JP2002011217A - Lending control system of game medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance security of a system by preventing fraudulence using several times of a valuable value imparted to one recording medium. SOLUTION: Respective inter-stand machines 1 and card vending machines 2 register card information on a card issued by one's own device. The respective inter-stand machines 1 accept the card issued by one's own device, the other inter-stand machines 1 and the card vending machines 2, and perform lending-out processing of a medal by judging that the card is proper by using the card information registered in one's own device or communicating with a card issuing source. When performing this lending-out processing, a control part of the inter- stand machines 1 reserves use of the card information on the card. A use reserving flag is set in use reserved card information, and a device number of the reserving device is correspondingly stored. Rewriting of the card information by the other device is prohibited by this setting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko hall for renting a game medium such as a pachinko ball or a game medal to a player using the value of a recording medium to which the value is added. The present invention relates to a game media lending management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko hall, a plurality of gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are arranged and arranged in units of islands. In each island, a game media lending device called a "daima machine" is installed between adjacent gaming machines. In recent years, in pachinko halls, a system using a prepaid card has been introduced, and a prepaid card (hereinafter simply referred to as a "card") is interposed for lending game media. Each inter-machine in this system has a function of accepting a card, and when accepting a card, deducts a predetermined amount of money value, and, with respect to one of the electrically connected gaming machines, Lending the number of game media corresponding to the value of money. If the gaming machine is a pachinko machine, the lending of the game medium is performed by discharging a predetermined number of pachinko balls to a tray. If the gaming machine is a slot machine, the determination is made by discharging a predetermined number of gaming medals to a receiving tray or by increasing the stored number of gaming medals by the predetermined number.

As this kind of game medium lending management system, for example, a system described in Japanese Patent No. 2979317, that is, a stand-to-face machine or a card issuing machine in a game arcade is used as a management device for managing card information. There is a system with a connected configuration. In the system described in the above publication, each time a card issuing machine issues a card, the value assigned to the card is registered in the management device in association with the identification information of the card. Upon receiving the card, the intermediary machine reads the identification information of the card and transmits it to the management device, and the management device searches for registration information in the own device based on the received identification information of the card, and reads the identification information. The value of the card indicated by is transmitted to the intermission machine.

[0004] The stand-to-wall machine performs a predetermined number of game medium lending processes while consuming the transmitted valuable value, and when the player pulls out the card, the amount of money remaining on the card at this time (the remaining amount) ) To the management device. The management device rewrites the registration information of the card with the transmitted remaining amount and prepares for the next card use.

In addition to such a centralized management system, the applicant has recently proposed a distributed management type game media lending management system (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-140922). In this system, in addition to the function of lending game media with cards, each machine has a function of issuing and selling cards, and placing the issued cards under the control of the issuing device I have. According to this system, a player can purchase a card at a stand-by machine without standing, and can use the card to borrow a game medium at the same stand-by machine.

[0006] Each machine in the lending management system stocks one magnetic card inside, and when money (for example, 1,000 yen bill) is inserted, the stocked magnetic card has a unique card. Information such as a code number, a ticketing amount, and a remaining amount is written and issued, and a card information file is set in a memory of the own device, and the issued card information is stored in this file. In the following description, information recorded on a card is referred to as “card recording information”.
The information stored in the card information file in the memory is simply referred to as “card information”.

[0007] When the inter-office machine accepts the card, if the card is sold by the own device, the information such as the code number and the remaining amount read from the card is compared with the card information in the own device. Judge the suitability of the card. If the card is appropriate, the card recording information and the card information are rewritten so that a predetermined amount is deducted from the remaining amount in response to a lending instruction operation by the player, and a number of game media corresponding to the debit amount are lent out.

If the accepted card is, for example, sold by another inter-machine, the information read from the card is transmitted to the issuing inter-machine. The issuing inter-machine checks the received information against the card information in its own device, and returns the comparison result to the transmitting inter-machine. Upon obtaining a verification result that the card is appropriate from the issuing inter-machine, the inter-machine having received the card sends the remaining amount to the issuing inter-machine in accordance with the player's lending instruction operation. , A process of rewriting the card information by deducting a predetermined amount is executed, and the card record information is similarly rewritten, and a number of game media corresponding to the debit amount are lent out.

[0009]

In the conventional game media lending management system described above, the same card information is used a plurality of times by copying one card and inserting each card into a different inter-machine. There is a problem that can be. First, in the system described in Japanese Patent No. 2979717, the value of the card transmitted from the management device to the inter-machine is rewritten for the first time when the use of the card by the inter-machine is completed. When one card is copied and one card is used by a predetermined inter-machine while another card is inserted into another inter-machine, the inter-machine also acquires the value of the card. Then, it becomes possible to lend the game media.

In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-140922, when two cards on which the same information is recorded are inserted into different inter-machines at slightly different timings, the inserted card is set to " As appropriate, the lending instruction operation of the player is accepted. Therefore, by adjusting the timing of the lending instruction operation between the inter-machines so that the lending process is performed in the other inter-machine before the card information is rewritten by the lending process in one inter-machine, the card information can be adjusted. Before the remaining amount is rewritten along with the first lending process, it is possible to establish a fraud that the remaining amount is used again. Also, in any of the above systems, the stand-by machine accepts the insertion of money in a state of holding the card, and adjusts the value of the inserted money so that the player can continue to use the card purchased. If it is configured to add to the value of the card, this additional amount will be used fraudulently, causing a problem that the pachinko hall will suffer a large loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to prevent improper use of a valuable value assigned to one recording medium a plurality of times, thereby enhancing system security. .

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game medium lending management system which issues a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned and registers predetermined information including a valuable value for the recording medium. A plurality of game media lending devices having a function of storing as a device and a function of receiving a recording medium registered in the own device or another device and performing a process of lending a game medium are installed so as to be able to communicate with each other. . Further, the game medium lending management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the game medium lending device, issues a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned and registers predetermined information including a valuable value for the recording medium. A recording medium issuing device having a function of storing the information is provided, and the devices are installed so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0013] A typical example of the game media lending apparatus is a stand-to-face machine arranged adjacent to a game machine in a pachinko hall. However, the game medium lending device does not necessarily need to be arranged at a position adjacent to the gaming machine, and may be installed alone at a predetermined position in the game arcade. In addition, the process of renting a game medium means, in addition to the process of paying out the game medium itself to be used in the game medium and renting the game medium to the player, transmitting a predetermined control signal to the gaming machine to rent the game medium. The concept includes a process and a process of storing a game medium in an electronic data format in a control circuit of the gaming machine.

The recording medium issued by the above-mentioned game medium lending device or recording medium issuing device includes various types of media capable of storing electronic information such as an IC card, a memory card, and a memory stick, in addition to a magnetic card. Say. In addition to the numerical value representing the monetary value itself, the valuable value may be a predetermined number of frequency data converted from the monetary value. In addition, the registration information of each device is indispensable to include code information for identifying the recording medium (may be a character code in addition to a number) and the value added to the recording medium. Accordingly, data such as a code of a game arcade where the recording medium can be used, an issue date and an expiration date of the recording medium, and a code of a device which has issued the recording medium are added.
Since the value of the recording medium can be confirmed from the registration information, the identification code of the recording medium may be recorded on the recording medium itself at a minimum.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each game medium lending device registers the recording medium in a device that stores the received registration information of the recording medium (the device may be the device itself or another device). Use reservation means for reserving the use of the information, and permitting the use of the registration information to the device that has made the use reservation for the registration information stored in the own device, and that the device other than the device that has made the use reservation is used for the use reservation. And control means for restricting the use of the registered information. According to the invention of claim 2, the recording medium issuing device is provided with the same control means as described above.

The above-mentioned "use of registration information" refers to a process of rewriting the value of a recording medium accepted for lending of a game medium, a process of referring to the registration information of the recording medium, and is unnecessary. Refers to all processing involving access to registration information, such as processing to delete or invalidate registration information. In particular, the use of registration information stored in another device may mean a process of taking the registration information into its own device and storing it for collation of a recording medium or lending of a game medium. "Restrictions on Use of Registration Information"
This means that some or all of the use of registration information is prohibited. However, it is necessary to prohibit a process that involves rewriting the value of the registration information for a device for which use reservation has not been made.

In the third aspect of the invention, each game medium lending device reserves the use of the registration information of the recording medium on condition that the game medium lending process is performed using the received recording medium. In addition, the device that has accepted the use reservation permits the device that has made the use reservation (both its own device and another device is conceivable) to lend the game medium based on the registration information, The registration information is rewritten according to the lending.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, the game medium lending device according to the structure of claim 3 is configured to execute the game medium lending in response to receiving a signal instructing lending of the game medium after receiving the recording medium. It is configured to reserve the use of registration information. Further, the device (the game medium lending device or the recording medium issuing device) that has received the use reservation is configured to release the use reservation in accordance with the rewriting process of the registration information. Note that the signal for instructing the lending of the game medium includes a signal corresponding to a lending instruction operation of the player, a control signal transmitted from the gaming machine, a signal generated by receiving a recording medium, and the like.

In the invention of claim 5, each game medium lending device reserves the use of the registration information of the recording medium on condition that the insertion of money is received under the state of receiving the recording medium. Further, the device that has accepted the use reservation rewrites the value of the registration information for which use reservation has been made to a value obtained by adding a value corresponding to the inserted money. Further, in the invention according to claim 6, the device which has accepted the use reservation cancels the use reservation for the information in accordance with rewriting of the registration information.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, each game medium lending device determines whether or not to add a value in the recording medium based on a predetermined condition in accordance with the insertion of money while the recording medium is being received. Determine. Then, when it is determined that a valuable value can be added to the recording medium, the use of the registration information is reserved. The conditions for the above-mentioned determination include, for example, that the inserted money is appropriate, that the money is of a specific denomination, that the valuable value remaining on the recording medium is not zero, and the like. In addition, requirements such as that the added value of the recording medium after the addition is within a predetermined amount, and that the received recording medium is a "member" card with a special identification code recorded thereon, are also required.
This can be the above-mentioned determination condition.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, when each game medium lending device receives a recording medium registered in another device, it uses the registration information of the recording medium. After the reservation, the registration information is fetched from the device for registering the recording medium and stored in the device itself. Further, the device that has transmitted the registration information of the recording medium to the device that has received the recording medium registered in the own device, the transmission of the registration information, provided that the device that has received the recording medium stores the registration information Disable. The invalidation of registration information refers to a process of deleting registration information and a process of distinguishing invalid registration information from valid registration information by a method such as setting a flag or changing a data configuration. Note that this invalidation processing is desirably performed in response to a request from the device when the device that has received the recording medium stores the registration information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the game medium lending apparatus according to the eighth aspect accepts a recording medium registered in another apparatus and stores registration information taken from the apparatus for registering the recording medium. In such a case, the use reservation of the own device with respect to the registration information is continued.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the game medium lending device which has received the recording medium registered in another device stores the registration information fetched from the device for registering the recording medium in the first game medium on the recording medium. Is stored in the own device according to the lending.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, each of the game medium lending devices is provided with a value adding means for adding an additional value to the recording medium on condition that the input of money is received while the recording medium is being received. Is provided. This valuable value adding means stores, in its own device, registration information taken from a device for registering the recording medium in response to the insertion of the money in a state in which a recording medium registered in another device is received. At the same time, the value of the registration information is rewritten to a value obtained by adding a value corresponding to the input money. For a recording medium registered in the own device, after reserving the use of the corresponding registration information, the value of the registration information may be rewritten to an amount corresponding to the inserted money.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the value adding means determines whether or not the valuable value can be added to the recording medium on the basis of a predetermined condition in accordance with the insertion of money while the recording medium is being received. There is provided a determining means for determining.
When the discriminating means determines that a valuable value can be added to a recording medium registered in another device, the registration information taken from the device that registers the recording medium is stored in the own device. ing. The conditions used in the above-described determination processing include the same conditions as in claim 7.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the first or second aspect is provided.
In the configuration of the above, each game medium lending device reserves the use of the registration information of the recording medium in response to the reception of the recording medium, and cancels the use reservation when the value of the recording medium becomes zero. The configuration is as follows.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the first or second aspect is provided.
In the configuration of the above, each game media lending device reserves the use of the registration information of the recording medium in response to the reception of the recording medium, and responds to the fact that the recording medium is discharged to the outside with the valuable value remaining The use reservation is canceled.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the first or second aspect is provided.
In the configuration of the above, each game medium lending device, when the own device is receiving a recording medium registered in another device, by transmitting a predetermined signal to the device that registers the recording medium, the It is configured to request the use reservation of the registration information or the cancellation of the use reservation.

According to the sixteenth aspect, the first aspect or the second aspect is provided.
In the configuration of (1), the device that has received the use reservation (claim 1)
In the invention of the above, a game medium lending device, and in the invention of the claim 2, a game medium lending device or a recording medium issuing device)
Is configured to set a flag indicating that reservation has been made in the registration information for which use has been reserved, and to store information for identifying the device that has made the use reservation.

A game medium lending management system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention includes a game medium lending device similar to that of the first aspect, and a settlement processing device for receiving a recording medium and adjusting the value thereof. The devices are installed so that they can communicate with each other. Each of the game media lending devices and the settlement processing device includes a use reservation unit that reserves use of the registration information in a device that stores the received registration information of the recording medium. Further, each game medium lending device permits the device that has made a reservation for use of the recording medium registered in its own device to use the registration information of the recording medium, and the device other than the device that has made the use reservation makes the use of the recording medium. It is configured to include control means for restricting use of the registered information of the reserved recording medium.

A game medium lending management system according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention provides a game medium lending apparatus having a function of receiving a recording medium to which a value has been given and performing a game medium lending process. A management device that stores, as registration information, predetermined information including a valuable value on a recording medium received by the medium lending device is communicably provided.
Each game medium lending device includes a use reservation unit for reserving use of the recording medium registration information received by the management device.

On the other hand, the management device provides the game medium lending device on condition that the game medium lending device that has received the recording medium in which the registration information is stored has reserved the use of the registration information of the recording medium. To allow the use of the registration information, and rewrite the registration information in accordance with the lending of the game medium in the device that has permitted the use of the registration information, and devices other than the device that has made the use reservation It is configured to restrict the use of the registration information reserved for use. In addition, the reservation of use of the registration information in the game medium lending device is performed by transmitting the received recording information of the recording medium to the management device and requesting the management device to check whether the recording medium is appropriate, or registering the management device with the management device for the inquiry of the recording medium. This is performed when requesting transmission of information. Alternatively, at the time of performing the actual lending process, a use reservation may be made for the registration information of the recording medium being accepted.

A game medium lending management system according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides at least one apparatus including a recording medium issuing unit for issuing a recording medium with a value added thereto.
A plurality of devices including a recording medium processing unit that accepts the recording medium and performs a game medium lending process or a settlement process of the recording medium, and predetermined information including a value of the recording medium accepted by the recording medium processing unit At least one having a registration information storage unit for storing
Includes one device.

The recording medium issuing unit, recording medium processing unit, and registration information storage unit can be incorporated in individual devices. However, any two of these three types of processing units
It is also possible to configure an apparatus having one processing unit or an apparatus having all processing units. In particular, an apparatus having a recording medium processing unit can have both a function of processing a game medium for rent and a function of adjusting a payment. Further, an apparatus including a recording medium issuing unit and an apparatus including a registration information storage unit can be installed outside a game arcade.

The apparatus including the recording medium processing unit includes use reservation means for reserving the use of the registration information stored in the apparatus including the registration information storage unit for the received recording medium. Further, the device including the registration information storage unit includes a registration unit that captures information including a value of a card issued by the device including the recording medium issuing unit and stores the information as the registration information, and the recording medium processing unit. While permitting the device to use the registration information on condition that the device has reserved use of the registration information of the predetermined recording medium, devices other than the device that has made the use reservation use the registration information for which the use reservation has been made. Control means for restricting use.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the system having the configuration of the nineteenth aspect, the apparatus having the registration information storage unit is
In response to a predetermined condition that the use of the registration information is determined to be unnecessary or impossible in a device permitted to use the registration information, the use reservation for the registration information of the device is released. I have. It is considered that the use of the registration information is unnecessary when the lending of the game media or the settlement process has been completed, the value of the recording medium has become zero, or the recording medium has been discharged to the outside. Can be In addition, the use of the registration information becomes impossible, for example, when a failure occurs in a recording medium reading mechanism or a game medium discharging mechanism, thereby making it impossible to rent a game medium or read / write the recording medium. .

[0037]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when accepting a recording medium, the game medium lending apparatus reserves use of the registration information in its own device or another device that stores the registration information of the recording medium. I do. When the reservation for use is accepted, even if a recording medium on which the same information as the recording medium for which use is reserved is recorded is inserted into another game medium lending device, the use of the registration information by this recording medium is restricted, and It is possible to prevent the value of the medium from being illegally rewritten.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a system of a type in which registration information for each recording medium is managed by an issuing device, when a device that has received a recording medium reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium, In the device of the issuing source, the lending of the game medium by the received recording medium is permitted. Thereafter, in the issuing device, the registration information of the recording medium is correctly rewritten in accordance with the lending of the game medium by the recording medium in the device for which the lending is permitted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the system having the configuration of the third aspect, in the case where a plurality of game media are rented out by one recording medium, the use reservation for the registration information of the recording medium is made every time the rental is made. Is repeatedly set and canceled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a system of a type in which registration information for each recording medium is managed by an issuing device, a predetermined game media lending device accepts insertion of money in a state in which a recording medium is accepted, When adding an additional value to the recording medium, the use of the registration information is reserved for the device that issued the recording medium. The issuing device rewrites the value of the registration information to a value to which the value corresponding to the input money has been added in accordance with the use reservation, and thereafter, the device that has received the recording medium is updated after the addition. It becomes possible to perform a lending process of the game medium using the valuable value that has been used.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the system of claim 5, each time a process of adding a value to a recording medium is performed, setting and cancellation of use reservation for registration information of the recording medium are repeated.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the fifth aspect, after inserting a recording medium into the game medium lending device and then inserting money to add its valuable value,
After it is determined that a valuable value can be added under a predetermined condition, a process of reserving the use of the registration information of the recording medium is performed. Therefore, when it is determined that it is not possible to add a valuable value, waste such as canceling the use reservation of the registration information and returning the valuable value once rewritten to the original value is eliminated.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the game medium lending device, when the use reservation for the registration information of the recording medium registered in another device is permitted, the registration information is fetched and stored in its own device. . Therefore, after that, the device that has received the recording medium does not need to communicate with another device for the recording medium being used, and performs processing such as setting and canceling the reservation for use and rewriting the registration information in its own device. It can be done below.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the eighth aspect, when the registration information is fetched and stored in the own device, the use reservation of the registration information by the own device is continued. Until the registration information is stored, the reservation of use of the recording medium is held by the device that stores the original registration information, and is reserved by another device until the registration information is received and stored. Nothing.

In the tenth aspect of the present invention, the registration information is stored in the own device in accordance with the first lending of the game medium by the recording medium registered in the another device. According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the value of the recording medium is added before the lending of the game medium after the recording medium is inserted, the registration information in a state where the value is rewritten is stored in the own device. I do.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, similarly to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when money is inserted in order to add a valuable value of a recording medium, it is possible to add a valuable value to the recording medium based on predetermined conditions. Is determined. When it is determined that the value can be added, the registration information of the recording medium is registered in the own device in a state where the value has been rewritten.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending apparatus having received the recording medium, after the use of the registration information of the recording medium is reserved at the time of receiving the recording medium, all the value of the recording medium is consumed. The use reservation is automatically canceled at the point of time.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending apparatus which accepts the recording medium, the use of the registration information of the recording medium is reserved when the recording medium is accepted, but the recording medium is discharged every time the rental is made. Or return the recording medium to the player in response to the return instruction operation,
When the recording medium is discharged to the outside in a state where the recording medium remains valuable, the use reservation is cancelled.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when a recording medium registered in another device is received and a use reservation is made,
A signal for requesting a reservation is transmitted to the registration destination device of the recording medium. Similarly, when canceling the use reservation, a signal requesting cancellation is transmitted.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a reserved flag is set in the registration information permitted to be used, so that it is possible to determine whether or not each registration information is reserved for use. Further, the identification information set together with this flag makes it possible to specify the device that has reserved the use.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, even when the settlement processing device performs the settlement processing and the collation processing of the recording medium, the registration information can be used by reserving the use of the registration information of the recording medium. (1) Unauthorized account settlement processing by using one piece of registration information twice is prevented.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, a system in which the value of each recording medium is centrally managed by one management device,
For example, in a system in which the identification information of the recording medium received by each game medium lending device is transmitted to the management device, and the value of the recording medium is returned from the management device to decide to lend the game medium, The use of registration information of a recording medium used by a certain game medium lending device by another game medium lending device is restricted.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, when performing a lending process using a recording medium issued inside or outside the game hall or a settlement process of the recording medium, the use of the registration information of the recording medium is reserved. This necessitates the use of the registration information in devices other than the device that made the reservation. Further, in the twentieth aspect, in the device for receiving the recording medium, if the lending process or the settlement process of the game medium is not performed for any reason, the reservation for use of the registration information of the recording medium is released.

[0054]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a game media lending management system (hereinafter simply referred to as a "lending management system") according to an embodiment of the present invention.
). This lending management system is installed in a specific pachinko hall, and a plurality of inter-machines 1, a card vending device 2, a settlement device 3, and an information collecting device 4 composed of a personal computer are transmitted to a bidirectional communication system. They are electrically connected to each other by a line L1. Further, the information collecting device 4 is connected to a host computer 6 in the card company via a communication line L2 such as a public line.

The machine 1 shown in the figure is for lending out gaming medals used in a slot machine, and is electrically connected to one adjacent slot machine 5. The slot machine 5 includes three reels 7a, 7b, 7c each having a plurality of symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface thereof.
A start lever 8 for simultaneously rotating the reels 7a, 7b, 7c, and a stop button switch 9a, 9b, 9 for each reel.
c, a lend button switch 10, a return button switch 11,
A frequency display 12, a stored medal number display 13, and the like are provided. In addition, a control circuit (not shown) including a computer for controlling a series of operations related to game execution and medal lending processing is incorporated in the airframe.

The slot machine 5 stores a predetermined number of medals as electronic data in the control circuit.
By operating a bet button switch (not shown), a game is executed by consuming a predetermined number of medals from the stored medals.
The stored medal number display 13 displays the number of stored medals in the control circuit.

The lending button switch 10 is for instructing the lending processing of the game medium, and the return button switch 11 is for instructing the ejection of the card taken into the inter-machine 1. The frequency display 12 displays frequency data corresponding to the balance of the card accepted by the inter-machine 1. The lending button switch 10, the return button switch 11, and the frequency display 12 are installed on the slot machine 5 side so that the player can easily operate and visually recognize the frequency display. It is connected to the control unit on the machine 1 side.

Each inter-machine 1 has a function of issuing a prepaid card in addition to a function of lending a medal. A bill slot 20 and a card slot 22 are formed on the front of the machine body, and bills of a predetermined denomination (for example, a 1,000-yen bill) are formed in the bill slot.
Is inserted, in the card processing unit inside the machine, information such as an issue number and a monetary value is written on a magnetic card housed inside, and the card is carried out to the card entrance 22.

It is not always necessary that the inter-chamber machine 1 is electrically connected to the slot machine 5, and a real medal may be lent out when a card is inserted. Although not shown here, on the island of pachinko machines, a stand-to-machine machine of a type that is provided adjacent to the pachinko machine and rents pachinko balls by the own device or the next pachinko machine,
Similarly, it is connected to the communication line L1.

The card vending machine 2 is a dedicated issuing machine for prepaid cards, and issues a card similar to the card issued by the inter-machine 1 when a bill is inserted into the body. The payment device 3 receives a card having a remaining amount and performs a payment process. In addition, the payment device 3 checks the balance of the card. , Execute settlement processing and balance display.

Further, if the received card has a balance, the inter-chamber machine 1 of this embodiment accepts the insertion of bills (thousand-yen bills) while holding the card in the body, and inserts the bills into the card. Is provided with a function of adding an additional value according to the value of money (1,000 yen). By using this function, the player can perform the same number of lending processes as in the case of using a plurality of cards, while adding the value of one card.

FIG. 2 shows a specific data configuration example of card information written on the prepaid card. In the illustrated example, data D1 representing the date on which the card was issued, a number (hole code) D for identifying the pachinko hall
2, an identification number (device number) D of a device that effectively holds registration information of the card D3, a code number D unique to the card
4, six types of data are recorded on the card: the issue amount D5 written on the card at the time of issuance, and the remaining amount D6 currently held by the card. These data D1 to D
Numeral 6 is numerical data of a predetermined digit, and the numerical value of each digit is represented by a one-byte character code. However, the data configuration is not limited to this, and each data D1
Of course, it is also possible to configure D6 with a binary code. The hole code D2, the device number D3, and the code number D4 of the card can be replaced with an identification symbol formed by a series of alphabets and numerals. In addition to the data D1 to D6, a card manufacturer's symbol or the like may be included in the card information.

Further, the ticketing amount D5 and the remaining amount D6 are not limited to the amount data itself, but may be frequency data corresponding to the amount. However, this amount and frequency
The card information file in the issuing device can be easily recognized by referring to the code number D4 or the like, so that it is not always necessary to record it on the card.

In this lending management system, in order to enhance security, cards issued by the vending machine 1 and the card vending machine 2 are limited to pachinko halls where this system is introduced, and are valid only on the day of issuance. When issuing a card, the inter-office machine 1 or the card vending apparatus 2 writes the card information shown in FIG. 2 into the card and issues the card.
In the card information file of the inter-machine 1 or the card vending machine 2, predetermined card information, specifically, the date of issuance of the card, a code number unique to each card, a ticketing amount, and a remaining amount are stored. .

Further, each device of the inter-chamber machine 1, the card vending device 2, and the settlement device 3 performs card issuing processing, medal lending processing, settlement processing, and the like, using the card information each time. The accounting information used for the settlement process with the company is created and stored in the accounting information file.

The inter-office machine 1 and the card vending apparatus 2 total and store the number of cards issued by the own apparatus and the sales amount as the above-mentioned accounting information. In the room-to-frame machine 1,
The total value of the remaining amount (that is, the unused amount) of the card registered in the own device is also stored as the accounting information. The settlement apparatus 3 stores the number of cards settled and the settlement amount as accounting information.

A unique device number is assigned to each of the inter-machine 1, the card vending device 2, the settlement device 3, and the information collecting device 4, and each device is used when communicating with another device. , A transmission signal including the destination device number and the own device number is generated and transmitted to the communication line L1. Each device takes in all the transmission data transmitted to the communication line L1 via the transmission / reception units 50, 70, 85, and 93, which will be described later. Among them, only the data for which the device number of the own device is set as the destination is taken out. Recognize and execute necessary processing, and ignore data to which the device number of another device is assigned.

Inter-table machine 1, card vending machine 2, settlement device 3
In accordance with the acceptance of a card in the inter-office machine 1 or the settlement apparatus 3, data relating to collation and rewriting of accepted card information is exchanged between the respective devices. On the other hand, the information collection device 4
Receives and stores new or updated card information and accounting information from each inter-office machine 1, card vending device 2, and settlement device 3, and stores the received information in an internal memory. Aggregate card sales, card usage, settlement, etc. Information collection device 4
The card information and accounting information may be sent to each time new information is created or updated.However, in order to reduce congestion on communication lines, information created and updated in each device must be transmitted for a predetermined period. It is desirable to adopt a batch method in which the information is collected and the information collecting device 4 sequentially communicates with each device to take in the stored information.

The data collected by the information collection device 4 is output to the attached monitor 15 and the like, and is also transmitted to the host computer 6 in the card company via the communication line L2 as appropriate. The card company performs a payment process with the pachinko parlor based on the transmitted tally results.

Next, an outline of the game medium lending process in this embodiment will be described. Upon receiving a card issued by its own device, the other device 1, or the card vending device 2, each inter-machine 1 reads the card record information of the card, and reads the device number included in the card record information. The device issuing the card is recognized by D3. Then, by comparing the remaining amount of the read card record information with the card information stored in the card issuing device, the suitability of the card is determined.

If the accepted card is issued by the own device, the card is checked against the card information registered in the own device. On the other hand, if the card is issued by another inter-machine 1 or card vending machine 2,
The control unit of the inter-machine 1 transmits the card record information to the card issuing device via the communication line L1, and requests a check with the corresponding card information. (Hereinafter, a signal indicating a request to verify the card record information is referred to as a "card verification request signal.")

In response to the card collation request signal, the card issuer collates the transmitted card record information with the corresponding card information, and if the two match, the signal indicating "OK" does not match. In this case, the signal indicating "NG"
Send each. When the device accepting the card receives “OK” in response to the card collation request signal,
It is determined that the card is appropriate.

When it is determined that the accepted card is appropriate, the control unit of the machine 1 converts the remaining amount of the card into predetermined frequency data and displays it on the frequency display 12. . For example, assuming that 1000 yen is 10 degrees, if the remaining amount is 500 yen, 5
The frequency is displayed.

When the lending button switch 10 is operated in this state, the control unit of the inter-chamber machine 1 transmits frequency data (500 yen in this embodiment) corresponding to a predetermined debit amount (500 yen in this embodiment) to the adjacent slot machine 5. (5 times in the embodiment). The control circuit of the slot machine 5 receives the frequency data and adds the number of medals corresponding to the debit amount to the number of stored medals.

Further, in this embodiment, the use of a counterfeit card, etc., is used to prevent a plurality of devices from collating with the same card information and to prevent the use of an amount exceeding the remaining amount recorded on the card. Then, when performing the above-described medal lending process, the use of the card information of the card is reserved. Specifically, the use reservation of the card information is performed by setting a flag called “use reservation flag” in the card information to be reserved. The reserved card information is stored in association with the use reservation flag and the device number of the device whose use has been reserved.

If the card in use has been issued by its own device, the control unit of the inter-chamber machine 1
In response to the operation of 0, a use reservation flag is set in the card information of the card. However, when the use reservation flag and the device number of another device are already set in the card information, the medal lending process is stopped, and the card is ejected from the card entrance.

On the other hand, if the card being used has been issued by another device, the control unit of the inter-machine 1 transmits a signal including the card record information of the card being accepted again to the device that issued the card. By doing so, the use of the card is reserved.
(Hereinafter, this signal is referred to as a "use reservation signal.") Upon receiving the use reservation signal, the card issuer sets a use reservation flag in the corresponding card information and makes a use reservation from the use reservation signal. The device number of the device that has been used is extracted and stored in association with the card information.
Send However, if a reservation for use from another device has already been set in the card information, “NG” is transmitted. The machine 1 having transmitted the use reservation signal indicates "O
The medal lending process is performed in response to the return of "K". If the return of "NG" is received, the medal lending process is stopped and the card is ejected.

When the use reservation flag is set and the medal lending process is performed, the control unit of the inter-chamber machine 1 rewrites the card record information and the remaining amount of the card information with the addition process of the reserved medals. . If the card being used is a card issued by another device, the communication with the card issuing device is performed again to request rewriting of the card information. The device that issued the card rewrites the remaining amount of the requested card information in response to the request, and then transmits “OK” to the device that requested the rewriting. The use reservation flag is released in response to rewriting of the card information.

Next, when a bill is inserted from the bill accepting slot 20 while holding the card, and an additional purchase switch 96 described later is operated, it is confirmed that predetermined conditions are satisfied, and the remaining card is checked. Perform processing to add the amount. Here, when the remaining amount of the card is added, if the card has been issued by the own device, the control unit of the inter-vehicle device 1 accesses the card information file of the own device and reads the corresponding card information. Rewrite the remaining amount. On the other hand, if the card has been issued by another device, communication with the issuing device is performed to request rewriting of the remaining amount of the card information.

Also in the process of adding the remaining amount, a use reservation flag is set in the card information file to be processed in the same manner as in the medal lending process when a bill is inserted. Thereafter, when the additional purchase switch 96 is operated, the registration destination device of the card information rewrites the card information after confirming that the use reservation flag is set. Further, the use reservation flag is released in accordance with the rewriting of the card information, and the remaining amount of the card recording information is rewritten.

The conditions for judging whether or not the remaining amount can be added include, for example, that the inserted bill is a proper 1,000-yen bill or that the remaining amount of the accepted card is a predetermined amount (for example, 2,000 yen) ) The following conditions are set.

Further, in the settlement apparatus 3, when performing the settlement processing of the accepted card, a use reservation signal is transmitted to the issuing apparatus of the card, and “OK” is transmitted from the issuing apparatus.
Is settled in response to the return of. Therefore, even if a legal card is duplicated, both cards are inserted into separate devices at the same time to rewrite card information such as lending medals, adding valuable value to cards, and paying out settlement money. It is impossible to perform the accompanying processing, and it is possible to prevent unauthorized lending or refund exceeding the value provided to each card, thereby improving the security of the system.

FIGS. 3 (1) and 3 (2) show the appearance of the stand-to-roll machine 1. In addition to the display lamp 19 and the money receiving slot 20, the bill return switch 95 and the additional purchase switch are provided on the front upper door 16. 96 are provided. The middle door 17 is provided with a card insertion switch 21 and a card entrance 22, and the lower door 18 is provided with a display unit 23. The upper door 16, the middle door 17, and the lower door 18 can be opened and closed, and the upper door 16 and the lower door 18 are provided with locks 24, 25 for locking, respectively.

The display lamp 19 is for notifying the operating state of the machine, and is normally turned off, and blinks or lights when an abnormality occurs in the machine. The bill accepting port 20 is a part for accepting bills (thousand-yen bills in this embodiment) according to the issued amount of the prepaid card. Inside the bill accepting slot 20, a bill taking-in mechanism 49 (shown in FIG. 9) for taking in the accepted bill is determined whether the bill is a denomination or not. The banknote processing unit 26 includes a banknote discriminator 48 (shown in FIG. 9) for judging the number of banknotes, and a safe (not shown) for stocking the taken banknotes.

The card entrance 22 is a portion for paying out issued cards, taking in the fed out cards, and accepting insertion of cards sold by other inter-machine 1 or the card vending machine 2. This card doorway 2
2, a transport mechanism 3 for loading and unloading the card.
1, 39, a magnetic head 32 for reading and writing card record information from and to a card, and a card for stocking only one initialized card (hereinafter referred to as an "initialized card") with a remaining amount of zero. The accommodating portion 38 (FIGS.
As shown in FIG. ) Is provided. Note that the hole code D2 of the card recording information may be recorded in the initialization card stocked in the card storage unit 38 in advance.

The additional purchase switch 96 is a switch for instructing the addition of the remaining amount of the above-mentioned card. The additional purchase switch 96 is provided when the card having the remaining amount is held in the card processing unit 27. Only the operation after the bill is inserted is validated. Bill return switch 95
Is for canceling this processing after a bill is inserted for adding the remaining amount of the card.

The card insertion switch 21 is used to immediately insert a card issued from the card entrance 22 into the inside. When the operation switch 21 is pressed, the card issued from the card entrance 22 is operated. Is automatically taken into the card processing unit 27.

The display unit 23 displays the amount of the bill inserted into the bill accepting slot 20. In addition, the display unit 23 displays information such as the total sales of the card in its own device, and displays the collation result of the inserted card. Used to display an error message when it is incorrect. In addition, this room machine 1
A power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the above components is accommodated in the bottom of the power supply unit. Further, a control unit 46 (shown in FIG. 9) mainly composed of the CPU 43 is provided at an appropriate position inside the airframe.
Is mounted on the control board.

FIGS. 4 to 8 show the card processing unit 2.
7 shows an internal mechanism. On the front surface of the card processing unit 27, a card carry-in / out port 29 which is continuous with the card entrance / exit 20 is formed, and inside the card processing path 30 is formed along the depth. A first card transport mechanism 31 is provided at a front position of the transport path 30, and a magnetic head 32 for reading and writing recorded information of the card is provided behind the first card transport mechanism 31.

The card transport mechanism 31 includes two pairs of front and rear feed rollers 34, 34, 35, 35, and transmission belts 36, 3.
6, a motor 37, and the like. The rotation of the motor is given to rear feed rollers 35, 35 and then transmitted to front feed rollers 34, 34 via transmission belts 36, 36.

A first photoelectric sensor PH1 is provided between the card transport mechanism 31 and the card loading / unloading port 29, and a second photoelectric sensor PH2 is located at a position behind the first feed roller 34 of the card transport mechanism 31. Each is deployed. Behind the magnetic head 32, third and fourth photoelectric sensors PH
3, PH4 are arranged at a predetermined interval.

Behind the photoelectric sensor PH4 in the transport path 30, a card storage unit 3 having a length corresponding to the length of the card is provided.
8 are provided. The card accommodating section 38 is for accommodating the initialization card.
Is provided. The second card transport mechanism 39 is for transporting a card into and out of the card storage 38, and includes a pair of feed rollers 40, 4
0, a motor 41, a worm wheel, a transmission mechanism 42 including a worm gear, and the like. In addition, a fifth photoelectric sensor PH5 for confirming the accommodation of the card is provided at the rear of the card accommodation part 38.

Now, a card (in the figure,
This is indicated by a dashed line. ) Is stored (see FIG. 4), and when a bill (thousand-yen bill) is inserted from the bill receiving port 20,
The CPU 43 of the control unit 46, which will be described later, drives the motors 37, 41 of the card transport mechanisms 31, 39 to rotate forward. As a result, the rotational movement of the motor 41 is
The card is fed to the feed rollers 40 and 40 through the second unit 2 and the card in the card storage 38 is fed forward.

The interval between the third and fourth photoelectric sensors PH3 and PH4 is set according to the length of the information storage area of the card, and the CPU 43 confirms that the photoelectric sensors PH4 and PH3 are turned on in this order. After the confirmation, when the photoelectric sensor PH4 is turned off, the writing of information by the magnetic head 32 is started (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This magnetic head 32
Is terminated when the photoelectric sensor PH3 is turned off.

When the second photoelectric sensor PH2 is switched from on to off (shown in FIG. 7), the CPU 43 stops the motors 37, 41 of the card transport mechanisms 31, 39. At this time, the first photoelectric sensor PH1 is on, and when the photoelectric sensor PH1 is turned off, the CPU 43 recognizes that the card has been pulled out from the card entrance 22.

When the card insertion switch 21 is operated while the photoelectric sensor PH1 remains on, the CPU 43 drives the motor 37 of the card transport mechanism 31 to rotate in the reverse direction, and transports the card backward. Hereinafter, photoelectric sensors PH2 and P
When H3 is sequentially turned on, the CPU 43 starts reading the card record information, and further rewrites the card record information according to the operation of the lend button switch 10. When the remaining amount of the card becomes zero by this rewriting process, C
The PU 43 conveys the card backward while initializing the card and accommodates the card in the card accommodating section 38. On the other hand, if there is a balance remaining on the card, the card is held as it is, and the card is put on standby for the next lending process. At this time, when the return button switch 11 is operated, the motor 37 of the first card transport mechanism 31 is operated. By rotating the card forward, the card is carried out to the card entrance 29.

When a card issued by another inter-machine 1 or card vending machine 2 is inserted, the first card transport mechanism is turned on in response to the first photoelectric sensor PH1 being turned on. 31 is activated and the card is taken inside. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, if a card is stored in the card storage unit 38, the processed card is carried out to the card carry-in / out entrance 29 regardless of the remaining amount.
On the other hand, if no cards are stocked in the card storage unit 38 and the remaining amount of the inserted card after the rewriting process is zero, the card is taken into the card storage unit 38 after the initialization process.

When the card is held on the transport path 30 with the remaining amount remaining, a new 1,000-yen bill is inserted from the bill accepting slot 20.
Is operated, the CPU 43 operates the first card transport mechanism 31 and the magnetic head 32 to execute the processing of adding the valuable value by rewriting the ticket issue amount D5 and the remaining amount D6 recorded on the card.

FIG. 9 shows the electrical configuration of the machine 1. The control section 46 composed of a microcomputer includes a CPU 43 which is a main body of control / calculation, a ROM 44 for storing programs, and a RAM 45 for storing the card information file and the transaction information file. The control unit 46 includes, via a bus 47, the display lamp 19, the display unit 23, the bill return switch 95, the additional purchase switch 96, the card insertion switch 21, and the five photoelectric sensors PH1 in the card processing unit 27. To PH5, a bill discriminator 48, a bill take-in mechanism 49, first and second card transport mechanisms 31, 39, a magnetic head 32, and the like, and transmission and reception for transmitting and receiving information to and from each other device. The unit 50 is connected.

The relay board 14 in the figure is connected to one adjacent slot machine 5 and receives input signals from the lending button switch 10 and the return button switch 11 (lending instruction signal, return instruction signal in the figure). ), Frequency data to be displayed on the frequency display 12, and the control unit 46.
Relays various control signals exchanged with the control circuit of the slot machine 5.

FIG. 10 shows the external appearance of the card vending machine 2. A card display section 51 for displaying a prepaid card to be sold and a card for selecting the number of prepaid cards to be purchased are provided on the front of the body. Select button switch 56a
56d, a bill insertion slot 57, a card issuing slot 58, a hanging bill return slot 59, a display unit 100, and the like.

FIG. 11 shows the electrical configuration of the card vending apparatus 2. In the figure, reference numeral 63 denotes a control unit by a microcomputer, which includes a CPU 60, a ROM 61, a RAM 6
2 inclusive. The ROM 61 stores a program related to device control, and the RAM 62 stores the card information file, the transaction information file, and the like. The control unit 63 is connected to the selection button switch 56 via a bus 64.
a to 56d, display unit 100, bill detection sensor 6
5, a bill validator 66, a bill transport mechanism 67, a card transport mechanism 68, a magnetic head 69, a transmitting / receiving unit 70, and the like are connected.

The bill detection sensor 65 and the bill discriminator 66 are
Both are disposed inside the bill insertion slot 57, and are used for bill insertion detection and authenticity discrimination, respectively. Bill transport mechanism 67
Is for transporting the inserted banknotes to the internal banknote collection unit. The card transport mechanism 68 includes a plurality of pairs of rollers, a transmission belt, a motor, and the like, and sequentially takes out cards stored in an internal stocker (not shown) and transports the cards to a card issuing port 58. The magnetic head 69
The display unit 100 displays information for confirming the card issued by its own device when the communication line is disconnected or the like, for performing the writing process of the ticketing information on the card being transported. The transmission / reception unit 70 is used for exchanging necessary information with other devices.

FIG. 12 is an external view of the settlement apparatus 3. FIG. 12 (1) shows a front surface of the settlement apparatus 3, and FIG. 12 (2) shows a rear surface of the settlement apparatus 3. The front surface of the machine of the payment device 3 constitutes a customer service surface, and is provided with an information display section 71, a bill return port 72, a coin return port 73, and the like. The rear side is for attendants, and is provided with a second information display section 74, an operation panel 75, a card reception port 76, and the like.

The information display sections 71 and 74 are both display panels such as liquid crystal display panels. Information such as the amount of money to be settled at the time of checkout, and information about the ticketing information of the card to be checked at the time of checking the ticketing information of the card. Are displayed respectively. The information display 71 on the front is for players,
The information display section 74 on the rear side is for attendants, and more detailed information is displayed on the information display section 74 for attendants.

The operation panel 75 has a plurality of operation switches 7 for instructing a settlement process and a lending process which will be described later.
When a clerk inserts a card received from a player into the card reception slot 76 and presses an operation switch for a corresponding process, card record information of the card is read. Further, by transmitting the card collation request and the use reservation signal to the vending machine 1 or the card vending machine 2 which is the issuer of the card and obtaining a reply, the balance of the card can be settled, Is displayed. Note that a card processing unit 27 similar to that used in the above-mentioned inter-machine 1 is provided inside the card reception slot 76.

FIG. 13 shows an electrical configuration of the settlement apparatus 3. Reference numeral 81 in the figure denotes a control unit including a microcomputer, which includes a CPU 78, a ROM 79, and a RAM 80. The ROM 79 stores programs related to device control, and the RAM 80 stores the card information file, the transaction information file, and the like. This control unit 8
1 includes first and second information display sections 71 and 74, operation switches 77 of an operation panel 75, photoelectric sensors PH1 to PH5 of the card processing unit 27, and card transport mechanisms 31 and 39 via a bus 82. , The magnetic head 32 is connected, a bill discharging mechanism 83 for discharging bills to the bill return port 72 at the time of settlement, a coin discharging mechanism 84 for discharging coins to the coin return port 73, and other devices. A transmission / reception unit 85 for transmitting / receiving information between them is connected to each other.

FIG. 14 shows the electrical configuration of the information collecting device 4. The control unit 89 composed of a microcomputer has C
It includes a PU 86, a ROM 87, and a RAM 88, and has an input unit 91, a display circuit 92, transmission / reception units 93, 94 via a bus 90.
Are connected.

The ROM 87 stores programs related to communication with other devices and card companies and information processing.
The AM 88 stores card information and transaction information transmitted from each device. The input unit 91 includes a keyboard for inputting data required for processing. The display circuit 92 is for displaying data processing results and the like on the monitor 15.

The first transmission / reception unit 93 is connected to the communication line L 1,
It is used to transmit and receive information to and from the server. Second transmission / reception unit 94
Is connected to the communication line L2 and is used for communication with the host computer 6 of the card company.

The processing procedure of each device in the lending management system will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, here, the explanation will be focused on the procedures relating to the issuance of a card, the lending process of medals by the card, and the settlement / collation process, and the processing in the information processing device 4 and the inter-chamber machine 1, the card sales device 2, and the settlement device 3 The description of the communication process performed on the information processing device 4 and the process of creating and updating the accounting information is omitted.

FIG. 15 shows a processing procedure (ST1 to ST6) at the time of issuing a card in the stand-to-frame machine 1. This procedure is started by the insertion of a bill into the bill receiving port 20, and in the first ST1, the bill discriminator 48 determines whether or not the inserted bill is a proper bill, and is appropriate. Is determined, ST2 becomes "YES".

The CPU 43 receives the "YES" determination in ST2 and checks whether or not a card is stored in the card storage section 38. At this time, the photoelectric sensor PH
If 5 is off, it means that no card is accommodated, so ST3 becomes "NO" and the process moves to ST6.
The return processing of the inserted bill is performed. In the above ST1, when it is determined that the inserted bill is inappropriate,
ST2 becomes "NO" and the process similarly proceeds to ST6, where the inserted bill is returned.

On the other hand, if the photoelectric sensor PH5 is in the ON state, the CPU 43 determines that a card is stored in the card storage section 38. Then, proceeding from ST3 to ST4, the card issuance date, the card code number, the issuance amount,
Creates card information including the remaining amount and stores it in RAM
45 in the card information file. The card information is not limited to this, and may be any information as long as at least the code information of the card is associated with the remaining amount.

In the next ST5, the CPU 43 drives the card transport mechanism 39 to carry out the accommodated card to the transport path 30, writes the card record information shown in FIG. It is carried out to 22.

The card issuing procedure of the card vending apparatus 2 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. In ST3, the card vending apparatus 2 determines whether there is a card in the stocker. If there is a card in the stocker, the card information is created and registered in the next step ST4, and then, in step ST5, a predetermined card record information is written on the card while unwinding one card from the stocker, and is carried out to the card issuing port 58. I do.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the procedure of the signal interruption process (indicated by ST11 to ST43 in the figure) executed by the CPUs 43 and 60 of the inter-machine 1 and the card vending machine 2 will be described. . This process is started when a signal addressed to the own device is received from another device via the communication line L1. First, in ST11, the content of the received signal is confirmed.

If a card collation request signal is received, ST12 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to ST13 to ST17. As described above, the card collation request signal is mainly composed of card record information read by the inter-machine 1 or the settlement apparatus 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a "card accepting device") that has accepted the card. The CPU 43 first proceeds to ST13
Then, it is checked whether the card information corresponding to the code number D4 included in the transmitted card collation request signal is stored in the card information file of its own device. If there is the corresponding card information, the process proceeds to ST14, and the card information is collated with the card record information. If the two match, it is determined that the card record information is appropriate, and "OK" is returned to the card receiving side device to notify that the transmitted card record information is appropriate (ST15). , 16).

On the other hand, if no card information corresponding to the transmitted card record information is found, ST13 returns "N".
O ". If the transmitted card record information does not match the card information, ST15 becomes "NO".
In this case, the process proceeds to ST17 to return "NG" to the device on the card receiving side, thereby notifying that the transmitted card record information is inappropriate.

Next, when a use reservation signal for the card information held by the own device is received, ST18 returns "YE".
S "and the process proceeds to ST19 to ST26. First, ST1
In step 9, whether or not the card information to be reserved is stored in the card information file of the own device is checked based on the code number D4 of the card recording information included in the use reservation signal. If this ST19 is "YES", in the next ST20, it is checked whether or not a use reservation flag is set in the reservation target card information.

If the use reservation flag is not set in the corresponding card information, the card information is collated with the card record information transmitted as the use reservation signal in ST21, and the card record information is determined to be appropriate by the collation. Is confirmed, the use reservation flag of the card information is set (ST22, ST23). Further, in ST24, the device number of the source device of the signal is acquired from the use reservation signal, and this number is stored in association with the card information in which the use reservation flag is set. When this series of processing is completed, in ST25, "OK" is transmitted to the device which transmitted the use reservation signal, thereby notifying that the use reservation for the accepted card has been permitted.

On the other hand, when the corresponding card information is not found for the use reservation signal, when the use reservation flag is already set in the corresponding card information, or when both the card record information and the card information are collated, If they do not match, the process proceeds to ST26, and transmits "NG" to the device that transmitted the use reservation, thereby notifying that the use reservation is not permitted.

When the device on the card accepting side receives "OK" for both the card collation request signal and the use reservation signal, it proceeds with the medal lending process, the card remaining amount adding process, the settlement process, and the like. After that, a card information rewrite request signal is transmitted. When this signal is received, ST27 in FIG. 17 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to ST28 to ST36.

In this embodiment, as the card information rewrite request signal, a signal including the card record information before rewriting of the target card and the remaining amount after rewriting is transmitted. In response to this signal, in ST28, it is checked whether or not there is card information to be rewritten in the card information file of the own device, based on the code number D4 of the card recording information included in the transmitted signal. If the determination in ST28 is "YES", the use reservation flag of the corresponding card information is checked, and if the use reservation flag is set, the device number of the reservation source device is checked (S28).
T29, 30). When it is confirmed by these checks that the device that has transmitted the rewrite request signal has reserved use of the card information to be rewritten, ST30 to ST3 are executed.
In step 1, the card record information included in the rewrite request signal is compared with the card information. When it is confirmed that the transmission information is proper by this collation processing, the remaining amount of the card information is rewritten and the use reservation flag is released (ST31 to ST33). Thereafter, the process proceeds to ST34, in which “OK” is returned to the device that issued the rewrite request, thereby notifying that the rewriting process of the card information has been normally performed.

On the other hand, if the card information requested to be rewritten is not found (if ST28 is "NO"), the card information requested to be rewritten does not match the card record information indicated in the rewrite request signal ( ST32 returns "N
In the case of "O"), and when the card information requested to be rewritten is reserved for use by another device (in the case of "YES" in ST30), the process proceeds to ST35, in which the device that transmitted the rewrite request transmits ""NG" is returned. If the use reservation flag of the card information for which rewriting has been requested is cleared, the determination in ST29 becomes "NO" and
Then, the process returns to step 6 to return a predetermined code indicating "no reservation" to the device that transmitted the rewrite request.

Next, when the apparatus that has made the use reservation transmits a signal requesting the release of the set use reservation flag (hereinafter, this signal is referred to as a "use reservation release signal").
ST37 is "YES", and the processes of ST38 to ST38 are executed. Like the use reservation signal, the use reservation release signal also has a configuration including card record information of the accepted card and the identification number of the transmission source device. ST38
Then, the code number D4 included in the use reservation release signal
, It is checked whether or not the card information requested to be cleared is present in the card information file of the own device. If this determination is "YES", the next ST39
Then, based on the device number in the signal, it is checked whether or not the device from which the use reservation release signal has been transmitted has been reserved for use of the card information. This determination is also made as “YE
If "S", the process proceeds to ST40, where the use reservation flag of the requested card information is released, and "OK" is returned to the device that transmitted the use reservation release signal in ST41.

When the card information indicated by the use reservation release signal is not found (when ST38 is "NO"), or when a use reservation release signal is received from a device other than the device for which use reservation is made, or when the designated When the use reservation flag is not set in the card information (when ST39 is “NO”), “NG” is transmitted to the transmission source device.

Note that in FIG. 17, ST43 is
The processing when signals other than the type of signal are received are shown collectively. However, since these processings are not directly related to the card processing, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 18 shows a processing procedure at the time of accepting a card in the machine 1. In FIG. 18, each step is indicated by ST44 to ST61. This processing is performed in ST ST of FIG.
5. The card issued in step 5 is
, Or is started when a card issued by another device is accepted. In the first step ST44, the card recording information of the card received by the magnetic head 32 is read.

When the reading process is completed, the CPU 43
Checks the device number D3 of the read card record information. If this device number D3 is the number of another inter-machine 1 or card vending device 2, the process proceeds from ST45 to ST46, where a card collation request signal including the card record information is created, and this is sent to the card issuing device. Send to In response to this transmission, the device that issued the card sends the message to ST12 in FIG.
When the process returns to step 16 and returns "OK", it is determined that the card record information is appropriate, and the process proceeds from ST47 to ST5.
The process proceeds to 0, and frequency data corresponding to the remaining amount D6 of the card record information is displayed on the frequency display 12. (Hereinafter, this display processing is referred to as "display of the frequency of the remaining amount.")

On the other hand, if the device number D3 is the number of the own device, the process proceeds from ST45 to ST48 to compare the card record information with the corresponding card information. Is determined to be. Then, the process proceeds from ST49 to ST50, and the frequency of the remaining amount of the card is displayed. If the card record information does not match the corresponding card information, the determination in ST47 or ST49 is “NO”. In this case, ST6
Proceeding to 1 and displaying an error message on the display unit 23, return the card.

When the frequency of the remaining amount of the card is displayed in ST50, the CPU 43 confirms in step ST51 that the remaining amount is not zero, and then checks the relay substrate 1
Input of the instruction signal through the banknote 4 or the bill receiving port 20
It waits until one of the bill insertions to the is executed. When a lending instruction signal is input by the lending button switch 10 in this state, ST52 becomes "YES" and the lending process of medals in ST56 is performed. (Details will be described later.)

After the lending process, the remaining amount D6 of the card rewritten in the lending process is checked in ST57. If there is a remaining amount on the card even after the medal is lent out, the process returns to ST52 to wait the card in the transport path 30. Then, if there is a loan instruction again, ST52 to ST5
Then, the process goes to 6 to execute the medal lending process again. However, if the return button switch 11 is operated here, ST53
The process proceeds to ST59 to return the card to the player.

Further, when the card is accepted and the first lending instruction is input, or when there is still a remaining amount on the card after the lending process in ST56 is completed, a new bill is accepted from the bill accepting port 20. When inserted, ST54
Is "YES", and the process proceeds to the value adding process in ST55 (the details will also be described later).

If the remaining amount of the card becomes zero after the lending process in ST56, the CPU 43 proceeds from ST57 to ST5.
Proceeding to 8, it is checked whether or not a card is stored in the card storage section 39. If a card is stored, the process proceeds to ST59, where the card is transported forward and returned. If no card is stored, S
The process proceeds from T58 to ST60, in which the card is initialized and then stored in the card storage unit 39.

If the remaining amount of the card is zero at the time of insertion, after displaying the remaining amount of the card in ST50, the process proceeds from ST51 to ST59 to automatically return the card. However, in this case, the card storage unit 3
If a card is not accommodated in 9, a message may be displayed to notify the player of the fact, and then the card may be initialized and accommodated.

FIG. 19 shows a detailed procedure of the medal lending process in ST51. In FIG. 18, each procedure is described as ST
56-1 to 56-17. This processing is started by the input of the lending instruction signal as described above.
If the acquired card is issued by the own device, the CPU 43 proceeds from ST56-1 to ST56-2 to reserve the use of the card information corresponding to the code number D4 read from the card in the card information file of the own device. Check the flags.

As described above, the card information in which the use reservation flag is set is associated with the device number of the device that has reserved the use of the card information. ST56-2
When the CPU 43 confirms that the use reservation flag has already been set in the card information, the CPU 43 checks the device number corresponding to this information, and if this is the number of another device, the CPU 43 proceeds from ST56-3 to ST56. The process returns to -17, and returns the card after the display of the error message. As a result, even if a card having card record information that is issued by the own device is inserted, if the card information of the card is already reserved by another device, the medal lending by the accepted card is prohibited. hand,
Double use of card information is reliably prevented.

On the other hand, if the use reservation flag is off, that is, if the card information has not been reserved for use, S
After proceeding from T56-2 to ST56-4 to set the use reservation flag, in the subsequent ST56-5, the adjacent slot machine 5 is given a frequency (for example, 5 degrees) corresponding to a predetermined amount of money (for example, 500 yen). A minute control signal (hereinafter referred to as “frequency data”) is transmitted. When the use reservation flag is set in ST56-4, the device number of the own device is stored in association with the target card information, but the device number is not associated with the card information reserved by the own device. Is also possible.

Slot machine 5 receiving the frequency data
In this method, a predetermined number of medals (for example, 5 medals) are added as stored medals per one time, and a response signal is transmitted to the inter-vehicle machine 1 each time one medal is stored. S
In T56-5, while transmitting the frequency data,
Every time a response signal from the slot machine 5 is received, the frequency display of the frequency display 12 is updated to a value obtained by subtracting once.

Further, the CPU 43 proceeds to the next ST56-6.
Then, after the remaining amount of the card information is rewritten according to the updated value of the frequency display, the use reservation flag of the card information is released in ST56-7. ST56-
In step 8, the remaining amount D6 of the card recording information is rewritten using the magnetic head 32.

Even if it is determined in ST56-2 that the card information of the inserted card is reserved for use, if the reservation is for the own device, the process proceeds from ST56-3 to ST56-5. A medal lending process is performed. This process corresponds to a case where the use reservation flag remains set because the medal lending process is stopped due to a power-off or a trouble in the card processing unit 27.

If the inserted card has been issued by another device, the process proceeds from ST56-1 to ST56-9 to transmit a use reservation signal to the card issuing device. The card issuing device is ST18 to ST2 in FIG.
After executing procedure 5 and returning "OK", ST
From 56-10, the process proceeds to ST56-11 to transmit frequency data to the adjacent slot machine 5 and to display the frequency indicator 12 in response to a response signal from the slot machine 5.
Rewrite the frequency display of the remaining amount. However, if "NG" is returned to the use reservation signal, ST56-
The process proceeds from ST10 to ST56-17 to display an error message on the display unit 23, and then return the accepted card to the player.

In ST56-11, when the frequency data is transmitted to the slot machine 5 and the frequency display of the remaining amount is updated, the CPU 43 communicates again with the card issuer in the next ST56-12 to obtain the card information. Is transmitted. When the device that issued the card rewrites the card information and returns "OK" in response to the request in accordance with the procedure of ST27 to ST34 in FIG.
-13 is "YES", the process moves to ST56-8, and the remaining amount D6 of the accepted card is rewritten.

The processing of ST56-14 to ST56-16 in the figure is the processing in the case where the rewriting request signal is not accepted in the card issuing device. If the reservation for use of the card being processed has been canceled for some reason, the card issuer apparatus returns to FIG.
ST28, 29, and 36 are executed in this order, and a signal indicating "no reservation" is returned. Upon receiving this signal,
ST56-13 is "NO", ST16-14 is "YE"
S ", the process proceeds to ST56-15, and the use reservation signal is retransmitted to the card issuing device. In response to this retransmission, when the card issuer sets the use reservation flag and returns "OK", ST56-16 returns "YE".
S ", the process returns to ST56-12, and a card information rewrite request signal is transmitted again. However, "N
When "G" is returned, the rewriting process of the card record information is stopped, and the process proceeds to a predetermined error process.

If "NG" is returned from the card issuer, both ST56-13 and ST56-14 become "NO", and the process immediately proceeds to error processing. According to the procedure in FIG. 17, the card issuing device is “NG”
Is transmitted when the card information to be rewritten cannot be found, when the card information is reserved by another device, or when the card information does not match the transmitted card record information. By performing error processing immediately when an abnormal state occurs, it is possible to prevent a card from being returned without rewriting card record information or card information after lending a medal. In addition to the above procedure, during the medal lending process after the use reservation flag is set, the card processing unit 27
If the lending of medals is interrupted due to a malfunction or the like, a process of releasing the use reservation flag may be performed.

FIG. 20 shows the detailed procedure of ST55 (shown as ST55-1 to 55-25 in the figure). As described above, this process is started when a 1,000-yen bill is inserted into the bill accepting port 20. First, in ST55-1, it is determined whether or not the condition for adding valuable value is satisfied.

The determination conditions are, as described above, whether or not the inserted bill is appropriate, whether or not the remaining amount of the card is within a predetermined amount, and the like.
If it is "ES", it is checked in ST55-2 whether the card is a card issued by its own device. Here, if it is determined that the card is issued by its own device,
As in the case of ST56-2 to ST56-4, a use reservation flag is set in the corresponding card information (ST55-3).
~ 55-5).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the card has been issued by another device, the process proceeds to ST55-6 to transmit the use reservation signal to the issuing device. When "OK" is returned from the card issuer, it is determined that the use reservation for the card information of the accepted card has been completed.

When the additional purchase switch 96 is operated after the use reservation for the card information of the card is received in this way, ST55-9 becomes "YES", and the remaining amount of the card is worth 1000 yen. A process of adding a value is performed. In this process, if the card has been issued by the own device, ST55-10 to ST55
After proceeding to 55-11, the remaining amount of the corresponding card information is rewritten, and in ST55-12, the use reservation flag of the card information is released. After this, ST55-13
Then, the remaining amount D of the card record information of the accepted card
6 and renew the frequency display of the remaining amount in accordance with the card record information in ST55-14.

If the card has been issued by another device, the process proceeds from ST55-10 to ST55-15 to transmit the card information rewrite request signal to the card issuing device. In response to this signal, the card issuing apparatus performs the processing in ST27 to ST34 in FIG. 17 and returns "OK". Then, it is determined that the rewriting of the card information has been completed, and the process proceeds to ST55-13. Then, as in the case of the card issued by the own device, after rewriting the card record information, the frequency display of the remaining amount is updated.

Note that, in response to the transmission of the rewrite request signal in ST55-15, the card issuer issues "no reservation".
Is returned, ST55 to 17 to ST55-
19, ST56-14 to 56-1 in FIG.
In the same manner as in step 6, the use reservation signal is retransmitted to the card issuing apparatus, and when this signal is accepted, ST55-15
Redo the process. However, if “NG” is returned in response to the retransmission of the use reservation signal, the process proceeds to ST55-24, an error is displayed, and the inserted bill is returned in ST55-25. As a result, the process of adding valuable value to the card is canceled.

If it is determined that a use reservation flag has already been set in the card information of the card at the time when the bill is inserted, regardless of whether the card has been issued by itself or by another person, the process proceeds from ST55-4 or ST55-7. ST55-2
Then, the process proceeds to step 4, and the process of adding the valuable value is canceled.

Further, when the bill return switch 95 is operated after the use reservation of the card information is completed by inserting the bill, ST55-8 becomes "YES". For the card issued by the own device, ST55-20 to ST55-2
After proceeding to step 1 to release the use reservation flag, ST5
The processing shifts to 5-25, where the input bill is returned. For the card issued by another device, a use reservation release signal is transmitted to the card issuing device in ST55-22, and "OK"
The banknote is returned in response to the return of the bill. If "NG" is returned in response to the use reservation release signal, an error display of ST55-24 is executed before returning the bill.

After the value of the card has been added according to the procedure of FIG. 20, the process returns to ST52 of FIG. 18, and thereafter, the medal lending process using the added value can be executed. If the value addition process is canceled in the middle, the process returns to ST52 to accept a lending instruction operation, a return instruction operation, and a bill insertion operation again.

In this embodiment, the processing for adding the valuable value to the card having no remaining amount cannot be performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 30 and the remaining amount may be added according to the insertion of money. In particular, we issue a "member card" with a specific user code recorded,
Regarding this membership card, even if the remaining amount becomes zero, if the remaining amount is added without collecting and discharging the card, the player can freely use various gaming machines using his / her own card. , And the service to the player can be improved. Further, the machine 1 of this embodiment is configured to accept only a thousand-yen bill, and when adding a valuable value to a card, the addition is made in units of one thousand yen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The intermediary device 1 may be configured to accept bills and coins of other denominations, so that the value added to the card can be freely selected.

FIG. 21 shows a procedure (ST62 to ST62) relating to the settlement processing and the card information collation processing in the settlement apparatus 3.
1) is shown. This procedure is started when a card is received at the card receiving port 76. First, it is checked which of the settlement switch and the collation switch is operated. If the settlement switch is operated, the process proceeds from ST62 to ST63 to read the card record information, and then in ST64, a use reservation signal is transmitted to the card issuing device.

When "OK" is returned from the card issuer in response to the use reservation signal, ST65 returns "Y".
ES ”and proceeds to ST66, where the information display section 71,
At 74, the remaining amount of the card is displayed. This display may be a frequency display. If the remaining amount is not zero, the process proceeds from ST67 to ST68 to transmit a card information rewriting request signal to the card issuing device. When "OK" is returned from the card issuing device,
After proceeding from ST69 to ST70 and paying out the settlement money according to the remaining amount, the card is initialized and collected in ST71.

When "NG" is returned from the card issuer in response to the use reservation signal, ST65 returns "NO".
When "NG" is returned in response to the rewrite request signal, ST69 and ST72 become "NO" in order. Upon receiving these "NO" determinations, the process proceeds to ST75, where a predetermined error message is displayed on the information display units 71 and 74, and then the card is returned in the next ST76. Also, if "no reservation" is transmitted from the card issuing device in response to the rewrite request signal, the use reservation signal is retransmitted to the card issuing device in the same manner as in the processing in the inter-machine 1 shown in FIG. Then, if "OK" is returned, the card information rewrite request signal is retransmitted. If "NG" is returned in response to the retransmission of the use reservation signal, ST72 to ST75,
By proceeding to 76, the card is returned after the error display.

On the other hand, if the collating switch is operated when the card is inserted, the process proceeds from ST77 to ST78 to read the card record information of the accepted card, and then in step ST79, the card is issued to the card issuing apparatus. A card collation request signal based on the record information is transmitted. When “OK” is transmitted from the card issuer in response to this signal, the process proceeds from ST80 to ST81, where the information display unit 71,
After the remaining amount is displayed at 74, the process returns to ST76 to return the card. If “NG” is transmitted from the card issuing device in response to the card verification request signal, ST
80 is "NO", and the process proceeds to ST75 and ST76 to return the card after an error display.

In the lending processing system of the above embodiment, since each card information is managed by the issuing device to the end, each inter-office machine 1 and the settlement apparatus 3 are issued by another device. If the card is accepted, communication with the card issuing device must be performed many times, and the processing efficiency is significantly reduced. The communication line is congested especially during times when the medal lending process is concentrated, such as when the store opens, so the time from when the card is inserted until the number display of the remaining amount is displayed, or the time from the medal lending operation until the medal is actually lent out And the service to the player is reduced.

In the embodiment described below, in order to solve the above problem, the inter-chamber machine 1 accepts a card issued by another device and performs a medal lending process and a process of adding a valuable value to the card. In the case where the settlement apparatus 3 performs the settlement processing of the card, the card information of the card is taken in from the accepting card issuing apparatus and registered in the card information file of the own apparatus. The configuration of the system and each device in the system is the same as in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, when the inter-machine 1 recognizes that the card is issued by another device from the card record information of the accepted card, the inter-apparatus 1 transmits the card to the device that issued the card. A signal requesting transmission of card information is transmitted. (Hereinafter, this signal is referred to as a "transmission request signal.")

In response to the transmission request signal, the card issuing device sets the use reservation flag in the requested card information, and then returns the card information for which use has been reserved to the card receiving device. Stand-by machine 1 on the card receiving side
Temporarily stores the transmitted card information in its own buffer memory or the like, compares the card record information with the card information, and determines that the card record information is appropriate. The temporarily stored card information is formally registered in the card information file of its own device in accordance with the value addition processing operation (input of the bill and operation of the additional purchase switch 96).

The device which issued the card holds the transmitted card information until the time of the formal registration, with the use reservation flag and the device number of the machine 1 on the card accepting side set. Also, when the card information is formally registered in the card receiving side intermediary machine 1, the use reservation flag from the card issuer is inherited as it is, so that the use of the card information can be used while the management of the card information moves. The reservation state is maintained. In addition, the machine 1 on the card acceptance side
In accordance with the formal registration of the card information, a signal requesting invalidation of the transmitted card information is transmitted to the card issuing device. (Hereinafter, this signal is referred to as an "invalidation request signal.") In response to the invalidation request signal, the card issuer deletes or adds a flag to the target card information, or modifies the data structure. Invalidate it by changing it.

In the machine-to-machine apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the reserved use status of the card information is held until the remaining amount of the card becomes zero, so that the medal lending process is performed every time as in the first embodiment. The complexity of setting or canceling the use reservation flag has been eliminated. However, if the card is returned with the remaining amount remaining, the use reservation for the card information of the card is canceled at the time of the return. In particular, when a card issued by another device is accepted and returned without performing the medal lending process, the card information of the card is held in a state reserved for use by the issuing device. Then, a use reservation release signal is transmitted from the card accepting device to the card issuing device, and the flag issuing process is performed in the card issuing device in accordance with the signal.

Further, in the settlement apparatus 3 as well, the card information with the use reservation flag is fetched from the apparatus that issued the accepted card or the apparatus that has taken over the management of the card information from the apparatus, similarly to the inter-chamber machine 1. Prior to the settlement process, the card information is officially registered. Also, the remaining amount of the accepted card is zero,
If the settlement process is canceled or only the card inquiry process is performed, the card information is not officially registered, and a use reservation release signal is transmitted to the device that transmitted the card information to release the use reservation flag. I am trying to do it.

Hereinafter, the detailed processing procedure in the inter-chamber machine 1, the card vending machine 2, and the settlement device 3 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the procedure related to the card issuance is the same as the procedure shown in FIG. 15 of the first embodiment, so that illustration and description are omitted. Also in this embodiment, each device communicates with the information processing device 4 as needed in accordance with issuance and reception of a card, and passes data of an internal accounting information file.
The details of this processing are also omitted. FIG. 2
In steps 2 to 26, each step is indicated as "st" so as not to be confused with the procedures in Figs.

FIG. 22 shows the procedure (st1 to st18) of the signal interruption process in the machine 1 and the card vending machine 2.

The transmission request signal and the invalidation request signal are the same as the verification request signal, the use reservation signal, and the rewrite request signal of the first embodiment. Each device number and the card record information of the card received by the transmission source device are included. The use reservation release signal is the same as that described in FIG.

In FIG. 22, the transmission destination device of the signal received in the first st1 and the transmission contents are confirmed. If this signal is a transmission request signal issued from another inter-machine 1 or the settlement apparatus 3, st2 becomes "YES" and s
The process proceeds to the process from t3 to t7.

In st3, based on the code number D4 in the transmission request signal, it is checked whether or not the requested card information is stored in a valid state in the card information file in its own device. If this determination is "YES", then, in st4, it is checked whether or not the use reservation flag is set in the corresponding card information. If the determination in st4 is “NO”, that is, if the use of the card information is not reserved, a use reservation flag is set in the card information in the next st5. Further st6
Then, the device number of the reservation source is extracted from the transmission request signal, and this is stored in association with the card information.

When the device requesting transmission, ie, the device accepting the card, is permitted to use the card information for the card information requested to be transmitted in this manner,
In the next st7, the card information with the use reservation flag is returned to the device on the card accepting side, and the process ends. If the card information requested for transmission is not provided, or the card information is invalidated, or if the use reservation flag is already set in the card information requested for transmission, the transmission request signal Ignore

Next, when an invalidation request signal is received,
St8 becomes "YES", and the process proceeds to st9-12. In st9, based on the device number D4 included in the invalidation request signal, it is checked whether card information to be invalidated exists in the card information file. If this determination is “YES”, the next st10
In the setting state of the use reservation flag and the device number,
It is checked whether or not the card information is information reserved for use by the transmission source device of the invalidation request signal. If this determination is also "YES", the process proceeds to st11, in which the requested card information is invalidated, and then "OK" is transmitted to the transmission source device of the invalidation request signal in st12.

When the card information requested to be invalidated does not exist in the card information file (when st9 is "NO"), or when the information is not reserved for use by the device that transmitted the invalidation request signal In all cases (when st10 is “NO”), the invalidation request signal is ignored.

When the use reservation cancel signal is received, st13
Becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to st14 to st17.
In st14, based on the code number D4 included in the use reservation release signal, it is checked whether or not the card information requested to be released from the flag exists in the card information file of its own device. If this determination is "YES", it is checked in the next st15 whether the card information requested to be cleared is information reserved for use by the device requesting the cancellation. If this determination is also "YES", the process proceeds to st16 to release the use reservation flag of the requested card information, and returns "OK" to the device which transmitted the use reservation release signal in st17.

When the card information indicated by the use reservation release signal is not found (when ST14 is "NO"), or when a use reservation release signal is received from a device other than the device which is reserved for use (ST15 is "NO"). In the case of "NO"), the use reservation release signal is ignored.

FIG. 23 shows a processing procedure (st21 to st50) at the time of accepting a card in the machine 1 between machines. This process is started by receiving a card issued by the own device or another device, similarly to the process of FIG. CP
U43 first reads the card record information of the accepted card in st21, and then checks in next st22 whether the issue date D1 and hole code D2 of the read card record information are appropriate. Where D
When it is determined that at least one of D1 and D2 is inappropriate, the process proceeds to st31, and after displaying a predetermined error message, the accepted card is returned. In the first embodiment as well, the above-mentioned issue date and hole code collation processing may be performed.

If both the issue date and the hole code are appropriate, the device number D3 of the read card record information is further read.
To identify a device that manages the card information of the card. If this device is its own device, st23 to st27
Then, the process proceeds to st28, the use reservation flag is set in the corresponding card information, and the card information is read out in st29. However, if this card information is already reserved for use by another device, st2
7. The process proceeds from st30 to st31, and returns the card after an error display. On the other hand, if the use reservation by the own device remains for some reason, st30
Then, the process proceeds from the step to the step st29 to continue the processing.

If the card information of the card is managed by another device, the process proceeds from st23 to st24,
A transmission request signal including the card record information is transmitted to the device. When the device that has received the transmission request signal performs the processes of st2 to st7 in FIG. 22 and returns the card information with the use reservation flag, the process proceeds from st25 to st26, and the received card is returned. The information is temporarily stored in a buffer memory or the like. However, if the requested card information is not found or the card information is already reserved for use, the transmission request signal is ignored. , ST25 becomes “NO” and the st
Proceed to 31 and return the card after the error display.

Upon obtaining the card information of the accepted card in this way, the CPU 43 checks the card record information of the card with the acquired card information in st32. When it is confirmed that both match, the process proceeds from st33 to st34, and the remaining amount D6 of the card record information is displayed on the frequency display 12 in frequency. However, if the card record information and the card information do not match, ST33 to st
Proceeding to 31, the card is returned after the error display.

If the card is determined to be appropriate in st33, the CPU 43 confirms in step st35 that the remaining amount of the card is not zero, and waits for an instruction signal or bill insertion through the relay board 14. I do.
Here, when the lending instruction signal is input, st36 becomes “YE”.
S "and the lending process of st42 is executed. After the lending process, if the rewritten remaining amount is not zero, st36
When the lending instruction signal is input again, st42
And proceed to the lending process.

Here, the detailed procedure in st42 will be described with reference to FIG. If the card to be handled is a card issued by another device, the card information obtained by the transmission request signal is still temporarily stored in the buffer memory at the stage of the first lending instruction operation. Therefore, in this case, st42-1 becomes "YES" and proceeds to st42-2, where an invalidation request signal is transmitted to the device for storing the card information. The device which has received the invalidation request signal returns "OK" after invalidating the corresponding card information by performing the processes of st8 to st12 in FIG. The CPU 43 executes st42
When this reply is confirmed at -3, the process proceeds to st42-4, where the temporarily stored card information is registered in the card information file, and the temporarily stored card information is deleted.

In the next st42-6, the CPU 43 transmits frequency data to the adjacent slot machine 5, and updates the frequency display of the frequency display 12 once at a time in response to a response signal from the slot machine. After this, st
At 42-7, the card information and the card record information in the card information file are rewritten according to the updated frequency,
The lending process ends.

On the other hand, when the card issued by the own device is handled, the card information of the card is stored in the card information file.
4 is skipped, and the frequency data is immediately transmitted to the slot machine 5 in response to the input of the lending instruction signal.
When a card issued by another device is received for the second time, the card information is registered in the card information file. Can be transmitted.

In response to the invalidation request in st42-2,
If the invalidation completion notification is not returned even after the lapse of the predetermined time, st42-3 becomes "NO" and st42
The process proceeds to -5, and after the error is displayed, the process ends. As a result, the medal lending process is canceled, and s in FIG.
After t43, the process returns to st36.

When a card issued by another device is accepted and a lending process is performed, the device number D3 is rewritten to the own device number when rewriting the card record information in st42-6. As a result, when this card is returned with the remaining amount remaining and is inserted into another device, the device that holds the card information can be correctly specified in the device on the card receiving side.

Returning to FIG. 23, when the remaining amount of the card becomes zero by the lending process, the process proceeds from st43 to st44 to cancel the use reservation flag set in the card information of the card. At this point, even if a card issued by another device is handled, communication with the card issuer is unnecessary because the card information has been managed by the own device. Thereafter, in st45 to 47,
The card is returned or stored in the card storage 39 depending on the state of the card storage 39.

If the return instruction operation is performed with the remaining amount remaining after the lending process, st37 becomes "YES" and the flow proceeds to st38, st50, and st46, so that the use reservation flag is cleared. Return the card.

If the return instruction operation is performed after the card is inserted without performing the lending instruction operation, the card is returned after releasing the use reservation flag in the same manner as described above.
However, if the card information of this card is transmitted from another device, the card information at this time is under the control of the transmission source device, so st38 becomes “NO” and proceeds to st39, A use reservation release signal is transmitted to the device that transmitted the card information. And this device is shown in FIG.
When "OK" is transmitted after executing the processes of st13 to st17, the process proceeds from st40 to st41 to delete the temporarily stored card information, and thereafter proceeds to st46 to return the card. . If "OK" is not returned even after the predetermined time elapses for the use reservation release signal,
Proceed to st31, and return the card after displaying the error.
If the remaining amount is zero when the card is inserted, the process proceeds from st35 to st38 to automatically return the card after displaying the remaining amount.

[0191] With the card held, the bill receiving port 2
When a bill is inserted from 0, st48 becomes "YES", and processing of adding a valuable value to the card is performed at st49.

FIG. 25 shows the detailed procedure of st49. First, in the first st49-1, similarly to the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not a condition for adding a valuable value is satisfied, and the process proceeds to st49-2. If it is determined that the above condition is not satisfied, st49-10
After the error display is performed, the inserted bill is returned in st49-11.

Assuming that bills are inserted following the first card insertion and the additional purchase switch 96 is operated, st49-3 becomes "YES" and st49-
Proceeding to 4, it is checked whether the card information of the accepted card is registered in the own device. Here, if a card issued by another device is inserted, st49
The determination at -4 is "YES", and at the next st49-5, an invalidation request signal is transmitted to the card issuing apparatus. When "OK" is returned from this device, st
Proceeding from 49-6 to st49-7, the temporarily stored card information is registered in the card information file, and the temporarily stored card information is deleted. Then, in the subsequent st49-8, the value of the card information and the card recording information registered in the regular registration is rewritten, and
In 9-4, the frequency display of the remaining amount is updated in accordance with the rewriting process.

On the other hand, if the bill insertion / additional purchase switch 96 is operated after the card issued by the own device is inserted, the card information on this card is registered in the card information file of the own device. St4
The process shifts from 9-4 to st49-8, and the value of the card information and the card record information is immediately rewritten.
If the bill insertion / additional purchase switch 96 is operated after performing the medal lending process using the inserted card, even if this card is a card issued by another device, the lending process is performed. Since the card information is registered in the own device by the procedure, st49-4 is executed in the same manner as described above.
Then, the flow shifts to st49-8, where the card information and the card record information are immediately rewritten.

If the transmission of the invalidation request signal in st49-5 has not returned "OK" even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds from st49-6 to st49-10, and returns to st4.
By proceeding to 9-11, the inserted bill is returned after the error display.

Further, after the bill is inserted, the bill return switch 95
Is operated, st49-2 becomes "YES", and the flow proceeds to the bill return process of st49-11. Therefore, immediately after inserting a card issued by another device, a banknote is inserted for adding valuable value, and when the additional process is canceled, the card information of the card is not registered properly and the banknote is not registered. Will be returned. Therefore, even if the return processing of the card is performed following the return of the banknote, and the card is inserted into another inter-machine 1, the card can be used without any trouble.

FIG. 26 shows the procedure (st51 to 72) of the settlement process and the inquiry process of the remaining amount in the settlement apparatus 3. This processing is also started in response to the insertion of a card into the card reception port 76, as in the processing of FIG. 21. First, in st51, the card recording information of the inserted card is read. And in the next st52,
The issue date and the hole code are collated as in st22 of FIG. In this verification process, if any data is incorrect, the process proceeds to st73, a predetermined error message is displayed on the display units 71 and 74, and then the process proceeds to st72 to return the card.

On the other hand, if the issue date and the hole code are appropriate, the process proceeds from st52 to st53 to transmit a transmission request signal to the device of the device number D4 of the card record information. And this transmission request signal is accepted,
When the card information with the use reservation flag is received, st5
4 to st55, the received card information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and further in st56,
The temporarily stored card information and the card record information are collated. If the two match, the card record information is determined to be appropriate and the process proceeds from st57 to st58, and the remaining amount of the card is displayed on the information display sections 71 and 74.

If the remaining amount is not zero and the checkout switch is operated when the card is inserted, st59 is "NO" and st60 is "YES", and the card information is invalid for the source device at st61. Transmit the activation request signal. When "OK" is returned in response to this transmission, st
62 is "YES" and the process moves to st63, where the temporarily stored card information is registered normally, and then the temporarily stored card information is deleted. Further, in the next st64, the card information and the card recording information which have been registered normally are rewritten so that the remaining amount becomes zero. And the next st
After releasing the use reservation flag of the card information at 65, the settlement money is paid out at st66, and then the card is initialized and collected at st67.

On the other hand, if the switch for collation is operated when the card is inserted, the process proceeds from st60 to st69-72, and after the remaining amount is displayed, the reservation of the card information in the source device is transmitted. And return the card. If the card record information does not match the card information in the collation processing in st56, it is determined that the card record information is improper, and the process proceeds to st68, where a predetermined error message is displayed. Thereafter, by executing the processing of the above-mentioned st69 to 72, the use reservation of the card information is released, and then the card is returned. If “OK” is not returned in response to the invalidation request signal during the settlement process, or if “OK” is not returned in the use reservation release signal during the collation process, st7
By proceeding in the flow of 3, 72, the card is returned after the error display.

As described above, in the second embodiment, by transferring the card information from the device that holds the card information to the device that has reserved the use of the card information, the device can be used each time the card information is collated or rewritten. Since there is no need to perform communication between the devices, and it is no longer necessary to perform use reservation and cancellation of the reservation every time a lending process or a value addition process, the medal lending process, the value addition process, In addition, the settlement process in the settlement device 3 can be made more efficient. In addition, the card information under the control of the other device is registered in the own device at the time when the first lending process, the addition of valuable value, or the settlement process is performed after confirming the remaining amount of the card. Therefore, if a card with a remaining balance of zero is inserted, if the card is returned without rewriting the card information, or if a banknote for adding the remaining balance is returned, the card information for that card will be There is no needless processing such as deleting the registration immediately after registering the card information without being registered.

Also in the first embodiment, the use reservation flag is set when the card is accepted, and the use reservation flag is set until the remaining amount of the card becomes zero or the card is returned. It may be maintained. In this case, for a card issued by another device, when a card collation request signal is transmitted for the first time, a use reservation flag may be set in the corresponding card information by the device that issued the card. Also in the first embodiment, if the use reservation flag is set as in the second embodiment, during this time, when a card having the same card recording information is inserted in another device, the first At the time of the collation processing, reading of the card information is prohibited, and an illegal act can be immediately detected. However, it is not always necessary to completely prohibit access to the card information, and only the collation processing of the card information may be permitted.

Also in the first embodiment, when a process of adding a valuable value to a card accepted by another device is performed, if the registration information of the subsequent card is held in the own device, the added value is added. Even if the number of medals to be lent is increased due to the valuable value, the processing can be simplified.

FIG. 27 shows a procedure when the value adding process of the first embodiment is changed in accordance with the above policy. In the figure, ST55-1 is different from FIG.
These procedures have undergone the determination process of 0, and these procedures have symbols (ST55-26 to ST55-
33) is attached. (The other procedures in which the processing is not changed will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 20 and will not be described in detail.)

In FIG. 27, when adding a valuable value to a card issued by itself, the CPU 43 invalidates the card information of the card being processed in accordance with the operation of the additional purchase switch 96, and then cancels the above-mentioned bill. The new card information to which the value of the value is added is created and registered in the card information file (ST55-26, 55-).
27). When the registration of the new card information is completed, in the next ST55-28, the card record information of the accepted card is rewritten according to the new card information.
Further, in ST55-29, the frequency display of the remaining amount is updated.

On the other hand, when a card issued by another device is accepted and its value is added, first, at ST55-
At 30, an invalidation request signal requesting invalidation of the target card information is transmitted to the card issuing device. The device that has received the invalidation request signal is the second device.
After invalidating the card information in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG.
K ”is returned. Upon receiving this return, the CPU 43 proceeds from ST55-31 to ST55-27, creates new card information and registers it in the card information file. Further, in ST28 and ST29, similarly to the card issued by the own device, the card record information of the card is rewritten according to the new card information, and then the frequency display of the remaining amount is updated.

In response to the invalidation request signal of ST30, "O
If “K” has not been returned, ST55-31 returns to S55.
Proceed to T55-32 to display an error, and then
A bill return process of T55-33 is executed.

When new card information is registered in the card information file in ST55-28, the use reservation flag of the card information is set to a released state. Thus, thereafter, the medal lending process using the card and the process of adding the valuable value again can be performed without any trouble.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the card issued by each of the inter-machine 1 and the card vending device 2 is permitted to be used only by the device that accepts the card and reserves the use of the card information. It is set so that the use of card information is not allowed to multiple devices at the same time. Therefore, even if a legal card is copied and a copy card and a genuine card are inserted into different devices at the same time, lending of game media exceeding the remaining amount indicated by the card information of the card and payment of the settlement money are not allowed. Can't happen.
Further, after the remaining amount of the predetermined card is added, double or triple use of the remaining amount can also be prevented, and a lending management system with extremely high security can be provided.

In any of the embodiments, rewriting of the card information, especially the remaining amount, by a device other than the device that has reserved the use is completely prohibited.
However, for example, when the sales of the card in the hall exceeds a predetermined amount, a rewriting signal is transmitted from a specific device such as the information collecting device 4 to each of the inter-machines 1, and the respective inter-machines 1 are transmitted.
Any processing such as "return service" in which a predetermined amount is added to the remaining amount of the card accepted by the user may be permitted.

Further, the management of the registration information using the use flags shown in the first and second embodiments is not limited to the distributed management type system as in each embodiment, and the card information of the issued card is stored in a specific device. It can also be applied to a lending management system of a centralized management method. For example, several inter-machines and one
In a system composed of two management devices, the management device determines the suitability of the card received by the inter-machine and transmits the value of the card, and then, based on the remaining amount of the card transmitted from the inter-machine. If it is configured to rewrite the card information, when the intercom machine accepts the card,
Use reservation of the corresponding card information in the management device. The management device transmits the value of the card only to the device that has made the use reservation, and prohibits access to the card information whose use has been reserved from devices other than the intermediary machine that has made the use reservation. Thus, there is no possibility that the card information of one card is used by a plurality of inter-machines, and it is possible to prohibit unauthorized lending processing exceeding the value of the card information.

[0212] In such a system, the card is not limited to the card issued in the game arcade, and card information of a card issued outside the game arcade, such as a card issued in advance by a card management company or the like, may be used. . Regarding the card issued both inside and outside, the card information of the issued card can be promptly registered in the management device by setting the communication device between the card issuing device and the management device.

[0213]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when using a recording medium, each game medium lending device always reserves the use of the registration information in a device for storing the registration information of the recording medium. The use of the registration information reserved for use by another device is restricted. Therefore, even if a legitimate recording medium is copied, it is impossible to rent a game medium in an amount exceeding the value of the original recording medium, and a high security game medium lending management system is provided. Becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to prevent a fraudulent act of adding the value of the recording medium and then using the value twice, thereby avoiding a great loss of the game arcade.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in a system of a type in which registration information for a recording medium is managed by an issuing device, only a device that has reserved the use of the recording medium registration information is permitted to lend a game medium. Since the registration information of the recording medium is correctly rewritten according to the lending, it is possible to correctly manage the value of the recording medium,
It is possible to prevent the number of game media exceeding the value from being rented out. Furthermore, in the device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the device that accepts the recording medium, each time the game medium is lent, the use reservation of the registration information of the recording medium is made, and the use reservation is released after the lending is completed. In other words, the same registration information can be prevented from being used by another device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in a system of a type in which registration information for a recording medium is managed by an issuing device, when an additional valuable value is added to a recording medium received by a game media lending device, Since it is necessary to reserve the use of the registration information in the device that issued the recording medium, it is possible to illegally add a valuable value by using a copy card and prevent an act of illegally using the valuable value.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, each time a process of adding a value to a recording medium is performed, the use reservation for the recording medium is set and released. Use of the registration information can be reliably prevented.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that it is not possible to add a valuable value to a recording medium, useless processing such as canceling a reservation for use or returning a valuable value once rewritten to an original value. Is not performed, so that the process is simplified in both the device that has received the recording medium and the device that has the registration information of the recording medium.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus that has received a recording medium registered in another apparatus, after reserving the use of the registration information of the recording medium, fetches the registration information and stores it in its own apparatus. Since the information is memorized, it becomes possible to perform processing such as setting and canceling the use reservation and rewriting the registration information in this device under the control of the own device, thereby reducing the number of times of communication between the devices and improving the lending process. Can be

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the registration information is fetched and stored in its own device, the use reservation made for the device storing the registration information can be taken over as it is. There is no danger that the information will be reserved by another device before it is received and stored.

[0220] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the registration information is stored in the own apparatus in accordance with the first lending of the game medium by the recording medium registered in the other apparatus. When the cancel operation is performed, it is only necessary to discard the acquired registration information and cancel the use reservation in the registration source device, and it is possible to avoid complicated processing.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the value of a recording medium is added prior to lending of a game medium after the recording medium registered in another apparatus is inserted, the value is taken from the apparatus of the registration source. Since the value of the registration information is rewritten and stored in the own device, when performing the process of renting the game medium based on the added value, the same process as the game medium issued by the own device may be performed. Processing is greatly simplified. In addition, when adding an additional valuable value to the received recording medium, it is necessary to make a reservation for use of the registration information in the device that issued the recording medium. it can.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, similarly to the seventh aspect of the invention, when it is determined that it is impossible to add a valuable value to the recording medium, the use reservation is canceled or the value once rewritten is restored. Since the useless processing such as returning to the value of the recording medium is not performed, the processing is simplified in both the apparatus that has received the recording medium and the apparatus that has the registration information of the recording medium.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game medium lending apparatus which has received the recording medium, the registration information is reserved when the recording medium is received, and the value of the received recording medium is completely consumed. Since the use reservation is automatically canceled at the time, while the value of the recording medium is used up by one device, the same registration information is used by the medium in which the same information as the recording medium is recorded. Can be prevented.

According to the fourteenth aspect, when a recording medium is ejected with a valuable value remaining, the use reservation for the registration information of the recording medium is released, so that one recording medium can Even if it is thrown into the devices one after another, the lending process and the matching process of the registration information are performed, each time the device receives a request, the use reservation is made and the registration information of the recording medium can be used, thereby causing a malfunction. There is no danger.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when a recording medium registered in another device is received, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the other device to make a reservation for use of the registration information of the recording medium and release the registration information. Since the request is made, the use reservation and the release thereof can be performed in the same manner as the recording medium registered in the own apparatus.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the reserved flag and the identification information of the device that has made the use reservation are set in the registration information permitted to use, the registration information that has not been used is registered. It is possible to easily determine an access or an access of a device whose use is not permitted to registration information permitted to a predetermined device, and restrict the use of the registration information.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, even when the settlement processing device performs the settlement processing or the collation processing of the recording medium, the registration information can be used by reserving the use of the recording medium. It is possible to prevent an improper payment process using the registration information twice.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, even in a system in which the value of each recording medium is centrally managed by a single management device, the registration information of one recording medium is used repeatedly, and illegal game media can be lent. This can be prevented from occurring, and the security of this type of system can be greatly improved.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, even in the case of performing a lending process using a recording medium issued inside or outside of a game arcade or a settlement process of the recording medium, an unauthorized operation exceeding the value of each recording medium is performed. It is possible to prevent the lending and settlement of the game media, and to provide a game media lending management system with high security. Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 20, in a device for receiving a recording medium, when the lending process or the settlement process of the game medium is not performed for any reason, or when the processing cannot be performed, the registration information of the recording medium is registered. Since the use reservation for is canceled, there is an advantage that a trouble in use hardly occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a game medium lending management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of card information.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a front view and a perspective view showing an appearance of the stand-behind machine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view and a side view showing an internal mechanism of the card processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view and a side view showing an internal mechanism of the card processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view and a side view showing an internal mechanism of the card processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view and a side view showing an internal mechanism of the card processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view and a side view showing an internal mechanism of the card processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the inter-machine.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the appearance of the card vending device.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the card vending device.

FIG. 12 is a front view and a rear view showing the appearance of the settlement apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the settlement apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the information collecting device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a card issuing process in the inter-table machine and the card vending device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a signal interruption process in the inter-table machine and the card vending device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a signal interruption process in the inter-table machine and the card vending device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process at the time of accepting a card in the inter-machine.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a medal lending process in the inter-machine.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a process of adding a valuable value to a card in a machine between machines.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a settlement process and an inquiry process in the settlement device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a signal interruption process in the inter-table machine and the card vending device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a card receiving process in the inter-table machine.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a medal lending process in the inter-table machine.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a process of adding a valuable value to a card in a machine between machines.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a settlement process and an inquiry process in the settlement device.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a process of adding a valuable value to a card in a machine between machines.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inter-machine 2 Card vending machine 3 Checkout device L1 Communication line

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Katsuya Takase 2-9-14-1 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Takasago Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Tetsuo Saito 4-59-9, Hakuro-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi F-term (reference) in Ation Card Information System Co., Ltd. 2C088 BA88 BB07 BB15 BB29 BB43 BC73 BC79 CA02 CA11 CA31

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A function for issuing a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned and storing predetermined information including a valuable value as registration information for the recording medium, and a recording medium registered in the own device or another device. In a game medium lending management system in which a plurality of game medium lending devices having a function of accepting a game medium and performing a game medium lending process are provided so as to be able to communicate with each other, Use reservation means for reserving the use of the registration information in a device that stores the registration information, and permitting the use of the registration information to a device that has reserved the use of the registration information stored in the own device, and A control unit for restricting a device other than the device that has performed the use of the registration information whose use has been reserved, a lending management system for a game medium. 2. A function of issuing a recording medium to which a value has been added and storing predetermined information including a value of the recording medium as registration information, and a recording medium registered in the own apparatus or another apparatus. A plurality of game media lending devices, comprising:
And a recording medium issuing device having a function of issuing a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned and storing predetermined information including the valuable value as the registration information with respect to the recording medium. In the lending management system, each game medium lending device includes a use storage unit that reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium in a device that stores the received registration information of the recording medium, and each game medium lending device and the recording medium. The issuing device permits the device that has made use reservation for the registration information stored in its own device to use the registration information, and the devices other than the device that has made use reservation use the registered use information. A lending management system for a game medium, comprising a control means for restricting a game from being performed. 3. The game medium lending apparatus reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium on condition that the game medium lending process is performed using the received recording medium, and uses the registration information stored in its own apparatus. 2. The device that accepts the reservation permits the device that has made the use reservation to lend the game medium based on the registration information, and rewrites the registration information in response to the permitted game medium being lent. Or the game medium lending management system described in 2. 4. The game medium lending device reserves use of the received registration information of the recording medium in response to receiving a signal instructing lending of the game medium after receiving the recording medium, and 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the device that has received the reservation cancels the use reservation according to a process of rewriting the registration information. 5. 5. The game medium lending device reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium on condition that the insertion of money is received under the state of receiving the recording medium, and the registration information stored in its own device is 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device that accepts the reservation for use according to the input of the currency rewrites the value of the registered information for which use is reserved to a value obtained by adding a value corresponding to the input money. Game media lending management system described in. 6. The game medium lending system according to claim 5, wherein the device that accepts the use reservation according to the insertion of the money cancels the use reservation for the registration information in accordance with rewriting of the registration information. 7. Each of the game medium lending devices determines whether or not to add a value in the recording medium based on a predetermined condition according to insertion of money in a state where the recording medium is being received. 6. The lending management system for game media according to claim 5, wherein the use of the registration information is reserved when it is determined that a value can be added to the recording medium. 8. When each of the game medium lending apparatuses receives a recording medium registered in another apparatus, the apparatus registers the recording medium after reserving the use of registration information of the recording medium, and then registers the recording medium. A device that fetches the information and stores it in its own device, and transmits the registration information of the recording medium to a device that has received the recording medium registered in its own device, the device that has received the recording medium stores the registration information. The game medium lending management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitted registration information is invalidated on the condition that the registration information is invalidated. 9. A game medium lending device that has received a recording medium registered in the another device, stores the registration information taken from the device that registers the recording medium, and stores the registration information in its own device with respect to the registration information. 9. The lending management system for game media according to claim 8, wherein the use reservation is continued. 10. A game medium lending device that has received a recording medium registered in the another device, uses the registration information acquired from the device that registers the recording medium for lending the first game medium using the recording medium. The game medium lending management system according to claim 8, wherein the game medium lending management system stores the game medium in its own device accordingly. 11. Each of the game media lending apparatuses includes a value adding unit that adds an additional value to the recording medium on condition that the input of money is received while the recording medium is being received, The valuable value adding unit stores, in its own device, registration information taken from a device that registers the recording medium in response to the insertion of the money, while receiving a recording medium registered in another device. 11. The game medium lending management system according to claim 8, wherein the value of the registration information is rewritten to a value obtained by adding a value corresponding to the input money. 12. The discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to add a valuable value to the recording medium based on a predetermined condition in accordance with insertion of money in a state where the recording medium is being received. Provided, when the discriminating means determines that a value can be added to a recording medium registered in the another device, the registration information taken from the device for registering the recording medium is stored in the own device. 12. The game medium lending management system according to claim 11, wherein: 13. The game medium lending device reserves use of registration information of the recording medium in response to reception of the recording medium, and reserves the use reservation in accordance with the value of the recording medium becoming zero. 3. The gaming medium lending management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lending management system releases the game medium. 14. The game medium lending device reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium in response to the reception of the recording medium, and the recording medium is discharged to the outside in a state where the recording medium remains valuable. The game medium lending management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the use reservation is canceled in response to the request. 15. When each of the game medium lending apparatuses receives a recording medium registered in another apparatus,
3. The game medium lending management system according to claim 1, wherein a request to use or cancel the use reservation of the registration information of the recording medium is transmitted by transmitting a predetermined signal to an apparatus for registering the recording medium. . 16. The apparatus which has received the use reservation sets a flag indicating that the apparatus has been reserved in the registration information for which use has been reserved, and stores information for identifying the apparatus which has made the use reservation. Game media lending management system described in. 17. A function of issuing a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned and storing predetermined information including a valuable value as the registration information for the recording medium, and a recording medium registered in the own device or another device. A plurality of game media lending devices having a function of accepting a game medium and performing a lending process of the game media, and a settlement processing device that accepts a recording medium and adjusts the value of the recording medium are provided in a game medium installed communicable with each other. In the lending management system, each game media lending device and the settlement processing device includes a use reservation unit for reserving the use of the registration information in a device that stores the received registration information of the recording medium, and each game media lending device includes: The device that has made use reservation for the registration information stored in its own device is permitted to use the registration information, and the device other than the device that has made the use reservation is the Lending management system of game media formed by having a control means for limiting the use of use reserved registration information. 18. A plurality of game media lending devices having a function of receiving a recording medium to which a value is given and lending a game medium, and a predetermined value including a value of a recording medium received by each game medium lending device. And a management device that stores the information of the recording medium as registration information, wherein each of the game media lending devices reserves use of the registration information of the recording medium received by the management device. The management device, the management device, the game medium lending device that has received a recording medium in which the registration information is stored in its own device, the game is provided on condition that the reservation of the use of the registration information of the recording medium The medium lending device is permitted to use the registration information, and the registration information is written in response to the lending of the game medium performed by the device permitted to use the registration information. Obtaining with, lending management system of game media device other than device subjected to the use reservation to restrict the use of registration information the used reserved. 19. At least one apparatus comprising a recording medium issuing unit for issuing a recording medium to which a valuable value is assigned,
A plurality of devices including a recording medium processing unit that performs the lending process of the game medium or the settlement process of the recording medium by receiving the recording medium, and predetermined information including a value of the recording medium received by the recording medium processing unit. At least one having a registration information storage unit for storing
In the game medium lending management system including two devices, the device including the recording medium processing unit reserves use of registration information stored in the device including the registration information storage unit for the received recording medium. A registration unit that includes a use reservation unit, and a device that includes the registration information storage unit, captures information including a value of a card issued by a device that includes a recording medium issuing unit, and stores the information as the registration information.
On condition that the device including the recording medium processing unit has reserved the use of the registration information of a predetermined recording medium, the device is permitted to use the registration information, and devices other than the device that has made the use reservation are A game medium lending management system, comprising: control means for restricting use of the registered information used for use. 20. An apparatus including the registration information storage unit, according to which a predetermined condition that the use of the registration information is determined to be unnecessary or impossible in a device permitted to use the registration information is satisfied. 20. The game medium lending management system according to claim 19, wherein the use reservation for the registration information of the device is canceled.