JP2010029402A - Management device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management device of game machines which is capable of correctly and highly accurately recognizing whether game media are fraudulently brought in or not without any omissions and without any manpower by storing and managing game history for every machine. <P>SOLUTION: This management device includes: outflow counting means (CPU 30 and 56) outputting the number of outflow game media as an identifiable safe signal number; inflow counting means (CPU of an out ball counting device 66) outputting the number of inflow game media as an identifiable out signal number; dispensing signal output means (CPU 30 and 56) for outputting a dispensing signal; storage means (respective types of memories of a parlor computer 18) storing the number of safe signals and the number of out signals; and computing means (CPU of the parlor computer) for executing a predetermined computing processing, wherein, in a case where a relationship that the number of the safe signals are larger than the number of the out signals is retained when the output of the dispensing signal is detected, the computing means stores the computing result and then, executes an initialization processing to the computing result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine management apparatus capable of recognizing whether or not a game medium (for example, a game ball or a medal) is illegally brought in.

  Conventionally, when a game is played with a game medium (for example, a game ball or a medal) that is illegally brought in, there is a situation in which the profit rate of the game hall is significantly reduced. For this reason, in the game hall, only games using game media obtained from the machine (for example, ball rental, prize ball) are allowed when playing with a specific game machine (for example, pachinko machine, pachislot machine). However, it is prohibited to bring a game medium acquired by another game machine into the machine and play a game.

  However, in order to prohibit such a game medium from being brought in, it is necessary to always monitor the presence or absence of a player who brings in a game medium acquired by another game machine with respect to a specific game machine. In such a case, since many people are required for such monitoring, the labor cost required for the monitoring increases and the burden on the amusement hall increases. In addition, it is difficult to always reliably recognize whether or not a game medium is brought in by manual monitoring.

Therefore, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a method for recognizing whether or not a game medium is brought in without requiring human intervention. In other words, while a game is being played on a specific gaming machine, for example, the number of game media (safe balls) acquired by the player through ball lending or prize balls, etc. The number of game media (out balls) collected and collected is measured. Then, in a state where the measured value is “the number of out balls> the number of safe balls”, the elapsed time of the state is measured, and when a preset time has elapsed without receiving a ball rental, The value is cleared to zero, and it is determined that a game medium has been brought in.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-202086 JP-A-4-357974

  However, at present, in many amusement halls, as part of the service for improving the rate of attracting customers, the possession balls stored on the membership card issued from the amusement hall are used, or the possession balls rented and borrowed among each other are used. It has been allowed to use and play games.

  Therefore, in the measures of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, for example, when the player leaves the gaming machine for a meal or a toilet, a state in which “the number of out balls> the number of safe balls” is set in advance. When the elapsed time has elapsed, the count value up to that point is cleared to zero, and it is determined that a game medium has been brought in.

  Furthermore, in the measures of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, the count value up to that point is unconditionally cleared to zero when the state where “the number of out balls> the number of safe balls” has elapsed for a preset time. Therefore, it is not possible to save and manage the game history for each unit. In this case, if there is a game history for each vehicle, it is possible to verify the presence or absence of fraud based on this, but if there is no such game history, the past game history is checked for the presence or absence of fraud. It becomes impossible to perform verification based on it.

  For this reason, in the measures of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, it is impossible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not the game medium has been illegally brought in, so there is a risk of overlooking the illegality caused by the carry-in game medium. There is.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to save and manage a game history for each unit, thereby requiring manual operation of whether or not a game medium is illegally brought in. It is an object of the present invention to provide a management device for a gaming machine that can be recognized accurately and with high accuracy without omission.

In order to achieve such an object, the gaming machine management device according to the first invention flows out of the gaming machine (e.g., for use in gaming on a gaming machine (e.g., pachinko machine, pachislot machine)) Outflow counting means (e.g., game media lending machine) that counts game media (e.g., game balls, medals) that have been rented and awarded) and outputs the counted number of outflows of the game media as the number of safe signals that can be specified. CPU, gaming machine payout / launch control board CPU), and when the game medium is used in the game, the game medium that has flowed into the game machine (for example, collected) is counted, and the counted game Lending request to an inflow counting means (for example, a CPU of a game island recovery mechanism (out ball counting device)) that outputs the inflow number of media as an identifiable number of out signals, and a gaming medium lending machine attached to the gaming machine Lending when Lending signal output means (for example, a CPU of a gaming medium lending machine, a CPU of a gaming machine payout / launch control board) that outputs a lending signal that can specify the number of lending of the gaming media that has been specified, and output from the outflow counting means The storage signal (for example, various memories of a hall computer) that sequentially stores the number of the safe signals that have been output and the number of the out signals that have been output from the inflow counting unit as the output time elapses, and the storage unit Calculation means (for example, a CPU of a hall computer) that executes predetermined calculation processing based on the number of safe signals and the number of out signals that are provided, and the calculation means detects the output of the lending signal If the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals is maintained as a result of performing the calculation process, After the result is output to the storage means and stored, the calculation result is initialized.
According to the first invention, by storing and managing the game history of each machine according to the passage of time, it is possible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not the game medium has been illegally brought in without any human intervention. it can.
Further, such a game history can be used as a judgment criterion or judgment material for fraud detection as to whether or not a game medium is illegally brought in.

In the gaming machine management device according to the second aspect of the invention, in the calculation process of the calculation means, every time the safe signal number is output from the outflow counting means, a decrement process is performed on the outflow number, and Every time the number of out signals is output from the inflow counting means, an increment process is performed on the inflow number.
According to the second invention, not only can the difference between the number of outflows of game media flowing out of the gaming machine and the number of inflows of game media flowing into the gaming machine be accurately calculated, It is possible to accurately grasp the change of the number and the number of inflows as time passes.

In the gaming machine management device according to the third aspect of the invention, the number of outflows of the gaming media specified by the number of safe signals is the number of gaming media lent when the gaming media lending machine is lent out. Includes the number of loans.
According to the third invention, since it is possible to execute arithmetic processing in consideration of the number of game media lent out at the start of the game, all game histories from the start of the game to the end of the game can be managed without omission. Can do.

In the gaming machine management device according to a fourth aspect of the invention, the calculation process of the calculating means reflects a counting result of a counting device (for example, a jet counter) that counts the gaming media obtained by the game in the gaming machine. The comparison result is compared with the calculation result stored in the storage means.
According to the fourth invention, not only during the period from the start of the game to the end of the game, by comparing the count result when the game medium finally obtained after the end of the game is exchanged for a prize with the game history, During the period from the end of the game to the exchange of prizes, it is possible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not the game medium has been illegally brought in without any human intervention.

In the gaming machine management device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the computing means associates identification information (for example, a membership number) that can identify a player playing a game on the gaming machine, and performs the predetermined computation. Execute the process.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to identify a player who illegally brought a game medium, and to store and manage the game history. For example, the player played a game across a plurality of game tables. Even in this case, based on the game history, it is possible to accurately and highly accurately recognize when the player played the game medium illegally brought into the game table.

  According to the present invention, by storing and managing the game history for each table, it is possible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not a game medium has been illegally brought in without any human intervention. A management device for a gaming machine can be realized.

A gaming machine management device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a game system in a game arcade in which a gaming machine management device according to the present embodiment is constructed. Such a gaming system includes a plurality of types of gaming machines, a gaming media lending machine (card unit) that lends gaming media to be used for gaming in each gaming machine, and a player in gaming on gaming machines. There is provided a counting device (for example, a jet counter) K that counts acquired (acquired) award media (for example, prize balls, acquired medals), and each of these components is controlled and managed via a predetermined computer. It has become so. In this case, as a plurality of types of gaming machines, a ball-type gaming machine (for example, a pachinko machine) or a revolving type gaming machine (for example, a pachislot machine, a slot machine) can be applied, but here as an example A pachislot machine 2 and a pachinko machine 4 are assumed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the pachislot machine 2 and the pachinko machine 4 is provided with a corresponding game medium lending machine (ie, a pachislot machine card unit 6 and a pachinko machine card unit 8). . Each of the card units 6 and 8 is communicably connected to a unit controller 10 as a computer that controls and manages the card units 6 and 8, for example. The unit controller 10 is installed for each game hall, and is connected to a server 12 of a management company that manages the card units 6 and 8 via a predetermined network N (for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, etc.). Communication is possible (for example, sales per game machine can be notified). In addition, the unit controller 10 manages the balance of prepaid cards including membership cards issued at the game hall.

  Such card units 6 and 8 are provided with, for example, card insertion slots 6a and 8a as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the player can insert a recording medium M (for example, a member) into the card insertion slots 6a and 8a. By inserting a prepaid card such as a card or a visitor card) or by inserting a predetermined amount of money (banknotes, coins) into a banknote slot 14 or a coin slot 16 as shown in FIG. It is possible to play a game by renting out game media (game balls, medals) necessary for the game. As the recording medium M (visitor card, member card), for example, an IC card or a magnetic card can be applied.

  In this case, in the pachislot machine 2 (FIG. 1), medals lent out by the pachislot machine card unit 6 are paid out to the tray 6c via the discharge basket 6b, while in the pachinko machine 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2), The game balls lent out by the pachinko machine card unit 8 are paid out to the upper plate 4a. At this time, the player plays a game using the rented game media (medals, game balls). In the game, the game data (game data from the pachinko machine 4 shown in FIG. 3) output from the gaming machine (pachislot machine 2, pachinko machine 4) is shown for each pachislot machine 2 and pachinko machine 4 (that is, Each game machine) is sequentially stored in, for example, various memories (not shown) of the hall computer 18 (FIG. 1) as the output time elapses, and is managed by the CPU (not shown) of the hall computer 18.

  The game data includes, for example, a safe signal that is output each time a game medium (medal, game ball) flows out from the gaming machine when renting a game medium (game ball, medal) or winning a prize by winning a prize. In addition, when collecting game media (game balls, medals) used in a game, an out signal that is output each time the game media (medals, game balls) flows into the game machine, which is advantageous to the player A gaming state signal (for example, a big hit signal, a BB signal, an RB signal) or the like that can be specified as a specific gaming state (for example, big hit, big bonus (BB), regular bonus (RB)) can be assumed.

  Here, a specific configuration for playing a game by renting out game media (game balls, medals) will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, as an example, a pachinko machine card unit 8 and a pachinko machine 4 attached thereto are assumed, and a membership card is assumed as the recording medium M. Then, a case will be described in which the member card M is inserted into the card insertion slot 8a and received by the card unit 8, and a game medium (game ball) required for a game is rented to play a game.

  The membership card M is issued by registering predetermined information (for example, name, address, etc.) at the game hall. These predetermined information and unique identification information (for example, membership number, card ID, etc.) assigned to each membership card M are member (identification) information that can identify a player who is a member of the game hall. For example, it is stored in a member management table (not shown) of the hall computer 18. In this case, the hall computer 18 constitutes this gaming system together with the card unit 8 and the counting device K, and can communicate with each other (for example, notification of sales information from the card unit 8, notification of counting results from the counting device K, etc.) Is possible).

  In such a gaming system, the card unit 8 includes a card insertion lamp 20 that emits light in a state where the member card M is inserted from the card insertion slot 8a, and a card reader / writer that reads member information and balance of the inserted member card M. (R / W) 22, a status display lamp 24 that displays the operating state (for example, reading error) of the card unit 8, a coin insertion detection sensor 26 that detects that coins (coins) have been inserted from the coin insertion slot 16, A currency discriminator 28 for identifying the authenticity of the currency (banknote) inserted into the bill insertion slot 14 is provided, and these are all controlled by the CPU 30 of the card unit 8. The control of each component provided in the card unit 8 is executed by the CPU 30 using, for example, a control program stored in the ROM 32 by using the RAM 34 as a work area. At this time, when the money (banknote) is identified as a currency by the currency identification machine 28, the currency banknote is returned from the banknote insertion slot 14, and the currency coin is selected by a selector (not shown) to be returned to the coin return slot 36 ( Returned from Figure 2).

  In such a card unit 8, a connector (not shown) provided on the back surface thereof is connected to a connector (not shown) provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine 4 by a cable (not shown). Various signals are exchanged via the. As an example, the pachinko machine 4 applied to the present embodiment is rotated to the front of the outer frame 38 and an outer frame 38 for installing the pachinko machine 4 on a game island (not shown) arranged in the game hall. And an inner frame 40 that is pivotally supported.

  Behind the inner frame 40 is provided an effect display device (not shown) for displaying various effects (symbols) according to the gaming state of the pachinko machine 4. A game board (not shown) configured to include a plurality of game members (for example, a 7-segment LED, a start winning opening) is detachably mounted. A front door 44 fitted with a glass plate 42 is pivotally supported on the front surface of the inner frame 40, and a lamp 46 for performing an effect by light is provided on the upper front surface of the front door 44. It is attached. On the other hand, in the lower part of the front surface of the inner frame 40, there are an upper plate 4a for receiving rental balls and prize balls, a lower plate 4b for receiving game balls overflowing when the upper plate 4a is full, and game balls. A handle 48 for operating a launching device (not shown) for launching and a speaker 50 for performing a sound effect are provided.

  In this case, with the membership card M inserted from the card insertion slot 8a of the card unit 8, the lending operation panel 52 provided in the pachinko machine 4 is operated to manage the balance of the membership card M (managed by the unit controller 10). When the balance (corresponding to the card ID of the registered membership card M) is consumed, signals relating to the lending process (PRDY, BRDY, etc.) between the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 and the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4 are consumed. BRQ, EXS) is communicated. At this time, the CPU 56 of the payout / launch control board 54 controls the payout device 58 based on the exchanged signal, so that a predetermined number of games from the payout device 58 according to the balance consumption of the member card M. The medium (game ball) is paid out and lent to the upper plate 4a of the pachinko machine 4.

  When the handle 48 (FIG. 2) of the pachinko machine 4 is operated, a firing solenoid (not shown) is activated, and a game medium (game ball) is driven into a game area along a guide rail (not shown). Is done. In such a game, when a game medium (game ball) wins, a predetermined command is transmitted from the main board 60 of the pachinko machine 4 to the payout / launch control board 54, and the CPU 56 of the payout / fire control board 54, for example, based on the command. By controlling the payout device 58, a predetermined number of game media (game balls) are paid out from the payout device 58 and lent to the upper plate 4a.

  Here, the lending process based on the PRDY, BRDY, BRQ, and EXS signals will be described along the timing chart shown in FIG. 4 with reference to FIGS. In this case, when the membership card M is received from the card insertion slot 8a of the card unit 8, the balance of the membership card M (the balance associated with the card ID of the membership card M managed by the unit controller 10). Is read by the card R / W 22. The balance read at this time is converted into a frequency unit (for example, 5 times if it is 500 yen) by the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 and then the pachinko machine via the input / output (I / O) port 62. The frequency is displayed on the lending operation panel 52 provided at 4. Then, the lending process is executed by operating the lending operation panel 52 within the range of the balance displayed in the frequency.

  As an example of the lending process, a payout operation of a predetermined number (for example, 25 balls per number) of game balls is repeatedly executed a plurality of times. That is, for example, when a request for lending game balls for 5 times is made by operating the lending operation panel 52, 25 paying balls per time are paid out in one payout operation in the payout device 58. The operation is repeated five times. In such a lending process, for example, a lending process program stored in the ROM 32 is executed by the CPU 30 using the RAM 34 as a work area.

  First, when the card unit 8 and the pachinko machine 4 are electrically connected (power ON), the “PRDY” signal output from the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4 to the card unit 8 is output from (HI). Switch to (LO). This indicates that the pachinko machine 4 is in a normal control state. At this time, the status display lamp 24 of the card unit 8 is turned on. In this state, when the member card M is inserted into the card insertion slot 8a, the card insertion lamp 20 is turned on, and the balance of the member card M read by the card R / W 22 is displayed on the lending operation panel 52 in frequency (for example, 5).

  At this time, when a lending request for a game ball is requested by operating a ball lending button (reference numeral omitted) of the lending operation panel 52, a lending permission display LED (not shown) provided on the lending operation panel 52 is displayed. After that, the ball lending button is prohibited from being pressed. At this time, the card unit 8 switches the “BRDY” signal to be output to the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4 from (HI) to (LO). This indicates that the card unit 8 is in the lending control state.

  Thereafter, within the lending request monitoring time T0, the card unit 8 switches the “BRQ” signal output to the payout / launch control board 54 from (HI) to (LO). As a result, the payout / launch control board 54 recognizes that an inquiry (lending request) has been received from the card unit 8 as to whether or not the pachinko machine 4 is ready for lending.

  Subsequently, within the request acknowledgment monitoring time T1, the pachinko machine 4 determines whether or not the game ball can be lent based on the change of the “BRQ” signal to (LO). For example, it is determined whether a prize ball is being paid out or whether the lower tray 4b is in a payout prohibition state due to a full tank or the like. If it is determined that the ball can be lent out, the payout / firing control board 54 outputs an “EXS” signal to the card unit 8 in order to notify the card unit 8 of the fact ( Switch from (HI) to (LO).

  At this time, the card unit 8 switches the “BRQ” signal from (LO) to (HI) based on the change of the “EXS” signal to (LO) within the lending instruction monitoring time T2. As a result, the payout / launch control board 54 recognizes that a payout command for several times has been received from the card unit 8.

  Subsequently, within the payout monitoring time T3, the payout / launch control board 54 drives the payout device 58 based on (HI) of the “BRQ” signal, and the number corresponding to one time (25 balls). The payout of the game balls of is executed. When the payout of the game ball is completed, the payout / launch control board 54 switches the “EXS” signal output to the card unit 8 from (LO) to (HI) in order to notify the card unit 2 to that effect. .

  At this time, within the next request confirmation monitoring time T4, the card unit 8 completes the lending process for the number of times the lending request is made (for example, 5 times) based on (HI) of the “EXS” signal. Determine whether or not. If the card unit 8 determines that the lending process has not been completed, the card unit 8 switches the “BRQ” signal output to the payout / launch control board 54 from (HI) to (LO) again.

  Thereafter, the processing control at each of the times T1, T2, T3, and T4 is repeated until the lending process for the number of times the lending request is made is completed. When the lending process for the number of times the lending request is made is completed, the card unit 8 issues the payout / pasting of the pachinko machine 4 within the card unit lending completion monitoring time TE set in place of the next request confirmation monitoring time T4. The “BRDY” signal output to the launch control board 54 is switched from (LO) to (HI). At this time, the state where the ball lending button is prohibited from being pressed is canceled and can be pressed again (the lending operation panel 52 can be operated).

  In FIG. 4, when the lending processing time t (for example, millisecond: msec) is taken on the horizontal axis and divided into equal intervals, the above times T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, TE are expressed as follows. Although set, the setting timing of these times T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and TE is arbitrarily set according to, for example, the purpose and contents of the lending process or the type of the card unit 8 or the pachinko machine 4 Therefore, the numerical value is not particularly limited here.

  Further, in the lending process described above, the usage number (for example, the number of times) when the game ball is lent out using the remaining number of the membership card M, and the number of the game balls lent at that time (for example, the number of game balls) Information about the number of lending: 100 yen is converted into 4 yen per ball and the number of lending is 25 balls) is transmitted to the hall computer 18 from the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 or the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4. Stored in memory. In this case, the number of game balls lent according to the usage number is stored in various memories of the hall computer 18 as the number of safe signals that can specify the number of rents. The number of safe signals stored in the various memories is reflected in the member management table (not shown) of the hall computer 18 and managed in association with the member player specified by the member (identification) information of the member card M. Is done.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, in a game island (not shown) where the card unit 8 and the pachinko machine 4 are provided, they are used in the game and are collected (inflowed) into the pachinko machine 4 and then to the outside of the machine. An out ball tank 64 for receiving the discharged game balls is provided, and the game balls discharged to the outside of the machine are guided and collected by the collection mechanism of the game island via the out ball tank 64. ing. Further, the out ball tank 64 is provided with an out ball counting device 66 for counting the game balls received therein, and the out ball counting device 66 includes an out ball for detecting the game balls. A detection switch 68 is connected. In this case, the out ball counting device 66 measures the game balls discharged to the outside one by one, and outputs one out ball signal each time the ball is counted. The out-sphere signal is sequentially stored in the memory of the hall computer 18 as the output time elapses.

  In addition, the counting device K (FIG. 1) has a reading means (not shown) for reading the membership information of the membership card M inserted from the card insertion slot Ka, and game balls (not only prize balls but also rentals) acquired in the game. Counting means (not shown) for counting received game balls (including received game balls). In this case, for example, when the membership card M is received by the counting device K from the card insertion slot Ka and the game balls acquired in the game are counted by the counting device K, the counting result is transmitted to the hall computer 18 and stored in the various memories. Remembered. In this case, the counting results stored in the various memories are reflected in the member management table (not shown) of the hall computer 18 and managed in association with the member player specified by the member (identification) information of the member card M. Is done.

  By the way, the management device constructed in the gaming system described above recognizes whether or not a game ball has been illegally brought in a game at the game hall without any need for manual and accurate and high accuracy. The structure is given. Hereinafter, such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

  The management device of the present embodiment counts the game balls that have flowed out from the pachinko machine 4 for use in the game in the pachinko machine 4, and the number of outflows of the counted game balls can be specified as the number of safe signals that can be specified. An outflow counting means for outputting, and an inflow counting means for counting the number of game balls that have flowed into the pachinko machine 4 when the game balls are used in a game, and outputting the counted number of inflows of the game balls as an identifiable number of out signals And.

As the outflow counting means, for example, the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 and the CPU 56 of the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4 can be applied.
Here, when the CPU 56 of the payout / launch control board 54 is applied, the CPU 56 outputs a number of safe signals corresponding to (corresponding to) the number of game balls that have flowed out from the pachinko machine 4. Specifically, when a predetermined number of game balls are paid out from the payout device 58 when performing lending processing and winning balls, a counting switch (not shown) provided in the payout device 58 pays out (outflow). The game balls to be played are counted one by one.

  At this time, each time the game balls are counted one by one by the above-described counting switch, the CPU 56 generates one safe signal corresponding to (corresponding to) each one, and uses this as the number of safe signals. Output to. Therefore, for example, when paying out 15 game balls by winning (winning a prize ball), the CPU 56 matches the number of outflows of 15 game balls out of the pachinko machine 4 with 15 safe numbers. A signal is generated and output to the hall computer 18 as the number of safe signals. Note that the 15 safe signals may be output to the hall computer 18 one by one or may be output collectively.

In addition, when the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 is applied, a system configuration in which the counting result of the counting switch of the payout device 58 is fed back to the CPU 30 is the same as the CPU 56 of the payout / launch control board 54. An operation procedure can be realized.
In the operation procedure in the CPU 30 described above, for example, a safe signal output program stored in the ROM 32 is executed by the CPU 30 using the RAM 34 as a work area. Similarly, in the operation procedure in the CPU 56 described above, for example, a safe signal output program stored in a ROM (not shown) is executed by the CPU 56 using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

As the inflow counting means, for example, a CPU (not shown) of a game island recovery mechanism (out ball counting device 66) can be applied.
In this case, the CPU of the out ball counting device 66 outputs the number of out signals that matches (corresponds to) the number of game balls that have flowed into the pachinko machine 4. Specifically, when the game balls used in the game are collected (inflow) into the pachinko machine 4 and then discharged out of the machine, the out ball detection switch 68 selects the game balls to be discharged out of the machine. Count one by one.

  At this time, each time the game balls are counted one by one by the out-ball detection switch 68, the CPU generates one out signal that matches (corresponds to) each one, and uses this as the number of out signals. Output to the computer 18. Therefore, for example, when five game balls are discharged out of the machine, the CPU generates five out signals corresponding to (corresponding to) the number of inflows counted by the out ball detection switch 68. Is output to the hall computer 18 as the number of out signals. Note that the five out signals may be output one by one to the hall computer 18 or may be output collectively. Here, as for the operation procedure in the CPU of the out-ball counting device 66, for example, an out signal output program stored in a ROM (not shown) is executed by the CPU 30 using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

  In addition, the management device according to the present embodiment, when a rental request is made to the card unit 8 provided in the pachinko machine 4, a rental signal that outputs the number of loaned game balls as a loan signal that can be specified. Output means are provided.

As the lending signal output means, for example, the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 and the CPU 56 of the payout / launch control board 54 of the pachinko machine 4 can be applied.
In this case, a rental signal that can specify the number of game balls to be rented may be output from either of the CPUs 30 and 56. For example, when the signals (PRDY, BRDY, BRQ, EXS) relating to the lending process described above are communicated by both the CPUs 30, 56, the counting switch (not shown) of the payout device 58 counts the number of gaming balls that are lent. At this time, the CPU 30 or the CPU 56 generates a lending signal that can specify the counted number of lending, and outputs this to the hall computer 18 as a lending signal.

  Note that the lending signal is not limited to this, and for example, any of the above-described lending processing signals (PRDY, BRDY, BRQ, EXS) may be directly applied as a lending signal, or A lending request signal when a lending request is issued from the lending operation panel 52 of the pachinko machine 4 to the card unit 8 may be applied as it is as a lending signal. In the operation procedure in the CPU 30 described above, for example, a rental signal output program stored in the ROM 32 is executed by the CPU 30 using the RAM 34 as a work area. Similarly, in the operation procedure in the CPU 56 described above, for example, a lending signal output program stored in a ROM (not shown) is executed by the CPU 56 using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

  In addition, the management device according to the present embodiment stores the number of safe signals output from the outflow counting means and the number of out signals output from the inflow counting means in sequence as the output time elapses. And a calculation means for executing predetermined calculation processing based on the number of safe signals and the number of out signals stored in the storage means.

  As the storage means, for example, various memories (not shown) of the hall computer 18 can be applied. In this case, a history table (not shown) is constructed in the memory for storing a game history for each gaming machine for each of the plurality of pachinko machines 4 installed on the gaming island. As a result, the number of safe signals output from the outflow counting means and the number of out signals output from the inflow counting means are sequentially stored in the history table of the memory as the output time elapses. At this time, the number of safe signals and the number of out signals stored in the history table of the memory are reflected in the member management table (not shown) of the hall computer 18 and specified by the member (identification) information of the member card M. Managed in association with member players.

  As the various memories, various commercially available storage elements such as a ROM built in the hall computer 18 or an external memory attached later may be applied. The operation procedure in the hall computer 18 is executed by a CPU (not shown) using, for example, a storage processing program stored in a ROM (not shown) as a work area.

  As the calculation means, for example, a CPU (not shown) of the hall computer 18 can be applied. In this case, the CPU executes a predetermined calculation process based on the number of safe signals and the number of out signals stored in the history table. The operation procedure in the hall computer 18 is executed by, for example, an arithmetic processing program stored in a ROM (not shown) by the CPU using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

  Specifically, when the CPU detects the output of the lending signal from the lending signal output unit, the CPU executes the predetermined calculation process. If the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals is maintained as the calculation result of executing such calculation processing, the calculation result is output to the storage means and stored, and then the calculation result is initialized. The process is applied.

First, in the arithmetic processing in the CPU, every time the number of safe signals is output from the outflow counting means, decrement processing is performed on the outflow number, and every time the out signal number is output from the inflow counting means. Increment processing is executed for the inflow number.
In this case, the hall computer 18 has a counter (not shown) corresponding to each of the plurality of pachinko machines 4 installed on the game island, and executes a decrement process and an increment process for each counter. By doing so, calculation processing for each gaming machine is performed.

  Here, in the decrement processing, a numerical value that matches (corresponds to) the number of safe signals described above is subtracted from the counter value of the counter. For example, when the number of 15 safe signals is output from the outflow counting means described above, and this is detected by, for example, the CPU of the hall computer 18, the numerical value “15” is subtracted from the counter value of the counter. As a subtraction method, the numerical value “1” may be subtracted from the counter value of the counter described above, or the numerical value “15” may be subtracted collectively.

  On the other hand, in the increment processing, a numerical value that matches (corresponds to) the number of out signals described above is added to the counter value of the counter described above. For example, when the number of five out signals is output from the above-mentioned inflow counting means and this is detected by, for example, the CPU of the hall computer 18, a numerical value “5” is added to the counter value of the above-mentioned counter. As an addition method, the numerical value “1” may be added to the counter value of the counter, or the numerical value “5” may be added together.

  Subsequently, in the arithmetic processing in the CPU, the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals (the number of out signals <the number of safe signals) is maintained as a result of performing decrement processing and increment processing on the counter. A determination is made whether or not.

  Here, the relationship in which the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals means that the total number of game balls (safe balls) that have been flown out of the pachinko machine 4 by the lending process or prize balls and acquired by the player is used in the game. This indicates a relationship that is greater than the total number of game balls (out balls) that flow into the pachinko machine 4 and are collected by the game hall side. From another viewpoint, the relationship in which the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals refers to a relationship in which the counter value of the counter (that is, the calculation result) is a “minus value”.

  In the arithmetic processing in the CPU, when the lending signal output from the lending signal output means is detected by, for example, the CPU of the hall computer 18, the counter value (calculation result) of the counter is “minus value”. If so, the counter value (calculation result) is output to the storage means and stored, and then the calculation result is initialized. In this case, the counter value (that is, the calculation result) of the counter is stored in association with each game machine in the history table constructed in the memory of the hall computer 18. Subsequently, in the initialization process performed thereafter, the counter value (that is, the calculation result) is cleared to zero.

  As described above, the number of safe signals and the number of out signals stored in the history table of the memory of the hall computer 18 and the counter value (that is, the calculation result) of the counter are stored in the member management table (not shown). It is reflected and managed in association with the member player specified by the member (identification) information of the member card M. For this reason, in the arithmetic processing in the CPU, the predetermined arithmetic processing described above can be executed in a format in which member (identification) information that can identify the player who played the game on the pachinko machine 4 is associated.

  In the arithmetic processing in the CPU, the counting result of the counting device (jet counter) K that counts the game balls acquired by the game in the pachinko machine 4 is reflected and stored in the counting means and the storage means described above. The operation result (that is, the counter value of the counter) is compared and compared. At this time, the counting means of the counting device K described above counts the total number of game balls (safe balls) that have flowed out of the pachinko machine 4 by the lending process or prize balls and acquired by the player side, and the counted result is Are transmitted to the hall computer 18 and stored in the various memories.

  In this case, when the membership card M is received by the counting device K from the card insertion slot Ka, the member (identification) information of the membership card M read by the reading means of the counting device K is output to the hall computer 18. The hall computer 18 collates the member (identification) information with the member management table, and specifies the corresponding member player. As a result, the comparison of the total number (counting result) of the game balls (safe balls) acquired by the member player and the counter value (calculation result) of the counter is performed.

  Next, the operation of the management apparatus of the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, in order to facilitate understanding of the operation description, it is assumed that the counter value (not shown) of the counter (not shown) constructed in the hall computer 18 for each gaming machine is currently in the zero clear state. Then, the balance of the membership card M is consumed once in one lending process, and this is set as 100 yen, and 25 game balls are lent out in terms of 4 yen per ball and a game is played. After that, during the game, without changing the game state such as jackpot or reach, it was decided to win once when 5 game balls were used, thereby receiving 15 prize balls Thereafter, the lending process is further performed once to finish the game, and the acquired game balls (safe balls) are counted by a counting device (jet counter) K.

  First, when the membership card M is received through the card insertion slot 8a of the card unit 8 (P1 in FIG. 6A), the membership of the membership card M is performed by the card R / W 22 controlled by the CPU 30 of the card unit 8. (Identification) information (for example, card ID) is read. The card ID read at this time is transmitted to the unit controller 10 from the I / O port 62 of the card unit 8 together with the unit ID unique to the card unit 8 (P2 in FIG. 6A).

  When the unit controller 10 receives the card ID and the unit ID (P3 in FIG. 6A), the balance information associated with each card ID is recorded based on the verification request from the card unit 8 (CPU 30). The corresponding balance information is read out from a database (not shown), and the received card ID is checked against the balance information (P4 in FIG. 6A).

  If the verifications match, the balance information is transmitted from the unit controller 10 to the card unit 8 (P5 in FIG. 6A). When the card unit 8 (CPU 30) receives the balance information via the I / O port 62 (P6 in FIG. 6A), the balance information is stored in, for example, the RAM 34 (P7 in FIG. 6A). In this case, the balance information is stored in units of frequency with a predetermined amount (for example, 100 yen) as one frequency. For example, in the case of a balance of 500 yen, the balance information converted as the remaining frequency “5” is stored in the RAM 34. Remembered.

  Here, when the balance information is stored in the RAM 34, a balance display signal is output from the card unit 8 (CPU 30) to the lending operation panel 52 of the pachinko machine 4 based on the balance information (FIG. 6A). P8). Then, based on the balance display signal, the balance is displayed on the lending operation panel 52 as a frequency unit (for example, remaining frequency “5”) (P9 in FIG. 6A).

  In this case, if the remaining number is consumed by operating the lending operation panel 52 (P10 in FIG. 6B), the lending process described above is executed, whereby a desired number of game balls can be lended (FIG. 6). 6 (b) P11). At this time, the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 specifies the sales amount (consumption frequency) based on the number of rented game balls, and transmits the specified sales information to the unit controller 10 (FIG. 6B). ) P12). For example, when 25 game balls are lent out by consuming one time (100 yen) from the balance of the membership card M, for example, the number of times: 100 yen is transmitted from the card unit 8 to the unit controller 10 as sales information. .

  When the unit controller 10 receives the sales information (number of times: 100 yen) (P13 in FIG. 6B), the corresponding balance information is read from the above-mentioned database, and the number of times corresponding to the sales information is read from the balance information. The balance information is updated by subtraction (P14 in FIG. 6B). On the other hand, the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 executes balance update processing for displaying the balance on the lending operation panel 52 based on the specified sales (sales information) (P15 in FIG. 6B).

  When the balance update process described above is completed, a balance display signal for displaying the updated balance is output from the card unit 8 to the pachinko machine 4 in the CPU 30 of the card unit 8 (FIG. 6B). ) P16), the balance is displayed on the lending operation panel 52 in units of frequency (P17 in FIG. 6B).

  Thereafter, when the game is started using the 25 game balls lent out by the above-described rental processing, the hall computer 18 starts the arithmetic processing in the above-mentioned CPU in synchronization with this (FIG. 5). S1). Here, since it is decided to win once when five game balls are used, a total of five game balls including one won game ball flow into the pachinko machine 4 and are collected. At this time, five out signals are output from the inflow counting means described above, and when this is detected by, for example, the CPU of the hall computer 18 (S2 in FIG. 5), the hall computer 18 corresponds to each pachinko machine 4. Increment processing for adding a numerical value “5” to the counter value of the counter constructed as described above is executed (S3 in FIG. 5).

  At the same time, since there is a single winning, 15 game balls are awarded, so that such game balls flow out of the pachinko machine 4. At this time, 15 safe signal numbers are output from the above-described outflow counting means, and when this is detected by, for example, the CPU of the hall computer 18 (S4 in FIG. 5), the numerical value “15” is calculated from the counter value of the above counter. A decrement process to be subtracted is executed (S5 in FIG. 5).

  Such increment processing and decrement processing are always executed in parallel during the game, and as a result of the execution, the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals (the number of out signals <the number of safe signals) is maintained. In other words, a determination is made as to whether or not the counter value (that is, the calculation result) of the counter is “minus value”. In the hall computer 18, for example, a judgment processing program stored in a ROM (not shown) is executed by the CPU using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

  Here, when the operation of the lending operation panel 52 is performed, when the lending signal is generated and output by the lending signal output means described above, for example, when the CPU of the hall computer 18 detects this (S6 in FIG. 5). ), It is determined whether or not the counter value (that is, the calculation result) of the counter is “minus value” (S7 in FIG. 5).

  In this case, as described above, after lending 25 game balls in one lending process, the player wins once when 5 game balls are used, thereby receiving 15 prize balls. Therefore, in the increment process, the number of out signals (5) output from the inflow counting means is added based on the number of inflows (5), and in the decrement process, the number of loans (25) + the number of outflows The number of safe signals (40) output from the outflow counting means based on (15) is subtracted from the number of out signals (5). As a result, the counter value of the counter is minus 35. As a result, when the lending signal is detected, it is recognized that the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals (the number of out signals <the number of safe signals) is maintained.

  At this time, the counter value (minus 35) is output to the history table constructed in the memory of the hall computer 18 and stored in association with each gaming machine. Thereafter, initialization processing is executed for the counter value (minus 35), and the counter value is cleared to zero. When the game is played again, the above-described arithmetic processing in the CPU is repeated. In the above, the number of game balls lent out in step S6 in FIG. 5 is not taken into account (for example, 25 per minute), but if this is taken into consideration, the final counter value is minus. 60.

  Here, since the game is to be ended when the counter value of the counter becomes “minus 35”, the game end process is subsequently performed. In this game end process, the member card M received by the card unit 8 is returned.

  When the lending operation panel 52 of the pachinko machine 4 is operated to perform return processing (R1 in FIG. 7), a card information update request is issued from the card unit 8 (CPU 30) to the unit controller 10 (R2 in FIG. 7). At this time, when the unit controller 10 receives the card information update request (R3 in FIG. 7), it reads the corresponding card information from a database (not shown) in which card information associated with each card ID is recorded, The card information is updated (for example, balance information is updated) (R4 in FIG. 7).

  When the update of the card information is completed, an update completion notification is notified from the unit controller 10 to the card unit 8 (R5 in FIG. 7). At this time, when the card unit 8 (CPU 30) receives the update completion notification (R6 in FIG. 7), the member card M is returned based on the update completion notification. It is discharged (returned) from the card insertion slot 8a (R7 in FIG. 7).

  Thereafter, the game balls (safe balls) acquired in the game are counted by a counting device (jet counter) K. In this case, since the total number of acquired game balls (safe balls) is an absolute value of “minus 35” that is the counter value of the counter, the counting result in the counting device K is also a value that matches this. The counting result is transmitted from the counting device K to the hall computer 18 and managed in the various memories in association with the member player specified by the member (identification) information of the member card M.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of safe signals output from the outflow counting means and the number of out signals output from the inflow counting means are determined for each gaming table according to the passage of the output time. By sequentially storing them in the memory of the hall computer 18, it is possible to manage the game history for each gaming table by storing and managing it over time. Thereby, it is possible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not the game ball has been illegally brought in without any human intervention. Furthermore, such a game history can be used as a judgment criterion or judgment material for fraud detection as to whether or not a game ball has been brought in fraudulently.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, every time the number of safe signals is output, the decrement process is performed on the number of outflows, and each time the number of out signals is output, the increment is made with respect to the number of inflows. By performing the processing, it is possible to accurately calculate the difference between the number of game balls that have flowed out from the pachinko machine 4 and the number of game balls that have flowed into the pachinko machine 4. Thereby, the transition of the increase / decrease change of the number of outflows and the number of inflows for every game machine can be grasped | ascertained correctly as time passes.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of game balls lent out in the above-described lending process is included in the number of outflows of game balls specified by the number of safe signals, and this is stored in various memories of the hall computer 18. By doing so, it is possible to execute the calculation process in consideration of the number of game balls lent out at the start of the game. Thereby, all the game histories from the game start to the game end can be managed without omission.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, in the arithmetic processing of the arithmetic means described above, the counting result of the counting device (jet counter) K that counts the game balls acquired by the game is reflected, so that the game is completed. It is possible to compare and match the counting result when the game ball finally obtained later is exchanged for a prize with the game history. As a result, not only during the game from the start to the end of the game, but also from the end of the game to the exchange of prizes, whether or not the game ball has been illegally brought in is recognized accurately and with high accuracy without any human intervention. can do.

  Specifically, for example, when a game is played using a member card M, the total number of game balls (safe balls) acquired by the member player by playing on the game table that received the member card M is counted. The counting result of the device (jet counter) K can be compared. Thereby, the following effects can be realized.

  In the embodiment described above, as an example, the absolute value “35” of “minus 35”, which is the counter value of the counter, is the total number of game balls acquired as a result of the increment process and the decrement process. In this case, the counting result in the counting device K is also a value corresponding to this. For example, if the counting result is “40”, it is determined that the game ball has been illegally brought in between the end of the game and the prize exchange. Can be recognized accurately and with high accuracy without omission. According to this, even if there is no fraud, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which it is erroneously determined as fraud. As a result, the game can be played with peace of mind for the player, and a smooth service can be provided without requiring unnecessary manpower for the game hall.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the calculation process of the calculation means described above is executed illegally in a format in which member (identification) information that can identify the player who played the game is associated. The player who brought the game ball can be identified, and the game history can be stored and managed. Thus, for example, even when the player plays a game across a plurality of game tables, based on the game history, the player can play a game with a game ball that is illegally brought to the “when” and “to which game table”. Can be recognized accurately and with high accuracy.

  In the embodiment described above, a game using the membership card M is assumed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a visitor who does not have the membership card M played a game on each gaming table. Even in this case, the same effect can be realized. That is, when a visitor is playing a game on the gaming table, the number of safe signals output from the outflow counting means and the number of out signals output from the inflow counting means are determined according to the progress of the output time. By sequentially storing each table in the memory of the hall computer 18 and executing the above-described arithmetic processing, the game history for each game table can be stored and managed as time passes. Thereby, it is possible to accurately and accurately recognize whether or not the game ball has been illegally brought in without any human intervention. Furthermore, such a game history can be used as a judgment criterion or judgment material for fraud detection as to whether or not a game ball has been brought in fraudulently.

The figure which shows the structural example of the game system of the game hall where the management apparatus of the game machine which concerns on one embodiment of this invention was constructed | assembled. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of a game media rental machine and the game machine attached to this. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of a game media rental machine and the game machine attached to this. The figure which shows the timing chart of the lending process communicated between a game media rental machine and a game machine. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of a calculation process. (a) is a block diagram showing an operation flow from receipt of a membership card to balance display, and (b) is a block diagram showing an operation flow from lending processing operation to balance display. The block diagram which shows the operation | movement flow from return processing operation to card discharge | emission.

Explanation of symbols

18 Hall computer 30,56 CPU
66 Out ball counter

Claims (5)

Outflow counting means for counting game media that have flowed out of the gaming machine for use in gaming in a gaming machine, and outputting the counted number of outflows of the gaming medium as a identifiable safe signal number;
Inflow counting means for counting the game media that have flowed into the gaming machine when the game media is used in a game, and outputting the counted number of inflows of the game media as a number of identifiable out signals;
A lending signal output means for outputting the lending number of the lent gaming media as a lending signal that can be specified when a lending request is made to the gaming medium lending machine provided in the gaming machine;
Storage means for sequentially storing the number of safe signals output from the outflow counting means and the number of out signals output from the inflow counting means according to the passage of the output time;
Arithmetic means for executing a predetermined arithmetic processing based on the number of safe signals and the number of out signals stored in the storage means,
The calculation means, when detecting the output of the lending signal, if the relationship that the number of safe signals is equal to or greater than the number of out signals is maintained as the calculation result of executing the calculation processing, the calculation result is A game machine management apparatus, wherein the calculation result is subjected to initialization processing after being output to the storage means and stored.   In the calculation process of the calculation means, every time the safe signal number is output from the outflow counting means, a decrement process is performed on the outflow number, and every time the out signal number is output from the inflow counting means. The game machine management device according to claim 1, wherein an increment process is performed on the number of inflows.   2. The number of outflows of the game medium specified by the number of safe signals includes the number of game media lent out when a loan request is made to the game medium rental machine. Or the management apparatus of the gaming machine of 2.   In the arithmetic processing of the arithmetic means, the counting result of the counting device that counts the game media acquired by the game in the gaming machine is reflected, and the counting result is compared with the arithmetic result stored in the storage means. The game machine management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein collation is performed.   The calculation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the calculation unit executes the predetermined calculation process in association with identification information capable of specifying a player who is playing a game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine management device described.

Images