JP2003062287A - Game ball dispensing system and prize change system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a payment system of game price capable of using a bank account instead of a purse without requiring the carrying of cash or the going to and from a cash-converting place. SOLUTION: This system comprises an automatically data-processible money receipt management means, a position information registration means, and a game ball dispensing means. The money receipt management means receives the information showing a transaction code and a received sum of money from a financial institute and records it, transmits credit information to a corresponding game ball dispensing means when the transaction code or the like is inputted to the position information registration means, and the game ball dispensing means lends game balls within the range not exceeding the credit. This system further comprises an automatically data-processible prize ball counting means and a prize management means. The prize ball counting means comprises a count part for counting the number of prize balls and a transfer designation input part allowing a user to input the information for specifying a transfer designation, and it transmits the information for the number of prize balls and the transfer designation to the prize management means. The prize management means transmits the request of transferring the sum of money corresponding to the number of prize ball to the corresponding transfer account inputted to the transfer account input means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game price settlement system that eliminates the need for carrying cash in games such as pachinko and slot machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a user who plays a game such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine throws cash into a ball lending machine or the like at a game store to receive a game ball or the like, and after the game, cashes a prize ball or the like. After exchanging for special prizes at a game shop, they were exchanged for cash at a cash exchange outside the venue.

[0003]

In the conventional method, when the customer does not have cash, he / she needs to receive the cash payment at a financial institution, etc., and the acquired value is transferred to another medium or another game machine. Even if you want to use it, there are many inconveniences such as having to go to the cash exchange and cash it. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game price settlement system that does not require carrying cash or making round trips to a cash exchange, and can use a bank account or the like as a wallet.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game ball lending system for a game store, which comprises deposit management means, position information registration means, and game ball lending means, and the payment management means is a transaction code. And the information indicating the deposit amount is received and recorded from the financial institution, and when the transaction code or the like is entered in the position information registration means, the credit information is transmitted to the corresponding means for lending a game ball, etc. The means is characterized by lending game balls within a range not exceeding credits.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lending machine which can be used in the gaming ball lending system, wherein credit information received from a management computer of a gaming store is stored, and the gaming ball and the like within a range not exceeding the credit. Is rented out and has a function of transmitting information indicating the renting out to the management computer.

A prize exchange system for a game shop according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises prize ball counting means arranged in the game shop, prize management means, and transfer management means arranged outside the game shop. Has a counting unit that counts the number of prize balls and a transfer destination input unit that allows the user to input information that specifies the transfer destination, and the information of the transfer destination and the number of prize balls or the amount of the prize corresponding to the number of prize balls is given as a prize. The prize management means sends the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls and the information of the transfer account input to the transfer destination input section to the transfer management means, and the transfer management means transmits the received amount and transfer account information. It is characterized by transmitting a transfer request including the transfer to a financial institution.

The prize exchange system of the amusement store according to claim 4 comprises prize ball counting means and prize management means, and the prize ball counting means counts the number of prize balls and the user specifies the transfer destination. It has a transfer destination input section that can input information, and sends information on the transfer destination and the number of prize balls or the amount of prizes corresponding to the number of prize balls to the prize management means, and the prize management means displays the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls. It is characterized in that a request for transfer to a transfer account input to a transfer destination input unit is transmitted to a financial institution.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prize ball counting machine which can be used in the prize exchange system, which comprises a counting unit for counting the number of thrown prize balls and an input unit for inputting a transfer account number. It is provided with a function of transmitting the input transfer account and the number of prize balls counted or the amount of prize money corresponding to the number of prize balls to the management computer of the game store.

In this specification, game balls and the like are game media or value media such as pachinko balls and medals,
The prize ball refers to a value medium such as a pachinko ball, a medal or the like, which is awarded or awarded according to the result of the game.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the game ball lending system according to claim 1, which constitutes a part of a cash-free payment system, a user can borrow a game ball without bringing cash to a game shop. The service is provided by a financial institution that allows you to make transfer requests and confirm payment online. Although there are various forms of such services, for example, a user connects his / her mobile phone to a financial institution having an account, and identifies his / her account number, personal identification number, transfer destination account, and transfer amount. And so on. The financial institution that received the request uses the inter-bank payment network to send the specified amount to the designated account,
An e-mail confirming the completion of the remittance is sent to the user, and the financial institution receiving the remittance sends an e-mail confirming the deposit containing the transaction code given to the holder of the transfer destination account. The user can confirm the remittance by displaying the content of the email on the screen of the mobile phone.

The deposit management means of the amusement store is a computer device capable of communicating with a financial institution having its own account through a public line or a dedicated line. Upon receiving the deposit confirmation information such as an electronic mail from the financial institution, the deposit management means records the transaction code and the credit information such as the deposit amount or the number of game balls corresponding to the deposit amount.

The deposit management means can also communicate with the location information registration means possessed by the game shop or the customer through the in-house communication means. The position information is information about which gaming ball or other lending means the user is associated with. The position information registration means can be provided in a game shop, or can be used by a mobile phone of a customer. When it is provided in a game shop, it has an input device such as a ten-key pad or a scanner that allows a customer or a store clerk to input a transaction code, and one or more machines are provided in the game shop. It can also be provided integrally with a rental means such as a game ball. As another input means, the user's mobile phone may be connected to a mobile phone dedicated interface provided in the game ball lending machine to automatically perform communication.

The lending means is a gaming ball lending machine or the like provided adjacent to each gaming machine. The corresponding lending means is the lending means when the position information registration means and the lending means such as game balls are provided in a one-to-one relationship, and otherwise, the lending means corresponding to the inputted position information. . When the customer inputs the transaction code and the necessary location information into the location information registration means, the deposit management means retrieves the recorded deposit data, and credit information such as the deposit amount is transferred to the means for lending a game ball or the like corresponding to the location information. Send. The game ball lending unit receives and stores the credit information, lends the game ball or the like within the credit range according to the operation of the customer, and transmits the credit reception confirmation or the lending completion confirmation to the deposit management unit. The deposit management means records this.

The invention according to claim 2 is an example of a lending machine used in the game ball lending system according to claim 1.
This lending machine is usually provided between gaming machines, but the gaming machine itself may have a lending machine built therein. The lending machine is connected to the deposit management means via the communication means in the game store, and each one has individual position information such as a device number. When the credit information is received from the deposit management means in the store, it is stored in a storage unit provided inside, and a game ball or the like is lent out within the credit range by the operation of the customer, and information indicating the lending execution is transmitted to the deposit management means. The lending machine can be further provided with a position information registration means, for example, a ten-key pad which allows a customer to enter a transaction code, a scanner, a connection terminal with a mobile phone, etc., in which case the position information indicating the lending machine is automatically added. The customer only needs to enter the transaction code.

The prize exchange system of the amusement store according to claim 3, which is a part of the cash-free payment system, allows the customer to receive a prize ball for cashing without making a round trip to a cash exchange outside the venue. is there. The prize management means of the amusement store is a computer device capable of communicating with a financial institution via a public line or a dedicated line, and communicating with a prize ball counting means provided in the amusement store via a local communication means. is there.

The prize ball counting means has a counting unit for counting the number of prize balls thrown by the customer and a transfer destination input unit for allowing the user to input the transfer destination specifying information, and the transfer destination and the number of prize balls or the prize balls. It is a device for transmitting the data of the amount of money of the prize corresponding to the number to the prize managing means, and usually several devices are provided in the game store. When the prize management means receives the information such as the transfer destination and the number of prize balls from the prize ball counting means, it sends a request to the financial institution to transfer the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls to the designated transfer destination by e-mail or the like. Also, the communication contents are sequentially recorded.

In the prize exchange system of the game shop according to the third aspect, the transfer request is transmitted through the game shop association in order to increase the clarity of accounting. The prize management means of the amusement store is the amount corresponding to the number of prize balls to the transfer management means of the amusement store association,
The information necessary for the transfer such as the transfer destination is transmitted, and the transfer management means transmits the transfer request to the financial institution with which the user has an account and records the communication contents one by one. It also records the notification of transfer completion confirmation from the financial institution. In the prize exchange system of the game shop according to the fourth aspect, the prize management means of the game shop directly sends the transfer request to the financial institution.

The invention according to claim 5 is claim 3 or 4.
It is a prize ball counter used in the prize exchange system of the amusement store described. This award ball counting machine is provided at one or several at a game shop, and in addition to a normal counting unit, an input unit through which a customer can enter a transfer account number, and an input transfer account number and a prize ball counted. It has a function of transmitting information on the amount of prizes corresponding to the number or the number of prize balls to the management computer of the game shop. The input unit is not limited to a direct input means such as a ten-key pad, but may be a dedicated interface for connecting to the mobile phone of the customer.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a game ball lending system according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a game shop facility, 2 is a game shop management computer, 3 is a game ball lending machine, 4 is a customer who has a mobile phone, and 5 is a settlement network of a financial institution. The solid line indicates data transmission, and the broken line indicates lending game balls. The game ball lending machine 3 is provided one by one between the stands of the game machine and supplies the game ball to a predetermined game machine. The game ball lending machine 3 is connected to the management computer 2 in the game store through a dedicated line, and as shown in FIG.
It has a game ball payout device 32, a counter 33 for counting the number of payouts, an input unit 34 such as a numeric keypad, and a communication interface 35. The management computer 2 and the financial institution 5 are connected by a public line or a dedicated line.
The mobile phone of the customer 4 and the financial institution 5 can communicate with each other through a wireless and wired public communication network.

The customer 4 makes a predetermined transfer request to the financial institution outside the store or inside the store using a mobile phone. When the transfer is completed, an electronic mail containing the amount of money deposited and the transaction code information is sent to the management computer 2 of the game shop. The management computer 2 records them in the attached external recording device.

Next, the customer 4 selects a game machine in the game shop,
Enter the transaction code using the numeric keypad of the game ball lending machine 3 on the left side. The control unit 31 of the game ball lending machine 3 manages the entered transaction code via the dedicated line to the management computer 2
Send to. Upon receiving the transaction code, the management computer 2 stores the device number of the gaming ball lending machine, searches the record of the deposit data, and when the corresponding transaction code exists, calculates the number of credits of the gaming ball corresponding to the deposit amount. , Send to the game ball lending machine. If there is no record of the applicable transaction code, the fact is transmitted.

When the control unit 31 of the game ball lending machine receives the information on the credit number, it stores the information, operates the game ball payout device 32 according to the operation of the user, and operates the game ball of the user until the counter 33 reaches the credit number. The game ball is paid out to the machine. When the payment is completed, a lending execution confirmation is sent to the management computer. If the transaction code does not exist, the customer is notified by an appropriate method such as turning on the indicator light. The management computer 2 receives and records the lending execution confirmation.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a prize exchange system of a game shop according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 to 5 are the same as above, 6 is a prize ball counter, a solid line indicates data transmission, and a broken line indicates return of prize balls. One prize ball counter 6 of the present invention is provided for each island, and as shown in FIG. 4, a control unit 61, a hopper 62, and a counter 6 for counting the prize balls taken in.
3, an input unit 64 such as a ten-key pad, a communication interface 65, and a display screen 66, and is connected to the management computer 2 via a communication line in the game store.

In order to convert the prize balls obtained by the customer into cash, first, the prize balls are put into the hopper 62 of the prize ball counter 6. The control unit 61 displays the output of the counter on the display unit 66, and also displays guidance for inputting the transfer destination. Display 66
While looking at, the ten-key input unit 64 is operated to specify the transfer destination account. The control unit 61 transmits the entered account information including the number of prize balls to the management computer 2. Management computer 2
Receives and records these data, and sends to the financial institution 5 an electronic mail requesting that the amount of money equivalent to the number of prize balls be transferred to the designated account. When the transfer is completed, a payment notification e-mail is sent to the user's mobile phone. As a result, the user can always grasp the amount of money earned so far and immediately use it for a new game.

In another embodiment, the management computer 2
Sends the transfer amount and the transfer destination account to the transfer management computer installed in the game shop association, and the transfer management computer makes an actual transfer request. The transfer amount and transfer destination are recorded in the recording device of the transfer management computer and are strictly managed. Therefore, the clarity of the transfer process can be further enhanced.

[0026]

According to the game ball lending system and the free gift exchange system of the amusement store of the present invention, the user does not need to carry a large amount of cash or make a round trip to the cash exchange, and use a bank account or the like as a wallet. It's convenient and safe because you can.
A particularly excellent point of the present invention is that when the amount of money converted into a prize ball is transferred to the user's account, the user immediately confirms the payment with a mobile phone or the like, and the subsequent game can be performed without making a round trip to the cash exchange. It can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a game ball lending system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a prize exchange system of a game shop according to the present invention.

[Figure 3] Block diagram of a game ball rental machine

[Figure 4] Block diagram of prize ball counter

[Explanation of symbols]

1 game store 2 management computer 3 game ball rental machines 4 users 5 financial institutions 6 prize ball counting machine 31 Control unit 32 devices 33 counter 34 Input section 35 Communication interface 61 control unit 62 hopper 63 counter 64 input section 65 Communication interface 66 Display screen

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A deposit management unit capable of automatic data processing, a position information registration unit, and a game ball lending unit,
The deposit management means receives and records the transaction code and the information indicating the deposit amount from the financial institution, and when the transaction code or the like is input to the position information registration means, the credit information is transmitted to the corresponding lending means such as a game ball. However, the game ball lending system is a game ball lending system of a game store, wherein the game ball lending means lends the game balls to the extent that credits are not exceeded. 2. A lending machine having a function of storing credit information received from a management computer of a game shop, lending a game ball or the like within a range not exceeding the credit, and transmitting information indicating lending execution to the management computer. 3. A prize ball counting means arranged in a game shop capable of automatic data processing, a prize management means, and a transfer management means arranged outside the game shop, wherein the prize ball counting means indicates the number of prize balls. It has a counting unit that counts and a transfer destination input unit that allows the user to input information that identifies the transfer destination, and sends information on the transfer destination and the number of prize balls or the amount of prizes corresponding to the number of prize balls to the prize management means. ,
The free gift management means transmits the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls and the information of the transfer account input to the transfer destination input section to the transfer management means,
A prize exchange system for a game shop, wherein the transfer management means sends a transfer request including the received amount of money and transfer account information to a financial institution. 4. A prize ball counting means capable of automatic data processing and a prize management means, wherein the prize ball counting means counts the number of prize balls and a user can input information specifying a transfer destination. It has a transfer destination input unit and transmits information on the transfer destination and the number of prize balls or the amount of prizes corresponding to the number of prize balls to the prize management means,
A prize exchange system for a game shop, wherein the prize managing means sends a request to a financial institution to transfer the amount of money corresponding to the number of prize balls to the transfer account input to the transfer destination input unit. 5. A counting unit for counting the number of prize balls thrown in,
An award ball counting machine having an input section capable of inputting a transfer account number and having a function of transmitting the counted number of prize balls and information of the input transfer account to a management computer of a game store.