JP2008073250A - Exchange management device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a proper exchange of game media for goods even when the number of game media equivalent to the goods is not an integer. <P>SOLUTION: An odd receipt issuing part 203 issues odd receipts which record odd numbers detected with an odd number detection part 208. A game medium return part 204 returns to players the game media left unutilized in the exchange for tobacco out of those received by a game medium receiving part 201. When an exchange signal indicating the completion of exchange for tobacco is received by a connection part 207, an exchange control part 206 subtracts the number of game media equivalent to the tobacco from the number of game media received by the game medium receiving part 201 and outputs the excess number of game media to the odd number detection part 208. When receiving the excess number of game media outputted from the exchange control part 206, the odd number detection part 208 detects the odd number belonging to the decimal segments contained in the excess number of game media and outputs the odd number obtained to the odd receipt issuing part 203. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an exchange management apparatus and exchange management method for managing exchange of game media and articles, and in particular, achieves appropriate exchange of game media and articles even when the number of game media equivalent to articles is not an integer. The present invention relates to an exchange management device and an exchange management method capable of performing the above.

  At present, for example, in amusement stores such as pachinko and pachislot stores, it is common for amusement stores to bear consumption tax related to games using game media such as balls and medals from among operating profits. However, if the consumption tax rate rises in the future, the burden on the game shop will increase, so it is considered that the player will bear the consumption tax related to his game.

  At this time, since the denomination of money distributed in the game store is limited, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, the number of game media to be lent out at the time of renting out game media is adjusted by the player. It is realistic to collect sales tax. That is, for example, when 25 balls used for pachinko are rented for 100 yen at the current time, 24 balls are rented for 100 yen, so that the tax-included unit price of balls is 4 yen to 4.17 (≒ 100/24) It can be considered to be a circle. By doing so, a part of the consumption tax can be collected from the player at the game store, and a decrease in operating profit can be suppressed.

  If the player pays the consumption tax, the unit price of the game media will rise even when the prize is exchanged at the prize counter, because the tax-included unit price when the game medium is rented will increase compared to the current situation. . In other words, it is currently exchanged for a prize equivalent to 4 yen per ball, but after the above adjustment, it is exchanged for a prize equivalent to 4.17 yen per ball.

  Such a change appears not only in the gift counter, but also in vending machines that exchange game media for cigarettes and beverages unattended. That is, at game stores, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, game media can be directly inserted into vending machines and exchanged for cigarettes, etc. When the unit price changes, the number of game media exchanged for goods in such vending machines is different from the current situation.

JP 2006-158635 A JP 2005-131014 A

  However, when exchanging game media for goods, depending on the consumption tax rate and the consumption tax burden ratio set by the game store, the tax-included unit price of the game media (eg, 4.17 yen) will include decimals. In many cases, the equivalent exchange with game media cannot be performed. In other words, the number of game media corresponding to the price of goods often does not become an integer, and depending on the price of the goods to be exchanged, there is a problem that equivalent exchange is impossible and proper game media and goods are not exchanged. is there.

  Specifically, for example, if the unit price including tax is 4.17 yen, considering that the ball is replaced with 320 yen cigarette, the equivalent of 320 yen is about 76.7 (≈320 / 4.17) Since it is a ball, it is impossible to exchange the equivalent of a game medium that can only be exchanged with an integer and cigarettes. For this reason, for example, it is possible to exchange for 320 yen cigarettes with 76 or 77 balls, but as a result, the cigarettes with a uniform market price have a different value from the general market in the amusement store. It becomes inconvenient. Similar problems occur with articles other than tobacco.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an exchange management apparatus and exchange management method capable of realizing appropriate exchange of game media and articles even when the number of game media equivalent to the articles is not an integer. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is an exchange management device that manages exchange of game media and articles, and includes an accepting means for accepting game media, and an exchange target based on the number of game media accepted by the accepting means. An exchange control means for subtracting the number of game media equivalent to an article, a detection means for detecting a fraction including a decimal point from a subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means, and a number of game media of the fraction detected by the detection means Issuing means for issuing an identifiable recording medium.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the detection means detects a fraction less than 1 from the subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the present invention further comprises return means for returning game media corresponding to an integer part other than the fraction detected by the detection means in the subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means. To do.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the above-mentioned invention, there is further provided display means for displaying the number of game media accepted by the accepting means and the number of game media equivalent to the article to be exchanged.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the display means displays the smallest integer larger than the number of game media when the number of game media equivalent to the article to be exchanged includes a fractional part. .

  The present invention also relates to an exchange management device for managing the exchange of game media and articles, and specifies an acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media acquired by a player through a game, and specifies the number of fractional game media including a decimal point. An accepting unit that accepts a possible recording medium, an article with respect to the total number of gaming media obtained by the number of gaming media acquired by the obtaining unit and the number of gaming media specified by the receiving unit. And replacement processing means for performing the replacement processing.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the accepting means accepts the recording medium only when the number of game media acquired by the acquiring means is not a multiple of the number of game media equivalent to a predetermined article. To do.

  The present invention is also an exchange management method for managing exchange of game media and articles, and a game equivalent to an article to be exchanged based on a reception process for receiving game media and the number of game media received in the reception process. It is possible to specify the exchange control step for subtracting the number of media, the detection step for detecting a fraction including a decimal point from the subtraction result obtained in the exchange control step, and the number of game media of the fraction detected in the detection step And an issuing step for issuing a recording medium.

  The present invention also relates to an exchange management method for managing the exchange of game media and articles, wherein an acquisition step for acquiring the number of game media acquired by a player by the game and the number of fractional game media including a decimal point are specified. A total number of game media including a reception step of accepting possible recording media, a number of game media acquired in the acquisition step, and a fraction of game media specified from the recording media received in the reception step And an exchange processing step for performing exchange processing with an article.

  According to the present invention, a game medium is received, the number of game media equivalent to the exchange target article is subtracted from the received number of game media, a fraction including a decimal point is detected from the subtraction result, and a game of the detected fraction is played. A recording medium that can specify the number of media is issued. For this reason, even when the number of game media equivalent to the article is not an integer, the number of game media that cannot be returned to the player is recorded on the recording medium so that it can be used for exchange with other articles. It can be returned to the customer, and an appropriate exchange between the game medium and the goods can be realized.

  Further, according to the present invention, since a fraction less than 1 is detected from the subtraction result, only the amount that cannot be reliably returned to the player can be detected as a fraction.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the game media corresponding to the integer part other than the detected fraction of the subtraction result is returned. Therefore, even when the number of game media equal to or greater than the item to be exchanged is accepted The possible amount can be returned to the player as a game medium again.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the number of accepted game media and the number of game media equivalent to the exchange target article are displayed, it is possible to visually confirm that the exchange of the game media and the article is being executed accurately. it can.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the number of game media equivalent to the item to be exchanged includes a fractional part, the minimum integer larger than the number of game media is displayed, so that the number of game media is all displayed as an integer, It is possible to easily confirm the number of physical game media used for exchange with goods.

  Further, according to the present invention, the number of game media acquired by the game by the player is acquired, and a recording medium that can specify the number of fractional game media including the decimal point is received, and the acquired number of game media is received. The exchange process with the article is performed for the total number of game media with the number of game media of the fraction specified from the recording media. For this reason, even when the fraction recorded on the recording medium is small and cannot be exchanged with an article, the fraction can be used for exchange with an article after adding the number of other gaming media. Appropriate exchange between the medium and the article can be realized.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the recording medium is received only when the acquired number of game media is not a multiple of the number of game media equivalent to the predetermined article, for example, the number of game media counted by the counter is all special prizes. For example, when it is exchangeable, processing related to the fraction recorded on the recording medium can be omitted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an example in which balls used for pachinko are used as game media and articles exchanged for game media are used as cigarettes will be described. However, if the game media is a medal used for pachislot, The present invention can also be applied when the medium is replaced with an article other than tobacco.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game shop according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the amusement store shown in FIG. 1, a prize management device 40, a counter 50, and an island controller 60 are connected to a member management terminal controller (hereinafter abbreviated as “member management T / C”) 10, and a prize management device. A vending machine slave 20 (corresponding to the exchange management device in the claims) is connected to 40, and a cigarette changer 30 is attached to the vending machine slave 20. In addition, a plurality of lending devices 61 are connected to the island controller 60, and each lending device 61 is provided with a gaming device 62.

  The member management T / C 10 stores attribute information such as name and date of birth in association with the member ID of a member of the amusement store. Further, the member management T / C 10 stores the number of game media such as stored balls or stored medals that each member has deposited with the game store.

  The vending machine slave 20 accepts the game media and permits the tobacco exchange 30 to exchange cigarettes whose value is less than or equal to the accepted game media. Further, the vending machine slave 20 subtracts the number of game media used for cigarette exchange from the received number of game media, and detects a fraction less than 1 included in the remaining number of game media. Then, the vending machine slave 20 returns the game media corresponding to the integer part of the remaining number of game media to the player and issues a fraction receipt in which the fraction included in the remaining number of game media is recorded.

  When the vending machine 20 permits the cigarette exchange, the cigarette changer 30 waits for the player to select a cigarette brand and throws out the cigarette of the brand desired by the player. Then, the cigarette changer 30 returns an exchange signal indicating that the cigarette has been thrown out to the vending machine slave unit 20. Here, the vending machine slave 20 and the cigarette changer 30 are configured separately, but the vending machine slave 20 and the cigarette changer 30 may be integrated.

  The prize management device 40 is installed at a prize counter of a game store and manages prize exchange of game media. Specifically, the prize management device 40 calculates the number of special prizes that can be exchanged from the game medium held by the player from the receipt issued by the counter 50 and the fraction receipt issued by the vending machine slave unit 20. , Notify the employee of the prize counter of the calculated number of special prizes, or actually issue special prizes. In addition, the prize management device 40 performs exchange processing with general prizes or issues a remaining number of receipts for game media that are not exchanged for special prizes.

  The counter 50 counts game media such as balls and medals inserted by the player, and issues a receipt on which the counting result is recorded. The number of game media may be printed on the receipt, or may be magnetically stored. Further, only the receipt ID is recorded in the receipt, and the counting result may be stored in association with the receipt ID on the outside (for example, member management T / C 10) that can be referred to by the prize management device 40. good.

  The island controller 60 relays exchanges between the plurality of lending devices 61 installed in an area called “island” and the member management T / C 10. For example, if the lending device 61 accepts a member card, the island controller 60 The ID is received from the lending device 61 and transmitted to the member management T / C 10, and the number of stored balls and the number of medals corresponding to this member ID are received from the member management T / C 10 and transmitted to the lending device 61.

  The lending device 61 lends game media such as balls and medals. That is, the lending device 61 receives, for example, money or a prepaid card, and performs a medal lending process equivalent to these values. When a prepaid card is accepted, the lending device 61 is connected to a card terminal controller (not shown) or the like, and the value associated with the prepaid card is managed by the card terminal controller. In addition, when the lending device 61 accepts a member card, the lending device 61 may perform a lending process of stored balls or stored medals with an upper limit on the number of stored balls or the number of stored medals stored in the member management T / C 10. The game device 62 is a device in which a player plays a game using the game medium borrowed by the lending process of the lending device 61.

  Here, the external appearance of the vending machine slave 20 and the cigarette changer 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A game medium receiving unit 201 that receives game media such as balls and medals is provided on the front surface of the vending machine slave unit 20, and cigarettes are thrown out from the cigarette changer 30 by the game medium received by the game medium receiving unit 201. Information such as the number of accepted game media is displayed on the display unit 202 during a series of processing. When the number of game media exceeding the value of cigarettes thrown out by the cigarette changer 30 is received by the game media reception unit 201, the integer part of the excess number of game media is returned from the game media return unit 204, As for the fraction of the decimal part, a fraction receipt in which the fraction is recorded is issued from the fraction receipt issuing unit 203.

  On the other hand, a plurality of brands of cigarette samples are arranged on the front surface of the cigarette changer 30, and a display unit 301 having a selection button corresponding to each sample is formed, and is exchanged with permission from the vending machine slave unit 20. The cigarette selection buttons for possible brands are lit. The player can obtain a cigarette to be thrown out to the cigarette throwing-out unit 302 by pressing a selection button of the desired brand that is lit on the display unit 301.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the vending machine 20 according to the present embodiment. 3 includes a game medium receiving unit 201, a display unit 202, a fraction receipt issuing unit 203, a game medium return unit 204, a counting unit 205, an exchange control unit 206, a connection unit 207, and a fraction detection unit 208. have.

  The game medium receiving unit 201 receives a game medium brought by a player who wants to exchange for cigarettes, and transfers the received game medium to the counting unit 205.

  The display unit 202 displays the number of game media accepted by the game media accepting unit 201 and the number of game media returned to the player in accordance with instructions from the fraction detection unit 208. At this time, for example, even if the number of game media equivalent to cigarettes is a number including a decimal point, the display unit 202 rounds up the decimal point and displays the number of game media as an integer. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4-1, the display unit 202 displays the number of game media accepted by the game media accepting unit 201 as “the number of thrown balls: 80 balls”, etc. The number of game media used for exchanging the game is displayed as an integer such as “the number of custody balls: 77 balls”. However, the number of game media actually equivalent to cigarettes is approximately 76.7 (≈320 / 4.17) balls, for example, when tobacco is 320 yen and one ball is 4.17 yen including tax. However, since it is uncomfortable that the number of game media includes the decimal point, the display unit 202 displays the number of game media as an integer such as “number of balls to be kept: 77 balls” and “number of balls to be returned: 3 balls”. For the fractional part, the player is notified of the issuance of the fraction receipt, such as “Please receive a receipt for the fraction (0.3 balls)”.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the display unit 202 displays the fraction as it is, such as “number of exchanged balls: 76.7 balls” even when the number of game media equivalent to cigarettes includes a fractional part. May be.

  The fraction receipt issuing unit 203 issues a fraction receipt in which the fraction detected by the fraction detection unit 208 is recorded. At this time, the fraction receipt issuing unit 203 may issue a fraction receipt in which the fraction is directly printed or magnetically stored, but only the fraction receipt ID is recorded in the fraction receipt, and the actual fraction is For example, it may be stored outside the member management T / C 10 or the prize management device 40 in association with the fraction receipt ID. Further, the fraction receipt issuing unit 203 may make the expiration date of the fraction receipt longer than a normal receipt issued by the counter 50. That is, the receipt issued by the counter 50 is normally valid only on the day of issuance, but the fractional receipt with a small number of game media to be recorded is less than 1, the risk of being counterfeited is small. It may be after the next day of issue. In particular, when only the fraction receipt ID is recorded in the fraction receipt, for example, the expiration date may be set as long as about one week from the issue.

  In accordance with the notification from the fraction detection unit 208, the game medium return unit 204 returns game media that have not been used for exchange with cigarettes among the game media received by the game medium reception unit 201 to the player. That is, the game medium return unit 204 returns game media corresponding to the integer part of the number of game media remaining after the exchange of cigarettes to the player.

  The counting unit 205 counts the game media transferred from the game media accepting unit 201 and notifies the exchange control unit 206 of the obtained number of game media.

  The exchange control unit 206 confirms the number of game media corresponding to each brand of cigarettes that can be exchanged by the cigarette exchanger 30 and permits the exchange of cigarettes of brands that can be exchanged with the number of game media notified from the counting unit 205. The permission signal is transmitted from the connection unit 207 to the cigarette exchanger 30. When the exchange signal indicating that the cigarette is provided to the player is received by the connection unit 207, the exchange control unit 206 subtracts the number of game media equivalent to cigarettes from the number of game media notified from the counting unit 205. Then, the remaining number of game media after the exchange of cigarettes is output to the fraction detection unit 208.

  The connection unit 207 is connected to the tobacco exchange 30 and transmits and receives various signals to and from the tobacco exchange 30. Specifically, the connection unit 207 transmits a permission signal to the cigarette exchange 30 when the exchange control unit 206 permits the cigarette exchange of the game medium, and receives the exchange signal when the cigarette exchange 30 executes the cigarette exchange. To do.

  When the surplus number of game media is output from the exchange control unit 206, the fraction detection unit 208 detects the fraction of the decimal part included in the number of game media and outputs the obtained fraction to the fraction receipt issuing unit 203. . In addition, the fraction detection unit 208 notifies the game medium return unit 204 of the integer part of the excess number of game media. Further, the fraction detection unit 208 is recorded in the number of game media accepted by the game media acceptance unit 201, the number of game media used for cigarette exchange, the number of game media returned from the game media return unit 204, and the fraction receipt. The display unit 202 is instructed to display the fraction.

  Next, the operation at the time of cigarette replacement by the vending machine 20 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the operation when the balls used for the pachinko are replaced with cigarettes will be described.

  A player who exchanges balls for cigarettes brings the balls to the place where the vending machine 20 and the cigarette changer 30 are installed, and throws them into the vending machine 20. The inserted balls are received by the game medium receiving unit 201 (step S101) and counted by the counting unit 205 (step S102). Then, the exchange control unit 206 determines whether or not the number of balls counted by the counting unit 205 is insufficient for exchanging with cigarettes (step S103). If the number is insufficient (step S103 Yes), further game media Insertion of a ball into the reception unit 201 is on standby.

  On the other hand, if the number of balls has reached the number that can be exchanged with cigarettes (No in step S103), a permission signal for permitting exchange of cigarettes of exchangeable brands is transmitted from the connection unit 207 to the cigarette changer 30, and permission for cigarette exchange is granted. Notification is made (step S104). In the cigarette changer 30 that has received the permission signal, the selection button of the display unit 301 is lit, and the player presses the selection button of the desired brand from the selection button that is lit, so that the cigarette of this brand becomes the cigarette throwing unit 302. Thrown from. Then, an exchange signal indicating that the tobacco exchange has been executed is transmitted from the tobacco exchange 30 and received by the connection unit 207 (step S105).

  When the exchange signal is received by the connection unit 207, the exchange control unit 206 subtracts the number of balls used for the tobacco exchange from the number of balls counted by the counting unit 205, and the surplus number of balls obtained is a fraction detection. Is output to the unit 208. Then, the fraction detection unit 208 detects the fraction of the decimal part included in the surplus number of balls (step S106). Specifically, for example, when 80 balls are inserted into the game medium receiving unit 201 and the number of balls equivalent to the tobacco to be exchanged is 76.7, the surplus number of balls is 3.3 (= 80-76. 7) Since it is a ball, the fraction is detected as 0.3 ball.

  When the fraction detecting unit 208 detects the fraction, the number of balls received by the game medium receiving unit 201, the number of surplus balls, the number of fractions, and the like are output to the display unit 202 and are instructed to display them. The In response to this instruction, the display unit 202 displays the number of balls thrown in, the number of checked balls used for tobacco exchange, the number of balls returned from the surplus number of balls, the fraction, etc. (step S107). . Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the number of thrown balls and the number of checked-in balls are displayed as integers, and the fraction is displayed as recorded in the fraction receipt.

  Then, the integer part of the surplus number of balls is notified from the fraction detection unit 208 to the game medium return unit 204, and the notified number of balls (three balls in the above example) is returned to the player by the game medium return unit 204. (Step S108). Further, the fraction is output from the fraction detection unit 208 to the fraction receipt issuing unit 203, and the fraction receipt issuing unit 203 issues a fraction receipt in which the fraction is recorded (step S109). Note that the fraction receipt itself issued by the fraction receipt issuing unit 203 may record the fraction itself, or only the fraction receipt ID associated with the fraction. Further, the expiration date of these fraction receipts may be made longer than the receipt issued by the counter 50.

  When the fraction receipt issued in this way is brought together with the normal receipt issued by the counter 50, for example, to a prize counter, the number of fraction balls is added to the number of balls recorded on the ordinary receipt, and the fraction is calculated. The fraction is returned to the player by exchanging prizes for the total number of balls included. For this reason, in the cigarette exchange by the vending machine slave unit 20 and the cigarette changer 30, the equivalent exchange of the cigarette and the ball is accurately performed, and even when the number of game media equivalent to the article is not an integer, the game medium and the article Can be exchanged properly.

  Next, the prize management device 40 installed at a prize counter or the like where fraction receipts are brought in will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the prize management device 40 according to the present embodiment. 6 includes a receipt receiving unit 401, a fraction receipt receiving unit 402, a gift exchange processing unit 403, a display unit 404, an operation unit 405, a remaining number receipt issuing unit 406, and a storage control unit 407. ing.

  The receipt receiving unit 401 receives a normal receipt issued by the counter 50 and notifies the prize exchange processing unit 403 of the number of game media recorded on the receipt. That is, the receipt reception unit 401 acquires the number of game media acquired by the player through the game from the receipt, and notifies the prize exchange processing unit 403. It should be noted that the number of game media may be recorded directly on the receipt issued by the counter 50, or only the receipt ID associated with the number of game media may be recorded.

  The fraction receipt accepting unit 402 accepts a fraction receipt issued by the vending machine slave unit 20, and notifies the prize exchange processing unit 403 of the number of game media recorded in the fraction receipt. The fraction receipt accepting unit 402 accepts the remaining number receipt issued by the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 of the prize management device 40, and the remaining number of game media recorded in the remaining number receipt is given as a prize exchange processing unit. 403 is notified. In the remaining number receipt, the number of game media remaining without the prize exchange process is recorded.

  The prize exchange processing unit 403 adds up the number of game media notified from the receipt receiving unit 401 and the fraction receipt receiving unit 402, and performs a prize exchange process with a special prize or a general prize for the total number of game media. That is, the prize exchange processing unit 403 calculates the number of special prizes that can be exchanged from the total number of game media, or subtracts the number of game media equivalent to general prizes from the total number of game media. Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 displays the total number of game media, the calculated number of special prizes, etc. on the display unit 404, and in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 405, the number of game media remaining without exchanging prizes is left. The data is output to the several receipt issuing unit 406 or the storage control unit 407.

  The display unit 404 displays the total number of game media, the number of special prizes calculated from the total number of game media, and the like. The display unit 404 displays the remaining number when the game medium remains without exchanging prizes, and prompts the employee to operate the operation unit 405 for processing for the remaining number.

  The operation unit 405 is operated by an employee at the prize counter, and the number of game media equivalent to the general prize that the player wants to exchange is input, or the remaining game media displayed on the display unit 404 is displayed. A choice may be entered regarding how to process the number. Specifically, the operation unit 405 accepts a selection regarding whether the remaining number of game media remaining without exchanging prizes is stored in association with the player or recorded and issued on the remaining number receipt, The prize exchange processing unit 403 is instructed to process the number by any method.

  The remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 issues a remaining number receipt in which the remaining number of game media remaining without being exchanged by the prize exchange processing unit 403 is recorded. At this time, the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 may issue a remaining number receipt in which the remaining number is directly printed or magnetically stored, but only the remaining number receipt ID is recorded in the remaining number receipt. The actual remaining number may be stored in association with the remaining number receipt ID in the member management T / C 10 or the prize management device 40, for example. Further, the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 may make the expiration date of the remaining number receipt longer than a normal receipt issued by the counter 50.

  For example, when the player who exchanged the prize is a member registered in the game store, the storage control unit 407 associates the member ID recorded on the membership card with the remaining number of game media remaining without exchanging the prize. For example, it is stored in the member management T / C 10 or the like. The storage control unit 407 may add the remaining number to the normal number of stored balls or the number of stored medals stored in the member management T / C 10 and store the added number. At this time, the storage control unit 407 may store the fractions included in the remaining number separately from the integer number of stored balls and the number of stored medals. By doing so, the number of stored balls and the number of stored medals stored in the member management T / C 10 are always integers, and the number of stored balls and stored medals cannot be physically reduced.

  Next, the operation of the prize management device 40 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. In FIG. 8, the same parts as those in FIG. Here, the operation when the number of balls used for the pachinko is recorded on the receipt will be described.

  First, in the first processing method, as shown in FIG. 7, a normal receipt issued by the counter 50 and a fraction receipt issued by the vending machine slave 20 are received in advance. That is, a normal receipt issued by the counter 50 is received by the receipt receiving unit 401 (step S201), and a fraction receipt issued by the vending machine slave unit 20 is subsequently received by the fraction receipt receiving unit 402 (step S202). ). At this time, the remaining receipt issued by the remaining receipt issuing unit 406 is simultaneously received by the fraction receipt receiving unit 402.

  Since the number of balls can be specified from each of these receipts, the number of balls specified from all the receipts is added by the prize exchange processing unit 403 (step S203). Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 performs a prize exchange process for the total number of balls (step S204). That is, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged is calculated from the total number of balls, or the number of balls equivalent to the general prize that the player wants to exchange is subtracted. In this process, the total number of balls and the calculated number of special prizes are displayed on the display unit 404.

  Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 determines whether there is a remaining number that is not exchanged for the special prize or the general prize among the total number of balls (step S205). As a result, if there is no remaining number (No in step S205), all the balls held by the player have been exchanged, and the processing is completed. If there is a remaining number (Yes in step S205), the remaining number is displayed on the display unit 404, and the employee is prompted to select whether to save this remaining number or to issue a remaining number receipt. The employee confirms the will of the player and operates the operation unit 405 to select either storage or issuance of the remaining number of receipts. The operation unit 405 determines whether or not the issuance of the remaining number receipt is requested (step S206). If the remaining number issuance is selected (Yes in step S206), the operation unit 405 proceeds to the giveaway exchange processing unit 403. It is instructed to output the remaining number to the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406. When the remaining number is output to the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406, the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 issues a remaining number receipt in which the remaining number is recorded (step S207).

  When the remaining number receipt issued in this way is received by the prize management device 40 together with the normal receipt issued by the counter 50 from the next time, the remaining number of balls is added to the number of balls recorded in the normal receipt. The remaining number is returned to the player by exchanging prizes for the total number of balls including the remaining number.

  On the other hand, if the remaining number issuance is not selected in the operation unit 405 (No in step S206), the operation unit 405 is instructed to output the remaining number to the storage control unit 407. When the remaining number is output to the storage control unit 407, the storage control unit 407 requests, for example, a member ID recorded on the member card, and associates the remaining number with the member ID. It is stored in C10 or the like (step S208). The member ID and the remaining number may be stored in the prize management device 40. Further, the remaining number may be added to the normal number of balls stored in the member management T / C 10. Furthermore, the remaining number may be information other than the member ID as long as it can identify the player, and may be biometric information such as a fingerprint or a face image.

  Next, in the second processing method, as shown in FIG. 8, only normal receipts issued by the counter 50 are accepted in advance. In other words, the receipt receiving unit 401 receives a normal receipt issued by the counter 50 (step S201), and notifies the prize exchange processing unit 403 of the number of balls specified from the receipt. Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 calculates the number of special prizes that can be exchanged from the notified number of balls (step S301).

  Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 determines whether or not there is a remaining number that is less than the number that can be exchanged with the special prize among the number of balls notified from the receipt receiving unit 401 (step S302). As a result, if there is no remaining number (No in step S302), all the balls acquired by the player through the game can be exchanged for special prizes, and the processing is completed after the special prize is issued. If there is a remaining number (Yes at Step S302), for example, a message requesting a fraction receipt or a remaining number receipt is displayed on the display unit 404 (Step S303), and the fraction receipt and the remaining number receipt are received by the fraction receipt receiving unit 402. (Step S304).

  From these receipts, it is possible to specify the number of fractions and the remaining number of balls, respectively, so that the prize exchange processing unit 403 already notifies the receipt receiving unit 401 of all the numbers of balls specified from the fraction receipt and the remaining number of receipts. It is added to the number of balls being played (step S203). Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 performs a prize exchange process for the total number of balls (step S204). That is, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged is calculated from the total number of balls, or the number of balls equivalent to the general prize that the player wants to exchange is subtracted. In this process, the total number of balls and the calculated number of special prizes are displayed on the display unit 404.

  Then, the prize exchange processing unit 403 determines whether there is a remaining number that is not exchanged for the special prize or the general prize among the total number of balls (step S205). As a result, if there is no remaining number (No in step S205), all the balls held by the player have been exchanged, and the processing is completed. If there is a remaining number (Yes in step S205), the remaining number is displayed on the display unit 404, and the employee is prompted to select whether to save this remaining number or to issue a remaining number receipt. The employee confirms the will of the player and operates the operation unit 405 to select either storage or issuance of the remaining number of receipts. The operation unit 405 determines whether or not the issuance of the remaining number receipt is requested (step S206). If the remaining number issuance is selected (Yes in step S206), the operation unit 405 proceeds to the giveaway exchange processing unit 403. It is instructed to output the remaining number to the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406. When the remaining number is output to the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406, the remaining number receipt issuing unit 406 issues a remaining number receipt in which the remaining number is recorded (step S207).

  In the second processing method, unlike the first processing method, if the number of balls specified from the normal receipt issued by the counter 50 can be exchanged for a special prize, the special processing is performed at that time. The prize is issued and the process is completed. In other words, if the number of balls acquired by the player is a multiple of the number of balls equivalent to the special prize, the special prize is issued and the process is completed. For this reason, when all the balls specified from the normal receipt can be exchanged for special prizes, there is no wasteful processing or issue of a remaining receipt similar to the accepted fraction receipt.

  In these processing methods, by receiving the fraction receipt issued by the vending machine slave unit 20, the fraction less than one ball that was not used for the cigarette exchange out of the number of balls thrown into the vending machine slave unit 20 at the time of cigarette exchange Therefore, it is possible to realize an appropriate exchange between the game medium and the article.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when a game medium is directly inserted and exchanged for cigarettes, if the number of game media equivalent to tobacco is not an integer, the smallest integer greater than the number of equivalent game media Tobacco exchange is performed with the game media of the minute, and the portion exceeding the equivalent number of game media is recorded in a fraction receipt and issued. Then, the fraction recorded in the fraction receipt is added to the number of game media recorded in the normal receipt and the prizes are exchanged. For this reason, the number of game media including decimal places that are physically impossible to return to the player will be returned to the player, and even if the number of game media equivalent to the article is not an integer, the game media And proper exchange of goods can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the fraction detected by the vending machine slave unit 20 is recorded on the fraction receipt. However, the fraction can be recorded on various recording media other than the fraction receipt. That is, for example, the fraction can be recorded on a fraction recording card or coin.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fraction receipt is accepted by the prize management device 40. However, the vending machine slave unit 20 may accept the fraction receipt. That is, the vending machine slave unit 20 adds up the number of game media that are directly input and the number of fractional game media recorded in the fraction receipt, and performs cigarette exchange by the tobacco exchange 30 for the total number of game media. May be.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a normal receipt is issued by the counter 50 and a normal receipt is received by the prize management device 40. For example, the number of game media counted by the counter 50 is directly It may be transmitted to the gift management device 40. In short, it is sufficient that the prize management device 40 can acquire the number of game media acquired by the player through the game.

  The present invention can be applied to the case where an appropriate exchange between a game medium and an article is realized even when the number of game media equivalent to the article is not an integer.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the game store which concerns on one embodiment. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the vending machine child machine and cigarette exchanger which concern on one embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the vending machine subunit | mobile_unit which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the vending machine subunit | mobile_unit which concerns on one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display in the vending machine subunit | mobile_unit which concerns on one embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of tobacco replacement | exchange of the vending machine subunit | mobile_unit which concerns on one embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the prize management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the prize exchange operation | movement of the prize management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows other prize exchange operation | movement of the prize management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Game medium reception part 202 Display part 203 fraction receipt issue part 204 Game medium return part 205 Count part 206 Exchange control part 207 Connection part 208 Fraction detection part 401 Receipt reception part 402 Fragment receipt reception part 403 Prize exchange process part 404 Display part 405 Operation unit 406 Remaining number receipt issuing unit 407 Storage control unit

Claims (9)

An exchange management device for managing the exchange of game media and articles,
Accepting means for accepting game media;
Exchange control means for subtracting the number of game media equivalent to the item to be exchanged from the number of game media accepted by the accepting means;
Detection means for detecting a fraction including a decimal point from the subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means;
An exchange management apparatus comprising: an issuing unit that issues a recording medium that can specify the number of game media of the fraction detected by the detecting unit. The detection means includes
2. The exchange management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fraction less than 1 is detected from a subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means.   2. The exchange management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a return means for returning game media corresponding to an integer part other than the fraction detected by the detection means in the subtraction result obtained by the exchange control means.   2. The exchange management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the number of game media accepted by the accepting means and the number of game media equivalent to an exchange target article. The display means includes
5. The exchange management device according to claim 4, wherein, when the number of game media equivalent to the exchange target article includes a fractional part, a minimum integer larger than the number of game media is displayed. An exchange management device for managing the exchange of game media and articles,
An acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media acquired by the player by the game;
Accepting means for accepting a recording medium capable of specifying a fraction of game media including a decimal point;
Exchange processing means for performing exchange processing with an article for the total number of game media obtained by the acquisition means and the number of game media of the fraction specified from the recording medium received by the reception means; An exchange management device comprising: The accepting means is
The exchange management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is received only when the number of game media acquired by the acquisition means is not a multiple of the number of game media equivalent to a predetermined article. An exchange management method for managing exchange of game media and goods,
A reception process for receiving game media;
An exchange control step of subtracting the number of game media equivalent to the item to be exchanged from the number of game media accepted in the acceptance step;
A detection step of detecting a fraction including a decimal point from the subtraction result obtained in the exchange control step;
And an issuing step for issuing a recording medium capable of specifying the number of fractional game media detected in the detecting step. An exchange management method for managing exchange of game media and goods,
An acquisition step of acquiring the number of game media acquired by the player through the game;
Accepting a recording medium capable of specifying the number of fractional game media including the decimal point; and
An exchange processing step of performing exchange processing with an article for the total number of game media obtained from the number of game media acquired in the acquisition step and the fraction of game media specified from the recording medium received in the reception step And an exchange management method characterized by comprising:

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