JP2003311004A - Game medium dispensing system and dispensing related device applicable to the system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the operation conditions of a plurality of game medium dispensing-related devices installed at a game center to be easily switched without using a controller. <P>SOLUTION: A specified dispensing-related device (i.e., a hatching-treated intermediate device 17) transmits an on/off signal simultaneously to all the rest dispensing-related devices (a card vendor 13, an account settler 14, a relay 15, a game machine 16 and an intermediate device 17). Even if a hall controller 11 cannot transmit the on/off signal to these dispensing-related devices due to its failure, etc., there is no need to switch on or off these devices one by one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game medium lending system for lending a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachi-slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent pachinko halls and pachislot halls (gaming halls), a value equivalent to money is stored in a stand-alone machine that is associated with gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines in a one-to-one correspondence. There has been introduced a card-type game medium lending system in which a game card is inserted, a valuable value stored in the game card is consumed, and a game medium used for a game in a game machine is lent.

In this game medium lending system, in addition to a game machine and a stand-by machine, a card vending machine for issuing (selling) a game card and a balance of valuable value stored in the game card are settled. And a settlement machine for refunding the amount of money corresponding to the balance. Each of these devices (rental-related devices) is communicatively connected to, for example, a hall management device installed in a hall, and data regarding the sales amount and usage amount of game cards in each device is stored in this hall management device. It will be sent.

Normally, the operating state (on / off state) of the lending-related device installed in the hall can be switched by the hall management device. That is, when the hall is opened, the hall management device sends an ON signal to each lending-related device to switch each lending-related device to the ON state, and when the hall is closed, the OFF-signal is sent to each lending-related device. The device can now be switched off.

[0005]

However, when the hall management device fails, the hall management device cannot transmit an on / off signal to each lending-related device. In this case, an employee in the hall must turn on / off each lending-related device one by one, which is troublesome. In particular, in a large-scale hall, there are many lending-related devices installed in the hall, so turning them on and off one by one becomes a difficult task.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and a game medium lending system capable of easily switching the operating states of a plurality of lending-related devices installed in a game hall without using a management device, and It is intended to provide a lending-related device applied to this system.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention The invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object is a gaming machine (1
A system for lending a game medium used for a game in 6) to a player, wherein a plurality of lending-related devices (13 to 17) installed in a game hall for lending a game medium and connected to each other so as to be communicable with each other. ), At least one lending-related device among the plurality of lending-related devices is capable of giving a command signal for switching its operating state to another lending-related device. It is a characteristic game media lending system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the at least one lending-related device gives a command signal for switching the operating state between the on-state and the off-state to the other lending-related device. It may be capable of In addition, the alphanumeric characters in the parentheses represent corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies in this section below. Usually, the hall (hall) has a hall management device for managing the equipment installed in the hall,
By transmitting command signals (on / off signals) from the hall management device to the plurality of lending-related devices installed in the game hall, the operating state (on / off state) of the lending-related devices that have received the command signal ) Is switched.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the command signal is transmitted from the at least one lending-related device (for example, the stand machine 17) to another lending-related device without using the management device. The operating state of the lending-related device that receives the command signal is switched. Therefore, even if a command signal cannot be transmitted from the hall management device to each lending-related device due to a failure of the hall management device or the like, without turning on / off each lending-related device one by one,
It is possible to easily switch the operating states of other lending-related devices using the at least one lending-related device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least the above
3. The game medium lending system according to claim 1, wherein one lending-related device can simultaneously give a command signal to a plurality of other lending-related devices.
According to this configuration, it is possible to simultaneously send the command signal from the at least one lending-related device to the other plurality of lending-related devices and switch the operating states of the plurality of lending-related devices at the same time. , It is not necessary to send the command signal to each lending-related device many times. Therefore,
It is possible to more easily switch the operating states of the plurality of lending-related devices installed in the game arcade.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the at least one lending-related device provides the lending-related device with a command signal for switching its operating state to another lending-related device. The operating state of itself is also switched (for example, it is switched to the on state with giving a command signal (on signal) for switching to the on state,
It is preferable to switch to the off state in response to a command signal (off signal) for switching to the off state.

The invention according to claim 5 is at least the above-mentioned one.
5. The game medium lending system according to claim 1, wherein the one lending-related device includes a game medium lending device (17) for lending a game medium to a player. According to this configuration, it is possible to switch the operating states of other lending-related devices by using the gaming-medium lending device (bench machine) that is installed in a relatively large number in the game arcade. If there are many lending-related devices that can switch the operating states of other lending-related devices, employees in the hall can use other nearby lending-related devices to switch on / off the other lending-related devices. The operating states of a plurality of lending-related devices installed on the site can be switched more easily.

The invention according to claim 6 is an apparatus (13 to 17) installed in a game hall for lending a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine (16), for lending a game medium. By being communicably connected to another device installed in the game hall, a command signal for switching the operating state of the other device can be given to the other device. It is a device. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a lending-related device applicable to the game medium lending system according to the first to fourth aspects.

The lending-related device may be capable of giving a command signal for switching the operating state between the on state and the off state to the other device.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card-type game medium lending system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this card-type game media lending system, a person who is playing a game in a hall (a game hall such as a pachinko hall or a pachislot hall) or a person who is about to play a game has a game card in which a value equivalent to money is stored ( It is a system that allows a game medium (for example, a pachinko ball or a pachislot medal) to be lent out by using a game machine (not shown).

This game medium lending system includes a hall management device 11 installed in a hall and a system management device 21 installed in a system management company. The hall management device 11 and the system management device 21 are communicably connected via, for example, a dedicated communication line 31. The hall management device 11 includes devices installed in the hall,
For example, the network connection is made via a standardized interface such as "RS485" or "IEEE802.3". Specifically, the card vending machine 13 that issues (sells) a game card in which a valuable value corresponding to the input amount is stored, and the balance of the valuable value stored in the game card are settled and equivalent to the balance. The settlement machine 14 for refunding the amount of money to be paid and the relay device 15 provided for each gaming machine island are connected to the hall management device 11 by LAN (Lo
cal area network) 32 so that communication is possible.

In each gaming machine island, a gaming machine 16 such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine and a stand machine 17 for lending a game medium within the range of valuable value stored in the game card are provided one-to-one. It is configured by associating and alternately arranging. Multiple machines 17 installed on each gaming machine island
Is communicatively connected via a communication line 33 to a relay device 15 installed in association with each gaming machine island,
It is communicatively connected to the gaming machine 16 associated one-to-one. The inter-machine 17 according to the present embodiment also has, for example, a card selling function, and when coins are inserted into a coin slot (not shown) provided in the inter-machine 17, It is possible to discharge (sell) a game card in which a valuable value corresponding to the input amount is stored.

In addition to the valuable value, the game card has various data (card data) such as the ID number of the game card.
Is remembered. The card data of this game card is
It is managed by the card vending machine 13 and the stand machine 17.
That is, the card vending machine 13 and the stand-alone machine 17 store the card data of the gaming cards sold in the respective devices 13 and 17 in association with the ID numbers of the gaming cards. In order for the player to rent out the game media, the machine 1
When a game card is inserted into 7 or a game card is inserted into the settlement machine 14 to settle the balance of valuable value, first, the card data of the game card is converted into those devices 1
7 and 14 read. After that, the stand-alone machine 17 or the settlement machine 14 that receives the game card identifies the card vending machine 13 or stand-alone machine 17 (of the card selling source) that sold the game card from the ID number of the read card data. , And transmits the card data to the specified devices 13 and 17.

The device of the card vendor (card vending machine 13 or vending machine 17) that has received the card data from the vending machine 17 or the settlement machine 14 that has received the game card is the received card data and those devices. The card data corresponding to the ID number managed by 13, 17 are collated. Then, when the verified card data match each other, the card selling device 13, 17 sends back a signal to that effect (match signal) to the stand-alone machine 17 or the settlement machine 14 which is the sender of the card data. . On the other hand, if the collated card data do not match each other, the card selling device 13, 17 sends back a signal to that effect (mismatch signal) to the card data transmitting device 17, 14. In this way, the stand-alone machine 17 or the settlement machine 14 that accepts the game card lends the game medium or the valuable value only when the match signal is received from the card vending machine 13 or the stand-alone machine 17 of the card seller. It is supposed to allow payment of.

When a game medium is lent out by using the valuable value of the game card in the stand machine 17, the valuable value data stored in the game card is equivalent to the amount of use of the valuable value. The card data including the data of the valuable value is rewritten with the reduced data, and is transmitted from the inter-mounting machine 17 to the card selling device (the card selling machine 13 or the inter-mounting machine 17). Then, the card data of the gaming card stored in the card selling device 13, 17 is rewritten to the received card data.

On the other hand, when the value stored in the game card is settled in the settlement machine 14, a signal to that effect is sent from the settlement machine 14 to the card selling device (the card selling machine 13 or the stand-alone machine, for example). Sent to 17),
The card data of the game card stored in those devices 13, 17 is deleted. The card vending machine 13, the checkout machine 14 and the stand-by machine 17 are the respective devices 13, 14, 17
The data regarding the sales amount of the game card and the usage amount of the valuable value in the above is transmitted to the hall management device 11. The hall management device 11 aggregates the data sent from these devices and collects the aggregated data (usage aggregate data)
For example, the information is transmitted to the system management device 21 after the hall is closed. Hall management device 11 to system management device 2
The usage total data sent to 1 is managed by the system management device 21 so that the system management company can use it as a calculation standard of the system usage fee to be collected from the hall.

Each device used for lending a game medium, that is, a device (lending-related device) such as a card vending machine 13, a settlement machine 14, a relay device 15, a game machine 16 and a stand machine 17 is, for example, By operating a changeover switch provided in the device, its operating state can be switched between an on state and an off state. The operating states of the lending-related devices 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 can also be switched by transmitting an on / off signal from the hall management device 11. That is, when a hall is opened, a check signal is sequentially transmitted from the hall management device 11 to each lending-related device to check the communication state between the hall management device 11 and each lending-related device, and at the same time, the hall management device. 1
By transmitting an ON signal from 1 to each lending-related device, the operating state of each lending-related device that has received the ON signal is switched to the ON state. on the other hand,
When the hall is closed, an off signal is transmitted from the hall management device 11 to each lending-related device, whereby the operating state of each lending-related device that receives the off signal is switched to the off state.

The feature of this embodiment is that the hall management device 11
Not only from, but also from a predetermined lending-related device to the remaining lending-related devices all at once
The point is that you can send. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a signal flow when the lending-related device transmits a simultaneous command signal. Hall management device 1
In the case where 1 fails, the hall management device 11 cannot transmit an on / off signal to each lending-related device. In this case, an employee in the hall must turn on / off each lending-related device and turn around, which is troublesome.

In particular, in a large-scale hall, there are many lending-related devices installed in the hall, so it is a difficult task to turn them on / off one by one. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the hall management device 11 cannot transmit an ON / OFF signal to each lending-related device due to a failure of the hall management device 11, a predetermined lending-related device (for example, a stand-alone machine 17) can By transmitting on / off signals (command signals) to the lending-related devices all at once, the operating state (on / off state) of the lending-related devices that have received the on / off signal is switched.

Specifically, a lending-related device capable of transmitting an ON / OFF signal is designed so that a dedicated key can be inserted, and the dedicated key is inserted into the lending-related device and rotated in a predetermined direction. Then, for example, by operating an ON signal transmission button or an OFF signal transmission button (not shown) provided in the lending-related device, the lending-related device simultaneously turns on the ON-signal or the remaining lending-related devices. The off signal is transmitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, when an on / off signal is transmitted from the bench machine 17 hatched in the figure, the on / off signal is associated with that game machine. While being sent to the machine 16, it is sent out on the communication line 33 extending in the gaming machine island including the inter-board machine 17. At this time, the operating state of the inter-vehicle machine 17 (the inter-vehicular machine with hatching) of the signal transmission source is also switched to the on state with the transmission of the on signal and switched to the off state with the transmission of the off signal. Is preferred.

The ON / OFF signal sent out on the communication line 33 is in the process of being sent to the relay device 15 corresponding to the gaming machine island, and in the process, another inter-mounting machine 17 installed on the gaming machine island.
Also, the ON / OFF state of the inter-machine 17 and the gaming machine 16 which are sent to the gaming machine 16 and receive the signal is switched. The ON / OFF signal that reaches the relay device 15 is transmitted to the LAN.
32, another relay device 15, a card vending machine 13,
The data is sent to each lending-related device such as the settlement machine 14, and the ON / OFF state of the relay device 15 is switched accordingly. The card vending machine 13 and the checkout machine 14 switch their on / off states in response to receiving the on / off signal. In addition, on / off sent to each relay device 15
The off signal is sent to the stand-alone machines 17 and the gaming machines 16 included in each gaming machine island through the communication line 33 extending in the gaming machine island corresponding to the relay device 15, and the receiving machine receiving the signal is transmitted. The on / off states of the machine 17 and the gaming machine 16 are switched. At this time, each relay device 15 switches its on / off state as it transmits an on / off signal on the corresponding communication line 33.

In this manner, one lending-related device (hatched stand machine 17) simultaneously sends ON / OFF signals to the remaining lending-related devices 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. As a result, the operating states (on / off states) of the remaining lending-related devices that have received the signal are switched all at once. As a result, even if the hall management device 11 cannot transmit an on / off signal to each lending-related device due to a failure of the hall management device 11, each lending-related device can be switched on / off one by one. Without
Those operating states can be easily switched.

In particular, each lending-related device 13, 14, 15,
On / off signals are sent to 16 and 17 all at once,
Since these operating states can be switched all at once, it is not necessary to transmit the ON / OFF signal to each lending-related device many times. Therefore, the operating states of the plurality of lending-related devices installed in the hall can be switched more easily. However, the ON / OFF signal is not limited to a configuration in which a predetermined lending-related device (between-machines 17) is simultaneously sent to other lending-related devices, but is transmitted separately to each lending-related device. It may be configured.

The on / off signal may be transmitted not only from one inter-machine 17 but also from a plurality of inter-machines 17, or may be transmitted from all the inter-machines 17. Good. If the configuration is such that the operating states of the remaining lending-related devices can be switched using the bench machines 17 that are installed in a relatively large number in the hall, the employees of the hall can use the bench machines 17 nearby. Since the remaining lending-related devices can be switched on / off, the operating states of the plurality of lending-related devices installed in the hall can be switched more easily. However, the card vending machine 1 is not limited to the stand-alone machine 17.
The configuration may be such that an ON / OFF signal can be transmitted from another lending-related device such as 3, the settlement machine 14, the relay device 15, and the gaming machine 16.

The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, the lending-related device is not limited to the card vending machine 13, the settlement machine 14, the relay device 15, the gaming machine 16 and the stand-alone machine 17, and may include other devices related to lending a game medium. The on / off signal transmitted from the predetermined lending-related device is not limited to the configuration transmitted to all the remaining lending-related devices installed in the hall, and for example, the on / off signal is transmitted from the stand machine 17. In such a case, only the lending-related device (gaming machine 16 and other inter-boarding machines 17) in the gaming machine island including the inter-boarding machine 17 receives the signal and the operating state is switched. Good.

Further, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which both the ON signal and the OFF signal can be transmitted from a predetermined lending-related device to another lending-related device, and it is possible to transmit only one of the ON signal and the OFF signal. Good. In the above embodiment,
A configuration has been described in which an on / off signal is transmitted from a predetermined related device to another lending-related device, and the on / off state of the lending-related device that receives the signal is switched. However, the on / off state is switched. Instead, for example, the operation mode of the lending-related device that has received the signal (for example, a mode in which a gaming medium such as a pachinko ball or a pachislot medal is directly ejected from the gaming medium lending device (bench machine) to lend to the player, or a gaming medium. A configuration may be adopted in which the lending device (bench machine) transmits electronic data to the gaming machine to switch the game media lending mode to the player.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a card-type game medium lending system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a signal flow when a lending-related device transmits a simultaneous command signal.

[Explanation of symbols]

13 card vending machines 14 Payment machine 15 Relay device 16 game machines 17 machines

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A system for lending a game medium used for a game on a game machine to a player, wherein a plurality of lending-related devices installed in a game hall for lending a game medium are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. A lending-related device including at least one device, and at least one lending-related device among the plurality of lending-related devices can give a command signal for switching its operating state to another lending-related device. Characteristic game media lending system. 2. The at least one lending-related device is capable of giving, to another lending-related device, a command signal for switching its operating state between an on state and an off state. The game medium lending system according to claim 1. 3. The game medium lending system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lending-related device can simultaneously give a command signal to a plurality of other lending-related devices. 4. The at least one lending-related device switches the operating state of the lending-related device itself in response to a command signal for switching the operating state to the other lending-related device. The game medium lending system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 5. The game medium lending system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one lending-related device includes a game medium lending device for lending a game medium to a player. 6. A device installed in a game hall for lending a game medium used for a game in a gaming machine, which communicates with another device installed in the game hall for lending a game medium. A lending-related device characterized by being capable of being given a command signal for switching its operating state to the other device by being operably connected.