JP2002143521A - Prize administering system for game hall - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize administering system for a game hall which can correctly perform a prize exchanging treatment while preventing the fraudulence of an exchange ticket which is issued from a counting machine from being generated. SOLUTION: The counting machine 3 issues a receipt wherein ticket issuance information indicating the quantity of thrown-in game mediums, and the number of the counting machine. The counting machine 3 transmits the ticket issuance history including the ticket issuance information to a host computer 1, and at the same time, stores the ticket issuance history. When a game player submits the receipt to a prize exchange counter, the ticket issuance information is read by a POS terminal unit 2 from the receipt. The POS terminal unit 2 collates the read ticket issuance information with the ticket issuance history stored in the host computer 1. When the ticket issuance information agrees with the ticket issuance history, the prize exchanging treatment is performed. In this case, when the host computer 1 is under an off-line state, the ticket issuance information is collated with the ticket issuance history stored in the counting machine which has issued the receipt. When the ticket issuance information agrees with the ticket issuance history, the prize exchange treatment is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prize management system for a game arcade that performs a prize exchange process based on ticketing information stored in a voucher issued by a ticketing means.

[0002]

Conventionally, in a pachinko hall, when a player who has completed a game exchanges a game medium such as a pachinko ball or a medal with a prize, the player inserts the game medium into a counter and deposits a voucher. And submit the voucher to the prize exchange counter. That is, when a game medium is inserted into the counter, the counter counts the inserted game medium, and when the counting is completed, issues a deposit ticket in which issuance information including a ticket number and a count value is stored. .
At this time, the counter transmits the ticketing history including the ticketing information to the hall computer, and the hall computer stores the ticketing history input from the counter.

[0003] When a player submits a deposit ticket issued from a counter to a prize exchange counter, the employee in charge
The ticket issuing information stored in the deposit ticket is read by the POS terminal. P
When the OS terminal reads the ticketing information from the deposited ticket, the OS terminal compares the read ticketing information with the ticketing history stored in the hall computer, and when the collation result is good, the prize exchange based on the ticketing information. Since the processing is executed, the player can obtain a desired premium. If the collation result is negative, it is determined that the voucher may be forged and an alarm is issued. Therefore, when the player illegally falsifies the voucher, a warning is issued from the POS terminal, so that the fraud of the player can be prevented.

However, the cable between the host computer and the counter or the host computer and the PO
If the cable between the S terminal is broken or the host computer goes down, the POS terminal cannot compare the ticketing information read from the deposit ticket with the ticketing history stored in the host computer. In such a case, the prize exchange process must be performed without checking the ticketing information, which is problematic in terms of security.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a prize management system for a game arcade in which a prize exchange process can be performed correctly by preventing fraudulence of a voucher issued from a counter. To provide.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, when game media are counted, at least a game ticket is issued that stores a ticket holding a count value of game media and ticket issuing information indicating a ticket issuing number, and a ticket issuing history including the ticket issuing information is stored. A counter for outputting, a prize management computer for storing the ticketing history output from the counter, and when reading new ticketing information from the deposit ticket, accessing the prize management computer to obtain a corresponding ticketing history. A prize management terminal that reads and memorizes the ticketing history and the read ticketing information, and executes a prize exchange process based on the count value indicated by the ticketing information if the collation result is good. The counter is provided to store the ticketing history, and the prize management terminal is unable to access the prize management computer at the time of ticketing information collation. An access is made to a counter storing ticketing information read from the deposit ticket, the ticketing history stored in the counter is read and stored, and the ticketing history is set as a collation target. ).

[0007] According to such a configuration, when the player puts the game media into the counter, the counter counts the inserted game media, and stores the ticket and the ticket information indicating the ticket issue number. , The issuance history including the issuance information is stored, and the issuance information is output. Thereby, the premium management computer stores the ticketing history output from the counter.

[0008] When the player submits the voucher issued from the counter to the premium exchange counter, the employee in charge reads the voucher information stored in the voucher using the premium management terminal. The prize management terminal compares the ticketing information with the ticketing history stored in the prize management computer when reading the ticketing information from the deposit ticket, and executes a prize exchange process when the collation result is good. Thereby, the player can exchange the acquired game media for a prize. In addition, the prize management terminal stops the prize exchange process when the ticketing information is not verified.

Here, when the premium management terminal cannot access the premium management computer when collating the ticketing information, the premium management terminal reads the ticketing history stored in the counter and sets it as a collation target. In this case, a prize exchange process is executed. Therefore, even if it is not possible to access the prize management computer at the time of ticketing information collation, the prize exchange process can be performed reliably.

In the above configuration, the counter issues a deposit ticket including a counter number as ticketing information, and the prize management terminal indicates the ticket information read from the deposit ticket when accessing the counter. A counter of the counter number may be accessed (claim 2).

[0011] According to such a configuration, the ticketing information includes the number of the counter that issued the deposit ticket, so that the prize management terminal immediately accesses the counter that issued the deposit ticket and transmits the information of the ticketing information. Collation can be performed.

[0012] The prize management terminal may access the prize management computer if the prize management computer cannot access either the prize management computer or the counter when collating the ticketing information read from the deposit ticket. It is desirable to input and store the ticketing history stored in the prize management computer when the is restored (claim 3).

According to this configuration, when the counter issues a deposit ticket, the ticket issuing history is transmitted from the counter to the prize management computer and stored, so that access to the prize management computer is restored. By the way, the prize management terminal can synchronize the ticket issuing history by inputting and storing the ticket issuing history stored in the premium managing computer.

[0014] Further, when the counter cannot access the prize management computer when the deposit ticket is issued, the counter transmits the ticketing history to the prize management computer when the access to the prize management computer is restored. The premium management computer may store the ticketing history input from the counter and transmit the ticketing history to the premium management terminal (claim 4).

According to such a configuration, if the prize management computer cannot be accessed when the counter issues the deposit ticket, although the prize management computer and the prize management terminal do not store the ticketing history, The counter transmits the ticketing history to the premium management computer when the access to the premium management computer is restored. Then, the premium management computer stores the ticketing history input from the counter and transmits the ticketing history to the premium management terminal, so that the ticketing history can be synchronized.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a prize management system for a pachinko hall will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire system configuration. In FIG. 1, the system includes a host computer (corresponding to a prize management computer) 1 and a POS
It is composed of a terminal (corresponding to a prize management terminal) 2 and a plurality of counters 3, and each device is connected to each other by a communication line 4.

The counter 3 is installed, for example, on the island end.
When game media such as pachinko balls or medals are inserted, the number of game media inserted is counted, and a receipt (printed on the voucher) printed with a bar code indicating ticketing information such as the counted value of the game media and a ticket number is counted. (Equivalent). At this time, the counter 3 transmits a predetermined ticketing history including the ticketing information printed on the receipt to the host computer 1.

The host computer 1 manages the prize exchange based on the ticketing history input from the counter 3 and the ticketing information input from the POS terminal 2, and also manages the operating state of each gaming machine (not shown). ing.

The POS terminal 2 can read the barcode printed on the receipt, decodes the ticketing information indicated by the read barcode, and stores the ticketing information and the ticketing history stored in the host computer 1. Are collated, and if the collation result is OK, a prize exchange process is performed.

Here, the host computer 1, PO
A storage device 5 composed of a hard disk is connected to the S terminal 2 and the counter 3, and a database is constructed in the storage device 5. In this database, as will be described later, a ticket issuing history by the counter 3 and a reading history by the POS terminal 2 are sequentially accumulated and stored.

FIG. 2 shows one ticketing / reading history of the database constructed in the storage device 5. In FIG. 2, the processing date, processing time, type, flag, number of counted balls, number of issued tickets, number of issued balls, number of returned balls, reading time, and reading machine number are set as the items of the database. In this case, the processing date, processing time, type, flag, number of balls counted,
The ticketing number, the number of issued balls, and the number of returned balls are the ticketing history by the counter 3, and the reading time and the reading number are the reading history by the POS terminal 2.

Note that the host computer 1 and the POS terminal 2 register ticket / read histories of all models, while the counter 3 registers ticket / read histories for each model.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. (1) Operation of the system In the case of online (normal time) at the time of ticketing / online (normal time) of verification at the time of reading (online at the time of ticketing means communication between the counter 3 and the host computer 1 at the time of issuing a receipt. The online status means that the communication between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1 is online when the receipt is read and verified.) The player ends the game. When exchanging the acquired game medium for a prize, the game medium is put into the counter 3. Then
The counter 3 executes a ticketing operation.

FIG. 3 shows the ticketing operation of the counter 3. In FIG. 3, the counter 3 first counts the inserted game media by executing a counting process (S
101).

Subsequently, a new ticket issuing number is created based on the current ticket issuing history stored in the storage device 5, and a predetermined ticket issuing history including the ticket issuing information including the ticket issuing number and the count value is stored. (S102), a receipt in which ticketing information is printed with a barcode is issued (S103).

Subsequently, after confirming that the host computer 1 is online (S104: Y
ES), the ticketing history is transmitted to the host computer 1 (S105).

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the host computer 1 related to the present invention. In FIG. 4, the host computer 1 monitors whether the ticketing history is received from the counter 3 (S201) or the ticketing information is received from the POS terminal 2 (S203). When it is received (S201: YES), the ticketing history is registered in the database (S202). Therefore,
The issuance history is sequentially stored in the database of the host computer 1 every time the issuance history is input from the counter 3 (see FIG. 2).

On the other hand, when the receipt is issued from the counter 3 as described above, the player submits the receipt to the premium exchange counter. Then, the employee in charge of the premium exchange reads the barcode printed on the receipt submitted by the player with the POS terminal 2.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the POS terminal 2.
In FIG. 5, when reading the barcode printed on the receipt (S301), the POS terminal 2 checks the code of the barcode (S302), and when OK, reads the processed ticketing history. (S303: YES, S3
04). The processed ticketing history is data for which the premium exchange processing has been completed.

Subsequently, the same issue number is added to the processed issue history registered in its own database. Is confirmed (S305: YES), and after confirming that the host computer 1 is online (S305).
306: YES), the ticketing history is read from the host computer 1 (S307). That is, the host computer 1
Since the issuance history transmitted from the counter 3 is stored in advance in the database, the issuance history is compared with the issuance information read from the receipt. In this case, in addition to the issue number and the number of balls counted,
The processing is performed in consideration of the processing time and the like.

In FIG. 4, the host computer 1
When ticketing information is received from the POS terminal 2 (S20
3: YES), the ticketing information is read (S204), and when it is determined that there is the same ticketing information by collation of the ticketing information (S205: YES), it is transmitted that it is OK (S206), and the ticketing history is transmitted. Is updated (S207). If there is no identical ticketing information (S205: N
O), NG is transmitted (S208). In this case, the transmission information indicating the OK is transmitted to the POS terminal 2 including the update history updated from the comparison of the previous ticketing history.

Returning to FIG. 5, when the POS terminal 2 is notified by the host computer 1 that the collation of the ticketing information is OK in response to the transmission of the ticketing information to the host computer 1 (S308: YES). Then, a prize exchange process is executed (S309). That is, the count value is displayed on the display unit, and the number of special prizes corresponding to the count value and the number of game media to be returned are displayed. Therefore, the responsible employee
Based on the display result, the player hands out the desired prize, and if there is a game medium to be returned, returns the required game medium or hands out a prize corresponding to the price. Subsequently, the own ticketing history is updated (S310). That is,
The update history received from the host computer 1 is updated and stored in the database.

On the other hand, when the POS terminal 2 is notified from the host computer 1 that the ticketing information verification is NG (S308: NO), it performs an error process (S31).
1). That is, the occurrence of the abnormality is notified to the employee in charge by notifying the alarm.

As described above, in the normal state where the system is online, the POS terminal 2 checks the ticketing information read from the receipt against the ticketing history stored in the host computer 1 to ensure the prize exchange process. High security can be ensured.

When issuing a ticket, the subline is used for online verification / reading collation (note that the subline is used for collation during reading when the communication between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1 is offline when the collation is performed when reading the receipt. (The communication with the counter 3 is online.) By the way, when the host computer 1 is off-line due to some kind of abnormality at the time of checking the ticket issuing information read from the above-mentioned voucher, the POS terminal 2 Since the ticketing information cannot be compared with the ticketing history stored in the host computer 1, the prize exchange process cannot be performed correctly.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the host computer 1 is off-line at the time of collation with the ticketing history stored in the host computer 1, the PO
The S terminal 2 checks the ticketing information as follows.

That is, when the host computer 1 is off-line at the time of collation of the ticketing information (S306: NO), the POS terminal 2 accesses the corresponding counter 3 based on the ticketing information read from the receipt (S306). S312:
YES), the ticketing history stored in the counter 3 is input (S313, a process indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 shows the ticketing history updating process of the counter 3. In FIG. 6, the counter 3 is a POS terminal 2
When the ticketing information is received from (S401: YES),
The ticketing history is read from the storage device 5 (S402), and it is determined whether the same ticketing information is present (S403). At this time,
If there is the same ticketing information (S403: YES), P
After transmitting the OK to the POS terminal 2 to the OS terminal 2 (S404), the ticketing history is updated (S405).
If the same ticketing information does not exist (S403: N
O), NG is transmitted to the POS terminal 2 (S4)
06).

In FIG. 5, the POS terminal 2 is a counter 3
(S308: YE
S), by comparing the ticketing information read from the receipt with the ticketing history stored in the counter 3, if the ticketing information matches, a prize exchange process is executed (S309), and the own ticketing information is updated. It does (S310).

According to such an operation, the POS terminal 2
As described above, even when the host computer 1 is off-line, the ticketing information is compared with the counter 3 so that high security can be ensured as in the case described above.

When the ticket is issued online / offline for verification at the time of reading (offline for verification at reading means that the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1
The communication between the POS terminal 2 and the counter 3 is off-line. When both the host computer 1 and the counter 3 are off-line, the POS terminal 2 performs a prize exchange process without collating ticketing information. Execute That is, the prize exchange process is executed based on the ticketing information read from the receipt. According to such an operation, the prize exchange process is performed without collation of the ticketing information, so that security is reduced.

In the case of offline at the time of issuing a ticket / online for verification at the time of reading (offline at the time of issuing a ticket means that the communication between the counter 3 and the host computer 1 is online at the time of issuing a receipt). No. 3 does not transmit the ticketing history to the host computer 1 when the host computer 1 is off-line at the time of ticketing. As a result, the ticketing history of the host computer 1 is not updated.

On the other hand, when collating the ticketing information read from the receipt, the POS terminal 2 transmits the ticketing information to the host computer 1 when the host computer 1 is online. In this case, since the ticketing history from the counter 3 is not stored in the host computer 1, the host computer 1 transmits to the POS terminal 2 that the ticket is NG. Therefore, the POS terminal 2 performs an error process. In this error processing, the prize exchange processing is not performed, and the error is reported to prioritize the processing by the employee in charge.

By such an operation, the ticketing information can be compared with the host computer 1, but since the host computer 1 does not store the ticketing history,
System security is low.

In the case of off-line at the time of ticketing / sub-line at the time of reading and collation When the host computer 1 is off-line at the time of ticketing, the counter 3 does not transmit the ticketing history to the host computer. As a result, the ticketing history of the host computer 1 is not updated.

On the other hand, when collating the ticketing information read from the receipt, if the host computer 1 is off-line, the POS terminal 2 compares the ticketing history stored in the counter 3 with the ticketing information. Therefore, the ticketing information can be reliably collated, and the security of the system is high.

When Ticketing is Offline / Offline for Reading Verification The counter 3 does not transmit the ticketing history to the host computer 1 if the host computer 1 is off-line at the time of ticketing. As a result, the ticketing history of the host computer 1 is not updated.

On the other hand, when the POS terminal 2 checks the ticketing information read from the receipt, if both the host computer 1 and the counter 3 are off-line, the POS terminal 2 checks the ticketing information without checking the ticketing information. A prize exchange process is performed based on the read ticketing information.

According to such an operation, the prize exchange processing is performed only based on the ticketing information read from the receipt without collating the ticketing information, so that the security is low.

(2) System recovery operation When the system is recovered from the off-line state, ticketing information and read information of the entire system are synchronized as shown in FIG. That is, the counter 3 and the host computer 1
Whether or not is online or offline is stored as a ticketing history flag (see FIG. 2), so that the recovery operation from the offline state can be quickly performed based on the flag.

Recovery from Sub-Line for Online / Reading Verification at Ticket Issuing In the state before recovery, the host computer 1, POS terminal 2 and counter 3 are synchronized with respect to the ticketing history. As for the reading history, only the POS terminal 2 and the counter 3 are synchronized. Therefore, when communication between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1 is restored, the offline reading history is transmitted from the POS terminal 2 to the host computer 1 to synchronize the ticket issuing history and the reading history of the entire system. be able to.

Recovering from On-line at Ticketing / Off-line for Verification at Reading Before the recovery, the ticketing history is counted by the counter 3
And the host computer 1 is synchronized, whereas the reading history is only in the POS terminal 2, so that
When the communication between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1 is restored, the POS terminal 2 sends the off-line reading history to the host computer 1 (simultaneously inputs the ticketing history from the host computer 1).
By transmitting the reading history to the counter 3, the ticket issuing history and the reading history of the entire system can be synchronized.

Recovery from Offline at the Time of Ticketing Before the recovery, the ticketing history is counted
Only in. Therefore, the counter 3 and the host computer 1
Between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1
When communication with the counter is restored, the counter 3 transmits the ticketing history in the offline state to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 transmits the ticketing history to the POS terminal 2 so that the ticketing history of the entire system can be obtained. Synchronization can be achieved.

Recovery from Offline / Subline Verification at Readout Verification at Sub-line Verification Before recovery, the ticketing history is counted by counter 3
However, the POS terminal 2 and the counter 3 are synchronized with respect to the reading history. Therefore, POS
When the communication between the terminal 2 and the host computer 1 is restored, the counter 3 sends the offline ticketing history to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 stores the input ticketing history and sends it to the POS terminal 2. The transmission can synchronize the ticketing history of the entire system. Further, the POS terminal 2 can synchronize the reading history of the entire system by transmitting the offline reading history to the host computer 1.

Recovery from Offline at Ticketing / Offline at Verification at Reading Before recovery, the ticketing history is counted by the counter 3
Only the POS terminal 2 has the reading history while the reading history exists only in the POS terminal 2. Therefore, when the communication between the counter 3 and the host computer 1 and the communication between the POS terminal 2 and the host computer 1 are restored, the counter 3 transmits the offline ticketing history to the host computer 1, The host computer 1 can synchronize the ticketing history of the entire system by transmitting the ticketing history to the POS terminal 2. Further, the POS terminal 2 transmits the reading history during offline to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 transmits the reading history to the counter 3 to synchronize the reading history of the entire system.

According to such an embodiment, the ticketing history is registered as a database in the counter 3 in addition to the host computer 1, and when the POS terminal 2 checks the ticketing information read from the receipt, the host computer 1 When access to the host computer 1 is not possible, the match is made with the ticketing history stored in the counter 3. Therefore, even when the host computer 1 cannot be accessed, the prize can be obtained by correctly checking the ticketing information. Exchange processing can be performed reliably. Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which the ticketing information from the receipt is collated only with the host computer 1, the security of the prize exchange process can be enhanced, and an unauthorized receipt can be promptly dealt with.

Since the ticketing information stored in the receipt includes the number of the counter that issued the receipt, the POS terminal 2 could not access the host computer 1 when collating the ticketing information. Sometimes, the counter that issued the receipt can be immediately accessed, and the processing time can be reduced.

Further, when the communication with the host computer 1 is down, the ticket issuing history and the reading history of the entire system are synchronized when the communication is restored, so that the prize exchange is performed based on the ticket issuing history and the reading history. Processing can be performed reliably.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. When the POS terminal 2 reads the ticketing information from the receipt and checks it, if the host computer 1 and the counter 3 are offline, the read ticketing information may be displayed. In this case, the display function is provided in the counter, and the ticketing history is displayed, so that the counter can be compared with the ticketing information read from the POS terminal 2.

[0060]

As is clear from the above description, according to the game hall data management system of the present invention, the counter is provided so as to store the ticketing history, and the prize management terminal is provided with the prize. When the management computer cannot be accessed, the counter accesses the counter that stores the ticketing information read from the deposit ticket, reads and stores the ticketing history stored in the counter, and checks the ticketing history for comparison. Since the relevant ticketing information is read and the ticketing information is set as a target for collation, an excellent effect that fraudulence of a voucher issued from the counter can be prevented and the prize exchange process can be correctly performed. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a ticketing / reading history.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a ticket issuing process of the counter.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a ticketing history storage / update process of a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reading process of the POS terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a ticketing history update process of the counter.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a synchronization process of online recovery

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a host computer (prize management computer), 2
Is a POS terminal, 3 is a counter, and 5 is a storage device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Hamajima 1-47-1, Naguno, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City Furuya Kokusai Center Building 2F Daikoku Electric Co., Ltd. 47-1 Furuya Kokusai Center Building 2nd floor Daikoku Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirokazu Kaneko 1-47-1, Nakono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City Furuya Kokusai Center Building 2F Daikoku Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C088 BA90 BC80 CA02 CA31

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A counter which, when counting game media, issues a deposit ticket which stores at least a count value of the game media and ticketing information indicating a ticket issuing number, and outputs a ticketing history including the ticketing information. A prize management computer that stores the ticketing history output from the machine; and, when new ticketing information is read from the deposit ticket, accesses the prize management computer to read and store the corresponding ticketing history, and also stores the ticketing history. And a prize management terminal that executes a prize exchange process based on the count value indicated by the ticketing information if the collation result is good, and the counter stores the ticketing history. The premium management terminal, when it is not possible to access the premium management computer at the time of ticketing information collation, the ticket issuing information read from the deposit ticket There accessing counting machine which is stored, prize management system for game arcade, characterized by the ticketing history verification object stores read ticketing history stored in the counter. 2. The counter issues a deposit ticket including a counter number as ticketing information, and the prize management terminal, when accessing the counter, indicates a counter indicated by the ticket information read from the deposit ticket. 2. The prize management system for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein the number counter is accessed. 3. The prize management terminal accesses the prize management computer if the prize management terminal cannot access any of the prize management computer and the counter when collating ticket issuing information read from the deposit ticket. 2. The ticket issuing history stored in the premium management computer is input and stored when the system is restored.
Or the prize management system for a game arcade according to 2. When the access to the prize management computer is not restored when the counter is issued, the counter transmits the ticketing history to the prize management computer when access to the prize management computer is restored. 3. The prize management system for a game hall according to claim 1, wherein the prize management computer stores the ticketing history input from the counter and transmits the ticketing history to the prize management terminal.