JP2008229148A - Prize exchanging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prize exchanging system capable of smoothly exchanging prize when there is congestion while ensuring an extension in exchange settlement of a prize. <P>SOLUTION: When a receipt is received (S1: YES) and an exchange button is pressed (S6: YES), special prize exchangeable by the number of remaining balls are temporarily specified (S10); when a completion button is pressed (S20: YES), exchange of all the prizes temporarily specified is settled (S21) and special prizes are paid out by outputting a prize payout signal (S25). When the exchange button is pressed and there is congestion (S7: YES), in addition to exchange settlement of special prizes exchangeable by the number of remaining balls (S8), the prize payout signal is outputted (S9); when the completion button is pressed (S20: YES), only exchange settlement of all the prizes temporarily specified is executed (S21). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a prize exchange system including exchange means for performing exchange processing for associating game medium information and prizes, and a prize payout apparatus for paying out specific prizes.

Conventionally, as a prize exchange system provided in a game hall such as a pachinko hall, an exchange management device (a so-called POS terminal) and a prize dispenser that dispenses special prizes are connected, and a game medium and a prize acquired by a player are obtained. Provided is a prize exchange system that outputs a signal for specifying a prize type and quantity (a so-called prize payout signal) from a POS terminal to a prize payout apparatus when the exchange is made, and pays out a special prize by the prize payout apparatus. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-285244

  As processing of the POS terminal in such a prize exchange system, the receipt issued by the counter is read to identify the acquired game medium, the prize type and quantity of the special prize exchangeable by the acquired game medium are specified, After the game media corresponding to the specified special prize is subtracted from the acquired game medium (so-called surplus ball) and other prizes (so-called end ball prize, etc.) are associated with each other, the exchange process is terminated. A prize payout signal is output upon completion of the exchange process.

  In this way, waiting for the end of the exchange process to output a prize payout signal will flexibly respond if the player has a change of mind during the exchange process and wishes to exchange with other prizes in preference to special prizes. There is an effect that can be done. In other words, when responding after the exchange process is completed, a separate exchange process for exchanging the exchanged prize and the new desired prize is required (the exchange process is specified in consideration of employee fraud). If you have not completed the exchange process, you can only cancel the operation that specified the special prize. Is possible. In addition, the replacement process for the POS terminal itself may be performed only when an end operation is performed, and the processing load is reduced.

  However, if the configuration is such that the prize payout signal is output after waiting for the exchange process to end when the shop is crowded, such as when the store is closed, after the exchange process at the POS terminal is completed, it is necessary to wait for a payout process by the prize dispenser. In particular, when the number of prizes to be paid out from the prize dispenser is large, the player will be kept waiting longer, which may make the player uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a prize exchange system capable of smoothly exchanging prizes at a time of congestion while ensuring a grace period for confirmation of exchange of prizes. .

  The present invention provides an accepting means for accepting game medium information capable of specifying the number of game media acquired by a player, an exchange means for performing an exchange process for associating a prize exchanged with the game medium information accepted by the accepting means, A prize exchange system comprising an output means for outputting a prize payout signal to a prize payout apparatus for paying out a prize of the prize, and in the exchange processing of the exchange means, a specific prize to be paid out by the prize payout apparatus A first operation accepting unit that accepts a first operation that is an operation to be selected, a second operation accepting unit that accepts a second operation that is an operation to end the exchange process of the exchange unit, and a player for the exchange process And determining means for determining whether or not the apparatus is in a standby state, wherein the exchange means receives a first operation from the number of game media specified by the game medium information after receiving the first operation by the first operation accepting means. The number of game media obtained by subtracting the number of game media corresponding to the specific prize specified by the operation is exchanged with a prize other than the specific prize, and the second operation accepting unit accepts the second operation. Accordingly, the exchange process is terminated, and the output means accepts the first operation by the first operation accepting means when the judging means judges that the player is in a standby state. If the determination means determines that it is not in a standby state while outputting a prize payout signal accordingly, the prize payout signal is in response to the second operation accepting means accepting the second operation. (Claim 1).

  In the above-described configuration, the third operation is valid until the output means outputs a prize payout signal after the first operation accepting means accepts the first operation, and the third operation accepting the third operation canceling the first operation. You may make it provide a reception means (Claim 2).

  Further, the determination means determines that the player is in a standby state for the exchange process when the accepting means accepts the game medium information within a predetermined period from the end of the exchange process in the exchange means. (Claim 3).

  The exchanging means includes a time specifying means capable of specifying an exchange processing time at which the exchange processing is performed, and a setting means for setting whether or not it is congested in advance for each time zone, and the determining means includes the time specifying When the exchange processing time specified by means belongs to the time set as the setting means being congested, it may be determined that the player is in a standby state for exchange processing (claim). 4).

  The present invention provides an accepting means for accepting game medium information capable of specifying the number of game media acquired by a player, an exchange means for performing an exchange process for associating a prize exchanged with the game medium information accepted by the accepting means, A prize exchange system comprising an output means for outputting a prize payout signal to a prize payout apparatus for paying out a prize of the prize, and in the exchange processing of the exchange means, a specific prize to be paid out by the prize payout apparatus In a first operation accepting unit that accepts a first operation that is an operation to be selected, a second operation accepting unit that accepts a second operation that is an operation that ends an exchange process of the exchange unit, and an exchange process of the exchange unit And a fourth operation accepting means for accepting a fourth operation which is an operation for selecting a specific prize to be paid out by the prize payout device when the player is in a standby state for the exchange process. After the first operation is accepted by the first operation accepting means or after the fourth operation is accepted by the fourth operation accepting means, the means performs the first operation from the number of game media specified by the game media information, Alternatively, the number of game media obtained by subtracting the number of game media corresponding to the specific prize specified by the fourth operation is exchanged with a prize other than the specific prize, and the second operation accepting means performs the second operation reception means. In response to accepting the operation, the exchange process is terminated, and the output means receives the second operation after the first operation accepting means accepts the first operation. Alternatively, a prize payout signal is output in response to the fourth operation accepting means accepting the fourth operation (claim 5).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the player is waiting (lined up) for the exchange process, the first operation receiving means is an operation for specifying the specific prize for the specific prize. In response to the first operation, a premium payout signal is output to the premium payout device early, and the premium payout processing by the premium payout device is performed while exchanging with a premium other than a specific premium. . Therefore, even when it takes time to pay out a specific prize from the prize payout device, it is possible to shorten the time for waiting for the players in line and reduce the player's discomfort, while the players are lined up. If not, the exchange process can be confirmed as late as possible to cope with the change of the exchange process as much as possible.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the players are not lined up, the cancel operation is effective until the end operation is performed, so even if there is a change in the player's mind during the exchange process, it is flexible it can.

According to the invention of claim 3, since the waiting state of the player can be detected by software means, it can be carried out without providing hardware means.
According to invention of Claim 4, since it can be set whether it is crowded for every time slot | zone, it can implement without providing a special means.

  According to the invention of claim 5, at the time of congestion, the second operation accepting unit accepts the second operation after the first operation accepting unit accepts the first operation by the fourth operation on the fourth operation accepting unit. Since the prize payout signal can be output to the prize payout device as in the case of the player, the determination means for determining whether or not the player is in the standby state for the exchange process is provided as in claim 1. The waiting state of the player for the exchange process can be eliminated.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the system. In FIG. 1, a gaming table 1, a counting device 2, a POS terminal (corresponding to an accepting means, an exchanging means, an output means, a judging means) 3, and a management device 4 are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN 5. In addition, although incidental facilities, such as an interbank ball lending machine, are provided corresponding to the game machine 1, since it does not comprise this invention, the description and illustration are abbreviate | omitted.

The management device 4 manages the settings of the counting device 2 and the POS terminal 3 in addition to the counting status of the counting device 2, the replacement status of the POS terminal 3, and the stock status of the prize. Each status is stored and managed in the counting device 2 and the POS terminal 3 as well.
The counting device 2 performs a counting process when a game medium (a game medium such as a medal, which may be a medal or the like, which will be referred to as a pachinko ball hereinafter) is acquired by the player through the game on the gaming table 1 is input to the counting unit. And issue a receipt (not shown) which is a recording medium capable of specifying the counted balls.
The POS terminal 3 is also connected to a prize payout device 6, and a prize giveout signal that can specify a prize type and quantity of a specific prize (special prize that can be exchanged for cash) that can be paid out by the prize payout apparatus 6. Can be output to the prize dispensing device 6.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the POS terminal 3. In FIG. 2, the POS terminal 3 includes a numeric keypad 7, a PLU (Price Look Up) button 8, an exchange button (corresponding to first operation accepting means) 9, an end button (corresponding to second operation accepting means) 10, a cancel button. (Corresponding to third operation accepting means) 11, other operation buttons (storage operation, warehousing operation, etc.), receipt issuing unit 12, display unit 13, and a scanner not shown as accepting means for accepting receipts. . The exchange button 9 is a button for tentatively confirming the exchange of the special prize in the normal state. However, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the exchange of the special prize is immediately confirmed according to the condition and a prize exchange signal is generated. It is also used to output to a prize dispensing device. The end button 10 is a button for determining a special prize temporarily specified and outputting a prize exchange signal to the prize payout device 6 in normal times. In this embodiment, the end button 10 depends on conditions as described later. In some cases, it is used only to end the exchange. The cancel button 11 is a button for enabling the temporary specification of special prizes to be canceled during the period from the time when the exchange button 9 is pressed until the end button is pressed. As will be described later, cancellation may not function depending on conditions. That is, in this embodiment, the functions of the exchange button 9, the end button 10, and the cancel button 11 are different from the original functions depending on conditions.

  The prize payout apparatus can store a plurality of types (for example, three types) of special prizes having different exchange amounts (for example, 1000). When a prize payout signal is input from the POS terminal 3 as described later, the corresponding special prize is displayed. Only that amount is paid out.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the player wants to count the acquired pachinko balls, the player inserts the acquired pachinko balls into the counting unit of the counting device 2.
The counting device 2 performs a counting process when a pachinko ball is inserted.
When the player depresses the exchange button 9 of the counting device 2 after the counting by the counting device 2, the counting device 2 records predetermined counting information (information that can identify the counting ball that is the counted pachinko ball). Issue a receipt. Therefore, the player who finishes the game submits the receipt issued from the counting device 2 to the prize exchange counter.

The employee in charge of giving away the prize accepts the receipt by reading the barcode of the receipt submitted by the player with the scanner of the POS terminal 3 or the like.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the POS terminal. In FIG. 3, when receiving a receipt (S1: YES), the POS terminal determines whether a congestion timer (for example, 20 seconds) is operating (S2). As will be described later, this congestion timer is used to determine whether the exchange process is in a congested state (corresponding to “whether or not the player is in a standby state for the exchange process”). In a normal state where the player is not waiting for the exchange process, the congestion timer is not activated (S2: NO), and the congestion flag is reset (S4).

  Next, after specifying the number of counting balls that can be specified from the receipt and storing the number of counting balls as the number of remaining balls (S5), whether the exchange button 9 is depressed (S6), or the PLU button 8 is depressed It is determined whether the cancel button 11 has been pressed (S15), or whether the number of remaining balls is equal to or less than the number that can be terminated (for example, 10 balls) (S19).

When the employee reads information from the receipt by the POS terminal 3, the employee pushes down the exchange button 9 of the POS terminal 3.
When the exchange button 9 is pressed (corresponding to “accept first operation”) (S6: YES), the POS terminal 3 determines whether the congestion flag is set (S7). In this case, since the congestion flag is not set (S7: NO), a special prize that can be exchanged is temporarily specified based on the number of remaining balls (S10). In other words, some players may change their mind after receiving a receipt, so that such a change can be accepted.

As described above, when the number of remaining balls becomes equal to or less than the number that can be ended (S19: YES), it is also determined whether the end button 10 is also pressed (S20).
Employees can use a POS terminal when a player wants a prize other than a special prize, or when a ball is generated as a result of subtracting the number of balls equivalent to the special prize temporarily specified from the number of remaining balls as described above. 3, the PLU button 8 corresponding to the general prize desired by the player is depressed.

  When the PLU button 8 is pressed (S12: YES), the POS terminal 3 provisionally specifies the corresponding prize (S13), and subtracts the number of balls corresponding to the provisionally specified prize from the number of remaining balls (S14). ), Whether the cancel button 11 has been pressed (S15), whether the number of remaining balls has become equal to or less than the number that can be finished (S19), or whether the replacement button 9 has been pressed (S6).

When the employee depresses the PLU button 8 by mistake or when the player desires to cancel the special prize, the cancel button 11 is depressed.
When the cancel button 11 is pressed (S15: YES, this corresponds to “accepting the third operation”), the POS terminal 3 cancels the temporary designation of the prize (S16). In this case, no processing is performed for the special prize that is confirmed to be exchanged with the congestion flag set, but the temporary identification is canceled for the special prize that is provisionally specified while the congestion flag is reset.

  Next, after adding the number of balls equivalent to the prize for which the temporary specification has been canceled to the number of remaining balls (S17), it is determined whether the congestion flag has been reset (S18). At this time, since the congestion flag has been reset (S18: YES), the process proceeds to step S6, which is the state immediately after receipt of the receipt.

The employee presses the end button of the POS terminal 3 when the temporary identification of the prize is completed and the exchange of the prize is confirmed as described above. At this time, the employee hands the corresponding general prize to the player.
When the end button 10 is pressed down (S20: YES, corresponding to “accepting the second operation”), the POS terminal 3 confirms the replacement of all provisionally specified prizes (corresponding to the count information). (S21), the number of remaining balls is set to 0 (S22), and the congestion timer is started (S23). At this time, since the congestion flag has been reset, a prize payout signal that can specify the prize type (special prize of different value) and quantity to be paid out is output to the prize payout device 6 (S25), and the process returns.

  When receiving a prize payout signal from the POS terminal 3, the prize payout device 6 pays out a predetermined number of special prizes of the prize type indicated by the prize payout signal among the stored special prizes. Therefore, the player can receive the special prize paid out from the prize payout device 6. Depending on the region, the player may be prohibited from directly receiving the special prize paid out from the prize payout device 6. In such a case, the special prize is sent from the prize payout device 6 to the employee side. It is installed so as to pay out, and the employee hands the special prize paid out from the prize payout device to the player.

  As described above, when the player submits a receipt to the free gift exchange counter, a special free gift is provisionally specified by operating the exchange button 9, a general free gift is provisionally specified by operating the PLU button 8, and the end button 10 is selected. The exchange of the provisionally specified prize is finally confirmed by the operation, and the provisionally specified special prize can be canceled by the operation on the cancel button 11, so that the player can accept the cancellation until the exchange process is confirmed. It becomes.

  By the way, since the payout of special prizes from the prize payout device 6 requires more time as the number of special prizes to be paid out increases, the employee who has to deal with one player as the number of special prizes increases. Processing time increases. For this reason, when the number of players who wish to exchange prizes increases, the number of players waiting for prize exchange increases, and the players feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the exchange process is congested, the congestion is eliminated as follows.
That is, the POS terminal 3 determines that it is congested when the receipt timer is received and the congestion timer is in operation (for example, within 20 seconds after the end button 10 is pressed) (S2: YES). A flag is set (S3). When the employee depresses the exchange button 9 in order to exchange it for a special prize, the POS terminal 3 has the congestion flag set when the exchange button 9 is depressed (S6: YES) (S7). : YES), after confirming the exchange of special prizes that can be exchanged according to the number of remaining balls (S8), a prize exchange signal is output to the prize dispensing device 6 (S9). The subsequent operation is the same as that when the congestion flag is reset, except that the congestion flag is set when the end button 10 is pressed (S20: YES). (S24: YES) is to return without outputting a premium payout signal.

  By such an operation, when the employee depresses the exchange button 9 of the POS terminal 3 at the time of congestion, a prize payout signal is immediately output to the prize payout apparatus 6. Special prizes will be paid out. In this case, when the end ball remains, the employee exchanges the prize by selecting the general prize desired by the player by operating the PLU button 8, so that the payout of the special prize and the general prize are performed. The exchange process can be performed in parallel. Therefore, since it is possible to shorten the exchange processing time required for one player, it is possible to reduce the congestion of the exchange process as compared with the case where the exchange of the special prize is confirmed by the end button 10. .

According to such an embodiment, when the exchange processing is congested in the POS terminal 3, the prize payout signal is output to the prize payout device 6 in accordance with the pressing of the exchange button 9 instead of the end button 10, so Dispensing special prizes that require time and exchanging general prizes can be executed in parallel. Therefore, unlike a configuration in which a prize payout signal is output to the prize payout device 6 by pressing the end button 10 of the POS terminal 3, a prize exchange is performed at a time of congestion while ensuring a definite exchange of special prizes. It becomes possible to carry out smoothly.
In addition, since the determination means for determining whether the exchange process is congested is configured by the congestion timer of the POS terminal 3, it can be implemented without using any special means.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows.
The storage medium received by the POS terminal 3 may be a storage medium other than a receipt (for example, a card or the like (in this case, a card reader or the like corresponds to the receiving means)). Further, the acquired game media is not limited to the game media acquired on the day. That is, it may be a so-called storage ball or the like that stores game media acquired in the past in an account for each player.

  In the embodiment, the congestion flag is set by the congestion timer. However, such a timer may not be provided, and a predetermined time during the exchange process may be specified. For example, the exchange end time is compared with the receipt reception time. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it may be set in advance whether or not the congestion flag is set every predetermined period, and the congestion flag may be set based on the setting as shown in FIG. Furthermore, an imaging means such as a camera may be provided, and a congestion flag may be set based on the image, or a congestion button (fourth button) for determining the congestion status based on the employee's determination and inputting the determination result. It is also possible to set a congestion flag by pressing the congestion button (corresponding to the fourth operation) (in this case, the congestion flag is set to press the congestion button). The processing may be equivalent to the pressing of the exchange button when there is a change).

In the embodiment, the management device 4 is provided, but the management device 4 may not be provided, and the system may be constructed with only the POS terminal 3 and the counting device 2.
In the embodiment, the end button 10 is not received unless the number of remaining balls is equal to or less than the possible end number, but may be configured to be received. In this case, the exchange process may be determined assuming that a special prize that can be exchanged has been selected (to reduce the number to the number that can be ended, so that a general prize is selected if necessary and the selected general prize is displayed).

Schematic which shows the whole structure in one Example of this invention. Perspective view of POS terminal Flow chart showing POS terminal replacement process The figure which shows the congestion flag according to time slot | zone which shows the modification of this invention

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a game machine, 2 is a counting device, 3 is a POS terminal (accepting means, exchange means, output means, determination means), 4 is a management device, 6 is a prize payout device, 9 is an exchange button (first operation) (Reception means) 10 is an end button (second operation reception means), and 11 is a cancel button (third operation reception means).

Claims (5)

A receiving means for receiving game medium information that can specify the number of game media acquired by a player, an exchange means for performing exchange processing for associating the prize to be exchanged with the game medium information received by the receiving means, and a specific prize. A prize exchange system comprising an output means for outputting a prize payout signal to a prize payout apparatus to be issued,
A first operation accepting means for accepting a first operation which is an operation for selecting a specific prize to be paid out by the prize paying device in the exchange process of the exchange means;
Second operation accepting means for accepting a second operation that is an operation for ending the exchange processing of the exchange means;
Determination means for determining whether or not the player is in a standby state for exchange processing,
The exchange means subtracts the number of game media corresponding to the specific prize specified by the first operation from the number of game media specified by the game media information after accepting the first operation by the first operation acceptance means. The number of game media is exchanged with a prize other than the specific prize, and the exchange process is terminated in response to the second operation accepting unit accepting the second operation,
When the determination means determines that the player is in a standby state, the output means outputs a prize payout signal in response to the first operation reception means receiving the first operation. When the determination means determines that it is not in the standby state, the prize exchange system outputs a prize payout signal in response to the second operation acceptance means accepting the second operation. .   Third operation accepting means for accepting a third operation for canceling the first operation that is effective after the first operation accepting means accepts the first operation until the output means outputs a prize payout signal. The premium exchange system according to claim 1, wherein:   The determination unit determines that the player is in a standby state for the exchange process when the accepting unit receives the game medium information within a predetermined period from the end of the exchange process in the exchange unit. The prize exchange system according to claim 1 or 2. Time specifying means capable of specifying an exchange processing time at which the exchanging means performs an exchange process;
Setting means for setting whether or not it is congested in advance for each time zone,
The determination means determines that the player is in a standby state for exchange processing when the exchange processing time specified by the time specifying means belongs to a time set as the setting means being congested. 3. A prize exchange system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A receiving means for receiving game medium information that can specify the number of game media acquired by a player, an exchange means for performing exchange processing for associating the prize to be exchanged with the game medium information received by the receiving means, and a specific prize. A prize exchange system comprising an output means for outputting a prize payout signal to a prize payout apparatus to be issued,
A first operation accepting means for accepting a first operation which is an operation for selecting a specific prize to be paid out by the prize paying device in the exchange process of the exchange means;
Second operation accepting means for accepting a second operation that is an operation for ending the exchange processing of the exchange means;
In the exchange process of the exchange means, a fourth operation accepting means for accepting a fourth operation which is an operation for selecting a specific prize to be paid out by the prize payout device when the player is in a standby state for the exchange process. And
After the first operation is accepted by the first operation accepting means or after the fourth operation is accepted by the fourth operation accepting means, the exchanging means is based on the number of game media specified by the game media information. The number of game media obtained by subtracting the number of game media corresponding to the specific prize specified by the operation or the fourth operation is exchanged with a prize other than the specific prize, and the second operation receiving means In response to accepting the operation of 2, the exchange process is terminated,
The output means is configured such that the second operation accepting means accepts the second operation after the first operation accepting means accepts the first operation, or the fourth operation accepting means performs the fourth operation. A prize exchange system that outputs a prize payout signal in response to acceptance.

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