JP2009201656A - Ball storage management system, counter and managing unit making it up and program of counter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the smooth compensation for a loss of a player as caused by reading error of member's information without making a game parlor undertake due burden. <P>SOLUTION: The ball storage management system 1 has the counter 10 for reading the member's information from each of membership cards and the managing unit 20 which stores and manages the game balls counted from the member's information as ball storage data per member. The counter 10 detects the end of counting and determines the counted values obtained up to the end of the counting involved as such yet to be processed from the reading error when the reading error for the member's information is not released while transmitting the counted values yet to be processed to the managing unit 20 and the managing unit 20 stores and manages the counted values yet to be processed received as a ball storage data of non-member separately from the ball storage data per member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage management system for managing storage ball data based on member information for identifying a member installed in a game hall, and a counting device, a management device, and a program for the counting device constituting the storage management system. In particular, the present invention relates to a storage management system that separately manages a count value counted when a member information reading error occurs, and a counting device, a management device, and a counting device program that constitute the storage management system.

In game halls such as pachinko halls and pachislot halls, counting devices for counting game media such as game balls and medals are installed.
In such a counting device, the count value is accumulated and added as long as the game medium continues to be inserted until the issue button or the like is issued after the counted count value is recorded in a receipt or the like. It has become.

In such a counting device, when one game player counts the acquired game media, it is not possible to carry all the game media to the counting device at one time, and the game media may be counted several times.
In this case, while one player is not operating the issue button and is carrying the game medium while leaving the counted value, the game medium that another player interrupts and acquires May be thrown in. As a result, both counts are added together, making it impossible to identify their interests.

In order to eliminate such troubles, a timer signal is generated at every elapse of a certain time after counting is completed, and if a timer signal is generated when a receipt is not issued, the previously counted value is An invention is disclosed in which the count value is stored in a distinguishable manner (Patent Document 1).
As a result, even if another player inserts a game medium after a timer signal is generated, the previous count value is stored in an identifiable manner, so that the count value that is the stake of both can be specified. It has become.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-3251

However, in the above invention, the following problems cannot be solved.
In game halls such as pachinko halls and pachislot halls in recent years, a storage ball that stores and manages game media acquired by a player as a storage ball based on member information that identifies the player recorded on a recording medium such as a membership card A management system is in place.
In such a storage management system, a game medium stored and managed as a storage ball can be withdrawn freely by using a recording medium such as a membership card as a medium. And can be exchanged for desired prizes.

  Such a storage management system counts game media, reads member information from a recording medium such as a membership card, and transmits the counted value and the read member information to the outside, and these information And a hall computer (management device) for storing and managing stored ball data for each member based on such information.

The counting device counts the game media acquired by the player and reads the member information by inserting a recording medium such as a member card possessed by the player, and returns it after reading. . Then, by transmitting the read member information to the hall computer (management apparatus), it is checked whether or not the hall computer is a registered member, and if it is determined to be a member, the counting device counts the counted value. To the hall computer.
As a result, the hall computer (management device) stores and manages the transmitted count value as stored ball data for each member based on the member information.

In such a counting device, member information cannot be read from a recording medium such as a member card inserted, and a reading error often occurs.
For example, the player may have inserted the recording medium in the wrong direction or orientation, the data recorded on the recording medium may be destroyed, or a member card other than the game field may be inserted incorrectly, If a member card that has passed is inserted or the reading device of the counting device is broken, the member information cannot be read and a reading error occurs.
In such a case, the counting device returns the inserted recording medium such as a membership card to prompt the re-insertion of a normal recording medium and informs the player of a reading error.

However, a player who has inserted a recording medium such as a membership card is overwhelmed psychologically, especially when other players are lined up in the back, and overlooked reading errors. When the recording medium is returned, it may be assumed that it has been normally registered as a storage ball, and the counted value may be left away from the counting device.
As a result, when a subsequent player inserts a new game medium, the newly inserted game medium is added to the previously neglected count value, and the subsequent player operates the issue button. In the case where a receipt in which the combined count value is recorded is received or a membership card is normally inserted, the management device stores and manages it as a prize of the player concerned or a stored ball. It was.

On the other hand, a player who thinks that he / she has been normally registered as a stored ball complains to the manager of the game hall when he / she later learns that his / her stored ball is different from the assumed number of stored balls.
In such a case, using the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to identify the count value of this player from the history of count values stored in the counting device. As described above, it has already been exchanged for prizes by other players that follow it, or has already been stored and managed as other player's balls.

As a result, the count value corresponding to the game balls stored by other players cannot be deleted, and the game media owned by the game hall must be compensated as the game balls stored by the players who complain.
Such compensation is a burden on the game arcade whenever an error occurs in reading a recording medium such as a membership card, and the burden is not small.

  The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and based on member information for identifying a player recorded on a recording medium such as a membership card, the game medium acquired by the player is In the storage management system for storing and managing as a storage ball, when there is already a counted value and a reading error of the recording medium occurs, the counted value is stored and managed as non-member storage data, When a player who has suffered a loss due to a reading error is compensated, the compensation is made from this non-member's accumulated ball data, so that the game hall can be compensated smoothly without burdening the compensation amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a counting device, a management device, and a counting device program that constitute the storage management system.

  To achieve the above object, the storage management system of the present invention counts game media, reads a member information for identifying a member from a predetermined recording medium, and a game counted based on the member information. A storage management system comprising a management device for storing and managing the medium as storage data for each member, wherein the counting device detects the end of counting and the reading error of the member information is not canceled, The count value that has been counted is determined as an unprocessed count value based on a reading error, and the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the management device, and the management device receives the received unprocessed count value for each member. It is configured to be stored and managed as non-member storage data separately from the storage data.

  In addition, the counting device of the present invention is connected to a management device that stores and manages the counted game media as stored ball data for each member based on member information for identifying the members, and counts the game media. A counting device that reads the member information from a predetermined recording medium, and detects an end of counting, and when the reading error of the member information is not canceled, the count value that has been counted is processed based on the reading error. While determining with a numerical value, it is set as the structure which transmits the said unprocessed count value outside.

  In addition, the management device of the present invention counts game media, and is communicably connected to a counting device that reads member information for identifying a member from a predetermined recording medium, and the game media counted based on the member information Is stored as management ball data for each member, and the unprocessed data received from the counting device when the counting device determines that the counted value is an unprocessed counted value based on a reading error. The count value is stored and managed as non-member storage data separately from the storage data for each member.

  In addition, the counting device program of the present invention counts game media and reads a counting device that reads member information for specifying a member from a predetermined recording medium. Counting end detection means for detecting the end of counting; An error detecting means for detecting a reading error, the counting end detecting means detects the counting end, and the error detecting means detects a reading error, and when the error is not canceled, the counting value which has been counted is finished. Is determined as an unprocessed count value based on a reading error, and a transmitting means for transmitting the unprocessed count value to the outside.

  According to the storage management system of the present invention, and the counting device, management device, and counting device program constituting the storage management system, a game hall is provided for a player who has suffered a loss due to a member information reading error. Can be compensated smoothly without burdening.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a storage ball management system according to the present invention and a counting device, a management device, and a program of the counting device constituting the storage management system will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a counting device of the storage management system of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the counting device of the storage management system of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the management device of the storage management system of the present invention. These are block diagrams which show the internal structure of the POS terminal device of the storage management system of this invention.

As shown in these drawings, the storage management system according to the present embodiment is a storage management system 1 provided in a game hall in which a large number of game machines 100 such as pachinko machines are installed.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the storage management system 1 according to the present embodiment counts game balls and identifies a member number recorded on a member card such as a magnetic card (member information of the present invention). And a management device 20 for storing and managing the counted number of game balls as stored ball data for each member based on the member number, and selecting a prize according to the number of game balls acquired by the player. POS terminal device 30 to be presented.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the counting device 10, the management device 20, and the POS terminal device 30 each include a control unit including a storage unit such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, an input / output port (I / O), and the like. While being configured by a computer on which an external communication interface (communication unit) is mounted, each device is connected by a LAN cable or the like so that bidirectional communication is possible.
In addition, each gaming table 100 is also connected to the LAN cable so that the management device 20 can collect and manage gaming data output from the gaming table 100 via this cable.

  And when the counting device 10 detects the end of counting of the game balls by the storage management system 1 configured as described above, if the member number reading error is not canceled, the counted count value is read. The unprocessed count value based on the error is determined, and the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the management device 20, and the management device 20 sets the received unprocessed count value to the non-members separately from the stored ball data for each member. It is designed to store and manage as stored data.

In the present embodiment, the game table 100 is a known pachinko machine that uses a game ball as a game medium.
The game data output from the gaming machine 100 or a ball lending machine (not shown) adjacent to the gaming machine 100 includes a “hit signal” input when the gaming machine 100 is in the big hit state, a predetermined number (for example, 10). ) And a “safe signal” that is output each time a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls are paid out from the gaming table 100. In addition, there is a “ball lending signal” that is input when there is a ball lending of game balls due to the insertion of cash or valuable cards, and the like is input to the management device 20 described later.

The member card 50 is formed of a magnetic card, member information indicating a unique member number is recorded, and the member number can be read by the counting device 10 or the card reading units 10a and 30a of the POS terminal device 30. It has become.
Based on the member number, the management device 20 stores and manages the game balls owned by the member as stored ball data.
Note that the membership card 50 has a magnetic surface and a direction in which the card readers 10a and 30a can read normally. If the insertion direction and the insertion surface are different, the card readers 10a and 30a Cannot be physically read (physical read error).

As shown in FIG. 2, the counting device 10 is a device that counts game balls, and is provided in each gaming machine island unit (not shown) on which a plurality of gaming tables 100 are installed.
On gaming machine islands, gaming tables 100 are installed back to back, and gaming tables 100 of the same model are arranged in units of one side. When counting the game balls paid out from the game machine 100, the game machine island where the game machine is installed is often counted by the counting device 10 on the gaming machine island. However, even if you forget the counted counting device 10, if you remember the number of the gaming table 100 that played the game, the model name, design, and appearance characters that can identify the model, the counting device 10 counted from these Can also be estimated.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the counting device 10 has a slot 10n for throwing a game ball, a count switch 10b for detecting a game ball thrown from the slot 10n, and a count switch 10b for each detection. By updating +1, a count value update area 10g for storing the count value, a display unit 10e including a liquid crystal display or the like on which the count value is displayed, and a receipt on which the receipt 60 on which the count value is printed are issued The issuance unit 10f, a receipt 60 is issued from the receipt issuance unit 10f when pressed, and the count value update area 10g is initialized, and the membership number recorded on the membership card 50 is displayed. The card reading unit 10a to be read, the read member number, the time when the receipt 60 is issued, the count end time when determined as an unprocessed count value, the count value, A counting storage unit 10h for storing the count history, such as physical count, and a like communication unit 10k as a communication interface with the management device 20 or the like.
As shown in FIG. 3, the counting device 10 having such a configuration is controlled by the control unit 10d based on a program stored in the ROM of the control unit 10d made of a computer. It is supposed to function as.

  Specifically, the control unit 10d updates the count value update region 10g by +1 each time a detection signal for detecting a game ball is input from the count switch 10b. Thereby, the value stored in the count value update area 10g indicates the current count value. The value stored in the count value update area 10g is simultaneously displayed on the display unit 10e.

Then, when all the inserted game balls are detected by the counting switch 10b, the counting is ended, and the value stored in the count value update area 10g at this time indicates the number of game balls that have been inserted. .
Note that the end of counting is such that the control unit 10d monitors the detection signal input from the counting switch 10b and detects the end of counting when there is no input for a certain time (for example, 5 seconds) (described later). ).
When the counting is completed, the control performed by the control unit 10d differs as follows depending on whether the receipt 60 is issued or the player selects whether to collect money based on the membership card 50.

When the issue switch 10c is pressed, the control unit 10d issues a receipt 60 on which the current count value stored in the count value update area 10g is printed from the receipt issue unit 10f. At the same time, the count value update area 10g is initialized.
At this time, the control unit 10d stores the time when the receipt is issued (hereinafter referred to as “receipt issuance time”) and the count value as a count history in the count storage unit 10h and stores the information in the management device 20. It is supposed to send.
The receipt issue time and the count value are stored in the count storage unit 10h as a count history, and can be transmitted later.

On the other hand, when the member card 50 is inserted into the card reading unit 10a, when the member number is normally read, the control unit 10d transmits the member number to the management device 20 described later by the communication unit 10k. At the same time, the management device 20 checks the member number stored and managed.
When the member number stored and managed in the management device 20 is collated and it is determined that the ball can be stored normally, a permission signal permitting transmission of the count value is transmitted from the management device 20, and the control unit 10d stores the member number, the time when the permission signal was transmitted (hereinafter referred to as “permission signal transmission time”), and the count value in the count storage unit 10h as a count history based on the permission signal. This information is transmitted to the management apparatus 20. At this time, the count value update area 10g is initialized and the membership card 50 is returned.
And the management apparatus 20 can memorize | store and manage the storage ball for every member based on such information.

Since the permission signal for permitting transmission of the count value is transmitted from the management device 20, the member number is determined to be normally stored in the management device 20, so that the count value is stored as a count history. The member number, the permission signal transmission time, and the count value stored in the unit 10h can be transmitted later.
The membership card 50 can be inserted even during counting before the end of counting is detected, but when the membership number is normally read as described above, the membership card 50 is transmitted to the management device 20. When it is done, it will be returned.

On the other hand, when the member card 50 is inserted into the card reading unit 10a, if the member number is not read normally, a “reading error” occurs.
The “reading error” detected by the control unit 10d of the counting device 10 of the present embodiment refers to an error that cannot be stored and managed by the management device 20 as stored ball data as a result.

For example, in the “reading error”, the insertion direction and orientation of the membership card 50 are wrong, the data recorded on the membership card 50 is destroyed, or the membership card of a game hall other than the game hall is wrong. There is a “physical read error” in which the recorded content cannot be physically read, such as insertion.
Although the counting device 10 has read the member number, the counting device 10 transmits the member number to the management device 20, and the management device 20 stores and manages the membership number in the management device 20 based on the member number. As a result of checking, the member registration has already been deleted, but the membership has been expired or the membership registration has expired and the expiration date has passed. There is also a “verification reading error” that cannot be performed.
Furthermore, there is a “failure reading error” that occurs when the card reading unit 10a of the counting device 10 is out of order.

  When such a “reading error” is detected by the control unit 10d, the display unit 10e indicates the type of error and the instruction content for the member in which the “reading error” has occurred. If it is "Reading error", "Check the input direction". If it is "Verification reading error", by displaying a message such as "Check the expiration date", "Reading error" Attention is given to the generated member and the member card 50 is returned.

  When the member card 50 is normally reinserted, the “read error” is canceled, and the member number, the permission signal transmission time, and the count value are transmitted to the management device 20 as described above.

  However, if the “reading error” is not canceled even after a lapse of a certain time, the end of counting has already been detected, so that the member who has tried to store the acquired game media adds a new game ball to the counting device 10. Is not issued, and the issuing switch 10c is pressed to issue a receipt on which the count value is printed, and the reading error of the membership card 50 once inserted is not being canceled and the It can be considered that the completed count value is left unattended.

In such a state, the member who had the “reading error” overlooked the display of the “reading error” displayed on the display unit 10e, and the member card 50 was returned, so that the member was normally registered as a storage ball. The possibility of having left the counting device 10 with the counted value left unattended increases as time passes.
Therefore, in such a case, the control unit 10d monitors a predetermined time, and determines the count value that has been counted as an unprocessed count value based on “read error”.

The detection of “reading error” differs depending on the insertion of the membership card 50. When it is inserted during counting, it is after the end of counting when it is inserted after the counting ends.
Therefore, the timing at which the control unit 10d determines that the count value is an unprocessed count value is when the end of the count is detected and the “read error” is not cancelled, but when the count ends, the “read error” is cancelled. The determination timing is different between the case where the error is not detected and the case where the “read error” is detected after the counting is completed.

Specifically, when the membership card 50 is inserted during counting and a “reading error” is detected during counting, the “reading error” may not be canceled when the counting is completed. In such a case, the control unit 10d measures the time from the end of counting, and determines that the count value is an unprocessed count value when a certain time has elapsed.
In this case, since the end of the counting is detected because no detection signal is input from the counting switch 10 for a certain period of time, an unprocessed count value is obtained when the counting ends without providing a certain period of time from the end of counting. It can also be determined.

On the other hand, when the membership card 50 is inserted after the counting is completed and a “reading error” is detected, the time from the return of the membership card 50 is counted, and when a certain time has elapsed, the unprocessed total Judged as a numerical value.
Even in this case, since the counting has already been completed, it is possible to determine that the count value is an unprocessed count value when the membership card 50 is returned without providing a certain period of time after the membership card 50 is returned.

When the control unit 10d determines that the counted value is an unprocessed counted value based on “read error”, the type of “read error” (hereinafter referred to as “read error type”) and the count end Time (hereinafter referred to as “counting end time”) and the unprocessed count value are stored in the count storage unit 10h as a count history, the count value update area 10g is initialized, and the “read error” is cancelled. Is transmitted to the management apparatus 20.
As a result, the management device 20 can identify the transmitted count value as an unprocessed count value based on the received read error type, and store / manage the count end time and the unprocessed count value as non-member storage ball data. To do.

  The means by which the management device 20 can identify the transmitted count value as an unprocessed count value is not limited to the transmission of the above-described reading error type, and the management device 20 sets the received count value to other than a member and It is sufficient if it is possible to identify a count value other than the receipt issuance, that is, an unprocessed count value.

  For example, the control unit 10d can also transmit unique identification information indicating that it is an unprocessed count value to the management device 20. In addition, when the member number is transmitted when read normally, the member number is not received, and only the count value is received, so that the count value other than the member, that is, the unprocessed count value is confirmed. The management device 20 can be identified.

  The control unit 10d transmits the “read error type”, the “counting end time”, and the unprocessed count value to the management apparatus 20 at the timing when the control unit 10d counts the count value “read error”. It is not limited to when it is determined as an unprocessed count value based on.

  For example, since the read error type, the count end time, and the unprocessed count value are stored as the count history in the count value storage unit 10h, they can be transmitted later.

  The fixed time until the above-mentioned unprocessed count value is determined (hereinafter referred to as “re-insertion waiting time”) is a time that can be freely set / changed. It is preferable to set the time as long as possible (for example, 3 minutes) because it is necessary to ensure the time required for recognizing the occurrence of “reading error” and reinserting the membership card normally.

  Then, when a new detection signal is input from the counting switch 10b during this re-insertion waiting time, the control unit 10d determines the count value that has been counted as an unprocessed count value based on the “read error” at that time. It comes to judge.

  That is, when a new detection signal is input from the counting switch 10b in the re-insertion waiting time, the counting end is already detected and the member card 50 is also returned. If a new detection signal is input in such a state, it is unlikely that the member who has read error has thrown in a new game ball, and another player has thrown in a game ball. Probability is high.

  Further, even if the member in which the “reading error” has occurred inserts a new game ball, the counted value that has been counted is determined to be an unprocessed count value based on the “reading error”, and the management device 20 However, since it is stored and managed as non-member storage data, as will be described later, the unprocessed count value can be moved to its own storage data, and there is no loss.

Therefore, when a new detection signal is input from the count switch 10b after the count is completed, the count value at which the count is completed is determined as an unprocessed count value based on “read error”. Yes. When the determination is made, the reading error type, the count end time, and the count value are stored as a count history in the count storage unit 10h and the information is transmitted to the management device 20 as described above.
As a result, the unprocessed count value can be reliably distinguished from the newly detected game ball, and the count value of the member who has encountered the reading error on the boundary of the detection of the new game ball is different from the player's count value. The count value can be specified individually.

In this embodiment, the control unit 10d provides a “re-insertion waiting time” as a time until it is determined as an unprocessed count value. However, the time is not limited, and a new value is added from the count switch 10b. When a detection signal is input, it is possible to determine the count value that has been counted at that time as an unprocessed count value based on “read error”.
As a result, unless a new game ball is detected, the count value that has been counted is stored in the count value update area 10g, so that the member who has generated the “read error” immediately notices the occurrence of the “read error”. Even if you notice later, you can store and manage it as a member's savings card by reinserting the membership card normally.

  As described above, when the control unit 10d detects the end of counting and the “read error” has not been canceled, the count value that has been counted is determined as an unprocessed count value based on the “read error”. The processed count value is stored in the count storage unit 10h as a count history together with the count end time, or the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the management device 20 along with the read error type and the count end time. By initializing the count value that has been counted so as not to be summed up or canceling the “read error”, the unprocessed count value is separated from the newly detected game ball, and the counting device 10 is newly It is possible to return to a normal state in which game balls can be counted.

When the control unit 10d determines that the counted value is an unprocessed count value based on “read error”, the receipt 60 on which the unprocessed count value is printed is issued.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a receipt 60 on which an unprocessed count value issued from the receipt issuing unit 10f according to the present embodiment is printed.
In the present embodiment, “counting date and time” (counting end time), “number” of the counted counting device, “unprocessed count value”, “comment” indicating that it has been stored as non-member storage ball data, and the like are printed. A receipt is issued.

In this way, when the control unit 10d determines that the count value is an unprocessed count value based on the “reading error”, it issues a receipt on which the unprocessed count value is printed. The presence of a count value stored and managed as an unprocessed count value can be notified to a player or a store clerk.
As a result, when a member who still has a “reading error” is nearby, this receipt can be presented to the member to inform the member that it has been stored and managed as an unprocessed count value.

The operation processing performed by the control unit 10d of the counting device 10 as described above is executed based on a program stored in the ROM of the control unit 10d of the counting device 10.
The program memorize | stored in ROM of the control part 10d of the counting device 10 is demonstrated, referring the flowchart of FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for detecting the end of counting of the counting device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for detecting a reading error of the counting device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a counting device according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which determines the count value which complete | finished the count as an unprocessed count value based on a reading error.

Detection of the end of counting is performed by the CPU of the control unit 10d executing the processing according to the counting processing flowchart shown in FIG.
The counting process is executed as a periodic process performed by the control unit 10d at regular intervals.
Specifically, the control unit 10d monitors the insertion of the game ball from the insertion port 10n from the detection signal input when the counting switch 10b detects the game ball (S1).
Next, when a game ball is inserted, a counting end timer (for example, 5 seconds) is set (S2).
At the same time, a counting flag indicating that counting is in progress is set in the RAM area of the control unit 10d (S3), and the count value update area 10g is incremented by 1 to update the count value (S4). Subsequently, the input of game balls is monitored (S1).

Further (for example, the next processing after a certain time), when the counting switch 10b detects a game ball, the counting end timer is reset from that point, the counting flag is reset, and the count value update area Update 10g by +1.
In other words, as long as the counting switch 10b continues to detect the game ball before the counting end timer to be described later elapses, it indicates that the counting flag remains set, that is, “counting”. Yes.

Next, when the insertion is not detected (S1-NO), the presence / absence of the set counting end timer is determined (S5).
If there is no counting end timer set (S5-NO), the game ball is not thrown in at all, so the game ball thrown is continuously monitored (S1).
On the other hand, when there is a set count end timer (S5-YES), the count end timer is updated (S6), and the elapse of the count end timer is monitored (S7).
Thus, when a game ball is not detected and there is a set count end timer, the count end timer is updated.
Note that the presence or absence of the counting flag may be determined instead of the presence or absence of the set counting end timer.

Then, a periodic process in which a game ball is not detected is repeated, and when the counting end timer is set (for example, 5 seconds), the counting end is detected by clearing the counting flag. (S8).
Furthermore, the count end timer is also cleared (S9).

Next, the “reading error” is detected by the CPU of the control unit 10d executing the process according to the flowchart of the membership card saving process shown in FIG.
Specifically, the control unit 10d monitors the insertion of the member card 50 from the insertion signal input from the card reading unit 10a (S10).
When the insertion of the membership card 50 is detected, a “reading error” is detected in the card reading process (S11).

  In the card reading process (S11), the aforementioned “physical reading error” and “verification reading error” are detected in this order, and if detected, a reading error is detected in the RAM area of the control unit 10d. Is set, and a process for displaying the read error type on the display unit 10e is performed.

Specifically, when a “physical read error” is detected, a read error flag is set.
When the “physical reading error” is not detected, the read member number is transmitted to the management device 20 and checked with the member number stored and managed in the management device 20, and it is determined that the storage is impossible due to the expiration date or the like. When a non-permission signal is received, a read error flag is set.

On the other hand, in the management device 20, when it is determined that the ball can be normally stored and the permission signal permitting the transmission of the count value is received from the management device 20, the reading error flag is not set and is set. If there is a read error flag, it is cleared and the process proceeds to the subsequent processing.
Then, the subsequent processing branches depending on whether or not the read error flag is set (S12).

If the reading error flag is not set and the reading is performed normally, the count value in the count value update area 10g at that time is referred to, and the subsequent processing branches depending on whether or not the count value exists. (S13).
When the count value in the count value update area 10g is zero, that is, when there is no count value, a game ball is predicted to be inserted thereafter, and a return timer is set until the membership card 50 is returned. The count value in the count value update area 10g is monitored (S14), and if the return timer has elapsed, the process proceeds to an uncounted return process for returning the membership card 50 without counting (S15).

On the other hand, when the count value in the count value update area 10g is not zero, that is, when there is a count value, whether the counting flag shown in FIG. 7 is set, that is, counting is in progress, or Whether the counting is completed is monitored. If counting is in progress, the process waits until the counting flag is cleared (S16).
Then, when the counting flag is cleared, it is determined that the counting is finished, the permission signal time when the permission signal is transmitted, the read member number, and the counted value that is counted are stored in the counting storage unit 10h. The process proceeds to a member saving ball transmission process to be transmitted to the management device 20 (S17). Then, the count value is initialized, and the display unit 10e displays that the count value has been normally stored as a member storage ball, and the process proceeds to a normal return process for returning the member card 50 (S18).

If the read error flag is set (S12), the count value in the count value update area 10g at that time is referred to as in the case where the read error flag is not set. Is branched (S19).
When there is no count value in the count value update area 10g, there is no count value to be transmitted to the management device 20, so that the member card is returned and the reading error is canceled for the purpose of reinserting the member card 50. The process proceeds to the uncounted error return process (S20).
On the other hand, if there is a count value in the count value update area 10g, the count value is determined as an unprocessed count value based on a read error, and the count error return process (S21) for transmitting the unprocessed count value to the management device 20 is performed. Transition.

  The count error return process is a process of determining the count value as an unprocessed count value based on a reading error and transmitting the unprocessed count value. The CPU of the control unit 10d executes the process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Is done.

Specifically, since the reading error flag is already set and the count value exists, the member card 50 is returned for the purpose of reinserting the member card 50 and clearing the set reading error flag. (S30).
Thereafter, when the member card 50 is reinserted and normally read, the reading error flag is cleared in the card reading process (S11) in FIG. 8 described above, and the member storage ball transmission process (S17) and normal Through the return process (S18), the counted value is normally stored and managed as the member's stored ball data.

Next, the counting flag shown in FIG. 7 is monitored (S31). If counting is in progress, the process waits until the counting flag is cleared. If the counting flag is cleared, it is determined that the counting is completed.
Then, as a time to wait for the already returned member card 50 to be correctly inserted again and the read error flag that has been set to be cleared, a re-insertion waiting timer is set in the RAM area of the control unit 10d. Start timing the waiting timer.

Then, it is monitored whether or not the re-insertion waiting timer reaches a predetermined time (S33). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the counted value that has been counted is determined as an unprocessed counted value based on a reading error (S33-). Y).
The re-insertion waiting timer has the above-mentioned purpose, and is a time required for a member who has generated a “read error” to notice that a “read error” has occurred and to re-insert the member card 50 normally. Since it needs to be secured, it is preferable to set the time as long as possible (for example, 3 minutes).

  Further, during counting of the re-insertion waiting timer, the above-mentioned counting flag is monitored (S34), and when the counting flag that should have been cleared upon completion of counting is set, the counting switch 10b The game ball is newly detected, that is, a player other than the member who has generated the “reading error” is considered to have newly inserted a game ball from the insertion port 10n, and the counted value is counted. The unprocessed count value based on the error is determined (S34-Y).

When it is determined that the count value that has been counted is an unprocessed count value based on a read error, the read error type, the count end time, and the unprocessed count value (the count value determined to have ended counting in S31) are counted. While being stored as a counting history in the storage unit 10h, the process proceeds to a non-member storage ball transmission process (S35) to be transmitted to the management device 20.
In the non-member savings ball transmission process, a process for clearing the reading error flag and initializing the count value is also executed.

As described above, the counting device 10 can be caused to function as the counting end detection means, the error detection means, the determination means, and the transmission means of the present invention by the program based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
As a result, the program can be installed in an existing counting device in the game hall to function as the counting device of the present invention, and the cost of introducing a new counting device can be reduced.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the management device 20 includes a control unit 20b including a storage unit such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and an input / output port (I / O), and an input such as a keyboard and a mouse. The unit 20a, a communication unit 20f functioning as an external communication interface, and a computer such as a workstation provided with a display unit 20c such as a liquid crystal display.

  Further, the management device 20 counts based on the above-mentioned receipt issue time, permission signal transmission time, count end time, member number, read error type, count value, and unprocessed count value transmitted from each counting device 10. There is provided a storage data storage unit 20e for storing a counting history for each device and storage data for each member.

  In addition, based on the game data input from the gaming table 100, the number of jackpots of each gaming table 100 and the “number of possession balls” indicating the number of game balls held by the player (for example, [number of input of safe signal−out signal Game data storage unit 20d for storing game history for each gaming machine 100 such as replacement of a player from the input of a “ball lending signal” when there is “the number of possessions” It has been.

The counting history for each counting device 10 stored and managed in the stored ball data storage unit 20e and the stored ball data for each member will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10A is a diagram showing count history data for each counting device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing stored ball data for each member.
As shown in FIG. 10A, unprocessed count values based on “read errors” divided into the counting devices “No. 1” and “No. 2” are stored one by one.

Specifically, the count end time transmitted when each count device 10 determines that the count value has been counted as an unprocessed count value based on “read error” is defined as “count end date and time”, and the unprocessed count value is set to “ As the “count value”, the read error type is stored and managed as the “error type”.
In this case, in order to classify that it is not normally stored and managed as a member's storage ball, in the “classification”, “non-member storage ball” is stored, and the non-member number is counted in the order of counting end time. As shown, the “member number” is stored with an identifier “X”.
In “classification”, “receipt” indicates a history when the count value is issued as a receipt, and “member savings” indicates a history in which the counting value is normally stored as a member's savings.

The stored ball data storage unit 20e stores and manages the stored ball data for each member, as shown in FIG. 10B, based on the counting history data for each counting device 10.
Specifically, as shown in the figure, the count value transmitted as a member's storage ball is updated and stored by being added to the “member's” storage ball, and determined as an unprocessed count value based on “read error”. The processed unprocessed count values are individually stored and managed as “nonmember” storage balls.
Similarly to the counting history data for each counting device 10, the identifier of “X” representing a non-member is numbered and stored in the order of counting end time, and the unprocessed count value based on “read error” The count end time received in the case of determination is stored and managed as “stored ball update date / time”, the unprocessed count value as “number of stored balls”, and the counted counting device 10 as “counter number”.

  In this way, the management device 20 stores and manages the unprocessed count value together with the counting device 10 and the count end time, so that the member who suffered a loss due to a reading error counted the game balls. When the counting device 10 that has been counted is remembered, the management device 20 can specify the non-member storage ball data to be stored and managed by using these pieces of information as clues.

  In addition, about the counting device 10 which counted, since the counting device 10 is installed in two or more in a game arcade, while attaching | subjecting a unique identifier for every counting device 10, the counting device 10 transmits an unprocessed count value. At this time, the management device 20 can store the counted counting device 10 by simultaneously transmitting this identifier.

  Then, the counting history for each counting device 10 shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) and the stored ball data for each member shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), which are stored and managed in the storage data storage unit 20e, are displayed in the same table format on the display unit 20c. While being displayed, the non-member storage data shown in FIG. 10B can be moved to the storage area of the member storage data using the input unit 20a.

  Specifically, when the member in which the “reading error” has occurred later knows that the balls are not stored normally, the “number” of the counting device 10 that has been counted and the counting end time (“the stored ball update date and time”) ) If the unprocessed count value (“the number of stored balls”) is remembered, the store clerk at the amusement hall listens to them and uses them as clues, and this is the case in FIG. 10B displayed on the display unit 20c. Identify non-member pool data.

Then, the specified non-member storage data is designated (drag) using the input unit 20a such as a mouse and moved to the storage area of the “member number” of the member in which the “read error” has occurred (drop). .
As a result, the unprocessed count value (“number of stored balls”) stored in the non-member's stored ball data is added to the “number of stored balls” of the “member number” of the member's stored ball data so that it is updated. It has become.
As a result, a “reading error” occurs, and a smooth compensation can be achieved for a member who has suffered a loss without the game hall burdening the compensation.

Next, the POS terminal device 30 functions as a terminal device according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the POS terminal device 30 includes a storage means such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and an input / output port (I / O). Unit 30d, a card reading unit 30a for reading a member number from the member card 50, a receipt reading unit 30b for reading a count value from a receipt issued from the counting device 10, an input unit 30c such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a liquid crystal display Such as a display unit 30e, a special prize issuing unit 30f that automatically discharges special prizes that can be exchanged for cash according to the counted value, and a predetermined search condition that can specify non-members' stored data. The computer includes a storage unit 30g that stores data and a communication unit 30h that functions as an external communication interface.
The POS terminal device 30 is provided in a prize exchange counter in the amusement hall, and is connected to the management device 20 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

  In the POS terminal device configured as described above, the search condition can be transmitted to the management apparatus 20 via the communication unit 30h by inputting the search condition for searching for the non-member storage ball data. The corresponding stored non-member storage data can be moved to the storage area of the member storage data.

A specific process flow will be described with reference to the flowchart of the compensation process of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a compensation process in the case of supplementing the stored ball data executed by the management device 20 and the POS terminal device 30 of the present embodiment.

First, in the POS terminal device 30, the member number is read by the card reading unit 30 a from the member card 50 presented by the member who has encountered the “reading error” who visited the prize exchange counter, and the store clerk at the game hall By listening to the search conditions (for example, the counted counting device, the counting end time, the unprocessed count value, etc.) for searching the remembered non-member storage ball data, and inputting them using the input unit 30c such as a keyboard or a mouse. The search condition and the member number are transmitted to the management apparatus 20 via the communication unit 30h (S40 [search condition input process]).
Based on this search condition, the management device 20 selects a corresponding candidate from the non-member storage data, and transmits the selected candidate non-member storage data to the POS terminal device 30 (S41 [storage ball Data search process]).

As a search condition, for example, when a member who has encountered a “reading error” remembers the date of visit to the amusement hall, “2008/02/20” as the “date of completion” Is input and transmitted to the management device 20, the management device 20 searches the stored ball data corresponding to “2008/02/20” from the storage ball update date and time shown in FIG. The corresponding non-member's stored ball data is transmitted to the POS terminal device 30.
In this example, the stored ball data of the non-members “X001” and “X002” corresponding to the stored ball update date “2008/02/20” are searched as candidates and transmitted to the POS terminal device 30.

  In addition, when the member in which the “reading error” has occurred remembers the count value and the counted time, since these count value and time are ambiguous, when inputting these search conditions, In addition to setting an upper limit value and a lower limit value for the values stored by the member, the management device 20 can also search for a count value indicating a value within this range or a counted time as a candidate.

Then, the POS terminal device 30 displays the transmitted two candidate stored ball data on the display unit 30e (S42 [candidate data display]).
Furthermore, when the member in which the “reading error” has occurred remembers the counting device, the stored ball data of any one of the non-members can be specified as the unprocessed count value of the member.
Even if the member does not remember the counting device counted, if the player remembers the number, model name, and character of the gaming table 100 of the gaming table 100 that played the game, as described above, the counting device 10 Since it is installed at the end of the gaming machine island where the same model is arranged, it is possible to estimate the counting device based on these.

As a result, when one of the specified non-member storage data is instructed (clicked) using the input unit 30c such as a mouse of the POS terminal device 30 (S45 [determined]), the instruction information is sent to the management device 20. Based on the previously transmitted member number, the management device 20 moves the non-member storage data specified by the instruction information to the storage area corresponding to the member number (S46 [storage destination Move process]).
Thereby, the non-member storage data stored and managed in the management device 20 can be moved to the storage area of the member storage data by remote control from the POS terminal device 30.
If the non-member storage data can be uniquely specified by the search condition input from the POS terminal device 30, the management device 20 automatically stores the specified non-member storage data in the storage area of the member storage data. You can also move to.

  In addition, as a means for ascertaining whether or not the member who has visited the prize exchange counter is a member who has actually lost due to the occurrence of a “reading error”, for example, the member ends the number of the gaming machine 100 where the game has been played and the game. When the POS terminal device 30 receives the game history of the game table stored in the game data storage unit 20d of the management device 20, it can be confirmed (S44 [game data]). Matching process]).

  Specifically, the game data storage unit 20d of the management device 20 stores “the number of possession balls” indicating the number of game balls held by the player (for example, [number of inputs of safe signal−number of inputs of out signal] × 10 ), And a game history for each gaming table 100 such as the date and time of replacement of the player from the input of the “ball lending signal” when there is “the number of possessed balls”.

Therefore, the number of the gaming machine 100 in which the member has played and the date and time when the game is finished are input from the input unit 30c of the POS terminal device 30 and transmitted to the management device 20 (S43 [game number input). ]).
Then, based on the transmitted number of the gaming machine 100 and the date and time when the game is finished, the management device 20 is input at the game machine corresponding to the number of the gaming machine 100 or at or after this date and time. The input time of the “ball rental signal” and the input time of the “ball rental signal” input before the date and time when the game is ended are specified. As a result, from the input time of the “ball rental signal” input before the date and time when the game is ended to the input time of the “ball rental signal” input after the date and time when the game is ended, It can be regarded as the game period in which the game was played.

Next, the management device 20 transmits the “number of possessed balls” stored in this period to the POS terminal device 30, and displays this “number of possessed balls” on the display unit 30 e in the POS terminal device 30. Then, the number of stored balls (unprocessed count value) of the candidate non-member's stored ball data is compared (S44 [game data collation processing]).
And when these values are almost the same, the member who visited the prize exchange counter actually played the game, and it can be confirmed that the member suffered a loss due to the occurrence of “read error”. As described above, the non-member storage data stored and managed in the management device 20 can be moved to the storage area of the member storage data by remote operation from the POS terminal device 30.

In this way, the input unit 30c provided in the POS terminal device 30 inputs a predetermined search condition that can identify the non-member storage data, and transmits it to the management device 20, so that the management device 20 performs this search. Based on the conditions, the corresponding non-member's stored ball data can be searched, and the non-member's stored ball data that matches the search condition can be stored and managed as the specified member's stored ball data.
As a result, the game hall can smoothly make up for a member who has suffered a loss due to the occurrence of a reading error, without incurring a supplement.

  Further, by providing the POS terminal device 30 with the input unit 30c capable of inputting search conditions, the game shop clerk operates the terminal device while listening to the search conditions stored by the member in which the reading error has occurred. Thus, the raw count value can be moved to the member's stored ball data.

In other words, the POS terminal device that performs a predetermined prize exchange process allows the player to present the receipt 60 or the membership card 50 that is issued from the counting device 10 and printed with the counted value, It is provided in a prize counter that can be exchanged for prizes according to the stored balls.
In addition, since the clerk is stationed at the free gift counter and a large number of free gifts that can be exchanged for storage balls are displayed, the member who has caused the reading error can change the unprocessed count value into the stored data of the member. After moving, you can exchange for the desired prize with your own storage.
By providing the input unit 30c in the POS terminal device provided in such a prize counter, the store clerk can perform prompt and appropriate measures for the member in which the reading error has occurred, and the service is improved. Can be achieved.

As described above, according to the storage management system 1 of the present embodiment, when the counting device 10 detects the end of counting and the member number reading error is not canceled, the count value that has been counted is read. The unprocessed count value based on the “error” is determined, and the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the management device 20. The management device 20 sets the received unprocessed count value as a non-member separately from the stored data for each member. Since it is stored and managed as a stored ball data, the raw count value received from the non-member stored ball data for a member who has experienced a "read error" and has realized that the ball has not been stored normally Can be compensated.
As a result, for a member who has suffered a loss due to a reading error, smooth compensation can be achieved without the game hall burdening the compensation.

  As described above, the storage management system of the present invention and the counting device, the management device, and the program of the counting device constituting the storage management system have been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, but the storage management system according to the present invention and this storage ball are also described. It is needless to say that the counting device, the management device, and the counting device program constituting the management system are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, the membership card is a magnetic card, but it may be an IC card on which an IC chip is mounted.
The gaming machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a pachinko machine that uses the gaming ball shown in the above-described embodiment as a gaming medium. For example, any gaming machine such as a slot machine (including pachilot and parrot) can be applied to the present invention. Correspondingly, the game medium counted by the counting device is also a medal (coin). You can also

  The present invention counts game media paid out from a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and stores and manages the counted value as a stored ball by a membership card, and configures this stored ball management system It can be widely used for a counting device, a management device, and a counting device program.

It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the whole structure of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the counting device of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the counting device of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the management apparatus of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the POS terminal device of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the receipt on which the unprocessed count value issued from the counting apparatus of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was printed. It is a flowchart of the counting process program memorize | stored in the counting apparatus of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the membership card savings processing program memorize | stored in the counting device of the savings management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the count error return process program memorize | stored in the counting apparatus of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The count history for every counting device memorized and managed by the management device of the storage ball management system concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and the storage ball data for every member are shown, and Drawing (a) shows the count history data for every counting device. (B) is a figure which shows the stored-ball data for every member. It is a flowchart of the compensation process performed with the management apparatus and POS terminal device of the storage management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage management system 10 Counting device 20 Management device 30 POS terminal device 50 Member card 60 Receipt 100 Game machine (pachinko machine)

Claims (10)

A counting device for counting game media and reading member information for identifying a member from a predetermined recording medium;
A storage device management system comprising: a management device that stores and manages the counted game media as storage ball data for each member based on the member information;
When the counting device detects the end of counting and the reading error of the member information is not canceled, the counting value that has been counted is determined as an unprocessed count value based on the reading error, and the unprocessed count value is , To the management device,
The said management apparatus memorize | stores / manages the received said unprocessed count value as non-member storage data separately from the said storage data for every member, The storage management system characterized by the above-mentioned.   When the counting device detects the end of counting and the reading error of the member information has not been canceled and when a new game medium to be counted is detected, the counting value that has been counted is converted into a reading error. The storage management system according to claim 1, wherein the storage count management system determines that the count value is an unprocessed count value and transmits the unprocessed count value to the management device.   The said management apparatus memorize | stores / manages the received said unprocessed count value as said non-member stored-ball data with the counting apparatus which counted and / or the information which can be counted. The listed storage management system. Input means for inputting a predetermined search condition capable of specifying the non-member storage ball data,
The management device searches the corresponding non-member storage ball data based on the search condition, and stores and manages the non-member storage ball data that matches the search condition as specific member storage ball data. Item 4. The storage management system according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The storage management system according to claim 4, wherein the input unit is connected to the management apparatus so as to be communicable and is provided in a terminal device that performs predetermined prize exchange processing. Based on the member information for identifying the member, the game medium is counted and connected to a management device that stores and manages the counted game media as stored ball data for each member, and the member information is counted from a predetermined recording medium. A counting device for reading
When the end of counting is detected and the reading error of the member information has not been canceled, the counted value that has been counted is determined to be an unprocessed count value based on the read error, and the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the outside. A counting device characterized by.   When the end of counting is detected and the reading error of the member information has not been canceled, and when a new game medium to be counted is further detected, the counted value that has been counted is an unprocessed count value based on the reading error. The counting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unprocessed count value is transmitted to the outside. The game medium is counted, and connected to a counting device that reads member information for identifying a member from a predetermined recording medium, and the counted game medium is stored as stored ball data for each member based on the member information. A management device for managing,
When the counting device determines that the counted value has been counted as an unprocessed count value based on a read error, the unprocessed count value received from the counting device is stored separately from the stored ball data for each member. Management device characterized by storing and managing as data. A counting device that counts game media and reads member information for identifying a member from a predetermined recording medium,
Count end detection means for detecting the end of counting,
Error detecting means for detecting an error in reading the member information;
When the counting end detecting means detects the counting end, and the error detecting means detects a reading error, and the error has not been canceled, the counting finished count value is an unprocessed count value based on the reading error. Determining means for determining,
Transmitting means for transmitting the raw count value to the outside;
A program for a counting device characterized in that it functions as: The counting device;
The counting end detection means detects the counting end, and the error detection means detects a reading error, and the error is not canceled,
Further, when a new game medium to be counted is detected, determination means for determining the counted value that has been counted as an unprocessed counted value based on a reading error,
10. The program of the counting device according to claim 9, wherein

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