JP2001334056A - Control device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To return downloaded data to the original source if the data are found abnormal and prevent inoperability of a program from occurring when downloading of the data is suspended incompletely. SOLUTION: A superior control section 5 has a means to write data only to a secondary bank (bank #2), diagnose written data after the writing ends, and copy the data to a primary bank (bank #1), if the data are normal and return the written data to the original data if the data are abnormal, when receiving data including programs from a host and downloading the data to a writable nonvolatile memory 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine management device for managing information of various game machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example will be described below. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of a conventional example. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration, FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of bank switching, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of a conventional example, wherein FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram at the time of bank switching, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart of a download process.

Conventionally, as an example, as shown in FIG. 5A, when managing information of a plurality of gaming machines, a plurality of terminals (# 1 to #N) for managing information of each gaming machine. ) And a plurality of group management terminals (# 1 to #K) for managing the terminals of each group as an arbitrary plurality of terminals as one set (referred to as group terminals in the figure). A management system including one host (host computer) that manages the group management terminal has been used.

As shown in FIG. 5B, terminals (# 1 to #N) for managing information for each gaming machine are provided with data rewritable nonvolatile memories (for example, flash memories). 1) and a bank switching control unit 2 for switching and controlling the banks of the non-volatile memory 1 based on a switching signal from a higher-level control unit in the terminal. Data including parameters was stored.

In this case, a memory of a bank memory system is used as the non-volatile memory 1, and the same data is stored in two banks of the non-volatile memory 1 to duplicate data, thereby ensuring the reliability of the data. Was to be done.

That is, the terminal is often installed near each gaming machine and used in a noisy environment, and there is a danger that a failure may occur such that data in the nonvolatile memory 1 is rewritten due to the influence of noise. high. Therefore, as described above, the area of the nonvolatile memory 1 is divided into two, and the data is duplicated and held (duplicately held), thereby ensuring data reliability.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the bank memory system is a system in which a plurality of switchable physical memories are mapped in the same address space, and the amount of memory used by switching by software is increased. That is, addresses are respectively given to a plurality of segment spaces (banks), and the segment spaces (banks) are switched according to the values of the segment registers.

[0008] Of the banks of the nonvolatile memory (bank memory) 1 employing the bank memory system, 2
Data duplication was attempted using one bank (primary bank and secondary bank). For example,
The bank switching control unit 2 switches banks of the nonvolatile memory 1 according to a switching signal from a higher-level control unit in the terminal. In this case, if the data in both the primary bank and the secondary bank are normal, the data in the primary bank is prioritized.

As described above, when data including a program or the like is stored in the rewritable non-volatile memory 1, in a noisy environment, a failure may occur such that the contents of the memory are rewritten. The memory is duplicated to ensure the reliability of the memory. In the duplexing method, the same contents are written in two banks, and whether or not the contents are normal is checked (such as a sum check) at the time of system startup or the like, and the operation is performed using the data of the normal bank.

[0010] When a data recovery function is provided,
If there is an abnormal portion (for example, data rewriting) in only one of the primary bank and the secondary bank, the data of the normal bank is used by using the data of the normal bank. Repair your data. But,
If there is an abnormality in both the primary bank and the secondary bank, the data in the memory cannot be restored.

In the management system, when data is downloaded to each of the non-volatile memories 1 of the terminals (# 1 to #N), an upper terminal (host or group management terminal)
After sending data to a terminal via a communication line and storing the data in a buffer of the terminal, the data in the buffer is written to the nonvolatile memory 1. In this case, in the downloading, when the data amount of the download data is large, all the data cannot be stored in the buffer, so that the download data is divided and processed.

At this time, it is not possible to determine whether or not the entire data is normal until all the data has been processed. Therefore, conventionally, writing has been performed simultaneously on the duplicated banks at the time of downloading. This process is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 6B, S1 and S2 indicate each processing step.

First, when the terminal receives data from the upper terminal, the terminal stores the received data in a buffer, and then writes the data in the buffer to the primary bank (S
1) Subsequently, writing to the secondary bank is performed.
Thus, data is downloaded to the primary bank and the secondary bank.

[0014]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

(1): In the conventional example, since the download data is written to both the primary bank and the secondary bank, if the download data is abnormal, the data (data including the program) can be restored. become unable. Therefore, a state occurs in which the program included in the data cannot operate.

(2): If an interruption occurs during the downloading of data, a state occurs in which the program included in the data cannot operate because the data has been written only halfway.

[0017] The present invention solves such a conventional problem, so that when download data is abnormal, the data can be returned to the original state, and even when interruption occurs during data download. , So that the program can operate.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has the following constitution in order to achieve the above object.

(1) A rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing data including an information management program for a gaming machine is provided, and the nonvolatile memory is divided into a first memory area and a second memory area, By storing the same data in each of these memory areas, a management device for a gaming machine that duplicates and manages the data, downloads the data from a higher-level device when the data is downloaded from a higher-level device. The data is written into only one of the memory areas (for example, the second memory area), and the write data is diagnosed after the write is completed. If the data is normal, the other memory area (the first memory area) is checked. Data is also written to the memory area of the first memory area, and if abnormal, the written data is restored to the original data (normal original data of the first memory area is transferred to the second memory area). (Copying) control means.

(2) A rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing data including an information management program of the gaming machine, wherein the nonvolatile memory is divided into a first memory area and a second memory area, By storing the same data in each of these memory areas, the data is duplicated and managed, and if data in one memory area is abnormal, normal data in the other memory area is written. In a gaming machine management apparatus having a data restoration function for restoring data, when the data is downloaded from a higher-level device, one of the first and second memory areas (for example, the second Data is written only in the memory area of the first memory, and after the writing is completed, the write data is diagnosed. If the data is normal, the other memory area (the first memory Control means for erasing the data in the area and writing the remaining data (copying the normal data in the second memory area to the first memory area) by the data restoration function.

(Operation) The operation of the present invention based on the above configuration will be described.

(A): In the above (1), when the control unit downloads the data from the host device, the control unit selects one of the first and second memory areas (for example, the second memory area). Data is written only to the memory area), and after the writing is completed, the write data is diagnosed. If the data is normal, the data is written to the other memory area (first memory area). Then, the written data is returned to the original data (the normal original data in the first memory area is copied to the second memory area). It is assumed that the same normal data has been written in the first and second memory areas before the download.

In this way, if the download data is abnormal, the data (data including the program)
Can be undone. If an interruption occurs during downloading, the second memory area is abnormal,
Since the first memory area is the original normal data, it can be downloaded again.

Further, when an interruption occurs during downloading, even if the diagnosis of the second memory area becomes normal by chance, the first memory area is selected and thus the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since data is written only in the second memory area during the download, the response time of the download message can be reduced.

(B): In the above (2), when downloading the data from the host device, the control means may select one of the first and second memory areas (for example, the second memory area). Writing data only in the memory area), diagnoses the written data after the writing is completed, and if the data is normal, erases the data in the other memory area (first memory area), By
Write the remaining data (copy the normal data in the second memory area to the first memory area).

In this way, if the download is abnormal, the program contained in the data can be restored. Therefore, if an interruption occurs during downloading, the second memory area is abnormal, but the first memory area is abnormal.
Since the memory area is normal, the second memory area can be returned to normal data before downloading by the restoration function, and both data have the same contents.

If an interruption occurs during the download, even if the diagnosis of the second memory area becomes normal by accident, the first memory area is selected, so that the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since only the second memory area is written during the download, the response time of the download message can be shortened.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

§1: Description of the management device of the gaming machine FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the management device of the gaming machine, FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a main part, and FIG. This example is an example of a gaming machine management device used for the same management system as the conventional example.

In this example, a gaming machine management device (for example,
In the terminal, a rewritable nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory) 1 employing the bank memory system, a memory control unit 4 for controlling the nonvolatile memory 1, and a higher-level control unit 5 And a bank switching control unit 2 and the like.

The memory area of the nonvolatile memory 1 is divided into two, a primary bank (bank # 1) and a secondary bank (bank # 2), and based on a switching signal from the host controller 5, It is configured to switch between the side bank (bank # 1) and the secondary side bank (bank # 2). The apparatus has a data restoration function (a function of restoring data by copying normal data in the other bank if data in one bank is abnormal).

In the apparatus having such a configuration, at the time of system startup, etc., it is confirmed whether or not the data in the primary side bank and the secondary side bank is normal data (sum check, etc.), and the apparatus is operated in the normal bank. . In this case, if there is an abnormal portion (for example, data rewriting or data destruction) in only one of the primary bank and the secondary bank, the data of only the bank having the abnormal portion is deleted. Perform repair processing.

For example, the secondary bank (bank #
2) There is an abnormality in the primary bank (bank #
If there is no abnormal point in 1), the data in the secondary bank is restored using the data in the primary bank.
If the primary bank has an abnormal location and the secondary bank has no abnormal location, the data of the primary bank is restored using the data of the secondary bank.

§2: Description of Example 1 (1): Description of the processing and features of Example 1 Example 1 is an example of an apparatus that does not have the data recovery function (even if it has a data recovery function, In the management system, the upper control unit 5 writes the download data from the host only in the secondary bank (bank # 2), and diagnoses the secondary bank after the download is completed. As a result, if the data in the secondary bank is normal, the data in the secondary bank is copied to the primary bank. If the data is abnormal, the data in the primary bank (normal original data) is copied to the secondary bank. And restore the original data.

In this way, if the data downloaded from the host is abnormal, the data (data including the program) can be restored. Therefore, if an interruption occurs during the download, the secondary bank is abnormal, but the primary bank is the original normal data, so that the download can be performed again.

If an interruption occurs during downloading, even if the diagnosis of the secondary bank becomes normal by accident, the primary bank is selected and the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since only the secondary bank is written during the download, the response time of the download message can be shortened.

(2): Detailed description of processing of Example 1 FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of Example 1, FIG. A is a processing flowchart at the time of receiving a download message, and FIG. Hereinafter, FIG.
The processing of the example 1 will be described based on FIG. Note that S11 and S2
Reference numeral 4 denotes each processing step. The processing described below is processing performed under the control of the host control unit 5.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the upper-level control unit 5 of the terminal receives a download instruction message from the host, the message is stored in the secondary bank of the nonvolatile memory 1. Only download data is written (S11). At this time,
It is assumed that the data in the primary bank is normal. After that, the higher-level control unit 5 returns a message (response message) indicating that the download has been completed to the host.

Processing at the end of download After the download data is written to the secondary bank by the above processing, the upper control unit 5 diagnoses the secondary bank (S21) and determines whether the secondary bank is normal. A determination is made (S22). As a result, if the secondary side bank is normal, the data is copied from the secondary side bank to the primary side bank (S23), and this processing ends.

If there is an abnormality in the secondary bank, the data is copied from the primary bank to the secondary bank (S24), the secondary bank data is restored, and the process is terminated.

§3: Description of Example 2 (1): Description of Processing and Characteristics of Example 2 Example 2 is an example of an apparatus having the data restoration function.
Writing of download data from the host is performed only on the secondary bank, and after the download is completed, the upper control unit 5 diagnoses the secondary bank. If the secondary bank is normal, a part (such as header information) or the entire data of the primary bank is deleted, and if abnormal, the data is left as it is.

If the secondary bank is abnormal, the data after downloading is rewritten by copying the normal data of the primary bank to the secondary bank using the data repair function (see FIG. 4). Revert to original data).

Also, when the download to the secondary bank is performed normally (when the data in the secondary bank is normal), the primary bank in which the data before the download is located is abnormal (the data is old, so this judgment is made). Since the secondary bank containing the downloaded data is normal, the data in the secondary bank is copied to the primary bank by the data restoration function. By this process, both banks are rewritten with the downloaded data.

When the download is abnormally terminated,
Since the data in the primary bank containing the data before downloading is normal and the data in the secondary bank containing the abnormal data downloaded is abnormal, the data in the primary bank is copied to the secondary bank by the data recovery function. . By this processing, both banks become data before downloading.

If an interruption occurs during downloading, an abnormality in the secondary bank can be detected. Therefore, the data in the primary bank is copied to the secondary bank by the data restoration function. By this processing, both banks become data before downloading.

In this way, if the download from the host is abnormal, the program contained in the data can be restored. Therefore, if an interruption occurs during downloading, the secondary bank is abnormal, but the primary bank is normal, so the data recovery function can restore the secondary bank to the data before downloading. The data has the same content.

When an interruption occurs during the download, even if the diagnosis of the secondary bank becomes normal by chance, the primary bank is selected and the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since only one bank is written during the download, the response time of the download message (time for returning the message indicating that the download has been completed to the host) can be reduced.

(2): Description of Detailed Processing of Example 2 FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of Example 2, FIG. 3A is a processing flowchart at the time of receiving a download message, and FIG. FIG.
Is a flowchart of a program restoration process. Hereinafter, the process of Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that S3
1 to S58 indicate each processing step. The processing described below is processing performed under the control of the host control unit 5.

: Processing at the time of download As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper-level control unit 5 of the terminal
Receives the download instruction message from the host, writes the download data only in the secondary bank of the nonvolatile memory 1 (S31). At this time, it is assumed that the data in the primary bank is normal. When this process is completed, the upper control unit 5 returns a message to the host indicating that the download has been completed.

After the download data is written to the secondary bank by the above process, the upper-level control unit 5 diagnoses the secondary bank (S41) and determines whether the secondary bank is normal. A determination is made (S42). As a result, if the secondary side bank is normal, the data of the primary side bank is erased (S43), and this processing ends. If there is an abnormal location in the secondary bank, this process is terminated.

The program repair processing is as follows.
First, the upper control unit 5 diagnoses the secondary bank (S51) and determines whether the secondary bank is normal (S52). As a result, if the secondary bank is normal, the primary bank is diagnosed (S53), and it is determined whether the primary bank is normal (S54).

As a result, if the primary side bank is normal, this processing ends. If the primary bank is abnormal, the data is copied from the secondary bank to the primary bank (S55), and this process ends.

On the other hand, if the secondary bank is abnormal in the process of S52, the primary bank is diagnosed (S56), and it is determined whether or not the primary bank is normal (S57). As a result, if the primary bank is abnormal, it is determined that the apparatus is abnormal. If the primary bank is normal, the data is copied from the primary bank to the secondary bank (S58), and this process ends.

§4: Other explanations (1): The first memory area and the second memory area may use two independent rewritable non-volatile memories, or one write area. The area in the replaceable nonvolatile memory may be divided into two and used.

(2) The flash memory has been described as an example of the nonvolatile memory 1; however, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and any rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a battery-backed RAM can be used.

[0056]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

(1): In claim 1, when the control means downloads the data including the program from the host device,
Data writing is performed only in one of the first and second memory areas (for example, the second memory area), and after the writing is completed, the written data is diagnosed. If the other memory area (first
Memory area), and if abnormal,
The written data is returned to the original data (normal original data in the first memory area is copied to the second memory area).

In this way, if the download data is abnormal, the data including the program can be restored. If an interruption occurs during downloading, for example, the second memory area is abnormal, but the first memory area is the original normal data, so that downloading can be performed again.

If an interruption occurs during the download, even if the diagnosis of the second memory area becomes normal by accident, the first memory area is selected and the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since data is written only in the second memory area during the download, the response time of the download message can be reduced.

(2): In claim 2, when the control means downloads the data including the program from the host device,
Data writing is performed only in one of the first and second memory areas (for example, the second memory area), and after the writing is completed, the written data is diagnosed. For example, the data in the other memory area (first memory area) is erased, and the remaining data is written by the data repair function (normal data in the second memory area is copied to the first memory area). .

In this way, if the download is abnormal, the program contained in the data can be restored. Therefore, if an interruption occurs during downloading, the second memory area is abnormal, but the first memory area is abnormal.
Since the memory area is normal, the second memory area can be returned to normal data before downloading by the restoration function, and both data have the same contents.

Further, when an interruption occurs during downloading, even if the diagnosis of the second memory area becomes normal by accident, the first memory area is selected, so that the operation is performed normally. Furthermore, since only the second memory area is written during the download, the response time of the download message can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a gaming machine management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a main part, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of Example 1 in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a processing flowchart when a download message is received, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of Example 2 in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a processing flowchart at the time of receiving a download message, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program restoration process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams (part 1) of a conventional example. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration, FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of bank switching, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram of a bank memory system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of a conventional example, in which FIG. A is an explanatory diagram at the time of bank switching, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rewritable nonvolatile memory 2 Bank switching control part 4 Memory control part 5 Host control part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing data including an information management program for a gaming machine, wherein the nonvolatile memory is divided into a first memory area and a second memory area. In the gaming machine management device that stores the same data in each memory region and duplicates and manages the data, when downloading the data from a higher-level device, the first and second memory regions Write data only to one of the memory areas, diagnose the write data after the end of the write, if the data is normal, write data to the other memory area, if abnormal,
A management device for a gaming machine, comprising: control means for returning the written data to original data. 2. A rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing data including an information management program for a gaming machine, wherein the nonvolatile memory is divided into a first memory area and a second memory area. By storing the same data in each memory area, the data is duplicated and managed, and when data in one memory area is abnormal, data is restored by writing normal data in the other memory area. A management device for a gaming machine having a data restoration function for performing the data writing, when downloading the data from a higher-level device, writing the data into only one of the first and second memory areas. Diagnosing write data after completion of the writing, and if the data is normal,
A management device for a gaming machine, comprising: control means for erasing data in the other memory area and writing remaining data by the data restoration function.