JP2003199964A - Game machine reserving system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine reserving system by which a game machine desired by a user is reserved. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine reserving system comprises a hall computer 20 for detecting the working states of the game machine in the game hall and a reservation managing server 10 which is connected to a user terminal 30 to be used by the user of the game machine so as to be communication possible. Game machine reserving information comprising information to specify the game machine desired for usage by the user is received from the user terminal 30 and a command is given to the hall computer 20 to secure the usage desired game machine. The system receives a report that the usage desired game machine is secured from the hall computer 30 and gives the report to the user terminal 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine reservation system for reserving a gaming machine that a user desires to use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some users visiting a game shop may desire to play on a specific game machine among the game machines installed in the game shop.

[0003]

However, when a user visits a game shop, there is a case where another person is using the desired game machine and the desired game machine cannot be used. In such a case, the user may give up the desired gaming machine or temporarily wait for the desired gaming machine to become available while playing the game with another gaming machine. In this case, the user needs to sequentially check the vacant state of the desired gaming machine while playing with another gaming machine, which is inconvenient.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine reservation system which allows a user visiting a gaming shop to reserve a desired gaming machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention as set forth in claim 1, a hall computer (20) for detecting an operating state of each gaming machine in a gaming machine and a user used by the user of the gaming machine. A gaming machine reservation system comprising a reservation management server (10) communicatively connected to a terminal (30), the information including specifying from a user terminal (30) which gaming machine the user desires to use. A means for receiving the game machine reservation information, a means for instructing the hall computer (20) to reserve the desired game machine, and a notification from the hall computer (20) that the desired game machine has been secured, and the user Terminal (30)
And a means for notifying that the desired gaming machine has been secured.

Thus, if the user wants to use a specific gaming machine, he / she can make a reservation for the desired gaming machine at the user terminal (30), and the gaming machine desired to be used is free even if he / she is not there. I can know that. Therefore, the user does not need to be at the game store until the desired gaming machine becomes available. Alternatively, the user can play a game on another game machine without worrying about the usage status of the game machine desired to be used until the game machine desired to be used becomes available. In this case, the operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, after receiving the gaming machine reservation information from the user terminal (30), the user terminal (30) is provided with information for specifying the gaming machine which the gaming shop wants to guide the user to. It is characterized in that it is provided with means for transmitting the included user guidance information.

If the user can be guided to the gaming machine having a low operating rate by this user guidance information, the operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 3, means for receiving an inquiry about the operating status of the gaming machine from the user terminal (30), means for inquiring the operating status of the gaming machine to the hall computer (20), and a hall. And a means for notifying the operating status of the gaming machine received from the computer (20) to the user terminal (30).

As a result, the user has the user terminal (30).
The operating status of each gaming machine can be grasped at, and can be used as a judgment material when making a reservation for the gaming machine, for example.

In the invention according to claim 4, the hall computer (20) connected to the user terminal (30) used by the user of the gaming machine so as to communicate with the gaming machine while detecting the operating state of each gaming machine. And a means for receiving game machine reservation information including information specifying a desired game machine desired by the user from the user terminal (30), and securing the desired game machine. And a means for notifying the user terminal (30) that the desired gaming machine has been secured, if the desired gaming machine has been secured.

Thus, the hall computer (20)
May have a reservation management function and a communication function with the user terminal (30).

The reference numerals in parentheses of the above-mentioned means indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a gaming machine reservation system of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine reservation system includes a management server 10, and a hall computer 20 and a user terminal 30 communicably connected to the management server 10. Management server 10 and user terminal 3
0 is connected by the communication network 40. The communication network 40 may be the Internet, for example.

The reservation management server 10 is a server computer having a storage unit such as a hard disk, and manages reservations of gaming machines in a game store. Hall computer 2
0 is for detecting the operating status of each gaming machine installed in the game store and accumulating operating data. Also,
The hall computer 20 can send a signal to each gaming machine to prevent the gaming machine from operating.

The user terminal 30 is carried and used by a user of the gaming machine, and a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone can be used. The user terminal 30 has an input unit through which the user inputs data, and a display unit for displaying information. Using the user terminal 30, the user can make a reservation for the gaming machine that he / she wants to use, and can receive a notification that the reservation has been secured.

Next, a procedure for reserving a gaming machine by the gaming machine reservation system of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the user inputs game machine reservation information into the user terminal 30, and the game machine reservation information is stored in the management server 1.
0 (steps S10 and S11). The gaming machine reservation information includes information that specifies the desired gaming machine that the user desires to use. The game machine reservation information is input as follows.

FIG. 3 shows the screen structure of the user terminal 30. When visiting a game store, a user may want to play a game with a game machine of a specific model or a game machine with a specified number. Therefore, when the user makes a reservation for the gaming machine, the user terminal 30 displays the reservation screen shown in FIG. 3 and allows the user to select the model or the number.

When the user selects "1. Select by model" on the reservation screen, the screen moves to the model selection screen of FIG. On the model selection screen, a model list of game machines installed in the game store is displayed, and the user can select a desired model.

When the user selects "2. Select by number" on the reservation screen, the screen moves to the number selection screen of FIG. On the number selection screen, a list of numbers of gaming machines installed in the gaming shop is displayed, and the user can select a desired gaming machine number. The number selection screen may display the operating status of each gaming machine installed in the gaming shop so that the user can grasp the operating status of each gaming machine.

The reservation management server 10 receives the game machine reservation information transmitted from the user terminal 30 and registers it in the storage unit (steps S12 and S13). At this time, the reservation management server 10 can accept game machine reservation information from a plurality of user terminals 30. Next, the management server 10 issues a command to the hall computer 20 to secure the desired gaming machine specified by the gaming machine reservation information (step S14).

The hall computer 20 receives the reservation command from the reservation management server 10 (step S15), detects the operating state of the desired gaming machine, and determines whether or not the desired gaming machine is in use. (Steps S16 and S1
7).

Whether or not the gaming machine is in use can be determined as follows. If no entering balls are detected in the gaming machine for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), it is determined that the gaming machine is idle. Alternatively, an infrared sensor or the like capable of detecting the presence / absence of a player is provided in the gaming machine, and if it is confirmed that there is no player in front of the gaming machine for a predetermined time, it can be determined that the gaming machine is idle.

However, even if it is determined that the gaming machine is idle, the user of the gaming machine may be away from the gaming machine for a long time due to a rest break or the like. The user may be called, and if the user does not appear, it may be forcibly excluded.

When the gaming machine desired to be used becomes empty, the hall computer 20 secures the gaming machine desired to be used so that other users cannot use it (step S18). Specifically, the gaming machine desired to be used is locked so that the operations of other users are not accepted. Further, the gaming machine may be provided with a display for displaying information, and may display, for example, "reserving". Alternatively, the store clerk may put a tag, for example, "reserved" in front of the gaming machine.

The hall computer 20 notifies the reservation management server 10 that the desired gaming machine has been secured (step S19). The reservation management server 10 receives the notification from the hall computer 20 (step S20), and notifies the user terminal that has reserved the game machine that the desired game machine has been secured (step S21). For this notification, for example, electronic mail or the like can be used.

The user terminal 30 receives the notification from the reservation management server 10 (step S22), displays a message on the screen indicating that the gaming machine desired by the user has been secured, and informs the user (step S23). ). Since it is possible that the user is inside the game store, the user terminal 30
A call may be announced to the reserved user in the store together with the notification to.

Upon receipt of the notification, the user goes to the place of the gaming machine he wishes to use and plays the game. In this case, the reserved user may not appear for a long time. Therefore, if the user does not appear even after a lapse of a predetermined time after notifying the user, the reservation may be automatically canceled.

As described above, according to the gaming machine reservation system of the first embodiment, when the user wants to use a specific gaming machine, the user can make a reservation for the desired gaming machine on the user terminal 30, Even if you are not there, you can know that the desired gaming machine is available. Therefore, the user does not need to be at the game store until the desired gaming machine becomes available.
Alternatively, the user can play a game on another game machine without worrying about the usage status of the game machine desired to be used until the game machine desired to be used becomes available. In this case, the operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, after the user reserves the desired gaming machine, the reservation management server 10 sends the recommended information as user guidance information to the user terminal 30 during the waiting time for waiting for the desired gaming machine. To deliver as.

The recommended information distributed to the user terminal 30 includes information specifying the gaming machine that the gaming shop wants to guide the user to. For example, it is possible to inform the user as a recommended device of a game machine or the like having a low operating rate that the game store wants to guide the user. Alternatively, among the vacant gaming machines, the top 10 gaming machines with the most balls can be extracted and used as the recommended information.

The recommended information can be distributed to the user terminal 30 by using, for example, electronic mail. The mail may be simultaneously delivered to the plurality of user terminals 30 that have reserved the gaming machine. The user can play a game on the gaming machine recommended by the recommended information. This allows
If the user can be guided to a gaming machine with a low operating rate,
The operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a screen configuration example of the user terminal 30. The gaming machine reservation system of the third embodiment is configured so that the user can confirm the operating status of the gaming machine from the user terminal 30.

The operation status of the gaming machine is confirmed by the user terminal 30 as follows. First, “2. operating status” is selected on the initial screen of the user terminal 30 shown in FIG. 4, and the user terminal 30 inquires of the reservation management server 10 about the gaming machine operating status. Reservation management server 1
0 inquires the hall computer 20 about the game machine operating status. The hall computer 20 detects the operating status of each gaming machine and transmits the gaming machine operating status information to the reservation management server 10. The reservation management server 10 transmits the gaming machine operating status information to the user terminal 30 that made the inquiry.

On the user terminal 30, the operating status of each gaming machine is displayed as in the operating status display screen of the user terminal 30 shown in FIG.

As a result, the user can grasp the operating status of each gaming machine at the user terminal 30, and can use it as a judgment material when making a reservation for the gaming machine, for example.

(Other Embodiments) In each of the above embodiments, the reservation of the gaming machine and the notification that the gaming machine has been secured are configured to be performed by the same user terminal 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the reservation of the gaming machine and the reception of the notification that the gaming machine has been secured may be performed by different terminals.

For example, a reservation for a game machine is made at a reservation-dedicated terminal installed in a game store, and a notification that the reservation has been secured can be received by, for example, a pager (registered trademark) (pager). The pager may be lent to the user by the gaming shop at the time of reservation, and may be collected when the user starts using the gaming machine.

In the above embodiment, the reservation management server 10 is connected to one hall computer.
The present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured to connect to a plurality of hall computers and reserve a game machine at a plurality of game stores.

Further, although the reservation management server 10 and the hall computer 20 are configured as separate computers in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reservation management server 10 is not limited to this.
The hall computer 20 may be composed of one computer. In this case, the hall computer 2
It may be configured to have a reservation management function of 0 and a communication function (Internet connection function) with the user terminal 30.

When the reservation management server 10 accepts reservations from a plurality of user terminals 30, and when the reservations for the gaming machines overlap, the users who can make reservations may be determined by lottery.

Further, the game machine reservation information may include a time when the user desires to start using the game machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a gaming machine reservation system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a gaming machine reservation procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen configuration example of a reservation screen of a user terminal.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen configuration example of a user terminal according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Reservation management server, 20 ... Hall computer, 3
0 ... User terminal.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A game comprising a hall computer (20) for detecting an operating state of each gaming machine in a gaming machine and a reservation management server (10) communicatively connected to a user terminal (30) used by a user of the gaming machine. A machine reservation system, which receives, from the user terminal (30), game machine reservation information including information for specifying a desired game machine to be used by the user, and the hall computer (20), A means for instructing the reservation of the desired gaming machine, and a notification from the hall computer (20) that the desired gaming machine has been secured, and the user terminal (30) can secure the desired gaming machine. A gaming machine reservation system, comprising: 2. After the game machine reservation information is received from the user terminal (30), the user guidance including the information specifying the gaming machine which the gaming shop wants to guide the user to the user terminal (30). The gaming machine reservation system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting information. 3. A means for receiving an inquiry about the operating status of the gaming machine from the user terminal (30), a means for inquiring of the operating status of the gaming machine to the hall computer (20), and the hall computer (20). A means for notifying the user terminal (30) of the operating status of the gaming machine received from the user terminal (30).
Game machine reservation system described in. 4. A gaming machine reservation system comprising a hall computer (20) connected to a user terminal (30) used by a user of the gaming machine so as to be communicable with the operating state of each gaming machine in the gaming shop. Means for receiving from the user terminal (30) gaming machine reservation information including information for specifying a gaming machine desired to be used by the user; means for securing the gaming machine desired to be used; A gaming machine reservation system comprising means for notifying the user terminal (30) that the desired gaming machine has been secured when the desired gaming machine has been secured.