JP2005095383A - Game medium dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform a communication while reducing the load by the communication of an overall system. <P>SOLUTION: A ball dispensing processor 20 adds and stores money input information in a sales information storage table 28 (and/or a sales information storage table 33) every time of a game medium dispensing process, and notifies the system of the added and stored money input information based on a specified notification setting. A managing server 200 accepts the "notification setting" (the setting of a "notification time", the setting of a "communication unit", the setting of a "number of simultaneous communication machines", the setting of a "communication interval", the setting of a "serial number of the communication starting unit", and the setting of a "serial number of the communication starting relay") of the money input information by the ball dispensing processor 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming medium lending system including a lending processing machine that accepts money as a valuable value and performs a gaming medium lending process, and a management server that manages the payment information notified by the lending processing machine as sales information. In particular, the present invention relates to a game medium lending system that can efficiently communicate while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  Conventionally, when playing a game in a game shop where a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine is installed, a magnetic card (recording medium) such as a prepaid card is once purchased from a card issuing machine or the like. A game medium lending system that lends game media such as pachinko balls and medals in accordance with the valuable value stored in association with the identification ID of the prepaid card is generally employed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 (Prior Art 1) discloses a game medium lending system that manages sales information by collecting card sales information by a card issuing machine and card usage information by a card processing unit. According to this prior art 1, since sales information can be managed appropriately based on the identification ID of a prepaid card, fraudulent acts such as tax evasion can be prevented.

  However, since the above-mentioned prior art 1 uses a prepaid card as a medium of bills and game media deposited by a player, the manufacturing cost of the card and the running cost associated with the installation of the card issuing machine increase. Furthermore, in connection with this, with the use of such prepaid cards, a system for monitoring (preventing) fraudulent acts such as forgery of cards, card copying, etc. is required, and players also purchase cards. There is also a problem in terms of convenience that it takes time and trouble for the amusement store to deal with when the card is lost.

  For these reasons, a game medium lending system (prior art 2) that lends game media without using (substantially) a medium such as a card at the time of lending game media has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2). ). Specifically, when a bill inserted by a player (for example, cash of 1000 yen bill) is accepted, a card is issued as a single unit. The card is read in response to a game media lending request, and a predetermined number of game balls (for example, pachinko balls), which are game media, are thrown into the game machine. This information is temporarily stored in a memory, and this payment information is notified to the management device in real time as sales information.

JP 2003-10525 A JP 2001-134814 A

  However, in this prior art 2, since the lending processor (card processing unit or gaming machine control device) communicates with the management server (terminal controller or totaling computer) each time a transaction is made, there is a problem that a great load is imposed on the system. was there. For example, at the time of opening when there is a lot of demand for lending game media, payment information notifications are inundated from multiple lending machines at the same time, which puts a heavy load on the network and the management device itself, making the entire system unstable There is a risk. Further, relatedly, since the management server and the network always assume the communication amount as the MAX value, it is necessary to mount a high-spec device on the apparatus itself or the entire system, causing a reduction in cost performance.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and provides a gaming medium lending system capable of performing efficient communication while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a gaming medium lending system according to the invention of claim 1 includes a lending processor that accepts money as a valuable value and performs a gaming medium lending process, and the lending processor. A game medium lending system comprising a management server for managing the payment information notified by the sales information as sales information, wherein the lending processor adds and stores the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed. And notification means for notifying the payment information added and stored by the storage means based on a predetermined notification setting.

  In addition, the game medium lending system according to the invention of claim 2 further comprises transmission permission / inhibition confirmation means for confirming whether or not the lending processor can transmit the payment information to the management server. The notifying unit notifies the management server of the deposit information when it is confirmed that transmission is possible by the transmission permission confirmation unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the game medium lending system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the management server includes a notification setting receiving means for receiving a notification setting of payment information by the lending processor. The means is characterized by notifying the payment information added and stored by the storage means based on the notification setting received by the notification setting receiving means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the game medium lending system according to the third aspect, wherein the notification setting accepting means accepts a setting of a notification time of payment information by the lending processor, and the notifying means The deposit information is notified at a notification time received by the notification setting receiving means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming medium lending system according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the notification setting accepting unit accepts a setting for notifying one or a plurality of lending processors of deposit information. The notifying means notifies the deposit information of the lending processor received as a target by the notification setting accepting means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming medium lending system according to the third, fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the notification setting accepting means notifies the receipt information at a time when the notice means notifies the payment information. The notification unit is configured to notify the deposit information of the number of lending processors received by the notification setting reception unit at a time.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the game medium lending system according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, wherein the notification setting accepting means provides a time difference in the payment information notification by each lending processor. The communication unit receives the setting of the communication interval, and the notification unit notifies the payment information for each lending processor based on the communication interval received by the notification setting reception unit.

  Further, in the game medium lending system according to the invention of claim 8, in the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 7, the notice setting accepting means is a lending that first notifies the deposit information from the lending processor. The setting of a processing machine is received, and the notifying unit notifies the deposit information from the lending processing machine received by the notification setting receiving unit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the game medium lending system according to any one of the third to eighth aspects, wherein the management server receives the payment by the lending processor based on the notification setting by the notification setting receiving means. A deposit information notification requesting unit for requesting notification of information, wherein the notification unit notifies the deposit information added and stored by the storage unit in response to a deposit information notification request by the deposit information notification request unit; It is characterized by that.

  Further, the game medium lending system according to the invention of claim 10 is the game media lending system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the notification means is configured to notify the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed. The payment information is notified in combination with the predetermined notification setting.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the lending processor adds and stores the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed, and notifies the payment information stored after the addition based on a predetermined notification setting. As a result, it is possible to obtain a game medium lending system capable of efficiently communicating while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system. Furthermore, in connection with this, by smoothing the communication load on the management server and the network, it is not necessary to install high-spec devices on the device itself or the entire system, and cost performance can be improved. Become.

  Further, according to the present invention, the lending processor checks whether or not the deposit information can be transmitted to the management server, and notifies the management server of the deposit information when it is confirmed that the deposit information can be transmitted. Even if the communication function with the management server is interrupted, it is possible to obtain a game medium lending system that can reliably notify the payment information when the communication function is restored.

  Further, according to the present invention, the management server accepts the payment information notification setting by the lending processor and notifies the payment information added and stored based on the notification setting. The amount of communication to be distributed can be distributed by the notification setting, and it is possible to obtain a gaming medium lending system capable of efficiently communicating while further reducing the communication load of the entire system.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the setting of the notification time of the deposit information by the lending processor is accepted and the deposit information is notified at the accepted notification time, it is optional regardless of the demand for the rental of game media. Thus, there is an effect that a gaming medium lending system can be obtained which can perform communication at the above timing and can surely reduce the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  Further, according to the present invention, the setting for notifying the deposit information for one or a plurality of lending processors is accepted, and the receipt information is notified for the lending processor accepted as a target. It is possible to set so as to perform communication in units or repeaters, and there is an effect that a game medium lending system capable of performing communication more efficiently is obtained.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when the payment information is notified, the setting of the number of loan processing machines to be notified at a time is accepted, and the payment information is notified at once for the number of accepted loan processing machines. There is an effect that a game medium lending system capable of arbitrarily setting the number of units to communicate and capable of performing communication according to the specifications of the devices installed in the system is obtained.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when providing a time difference in the notification of payment information by each loan processor, the setting of the communication interval is accepted, and the payment information is notified to each loan processor based on the accepted communication interval. Therefore, there is a gaming medium lending system that can smoothen the amount of communication notified from the lending processor and can efficiently communicate while greatly reducing the communication load of the entire system. The effect is obtained.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the setting of the lending processor that first notifies the receipt information from the lending processor is accepted, and the receipt information is notified from the accepted lending processor, so that communication can be performed more efficiently. There is an effect that a game medium lending system capable of performing the above is obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, the management server requests the payment information notification by the lending processor based on the notification setting, and notifies the payment information stored by adding in response to the payment information notification request. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a gaming medium lending system that can perform communication more efficiently from a global viewpoint in the management server on the information acquisition side while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the notification setting for notifying the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed and the predetermined notification setting are used in combination, the payment information is notified. There is an effect that a gaming medium lending system capable of reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system can be obtained.

  Exemplary embodiments for applying a game medium lending system according to the present invention to a pachinko game will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, after describing the outline and features of the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment (outline and features of the game medium lending system), the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment (embodiment 1) will be described. Then, after that, a game medium lending system according to the second embodiment (second embodiment) will be described, and finally, various modifications to the present embodiment (third embodiment) will be described.

(Outline and features of game media lending system)
First, the outline and features of the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the management server 200, and FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the central management apparatus 100.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this gaming medium lending system, a plurality of gaming machines (hereinafter referred to as “pachinko machines”) are provided for each group called “island”, and these pachinko machines are also provided. In FIG. 10, game media lending processing machines (hereinafter referred to as “ball lending processing machines”) are installed so as to be paired with each other so as to be sandwiched between pachinko machines 10. The deposit information by the banknote (cash) inserted into the ball lending processor 20 is transmitted as sales information to the management server 200 connected via the repeater 300, and each ball lending processor 20 is transmitted by the management server 200. Sales information (amount) is managed individually.

  Further, the management server 200 is connected to the central management apparatus 100 managed by a third party, and the sales information of each ball lending processor 20 counted by the management server 200 is transmitted to the central management apparatus 100. Is done. As described above, a game medium lending system that manages the total sales amount of a plurality of amusement stores (amusement stores A, B, C...) By the central management device 100 is constructed.

  Here, in such a game medium lending system, the ball lending processor 20 adds and stores the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed, and notifies the payment information stored after the addition based on a predetermined notification setting. The notification process has the main feature, and the notification process enables efficient communication while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  Therefore, in the above-mentioned example of the prior art, the ball lending processor does not notify the management server of the payment information every time the transaction is performed, but adds and stores the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed, Since the payment information stored by addition is notified based on a predetermined notification setting, it is possible to efficiently communicate while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system. Furthermore, in connection with this, by smoothing the communication load on the management server and the network, it is not necessary to install high-spec devices on the device itself or the entire system, and cost performance can be improved. Become.

  In addition, the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment additionally has the following characteristics related to the main characteristics described above. In other words, in this embodiment, the ball lending processor checks whether the deposit information can be transmitted to the management server, and notifies the management server of the deposit information when it is confirmed that the deposit information can be transmitted. In other words, even when the communication function with the management server is interrupted, the payment information can be reliably notified when the communication function is restored.

  Further, in this embodiment, the management server accepts the payment information notification setting by the ball lending processing machine, and notifies the payment information added and stored based on the notification setting. In other words, the communication amount notified from the ball lending process can be distributed by the notification setting, and communication can be performed efficiently while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  Further, in the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment, the setting of the notification time of the payment information by the ball lending processor is accepted, and the payment information is notified at the accepted notification time. That is, this enables communication at an arbitrary timing without being influenced by the demand for renting out game media, thereby reliably reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  In the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment, the setting for notifying the payment information for one or a plurality of ball lending processing machines is accepted, and the payment information is notified for the ball lending processing machine accepted as a target. In other words, this enables setting so that communication is performed in units of ball lending processing machines or repeaters, thereby enabling more efficient communication.

  In addition, in the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment, the setting of the number of ball lending processing machines to be notified at a time when receiving the payment information is accepted, and the payment information is notified at once for the number of accepted ball lending processing machines. To do. In other words, the number of simultaneous communication can be arbitrarily set by this, and communication according to the specifications of the devices installed in the system can be performed.

  Further, in the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment, when providing a time difference in the payment information notification by each ball lending processing machine, the setting of the communication interval is accepted, and each ball lending process is performed based on the accepted communication interval. Notify payment information for each machine. In other words, this makes it possible to smooth the communication amount notified from the ball lending processor, and to efficiently perform communication while greatly reducing the communication load of the entire system.

  In the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment, the setting of the ball lending processing machine that first notifies the deposit information from the ball lending processing machines is accepted, and the payment information is notified from the accepted ball lending processing machine. In other words, this enables more efficient communication.

  Further, in the gaming medium lending system according to the present embodiment, the management server requests the payment information notification by the ball lending processor based on the notification setting, and adds and stores the payment information according to the payment information notification request. Notify information. That is, this makes it possible to perform communication more efficiently from a global viewpoint in the management server on the information acquisition side while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ball lending processing machine 20 requests the payment information notification based on the notification setting stored in the notification setting table 212 in the management server 200, and responds to the payment information notification request. A gaming medium lending system that notifies the payment information stored in addition to the sales information storage table 28 (or the sales information storage table 33) will be described. Here, after describing the configuration of the game medium lending system, procedures of various processes will be described.

[Configuration of game media lending system]
Here, the configuration of the game medium rental system according to the first embodiment will be described. The ball lending processor 20 in this game medium lending system generally accepts banknotes (for example, cash of 1000 yen bills) inserted by a player and receives a predetermined number of game balls (pachinko balls) as game media. Is stored in the memory 27 (see FIG. 8), and the deposit information is stored as sales information in the management server. 200 is provided. For this reason, each ball lending processor 20 and the management server 200 are configured to be communicable via the repeater 300.

  In addition, as will be described later, the ball lending processor 20 is configured to be detachable from a frame 30 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) attached and fixed in the store. Is provided. Normally, sales information from the ball lending processor 20 is stored in the memory 27 and communication between the ball lending processor 20 and the management server 200 is performed when the ball lending processor 20 is replaced. At the time of disconnection (communication abnormality), the sales information stored in the memory 27 of the ball lending processor 20 is accumulated in the memory 32 (joint substrate 31) on the frame 30 side.

  One repeater 300 (HUB) is installed in each “island”, and has a function as a concentrator that bundles network cables in each “island”. In this embodiment, each repeater 300 is configured by serial connection (daisy chain).

  The management server 200 generally controls each device constituting the gaming medium lending system, and has a function of acquiring deposit information by banknotes inserted into each ball lending processor 20 as individual sales information. I have. Specifically, based on the identification ID of each ball lending processor 20, a function is provided for collecting and managing, as sales information, payment information by banknotes inserted for each ball lending processor 20. The management server 200 is located in the amusement store, but is installed by a third party that manages the central management device 100.

  The management server 200 receives a storage unit 210, a communication I / F 220 for communicating with the ball lending machine 20 and the central management device 100, a display unit 230 for displaying a menu screen and sales information, and various instruction inputs. An input unit 240 and a control unit 250 for overall control of the management server 200 are provided.

  Among these, the storage unit 210 is a storage unit (storage unit) that stores data and programs necessary for various processes performed by the control unit 250, and includes a management server database 211 and a notification setting table 212 in terms of functions. .

  The management server database 211 is a storage unit that stores sales information for each installation location of the ball lending machine 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10-1, payment information is stored for each installation location (unit) of each ball lending machine 20.

  The notification setting table 212 is a table that stores the notification setting of payment information by the ball lending processor 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10-2, a setting “communication unit setting” for notifying payment information for one or a plurality of ball lending processors 20 and a ball lending processor 20 (or a repeater). Set the ball lending processor 20 (or repeater unit) to be notified first of the deposit information from among the “units”) Set the “communication start unit number” or “communication start relay unit”, and lend the ball to be notified at once The setting of the number of processing machines 20 “the number of simultaneous communication” is stored. In the present embodiment, as the form of setting the “notification time” of the deposit information by the ball lending processor 20, the first time to start communication is set, and thereafter, the communication interval until the next communication is set. I will do it.

  The communication I / F 220 is transmitted by the ball lending processor 20 based on the “notification setting” stored in the notification setting table 212 via the communication I / F 26 (see FIG. 8) of the ball lending processor 20 and the repeater 300. It has a function to request notification of deposit information. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10B, since the setting of “the number of simultaneous communication” is “1”, the ball lending processor is connected to “Unit 01” connected to “Repeater 01”. 20 is requested in a “10 minute” cycle (“communication interval (communication interval until next communication)”). In this way, communication can be performed more efficiently from a global viewpoint in the management server 200 on the information acquisition side.

  The display unit 230 is an output unit that outputs information of the management server database 211 and a menu image (setting screen) as a display to a manager responsible for operating the management server 200, and includes a monitor or the like.

  The input unit 240 is an instruction input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a trackball for inputting various types of information. As a process closely related to the present invention, a setting of “communication interval (communication interval until next communication)”, The "communication unit" setting, the "communication start relay unit" setting, the "communication start unit number" setting and the "simultaneous communication number" setting are accepted. Note that the “notification setting” may be received by the input unit 140 in the central management apparatus 100 described later.

  The central management device 100 communicates with the management server 200 arranged at each game store (amusement store A, B, C...) To obtain a ball lending processor acquired by the management server 200. Based on the sales information of 20, the total sales for each amusement store and the function of performing management of each ball lending processing machine 20, etc., as shown in FIG. 4, the amusement store management database 110 and the management server 200 The communication I / F 120 that performs communication via the communication I / F 220 (see FIG. 3), a display unit 130, an input unit 140, and a central management control unit 150 are provided.

  Here, before describing the detailed configuration of the ball lending processor 20 and the pachinko machine 10, the features of the game medium lending system according to the present invention applied to the ball lending processor 20 and the pachinko machine 10 will be described. This game medium lending system notifies the management server 200 of the receipt information of banknotes (cash) inserted into the ball lending processor 20 as sales information, and the management server 200 causes the sales information of each ball lending processor 20 to be notified. The total data of each ball lending processor 20 is notified to the central management device 100.

  For this reason, each of the ball lending processing machine 20 and the frame 30 is previously assigned with an individual identification ID (the identification ID of the ball lending processing machine 20 and the frame identification ID of the frame 30). The identification ID is notified by communication from the ball lending processor 20 to the management server 200 when the amusement store is opened (when the ball lending processor is turned on), and a management server database 211 provided in the management server 200. Automatically registered within.

  On the other hand, the management server 200 receives communication information (sales amount) from the ball lending processor 20 and updates and counts it in association with the identification ID of the ball lending processor 20. The game store is provided with a hall computer (not shown) connected to the gaming machine 10 and the ball lending processor 20, and the hall computer uses the hall computer to play games based on game information such as winning balls and the rate of playing. The total sales in the store will be managed.

  Next, the details of the configuration of the ball lending processor 20 and the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is an external front view of the ball lending processor 20 and the pachinko machine 10 applied in the game medium lending system shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a side view showing the ball lending processor 20 (with the frame 30 and the frame 30). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a separation state of the frame body 30 and the ball lending processor 20. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the ball lending processor 20 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ball lending processor 20 is configured to be vertically long in appearance, and slightly projects toward the lending processor main body 21 and the front (right side in FIG. 6) from the main body 21. And a BV unit portion 50 formed to do so.

  As will be described later, the BV unit portion 50 is configured to be automatically protruded from the main body portion 21 by an unlocking operation by a remote controller. The front panel of the main body 21 of the ball lending processor 20 includes a display lamp unit 22, a display unit 23, and a remote control light receiving unit 24.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ball lending processor 20 is detachable from the frame 30 attached and fixed in the amusement store. Specifically, the ball lending processor 20 Are connected to the frame 30, and the ball lending processor 20 and the connectors located above and below the frame 30 are fitted to each other so that the ball lending processor 20 is installed at a position adjacent to the pachinko machine 10. be able to.

  The BV unit unit 50 includes a bill insertion slot 15, a bill storage unit 51, and a bill recognition unit 52. The bill insertion slot 15 is an opening for accepting bills (for example, 1000 yen bills) and taking the bills into the bill storage unit 51. The banknote storage unit 51 has a function of storing banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion slot 15 by a player. In the first embodiment, since the banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit 51 are collected by the store clerk, a banknote transport path for transporting banknotes to the island edge and a banknote collection box for collecting banknotes at the island edge are unnecessary. It becomes.

  The bill identifying unit 52 has a bill processing function for storing (determining) the amount information for the bill inserted by the player from the bill insertion slot 15 and storing the amount information, and accepts the bill inserted by the player. For banknotes that are identified and determined to be normal, the identification result and money amount information are notified to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 stores the payment information in the memory 27 as sales information in association with the identification ID of the ball lending processor 20. On the other hand, banknotes for which the inserted banknote cannot be identified are returned through the banknote insertion slot 15.

  The BV lock mechanism unit 53 includes a mechanism that locks the BV unit unit 50. The lock (locking) unlocked by the BV lock mechanism unit 53 is unlocked by a remote controller owned by a store clerk or manager of a game shop. This is done by a lock operation.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, when the store clerk presses the unlock key of the remote controller toward the remote control light receiving unit 24 of the ball rental processing machine 20, the BV unit unit 50 moves the ball rental processing machine 20. It protrudes ahead (right side in FIG. 11), and has a mechanism in which the bill storage part 51 is opened. Thereby, the banknote accommodated in the banknote accommodating part 51 is collectable. On the other hand, the locking of the BV unit portion 50 can be easily performed because the locking by the BV lock mechanism portion 53 is activated by pushing the protruding BV unit portion 50 by hand.

  For this reason, in the case of the lock mechanism unit 53 in the first embodiment, it can be easily unlocked by operation with a remote controller, and the lock (locking) can be easily performed manually. It is not necessary for the store clerk to insert and operate the unlocking key into the keyhole of the lending processor when unlocking and locking, and the banknote transport mechanism for transporting the banknote in the banknote storage unit 51 to the island edge or the island edge A bill storage safe is not required, which is effective in terms of cost reduction and security.

  The display lamp unit 22 has a function of notifying the operation status of the ball lending processor 20, and can select and turn on display lamps of three colors (green, red, and yellow) according to the state. The green lamp indicates normal operation, the red lamp indicates that an abnormality has occurred and cannot be used, and the yellow lamp indicates that a communication error such as a broken communication path has occurred. Show.

  The display unit 23 has a function of displaying the state of the ball lending processor 20. The remote control light receiving unit 24 has a function of receiving an error reset signal and an unlock signal for resetting an error state of the ball lending processor 20 based on a transmission signal transmitted by the remote control. The power supply unit 60 is a power supply unit for supplying power to the ball lending processor 20.

  The control unit 25 is a processing unit that has a control program such as an OS (Operating System), a program that defines various processing procedures, and an internal memory for storing necessary data, and executes various processes using these programs. The ball lending control unit 70 having a function of instructing the pachinko machine 10 to throw a ball is conceptually provided.

  The communication I / F 26 (interface) is (accumulated) in the sales information storage table 28 (and / or the sales information storage table 33) in response to the deposit information notification request received via the communication I / F 220 in the management server 200. A function of notifying the payment information stored after addition is provided. Specifically, the deposit information stored by adding (cumulatively) to the sales information storage table 28 (and / or the sales information storage table 33) in response to the deposit information notification request from the management server 200 (see FIG. 9). ). In this way, the ball lending processor 20 does not notify the management server 200 of the payment information every time it is processed, but adds and stores the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed, and stores the addition information. Since the payment information is notified based on a predetermined notification setting, it is possible to smooth the load caused by communication on the management server and the network, and to greatly reduce the load caused by communication of the entire system.

  The sales information storage table 28 is a table for adding and storing payment information every time “game medium lending process”. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of a ball lending processing machine that accepts “1000 yen bills”, every time a bill is received from a player and “gaming medium lending processing” is performed, the deposit information is “1000 yen”. Increment. In addition, when the payment information stored by adding (cumulatively) to the sales information storage table 28 is normally notified to the management server 200 (a response (ACK) indicating that the data transfer was normal from the management server 200). If there is, the deposit information stored by (cumulative) addition is cleared.

  On the other hand, a joint substrate 31 is provided at an upper position of the frame body 30 (see FIG. 7). The joint board 31 includes a memory 32 that functions as storage for sales information (data) when the ball lending processor 20 is replaced and when a communication abnormality occurs (disconnection or the like). Inside this memory 32, there is provided a sales information storage table 33 that corresponds to the gaming machine number of the pachinko machine 10 and stores the payment information associated with the identification ID of the ball lending processing machine 20 and the identification ID of the frame 30. It has been.

  A pachinko machine 10 that is a gaming machine includes a gaming area 11 and an upper plate 12 provided below, and a ball throwing mechanism portion 13 is provided therein. The ball throwing mechanism 13 is placed on the upper plate 12 of the pachinko machine 10 when a ball lending throwing request is given from the control unit 25 and when a prize throwing request is given by the pachinko machine 10. It is a part where a predetermined number of pachinko balls are thrown out.

[Processing procedures]
Next, a processing procedure of the game medium lending system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment. This game medium lending system is roughly divided into (1) opening time setting process (step SA100), (2) online control process (step SA200), (3) banknote collection process (step SA300), (4) regular communication process ( Steps SA400) and (5) are configured by five processing steps of a closing time setting step (Step SA500). Each of the control steps (1) to (5) will be described in detail.

(1) Store opening setting process The store opening setting process is a store opening process executed by the management server 200 based on a store opening notification. This store opening process includes a central management device 100 managed by a third party as a store opening notification and This is notified to each ball lending processor 20 in the amusement store.

  That is, each of the ball lending processing machine 20 and the frame 30 is previously given an individual identification ID (the identification ID of the ball lending processing machine main body, the frame identification ID of the frame), and these two identification IDs. Is notified from the ball lending processor 20 by communication to the management server 200 when the ball lending processor 20 is turned on, and the identification ID of the ball lending processor 20 and the frame identification ID of the frame are: Are automatically registered in the management server database 211 provided in the management server 200. Thereafter, the management server 200 stores the sales information notified from each ball lending processor 20 in the management server database 211.

(2) Online control process (normal)
The online control process notifies the ball lending instruction to lend a ball from the ball lending processor 20 to the pachinko machine 10 when cash (banknote) is thrown into the ball lending processor 20 by the player. This is a processing step of notifying the management server 200 at a predetermined timing in association with the deposit information of the inserted bills in association with the identification ID of the ball lending processor 20 and the identification ID of the frame 30.

  That is, the management server 200 requests notification of payment information by the ball lending processor 20 based on the “notification setting” stored in the notification setting table 212. Then, the ball lending processing machine 20 adds (cumulatively) and stores the payment information stored in the sales information storage table 28 (and / or the sales information storage table 33) in response to a payment information notification request from the management server 200. (See FIG. 9). In the “communication abnormal state”, it is added that the deposit information is stored in the memory 32 (sales information storage table 33) of the joint board 31 and is operated.

  In addition, the management server 200 determines that “communication” when the return communication of the ball lending processor 20 in response to the payment information notification request is not within the waiting time (arbitrary waiting time) or cannot be obtained due to a retry failure or the like. No information is collected as “abnormal state”. Then, at the time of recognizing that the “communication abnormal state” has been recovered in the “periodic communication” with the ball lending processing machine 20 (or the repeater 300), a payment information notification request is made to obtain the payment information. Try again.

(3) Banknote collection process The banknote collection process unlocks the BV unit 50 provided in the ball lending processor 20 by operating a remote control owned by a store clerk or manager of an amusement store. This is a processing step for collecting banknotes stored in the store, and is appropriately performed during business hours and when the store is closed. As an actual banknote collection procedure, the machine number of the pachinko machine 10 to be collected (unlocked) is notified from the management server 200, and the BV unit 50 of the corresponding ball lending processor is unlocked by remote control operation. In addition, when unlocking only by remote control operation, the password input operation is required. In addition, when unlocking is performed by the remote controller, an unlocking signal is notified from the corresponding ball lending processor 20 to the management server 200.

(4) Regular communication process The regular communication process is a process of regularly confirming the connection state and error log between the management server 200 and the central management apparatus 100 during the business hours of the amusement store. It is a process.

(5) Closed store notification step The closed store notification step acquires all sales information for one day from each ball lending processor 20 by the management server 200 and transmits the total sales information to the central management device 100. It is. At this time, a closing notification signal is transmitted from the management server 200 to the central management device 100 and the ball lending processor 20.

  As described above, according to the gaming medium lending system according to the first embodiment, the load caused by communication of the entire system is greatly reduced, and more efficiently from the global viewpoint in the management server on the information acquisition side. Communication is possible. Furthermore, in connection with this, by smoothing the communication load on the management server and the network, it is not necessary to install high-spec devices on the device itself or the entire system, and cost performance can be improved. Become.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the “notification setting” stored in the notification setting table 212 in the management server 200 is received and stored in the notification setting table 29 in the ball lending processing machine 20 in advance (at the time of “opening notification”). The game medium lending system for storing the payment information stored in the sales information storage table 28 (or the sales information storage table 33) based on the “notification setting” will be described. Here, the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the ball lending processor 20 according to the second embodiment. The ball lending processor 20 includes a notification setting table 29 in the ball lending processor 20 and a notification setting table 29 for each ball lending processor 20 as shown in FIG. The notification setting table 212 in the management server 200 has the “notification setting” for all the ball lending processors 20 (see FIG. 16).

  The notification setting table 29 in the ball lending processor 20 is a table that stores “notification setting” notified from the management server 200. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the setting “communication unit” for notifying payment information for one or a plurality of ball lending processing machines 20, the setting of the first time for starting communication “communication start” “Time” setting, setting of the number of ball lending processing machines 20 to be notified at a time, setting of “simultaneous communication number”, setting of the ball lending processing machine 20 that first notifies the payment information from the ball lending processing machine 20 “communication” Setting of “starting unit number”, setting of “communication interval (communication interval for providing time difference for each ball lending processor)” for setting a time difference in notification of payment information by each ball lending processor 20, and “ The setting of “communication interval (communication interval until next communication)” is stored.

  Next, procedures of various processes performed by the game medium rental system according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the game medium lending system according to the present embodiment. As in the first embodiment, this game medium lending system is roughly divided into (1) opening time setting process (step SA100), (2) online control process (step SA200), (3) banknote collection process (step SA300), (4) It is composed of five processing steps, a regular communication step (step SA400), and a (5) closing time setting step (step SA500). Each of the control steps (1) to (5) will be described in detail.

(1) Store opening setting process The store opening setting process is a store opening process executed by the management server 200 based on a store opening notification. This store opening process includes a central management device 100 managed by a third party as a store opening notification and This is notified to each ball lending processor 20 in the amusement store.

  Here, the ball lending processor 20 receives various settings from the management server 200 when the store is opened (or when the power is turned on), and also receives “notification settings” stored in the notification setting table 212 in the management server 200. The information is stored in advance in the notification setting table 29 of the ball lending processor 20 (at the time of opening notification).

(2) Online control process (normal)
The online control process notifies the ball lending instruction to lend a ball from the ball lending processor 20 to the pachinko machine 10 when cash (banknote) is thrown into the ball lending processor 20 by the player. This is a processing step of notifying the management server 200 of the deposit information of the inserted banknote in association with the identification ID of the ball lending processor 20 and the identification ID of the frame 30.

  In other words, the ball lending processor 20 adds the payment information stored in the sales information storage table 28 (or the sales information storage table 33) (accumulated) based on the “notification setting” stored in the notification setting table 29. (See FIG. 9). In the “communication abnormal state”, it is added that the deposit information is stored in the memory 32 (sales information storage table 33) of the joint board 31 and is operated.

  Further, when the ball lending processor 20 notifies the management server 200 of the payment information stored by adding (cumulatively) to the sales information storage table 28, the data transfer from the management server 200 is normal. If the response (ACK) is not within the waiting time (arbitrary waiting time) or cannot be obtained due to a retry failure or the like, the payment information is not notified as “communication abnormal state”. Then, when it is recognized that the “communication abnormal state” has been recovered in “periodic communication” with the management server 200 (or the repeater 300), the payment information is notified again.

(3) Banknote collection process The banknote collection process unlocks the BV unit 50 provided in the ball lending processor 20 by operating a remote control owned by a store clerk or manager of an amusement store. This is a processing step for collecting banknotes stored in the store, and is appropriately performed during business hours and when the store is closed. As an actual banknote collection procedure, the machine server number of the pachinko machine 10 to be collected (unlocked) is notified from the management server 200, the BV unit section 50 of the corresponding ball lending processor is in the unlocking permitted state, and further by remote control operation. Unlocked. In addition, when unlocking only by remote control operation, the password input operation is required. In addition, when unlocking is performed by the remote controller, an unlocking signal is notified from the corresponding ball lending processor 20 to the management server 200.

(4) Regular communication process The regular communication process is a process of regularly confirming the connection state and error log between the management server 200 and the central management apparatus 100 during the business hours of the amusement store. It is a process.

(5) Closing time setting step The closing time setting step is a processing step of acquiring all sales information for one day from each ball lending processor 20 by the management server 200 and transmitting total sales information to the central management device 100. It is. At this time, a closing notification signal is transmitted from the management server 200 to the central management device 100 and the ball lending processor 20.

  As described above, according to the game medium lending system according to the second embodiment, it is possible to perform communication more efficiently while greatly reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system. Furthermore, in connection with this, by smoothing the communication load on the management server and the network, it is not necessary to install high-spec devices on the device itself or the entire system, and cost performance can be improved. Become.

  The first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various different embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. May be implemented.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a predetermined notification setting (“communication unit” setting, “communication start unit number” setting, “communication start relay number” setting, “simultaneous communication number” setting, “communication interval (each The game medium lending system for notifying the stored payment information by cumulative addition based on the setting of “communication interval for providing a time difference for each ball lending processor” and “notification time” has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the payment information may be notified by using both the notification setting for notifying the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed and the predetermined notification setting. In other words, this makes it possible to reduce the load caused by communication of the entire system while taking advantage of real-time communication.

  In the present embodiment, as the form of setting the “notification time” of the payment information by the ball lending processor 20, the first time to start communication is set, and thereafter, the communication interval until the next communication is set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all the times for communication may be set.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the game medium lending system according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko game has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is similarly applied to a game system using a pachislot machine. be able to.

  Moreover, although the present Example demonstrated the ball thrown out from the inside of a pachinko machine (a so-called CR machine system), the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball lending processor passes through the nozzle. The same applies to a method in which balls are thrown out. Moreover, not only the ball lending processor that accepts only banknotes as shown in the first or second embodiment described above, but can accept both cards (prepaid cards, membership cards, etc.) and banknotes, and at least the banknotes are in the machine. The present invention can also be applied to a stored card processing machine.

  In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a ball lending system in which no card medium is interposed. However, even if the card medium is interposed, the lending processor accepts money and lends game media. The present invention can be similarly applied to any type of system. In addition, when the received money is once valued to the card medium and the ball is lending, the deposit information is replaced with the card medium issuance information and notified to the management apparatus, but it is substantially equivalent.

  In addition, among the processes described in this embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or the processes described as being performed manually can be performed. All or a part can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedure, control procedure, specific name, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above-described document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified.

  Further, each component of each illustrated apparatus is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed or arbitrarily distributed in arbitrary units according to various loads or usage conditions. Can be integrated and configured. Further, all or any part of each processing function performed in each device may be realized by a CPU and a program analyzed and executed by the CPU, or may be realized as hardware by wired logic.

  As described above, the gaming medium lending system according to the present invention manages, as sales information, a lending processing machine that accepts money as a valuable value and performs a gaming medium lending process, and payment information notified by the lending processing machine. The present invention is useful for a game medium lending system provided with a management server, and is particularly suitable for efficiently communicating while reducing the load caused by communication of the entire system.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the game media rental system which concerns on the present Example 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a game medium lending system according to a first embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the management server shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the central management apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an external front view of a ball lending processor and a pachinko machine applied in the game medium lending system shown in FIG. 2. It is a side view which shows the ball | bending rental processing machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the isolation | separation state of the ball lending processor shown in FIG. 5, and a frame. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ball | bending rental processing machine which concerns on the present Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information memorize | stored in a sales information storage table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information memorize | stored in a management server database. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information memorize | stored in a notification setting table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the unlocking | schematic outline of a BV lock mechanism part. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the game media rental system which concerns on a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the game media rental system which concerns on the present Example 2. FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ball | bending rental processing machine which concerns on the present Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information memorize | stored in the notification setting table in a ball | bend rental processing machine. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information memorize | stored in the notification setting table in a management server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko machine 11 Game area 12 Top plate 13 Ball throwing mechanism part 15 Banknote insertion slot 20 Ball lending processing machine 21 Main part 22 Display lamp 23 Display part 24 Remote control light receiving part 25 Control part 26,120,220 Communication I / F
27, 32 Memory 28, 33 Sales information storage table 29 Notification setting table 30 Frame body 31 Joint substrate 50 BV unit section 51 Banknote storage section 52 Banknote identification section 53 BV lock mechanism section 60 Power supply section 70 Ball lending control section 100 Central management device DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 Game store management database 130 Display part 140 Input part 150 Central management control part 200 Management server 210 Storage part 211 Management server database 212 Notification setting table 230 Display part 240 Input part 250 Control part 300 Relay device

Claims (10)

A gaming medium lending system comprising a lending processing machine that accepts money as a valuable value and performs gaming medium lending processing, and a management server that manages the payment information notified by the lending processing machine as sales information,
The lending processor is
Storage means for adding and storing deposit information for each game medium lending process;
A game medium lending system comprising: notification means for notifying the payment information added and stored by the storage means based on a predetermined notification setting. The lending processor is
Further comprising a transmission permission confirmation means for confirming whether the payment information can be transmitted to the management server,
2. The game medium lending system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the management server of the deposit information when it is confirmed that transmission is possible by the transmission permission / inhibition checking unit. The management server
A notification setting receiving means for receiving a notification setting of payment information by the lending processor;
The game medium lending according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification means notifies the payment information added and stored by the storage means based on the notification setting received by the notification setting reception means. system. The notification setting accepting unit accepts a setting of a notification time of payment information by the lending processor,
4. The game medium lending system according to claim 3, wherein the notification means notifies the deposit information at a notification time received by the notification setting reception means. The notification setting accepting means accepts a setting for notifying payment information for one or a plurality of lending machines,
5. The game medium lending system according to claim 3, wherein the notifying unit notifies the deposit information of a lending processing machine received as a target by the notification setting receiving unit. The notification setting accepting means accepts the setting of the number of lending processing machines to be notified at a time when notifying the payment information by the notifying means,
The game medium lending system according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the notifying means notifies the deposit information at a time of the number of lending processors accepted by the notice setting accepting means. The notification setting accepting unit accepts the setting of the communication interval when providing a time difference in the payment information notification by each lending processor,
The game according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the notification means notifies the deposit information for each lending processor based on the communication interval received by the notification setting reception means. Medium lending system. The notification setting accepting unit accepts a setting of a lending processor that first notifies payment information from the lending processors,
The game medium lending system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the notifying unit notifies the deposit information from a lending processor received by the notification setting receiving unit. The management server
A payment information notification requesting unit for requesting notification of payment information by the lending processor based on the notification setting by the notification setting receiving unit;
9. The notification means according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the payment information is added and stored by the storage means in response to a payment information notification request by the payment information notification request means. The gaming media rental system described in 1.   The notification means notifies the payment information by using both the notification setting for notifying the payment information every time the game medium lending process is performed and the predetermined notification setting. The game media rental system according to one.

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