, sound, vibration, light, smell, temperature, and feel of the site.
For example, when the entertainment content is a slot machine installed in a casino, a picture of a pattern arranged in a display window, a rotating sound of a drum, and the like are transmitted. It is not enough to directly convey the game contents only to convey the bodily sensation of the slot machine. For example, the operation sound of the adjacent slot machine and the brightness of the illuminations decorating the surroundings are also important factors. Therefore, means for acquiring and communicating these surrounding environments is also provided. The element of the scene situation to be acquired varies depending on the entertainment content. For example, when the entertainment content is a theater musical, it is important to acquire the applause and cheers of the audience as information in order to enhance the sense of presence.

As the communication network, one that can perform two-way communication in real time is used. In particular, when the vehicle travels over a wide range such as an airplane or a ship, a communication satellite is used.

[0014] In some cases, entertainment is provided free of charge, but in most cases, it is charged and involves the transfer of funds. The transfer of funds is an appreciation fee if the entertainment content is a theater or movie performance, and a purchase price if the entertainment content is shopping. When the entertainment content is gambling, the transfer of funds accompanying the settlement of the wager and the refund can be mentioned. These are preferably processed by online payment using electronic currency through the communication network.

Next, the details of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which gambling is enjoyed by remotely controlling a slot machine 2 installed in a casino 1 in Las Vegas from an airplane 3 flying on the high seas. The Las Vegas casino 1 and the airplane 3 are bidirectionally and in real-time, distributing information through a communication network via a communication satellite 4. As shown in the figure, a display device 3a that simulates the operating state of the slot machine is attached to the back of the front seat, and an operation unit 3b is provided below the display device 3a. Both the display device 3a and the operation unit 3b are designed so that the atmosphere of the slot machine 2 installed in the casino 1 and the sensation during operation can be reproduced.

The communication satellite 4 also circulates information with financial institutions such as card companies, so that settlement of bets and refunds can be settled online.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the devices provided on the casino 1 side and the airplane 3 side in the above embodiment. On the casino 1 side, an operation information collection unit 21 for collecting operation information of the slot machine 2, an environment information collection unit 22 for collecting information on the surrounding environment, and the slot machine 2 receiving the operation signal sent from the airplane 3 There is provided a site condition obtaining means comprising an operation unit 23 for remote control and a control unit 24 for controlling the operation of each of these units, and output from the site condition obtaining unit or input to the site condition obtaining unit. And a transmission / reception unit 25 for transmitting and receiving signals.

The operation information collecting section 21 has a function of collecting operation information necessary for reproducing the game contents such as video, sound, information on the progress of the game, etc. of the slot machine 2, and includes a CCD camera, a microphone, and the like. Has a vibration detection sensor and the like. Environmental information collection unit 22
Is a part for collecting the operation sound of the adjacent slot machine and the cheering sound of the player. The operation unit 23 is a part that operates the slot machine 2 in response to a remote control signal sent from the airplane. For example, when a passenger in the aircraft pulls a lever for rotating the drum, the signal is transmitted. The lever of the slot machine 2 is configured to operate in conjunction.

On the other hand, on the airplane 3 side, a transmitting / receiving section 31 for exchanging information with the casino 1 side, and an entertainment content reproducing section for reproducing the game content based on the operation information of the slot machine sent from the casino. 32, environment reproduction unit 3 that reproduces the surrounding environment based on the environment information sent from the casino
3. An operation unit 34 for remotely operating the slot machine 2 in the casino, an operation information collection unit 35 for collecting information input by the operation unit 34, and a control unit 36 for controlling the operation mode of each unit are provided. Have been.

The configuration of the apparatus described here is merely an example, and various modes are adopted according to the contents of entertainment. Here, a slot machine has been described as an example of gambling performed in a casino, but other gambling, for example, table games such as blackjack, baccarat, poker, and the like can also be targeted. However, in the case of such a game requiring a plurality of participants, it goes without saying that an agreement regarding the progress of the game is required between members at the casino site and members participating from within the vehicle. Further, in the case of a game using such a playing card, a device for handling the playing card on behalf of the person participating in the vehicle is required.

In the above, the present invention has been described by taking as an example the case where a slot machine game played in a casino is played on an airplane, and that such a form can be applied to other gambling played in a casino. Stated. By the way, when the present invention is applied to such gambling, how to process bets and payouts during the progress of the game becomes a problem. In the present invention, it is proposed that a bet and a refund be settled online using an electronic currency represented by a card. The flowchart is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Here, the card is a concept including all authentication cards used for transferring funds, including cash cards, credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, and other electronic currencies.

The flow chart will be briefly described. First, when a passenger in the cabin desires to gamble at a casino, a list of actual images of casino venues in Las Vegas is displayed on a display device installed in the cabin. Here, the use of the live-action video is used in order to get the atmosphere of the scene in advance and to motivate the game. Next, when a casino to be played is selected from among them, a message prompting insertion of a card into a card reader appears. After inserting the card according to the message and entering the PIN if necessary, the card reader reads the user information from the card and sends it to the card company to authenticate the card and, if necessary, to match the user. Verify After the authentication by the card company is completed, the user's usage limit is sent and received, and is displayed on the screen.

Next, the user checks the usage limit on the screen, and selects a desired event from among the game types that can be played with the usage limit. At this time, a simple message about the rules and manners of the game may be issued to assist the user in selecting the game. Especially, in the case of a game such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, etc., in which a plurality of players play, it is important to explain manners. When the selection of the game type is completed, a screen for requesting confirmation of whether or not to actually start the game is displayed. Pressing the confirmation button, etc., on the request confirmation screen instructs the user to approve the start of the game, the screen display switches, and the live-action video of the casino where the selected game is actually being played is brilliantly displayed. Is displayed. At this time, the sounds related to the game, the sounds related to the surrounding environment, the lighting, and the like are reproduced in a simulated manner in accordance with the display of the live-action video. The degree of reproduction is designed so that the user can enjoy the atmosphere of the casino. The displayed casino scene is a real scene, and the actual game being played is reproduced in real time in real time.

At the stage of placing a bet, a screen prompting entry of a bet amount is displayed. When a bet is entered in accordance with the screen display, information regarding the bet is transmitted to the casino,
Recorded on the casino side. When the game is over and it is time to settle the refund for a bet or the like, it is determined whether the user has become a winner. In the case of a winner, a refund will be received, whereas in the case of a loser, the wager will be paid to the casino which is the master. Both the receipt of the refund and the payment of the wager are settled online through the communication network. For example, when receiving a refund, refund request information is transmitted to Las Vegas, and the refund is transferred from Las Vegas to a designated account of the business entity based on this information. On the other hand, when paying a bet, the payment information of the bet is transmitted to the card company, and the card company makes payment to Las Vegas. In this case, the information relating to the receipt of the refund and the payment information of the wager are transmitted from the airplane side, but since the same information is also managed on the Las Vegas side, the information is transmitted from the Las Vegas side. Is also good.

Although the present invention has been described in detail by taking gambling in Las Vegas as an example, the present invention can be applied to other gambling, such as horse racing, boat racing, and wheel racing. When applied to these, the terminal device installed in the airplane has a function of reproducing the scene situation with a sense of realism, and at the same time, fulfills a function like a betting area outside the field.
In addition, gambling can be applied not only for the purpose but also for enjoying the content of the game itself. Such a thing is Toto Calcio in soccer. For example, there is a case where a totcalcio is registered by using a communication with a book maker in the UK to participate in betting, and watching a game while enthusiastically expecting to win the bet. At the same time, live-action images of these games are displayed on the in-flight display device in real time, and at the same time, the cheers and thrills of the audience at the soccer stadium are reproduced,
Despite being on board, passengers can get the experience as if they were watching a football stadium.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the case where the present invention is applied to gambling, the present invention is applied to a variety of applications, such as theatrical performances, movies, and shopping. When applied to a play or a movie, the contents of the play or the movie are displayed on the in-flight display device, and at the same time, the applause and cheers of the audience in the theater or the movie theater are reproduced to enhance the sense of presence. Also, in the case of shopping, an image that conveys the atmosphere of the store etc. is projected on the display device inside the vehicle, and the attitude of the camera arranged in the store is controlled by operating the operation unit provided in the vehicle, and the image is displayed. Switch and enjoy shopping.

An object of the present invention is to allow a passenger in a vehicle traveling in a remote place to experience the entertainment held in an actual entertainment facility with a sense of realism. By using the present invention, the apparatus of the present invention can be used for online shopping and acquisition of various tickets assuming a virtual store, and also for stock trading and currency exchange transactions.

[0028]

According to the present invention, there is provided an amusement device for a vehicle, which is provided with a site condition acquiring means for acquiring a site condition of the recreational facility in a form close to the experience of a visitor on the side of the recreational facility as a fixed facility. A scene situation reproducing means for reproducing the scene situation in the entertainment facility in a form similar to the experience of a visitor to the entertainment facility is provided. Since it can be reproduced in real time via the communication network by means of site situation reproduction in the vehicle, it is possible to enjoy the entertainment held at a remote entertainment facility while staying in the vehicle. It will be possible to experience the feeling like a feeling, and turn the restrained travel time to the destination on the vehicle that was apt to be boring in the past into a fun and useful time. That.

[0029] In addition to reproducing the entertainment content itself as described in claim 4, by reproducing the surrounding environment as well, the sense of realism and power can be further enhanced.

As described in claim 6, when the transfer of money accompanying entertainment is settled online, the application range of the present invention can be extended to various things such as shopping as well as gambling. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the concept of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a payment procedure using a card described using a Las Vegas casino as an example of an entertainment facility;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a payment procedure using a card described using a Las Vegas casino as an example of an entertainment facility;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 casino 2 slot machine 3 airplane 3a display unit 3b operation unit 4 communication satellite 5 card company 21 operation information collection unit 22 environment information collection unit 23 operation unit 24 control unit 25 transmission / reception unit 31 transmission / reception unit 32 entertainment contents reproduction unit 33 environment reproduction unit 34 Operation unit 35 Investigation information collection unit 36 Control unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An entertainment facility as a fixed facility is provided with a site situation acquiring means for acquiring information on the situation in the entertainment facility so as to be closer to the experience of a visitor to the entertainment facility. Further, a site situation reproducing means for reproducing the site situation in the entertainment facility so as to approach the experience of the visitor to the entertainment facility is provided, and the data of the site situation in the entertainment facility acquired by the site situation acquiring means is interactively transmitted. A recreational device for a vehicle, characterized in that it can be reproduced in real time by means of site conditions in the vehicle through the communication network of (1), so that the passenger in the vehicle can simulate the visitor's experience. 2. The entertainment device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the scene situation obtaining means includes at least a function of photographing a real image of entertainment contents, and the scene state reproducing means includes a function of reproducing the photographed real image in real time. . 3. The scene situation obtaining means includes a function of acquiring sound of entertainment contents, and the scene situation reproducing means includes a function of reproducing the acquired sound in real time.
An amusement device in the described vehicle. 4. The on-site situation acquiring means includes a function of acquiring one or a plurality of elements among video, sound, smell, and light of the surrounding environment of the entertainment facility, and the on-site situation reproducing means acquires the acquired surrounding environment element. The amusement device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a function of reproducing in real time. 5. The entertainment device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the entertainment facility is one of a casino, a racetrack, a theater, a movie theater, and a shopping facility. 6. The entertainment device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the transfer of money accompanying the entertainment is settled online using an electronic currency. 7. The entertainment device for vehicles according to claim 6, wherein when the entertainment facility is a casino, settlement of wagers and refunds at the casino is made online using electronic currency.