JP2003210753A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide highly practical data compression/decompression technology in a pachinko game machine controlled by a computer. <P>SOLUTION: In a ROM 52 of the computer, a part of program data is stored as reversible compressed data, while the rest is stored as non-compressed data, and a part of image data is stored as reversible compressed data and the rest is stored as irreversible compressed data. The data is decompressed, that is, read from the ROM to be extended, and decompressed data produced in this way are stored in a RAM. Among the compressed data, this data processing is carried out in relation to a pattern switching timing in a part related to a selected pattern selected from a plurality of candidate patterns and displayed on a screen, while in a part related to a common pattern displayed in common in another timing different from the display timing of a plurality of candidate patterns, data processing is carried out in association with a power excitation timing of the computer. <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 such as a pachinko machine, an arrange ball gaming machine, and a slot machine, and more particularly to a data compression / decompression technique for a computer-controlled gaming machine. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of gaming machines, computer-controlled gaming machines have become widespread in recent years. In this type of gaming machine, the computer is C
A processing device such as a PU, a ROM that stores read-only processing data (including program data that describes a program) to be processed by the processing device, and a RAM that stores the processing data in a writable / readable manner at any time. Configured to have.

In a game machine of the type controlled by a computer, it is desired that more data can be stored in a ROM having a smaller storage capacity, as in devices in other fields.

A game machine proposed to meet such a demand is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-96005. In this gaming machine, the image data is compressed and stored, and the compressed image data is expanded and used. Decompression of data is also called decompression or decompression.

[0005]

However, there is still room for improvement in the prior art described in this publication, particularly from the viewpoint of practical application.

For example, when using compressed data in a computer, it is necessary to perform data processing called decompression for decompressing the compressed data to generate decompressed data. The decompression time is appropriate according to the attribute of the compressed data. It is effective to improve the processing efficiency of the computer.

Further, it is necessary to optimize the storage format of the decompressed data thus generated stored in the RAM in a non-rewritable manner or in a rewritable manner according to the attribute of the compressed data. It is effective for increasing.

Furthermore, the method of compressing data is as follows:
There are a lossless compression method that compresses data so that it can be completely restored, and a lossy compression method that compresses data that does not always restore completely.

The lossless compression method has an advantage of high data decompression accuracy, but has a drawback of reducing the amount of compressed data because it has a limitation in increasing the data compression rate. is there.

On the other hand, the lossy compression method has the disadvantages of the lossless compression method, and has the advantage.

In a gaming machine, it is ideal that all data can be reversibly compressed and stored, as in devices in other fields. However, in reality, the amount of compressed data that can be stored in a computer in advance may be restricted for various reasons.

On the other hand, in a gaming machine, in general, there is some kind of compressed data that can be incompletely restored.

Therefore, in the gaming machine, it is effective to consider the attribute of the data to be compressed in order to reduce the amount of compressed data as much as possible and to secure the minimum decompressibility of the compressed data. is there.

Based on the above-described knowledge, the present invention has been made to provide a data compression / decompression technique having high practicality in a game machine of a computer controlled type.

[0015]

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each mode is divided into sections, numbers are attached to each section, and the numbers of other sections are referred to as necessary. This is for facilitating the understanding of some of the technical features described in the present specification and some of the combinations thereof, and the technical features described in the present specification and the combination thereof are as follows. It should not be construed as limiting.

(1) A processor and a read-only memory for storing processing data to be processed by the processor.
A computer having an OM and a RAM that stores the processed data in a writable and readable manner at any time, and a screen, and an image representing visual information that changes with time is displayed on the screen according to a command from the computer. A plurality of pieces of visual information represented by the image, the plurality of pieces of candidate visual information, one of which is selected at the visual information switching timing. Common to all or some of the plurality of candidate visual information at a timing different from that to be expressed and (b) timing at which the selected visual information selected from the plurality of candidate visual information is expressed. A gaming machine having at least one common visual information selected and expressed by the: A plurality of candidate visual information-related portions and the at least one common visual information-related portion are respectively stored as compressed data, and the computer (a) powers on the gaming machine. The portion of the compressed data related to the at least one common visual information in relation to timing is stored in the ROM.
Read from, decompress, and generate the first
The restored data is stored in the RAM, and the portion of the compressed data related to the selected visual information is related to the RO in relation to the visual information switching timing.
A decompression unit that reads out from M, decompresses, and stores the second decompression data generated by decompression in the RAM
(B) A gaming machine including a processing unit that processes the first and second restored data stored in the RAM.

In this gaming machine, the image displayed on the screen of the gaming machine represents visual information that changes with time.

The plurality of visual information represented by the image is (a) a plurality of candidate visual information, one of which is selected and represented at the visual information switching timing. (B) The selection visual information selected from the plurality of candidate visual information is commonly selected and expressed with respect to all or some of the plurality of candidate visual information at a timing different from the timing at which the selected visual information is expressed. And at least one common visual information.

And in this game machine, ROM
Of the processed data, each of the plurality of candidate visual information-related portions and at least one common visual information-related portion is stored as compressed data.

Further, in this game machine, the computer is configured to include a restoration unit and a processing unit.

According to the decompression unit, at least one portion of the compressed data related to the common visual information is read from the ROM and expanded in relation to the power-on timing at which the game machine is powered on. The first decompression data generated by the decompression is stored in the RAM.

According to this decompression unit, further, in relation to the visual information switching timing, the portion of the compressed data relating to the selected visual information is read out from the ROM, decompressed, and generated by the decompression. The second restored data is R
It is stored in AM.

On the other hand, according to the above processing unit, RA
The first and second restored data stored in M are processed.

As described above, according to the gaming machine of this section,
The compressed data associated with the plurality of candidate visual information and the compressed data associated with at least one common visual information are
The timings of reading from the ROM, restoration, and storage in the RAM are different from each other.

Further, regarding the compressed data relating to the plurality of candidate visual information, the compressed data of the plurality of candidate visual information are not read out from the ROM at one time and restored and stored in the RAM. Only the selected visual information of the plurality of candidate visual information is compressed data read from the ROM and restored to the RAM.
Memorized by.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the data processing of reading the compressed data from the ROM, decompressing it, and storing it in the RAM is dispersed in time according to the attribute of the compressed data to be executed. Since this is performed, the load on the computer at each restoration is reduced, and as a result, the processing efficiency of the computer can be easily improved.

Further, according to this gaming machine, since only the part of the compressed data which is known to be processed by the computer in the near future is restored, all the compressed data can be used in the future. Compared with the case where data is restored regardless of the presence or absence of the above, the computer can easily avoid unnecessary restoration, and this can also easily improve the processing efficiency of the computer.

In this section and the following sections, "processing data" includes, for example, at least one of program data describing a program, data in a narrow sense (data referred to for realizing the functions of the program), and the like. .

The narrowly defined data includes, for example, image data for displaying an image on the screen. The image data is
For example, when a three-dimensional object (for example, a polyhedron) is three-dimensionally displayed on a two-dimensional screen, data representing the shape of the object and each divided surface (for example, each polygonal plane) of the object. And data representing the size and position (including their dynamic change) of the object on the screen.

Further, in this section and the following sections, "visual information" means, for example, letters, numbers, symbols, figures,
It is represented by at least one of a pattern, a color and the like. The visual expression of those characters and the like can be called an image or a design.

(2) After the restoration unit generates the first restoration data and stores it in the RAM, the first restoration data is stored in the R until the power of the gaming machine is cut off.
In the AM, a storage unit for storing without erasing, and in the RAM, the second decompressed data relating to old visual information is erased in the RAM in association with the visual information switching timing, and a new visual image of the compressed data is generated. And a rewriting unit that reads out a portion related to the physical information from the ROM and decompresses it, and stores the data generated by the decompression in the RAM as the second restored data related to the new visual information (1). A gaming machine according to item.

In the gaming machine described in the item (1),
For a plurality of candidate visual information, it is necessary to restore compressed data for the selected visual information after any one of the plurality of candidate visual information is selected. That is,
It is not always necessary to restore compressed data for all of the plurality of candidate visual information during each game period in which a certain player plays a game with this gaming machine.

On the other hand, for at least one common visual information, the compressed data must be restored during each game period.

As a result of pursuing a technique for reducing the storage capacity of RAM while considering such a difference in attribute of visual information, the present inventors found that a plurality of candidate visual information is
The compressed data is restored only for the selected visual information, and each time the selected visual information is updated, the compressed data is restored for the new selected visual information instead of deleting the restored data for the old selected visual information from the RAM. We have developed a technology to restore data and store the restored data in RAM.

Based on this development technique, in the gaming machine according to this section, after the first restoration data relating to at least one common visual information is generated and stored in the RAM, the power source of the gaming machine is concerned. The first restored data is stored in the RAM without being erased until is disconnected.

Further, in this gaming machine, the second restored data relating to the old selection visual information is erased in the RAM in association with the visual information switching timing, and the compression relating to the new selection visual information is performed. The data is read from the ROM and decompressed, and the second restored data generated by the decompression is stored in the RAM.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, the format for storing the restored data in the RAM is the attribute of various visual information,
That is, since it is optimized according to the attributes of various compressed data (for example, the usage status of the compressed data, the usage frequency, etc.),
The storage capacity of the RAM can be easily reduced.

(3) The decompression unit predicts the selected visual information according to a predetermined rule prior to the time when the selected visual information is determined, and predicts the selected visual information among the compressed data. A portion related to the selected visual information is read from the ROM and decompressed, and the data generated by the decompression is used as the second restored data.
The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), which includes a predictive expansion unit to be stored in AM.

The gaming machine described in the above item (1) or (2) can be implemented in such a manner that compressed visual data is restored after the selected visual information is fixed.

However, in the case of carrying out in this mode, decompression of the compressed data for the selected visual information is always performed after the selection visual information is fixed, and the decompression time cannot be freely determined. .

On the other hand, if compressed data is restored when the load on the computer is large, the load on the computer is dispersed over time, which is convenient for improving the processing efficiency of the computer. .

Further, in a gaming machine, it is generally possible to predict in advance with a certain probability which of a plurality of candidate visual information will be selected at a certain time in the future. That is, it is possible to predict the visual information selected in the near future with a certain degree of accuracy.

Based on the knowledge described above, in the gaming machine according to this section, the selected visual information is predicted in accordance with a predetermined rule prior to the time when the selected visual information is determined, and The compressed data related to the predicted selected visual information is read from the ROM and expanded, and the second decompressed data generated by the expansion is stored in the RAM.
Memorized by.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is possible to easily avoid the concentration of the load on the computer for the purpose of restoration, and as a result, it is possible to easily improve the processing efficiency of the computer.

(4) The compressed data includes lossless compressed data generated by losslessly compressing part of the processed data, and lossy compressed data generated by lossyly compressing another part of the processed data. The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (3), including:

In the gaming machine described in any of the above items (1) to (3), the decompression accuracy required for compressed data is not the same for all compressed data, and high decompression accuracy is required. In general, there is a part that does not require such high restoration accuracy.

For example, with regard to visual information that can directly affect the outcome of the game in the course of the player progressing the game with the gaming machine, a high restoration accuracy is required in order to realize accurate information transmission. On the other hand, for visual information that does not directly affect the outcome of the game, for example, to achieve decorative effects and background effects, compressed data cannot be restored with high accuracy. Not essential.

On the other hand, as described above, there are two types of data compression methods, a lossless compression method and a lossy compression method, and comparing both methods from the viewpoint of the data compression rate, the lossy compression method is better than the lossless compression method. The compression rate can be easily improved.

Based on the knowledge described above, in the gaming machine according to this section, compressed data is lossless compressed data generated by losslessly compressing a part of the processed data, and another part of the processed data is irreversible. The lossy compressed data generated by being compressed is included.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is possible to easily improve the data compression rate, and it is also possible to easily reduce the storage capacity of the ROM.

(5) The lossy compressed data is caused by the irreversibility of the lossy compressed data when the corresponding image of the plurality of visual information is displayed on the screen according to the lossy compressed data. The gaming machine according to item (4), which is generated for visual information in which an error expected to occur in the image does not exceed an allowable range.

(6) The processing data includes program data describing a program executed by the processing device, and the lossless compressed data is generated for at least a part of the program data (4) or (5). ) The gaming machine described in the paragraph.

It is important that the program data describing the program executed by the processor be compressed so that it can be completely restored.

Based on such knowledge, in the gaming machine according to this section, at least a part of the program data in the processed data is stored in the ROM as lossless compressed data.

(7) R for storing the processing device and the processing data to be processed by the processing device in a read-only manner
A gaming machine controlled by the computer, the computer including an OM and a RAM that stores the processed data in a writable / readable manner at any time.
The OM stores a portion of the processed data as lossless compressed data generated by lossless compression thereof, while storing another portion of the processed data of lossy compressed data generated by lossy compression thereof. A gaming machine that stores as.

As is clear from the explanation in the above item (4), in a gaming machine, generally, the decompression accuracy required for compressed data is not the same for all compressed data, and high decompression accuracy is required. There is a part to be restored and a part to which so high restoration accuracy is not required.

On the other hand, as described above, there are two types of data compression methods, a lossless compression method and a lossy compression method, and comparing both methods from the viewpoint of the data compression rate, the lossy compression method is better than the lossless compression method. The compression rate can be easily improved.

Based on the knowledge described above, in the gaming machine according to this section, the ROM stores a part of the processed data as reversible compressed data generated by reversibly compressing the processed data, while distinguishing the processed data. Is stored as lossy compressed data generated by lossy compression.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is possible to easily improve the data compression rate, and it is also possible to easily reduce the storage capacity of the ROM.

The "lossy-compressed data" in this section can be created for some types of data to be processed in a gaming machine that do not require a high degree of restoration, for example, as image data. It is also possible to create as voice data.

(8) Further, while having a screen,
A display device that displays an image on its screen according to a command of the computer is included, and the lossy compressed data is generated for at least one of a plurality of visual information represented by the image displayed on the screen. The gaming machine according to any one of (4) to (7).

As is clear from the description in the above item (4), in a gaming machine, in general, the adverse effect of lossy compression is included in a plurality of visual information represented by an image displayed on the screen of the gaming machine. There is visual information that is virtually unaffected.

Specifically, in a gaming machine, in general,
Data for displaying an image expressing visual information on the screen is irreversibly compressed and stored in ROM, and then the decompressed data generated by decompressing the data cannot be completely restored due to the irreversible compression. Even if the portion exists, there is visual information that does not directly affect the game played by the player using the gaming machine.

Based on such knowledge, in the gaming machine according to this section, the lossy compressed data is generated for at least one of the plurality of visual information represented by the image displayed on the screen.

Therefore, according to this gaming machine, it is possible to enjoy the advantage of the lossy compression, that is, the reduction of the amount of compressed data, without the direct adverse effect of the lossy compression on the gaming machine. If the amount of compressed data can be reduced easily, the storage capacity of the ROM for storing the compressed data can be reduced easily.

(9) The lossy compressed data is caused by the irreversibility of the lossy compressed data when the corresponding image of the plurality of visual information is displayed on the screen according to the lossy compressed data. The gaming machine according to item (8), wherein the error expected to occur in the image is generated for at least one piece of visual information that does not exceed an allowable range.

(10) The processing data includes program data describing a program executed by the processing device, and the lossless compressed data is generated for at least a part of the program data (4) to (9). ) A gaming machine according to any one of paragraphs.

As is clear from the above description, according to this gaming machine, at least a part of the program data in the processed data is compressed by the lossless compression method and stored in the ROM, so that at least a part of it is stored. The program data can be executed by the processing device in a completely restored state.

(11) The lossless compressed data is converted by converting the information to be described by the part of the processed data so that the code amount of the lossless compressed data is reduced by a method according to the property of the information. The gaming machine according to any one of (7) to (10), which is generated by a compression encoding method for encoding the information.

(12) In the lossless compression data, the code amount of the lossless compression data is reduced by a method according to the property of pixel information for expressing at least one of the plurality of visual information by an image. The gaming machine according to any one of items (8) to (10), which is generated by a compression encoding method for performing the conversion as described above and encoding the converted pixel information.

(13) The compression encoding methods are the run length method, the LZ method, the forward movement method, the Huffman method, and the Shannon.
(11) or (1) including at least one of the Fano method
The gaming machine described in the item 2).

(14) A first part in which the processing device operates according to the contents of a program stored in advance in the ROM or another memory, and a second part which exclusively performs a predetermined single operation. If at least the first part of the processing device is configured to include the first part and the second part, the decompression of the compressed data includes the first part and the second part. Of the first part and the second part does not, the decompression of the compressed data is performed by the first part. The gaming machine according to any one of items (1) to (13).

In this section, an example of the "second part" is an electronic component called a decoder that restores compressed data.

[0074]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, some more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing a hardware configuration of a portion related to computer control in a pachinko machine 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. That is, in the present embodiment, the pachinko machine 10
Constitutes an example of the "gaming machine" according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 10 is constructed so as to include a main control board 20, an image control board 22, and an image display section 24. The image display unit 24 is configured as a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays an image on the screen 30.

The main control board 20 has a function of comprehensively controlling the entire pachinko machine 10 by a computer (not shown). On the other hand, the image control board 22 displays the screen 3
0 has the function of controlling the image displayed on the screen. More specifically, the image control board 22 displays the information for instructing the image display unit 24 to display the required image on the screen 30 according to the instruction command transmitted from the main control board 20. It is transmitted to the section 24.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually showing the hardware structure of the image control board 22. As shown in the figure, the image control board 22 includes a computer 40.
And the image display control unit 44 as main components.

The computer 40 has a CPU 50 and a ROM.
52 and RAM 54 are connected to each other by a bus 56. That is, in the present embodiment, C
The PU 50 constitutes an example of the "processor" in the present invention. The image control board 22 has its CPU 50.
Is connected to the main control board 20.

On the other hand, the image display control unit 44 includes the control circuit 60 and the VRAM both connected to the CPU 50.
(Video RAM) 62 and DAC (digital-) that converts the digital signal from the VRAM 62 into an analog signal.
And an analog converter) 64. The analog signal generated by the conversion by the DAC 64 is transmitted to the image display unit 24, and the image display unit 24 displays the image on the screen 30 according to the transmitted analog signal.

Specifically, an image, that is, a pattern is displayed on the screen 30 so as to be developed with time according to a command from the computer 40. In this embodiment, the screen 3
The information represented by the image or the pattern displayed on the screen 0 is an example of the "visual information" in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of pictures displayed on the screen 30 are (a) a plurality of candidate pictures, and one of them is the picture change timing ("visual information change in the present invention". The timing "which is an example of the timing") and (b) the timing at which the selected selected pattern among the plurality of candidate patterns is expressed is different from the timing at which the plurality of candidate patterns are expressed. It includes a plurality of common patterns that are commonly selected and expressed for all or some of them.

However, in the following, in order to simplify the explanation, the present embodiment will be explained assuming that the number of common patterns is one.

In addition, as an additional note, an example of the pattern switching timing is a timing at which a so-called reach is established, and another example is a timing at which a so-called jackpot is established. Here, “reach” means, for example, a combination of a plurality of variable display patterns whose contents (patterns, numbers, characters, etc.) are simultaneously displayed on the screen 30 and change with time except one variable display pattern. Certain conditions (for example,
(The contents agree with each other).

FIG. 3 conceptually shows an example of how a picture is displayed on the screen 30 so as to be developed with time.

In this example, first, in relation to the power-on timing t ₀ , the common pattern A1 is selected and the screen 30 is displayed.
Displayed above. Next, one of the two candidate patterns B1 and B2 is selected in relation to the pattern switching timing t ₁ . The selected candidate pattern becomes the selected pattern this time. After the selection, the currently selected design is displayed on the screen 30 in place of the common design A1.

[0087] After display of each candidate picture B1, B2, related to another picture switching timing _{t 2,} when the previous selection pattern was candidate picture B1, the two candidates pattern C1, C2
If any one of the two candidate patterns D1 and D is selected, and the previously selected pattern is the candidate pattern B2.
Any one of the two is selected.

After that, another pattern switching timing t ₃
In connection with the above, the common pattern A1 is selected and displayed on the screen 30. Then, after a few picture switching timing, in relation to the pattern switching timing t _n, one of the two candidate picture E1, E2 is selected.

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the image display unit 24 and the image display control unit 4 are used.
4 and 4 together form an example of the "display device" in the present invention.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows the structure of the ROM 52. Program data and image data are stored in the ROM 52 in advance.

The program described by the program data has a main program and a starting program, as shown in FIG. The data describing the main program is stored in the ROM 52 as lossless compressed data.

The boot program has a function of performing basic operations such as clearing the RAM 54, initial setting of necessary parameters of the computer 40, and the like in association with power-on of the computer 40. The startup program also has a function of decompressing and restoring the compressed main program.
The data that describes this startup program is stored in the ROM 52 as uncompressed data that does not need to be restored.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the program data includes lossless compressed data and non-compressed data.

Incidentally, in addition, in the present embodiment,
Decompression of the compressed data on the computer 40 of the image control board 22 is performed by a program stored in the ROM 52 of the same computer 40, but the decompression of the compressed data is performed on another computer, for example, the main control board. The present invention can be implemented by being executed by a program stored in the ROM of 20 computers.

In addition, if the pachinko machine 10 has a plurality of computers and it is necessary to restore compressed data in each computer, a program for restoring the data in the ROM of one of the computers. It is also possible to implement the present invention such that the above are stored so as to be commonly used by the plurality of computers.

FIG. 6 conceptually shows a flowchart of the contents of the startup program.

This startup program is read from the ROM 52 by the CPU 50 and executed in synchronization with the power-on of the pachinko machine 10. At the time of execution, the RAM 54 is first cleared in step S1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "S1"; the same applies to other steps), and then, in step S2, necessary initialization is performed.

After that, in S3, the lossless compressed data describing the main program is read from the ROM 52 and decompressed, and thereby the lossless compressed data is restored. The main program is restored. Since the main program data is lossless compressed data, complete decompression can be realized.

Subsequently, in S4, the restored main program is stored in the RAM 54.

With the above, one-time execution of this startup program is completed.

The program data stored in the ROM 52 has been described above. Next, the image data stored in the same ROM 52 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image data has a plurality of candidate pattern data for displaying each candidate pattern on the screen 30 and common pattern data for displaying the common pattern on the screen 30. is doing.

Among the plurality of candidate pattern data and common pattern data, when the corresponding image is displayed on the screen 30, an error expected to occur in the image due to the irreversibility of the lossy compressed data. If the pattern does not exceed the allowable range, the ROM 52 is set as lossy compressed data.
On the other hand, a pattern in which an error caused by data restoration is not allowed to occur in the image is stored in the ROM 52 as lossless compressed data.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image data includes lossless compression data and lossy compression data, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 conceptually shows the structure of each pattern data. The pattern data is configured to include object data, pattern data, and sequence data.

The object data is, for example, a three-dimensional object (eg, polyhedron) on the two-dimensional screen 30.
Is data representing the shape of the object when is displayed three-dimensionally. On the other hand, the pattern data is data representing a pattern applied to each divided surface (for example, each polygonal plane) of the object. The sequence data is data representing the order in which the size and position of the object on the screen 30 change with time.

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the program data and the image data respectively constitute an example of "process data" in the present invention.

Here, a method of creating lossless compressed data will be described.

The lossless compression data is obtained by converting the information to be described by the data to be compressed by a method according to its property so that the code amount of the lossless compression data is reduced, and encoding the converted information. It is generated by the compression encoding method.

For example, when the data to be compressed is the candidate picture data or the common picture data (hereinafter, these are simply referred to as "picture data"), the lossless compression data displays the picture on the screen 30. Is generated by a compression encoding method in which the pixel information for the conversion is converted so that the code amount of the lossless compression data is reduced by a method according to the property, and the converted pixel information is encoded.

The compression encoding methods are run length method and L
It is configured to include at least one of the Z method, the forward movement method, the Huffman method, and the Shannon-Fano method. Since those concrete compression encoding methods are already known,
Briefly explained.

The run length method is used, for example, when encoding a binary image such as black and white. In a normal image, white or black pixels are rarely isolated, and white pixels and black pixels tend to be continuous. Focusing on this fact, in the run length method, the data, that is, the image information is compressed by the number of consecutive white pixels or black pixels, that is, the run length.

The LZ (Lemple + Ziv) method is generally a "dictionary".
This is a method of creating a table in which character strings are registered and compressing the data according to the table. In the LZ method, a frequently used character string is converted into a dictionary code and registered in the dictionary, thereby reducing the code amount of lossless compressed data. The LZ method is LZ77 (Lemple + Ziv19
77) and LZ78 (Lemple + Ziv 1978). The LZ77 uses a slide dictionary, while the LZ78 uses a non-sliding dictionary.

The move-to-front (MTF) method is a method of creating an appearance character table (MTF table) for registering appearance characters and compressing the data accordingly.

The Huffman method is a method of allocating bits to each character according to the appearance frequency of each character.

Shannon-Fano Codin
The g) method assigns short symbols to frequently occurring characters and long symbols to infrequently occurring characters in a line of text, thereby shortening the overall length of the text. Is a method of compressing data.

FIG. 8 conceptually shows the structure of the RAM 54. In the RAM 54, a restored data area for storing restored data generated by decompressing the compressed data in the ROM 52 and a working area are set.

The restored program area and the image data are stored in the restored data area.
On the other hand, in the working area, for example, coordinate data, drawing commands, display data, etc. are stored as data for image display.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart conceptually showing the contents of the main program. This main program is read from the ROM 52, decompressed, restored by this, stored in the RAM 54, and then stored in the RAM 54.
Are read out at any time and executed by the CPU 50.

In this main program, first, S1
In 1, it is determined whether or not the current time is the power-on timing. This main program is the computer 40
When it is in the state immediately after the power is turned on, the determination in S11 is YES, and the process proceeds to S12.

In S12, the common pattern data for displaying the common pattern as the first pattern to be displayed on the screen 30 of the pachinko machine 10 is read from the ROM 52. The read common pattern data is expanded and restored.

Then, in S13, the first restoration data generated by the restoration is stored in the restoration data area of the RAM 54. The first restored data is temporarily stored in the RAM 5
After being stored in memory 4, the first restored data is stored in the RAM 54 without being erased and is read from the RAM 54 as needed until the computer 40 is powered off.

Subsequently, in S14, display data required to be supplied to the image display section 24 via the VRAM 62 in order to display the common pattern of this time on the screen 30 is created.

The details of S14 are conceptually shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in S31, R
The sequence data in the common pattern data this time is read from the restored data area of the AM 54, and coordinate data representing the coordinates of the position on the screen 30 is created based on the read sequence data. Next, in S32,
The created coordinate data is stored in the working area of the RAM 54.

Subsequently, in S33, the pattern data and object data in the common pattern data of this time are read from the restored data area of the RAM 54, and a drawing command is created based on the read pattern data and object data. It Thereafter, in S34, the created drawing command is stored in the working area of the RAM 54.

Subsequently, in S35, the coordinate data and the drawing command are read from the working area of the RAM 54, and the display data is created based on the read coordinate data and the drawing command. Then S
36, the created display data is VRAM6.
Stored in 2.

Thus, one execution of S14 of FIG. 9 is completed.

Then, in S15, an image instruction signal corresponding to the created display data is output to the control circuit 60. The image instruction signal is an image to be displayed on the screen 30 of the image display unit 24 by the control circuit 60, that is, the control circuit 60 for instructing a common pattern this time.
Is output to.

In response to the image instruction signal, and in response to the vertical blanking processing timing signal transmitted from the image display section 24, the control circuit 60 controls the display data for the common pattern from the VRAM 62 to the DAC 64. A state of being transferred to the image display unit 24 via In response to this, the image display unit 24 displays the common pattern thus instructed on the screen 30.

Thereafter, in S16, the main control board 20
Command command is input from. Succeedingly, in S17, it is determined whether or not the input instruction command is a common pattern display instruction command for instructing to display the common pattern.

If the instruction command input this time is the common picture display instruction command, the determination in S17 is YES.
Then, the process returns to S14. In S14, as described above, the display data for displaying the common pattern on the screen 30 is created, and thereafter, in S15, the common pattern is displayed on the screen 30.

On the other hand, if the instruction command input this time is not the common picture display instruction command, S17
The determination is NO, and in S18, it is determined whether the instruction command input this time is a pattern switching instruction command.

If the instruction command input this time is not the pattern switching instruction command, the determination in S18 is NO.
Then, the process returns to S16, but if the command is a pattern switching instruction command, the determination in S18 is YES, and the process proceeds to S19.

That is, in the present embodiment, the time when the instruction command is input from the main control board 20 and the input instruction command is the pattern switching instruction command corresponds to the pattern switching timing.

In S19, the one corresponding to the current pattern switching instruction command is selected as the selected pattern from the plurality of candidate patterns. Then, in S20, the selected pattern data corresponding to the selected pattern is stored in the ROM 5
2 is read and decompressed, thereby generating the second restored data.

Subsequently, in S21, the generated second restoration data is stored in the RAM 54. At this time, if the old second restored data exists in the RAM 54, the new second restored data is stored in the RAM 54 instead of being erased from the RAM 54. That is, the new second restored data is overwritten and stored in the RAM 54.

Then, in S22, display data is created based on the generated second restored data in the same manner as in S14. Then, in S23, S
In the same manner as in 15, the image instruction signal corresponding to the created display data is output to the control circuit 60.

In response to the image instruction signal and in response to the vertical blanking processing timing signal transmitted from the image display section 24, the control circuit 60 causes the display data for the selected pattern this time to be VRAM 62. To the image display unit 24 via the DAC 64. In response to this, the image display unit 24 displays the currently selected pattern instructed in this way on the screen 30.

Thereafter, in S24, the computer 4
It is determined whether the power of 0 is cut off. If it is not disconnected, the determination is NO, the process returns to S16, and the image display control is continued, but if it is disconnected, the determination is YES, and one execution of this main program ends. To do.

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the program data is stored in the ROM 52 as lossless compressed data, and the rest is stored as uncompressed data. Part of the image data is stored as lossless compressed data, and the rest is stored as lossy compressed data.

Further, in the present embodiment, the data is restored, that is, the compressed data is read from the ROM 52 and decompressed, and the restored data generated thereby is stored in the RAM 54.
The data processing for storing the compressed program data is performed by executing the non-compressed program in relation to the power-on timing of the computer 40.

On the other hand, with regard to the compressed image data, the portion related to the selected picture selected from the plurality of candidate pictures and displayed on the screen 30 is subjected to data restoration in connection with the picture switching timing. On the other hand, the portion related to the common pattern that is commonly displayed on the plurality of candidate patterns at a time different from the display time is subjected to data restoration in connection with the power-on timing of the computer 40.

As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, among the computers 40, S3 and S4 of FIG. 6 and S11 to S13 and S of FIG.
The part that executes S18 to S21 constitutes an example of the "restoration unit" in the item (1), and S14 in FIG.
The portion that executes S15, S22, and S23 constitutes an example of the "processing unit" in the same section.

Further, in the present embodiment, the part of the computer 40 that executes S13 in FIG. 9 constitutes an example of the “storing unit” in the above item (2), and the part in FIG.
The part that executes 21 constitutes an example of the "rewriting part" in the same section.

Incidentally, in addition, in the present embodiment,
After the common pattern data read from the ROM 52 is restored and stored in the RAM 54, the restored data is stored in the RAM 54.
The display data is read out from 54 and created, and this display data is created every time the common pattern is displayed on the screen 30.

However, it is not essential to carry out the present invention in this way. For example, once the display data is created, the created display data is stored in RAM.
54 or the VRAM 62, and if it becomes necessary to display the common pattern on the screen 30 after that,
Without having to recreate the display data for that display,
The present invention can be implemented by simply reading from the RAM 54 or the VRAM 62.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
However, the present embodiment has the same hardware configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the software configuration is also the same with respect to the portions other than the portion related to the data processing of the selected pattern. The description is omitted by using the names, and only the different parts will be described in detail.

In the first embodiment, the restoration of the selected pattern data for displaying the selected pattern is performed after the selection is confirmed, but in the present embodiment, it is confirmed within the set time. The selected pattern to be performed is predicted, and data restoration for the selected pattern is performed prior to the time when the selected pattern is actually determined.

In FIG. 11, of the main program executed by the computer 40 of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, a portion for restoring the selected pattern data is conceptually represented by a flowchart as a selected pattern data restoration program. On the other hand, in FIG. 12, a portion for displaying the selected pattern is conceptually represented by a flowchart as a selected pattern display program.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the selected pattern data restoration program, first, of the plurality of candidate patterns, the one which is to be selected first within the set time from the present time is the next selected pattern in S51. As predicted.

This prediction is, for example, with a parameter (for example, game time) that describes the game state of the pachinko machine 10,
This can be done by noting that there is a situation where a certain rule can be found between the pattern and the selected pattern. In this example, the rule constitutes an example of the "predetermined rule" in the above item (3).

Next, in S52, the selected pattern data (compressed data) corresponding to the predicted next selected pattern is read from the ROM 52, and is expanded to generate the second decompressed data. .

Subsequently, in S53, the generated second restoration data is stored in the RAM 54. In the present embodiment, since the data restoration for the selected design is performed prior to the time when the selected design is actually determined, it is appropriate to erase the second restored data older than the generated second restored data. May not be. Therefore, this S
In 53, the new second restored data is basically stored without overwriting other existing data.

Thereafter, in S54, the display data for the predicted next selected pattern is created based on the generated second restored data in the same manner as in S22 of the first embodiment. .

As described above, one execution of the selected pattern data restoration program is completed.

On the other hand, when the selected pattern display program of FIG. 12 is executed each time, first, in S71, the instruction command of this time is input from the main control board 20. Next, in S72, it is determined whether or not the input current instruction command is a pattern switching instruction command.

If the instruction command this time is not the pattern switching instruction command, the determination at S71 is NO,
Immediately, one execution of this selected pattern data restoration program ends. On the other hand, when the instruction command this time is the pattern switching instruction command, the determination in S72 is Y.
ES is reached, and in S73, an image instruction signal for displaying the predicted selected pattern is output to the control circuit 60. After that, one execution of the selected pattern data restoration program ends.

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the computer S40 of FIG.
The part that executes steps 1 and S52 constitutes an example of the “prediction type decompression unit” in the item (3), and S5 in FIG.
4 and the portion that executes S71 to S73 in FIG. 12 constitutes an example of the “processing unit” in (1) above.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
However, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the portion related to the flow of the display data, and is common to the other portions, and therefore the common portions will be described by using the same reference numerals or names. It will be omitted and only different parts will be described in detail.

In the first embodiment, the control circuit 60
Responds to the image instruction signal from the CPU 50, in synchronization with the vertical blanking processing timing signal from the image display unit 24,
The display data is transferred from the VRAM 62 to the DAC 64.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 80 autonomously and independently of the CPU 50 and the image display unit 24 displays the display data at a constant timing (the same timing as the vertical blanking process in the image display unit 24). VRAM82 to DAC6
4 is realized.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart conceptually showing the contents of the main program previously stored in the ROM 52 of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment as lossless compression data.

The main program will be described below. However, since there are many steps common to the main program in the first embodiment, detailed description of the common steps will be omitted and only different steps will be described in detail.

In this main program, S101 to S104 are executed in the same manner as S11 to S14 in FIG.

When the display data for the common pattern is created by the execution of S104 and stored in the VRAM 82,
The control circuit 80 appropriately displays the display data from the VRAM 82 to the DRAM.
A state of being transferred to the image display unit 24 via the AC 64 is realized. Upon receiving the display data, the image display unit 24 displays the image on the screen 30 according to the display data. This time, the common pattern will be displayed on the screen 30.

After that, S105 to S111 are executed in the same manner as S16 to S22 in FIG.

When the display data for the selected pattern is created and stored in the VRAM 82 by executing S111,
As in the case of the common pattern, the control circuit 80 appropriately displays the display data from the VRAM 82 through the DAC 64 to the image display unit 2.
4 is realized. Upon receiving the display data, the image display unit 24 follows the screen 3 according to the display data.
Display the image on top of 0. This time, the selected pattern will be displayed on the screen 30.

Thereafter, in S112, it is determined whether or not the power of the computer 40 has been cut off. If it is not disconnected, the determination is NO, the process returns to S105 and the image display control is continued, but if it is disconnected, the determination is YES and the single execution of this main program ends. To do.

In addition, it should be noted that the present embodiment can be improved so as to adopt the characteristic technique of the second embodiment, that is, the technique of predicting a selected pattern.

Some embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are examples, and the modes described in the section [Means for solving the problems and effects of the invention] are described. It is possible to carry out the present invention in other forms in which various modifications and improvements are made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a hardware configuration of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image control board 22 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a time chart conceptually showing an example of how a picture is displayed on the screen 30 in FIG. 1 so as to be developed with time.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram conceptually showing the structure of a ROM 52 in FIG.

5 is a diagram for explaining each component of program data and image data in FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a flowchart conceptually showing the contents of a startup program described by the startup program data in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining components of each pattern data in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram conceptually showing the structure of a RAM 54 in FIG.

9 is a flowchart conceptually showing the content of a main program described by the main program data in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart conceptually showing details of S14 and S22 in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a pachinko machine 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart conceptually showing the contents of a selected pattern data restoration program of the main program in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart conceptually showing the content of a selected pattern display program of the main programs in the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a pachinko machine 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image control board 22 in FIG.

14 is a flowchart conceptually showing the content of a main program executed by the computer 40 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Pachinko machines 22 Image control board 24 Image display section 30 screens 40 computers 50 CPU 52 ROM 54 RAM

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nonokawa             13-13 Higashioosone-cho, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Within MRD Inc. F-term (reference) 2C088 BC22 EA10

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A processing device and a ROM for storing read-only processing data to be processed by the processing device.
And a computer having a RAM for storing the processed data in a writable and readable manner at any time, and having a screen, and displaying an image representing visual information that changes with time according to a command of the computer on the screen. A plurality of visual information including a display device and represented by the image is (a) a plurality of candidate visual information, one of which is selected and displayed at the visual information switching timing. And (b) common to all or some of the plurality of candidate visual information at a timing different from the timing at which the selected visual information selected from the plurality of candidate visual information is expressed. A gaming machine having at least one piece of common visual information that is selected and expressed, wherein the ROM is the duplication of the processing data. A plurality of candidate visual information-related portions and at least one common visual information-related portion are respectively stored as compressed data, and the computer: (a) power-on at which the game machine is turned on. The at least one of the compressed data is related to timing.
A portion related to one common visual information is read out from the ROM and decompressed, the first decompressed data generated by the decompression is stored in the RAM, and the compressed data is associated with the visual information switching timing. Of the above, a portion related to the selected visual information is read out from the ROM and expanded, and the second restoration data generated by the expansion is stored in the RAM, and (b) stored in the RAM. A gaming machine including a processing unit that processes first and second restored data. 2. After the restoration unit generates the first restoration data and stores it in the RAM, the first restoration data is not erased in the RAM until the power of the gaming machine is turned off. And a storage unit for storing the second decompressed data related to old visual information in the RAM in association with the visual information switching timing, and related to new visual information of the compressed data. A portion is read from the ROM and decompressed, and the data generated by the decompression is used as the second restoration data related to new visual information, and the RA
The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rewriting unit that stores the data in M. 3. The decompression unit predicts the selected visual information according to a predetermined rule prior to the time when the selected visual information is determined, and the predicted selection of the compressed data. The game according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a predictive decompression unit that reads out a portion related to visual information from the ROM, decompresses it, and stores the data generated by the decompression in the RAM as the second restored data. Machine. 4. The compressed data includes lossless compressed data generated by losslessly compressing a part of the processed data and lossy compressed data generated by lossyly compressing another part of the processed data. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which includes. 5. A processing device and a ROM for storing read-only processing data to be processed by the processing device.
A gaming machine controlled by the computer, the computer including: a RAM that stores the processing data so that the processing data can be written / read at any time, wherein the ROM reversibly compresses a part of the processing data. A gaming machine that stores the lossless compressed data generated as described above and stores another part of the processed data as lossy compressed data generated by being lossy compressed. 6. A display device having a screen and displaying an image on the screen according to a command from the computer, wherein the lossy compressed data is represented by the image displayed on the screen. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the gaming machine is generated for at least one of the plurality of pieces of visual information. 7. The process data includes program data describing a program executed by the processing device, and the lossless compressed data is generated for at least a part of the program data. A game machine described in Crab.