JP2010082110A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience of a player in each stand counting system. <P>SOLUTION: The game device corresponds to a game machine 2, is capable of communicating with a game medium counter 4 having a game medium counting function and a function of putting out game media within the range of the counting, receives a recording medium for a general player and/or a recording medium for a member in which game value specifying information is recorded, lends the game media using a game value predetermined from the game value specifying information, and when the recording medium for the general player is received, performs specifying processing of recording the number of owned balls received from the game medium counter 4 in the received recording medium for the general player so as to specify it, and discharges the recording medium for the general player corresponding to the detection of a discharge operation. In response to the reception of the recording medium for the member during the reception of the recording medium for the general player, the number of owned balls and member identification information are transmitted to the game medium counter 4, and the number of owned balls is added and updated to the number of owned balls managed in a management device corresponding to the member identification information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a gaming medium counting device provided at one-to-one correspondence with a gaming machine and having at least a function of counting the number of gaming media and a function of paying out gaming media within the range of the counted number of gaming media. Accepting at least one of a general-purpose recording medium and a member-use recording medium in which game value specifying information capable of specifying the magnitude of the game value that can be used for the game is recorded, Using at least a part of the game value specified from the received game value specifying information recorded on the received general-purpose recording medium or member recording medium, The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus that performs processing for lending corresponding gaming media.

  Conventionally, as a stand counting system that can count the pachinko balls acquired by the pachinko machine at the place where the pachinko machine is installed, the prize ball is counted for each card reader (CR) pachinko machine that is a pachinko machine. In addition to installing a prize ball counter, the card was once counted by a prize ball counter adjacent to a card reader (CR) unit installed between each card reader (CR) pachinko machine to accept a prepaid card. Some have a return device for returning pachinko balls (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-127911 (page 7, FIG. 6)

  However, in each vehicle counting system of Patent Document 1, when a player finishes the game and leaves the card reader (CR) pachinko machine, the ticketing provided on the electrical equipment connected to the return device From the mouth, a gift exchange ticket, which is a recording medium on which data corresponding to the number of balls counted by the prize ball counter is recorded, is issued, and a prepaid card, which is a recording medium, is also received from a card reader (CR) unit. In response to the return, the user has to possess these two recording media, and it is easy to forget to take one of the recording media, which is inconvenient for the player.

  In addition, when a gift voucher is issued once, if the player who owns the member card wants to add the number of balls recorded on the gift voucher to the stored ball of his / her member card Therefore, it is necessary to bring these prize exchange tickets and membership cards to a prize exchange counter or the like in which a terminal device connected to a management computer that manages the stored balls is processed, which is convenient for the player. There was a problem of being bad.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus that can improve the convenience of the player in each of the counting systems.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a gaming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
The game machine (pachinko machine 2) is provided on a one-to-one basis, and has at least a function of counting the number of game media (pachinko balls) and a function of paying out game media within the range of the counted number of game media. And managing the number of game media owned by each member player (number of saved balls; number of possessed balls, number of stored balls) in association with member identification information (member ID) that can individually identify each member player of the game hall Can communicate with a game medium counting device (counting / dispensing unit 4) capable of communicating with a management device (management computer 150).
Number-of-owned-game media identification information (number-of-balls data) capable of specifying the number of owned game media (number of possessed balls) and game value-specific information capable of identifying the size of game value (prepaid balance) usable for games At least one of a general recording medium (visitor card) in which (prepaid balance data) is recorded, or a member recording medium (member card) in which the member identification information and the game value specifying information are recorded Recording medium processing means (card reader / writer 327) for receiving and reading at least each information recorded on the received general recording medium or member recording medium;
Member identification information transmitting means (communication unit 335) for transmitting at least member identification information read by the recording medium processing means to the game medium counting device;
In order to lend a game medium corresponding to the magnitude of the game value to be used by using at least a part of the magnitude of the game value specified from the game value specifying information read by the recording medium processing means Game media lending means (control unit 328, lending processing),
When the recording medium being received by the recording medium processing means is the general recording medium, it is based on the number of game media (additional balls) counted by the game medium counting device during the reception of the general recording medium. Specification for performing specification processing (counting corresponding processing) for enabling the general recording medium to specify the number of owned gaming media by recording the owned gaming media number specifying information capable of specifying the number of owned gaming media Processing means (control unit 328);
A discharge operation detecting means (control unit 328, Sb5) for detecting a discharge operation for discharging the general recording medium or the member recording medium;
With
A gaming device (card unit 3) for discharging the general recording medium or the member recording medium being received by the recording medium processing means in response to detection of the discharging operation by the discharging operation detecting means,
The number of possessed game media that can be specified by the general-purpose recording medium by the specifying processing means on the condition that the member-purpose recording medium is newly received during reception of the general-purpose recording medium ( Number) and the member identification information (member ID) read by the recording medium processing means from the newly received member recording medium is transmitted to the game medium counting device by the member identification information transmitting means, The number of owned game media is added to and updated to the number of owned game media stored in the management device in association with the member identification information, and the number of owned game media specifying information is already recorded on the general recording medium. In some cases, a migration process for deleting the owned game medium number specifying information is performed.
According to this feature, the number of owned game media based on the number of game media counted by the game media counting device during the reception of the general-purpose recording media includes the number of owned game media specifying information for specifying the number of owned game media. Since it can be specified by recording directly on the general-use recording medium that is being accepted, when the player leaves the gaming machine after finishing the game, if the player receives only the general-purpose recording medium and possesses it Therefore, the convenience of the player can be improved, and the member identification information read from the member recording medium and possessed in response to the reception of the member recording medium during the reception of these general recording media. By transmitting the number of game media to the game media counting device connected to the management device, the number of owned game media is stored in the management device in association with the member identification information. Since the addition is updated, the player can change the number of owned game media based on the number of game media counted during the reception of the general-purpose recording media to the number of owned game media of the member recording media without going to the prize counter. Since it can transfer, the convenience of a player can be improved.

A gaming device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the gaming device according to claim 1,
A special operation accepting means (IR light receiving unit 315) for accepting a special operation (button operation of “transition of holding ball” on the remote control) for performing the transition process when the player is inoperable. It is a feature.
According to this feature, since the transition process is not performed unless the special operation is accepted, the member player causes his / her member recording medium to be received by the game medium counting apparatus that is accepting another person's general recording medium. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent fraud in which the number of game media owned by another person is transferred to the member recording medium.

A gaming device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the gaming device according to claim 1 or 2,
Transition number determination means for identifying the number of times the transition process has been performed in a predetermined period (business day) and determining whether or not the identified number of transition processes has reached a predetermined upper limit number (three times). A control unit 328), and the transfer process is performed on the condition that it is determined by the transfer frequency determination means that the upper limit frequency has not been reached.
According to this feature, since the migration process can be performed within the range of the upper limit number of times in a predetermined period, the owned game by causing the game medium counting device that is accepting another person's general recording medium to accept the member's own recording medium It is possible to prevent the unauthorized transfer of the number of media and the unauthorized transfer of the number of game media owned by unauthorized recording media from being repeated without limitation.

A gaming device according to claim 4 of the present invention is the gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In association with the member identification information (member ID) read from the newly received member recording medium (member card), the management device (management computer 150) is individually managed and acquired on the business day. The number of game media owned on the day (control unit 328) for obtaining the number of game media owned (the number of possessions) via the game media counting device (counting / dispensing unit 4), and the number of game media owned on that day It is provided with a game medium number determination means (control unit 328) for determining whether or not the number of game media owned on the day acquired by the acquisition means is 0, and is 0 by the game media number determination means on the corresponding day. The shift process is performed on the condition that it is determined.
According to this feature, the fact that the number of owned game media already exists on the day indicates that the number of owned game media has already been transferred or the number of owned game media has been added due to the game. After the number of game media has been transferred or the number of owned game media has been added using membership recording media, it is very unlikely that the number of owned game media will need to be transferred from the general-purpose recording media. Since the migration of the number of owned game media when the number of game media already owned on the day already exists is extremely likely to be fraudulent, the ownership when the number of game media owned on the day that is highly likely to be fraudulent already exists. By preventing the number of game media from shifting, it is possible to prevent the number of illegal owned game media from shifting.

A gaming device according to claim 5 of the present invention is the gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The specification processing means receives the count end notification transmitted from the game medium counting device as the specification processing is performed by counting the game media in the game medium counting device (counting / dispensing unit 4). Every time, the recording medium processing means (card reader / writer 327) is accepting possessed game medium number identification information (number of possession balls data) that can specify the new number of possessed game media (number of possessed balls) after the counting. It is characterized by performing processing for recording on a general recording medium (visitor card).
According to this feature, since the number of acquired game media is sequentially recorded on the game recording media in accordance with the count of game media in the game media counting device, the player who has trouble in communication with the game media counting device In addition to being able to reduce the occurrence of this disadvantage, it is possible to quickly eject the game recording medium in response to detection of the ejection operation.

A gaming device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the gaming device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
Start of counting transmitted from the game medium counting device in response to the start of counting of game media (pachinko balls) in the game medium counting device (counting / dispensing unit 4) during acceptance of the recording medium for general use By receiving a count end notification transmitted from the game media counting device in response to the completion of counting of the started game media from the time of receiving the notification, the number of new owned game media after the count Count indicating that the specification processing for recording the number of possessed game medium identification information (number of possession balls) capable of specifying (number of possession balls) on the receiving general-purpose recording medium (visitor card) has been completed. Until the end response is returned to the game medium counting device, the discharge of the general recording medium according to the detection of the discharge operation by the discharge operation detecting means (control unit 328, Sb5) is prohibited. It is a symptom.
According to this feature, the recording medium for general use is discharged before the recording of the number-of-owned gaming medium identification information capable of specifying the new number of owned gaming media after counting to the general recording medium is completed. Occurrence of a player's disadvantage can be avoided.

A gaming device according to claim 7 of the present invention is the gaming device according to claim 6,
When receiving the count end notification from the game medium counting device (counting / dispensing unit 4) while receiving the member recording medium (member card), the number of new owned game media (number of possessed balls) after the counting is received. ) Can be specified, and the count end response is returned without recording the information on the number of possessed game media (number of possessed balls data) on the member recording medium being received.
According to this feature, the transmission / reception contents with the game medium counting device are the same at the time of receiving the member recording medium and the general recording medium, so that a different communication program is provided for each type of the recording medium. Since there is no need to develop or use a different communication program, the development cost and program capacity can be reduced.

A gaming device according to claim 8 of the present invention is the gaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A game medium payout operation (payout) in the game medium counting device (counting / payout unit 4) while receiving a general recording medium (visitor card) in which the number of possessed game medium identification information (ball number data) is recorded. From the point of time when the payout start notification (counting payout start notification) that can specify that the operation of the button 401 has been performed is received from the game medium counting device, the game medium counting device corresponding to the payout operation is The fact that the specifying process for recording the number of possessed game medium identification information (the number of possession balls) that can specify the number of new owned game media (the number of possessed balls) on the receiving general-purpose recording medium has been completed. The general recording medium corresponding to the detection of the discharging operation by the discharging operation detecting means (control unit 328, Sb5) until the time when the subtraction end notification (counting withdrawal completion notification) is returned to the game medium counting device is shown. It is characterized by prohibiting the discharge.
According to this feature, it is possible to avoid the disadvantage of the player or the playground due to the general recording medium being discharged before the specification process is completed.

A gaming device according to claim 9 of the present invention is the gaming device according to claim 8,
When receiving the payout start notification (count payout start notification) from the game medium counting device (counting / payout unit 4) while receiving the member recording medium (member card), a new owned game after the payout It is characterized in that the subtraction end notice (count withdrawal completion notice) is returned without recording the possessed game medium number specifying information (number of possession balls data) capable of specifying the number of mediums on the member recording medium being accepted. .
According to this feature, the transmission / reception contents with the game medium counting device are the same at the time of receiving the member recording medium and the general recording medium, so that a different communication program is provided for each type of the recording medium. Since there is no need to develop or use a different communication program, the development cost and program capacity can be reduced.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  An embodiment of a gaming system to which the gaming apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a card unit 3 as a gaming apparatus of the present invention and a counting / payout as a gaming medium counting apparatus. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of a gaming system of the present embodiment including a unit 4, and is a card reader pachinko machine that is a gaming machine arranged in parallel on each gaming island (not shown) arranged in the gaming hall (Hereinafter abbreviated as “pachinko machine”) 2 and the pachinko machine 2 are installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko machine 2 at a predetermined lateral position, and have a prepaid function as a general recording medium of the present invention. A card unit 3 that accepts a visitor card or a member card as a member recording medium and performs a process for renting a pachinko ball as a game medium, and provided adjacent to each card unit 3 A counting / payout unit 4 having a counting function for counting pachinko balls and a payout function for paying out pachinko balls within the number of pachinko balls already counted, and a visitor card and a membership card used in the card unit 3 In addition, the system controller 100 that manages the card unit 3 and the like, and the management that manages the number of stored balls and the number of balls recorded on the visitor card that the member player who owns the member card can use for replaying The computer 150 and a prize exchange POS terminal 170 provided at a prize counter in the game hall for exchanging prizes are mainly configured.

  The system controller 100 and the card unit 3 are connected to each other via a hub (HUB) 7 and a communication cable 8 so that bidirectional data communication is possible. A local IP address is assigned to each connected device. A local area network (LAN) is formed, and each device connected to the local area network (LAN) is assigned a device ID that can individually identify the device. By having an IP address table in which a device (unit) ID and a local IP address are associated, a unit management table (see FIG. 11) described later, and the like, each local IP address specified from the device (unit) ID is Data can be sent and received by sending and receiving data with transmission data It has become the jar.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the system controller 100 of the present embodiment can individually identify each card stored in the membership card or visitor card used in the game hall. A member card table and a visitor card table for storing the prepaid balance remaining on the member card or visitor card in association with the card ID (member), and each member card and each visitor card are stored in each card table. The prepaid balance (game value) remaining on the card is managed.

  The system controller 100 of this embodiment is connected to a management server 12 installed in a card management company outside the game hall that manages member cards and visitor cards via a communication line 11 so that bidirectional data communication can be performed. Therefore, the card management company can grasp the sales by the membership card and the visitor card of each game hall, the error status of the system controller 100, etc. at the management server 12.

  The management computer 150, the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the gift exchange POS terminal 170 are also connected to each other by a hub (not shown) so that bidirectional data communication is possible, and the local area network between the system controller 100 and the card unit 3 is connected. (LAN) is a separate local area network (LAN), and each device connected to the local area network (LAN) is assigned a device ID that can individually identify the device. In addition, since each device has an IP address table in which device (unit) IDs are associated with local IP addresses, each local IP address specified by the device (unit) ID is assigned to transmission data. Send and receive data to each other by sending and receiving You have me.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 are connected so as to be able to send and receive various data (lending-related data) associated with the lending of the pachinko balls, and output from the pachinko machine 2 The jackpot signal, the probability changing signal, the hour / medium signal, the winning ball signal, and the starting signal, which will be described later, are connected to be input.

  Further, the card unit 3 is connected to the counting / dispensing unit 4 so that bidirectional data communication is possible through a communication unit 335 including, for example, a serial communication interface, so that various information and data can be transmitted and received. . That is, the communication unit 335 is communicably connected to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device).

  First, the pachinko machine 2 which is a gaming machine used in the present embodiment will be briefly described below. The pachinko machine 2 has a glass door frame 22 formed in a frame shape as shown in FIG. There is a hitting ball supply tray 23 on the lower surface of the glass door frame 22. An operation unit 14 is provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the hitting ball supply tray 23, and a lower tray 24 that stores pachinko balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 23 is provided below the hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 23. A hitting operation handle (hereinafter referred to as an operation knob) 25 for emitting a hitting ball is provided.

  A game board 26 is detachably attached to the rear side of the glass door frame 22. A game area 27 is provided in front of the game board 26. A special figure variable display section 28 in which a plurality of types of identification information called “special symbols” are variably displayed in a lower area on the right side of the game area 27, and a plurality of types called “effect symbols” in the vicinity of the center thereof. Is provided with an effect display unit 29 on which the identification information is variably displayed and an effect image is displayed, and a variable display device 30 on which a plurality of types of identification information called “ordinary symbols” are variably displayed. The game board 26 is provided with a plurality of winning holes 44, a passing gate 31, a starting winning hole 34, and a variable winning ball device 36. A recovery outlet 46 is formed.

  When a hitting ball is won in each of the winning openings, a winning ball corresponding to each winning opening is paid out by a ball cutting / dispensing device (not shown) and also according to the number of winning balls paid out by the ball cutting / dispensing device. A prize ball signal (1 pulse per 10 balls) is output to the outside, so that the number of prize balls is notified to the outside.

  A hit ball fired by a hammer (not shown) that is swung by the operation of the hitting operation knob 25 enters the game area 27 through the hitting rail, and then flows down the game area 27. At this time, pachinko balls whose launch momentum is too weak to reach the game area 27 are circulated to the lower plate 24 through a circulation path (not shown).

  In addition, when the ball that has been driven into the game area 27 passes through the passing gate 31, the normal symbol that is stopped and displayed on the variable display device 30 is variably started.

  When the display result after the variable display operation of the variable display device 30 is a predetermined display result (for example, ◯), the movable piece 35 provided at the start winning opening 34 is opened for a predetermined time and the player This is an advantageous state.

  When a pachinko ball is won in the start winning opening 34, all special symbols start variable display (variable display) in the special figure variable display section 28, and the effect display starts in the effect display section 29. After that, when the special symbol in the special figure variable display unit 28 is stopped and the stop display result is a specific display mode determined in advance, the left, middle and right effect symbols in the effect display unit 29 are displayed. The variable display is also stopped, and the display mode of the effect symbol is also set to a predetermined specific display mode (for example, 777), so that a specific gaming state (big hit state) is generated and a big hit signal is output. As a result, the occurrence of the jackpot is notified to the outside.

  Further, when the special symbol on the special symbol variable display unit 28 is stopped, a start signal having a predetermined pulse width is output, and the special symbol variable display (variable display) is performed on the special symbol variable display unit 28. Will be notified.

  When the big hit state occurs in this way, the opening / closing plate 40 provided in the variable winning ball apparatus 36 is opened, and a first state advantageous to the player is obtained. This first state ends when a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number of hit balls (for example, 10) wins, whichever comes first, and then for the player This is a disadvantageous second state.

  If a hit ball that has entered the large winning opening of the variable winning ball apparatus 36 in the first state wins a specific winning area (V pocket) and is detected by a V count switch (not shown), Waiting for the end of the first state, repeated continuation control is performed to control from the second state to the first state. The upper limit number of the repeated continuation control is set to 15 times, for example.

  When the display result of the special figure variable display unit 28 and the display result of the effect symbol of the effect variable display unit 29 are stopped and displayed with a combination of predetermined jackpot symbols, a big hit occurs as described above. A reach state may occur in a state before the stop display.

  When the special symbol variably displayed on the special figure variable display unit 28 and the production variable display unit 29 and the production symbol are stopped and displayed with a combination of symbols corresponding to a predetermined probability variation symbol type, After the completion of ”, the probability variation state in which the probability of a big hit again becomes a higher probability state than the normal probability state becomes a probability variation state. In the probability variation state after the end of the probability variation jackpot, the probability variation state signal is output, and the occurrence of the probability variation state is notified to the outside.

  Further, when the special symbol variably displayed on the special symbol variable display unit 28 and the production variable display unit 29 and the production symbol are stopped and displayed with a combination of symbols other than the predetermined probability variation symbol, the “big hit” by the repeated continuation control is performed. The special symbol and effect variable display part in the special figure variable display part 28 until the variable display reaches the predetermined number of times or the next big hit occurs in the special figure variable display part 28 and the effect variable display part 29. When the variable display time (variation time) of the effect symbol in 29 is shortened compared to the normal gaming state, it becomes a short state, and during these short states, the short and medium signal is output, The occurrence of a short time condition is notified to the outside.

  The pachinko machine 2 of this embodiment is equipped with an information output board (not shown) for outputting these signals externally, and the information output board and the card unit 3 are connected via a signal cable (not shown). From the information output board, an external output signal consisting of a big hit signal, a probability changing signal, a short time signal, a start signal, and a winning ball signal is output to the card unit 3 via a signal cable.

  Here, the big hit signal is a signal that is in the output state during the big hit state period, the probability changing signal is a signal that is in the output state only during the probability changing state period, and the short and medium time signal is the period in the short time state The start signal is a pulse signal of a predetermined width that is output when the variable display is completed after all the display results of the special figure variable display section 28 are derived and displayed. The ball signal is a pulse signal having a predetermined width that is output every time a predetermined number of balls (10 balls in this embodiment) is paid out.

  Next, the card unit 3 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, and the front surface of the card unit 3 of the present embodiment is configured with full-color LEDs as shown in FIG. Various display units such as a multi-function lamp 301 that can notify the state of the card unit 3 and the like by lighting in a plurality of colors, a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, and a device front side protruding from the front of the device The formed protrusion 305 and a card insertion slot 309 for inserting a membership card or a visitor card are provided.

  A card insertion slot 309 provided on the front surface of the card unit 3 communicates with a card slot 392 of a card reader / writer 327 (see FIG. 4) built in a lower position of the card unit 3. The visitor card and the membership card can be inserted into the card slot 392.

  The visitor card and membership card used in this embodiment are a non-volatile memory for storing various data, and rewriting and reading out the recorded information, and contactless with an external reader / writer device. An IC card having an IC chip having a control unit that performs communication is used. The visitor card and the membership card include a card ID that can identify each card, specifically, a visitor card. The card ID that starts with VC is stored in advance, and the member card ID that starts with KC is stored in advance, and the type can be identified from the card ID, and the prepaid balance that is the value for gaming can be specified. Various data such as prepaid balance data serving as game value specifying information are stored. The visitor card of this embodiment is purchased and issued by an issuing machine (not shown) installed in the game hall, and is also issued by the card unit 3 as will be described later.

  In addition to the prepaid balance data, the visitor card includes data on the number of balls based on the counted number of balls counted by the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 during reception of the visitor card, and the management computer 150 When the communication status between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is offline, and the communication status between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is offline. And the communication state between the management computer 150 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is the offline flag composed of the lower offline flag indicating that it has been discharged (including being discharged in the upper offline state in the online return of the lower offline state). Member car returned with the visitor card when offline Membership card ID is recorded.

  On the other hand, the member ID, which is the member identification information in the present invention, is recorded on the member card, and the data on the number of possessions cannot be directly recorded on the member card as in the visitor card due to the membership card operation rules. Therefore, in association with these member IDs, the management computer 150 manages the number of saving balls (the number of stored balls, the number of holding balls) possessed by the member player, so that the member card is possessed from the member ID. It is possible to specify the number of stored balls (number of stored balls, number of possessed balls) owned by the member player.

  Further, the membership card includes a high-level offline flag indicating that the management computer 150 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 are returned when the communication state is offline, and communication between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4. An offline flag consisting of a lower offline flag indicating that the status is returned when the status is offline status is recorded, and the recent transition history for the past 10 times (the number of possessed balls recorded in the visitor card has been transferred) Date and number of transition balls) is recorded, and the transition history can specify the number of transitions in a predetermined period, for example, one day of the day.

  A protruding portion 305 is provided on the front surface of the card unit 3 so as to protrude forward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, on the surface of the protruding portion 305 facing the player, a display unit 312 capable of displaying various information, a menu button 316 for displaying a main menu screen, a table When a table data button 318 for displaying data and a member card is received, a replay game using the member card ID recorded on the member card and the number of balls specified by the member ID is performed. Replay button 319, replay display unit 320 for notifying that the operation of replay button 319 is effective, and an infrared signal from a remote control (not shown) possessed by an attendant of the game hall are An IR light receiving unit 315 that converts and outputs a signal is provided, and each display item displayed on the display unit 312 is provided on the surface of the display unit 312. Transparent touch panel 314 to be input is provided by touching with a finger.

  In addition, a liquid crystal display 313, which will be described later, and a switch corresponding to each button, display control of the liquid crystal display 313, input position detection by the transparent touch panel 314, and the like are performed inside the protrusion 305. A display control board 329 on which a display control microcomputer or the like is mounted is stored.

  At the upper position in the card unit 3, a banknote inserted in the banknote insertion slot 302 is connected, and a bill inserted into the banknote insertion slot 302 is taken to identify its authenticity and banknote type. A banknote identification unit 321 that outputs to a control unit 328, which will be described later, provided in the unit is provided. In the banknote identification unit 321, various banknotes (10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 1,000 yen each) Banknotes) can be received.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card unit 3 of this embodiment. The card unit 3 provides various functions of the card unit 3 by performing control of each part of the bill recognition unit 321, the card reader / writer 327, the display control board 329, and the card unit 3 by a control program. The bill recognition unit 321, the card reader / writer 327, and the display control board 329 are connected to the control unit 328 so that various data can be transmitted and received.

  The card reader / writer 327 reads and writes recorded information such as a (member) card ID, a member ID (member card only), and prepaid balance data recorded on a member card or visitor card inserted from the card insertion slot 309. I do.

  In other words, the card reader / writer 327 of the present embodiment has a prepaid balance that is a game value that can be used for a game, and data for the number of balls that can be specified (the number of owned game media). Visitor card (recording medium for general use) recorded with prepaid balance data (game value specifying information) that can specify the size of the card, or member ID (member identification information) and prepaid balance data (game value specifying information) At least one of each information recorded on the received visitor card (general recording medium) or membership card (member recording medium) Reading is performed, and the card reader / writer 327 forms the recording medium processing means of the present invention.

  The configuration of the card unit 327 used in the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. The card reader / writer 327 is inserted with a membership card or a visitor card from the card insertion port 309. An insertion sensor 397 for detecting that a membership card or a visitor card is being inserted, a new membership card or a visitor from the card insertion slot 309 during the issuance / payment process described later or during the insertion of a membership card or a visitor card A shutter solenoid 399 that moves in and out of a shutter for preventing insertion of a card, a guide rail 398 that extends from the card insertion slot 309 and allows a membership card or a visitor card to slide, and the guide rail 398 A membership card or visitor inserted in the card slot 392 so as to be sandwiched between them Card is taken into the card slot 392, the membership card or the visitor card is ejected from the card insertion slot 309, and the drive motor 386 that drives the capture / discharge roller 387 '. The movement of the member card or visitor card taken in the card slot 392 on the guide rail 398 by the take-in / discharge roller 387 is driven and rotated by the drive motors 386 and 393. And a stop pin for stopping the member card and the visitor card to be transported at a predetermined position, and a transport belt 391 stretched on one side of the transport rollers 387 and 388. Supply to the solenoid 389 that moves in and out, and membership cards and visitor cards that are stopped in place A communication head 390 that performs data communication, and a communication board 327a that is connected to the communication head 390 and controls data transmission / reception with the member card or visitor card, and the inserted member card or visitor. Data can be read from the card and written to the membership card or visitor card in a non-contact state.

  The transport roller 387 constituting the transport mechanism provided in the card reader / writer 327 of this embodiment is provided to be separated from the card insertion slot 309 by a distance substantially equal to the length dimension of one member card or visitor card. The other visitor card is stopped at a predetermined position corresponding to the communication head 390 while one member card or visitor card is retained (held) between the card insertion slot 309 and the transport roller 387. As described later, when the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 is offline (cannot communicate), the data is retained (held). Inserting the accepted membership card and the visitor card for which the number of coins has been completed is inserted almost simultaneously. Which is to be discharged from the 309.

  A card storage section 370 capable of storing up to 10 visitor cards is provided at the inner terminal end position of the card unit 3 of the conveyor belt 391 provided in the card reader / writer 327 of the present embodiment. It is possible to issue visitor cards.

  Inside the card storage section 370 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of transport rollers 371 driven and rotated by a drive motor 373 and a transport belt 372 stretched around the transport rollers 371. And a visitor card for moving (accommodating and discharging) the visitor card is provided, and the visitor card stored in the card storage unit 370 is pressed toward the transfer belt 372 via the support plate 377. A pressing spring 376 is provided.

  A swing roller 375 that swings by a solenoid 374 is provided at a substantially central portion of the transport belt 372 in the transport mechanism. When the visitor card is taken into the card storage unit 370, the swing roller 375 is swung by the solenoid 374 and comes into contact with the transport belt 372, so that the central portion of the transport belt 372 protrudes and is already stored. By pressing the card or support plate 377, a gap for newly receiving the visitor card is formed between the conveyor belt 372 and the visitor card or support plate 377. Therefore, the inserted visitor card can be smoothly stored in the card storage unit 370, and after the visitor card is taken in, the swing roller 375 returns to a position where it does not contact the transport belt 372. The protrusion of the central portion of the conveyor belt 372 is eliminated, and the visitor card is stored in a state where the conveyor belt 372 contacts the entire surface of the visitor card. When the visitor card is discharged, the visitor card contacts the conveyor belt 372. The visitor card is ejected to the transport belt 391 by moving the transport belt 372 in the direction opposite to that of the take-in.

  The card storage unit 370 is provided with a card replenishment detection sensor 378 that is an optical sensor that detects that the number of visitor cards stored in the card storage unit 370 is 1 or less. A card full detection sensor 379 is provided by an optical sensor that detects that the number of visitor cards stored in the card storage unit 370 has reached 10 (full). When the card replenishment detection sensor 378 detects that the number of visitor cards has become one or less due to the absence of light reflection from the visitor card, the detection signal is output to the control unit 328, whereby the control unit 328. When the multi-function lamp 301 is turned on in a predetermined lighting mode for requesting card replenishment, the store clerk is informed that there are not enough visitor cards, and the card full detection sensor 379 indicates the number of visitor cards. When it is detected that there are 10 sheets (full tank) due to light reflection from the visitor card, the detection signal is output to the control unit 328, so that the control unit 328 causes the visitor card to be stored in the card storage section. It is possible to recognize that the tank is full within 370. In this case, the visitor The visitor card without performing the recovery of over de is discharged from the card insertion opening 309.

  When the visitor card is replenished to the card storage unit 370, the visitor card with a remaining balance of 0 is sequentially inserted into the card insertion slot 309 in a state where the clerk has shifted to the card replenishment mode by operating the remote controller. These inserted visitor cards are sequentially stored in the card storage unit 370.

  Next, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment will be described. The control unit 328 is connected to the system controller 100 as described above, and transmits and receives various signals associated with lending pachinko balls to the pachinko machine 2. It is connected to a prize ball control board (not shown) that is provided so that it can be implemented, and as described above, it is connected to the information output board of the pachinko machine 2 via the signal cable, so Various external output signals such as can be input.

  Further, as described above, the control unit 328 is connected to the counting / dispensing unit 4 so that bidirectional data communication is possible, and is connected to the out ball counter 16 provided at the lower position of the corresponding pachinko machine 2. Each counting signal from the out ball counter 16 can be input by being connected, and according to the input of the counting signal from the out ball counter 16, a game information table described later (see FIG. 6B). The total number of hit balls is updated by adding a predetermined number corresponding to the count signal, and in response to receiving the count end notification including the additional number of balls transmitted from the counting / dispensing unit 4, the display unit 312 The number of balls counted by the counting / dispensing unit 4 by sequentially adding and updating the number of added balls included in the count end notification to the value of the counted number of balls displayed at the lower position (see FIG. 5). Total number of If the previously already number of balls that are counted in the day there is lifting piece count as a the sum) is displayed as counts already piece count.

  The control unit 328 according to the present embodiment includes a central processing circuit (CPU) 328a capable of executing a control program, a visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327, a (member) card ID of the visitor card and a prepaid balance, Of the number of balls, the number of savings, the number of points visited, the corresponding pachinko machine 2 data, the game information of members in the game, and the transaction serial number received in transactions with the counting / payment unit 4, the last transaction serial number (final transaction) (Sequential number) and other data stored in the RAM 328b, a control program executed by the central processing circuit (CPU) 328a, setting information including the device ID of the card unit 3, and a member who is away (member) EEPROM 328c, which is a nonvolatile memory capable of rewriting and storing various data such as card IDs, time information and cards at that time Includes Sunda information like capable of outputting a real-time clock (RTC) 328d, RAM328b is backed up by a battery (not shown), even when the power supply is interrupted, the data stored in the predetermined period is maintained.

  In the card table of the present embodiment stored in the RAM 328b, as shown in FIG. 6A, the (member) card ID and member ID (read from the visitor card or member card inserted in the card reader / writer 327 are displayed. (Member card only), (Member) card ID and prepaid balance based on prepaid balance data, card ID or (member) card ID and number of coins specified from member ID, (member) card ID and member ID The number of stored balls (members only) and the number of store visit points (members only) specified from the member ID are stored.

  Further, in the game information table of the present embodiment stored in the RAM 328b, as shown in FIG. 6B, game information for three days including today, that is, today's data, previous day's data, and previous day's data are displayed. It is remembered. The previous day data and the previous day data are also stored in the EEPROM 328c. However, when displaying the previous day data and the previous day data, the present day data and the previous day data can be processed at a higher speed than reading from the EEPROM 328c. In the embodiment, the previous day data and the previous day data read from the EEPROM 328c in advance are stored in the game information table stored in the RAM 328b.

  In the game information table of the present embodiment, the current gaming state (based on the input state to the input terminals 1 to 3 (not shown) of the big hit signal, the probability changing signal, and the short time signal output from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 ( Today's only) and the latest gaming state data (input state of input terminal 1 to input terminal 3 in order from the left bit, 0: LOW / not connected, 1: HIGH, only today) and previous gaming state data (latest (Game state data before being updated to game state data, today only), total number of hit balls from the start of business, total number of winning balls, number of difference balls (total number of hit balls-total number of winning balls), total Every time the occurrence of a big hit state is identified, the number of start times is reset and the number of start after hits that is the number of starts after the occurrence of a big hit, the number of big hits that is the number of big hits from the start of business, the number of starts from the start of business The number of occurrences of the probability variation state A game consisting of a variable number of times, a short-time number of times of occurrence of a short-time state from the start of business, and a number of consecutive games that are the number of big hits that occurred from the big hit that occurred in the normal gaming state to the next normal gaming state Information is stored, and these game information is updated to the latest information based on the jackpot signal, probability change signal, time reduction signal, start signal, prize ball signal, and out ball count signal input to the input terminal. The

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, today's table data aggregated and managed in these game information tables includes a specific data header indicating that it is a transmission data string including the table data at the head, and the card unit. As a transmission data string of a predetermined format to which the device ID of 3 and the corresponding machine number of the pachinko machine 2 are assigned, in response to reception of a transmission request from a hall computer (not shown) ) Will be sent. The ECC in FIG. 7 is an error correction code.

  Further, in the member game information table of the present embodiment stored in the RAM 328b, as shown in FIG. 6C, game information from the time when the member card is inserted into the card reader / writer 327, that is, the insertion The game information related to the game of the member who has the member card is collected and stored.

  Specifically, the start time when the member started playing (member card acceptance time), the end time when the member finished playing (member card return time), the member's game time, and after the member started playing The number of start-ups, the number of jackpots that have occurred since the member started playing, the number of jackpots that have occurred since the member started playing, the number of positive changes that have occurred since the member started playing, the member has started playing The number of balls acquired from (the difference from the number of balls counted at the start of the game), the spending amount used by the member for the game, the number of replay balls used for replay after the member started the game, The number of balls used since the member started the game is updated and stored, and the game information (table data) since the member player playing the game with the corresponding pachinko machine 2 can start grasping. It is like that.

  Further, as described above, the control unit 328 includes a remaining amount indicator provided in the operation unit 14 of the corresponding pachinko machine 2, a loan button switch for detecting the operation of the loan button, a member card and a visitor being received. A return button switch for detecting the operation of the return button operated when returning the card is connected, so that the operation of the lending button and the operation of the return button can be detected, and the display control of these remaining amount indicators is performed.

  The control unit 328 outputs various information input from the display control board 329 in response to an output from the IR light receiving unit 315 according to transmission from the remote controller, operation of various buttons provided on the protrusion 305, and operation of the touch panel. The full color provided in the multi-function lamp connected to the control unit 328 in response to the currency identification information by the banknote identification unit 321, the card insertion information from the card reader / writer 327, the visitor card storage state information, etc. LED 301a and other LED lighting controls, card reader / writer 327, display control board 329 control, balance display display control, and other overall operation controls, as shown in FIG. 15, are inserted into the card insertion slot 309. Card acceptance processing to determine whether membership cards and visitor cards can be used Loan processing for lending using the prepaid balance based on the prepaid balance data read from the member card or visitor card being received, return processing for returning the member card or visitor card being accepted by operating the return button, money In response to the receipt of money, the payment to the prepaid balance remaining on the member card or visitor card being accepted, the issuance / payment processing to write and issue the prepaid balance on a new visitor card, and the replay processing using the number of stored balls In the remote control, the payout handling process for updating the count of balls according to the payout of the number of balls counted in the counting / dispensing unit 4 (including those specified by the inserted visitor card and member card) and returning a response Leave processing, counting / payment to shift to the leave mode by receiving a signal based on the leave operation In unit 4, when the counting of pachinko balls starts, the number of balls that have been counted is updated and the response is sent back, and the number of balls held is transferred to the number of saved balls of the member player by receiving a signal based on the transition operation on the remote control. Various processes such as a ball moving process for the purpose are executed.

  Further, the control unit 328 confirms the communication state and the operation state with the counting / dispensing unit 4 as an interruption process by the interruption timer being timed up every predetermined time (1 second in this embodiment). Perform health check processing. Specifically, in this health check process, when the interrupt timer expires, a health check request is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 and a response to the health check response to the health check request is returned within a specified time. It is determined whether the communication state with the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 is communicable or is incapable of communication including the inoperable state due to the occurrence of a malfunction.

  In other words, in the health check process performed by the control unit 328, the communication state with the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) is either a communicable state (online state) or a communication impossible state (lower offline state). Whether or not there is detected is detected, and the communication state detecting means of the present invention is formed by the control unit 328 that performs the health check process.

  As will be described later, when receiving a health check request from the counting / dispensing unit 4, the control unit 328 performs a process of returning a health check response as an interrupt process.

  In addition, the control unit 328 determines that the communication state is communicable based on the reception of the health check response by performing the health check process when the interrupt timer expires even after determining that the communication is impossible. It is determined that it has returned to.

  Note that the lower communication state data indicating the communication state (online (communication possible) / offline (non-communication)) with the determined counting / dispensing unit 4 and the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 are shown. Upper communication state data indicating (online (communicable) / offline (impossible to communicate)) is updated and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 328b.

  That is, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment determines whether the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 is a communicable state (online state) or a communication impossible state (higher offline state). It is specified by the higher-level system connection notification as the communication information received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the higher-level communication status data updated by the higher-level system disconnection notification. The control unit 328 specifies the communication status of the present invention. Corresponds to the means.

  In addition, the EEPROM 328c has an additional ball number in the count performed in the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 and the additional ball number added in the period in which the upper communication state data is offline (communication impossible). The counting history including the number of balls, and the payout history including the number of payouts (subtraction number) in the payout performed in the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 and the number of balls in which the payout number is subtracted are stored. Each of these histories is deleted when the upper communication state data is updated online (communication possible).

  When the control unit 328 receives a connection request including the device ID of the initial inquiry value and the transaction serial number of the initial value transmitted from the counting / dispensing unit 4 when the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 is activated. A connection response including its own device ID and an initial transaction serial number is transmitted, and the transmitted device ID is stored in the EEPROM 410d of the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In addition, the control unit 328 is connected to a prize ball control board (not shown) of the corresponding pachinko machine 2, and can transmit and receive various signals accompanying the lending process with the prize ball control board. The communication unit 334 and the HUB 7 are connected so as to be able to perform data communication with the system controller 100 described above, and various data can be transmitted to and received from these computers through the communication unit 334.

  The display control board 329 connected to the control unit 328 includes a liquid crystal display 313 that forms the display unit 312, a transparent touch panel 314, various switches (a menu switch 316 a corresponding to the menu button 316, and a base data button 318. The corresponding table data switch 318a, the replay switch 319a corresponding to the replay button 319), the IR light receiving unit 315, and the electronic components such as the LED 320a provided in the replay display unit 320 are connected. Operation information on the transparent touch panel 314, operation information on various switches, and information based on the output signal output from the IR light receiving unit 315 are output to the control unit 328 via the display control board 329.

  In the display control board 329 of the present embodiment, a display driving circuit (not shown) that performs display driving of the liquid crystal display 313 and a position that is pressed based on an output signal from the transparent touch panel 314 are specified and An input position detection circuit (not shown) that outputs the specified input position information, a VDP (not shown) that performs processing related to a display image displayed on the display unit 312, a VROM that stores image data used for menu display, etc. (Not shown), VRAM (not shown) for temporarily storing display data to be displayed on the display unit 312, and determination and processing associated with inputs from various switches and touch panels, etc., independently from the control unit 328 Based on display data output from the control unit 328, various display screens are displayed on the display unit. And it is capable of displaying on the liquid crystal display 313 forming a 12.

  Next, the system controller 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 9, the system controller 100 used in the present embodiment has a data bus 101 that transmits and receives data inside a computer, a CPU 102 that performs various processes performed by the system controller 100, a work memory, and the like. RAM 103, RTC 104 that outputs time information and calendar information, storage device 105 such as a hard disk, input device 106 such as a keyboard and mouse, display device 107 that displays and outputs various screens, and prints various information A printer 108, a communication unit 109 that performs data communication with each device such as a card unit 3 (control unit 328) and a card issuing machine connected to a local area network (LAN), and a management server 12 installed in a card company Digital service unit for data communication (DSU) 110 is connected is a conventional computer.

  The storage device 105 has a membership card table (FIG. 10 (FIG. 10)) for managing prepaid balance remaining in the membership card, in addition to a processing program in which processing contents for performing various processes executed in the system controller 100 are described. a)), a visitor card table for managing the prepaid balance remaining in the visitor card (see FIG. 10B), and the card ID of each card unit 3 in association with the device ID of each card unit 3. The acceptance status, the corresponding pachinko machine 2 model and the unit management table (see FIG. 11) in which the table data are stored are stored.

  In the member card table, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), each member card is associated with a member card ID that can be individually identified, and the member ID of the member player who has been issued the member card and the prepaid The remaining amount and an unusable flag indicating whether or not the member card is unusable are stored, and the prepaid balance or the use of the member card can be used from the member card ID or member ID stored in the member card. Can be specified.

  In the visitor card table, as shown in FIG. 10B, each visitor card is associated with a card ID that can be individually identified, and the status of the visitor card (whether it is being used or stored). ), A prepaid balance and an unusable flag indicating whether or not the card is unusable. The prepaid balance and the visitor card can be used based on the card ID stored in the visitor card. It can be specified.

  In addition, in the unit management table of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the local IP address of the card unit 3 is associated with the device ID uniquely assigned to each card unit 3 installed in the game hall. A stored local IP, an installed island in which the island number of the gaming island in which the card unit 3 is installed are stored, a situation in which the card unit 3 is waiting or being received, and The corresponding model name in which the model name of the pachinko machine 2 corresponding to the card unit 3 is stored, the corresponding model number in which the corresponding pachinko machine 2 unit number is stored, and the (member) of the member card or visitor card being received ) The reception ID in which the card ID is stored and various machine data from the start of business in the corresponding pachinko machine 2 are stored. Number of movements, number of big hits, number of chances of change, total number of shot balls, total number of winning balls, number of balls of difference, and number of starts of big hits 1, which is the number of starts in the special figure variable display section 28 during each big hit, The number of start times 2 is stored, and these data are sequentially acquired and updated by a hall computer (not shown).

  The system controller 100 (CPU 102) of the present embodiment transmits the device ID of the card unit 3 and the received membership card or visitor transmitted from each card unit 3 in response to acceptance of the membership card or visitor card in the card unit 3. In response to receipt of a card acceptance notification including the (member) card ID read from the card and the prepaid balance, a card acceptance process is performed for determining whether or not the member card or visitor card can be used and returning the card to the card unit 3.

  Further, the system controller 100 (CPU 102) of the present embodiment is included in the received lending completion notification in response to reception of a lending completion notification (to be described later) transmitted along with the lending processing in the card unit 3 (member). A subtraction update process for subtracting and updating the tax-included use amount included in the lending completion notice from the prepaid balance stored in the member card table or visitor card table corresponding to the card ID is performed.

  Further, the system controller 100 (CPU 102) of the present embodiment is included in the received card payment notification in response to reception of a card payment notification (described later) transmitted along with the issuance / payment processing in the card unit 3 ( (Member) A deposit update process is performed in which the deposit amount included in the card deposit notification is added to the prepaid balance stored in the member card table or visitor card table corresponding to the card ID.

  Next, the counting / dispensing unit 4 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the counting / dispensing unit 4 of the present embodiment is provided at one side position of the card unit 3 and at the side position opposite to the pachinko machine 2 to which the card unit 3 corresponds. It has been.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 has a narrow and vertically long box shape, almost the same as the card unit 3, and a game is provided on the front surface thereof when paying out the counted number of balls as shown in FIG. The pachinko balls paid out from the payout button 401 operated by the user and the ball cutting payout unit 402 stored in the counting / payout unit 4 are guided to the hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 23 of the corresponding pachinko machine 2. A guide tube 403 is provided.

  Further, a counting ball inflow path 404 is led out from the lower end position of the front surface of the counting / dispensing unit 4 so as to cover the lower plate 24 from the lower side at a position directly below the lower plate 24 of the corresponding pachinko machine 2. The pachinko balls introduced into the charging hopper 405 from the lower plate 24 are stored in the counting / dispensing unit 4 through the counting ball inflow path 404. The acquired ball counter 407 is counted and counted.

  An inlet shutter 406 for blocking the inflow of pachinko balls from the counting ball inflow passage 404 to the acquisition ball counter 407 is provided at the lower end position of the front surface of the counting / dispensing unit 4 from which the counting ball inflow passage 404 is led out. When the card unit 3 is in a leaving mode, which will be described later, or when there is no remaining visitor card that can be used for issuance, the inflow shutter 406 is closed to block the flow of pachinko balls. By doing so, counting of new pachinko balls by the acquired ball counter 407 is prohibited.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the counting / dispensing unit 4 of this embodiment. The counting / dispensing unit 4 includes a payout button switch 401 ′ for detecting the operation of the payout button 401 described above, and a ball cutout. To communicate with the card unit 3 (control unit 328) and the control unit 410 that controls the operation of the counting / dispensing unit 4 together with the unit 402, the inlet shutter 406, and the acquired ball counter 407. The first communication unit 408 includes a serial interface, and the second communication unit 409 performs communication with the management computer 150 via the above-described local area network.

  The control unit 410 includes a control microcomputer (MPU) 410a, a RAM 410b, and a ROM 410c in which a control program describing control contents executed by the control microcomputer (MPU) is stored, and a nonvolatile memory capable of electrically rewriting and storing data. An EEPROM 410d which is a memory is included, and a control microcomputer (MPU) executes a control program to control each connected unit, thereby including the counting function and the dispensing function of the counting / dispensing unit 4. Function is formed.

  When the health check process described above is performed in the control unit 328 of the card unit 3, the control unit 410 performs a health check as an interrupt process in response to reception of a health check request transmitted at predetermined time intervals. Perform check response processing. In this health check response process, a health check response is returned and the health check timer is reset. The health check timer is preset with a specified time (2 seconds in this embodiment) for determining that communication is impossible. When the health check timer is up, the card unit 3 Before transmitting a health check request to the control unit 328 and determining that communication is not possible when the return of the health check response to the health check request is not within a specified time, and before the health check timer is up Or, if a health check request is received after it is determined that communication is not possible, or if a response to the health check response to the transmitted health check request is within the specified time, the communication is possible. Is determined.

  The communication status (online (communication possible) / offline (impossibility of communication)) indicating the communication status with the determined card unit 3 and the communication status (online (communication possible) / offline) with the management computer 150 are determined. The upper communication state data indicating (cannot communicate) is updated and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 410b.

  Further, in the RAM 410b, the (member) card ID, member ID (member card only), the number of possessed balls, and the number of stored balls of the member card or visitor card being received in the corresponding card unit 3 are stored in association with each other. .

  The EEPROM 410d is a device ID storage area for storing (storing) the device ID acquired from the card unit 3 connected at the time of activation, and a serial number assigned to each transaction between the card unit 3 on the business day. Of the transaction serial numbers, a final transaction serial number storage area for storing (storing) the final transaction serial number is provided.

  Note that pachinko balls are supplied to the ball cutting and dispensing unit 402 from a pachinko ball supply basket (not shown) at the upper part of the game island, and the pachinko balls counted by the acquired ball counter 407 are not shown at the lower part of the game island. By being discharged to the pachinko ball collection basket, it is reused on the amusement island.

  Next, the management computer 150 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the management computer 150 used in the present embodiment has a data bus 151 that transmits and receives data inside the computer, a CPU 152 that performs various processes performed by the management computer 150, a work memory, and the like. RAM 153, RTC 154 for outputting time information and calendar information, a storage device 155 including a hard disk, an input device 156 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display device 157 for displaying and outputting various screens, and printing various information. This is a normal computer to which a communication unit 159 for performing data communication with the printer 158, the counting / dispensing unit 4 connected to the local area network (LAN), and the gift exchange POS terminal 170 is connected.

  In the storage device 155, in addition to a processing program in which processing contents for performing various types of processing executed in the management computer 150 are described, the number of game media in the present invention owned by a member player possessing a membership card and The member saving management table for managing the number of holding balls acquired by the member player on the business day and the number of savings acquired by the member player on the day before the business day (FIG. 13 ( a) and a visitor saving management table for managing the number of possessed balls as the number of possessed game media in the present invention acquired on the day of business by the player possessing the visitor card recorded in the visitor card ( FIG. 13B) and a member information table (FIG. 14) in which member information regarding the member player who owns the member card is stored. a) and a member-specific game history table (see FIG. 14B) in which a game history including game information of the member player is stored for each member ID that can identify the member player. ing.

  In the member saving management table, as shown in FIG. 13A, a member ID that is member identification information that can be associated with each member card ID and that can individually identify the member player who has issued the member card. And the total number of balls acquired by the member player on that business day, which is the number of balls that are not used for game or prize exchange, and the member player acquired before the previous day of the business. The total number of balls acquired and the number of stored balls that are unused for gaming and prize exchange are stored, and the member player possesses the member card ID or member ID stored in the member card. The number of holding balls and the number of stored balls can be specified.

  Note that the number of balls managed in the member savings management table is managed as the number of balls held only on that business day, and the number of balls in the member savings management table in the closing process after the end of business is the number of balls After being updated, everything is reset.

  In addition, in the visitor saving management table, as shown in FIG. 13B, each visitor card is associated with a card ID that can be individually identified, and the player possessing the visitor card has acquired it on that business day. The number of balls that are the total number of balls that have been acquired and that have not been used for game or prize exchange is stored, and the number of balls that the player owns is determined from the card ID stored in the visitor card. It can be specified.

  That is, in the management computer 150 (management apparatus) of the present embodiment, the number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) of the visitor card (general recording medium) is managed in association with the card ID (recording medium identification information). ing.

  In addition, the number of balls managed in the visitor savings management table is valid only on the day of business, and all the existing balls in the visitor savings management table are reset in the closing process after the end of business. , Disabled.

  As shown in FIG. 14 (a), the member information table is associated with the member ID of the member player who owns the member card, and the personal identification number and one day according to the reception of the member card. Membership consisting of store visit points where the predetermined store visit points are added and updated once, rank based on store visit status, member's name (last name and name), gender, age, birthday, occupation, address, e-mail address Attribute information (personal information) is registered.

  In the member-specific game history table, as shown in FIG. 14B, for each member ID, the game history of the member player, specifically, the date of visit to the store, the pachinko machine 2 where the game was played. Number, model name, game start time (time), game end time (time), game time from game start to end, number of starts, number of bonuses, number of probability fluctuations (number of probability changes), number of balls earned, expenditure A game history including the amount of money, the number of replay balls, and the number of used balls is stored. The visit date of the member-specific game history table stores the date when the game history is stored based on the calendar information output from the RTC 154, and the game start time, game end time, game time, start count, The game history of the number of bonuses, the number of chances of change, the number of balls acquired, and the amount of money spent is stored based on member game history data transmitted from the card unit 3 when the member card is returned via the counting / payout unit 4.

  Hereinafter, the processing content performed in the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the control unit 328 of the card unit 3 is activated when the power to the card unit 3 is turned on, so that the activation process of Sb1 is performed to check the connection status of each part, and to the system controller 100 and the hall computer. Transmission of a connection confirmation request, setting of initial values and the like in each setting data based on setting information returned from the system controller 100 and the hall computer in response to the transmission of the connection confirmation request, initial values of various data stored in the RAM 328b Implementation and update.

  Then, after the activation process is performed, the process of Sb2 to Sb11 is performed to accept the card that is the insertion of the membership card or the visitor card into the card insertion slot 309, and the rental button by the player (member or visitor) For operations, cash acceptance by inserting banknotes from the bill insertion slot 302, return button operation by the player, replay button 319 operation (replay operation information reception from the display control board 329), payout button 401 operation In response to the reception of the counting / dispensing start notification from the counting / dispensing unit 4, the leaving operation (reception of the leaving operation information from the display control board 329) in the remote control owned by the staff, and the insertion of the pachinko ball into the closing hopper 405 Receive counting start notification from counting / dispensing unit 4 according to pachinko ball counting, remote control possessed by staff Definitive lifting balls migration operations (receipt of lifting ball migration operation information from the display control board 329) (reception of the main menu display operation information from the display control board 329) operation of the menu button 316, a standby state for detecting a.

  Incidentally, the control unit 328, after the start processing of Sb1, in parallel with the normal processing shown in FIG. 15, the big hit signal, the probability changing signal output from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 or the out ball counter 16, Monitors the occurrence of interrupts due to the input and change of the time signal, start signal, prize ball signal, out ball count signal, and health check request from the counting / dispensing unit 4 and reception of disconnection (connection) notification from the host system. By executing interrupt monitoring processing (not shown) based on processing tasks that are separate from the processing tasks that perform these normal processing, the occurrence of each interrupt target state is monitored, and game information is updated when an interrupt occurs Processing, counted ball count update processing, communication status data update processing, and the like can be performed sequentially.

  When the player inserts a visitor card or a membership card into the card insertion slot 309 in the standby state described above, insertion detection information accompanying the insertion of the visitor card or membership card is sent from the card reader / writer 327 to the control unit 328. As a result of the output, the control unit 328 determines that there is card acceptance in Sb2, proceeds to step Sb20, and performs a card acceptance process (not shown).

  In the card accepting process of this embodiment at Sb20, an instruction for taking in the membership card or visitor card inserted into the card insertion slot 309 is output to the card reader / writer 327, and the inserted membership card or visitor card is sent to the card reader. Data stored in the card slot 392 of the writer 327 and stored in the member card or visitor card, specifically, the (member) card ID and member ID (member card only) of the member card or visitor card And prepaid balance data, number of coins data (visitor card only), offline flag, etc.

  Next, the control unit 328 transmits an authentication request including the (member) card ID read from the accepted member card or visitor card, the prepaid balance data, and the device ID to the system controller 100, and the authentication result from the system controller 100 is sent. Perform the card authentication process to receive.

  In response to the reception of the authentication request, the system controller 100 determines whether the (member) card ID included in the received authentication request exists in the member card table or the visitor card table, and cannot be used in the unavailable flag “1”. ”Is stored, and if it is present and unavailable“ 1 ”is not stored, that is, if“ 0 ”is stored in the unavailable flag, the (member) card ID is stored. The prepaid balance that is stored and managed in the member card table or visitor card table in association is specified from the prepaid balance data included in the received authentication request, that is, the prepaid balance data read from the received member card or visitor card It is determined whether it matches the prepaid balance to be As a result, “authentication OK” is returned. On the other hand, when the (member) card ID does not exist in the member card table or the visitor card table, or when the unavailable flag “1” is stored in the unavailable flag, the prepaid balance is If they do not match, “authentication NG” is returned. However, if the prepaid balance does not match and the prepaid balance specified from the prepaid balance data included in the authentication request is smaller, the prepaid balance in the member card table or visitor card table is set to the small amount. In addition to renewing the amount, “authentication OK” is returned to permit use of the member card or visitor card.

  Upon transmission of this “authentication OK”, the system controller 100 updates the “status” data in the unit management table corresponding to the device ID included in the received authentication request to “accepting” and is included in the received authentication request. (Member) card ID is stored in the item “Reception ID” of the unit management table.

  When the authentication result returned from the system controller 100 is “authentication NG”, the card unit 3 outputs an instruction to eject the accepted member card or visitor card to the card reader / writer 327 and inserts the inserted member card or visitor. While returning the card and completing the card acceptance process, the returned authentication result is “authentication OK”, and the accepted card is a member card or a visitor card without any record of the upper offline flag and the lower offline flag. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, the (counter) card ID, member ID (member card only), and the number of balls (from the received member card or visitor card) are read out from the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4. Visitor card only), the card insertion notification including flag data is sent to the communication unit 33 More transmitted to the counting-dispensing unit 4.

  In other words, in this embodiment, the communication unit 335 transmits a card insertion notification including at least the member ID read by the card reader / writer 327 serving as a recording medium processing means to the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device). The communication unit 335 forms the member identification information transmitting means of the present invention.

  Upon receiving this card insertion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 first determines whether the inserted card is a member card or a visitor card from the leading code of the (member) card ID included in the received card insertion notification. If the card is a visitor card, the number-of-balls matching process is performed as shown in FIG. 16 (a). On the other hand, if the card is a membership card, the management is performed as shown in FIG. 16 (b). An information acquisition process for acquiring the personal identification number, the number of balls held, and the number of balls stored from the computer 150 is performed.

  Specifically, when the leading code of the (member) card ID included in the received card insertion notification is a card ID starting with “VC”, the card inserted into the corresponding card unit 3 is a visitor card. , And sends a number-of-balls matching request including the card ID and the number of balls included in the received card insertion notification to the management computer 150.

  In response to the reception of the number-of-balls matching request, the management computer 150 determines whether or not the card ID included in the received number-of-balls matching request exists in the visitor saving management table. The number of possessed balls stored in the visitor saving management table corresponding to the card ID is collated with the number of possessed balls included in the received number-of-balls matching request, and the collation result is returned.

  In this collation, if the number of balls in both sides does not match, and either the upper offline flag or the lower offline flag indicates offline, that is, the upper offline flag or the lower offline flag is recorded. In this case, as will be described later, by performing the processing shown in FIG. 28, the number of possessed balls stored in the visitor saving management table (when there is a higher offline flag) or recorded in the visitor card The number of holding balls (if there is a lower offline flag) is corrected.

  When the returned verification result is verification OK, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) returns the card insertion result including “OK” to the card unit 3 (control unit 328) and then the received card. When the card ID and the number of possessed balls included in the insertion notification are stored and the number of possessed balls can be paid out (operation of the payout button 401 is valid), while the returned collation result is collation NG After returning the card insertion result including “NG” to the card unit 3 (control unit 328), only the card ID included in the received card insertion notification is stored, and the number of held balls cannot be paid out (payout button 401 is invalidated), and the inlet shutter 406 is closed, and the counting of new pachinko balls by the acquired ball counter 407 is prohibited.

  In response to receiving the card insertion result, the card unit 3 (control unit 328), when the received card insertion result includes “OK”, the card ID, prepaid balance, The number is stored in the card table and the stored prepaid balance is displayed on the balance display, and then the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  On the other hand, if the received card insertion result includes “NG”, the card ID read from the receiving visitor card and the prepaid balance are stored in the card table, and NG is stored in the card table as “the number of balls”. Then, after the stored prepaid balance is displayed on the balance indicator, the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  In other words, the number of held balls that do not match is not used for payout in the counting / dispensing unit 4, so that the number of held balls is treated as not existing, and only the prepaid balance that is certified is used. Allow.

  Further, when the head code of the (member) card ID included in the received card insertion notification is a member card ID starting with “KC”, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) It is determined that the inserted card is a member card, and an information acquisition request including the member card ID and the member ID included in the received card insertion notification is transmitted to the management computer 150, so that the member player An information acquisition process is performed to acquire information such as the number of stored balls, the number of possessed balls, and the password.

  In response to receiving this information acquisition request, the management computer 150 determines whether or not the member card ID and the member ID included in the received information acquisition request exist in the member saving management table. Read the membership card ID, the number of balls and the number of balls stored in the member saving management table corresponding to the member ID, and the password stored in the member information table in association with the member ID If the membership card ID and the member ID do not exist in the member saving management table, only NG is returned.

  When the returned content includes the password, the number of balls, the number of balls, and OK, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) indicates the card insertion result including the response content to the card unit 3 (control unit). 328), the member card ID and member ID included in the card insertion notification received from the card unit 3 and the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls acquired from the management computer 150 are stored in the RAM 410b, while the reply is made. When the content is only NG, after returning the card insertion result including “NG” to the card unit 3 (control unit 328), the member card ID and the member ID included in the card insertion notification received from the card unit 3 Is stored in the RAM 410b, the inlet shutter 406 is closed, and a new pachinko ball is counted by the acquired ball counter 407. To stop.

  Upon receiving the card insertion result, the card unit 3 (control unit 328), when the received card insertion result includes “OK”, the member card ID, member ID, prepaid read from the member card being accepted. The balance, the PIN number included in the card insertion result, the number of possessed balls, and the number of stored balls are stored in the card table, and the stored prepaid balance is displayed on the balance indicator, indicating that the deposit and ball lending are possible. The password is displayed on the unit 312 to notify the member player, and a password acceptance screen including a numeric keypad and an announcement display for prompting the input of the password are displayed on the display unit 312 to accept the password.

  Then, the received personal identification number is compared with the personal identification number stored in the card table, and when both match, the verification flag in the predetermined area in the RAM 328b is updated to “1” indicating that verification has been completed, -After transmitting the password input completion notification to the payout unit 4 (control unit 410), the replay display unit 320 sets the LED 320a to the lit state on condition that the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of replay unit balls. Notify that replay is possible. If the passwords do not match, the password is re-accepted for a predetermined number of times.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) enables the payout of the number of balls (operation of the payout button 401 is valid) in response to the reception of the password input completion notification. That is, when NG is returned from the management computer 150 described above, it is impossible to receive a password input completion notification, and therefore the number of coins to be paid out in the counting / dispensing unit 4 is not allowed (operation of the payout button 401). Is invalid).

  If a password input completion notification is received and the number of held balls stored in the card table is not “0”, that is, if payout within the range of the number of held balls is possible, the A replay button operation designation notification (FIG. 18) including prohibition of play is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328), thereby invalidating the replay operation (the LED 320a is turned off). When only paying out the number of balls is valid and the number of held balls becomes “0” by the payout, a replay button operation designation notification including permission is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328). By doing so, the replay operation is validated and the number of stored balls can be used.

  In other words, in this embodiment, the number of balls that are earned by the member player on the day is different from the number of balls, and the payout is carried out without the need for fees. Disabling the replay operation when there is a number, there will be a disadvantage to the member player due to the use of the number of balls that require a fee even though there is a number of balls that will not be charged Can be prevented.

  In addition, when the received card insertion result includes “NG”, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) determines the membership card ID, the membership ID, the prepaid balance, the number of possessed balls, and the number of stored balls read from the accepted membership card. NG is stored in the card table, and the stored prepaid balance is displayed on the balance display, and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  In other words, when the card insertion result including “NG” is received, the counting / dispensing unit 4 does not pay out the number of possessed balls. No replay is permitted as it does not exist, and only the prepaid balance that has been authenticated is permitted.

  When the player operates the lending button after the prepaid balance is displayed on these remaining amount indicators, a signal from the lending button switch for detecting the lending button operation by the player is sent to the control unit 328. The control unit 328 determines that there is an operation of the lending button in the step Sb3 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11, proceeds to the step Sb21, and executes the lending process.

  In this lending process, first, the prepaid balance read from the inserted member card or visitor card (including the visitor card issued by inserting the banknote) and stored in the RAM 328b (card table) is used in this embodiment. 100 yen that is a unit amount (predetermined unit amount when using the prepaid balance for lending processing) and 5 yen (a tax rate of 5% in this embodiment) that is a consumption tax amount corresponding to the unit amount used It is determined whether or not the total amount including tax is less than 105 yen, and if the prepaid balance is less than 105 yen, it is determined as “Yes” in the determination, and the lending process is terminated. If the prepaid balance is 105 yen or more while returning to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11, the process proceeds to the next step, and the prepaid balance is added to the present embodiment. Whether or not it is 525 yen or more, which is the tax-included usage amount that is the total amount of 500 yen that is set as the usage amount for the lending process and 25 yen that is the consumption tax amount corresponding to the usage amount (5% tax rate) Determine.

  When the prepaid balance is equal to or more than the tax-included usage amount, the usage amount ball lending process is performed, and when it is less than the tax-included usage amount, the display amount ball lending process is performed.

  In this use amount ball lending process, a payout instruction for the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the use amount of 500 yen, specifically, a payout instruction for 125 balls equivalent to 500 yen is given to the corresponding pachinko machine 2. To output the number of pachinko balls.

  In other words, in the lending process, the control unit 328 makes the prepaid balance (game use) specified from the prepaid balance data read by the card reader / writer 327 serving as the recording medium processing means and the (member) card ID (game value specifying information). Value) is used, and a process for lending the number of pachinko balls (game media) corresponding to the size of the prepaid balance (game value) to be used is implemented. The game medium lending means of the present invention is formed by the control unit 328 that performs processing.

  Then, 525 yen (4 yen / ball), which is a tax-included amount, is subtracted and updated from the prepaid balance (same as the prepaid balance stored in the card table of the RAM 328b) displayed on the balance indicator. The system after updating the prepaid balance and the prepaid balance data stored in the member card or visitor card being accepted to the prepaid balance data that can be identified by subtracting and updating the new prepaid balance that is 525 yen including tax Send to the controller 100 a lending completion notification including the device ID uniquely given to the card unit 3, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being received, and the amount of tax included Member card table or visitor card table of system controller 100 Le in to subtraction update the tax use the amount from the prepaid balance, which is stored in association with the (membership) card ID.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the receiving card is a visitor card. If it is not a visitor card, the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11, while the visitor card is being received. Determines whether the prepaid balance displayed on the balance display (same as the prepaid balance stored in the card table of the RAM 328b) is zero.

  If the prepaid balance is not 0 in the determination, the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11. On the other hand, if the prepaid balance is 0, the number of balls in the card table is further increased. Determine if it exists. It should be noted that the case where NG is stored in the number of holding balls is also determined to exist.

  If the number of possessed balls is present, the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11. On the other hand, if the number of possessed balls is not present, an instruction to collect a visitor card whose prepaid balance becomes 0 is output to the card reader / writer 327. Then, after collecting in the card storage unit 370 on the inner side of the card reader / writer 327, sending a collection notification including the card ID of the collected visitor card to the system controller 100 and resetting the card table, Return to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  The system controller that has received the collection notification updates the status of the visitor card table corresponding to the card ID included in the collection notification from being used to being stored.

  At this time, when the remaining number of visitor cards remaining in the card storage unit 370 changes from “0” to “1”, that is, when the empty state is resolved, the stock card state notification (remaining) Is transmitted to the counting / payout unit 4 (control unit 410), so that the control unit 410 can grasp that there is a prepaid card that can be issued to the card storage unit 370.

  Further, when all the visitor cards stored in the card storage unit 370 are used for issuance and the card storage state changes to “0”, the stock card state notification (no remaining) is displayed in the counting / payout unit 4 ( By being transmitted to the control unit 410), the control unit 410 can grasp that there is no prepaid card that can be issued to the card storage unit 370 of the corresponding card unit 3, and in this way When there is no prepaid card that can be issued in the card storage unit 370, when no visitor card is received in the card slot 392, and when a membership card is being received in the card slot 392, the management computer 150 In the case where the communication state with is offline (not connected), the control unit 410 controls the inlet shutter 40. Is closed, and the counting of new pachinko balls by the acquired ball counter 407 is prohibited, so that it is possible to prevent the counted number of held balls (counted balls) from being recorded on the prepaid card. Yes.

  That is, the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment counts on the condition that the number of visitor cards (general recording media) stored in the card storage unit 370 (general recording medium storage means) becomes zero. A stock card status notification (count prohibition information) for prohibiting counting in the counting / payout unit 4 is transmitted to the payout unit 4 (the game medium counting device).

  On the other hand, in the display amount ball lending process, among the prepaid remaining amount displayed on the remaining amount display (same as the prepaid remaining amount stored in the card table of the RAM 328b), the used unit amount is 100 yen and the 100 yen The maximum amount that is an integral multiple of 105 yen (unit amount including tax), which is the total amount of 5 yen that is the consumption tax amount corresponding to, for example, 105 yen (unit amount including tax) if the prepaid balance is 475 yen An instruction to pay out the number of pachinko balls equivalent to 420 yen corresponding to 4 times the maximum amount of money that is an integer multiple of, specifically, it is a tax-free amount excluding 20 yen as a consumption tax amount from 420 yen An instruction to pay out 100 balls corresponding to 400 yen is output to the corresponding pachinko machine 2 to pay out the number of pachinko balls.

  Then, from the prepaid balance displayed on the balance display (same as the prepaid balance stored in the card table of the RAM 328b), 420 yen, which is the amount including tax used for pachinko ball lending, is subtracted and updated, Update the prepaid balance data in the card table and the prepaid balance data stored in the receiving membership card or visitor card to the prepaid balance data that can specify the new prepaid balance by subtracting and updating 420 yen, which includes the tax. After that, for the system controller 100, the device ID uniquely given to the card unit 3, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted, and 420 yen that includes the tax are included. A lending completion notification including the system controller 100 Te (members) to subtraction update the amount of 該税 inclusive from the prepaid balance, which is stored in the membership card table or visitor card table in association with the card ID.

  Then, as in the case described above, it is determined whether or not the card being accepted is a visitor card and the prepaid balance is 0. If the card is a visitor card and the prepaid balance is 0, the card is further held. After collecting the visitor card on condition that the number of balls does not exist, the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  Further, in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, when the player inserts cash (banknote) from the banknote insertion slot 302, the currency identification information associated with the insertion of the cash (banknote) is controlled from the banknote identification unit 321. By outputting to the unit 328, the control unit 328 determines that there is acceptance of cash in the step of Sb4, proceeds to the step of Sb22, and performs an issue / payment process (not shown).

  In this issuance / payment process, first, the amount of money inserted is specified from the input money identification information, and it is determined whether or not there is a member card or visitor card accepted by the card reader / writer 327. To do.

  When it is determined that there is no member card or visitor card being received, the control unit 328 moves the visitor card stored in the card storage unit 370 to a predetermined reading position on the card slot 392, The card ID of the visitor card is read, and an issuance request including the read card ID, the input amount, and the device ID of the card unit 3 is transmitted to the system controller 100.

  In response to receiving this issuance request, the system controller 100 determines whether or not the card ID included in the received issuance request exists in the visitor card table, and if it exists, the visitor corresponding to the card ID. While updating the “status” of the card table to “in use”, the received input amount is stored in the “remaining amount” as a prepaid remaining amount, while “unit” in the unit management table corresponding to the device ID included in the received issuance request is stored. “Status” is updated to “Receiving”, and the received card ID is stored in “Reception ID”, and then “Issuance permission” is returned to the card unit 3 that sent the issue request. If the received card ID does not exist in the visitor card table, “Issuance impossible” is returned.

  In response to receiving this “issue permission”, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) writes and stores the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount in the visitor card moved to the card slot 392 and stores the visitor card in the visitor card. After storing the card ID of the card and the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount, and displaying the prepaid balance on the balance indicator, the issuing / paying process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  In addition, when "Issuance is impossible" is received from the system controller 100 and when a visitor card is not stored in the card storage unit 370, the cash (banknote) inserted from the banknote insertion slot 302 is returned, An error notification process for turning on the multi-function lamp 301 in a predetermined error notification mode is performed until the error state is eliminated, thereby notifying the occurrence of an error.

  On the other hand, if there is a member card or visitor card being accepted in the card slot 392 at the time of cash (banknote) insertion, the amount specified above is stored in the member card or visitor card being received and the card table. After adding the prepaid balance specified from the stored prepaid balance data and updating each of the prepaid balance data to the prepaid balance data that can be specified, the deposit amount (to the deposit amount) is updated. The same) and the device ID of the card unit 3 and the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being received are transmitted to the system controller 100, and the member card table of the system controller 100 or At the visitor card table, the (member) card The said input money amount of money to be added update the prepaid balance, which corresponds to the de-ID are stored.

  Then, the remaining amount of the prepaid displayed on the remaining amount display is updated and displayed as a new amount after the addition update, the deposit process is terminated, and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  Further, in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, when the player operates the return button, a signal from the return button switch for detecting the return button operation by the player is output to the control unit 328. As a result, the control unit 328 determines that there is an operation of the return button in Sb5, proceeds to Sb23, and performs return processing.

  That is, in step Sb5 performed by the control unit 328, a discharge operation for discharging a member card (member recording medium) or a visitor card (general recording medium) is detected, and the control unit that executes Sb5 328 forms the discharge operation detecting means of the present invention.

  In this return process, first, it is determined whether or not there is a member card or visitor card being accepted by the card reader / writer 327, and if it does not exist, the operation is invalidated. Whether or not the accepted card is a member card or a visitor card is determined based on whether or not a member ID is stored in the card table.

  In this determination, if the accepted card is a membership card, as shown in FIG. 23, the cash accepting, lending button operation, and replay button 319 operation are invalidated, so that the lending process and issue・ Prohibit deposit processing and replay processing. Regarding the card acceptance, when a member card is inserted, the shutter solenoid 399 causes the shutter to be opened at the card insertion slot 309, so that new card acceptance is already prohibited.

  Then, a card discharge notification is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) to notify that a return operation has been performed.

  In response to the reception of the card discharge notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) invalidates the operation of the payout button 401 and closes the inlet shutter 406, thereby paying out the number of balls and a new pachinko ball. And the member card ID and member ID data stored in the RAM are erased, and then the card discharge result (OK) is returned. However, at this time, if the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, different processing is performed as shown in FIG.

  In response to receiving the card discharge result (OK), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) outputs a discharge instruction to the card reader / writer 327 to discharge the member card being received from the card insertion slot 309, and to play the member game After the member game information data stored in the information table is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) together with the member card ID and member ID stored in the card table (not shown), the card table is reset. To do.

  As described above, the member game information data transmitted to the counting / payout unit 4 (control unit 410) is relayed to the management computer 150 and stored in the member-specific game history table. The history is managed by the management computer 150.

  Further, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) updates the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 to a lighting state of a predetermined lighting color indicating that the card can be received, and the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit). 410), a discharge completion notice is transmitted, and then the prohibition of payment is canceled and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) can count the pachinko balls by releasing the closing of the inlet shutter 406 in response to the reception of the discharge completion notification. However, when the remaining number of visitor cards that can be issued to the corresponding card unit 3 is 0, as described above, pachinko balls cannot be counted.

  On the other hand, in the above-described determination, when the card being received is a visitor card, whether or not a setting for paying out an end ball less than a predetermined number of automatic payout balls (125 balls in this embodiment) is set in advance. Determine whether.

  In the case where the end ball payout setting is not set, the control unit 328 prohibits the lending process and the issuance / payment process by invalidating the operation of the cash accepting and lending button as shown in FIG. As for the card acceptance, when the visitor card is inserted, the shutter solenoid 399 causes the shutter at the card insertion slot 309 to be in the opened state, so that new card acceptance is already prohibited.

  Then, a card discharge notification is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) to notify that a return operation has been performed.

  In response to the reception of the card discharge notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) invalidates the operation of the payout button 401 and closes the inlet shutter 406, thereby paying out the number of balls and a new pachinko ball. And the card discharge result (OK) is returned after erasing data such as the card ID and the number of balls stored in the RAM.

  Upon receiving this card ejection result (OK), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) sends a higher-level system disconnection notification and a higher-level system connection notification, which will be described later, transmitted from the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). Based on the upper communication state data stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 328b, the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 is specified, and the specified upper communication state is offline (communication impossible) ) State, data indicating offline (flag data “1”) is written and recorded in the accepting visitor card as a high-order offline flag, and then a discharge instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327 to display the accepting visitor card. Eject it from the card slot 309 and reset the card table .

  Further, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) updates the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 to a lighting state of a predetermined lighting color indicating that the card can be received, and the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit). 410), a discharge completion notice is transmitted, and then the prohibition of payment is canceled and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) can count the pachinko balls by releasing the closing of the inlet shutter 406 in response to the reception of the discharge completion notification. However, when the remaining number of visitor cards that can be issued to the corresponding card unit 3 is 0, as described above, pachinko balls cannot be counted.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 22, the control unit 328 invalidates the acceptance of cash and the operation of the lending button when the end ball payout setting is set, as in the case where the payout setting is not set. This prohibits the lending process, issuance / payment process, and determines whether the number of balls counted at that time (the number of possessed balls) is less than the predetermined number of automatically paid balls (125 balls in this embodiment). judge.

  If the counted number of balls (the number of balls held) is not less than the number of automatically paid balls, the process proceeds to the step of sending a card discharge notification to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), thereby While the same processing is performed as when the payout setting is not set, if the counted number of balls (the number of held balls) is less than the number of automatically paid balls, the payout of the counted number of balls (the number of held balls) Is sent to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the reception of the fraction ball payout request, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) invalidates the operation of the payout button 401 and closes the inlet shutter 406, thereby paying out the number of balls and creating a new pachinko machine. After counting the number of balls and returning a response to paying out the fraction balls, a count payout start notification including the number of balls stored in the RAM, for example, 124 balls is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  In response to the reception of the count payout start notification, the control unit 328 determines that the number of held balls included in the count payout start notification is the number of held balls stored in the card table (the counted balls displayed on the display unit 312). The same as the number), and after returning a count payout start response (OK) on the condition that they are the same, the number of balls held in the card table and displayed on the display unit 312 The number of balls that have been counted is updated to “0”, and the number of balls that have been updated is updated and recorded on the visitor card being received, so that the number of balls can be specified by the visitor card. The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control) includes a count withdrawal completion notification including the number of possessed balls (124 balls) subtracted in accordance with the completion of the update record, the new number of possessed balls “0” after the subtraction update, and the transaction serial number. Unit 410).

  In response to receiving the count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) starts paying out the 124 pachinko balls, which is the number of balls, from the ball cutting and paying unit 402, and paying out all 124 balls. Is completed, the payout is terminated, and the management computer 150 transmits a ball count update request including the card ID stored in the RAM 410 b and the new ball count “0” to the management computer 150. In the visitor saving management table, the number of possessed balls stored corresponding to the card ID is updated to “0”.

  Then, a count payout completion notification including the updated number of held balls “0” including the transaction serial number (the number of stored balls is “0” uniquely for a visitor card) is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328). .

  In response to reception of the count payout end notification, the control unit 328 determines whether the number of balls included in the count payout end notification is “0”, which is the number of balls updated and recorded in the receiving visitor card. In addition to checking, it is checked whether the transaction serial numbers match, and a count payout completion response (OK) is returned on condition that they are the same.

  Then, after the fractional payout is completed in this way, the process proceeds to a step of transmitting a card discharge notification to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), and the above-mentioned roundout payout setting is not set. By performing the same processing as in the case, the visiting visitor card is ejected from the card insertion slot 309.

  That is, in the return process performed by the control unit 328 of the present embodiment, the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing unit) accepts the discharge operation in step Sb5 which is the discharge operation detection unit of the present invention. The member card (member's recording medium) or visitor card (general recording medium) is discharged.

  In addition, when the player operates the replay button 319 in the above-described standby state of Sb2 to Sb11, the replay operation information is transmitted from the display control board 329 that detects the operation of the replay button 319 to the control unit. By being input to 328, the control unit 328 determines that the replay button 319 is operated in Sb6, proceeds to Sb24, and performs a replay process (not shown).

  In this replay process, first, it is determined whether or not the collated flag indicating whether or not the PIN number stored in the RAM 328b has been collated is “1” indicating that the collation has been completed, and is not “1”. In the case (if not already verified), the replay process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 assuming that the player is not a member. It is determined whether or not the LED 320a is in a lit state, that is, whether or not the number of stored balls is equal to or more than a predetermined number of replay unit balls. If the LED 320a is in a lit state, the stored balls stored in the card table The replay unit ball number is subtracted and updated from the number, and the replay display unit 320 (LED 320a) is turned off, and then the replay ball lending process is performed. In the replay ball lending process of this embodiment, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the number of replay units (135 balls), specifically, 125 pachinko balls excluding the fee from the number of replay units (135 balls). A ball payout instruction is output to the corresponding pachinko machine 2 to pay out the number of pachinko balls.

  Then, with respect to the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), the replay including the member card ID and the member ID stored in the card table and the number of replay units subtracted from the number of stored balls (135 balls). After transmitting the play completion notification, the replay process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

The replay completion notification transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) is relayed to the management computer 150 by the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), and in the member saving management table in the management computer 150, The number of replay units (135 balls) is subtracted and updated from the member card ID included in the replay completion notification and the number of stored balls associated with the member ID.
In addition, when the number of stored balls after subtraction update of the number of replay unit balls is equal to or more than the number of replay unit balls, the replay display unit 320 (LED 320a) is again displayed after the replay ball lending process is completed. It is turned on.

  Further, in this embodiment, even if the number of balls is not present, the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of replay unit balls, and the LED 320a is turned on, the upper communication state data or the lower communication state When any of the data is updated to the communication impossible state (offline), the LED 320a is turned off, so that the replay ball lending process is prohibited, and either the upper communication state data or the lower communication state data is displayed. Is updated to the communicable state (online), and the LED 320a is turned on again, and the replay ball lending process is permitted.

  In addition, when a player acquires a pachinko ball by a game in the pachinko machine 2 and enters the input hopper 405 from the lower plate 24 in order to count the acquired pachinko balls, the player enters the input hopper 405. As the pachinko balls thus obtained are supplied to the earned ball counter 407 through the counting ball inflow path 404 and counted, the pachinko ball from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) is shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. A count start notification is sent to the card unit 3 (control unit 328) to notify that the counting of balls has started.

  The reception of the count start notification transmitted in this manner is detected in Sb9 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, and the process proceeds to Sb27, where the count handling process is performed.

  This count-corresponding processing is different in processing when the card being received by the card reader / writer 327 is a visitor card and when it is a membership card, and when the receiving card is a visitor card, When the process shown in FIG. 17 is performed and the receiving card is a membership card, the process shown in FIG. 18 is performed.

  First, if the receiving card is a visitor card, as shown in FIG. 17, the cash receiving, lending button operation, and return button operation are invalidated, thereby issuing / paying processing, lending processing, Start counting that prohibits return processing, and includes card ID and member ID (not a visitor card) read from the accepted visitor card and stored in the card table, and OK indicating that the prohibition of operation is complete Send back a response.

  If the counting start response is not returned, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) determines that an abnormality has occurred in the corresponding card unit 3, closes the inlet shutter 406, and counts pachinko balls. Is stopped and the counting start response is returned, the pachinko balls are continuously counted with the inlet shutter 406 opened, and the count value of the acquired ball counter 407 is set to a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds). ) The end of counting is judged by no change.

  Then, when it is determined that the counting is finished, the card unit 3 (control unit 328), the newly counted number of pachinko balls, and the number of balls held before the count The number of new coins that have been added to the transaction number, the transaction number that is the serial number assigned to the transaction with the card unit 3 on the business day (the number next to the last transaction number stored in the RAM 410b), and the received count start A count end notification including the card ID and the member ID (not a visitor card) included in the response is returned.

  In response to reception of the count end notification, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) includes the new number of balls included in the count end notification in the count end notification in the number of held balls stored in the card table. And confirming that the number of balls in the card table is updated to the new number of balls, and displaying the counted number of balls displayed on the display unit 312. Update to a new number of balls.

  Further, after the new number of balls is updated and recorded in the visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327, the transaction sequence number included in the received count end notification is sent to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). And a count end response including the visitor card ID and member ID (not a visitor card), and the last transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b is updated to the transaction serial number. The prohibition of each of the processes performed in response to the reception is canceled, and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) that has received the counting end response receives the card ID, the member ID (not a visitor card) and the transaction serial number included in the counting end response as the card ID in the counting end notification. And confirming that the member ID (not a visitor card) and the transaction serial number are the same, and a request for adding a ball containing a card ID, a member ID (not a visitor card), the number of additional balls, and the number of new balls A new number of possessed balls is transmitted to the management computer 150 and added and updated to the number of retained balls stored in association with the card ID in the visitor saving management table in the managed computer 150. And the last transaction serial number stored in the RAM 410b is updated to the transaction serial number.

  At this time, if the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, these card ID, member ID (not a visitor card), the number of additional balls, and the new number of balls are stored. Is stored in the EEPROM 410d, and when the communication state with the management computer 150 returns to the online state, the accumulated ball addition history is transmitted to the management computer 150, and the visitor saving management table is based on the accumulated ball addition history. The number of holding balls is updated.

  On the other hand, if the card being accepted is a membership card, as shown in FIG. 18, it is issued by invalidating cash acceptance, lending button operation, return button operation, and replay button 319 operation.・ Deposit processing, loan processing, return processing, and replay processing are prohibited, and the member card ID and member ID that are read from the accepted member card and stored in the card table, and that the operation prohibition has been completed are shown. A count start response including OK is returned.

  If the counting start response is not returned, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) determines that an abnormality has occurred in the corresponding card unit 3, closes the inlet shutter 406, and counts pachinko balls. Is stopped and the counting start response is returned, the pachinko balls are continuously counted with the inlet shutter 406 opened, and the count value of the acquired ball counter 407 is set to a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds). ) The end of counting is judged by no change.

  Then, when it is determined that the counting is finished, the card unit 3 (control unit 328), the newly counted number of pachinko balls, and the number of balls held before the count The number of new coins that have been added to the transaction number, the transaction number that is the serial number assigned to the transaction with the card unit 3 on the business day (the number that follows the last transaction sequence number stored in the RAM 328b), and the received count start A count end notification including the card ID and member ID included in the response is returned.

  In response to reception of the count end notification, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) includes the new number of balls included in the count end notification in the count end notification in the number of held balls stored in the card table. And confirming that the number of balls in the card table is updated to the new number of balls, and displaying the counted number of balls displayed on the display unit 312. Update to a new number of balls.

  Then, the transaction included in the received count end notification is sent to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) without recording the new number of balls in the membership card being received by the card reader / writer 327. A count end response including the serial number and the member card ID and member ID of the member card being received by the card reader / writer 327 is returned, and the final transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b is updated to the transaction serial number, The prohibition of each of the processes performed in response to the reception of the start notification is canceled, and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  That is, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment is configured to count and pay out the unit 4 (game medium counting device) while receiving a member card (member recording medium) in the card reader / writer (recording medium processing means) in the count handling process. When a count end notification is received from the card, a count end response is returned without recording the new number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) after the count on the receiving membership card (member's recording medium). .

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, when the number of possessed balls changes from “0” to “XXX”, the number of possessed balls can be paid out in the counting / dispensing unit 4. As described above, the replay button operation designation notification including the prohibition of replay is transmitted from the payout unit 4 (control unit 410) to the card unit 3 (control unit 328). 3, the LED 320a is turned off, so that the replay process is prohibited.

  In addition, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) that has received the counting end response receives the membership card ID, member ID, and transaction serial number included in the counting end response, and the membership card ID and member ID in the count end notification. After confirming that it matches the transaction serial number, it sends to the management computer 150 a request for adding a ball including the member card ID, the member ID, the number of additional balls, and the new number of balls, and the management computer 150 In the member saving management table, the additional number of balls is added to the number of balls stored in association with the member card ID and the member ID to be updated to a new number of balls and stored in the RAM 410b. The last transaction serial number is updated to the transaction serial number.

  At this time, if the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 is offline, the member card ID, the member ID, the number of additional balls, and the new number of balls Is stored in the EEPROM 401d as a possession ball addition history, and when the communication state with the management computer 150 returns to the online state, the possession ball addition history is transmitted to the management computer 150, and based on these possession ball addition history The number of possessed balls in the member saving management table is updated.

  That is, in the counting correspondence processing of this embodiment, when the recording medium being received by the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing means) is a visitor card (general recording medium), the visitor card (general recording medium) The number of possession balls (owned game media) that can specify the number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) based on the number of additional balls (number of game media) counted by the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game media counting device) during acceptance of the game By recording the number-of-medium identification information), the number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) can be identified by the visitor card (recording medium for general use), and the control unit 328 that performs the count corresponding processing The specialization processing means of the present invention is formed.

  Further, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment performs counting from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) by counting pachinko balls (game media) in the count corresponding processing that is the specification processing of the present invention. Each time a count end notification including the number of possessed balls (the number of owned game media) is received, the received card number (owned game media number) is being received by the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing means). Recorded on a visitor card (general recording medium).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment counts and pays out in response to the start of counting pachinko balls (game media) in the count / payout unit 4 (game media counting device). The ball based on the count transmitted from the counting / dispensing unit 4 in response to the counting of the started pachinko ball (game medium) being completed from the time when the count start notification transmitted from the unit 4 is received. Count correspondence processing for recording a new number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) after the count is received on a visitor card (general recording medium) by receiving a count end notification including the number (number of owned game media) Until the point when the counting completion response that can specify that the (specifying process) has been completed is returned to the counting / dispensing unit 4, the visitor card according to the detection of the discharging operation in the step of Sb5 ( It prohibits the discharge of the general-use recording medium).

  When the player operates the payout button 401 of the counting / payout unit 4 in order to use the updated number of balls (the number of balls) in the pachinko machine 2 again, the holding data stored in the RAM 410b is stored. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) to the card unit 3 (control unit 328), as shown in FIGS. In the embodiment, 125 balls) or when the number of held balls is less than the number of automatically paid balls, a count payout start notification including the number of payouts determined as the number of held balls is transmitted.

  The reception of the count payout start notification transmitted in this way is detected in Sb7 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above and proceeds to Sb25, where the payout handling process is performed.

  This payout handling process is different in processing when the card being received by the card reader / writer 327 is a visitor card and when it is a membership card, and when the receiving card is a visitor card, When the process shown in FIG. 19 is performed and the accepted card is a membership card, the process shown in FIG. 20 is performed.

  First, when the receiving card is a visitor card, the card unit 3 (control unit 328), as shown in FIG. 19, invalidates cash acceptance, lending button operation, and return button operation, The issuance / payment processing, lending processing, return processing is prohibited, and a count payout start response including OK indicating that the prohibition of operation is completed is returned, and the received count is obtained from the number of balls stored in the card table. The number of payouts included in the payout start notification is subtracted and updated, and the counted number of balls displayed on the display unit 312 is updated to the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update.

  Further, after the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update is updated and recorded in the visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327, the subtraction number (payout) subtracted from the counting / payout unit 4 (control unit 410). The same as the number), the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update, and the transaction serial number (the final transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b) which is a serial number assigned to the transaction with the counting / dispensing unit 4 on the business day A count withdrawal completion notice including the next number) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to receiving the count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) starts paying out the pachinko balls of the number of payouts from the ball cutting payout unit 402, and paying out all the pachinko balls is completed. The payout number update request including the card ID stored in the RAM 410b, the payout number, and the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update is transmitted to the management computer 150, and the management computer 150 In the 150 visitor saving management table, the number of possessed balls stored in association with the card ID is updated to the new number of retained balls after the subtraction update.

  At this time, if the communication state between the counting / payout unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 is offline, these card ID, member ID (not a visitor card), the number of payouts, and the new Is stored in the EEPROM 410d as a holding ball subtraction history, and when the communication state with the management computer 150 returns to the online state, the holding ball subtraction history is transmitted to the management computer 150, and these holding balls are stored. The number of possessed balls in the visitor saving management table is updated based on the subtraction history.

  Then, a count payout completion notification (the number of stored balls is uniquely “0” for the visitor card) including the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update and the transaction serial number is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328). At the same time, the final transaction sequence number stored in the RAM 410b is updated to the transaction sequence number.

  In response to the reception of the count payout end notification, the control unit 328 confirms that the number of held balls included in the count payout end notification is the same as the number of held balls updated in the receiving visitor card, Check that the transaction sequence numbers included in the withdrawal end notification match, and return a count withdrawal end response (OK) on the condition that they are the same, and the final transaction sequence number stored in the RAM 328b After updating to the transaction serial number, the prohibition of each processing performed in response to reception of the count payout start notification is canceled and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  In other words, in the payout handling process of this embodiment, the control unit 328 accepts a visitor card (general recording medium) in which the number of possessed balls (the number of owned game media) is recorded in the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing means). In the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device), the counting / dispensing unit 4 provides a payout start notification that can specify that the operation of the payout button 401, which is a payout operation of a pachinko ball (game medium), has been performed. From the point of time when the payout button 401 is received (the payout operation), a new number of possessed balls (the number of owned game media) obtained by subtracting the payout number that is the number of game media to be paid out in the counting / payout unit 4 in accordance with the operation (payout operation) of the payout button 401 is obtained. A subtraction completion notice (count withdrawal completion notice) indicating that the process of updating and recording (specifying process) on the receiving visitor card (general recording medium) has been completed is sent to the counting / payout unit. Until such time as the reply to Tsu bets 4 prohibits the discharge of visitors card in response to detection of the discharge operation by the step (eject operation detecting means) Sb5 (OTC recording medium).

  In addition, when the number of possessed balls included in the count payout end notification does not match the number of possessed balls updated on the receiving visitor card, as described later, an offline state has not occurred, When it is determined that there is a problem in payout and the multifunction lamp 301 is turned on in a predetermined notification mode indicating that there is a problem in payout, and the transaction serial numbers do not match (in this case, almost Even if the number of holding balls does not match, the multifunction lamp 301 is turned on and notified in a predetermined notification mode indicating that there is a problem in payout.

  On the other hand, when the accepted card is a membership card, as shown in FIG. 20, it is issued by invalidating cash acceptance, lending button operation, return button operation, and replay button 319 operation.・ Prohibit deposit processing, lending processing, return processing, and replay processing, and return a count payout start response including OK indicating that the prohibition of operation has been completed, and from the number of possessed balls stored in the card table, The number of payouts included in the received count payout start notification is subtracted and updated, and the counted number of balls displayed on the display unit 312 is updated to the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update.

  Then, the subtracted number (subtracted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410)) is recorded on the member card being received by the card reader / writer 327 without recording the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update. Counting / withdrawing unit 4 (control unit) (same as the number of payouts), a new number of possessed balls after subtraction update, and a transaction serial number (number following the last transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b) 410).

  That is, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment starts counting out from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) while receiving a member card (member recording medium) in the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing means). When the notification (payout start notification) is received, the count withdrawal completion notification (subtraction end notification) is returned without performing the process of recording the number of possessed balls after subtraction on the member card.

  In response to the reception of the count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) starts paying out the pachinko balls corresponding to the number of payouts (subtraction number) from the ball cutout unit 402 and paying out all the pachinko balls. Is completed, and the number of coins is updated including the membership card ID and member ID stored in the RAM 410b with respect to the management computer 150, and the number of coins to be paid out and the new number of balls after subtraction update. A request is transmitted to update the number of possessed balls stored in association with the member card ID and the member ID in the member saving management table of the management computer 150 to the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update.

  At this time, if the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 is offline, the membership card ID, the member ID, the number of automatically paid out balls, and the new holding ball The number is stored in the EEPROM 410b as a holding ball subtraction history, and when the communication state with the management computer 150 returns to the online state, the holding ball subtraction history is transmitted to the management computer 150 and is stored in the holding ball subtraction history. Based on this, the number of possessed balls in the member saving management table is updated.

  Then, a count payout completion notification including the new number of possessed balls after the subtraction update, the number of stored balls stored in the RAM 410b, and the transaction serial number is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328) and stored in the RAM 410b. The last transaction serial number is updated to the transaction serial number.

  In response to the reception of the count payout end notification, the control unit 328 checks that the transaction sequence numbers included in the count payout end notification match, and sets the count payout end response (OK) on condition that the transaction sequence numbers are the same. ) And the last transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b is updated to the transaction serial number, and then the prohibition of each of the processes performed in response to the reception of the count payout start notification is canceled, and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 Return to.

  If the transaction serial numbers do not match, it is determined that there is a problem with the payout, as in the above-described visitor card, and the multi-function lamp 301 is turned on in a predetermined notification mode indicating that there was a problem with the payout. To inform you.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 is in an offline state, the payout within the range of the number of balls can be performed. However, this is preferable because it is possible to prevent the operation of the pachinko machine 2 from being lowered by making it impossible to pay out the number of the balls due to the occurrence of an offline state, However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the accepted card is a membership card, subtraction of the paid out number of payouts from the number of possessed balls managed by the management computer 150 is the counting / payout unit. 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 are not implemented until the communication state returns to the online state. If the card is returned and inserted into another card unit 3, the payout will be made based on the number of balls that have not been subtracted, which may cause damage to the game arcade. Therefore, when the communication state with the management computer 150 becomes offline while accepting these membership cards, it is possible to prevent the game hall from being damaged by prohibiting the payout based on the number of balls. good.

  In this embodiment, in order to prevent a decrease in operation due to prohibition of payout in the offline state with the management computer 150 and to prevent damage to the game hall, the number of balls in the offline state If the member card is returned in the off-line state, the member card is returned to the trouble mode, which will be described later, and returned to the management computer 150 in the off-line state. In addition to returning the member card with a high-level offline flag indicating offline, a visitor card in which the member card ID of the member card to be returned and the number of possessed balls after subtraction is recorded is issued. When only the member card in which the higher offline flag indicating offline is recorded is received, By prohibiting the payout of the number of possessed balls from the game card, it is possible to prevent damage to the amusement hall due to the payout from the unsubtracted number of possessed balls and to be returned with the membership card. When the visitor card is received together with the membership card, the number of possessed balls specified from the membership card is updated to the number of possessed balls recorded on the visitor card, and the updated number of possessed balls can be paid out. It is like that.

  If the card being received is a visitor card, the number of balls after subtraction is directly recorded on the visitor card, and when the visitor card is returned while offline, an upper offline flag indicating offline Is recorded, and when a visitor card in which these high-level offline flags are recorded is received, as will be described later, it is determined that the number of balls recorded on the visitor card is correct, so that damage occurs to the game hall. Therefore, it is not necessary to prohibit the payout based on the number of holding balls. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operation of the pachinko machine 2 from being lowered due to the prohibition of the payout.

  Further, when a player wants to leave his / her seat for his / her purpose, it is necessary to call an attendant and have the remote control carried by the attendant perform the leaving operation to shift to the away mode.

  When a remote control operation is performed on the remote controller, a predetermined infrared signal corresponding to the remote control operation is output from the remote control, so that the infrared signal can be specified by the IR light receiving unit 315. By being converted into a predetermined electrical signal and output to the display control board 329, the display control board 329 outputs to the control unit 328 the leaving operation information indicating that the leaving operation has been performed.

  In other words, in the IR light receiving unit 315 of the present embodiment, an infrared signal transmitted by a player leaving the seat with a remote control for interrupting the game is received, and the IR light receiving unit 315 accepts the seat leaving operation according to the present invention. Means are formed.

  The output of the leaving operation information is detected in Sb8 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, so that it is determined that there is a leaving operation, and the process proceeds to Sb26 to perform the leaving process as shown in FIG. .

  In this leaving process, the control unit 328 first invalidates all operations and transmits a card ejection notice (seating) to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the receipt of this card discharge notice (seating), the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) invalidates the operation of the payout button 401 and closes the inlet shutter 406, thereby paying out the number of balls. After prohibiting the counting of new pachinko balls, a card discharge result (OK) indicating that the new payout and the prohibition of counting have been completed is returned.

  In response to receiving the card discharge result (OK), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) notifies the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) of a leaving mode notification (start) that will shift to the leaving mode. By transmitting to the controller 410, the controller 410 determines that the card unit 3 is in the away mode, and the (member) card ID or member ID (member only) stored in the RAM 410b at that time or Data such as the number of held balls and the number of stored balls (members only) are stored in the EEPROM 410d and backed up. At the same time, the absence mode notification (release) and card insertion that are sent when the started away mode is canceled Until the notification is received, the operation of the payout button 401 is disabled and the closing of the inlet shutter 406 is continued.

  After sending the away mode notification (start), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) sets the (member) card ID and the member ID (member card only) and the number of possessions being received by the card reader / writer 327 to a long time. Even if the card data in the RAM 328b is lost due to power interruption or the like, these (member) card IDs and member IDs are stored in a predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c, and then a discharge instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327. The member card or visitor card being accepted is ejected from the card insertion slot 309, and the card insertion prohibition instruction is not output to the card reader / writer 327. The card insertion slot 309 can be To migrate to Away mode to allow the insertion of the card only.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, since the RAM 328b of the control unit 328 is backed up by a battery, the (member) card ID and the member ID (member only) are cards that are subject to cancellation of the away mode. As information, it may be stored again in a predetermined area in the RAM 328b, or, as in the present embodiment, the (member) card ID and the member ID (only the member card) are stored in the card table when the member card or visitor card is received. ) Is already stored, the new (member) card ID and member ID are not stored, and the (member) card ID and member ID (member) already stored in the card table are omitted. (Card only) may be used.

  The player may take out the membership card or the visitor card discharged from the card insertion slot 309 and leave.

  When the player finishes his job and resumes the game, the member card or visitor card discharged at the time of leaving the seat may be inserted into the card insertion slot 309, and the member card or visitor card is inserted. In this case, the control unit 328 reads the (member) card ID and the member ID (member card only) from the inserted member card or visitor card, and stores the (member) card ID and member ID (member ID (only the member card) in the predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c. (Membership card only).

  If the (member) card ID and the member ID (member card only) do not match, the inserted member card or visitor card is ejected and the away mode is continued, while the (member) card ID and member ID ( In the case of a match, the absence mode notification (cancellation) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), and the (member) card ID and member ID (member card only) And a card insertion notification including the number of holding balls.

  In response to reception of this absence mode notification (cancellation) and card insertion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) receives the (member) card ID and member ID (member card only) included in the card insertion notification. After confirming that the number of possessed coins matches the (member) card ID and member ID (member card only) stored in the EEPROM 410d and the number of possessed balls, the card insertion result (OK) is displayed in the card unit 3 (control unit). 328), the stored data in the EEPROM 410d is erased, and the disabling of the operation of the payout button 401 and the closing of the inlet shutter 406 are released.

  Then, in response to receiving the card insertion result (OK), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) erases the (member) card ID and the member ID (only the member card) stored in the predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c, By canceling all the prohibitions of the operations performed in the transition to the away mode, the normal mode is shifted from the away mode, and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 is returned.

  In other words, in the away processing of the present embodiment, the IR light receiving unit 315 receives the infrared signal transmitted in response to the away operation on the remote controller, and the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device) is received. A member mode or a visitor card (a member card or a visitor card) that is being received by the card reader / writer 327 (recording medium processing means) is transmitted by transmitting a leave mode notification (start) that becomes a leave mode start notification that can specify the start of the leave mode. The member card ID or card ID (recording medium identification information) that can be used to identify the member card or visitor card read from the general recording medium) is stored, the member card or visitor card is discharged, and the member card or visitor card is discharged. Operations other than accepting a card are prohibited and the leave mode is started. On the condition that the member card ID or card ID (recording medium identification information) read from the visitor card matches the member card ID or card ID (recording medium identification information) stored at the start of the away mode. Sends away mode notification (end), which is an end mode notification that can be specified to end the seat mode, to the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device), and cancels the prohibition of operation and leaves the seat. The mode has been terminated.

  In addition, when the player who has left the seat does not return even after a long time, the leave mode can be forcibly canceled. In this way, the release mode is forcibly released. In this case, the clerk only has to operate a forced release button provided on the remote controller that he / she owns, and by operating the forced release button, a predetermined response corresponding to the operation of the forced release button (forced release operation) from the remote controller is obtained. By outputting the infrared signal, the infrared light signal unit 315 converts the infrared signal into a predetermined electrical signal that can specify the forcible release operation, and outputs the signal to the display control board 329. To the control unit 328, the forced release operation information indicating that the forced release operation has been performed is output.

  When the forced release operation information is input during the away mode, the control unit 328 transmits the away mode notification (forced release) to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  When the absence mode notification (forced release) is received, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) stores the data stored in the backup in the EEPROM in another predetermined area of the EEPROM 410d as the forced release history data. After storing and erasing the backup data, the data such as the (member) card ID, the member ID (member only), the number of possessions and the number of stored balls (member only) stored in the RAM 410b are also deleted. The closing of the inlet shutter 406 is released.

  On the other hand, after transmitting the absence mode notification (forced release), the control unit 328 counts the (member) card ID, the member ID (member card only), and the number of balls held in the predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c. Similar to the payout unit 4 (control unit 410), after the forced release history data is stored in another predetermined area of the EEPROM 328c, the data is deleted and the card table is reset.

  Then, by canceling all prohibition of operations performed in the transition to the away mode, the transition from the away mode to the normal mode returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11, and a new member card or visitor card and banknote Acceptance is made possible.

  At this time, if there are uncounted pachinko balls in the corresponding pachinko machine 2, the inflow shutter 406 is opened in response to reception of the away mode notification (forced release), so that Uncounted pachinko balls are counted, and the number of balls after counting is stored as forced release history data.

  Further, the forced release history data is transmitted to the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 in response to a transmission request from the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 or in a closing process at the end of business, and the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 Even if there is a complaint or an inquiry by a person away from the seat, the system controller 100 or the management computer is controlled by the forced release history data stored and managed in the system controller 100 or the management computer 150. Even if a failure occurs in any of 150, the number of balls possessed by the person away can be reliably guaranteed.

  In addition, for example, a member player forgets to insert a membership card, inserts cash, obtains a pachinko ball by receiving a visitor card issuance, and counts the acquired pachinko balls. When the visitor card on which the number of balls is recorded is being received by the card unit 3, if you want to move to the number of balls on the membership card for which you have forgotten to insert the number of balls, The remote control possessed by the player may perform the operation of the “transition of possession” button, which is the operation of transition of the possession.

  The visitor card being received by the card unit 3 may not be issued by the card unit 3. For example, a member player acquires a pachinko ball by playing a game using cash or a visitor card on a pachinko machine 2 corresponding to another card unit 3, and counts the acquired pachinko balls. If you already have a visitor card with the number recorded, and you want to transfer the number of balls recorded on the visitor card to the number of balls on the member card, you can move the visitor card to the card unit 3 When the visitor card is completely accepted and the visitor card can be used, that is, when the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 is entered, Can be implemented by the staff.

  As described above, when a holding ball movement operation is performed on the remote controller, a predetermined infrared signal corresponding to the holding ball movement operation is output from the remote control, so that the IR light receiving unit 315 holds the infrared signal. The ball movement operation information indicating that there has been a ball movement operation from the display control board 329 to the control unit 328 by converting the movement operation into a specific electric signal that can be specified and outputting it to the display control board 329. Is output.

  The output of this ball movement operation information is detected in Sb10 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, so that it is determined that there is a ball movement operation, the process proceeds to Sb28, and the ball movement process shown in FIG. 29 is performed. Is done.

  In other words, in the IR light receiving unit 315 of the present embodiment, an infrared signal transmitted by the button operation of “move ball transfer” on the remote controller, which is a special operation for performing the transfer process, is accepted by the player. The IR light receiving unit 315 forms the special operation receiving means of the present invention.

  In this holding ball transfer process, the control unit 328 first invalidates cash acceptance, lending button operation, return button operation (and replay button 319 operation when a member card is being accepted). Issuance / payment processing, lending processing, return processing (replay processing) is prohibited, and whether or not the card being accepted is a visitor card is confirmed based on the card ID stored in the card table of the RAM 328b To do.

  If the accepting card is not a visitor card but a membership card, the holding ball transfer process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above. On the other hand, if the accepting card is a visitor card Then, after the display indicating that it is in the possession ball transition mode is started, a transition mode (start) indicating that the possession ball transition mode has been started is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to reception of this transition mode (start), the control unit 410 confirms the communication state with the management computer 150 at that time, returns a higher system connection notification if it is online, and returns to the higher system if it is offline. A disconnection notification is returned, the operation of the payout button 401 is disabled, and the inflow shutter 406 is closed to prohibit the payout of the number of balls and counting of new pachinko balls.

  When the control unit 328 receives a notification of disconnection from the host system from the counting / dispensing unit 4, the control unit 328 transmits a transition mode (end) indicating that the holding ball transition mode has been completed to the counting / dispensing unit 4, and then When the process ends and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, when the host system connection notification is received, the card reader / writer 327 is instructed to temporarily store the accepted visitor card in the card storage unit 370. After the card is collected and the shutter at the card insertion slot 309 is in the retracted state, the member card can be additionally inserted from the card insertion slot 309, and then the message “Please insert the membership card” is displayed on the display unit 312. To prompt for membership card insertion.

  When a card is inserted from the card insertion slot 309, it is determined from the (member) card ID read from the inserted card whether the inserted card is a member card.

  If the inserted card is not a membership card, after the inserted card is discharged (returned), a message prompting the insertion of the membership card is displayed on the display unit 312 again, indicating that it is not a membership card. Although not shown, when a membership card is not inserted within a predetermined number of acceptance limits, the counting / dispensing unit 4 displays a holding ball transfer mode (end) indicating that the holding ball transfer mode has ended. After the transmission, the end ball transfer process is terminated and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 is returned.

  If the inserted card is a membership card, based on the migration history read from the membership card, determine whether or not the number of migrations on that business day has reached a predetermined upper limit of 3 To do.

  In other words, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment identifies the number of transitions that is the number of times the transition process has been performed on the business day (predetermined period) based on the row history, and the identified number of transitions (number of transition processes) is determined in advance. It is determined whether or not the predetermined upper limit number of times 3 has been reached, and the control unit 328 corresponds to the transition number determination means in the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the total number of transition times is set to one day of the business day. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the total number of transition times is set to the last three days or the last one week. Or a period from the time of card issuance to the present time.

  In addition, the total number of transitions is not limited to one period. For example, when the upper limit number of business days is 3 and the upper limit number of the last 3 days is 5, the upper and lower times have been reached. The transition may be disabled.

  Further, in this embodiment, the upper limit number is uniformly set to three times, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper limit number may be determined as appropriate according to the management policy of the game hall. In the embodiment, these upper limit times can be collectively changed in the system controller 100 that manages each card unit 3.

  In this embodiment, the upper limit number is uniformly set to three. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper limit number is increased or decreased according to the rank of the member (high rank members have a high upper limit). The lower limit is applied to low-ranking members), or a lower upper limit is applied when the number of balls to be transferred is large, and it is high when the number of balls to be transferred is small. An upper limit may be applied.

  In the determination of the number of transitions, if the number of transitions on the business day has already reached a predetermined upper limit of three, an error message indicating that the transition history has reached the upper limit is displayed on the display unit 312. And informing that the transfer is impossible, the inserted membership card is ejected from the card insertion slot 309 and returned, and the temporarily collected visitor card is placed at a predetermined reading position in the card slot 392. After returning the holding ball transfer mode (end) to the counting / dispensing unit 4, the holding ball transfer process is ended and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above is returned.

  In other words, when a member player who has illegally acquired a visitor card by stealing a return operation when the player is absent transfers the number of balls in the visitor card to the number of balls in his / her member card Since the number of balls in the visitor card is valid only on that day, it is necessary to transfer a plurality of illegally acquired visitor cards in one day. There is a maximum number of times, so even if a large number of visitor cards are obtained illegally, it is impossible to transfer the number of balls of all visitor cards, so these frauds will be suppressed and prevented. be able to.

  Since the number of balls in the visitor card is valid only on that day, it is necessary to make a transition even if the maximum number has been reached. Even if the maximum number of times is reached by bringing the visitor card and the membership card to the free gift exchange POS terminal 170 and inserting the visitor card into the free gift exchange POS terminal 170 in accordance with a predetermined operation by an attendant. Number transitions can be made.

  On the other hand, when the number of transitions on the business day has not reached the upper limit, the control unit 328 sends the member card ID and member ID read from the inserted member card to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). Send a transition card notification containing.

  In response to the receipt of the transfer card notification, the control unit 410 causes the management computer 150 to store the personal identification number, the number of stored balls, the possession number stored in association with the member card ID and the member ID included in the received transfer card notification. Information on the number of balls is acquired (information acquisition processing), and the transfer card information including only the number of balls in the acquired information is returned.

  In response to the reception of the transfer card information, the control unit 328 acquires on the day of the membership card to which the number of possessed balls included in the received transition card information is 0, i.e. Check if there are any transferred balls.

  That is, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment associates with the member ID read from the newly received member card and is managed individually by the management computer 150, and the number of game media possessed on that day acquired on that business day. Is obtained through the counting / dispensing unit 4, and it is determined whether or not the obtained number of possessed balls is 0, and the control unit 328 is used in the present invention. It corresponds to the number of game media owned on the day and the number of game media owned on the day.

  If the number of possessed balls is not 0, that is, if there is already a number of possessed balls acquired by the game of the day or the number of possessed balls transferred on that day, an error message indicating that the number of possessed balls is not 0 is displayed. The information is displayed on the unit 312 to notify that the transfer is impossible, the inserted membership card is ejected and returned from the card insertion slot 309, and the temporarily collected visitor card is read in a predetermined slot in the card slot 392. After returning to the position and transmitting the holding ball transfer mode (end) to the counting / dispensing unit 4, the holding ball transfer processing is ended and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above is returned.

  In other words, the fact that the number of possessed balls specified from the membership card already exists means that the number of possessed balls has already been transferred or the number of possessed balls has been added due to the game on that day. There is a very low possibility that it will be necessary to transfer the number of balls from the visitor card after the transfer of the number of balls and the use of membership cards will be added. The transition of the number of possessed balls when the number of possessed balls already exists is very likely to be fraudulent, so the number of possessed balls when the number of possessed balls already exists is extremely high. By disabling this, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized shift in the number of balls.

  On the other hand, when the number of possessed balls is 0, the control unit 328, with respect to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), the membership ID read from the inserted membership card, the number of balls to be migrated, the migration source, The transfer request including the visitor card ID is transmitted.

  In response to receiving this transfer request, the control unit 410 performs a transfer process for transferring the number of balls. Specifically, first, an update request including the member ID and the number of balls included in the received transfer request is transmitted to the management computer 150 and stored in association with the member ID in the member saving management table. The number of possessed balls is updated to the transmitted number of possessed balls.

  That is, in the card unit 3 of this embodiment, it is determined that the number of transitions of the member player on the day does not reach the upper limit number, and the number of possessed balls of the member player that is the number of game media owned on the day is 0. On the condition that it is determined that the number of balls in the visitor card is changed to the number of balls in the member card.

  Then, in response to receiving the update completion notification of the number of possessed balls from the management computer 150, the management computer sends an update request including the card ID of the visitor card included in the received migration request and the number of possessed balls (0) after the migration. 150, the number of possessed balls stored in association with the card ID in the visitor saving management table is updated to “0”, which is the number of possessed balls transmitted, and indicates that the update has been completed. In response to receiving the update completion notification, a migration completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  In response to receiving the transfer completion notification, the control unit 328 updates and stores the date of the current day and the number of transferred balls as the latest transfer history of the member card being received, and remains in the visitor card. Prepaid balance transfer processing for transferring the prepaid balance to the inserted membership card is performed.

  In this prepaid balance transfer process, first, it is determined whether or not there is a prepaid balance. If there is no prepaid balance, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is a prepaid balance, the destination member is transferred. The balance transfer request including the card member card ID and the card ID of the transferer visitor card is transmitted to the system controller 100.

  In response to the receipt of the balance transfer request, the system controller 100 identifies the prepaid balance stored in association with the card ID included in the received balance transfer request in the visitor card table (see FIG. 10B). In addition, the specified prepaid balance is added to the prepaid balance stored in the membership card table (see FIG. 10A) in association with the membership card ID included in the received balance transfer request, and the visitor card is updated. After the prepaid balance corresponding to the card ID in the table is updated to “0”, a remaining amount transfer completion notification including the updated prepaid balance is returned to the card unit 3 that is the transmission source of the remaining amount transfer request.

  In response to the receipt of the balance transfer completion notification, the control unit 328 updates the prepaid balance data of the member card being accepted to the prepaid balance data of the prepaid balance included in the received balance transfer completion notification and temporarily collects the visitor card Are deleted by the card reader / writer 327, and the deleted visitor card is collected in the card storage unit 370, and the accepted membership card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309. After the return, the card table is reset and the ball transfer mode (end) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4, the ball transfer process is ended, and the above-described standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 is returned.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) opens the closed inlet shutter 406 in response to reception of the holding ball transfer mode (start) in response to reception of the holding ball transfer mode (end). Allows pachinko balls to be counted.

  In other words, the card unit 3 of the present embodiment, on receipt of a visitor card (general recording medium), on the condition that a new membership card (member recording medium) is received by shifting to the transition mode. The card reader / writer 327 (recording) is determined from the number of possessed balls (number of possessed game media) that can be specified by being recorded on the visitor card by the count corresponding processing (specifying processing means) and the newly received member card. The member ID (member identification information) read by the medium processing means) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 by the communication unit 335 (member identification information transmitting means), and the number of possessed balls is associated with the member ID. Then, the management computer 150 adds and updates the number of possessed balls stored in the management computer 150, and performs a transition process for erasing the number of possessed balls already recorded on the visitor card.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the member player wants to transfer the number of balls in the visitor card to the membership card, it is not necessary to go to the gift exchange POS terminal 170 provided in the gift counter every time. Since the number of possession balls can be transferred to the member card in the unit 3, not only can the convenience of these member players be improved, but the member player occupies the pachinko machine 2 with these transitions, By leaving the pachinko machine 2, it is possible to prevent the operation of the pachinko machine 2 from being lowered.

  In addition, in this embodiment, when transferring the number of balls to be held, the button operation of “Move Ball”, which is a special operation on the remote control owned by a member who can not be operated by the member player, is being accepted and the visitor card is being received On the condition that it is, since it shifts to the ball transfer mode based on the ball transfer process, the member player can not carry out the ball transfer process without relying on the staff Therefore, the card unit 3 that is accepting another person's visitor card is transferred to the holding ball transfer mode, the member card is inserted, and the number of held cards of the visitor card is transferred to the number of balls of the own member card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and without accepting a special operation by these staff, the upper limit condition of the number of times of transition and the day By satisfying the number of balls in conditions may be carried out migration processing.

  Further, in this embodiment, before the membership card is inserted, the button operation of the “moving ball” on the remote control which is a special operation is accepted, but the present invention is not limited to this, After accepting the membership card, by satisfying the upper limit number of transfer conditions and the condition of the number of balls on the day, in order to permit the transfer process at the stage of executing the transfer process, By accepting the button operation of “Move the ball”, it is possible to prevent the attendant from being called unnecessarily by not satisfying the condition of the upper limit of the number of times of transition and the condition of the number of balls on the day. good.

  Further, in this embodiment, the member player is inoperable, and a special operation for carrying out the possession ball transfer process is illustrated as an example of the button operation of “transition of possession ball” on the remote control possessed by the attendant, This is preferable because operations by member players can be surely prevented. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a menu displayed on the display unit 312 can be displayed without using these remote controllers. Is provided with a transition menu, and when the transition menu is operated, a password is accepted, and the transition to the transition mode is made on condition that the password matches a predetermined password known only to the attendant. These special operations may be performed as long as the member player cannot operate.

  In this embodiment, the transition history is recorded on the membership card so that the number of transitions on the business day that is a predetermined period can be specified by the transition history. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, these transition histories are managed in association with the membership card ID by the system controller 100 or the management computer 150, and the transition history managed in association with the membership card ID read from the accepted membership card is managed by the system controller. 100 and the management computer 150 may be used to specify the number of transitions in a predetermined period, and these transition histories, membership cards, and the system controller 100 or the management computer 150 are stored in both of these. It is possible to verify the migration history, and fraud due to falsification of the migration history Migration may be prevented to be made.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the number of transitions in the predetermined period can be specified even if the predetermined period is changed by using the transition history. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As in the embodiment, if the predetermined period is a business day, it is stored in association with the previous migration processing date and the number of migrations, and if the previous migration processing date is that day, the number of migrations If 1 is added and the previous migration processing date is not the current day, the migration processing date may be updated and the number of migrations may be set to 1 so that the number of migrations can be specified.

  Further, when the player operates the menu button 316 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 described above, the main menu display operation information is received from the display control board 329 that has detected the operation of the menu button 316 from the control unit 328. , The control unit 328 determines that the menu button 316 is operated in Sb10, proceeds to Sb28, and performs a menu display process (not shown).

  In this menu display process, the control unit 328 first determines whether or not the player who is playing the game with the corresponding pachinko machine 2 is a member based on the data stored in the card table (whether the member ID is stored). If the player is not a member (if the member ID is not stored), the menu items of “table data”, “ranking”, and “notification” that do not include member-specific menu items The visitor main menu (see FIG. 5) including only the visitor main menu is displayed on the display unit 312 by outputting a visitor main menu display instruction to the display control board 329. On the other hand, if the player is a member, The member main menu shown in FIG. 5 further including menu items “point display” and “replay” as menu items is changed to a member main menu. It is displayed on the display unit 312 by outputting the over display instruction to the display control board 329.

  Each menu item displayed on the display unit 312 can be selected by the player, and if any menu item is not selected within a predetermined time, a menu display end instruction is displayed on the display control board 329. After the display of the main menu is terminated by outputting, the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11. On the other hand, if any menu item is selected within a predetermined time, it corresponds to the selected menu item. After executing the process, the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  When the “replay” menu in the main menu is selected, the replay process of Sb24 described above is executed.

  In addition, when the “device data” menu is selected, each data of today stored in the game information table is displayed. When the “ranking” menu is selected, the type of ranking, specific Specifically, a submenu screen for selecting the starting ball ranking, jackpot ranking, consecutive house ranking, etc. is displayed, and the ranking data of the type selected on the submenu screen is acquired from the hall computer and displayed on the display unit 312. Is done.

  When the menu of “point display” is selected, the number of points of the store points stored in the card table (if the store points are not stored, the store point acquisition request is sent to the counting / payout unit 4. When the store visit point acquisition request is relayed to the management computer 150, the store visit point number is acquired from the management computer 150 via the counting / dispensing unit 4). When the “Notification” menu is selected, the notification information stored in the RAM 328 b is displayed on the display unit 312.

  In addition, unlike the main menu, the display of the “counted number of balls” below the display unit 312 is always displayed below the display unit 312 so that the player can always display the number of counted balls. It can be confirmed.

  Next, processing contents when the management computer 150 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 are offline will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) of the present embodiment determines whether or not the communication state with the management computer 150 depends on whether or not the communication status information transmitted from the management computer 150 is received every predetermined time interval (for example, 10 seconds). , Whether it is online (communication possible) state or offline (communication impossible) state, and when an offline state occurs in the monitoring, as shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328), and if the monitoring returns to the online state, a higher system connection notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  When this higher system disconnection notification is received, the control unit 328 updates the higher communication state data stored in the RAM 328b from “0” indicating the online state to “1” indicating the offline state.

  That is, the control unit 328 determines whether the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 is online with the management computer 150 based on the upper communication state data updated by the higher system disconnection (connection) notification transmitted from the counting / dispensing unit 4. Or it is specified whether it is in an offline state.

  When the higher-level communication status data is “1” in the offline state, the inserted pachinko balls are counted by the acquired ball counter 407 when the pachinko balls are inserted into the insertion hopper 405, thereby obtaining a count. -When a count start notification is transmitted from the payout unit 4 (control unit 410), cash reception, lending button operation, return button operation ( Disabling the replay button 319 operation when accepting a membership card prohibits issuance / payment processing, lending processing, and return processing (replay processing), and accepting visitors (members) ) Shows the (member) card ID and member ID (members only) read from the card and stored in the card table, and that the prohibition of operation is complete It returns a count start response including the K.

  Then, when it is determined that the counting is finished because the count value of the acquired ball counter 407 has not changed for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), the card unit 3 (control unit 328) newly counts. The number of pachinko balls, the number of new balls that are added to the number of balls before the count, the transaction number that is the serial number assigned to the current transaction, and the number received A count end notification including the card ID and member ID (member only) included in the count start response is returned.

  In response to reception of the count end notification, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) includes the new number of balls included in the count end notification in the count end notification in the number of held balls stored in the card table. Confirming that the number of balls to be added is the same, and updating the number of balls in the card table to the new number of balls, and displaying the counted number of balls displayed on the display unit 312. Update to a new number of balls.

  When the visitor card card is being received, the new number of held balls is further recorded in the visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327.

  Next, a counting end response including the transaction serial number included in the received counting end notification, the card ID of the visitor card and the member ID (member only) is returned to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). At the same time, after updating the last transaction sequence number stored in the RAM 328b to the transaction sequence number, returning to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11 cancels the prohibition of each of the processes performed in response to reception of the count start notification.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) that has received the counting end response indicates that the card ID, member ID (in the case of a visitor card) included in the counting end response, and the transaction serial number are the cards in the counting end notification. It is confirmed that the ID, the member ID (none in the case of a visitor card) and the transaction serial number match, but since the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, it is not possible to send a coin addition request and the management computer 150 Since the number of possessed balls managed in the visitor saving management table is different from the number of retained balls recorded on the visitor card, the number of retained balls cannot be directly recorded on the membership card. Will remain unreflected in the member savings management table.

  These (member) card ID, member ID (member only), the number of additional balls, and the new number of balls are stored as the ball addition history as described above, and when the communication state returns to the online state. To the management computer 150.

  In this way, when the player holding the visitor card being accepted operates the return button when the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, as in the case of normal online, FIG. Alternatively, the process shown in FIG. 22 is performed. In this case, since the upper offline flag indicating offline is recorded on the visitor card to be discharged, and these upper offline flags are recorded, as shown in FIG. Even if the number of balls in the visitor card is larger than the number of balls managed in the management computer 150, the number of balls in the visitor card is determined to be the correct number of balls. In the management computer 150, an update request transmission process for transmitting an update request including the card ID and the number of balls included in the card insertion notification received from the card unit 3 to the management computer 150 is performed. The number of managed balls is updated to the correct number of balls recorded on the visitor card. The payout is possible.

  In addition, when the offline state with the management computer 150 described above continues and the number of possessed balls is not reflected in the management computer 150, the member player who holds the member card being accepted operates the return button. In the same way as in normal online, the acceptance of cash, the operation of the lending button, and the operation of the replay button 319 are disabled, thereby prohibiting the lending process, issue / payment process, and replay process (not shown). ) And a card discharge notification is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the reception of the card discharge notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) prohibits the payout of the number of balls and the counting of the new pachinko balls as described above, and the communication state with the management computer 150 is A card discharge result (NG) is returned in response to being offline.

  In response to the return of the card discharge result (NG), the control unit 328 changes the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 based on the fact that the membership card is being received, the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4, the management computer 150, The membership card is returned in the offline state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 as a lighting state (high-speed blinking lighting) of a predetermined lighting color (for example, pink) indicating that the member card is returned in the offline state. Notify that an error has occurred.

  When a card discharge result (NG) is returned during reception of the visitor card, the control unit 328 records and discharges the upper offline flag indicating offline on the visitor card as described above.

  An attendant who recognizes that a membership card return error has occurred due to the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 goes to the card unit 3 and presses the “trouble mode” button provided on the remote controller he has. The operation is performed in a state where the remote control is directed to the IR light receiving unit 315 provided in the protruding portion 305 of the card unit 3.

  By this operation, a predetermined infrared signal corresponding to the operation of the “trouble mode” button (trouble mode operation) is output from the remote controller, so that the infrared light signal can identify the trouble mode operation in the IR light receiving unit 315. By being converted to a predetermined electrical signal and output to the display control board 329, trouble mode setting information based on the trouble mode operation is output from the display control board 329 to the control unit 328.

  In response to the reception of the trouble mode setting information, the control unit 328 terminates the error notification by the multi-function lamp 301 and starts displaying the trouble mode and the card processing on the display unit 312. The trouble mode (start) indicating that the trouble mode is started is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the reception of the trouble mode (start), the control unit 410 confirms the communication state with the management computer 150 at that time again, and returns a notification of disconnection of the higher system when the offline state is continued.

  The control unit 328 that has confirmed that the offline state with the management computer 150 of the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 continues by receiving this higher-level system disconnection notification is displayed in the upper-level offline flag indicating offline on the member card being received. (Flag data “1”) is recorded by the card reader / writer 327, and then a discharge reservation instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327, and the member card being received at a predetermined reading position in the card slot 392 is inserted into the card slot. The visitor card stored in the card storage unit 370 can be moved (set) to a predetermined reading position in the card slot 392 by moving to a reserved position in the vicinity of the card insertion slot 309 in 392.

  Then, the display during the card processing on the display unit 312 is terminated, and the issued card reading instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327 to read the visitor card stored in the card storage unit 370 in the card slot 392 for a predetermined amount. After being set to the position, the process shifts to a reception waiting state for a count start notification from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In addition, when the count start notification is received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) before the visitor card is set, the control unit 328 returns a count start response (NG). In response to receiving the count start response (NG), the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) transmits a repeated count start notification.

  The control unit 328 outputs a reading instruction to the card reader / writer 327 when receiving the counting start notification in the counting start notification waiting state, and the visitor card set at a predetermined reading position in the card slot 392 is output. After reading the card ID, a card insertion notification including the card ID is returned to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) to notify the card ID of the visitor card to be issued.

  By receiving the card insertion notification, the control unit 410 stores the number of balls in association with the card ID included in the card insertion notification, so that the communication state with the management computer 150 changes from the offline state to the online state. The trouble mode processing history including the card ID and the number of possessed balls can be transmitted to the management computer 150, and the card insertion result (OK) indicates that the storage of the card ID of the visitor card to be issued is completed. )

  In response to the return of the card insertion result (OK), the control unit 328 sends a count start response (OK) corresponding to the above-described count start notification indicating that the visitor card issuance preparation has been completed. Control section 410), and in response to the counting start response (OK), as described above, receiving the counting end notification including the new number of balls after counting, the membership card ID, and the membership ID. As a condition, after writing and recording the number of balls in the visitor card set in the card slot 392, a count completion response indicating that recording on the issued visitor card is completed and permission to discharge the visitor card are requested. Send a card ejection notification.

  On the condition that the card discharge result (OK) is received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) in response to the transmission of the card discharge notification, the control unit 328 makes an offline visitor card to be issued offline with the management computer 150. The member who has reserved the discharge after first writing and recording the high-order offline flag (flag data “1”) indicating the offline that can be identified in the state and the member card ID of the member card being accepted The card is ejected from the card insertion slot 309, and when the ejected membership card is removed from the card insertion slot 309, the visitor card is immediately ejected, so that the membership card and the visitor card are continuously connected. It is designed to be discharged almost at the same time. Forgetting to take the card is so unlikely to occur.

  After the membership card and the visitor card are discharged, the trouble mode (cancellation) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) to notify the completion of the trouble mode processing and reset the card table. To do. The counting / dispensing unit 4 can count pachinko balls in response to reception of the trouble mode (release). However, when the remaining number of visitor cards that can be issued to the corresponding card unit 3 is 0, as described above, pachinko balls cannot be counted.

  The control unit 328 updates the lighting state of the multifunction lamp 301 to a lighting state of a predetermined lighting color indicating that the card can be received, and among various operations performed by operating the return button, Cancel the deposit prohibition and return to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  In this way, when the visitor card is returned together with the membership card, the member player is in a state where the offline state of the counting / payout unit 4 and the management computer 150 corresponding to the returned card unit 3 is continued. Even so, the payout using the number of balls recorded in the visitor card can be performed in the other card unit 3 and the counting / payout unit 4.

  When using the number of possessions recorded in these visitor cards, the visitor card discharged (issued) together with the membership card to the card unit 3 corresponding to the counting / payout unit 4 that is online with the management computer 150 Insert. Even if a visitor card is inserted into the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 corresponding to the counting / dispensing unit 4 that is offline, “NG” is returned from the counting / dispensing unit 4 as a card insertion result. In the first place, you cannot use the number of balls of any visitor card.

  Based on the fact that the card unit 3 (control unit 328) includes the upper offline flag (“1”) and the member card ID in the data read from the received visitor card, the visitor card is accepting the member card. It is determined that the visitor card is returned (issued) together with the member card in the upper online state with the management computer 150 generated at the time, and the card ID read from the received visitor card, the member card ID and the number of balls are While temporarily storing, a message “Please insert the membership card” is displayed on the display unit 312 to prompt the user to insert the membership card.

  When the member player inserts the member card from the card insertion slot 309 in response to the display of the message, the previously inserted visitor card is temporarily collected in the card storage unit 370 and recorded on the inserted member card. The member card ID, member ID, prepaid balance data, upper offline flag (“1”) is read, the upper offline flag (“1”) is recorded, and the read member card ID is It is determined whether or not it matches the membership card ID read from the temporarily stored visitor card.

  If the membership card IDs do not match, the inserted membership card is returned. If the membership card is not inserted within a predetermined time, the inserted visitor card is returned, so that the visitor card cannot be used alone.

  Then, on the condition that the upper offline flag (“1”) is recorded and the membership card IDs match, the number of possessed balls temporarily stored in the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 and flag data are stored. The card insertion notification including the upper offline flag ("1"), the member card ID, and the member ID is transmitted.

  In response to receiving the card insertion notification including the higher offline flag (“1”) and the membership card ID, the control unit 410 of the counting / dispensing unit 4 first includes the membership card ID, the membership ID, and the number of possessions. An update request transmission process for transmitting an update request is performed, and the number of possessed balls stored in association with the member card ID and the member ID in the member saving management table of the management computer 150 is included in the transmitted update request Update to the number of possessed balls.

  Then, the information acquisition process is performed in the same manner as when receiving a normal card insertion notification, and the personal identification number, the number of possessed balls, and the number of stored balls are acquired from the management computer 150, and the acquired information and the card including “OK” After the insertion result is returned to the card unit 3, the number of possessed balls can be paid out.

  In response to the reception of the card insertion result, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) deletes the upper offline flag ("1") recorded on the member card being accepted, thereby removing the member card as usual. After the membership card is moved to the reserved position in the card slot 392, the temporarily collected visitor card is set again at a predetermined reading position in the card slot 392, and the visitor card is loaded. All the data of the number of possessed balls, membership card ID, and upper offline flag (“1”) is erased, and the visitor card that has been erased is collected again in the card storage unit 370 and at the reserved position. Set the moved membership card in the reading position again.

  Then, in the same manner as the reception of a normal membership card, the membership card ID, membership ID, prepaid balance, and the PIN number, number of possessed balls, and number of stored balls included in the card insertion result are stored in the card table, and the stored prepaid balance is stored. Is displayed on the remaining amount indicator, and a message is displayed on the display unit 312 to indicate that the deposit and ball lending are possible, and the member player is informed, and the password acceptance screen including the numeric keypad and the prompt to input the password are announced. By displaying the display on the display unit 312 and accepting the password, it becomes possible to use the prepaid balance, the number of stored balls, and the number of possessed balls as in the case of a normal membership card.

  Since the upper offline flag is also recorded on the membership card returned together with the visitor card, the card unit 3 uses the membership card when receiving the membership card on which the upper offline flag is recorded. In this way, in order to make these membership cards usable in the card unit 3, the visitor card returned (issued) together with the membership card is securely connected to the card unit. 3, the number of possessed balls recorded on these visitor cards can be reliably reflected in the number of retained balls of the management computer 150.

  If the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 becomes online after issuing the visitor card together with the membership card, as shown in FIG. 25, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control Unit 410) transmits a host system connection notification to card unit 3 (control unit 328), so that host communication state data is updated from “1” indicating an offline state to “0” indicating an online state. In addition, the trouble mode processing history including the membership card ID and member ID of the membership card returned during the trouble mode, the card ID of the issued visitor card, and the number of possessed balls recorded on the visitor card A visitor car issued by a member player by being transmitted to and stored in the management computer 150 The even lost by mistake, to identify the number of lifting balls recorded on the visitor card said lost, so that it can be reflected in the number of lifting balls that are managed by the management computer 150.

  Next, while the membership card is being received by the card unit 3 and the management computer 150 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 are offline, the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the card unit is offline (lower offline state). After that, the processing contents when returning to the online state will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 26, the processing contents until the count end response is transmitted from the card unit 3 (control unit 328) to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) are the same as those in FIG. The description here is omitted. However, the contents of the count end notification and the count end response are temporarily stored in the control unit 328 for communication with the counting / dispensing unit 4.

  The state in which the counting end response shown in FIG. 26 is transmitted is the pachinko ball when the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 are in the offline state (hereinafter referred to as the upper offline state) as described in FIG. Since the card being received is a membership card that cannot directly record the number of balls, the number of additional balls counted is not recorded on any recording medium, and This is a state that is not reflected in the number of possessed balls in the member saving management table in the management computer 150.

  As shown in FIG. 26, when the communication state between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 becomes an offline state (hereinafter referred to as a lower offline state) during the transmission of the count end response due to some trouble. The occurrence of these lower offline states is detected by the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 as described above.

  In response to the detection of the lower offline state, the control unit 328 informs that the lower offline state has occurred by setting the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 as a fast flashing lighting of a predetermined lighting color (for example, red), and the remote controller. Accepting all operations other than accepting operations from is invalidated.

  By this notification, the clerk who recognizes that the lower offline state has occurred, resolves the problem, and returns the communication state between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 to the online state.

  In response to the detection of the online state by the return, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) stores the device ID acquired from the corresponding card unit 3 at the time of activation stored in the EEPROM 401d and before entering the lower offline state. A connection request including the transaction serial number transmitted as the count end notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  In response to the reception of this connection request, the control unit 328 determines that the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 is in the lower offline state based on whether or not the device ID included in the received connection request matches its own device ID. Then, a connection response including the own device ID and the transaction serial number included in the count end notification received before the occurrence of the lower offline state is returned.

  That is, if the device IDs are the same, it is determined that the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 has not been exchanged, and if the device IDs are not the same (including the case of the initial value for inquiry), the corresponding counting is performed. It is determined that the dispensing unit 4 has been replaced.

  On the other hand, the control unit 410 that has received the connection response determines whether or not the transaction sequence number included in the received connection response is the same as the transaction sequence number of the transmitted connection request, It is determined whether or not a lower offline state has occurred before the reception of the count end notification including is completed in the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  Specifically, if the transaction serial number is the same, it can be determined that the lower offline state has been established after the completion of reception of the count end notification, so the control unit 328 can grasp the number of additional balls and the number of balls held after counting. On the other hand, if the transaction serial number is not the same, it can be determined that the lower offline state has been reached before the completion of the reception of the count end notification, so the control unit 328 determines the number of additional balls and the number of held balls after counting. It can be confirmed that there is a high possibility that it has not been grasped. Thus, confirming whether or not reception of the count end notification has been completed is that the number of balls held in the card unit 3 is recorded in response to the reception of the count end notification. In the case of a visitor card to be played, it is important to grasp whether or not the number of balls held on the visitor card is recorded.

  When the device ID included in the received connection response is not the same as the device ID of the transmitted connection request, the received device ID is updated and stored in the EEPROM 401d. In this case, the transaction serial numbers described above are almost certainly inconsistent.

  In the determination of the presence / absence of replacement based on the device ID described above, when the determination result indicates that the replacement is not performed, the control unit 328 transmits a communication error notification including the transaction serial number, so that the transaction serial number is being transacted. Notifying the counting / dispensing unit 4 that a communication error has occurred, and an error status returned from the counting / dispensing unit 4 in response to the communication error notification, Grasps that there is an indeterminate count that has not been reflected in the management computer 150.

  Based on the error response, the control unit 328 that has grasped that there is an indeterminate count in the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4, confirms the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150. Send a system connection notification request.

  In response to the reception of the higher system connection notification request, when the offline state with the management computer 150 continues, the control unit 410 returns a higher system disconnection notification as shown in FIG. When the offline state with 150 is canceled and the online state is entered, a higher-level system connection notification is returned as shown in FIG.

  When the host system disconnection notification is received, the control unit 328 changes the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 when the membership card is being received and the lower offline state returns to the online state as shown in FIG. In order to notify that the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 are in an offline state, the additional number of balls counted by the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 is not reflected in the management computer 150. Furthermore, the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 is a fast blinking lighting of a predetermined lighting color (for example, yellow).

  When the lower-level offline returns to online due to the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301, the clerk who recognizes that the additional offline number is not reflected in the management computer 150 due to the higher-level offline state. By operating the "trouble mode" button provided on the remote controller in the state where the remote controller is directed to the IR light receiving unit 315 provided in the protruding portion 305 of the card unit 3, the above-described operation is performed. As in the case of FIG. 25, by switching to the trouble mode, the member card being accepted is returned, and the visitor card in which the member card ID of the member card, the upper offline flag, and the number of possessed balls are discharged. (publish. Note that the detailed flow of the trouble mode in which these visitor cards are ejected (issued) is the same as that in the trouble mode in the case of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the host system connection notification is received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) in response to the transmission of the host system connection notification request, the control unit 328 communicates between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150. Is determined to have returned to the online state, and the upper communication state data is updated from “1” indicating the offline state to “0” indicating the online state and being received by the card reader / writer 327 as shown in FIG. The count confirmation request including the member card ID and member ID of the member card is transmitted.

  In response to the reception of the count confirmation request, the control unit 410 stores the member card ID and the member ID being received in the corresponding card unit 3 and the member card ID included in the received count confirmation request, which are stored in the RAM 410b. It is confirmed whether or not the member ID matches, and on condition that they match, the number of balls after adding the number of balls counted in the upper offline stored in the RAM 410b, and the member card ID Is sent to the management computer 150, and the number of possessed balls stored in association with the membership card ID is updated to the number of possessed balls in the request to update the number of possessed balls. Reflect the number of balls counted in the upper offline state.

  Then, in response to reception of the update completion notification of the number of balls from the management computer 150, a count confirmation result is returned to the card unit 3 (control unit 328). As a result of the counting determination, when the transaction serial numbers described above match, the number of held balls after counting is already notified to the control unit 328 by the count end notification. On the other hand, when the above-mentioned transaction serial number does not match while returning the confirmation result, the number of possessed balls after counting is not notified to the control unit 328 by the count end notification transmitted before the lower offline state occurs. Then, a count confirmation result including the updated number of balls is returned.

  In response to reception of the count confirmation result, the control unit 328 changes the display of the counted number of balls on the display unit 312 to the number of held balls after counting, and the occurrence of a lower offline state due to the lighting state of the multifunction lamp 301 Terminate the notification and validate the acceptance of each operation.

  If the member card ID included in the received count confirmation request does not match the member ID, a count confirmation request error is returned to the card unit 3 (control unit 328) so that the member cards match. Not displayed is displayed on the display unit 312 and notified.

  In the above description, the processing status when the lower offline occurs in the upper offline state has been described for the case where the counting is performed in the upper offline state. However, the case where the payout is performed in the upper offline state is described. Similarly, if an error response “Undetermined payout” is returned as an error response corresponding to the communication error notification, and the higher offline continues, the membership card is returned and When the visitor card in which the number is recorded is discharged (issued) and the upper offline is resolved, the payout confirmation request including the member card ID being accepted and the member ID is counted / payout unit 4 (control unit 410) The number of possessed balls in the management computer 150 is updated to the number of retained balls after subtraction.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if a lower offline state occurs during the upper offline state while the card unit 3 is accepting a membership card, the upper offline state is canceled when the lower offline state is resolved. When the offline state continues, the upper offline flag is recorded and the membership card is returned, and the visitor card in which the membership card ID of the membership card, the upper offline flag, and the number of balls is recorded is issued (issued). As a result, the member player may insert the issued visitor card and the membership card into another card unit 3 corresponding to the pachinko machine 2 that wants to play the game without going to the prize exchange counter one by one. , These received visitor cards have a higher offline flag ("1") and a membership card ID. Based on what is rarely received, a membership card is additionally accepted, and a card insertion notification including the number of possession balls, the higher offline flag (“1”), the membership card ID, and the membership ID is counted / paid unit 4 In response to the transmission to the (control unit 410), the update request transmission process is performed, whereby the number of possessions recorded in the visitor card is managed in association with the member ID in the management computer 150. By automatically updating the number of possessed balls of the member player, the number of balls counted in the upper offline state is reliably reflected in the number of possessed balls of the member player. Since the number of balls counted in the state is not reflected in the management computer 150, the member player is prevented from suffering damage. Further, the number of balls counted is used for the game. It is possible to reduce the trouble of the member player while preventing the disadvantage that the device cannot be used until the device returns to the upper online state, and the upper offline state is resolved when the lower offline state is resolved The membership card ID and the membership ID of the membership card being accepted by the card unit 3 are transmitted again to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). When the update request including the member ID is transmitted to the management computer 150, the new number of balls after counting is reflected in the number of balls managed by the management computer 150. That is, by doing in this way, the member game according to the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) and the management computer 150 when the lower offline state generated during the upper offline state returns to the online state. Appropriate processing can be performed to prevent the occurrence of damage to the person.

  In addition, even when these lower offline states are returned to the online state, the visitor card is issued after entering the trouble mode on condition of remote control operation, which is a special operation, so you may forget to remove these issued visitor cards Can be reduced.

  In addition, by setting the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 to a high-speed blinking lighting of a predetermined lighting color (for example, red), there is a possibility that it is necessary to issue a visitor card due to a transition to a trouble mode by a special operation. While the card unit 3 is in the upper offline state while accepting the membership card, it is informed that the lower offline state has occurred, so that the clerk etc. can accurately confirm that the situation requiring these special operations has occurred. Can be recognized.

  The issued visitor card records the membership card ID of the membership card returned together with the visitor card and the upper offline flag, and the upper offline flag is recorded when the visitor card and the membership card are accepted. The update request transmission process is performed in response to the flag data including the flag and the card insertion notification including the member card ID, the member ID, and the number of possessed balls being transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). So, by impersonating using a visitor card that does not have a membership card ID or higher offline flag recorded, the number of possessed balls illegally written on the visitor card or the number of possessed balls of an illegally obtained visitor card is managed. It is possible to prevent the computer 150 from being reflected and justified.

  In the above-described trouble mode of the present embodiment, the number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) included in the count end notification received from the count / payout unit 4 serving as the game media counting device according to the present invention can be specified. The number of balls is recorded on the visitor card, and this is done regardless of whether or not the card unit 3 is notified of the number of new balls due to the occurrence of a lower offline state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a card table provided in the RAM 328b of the card unit 3 (FIG. 6A). ))), The number of additional balls (count game media number) included in the count end notification sent each time counting is performed from the counting / dispensing unit 4 is added. When the number of coins to be updated is subtracted and updated, the number of payouts (number of payout game media) included in the count payout start notification transmitted each time the payout is performed from the counting / payout unit 4 is stored Instead of the number of possessed balls received from the counting / dispensing unit 4, the number of retained balls stored in these card tables may be recorded on the visitor card to be issued.

  However, when the number of possessed balls stored in the card table is recorded in the visitor card to be issued as described above, it is included in the connection request received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 when the lower offline state is resolved. Depending on whether or not the transaction serial number matches the transaction serial number sent in the connection response, the number of held balls stored in the card table upon completion of reception of the count end notification is changed to a new number that reflects the number of additional balls. It is determined whether or not it is the number of balls, and on the condition that the transaction serial number matches, the number of balls stored in the card table is recorded on the visitor card to be issued, and when the transaction serial number does not match, It is preferable to record the number of possessed balls received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 on the visitor card to be issued.

  Next, a process when a visitor card is being received by the card unit 3 and a lower offline state occurs during the execution of the payout in the counting / payout unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  30 to 32, the flow of sending / receiving the count payout start notification, the count payout start response, and the count withdrawal completion notification in response to the payout button operation is the same as in FIG. 19, and will be described here. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 30 to 32, the communication state between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is offline (lower offline) due to the occurrence of some trouble in the counting / dispensing unit 4 during transmission of the count withdrawal completion notification. The occurrence of these lower offline states is detected by the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 as described above.

  In response to the detection of the lower offline state, the control unit 328 generated a lower offline state (unpaid offline) while sending the count withdrawal completion notification after recording to the visitor card receiving the number of held balls. That is, the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 is notified as a fast flashing lighting of a predetermined lighting color (for example, red and green alternately), and all operations other than the operation receiving from the remote control are invalidated.

  By this notification, the clerk who recognizes that the low-order offline state has occurred confirms whether or not the problem that has occurred can be resolved. If it is determined that the problem cannot be resolved, there is a counting / dispensing unit 4 to be replaced. In this case, the counting / dispensing unit 4 is exchanged (FIG. 30). When there is no counting / dispensing unit 4 to be exchanged, the card card 3 is forcibly ejected the received visitor card (FIG. 32), When it is determined that the problem can be resolved, the problem is resolved without replacing the counting / dispensing unit 4, and the communication state between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is returned to the online state (FIG. 31).

  First, the case where the counting / dispensing unit 4 is exchanged during the lower offline state will be described with reference to FIG. 30. By the replacement of the counting / dispensing unit 4, the lower offline state is canceled and the online state is restored. From the exchanged counting / dispensing unit 4, a connection request including a device ID and a transaction serial number is transmitted as in the case of returning to the normal online state described above.

  However, since the device ID included in this connection request is the one in which the counting / dispensing unit 4 is exchanged, the device ID of the device ID of the corresponding card unit 3 does not exist in the EEPROM 410d. The predetermined initial value data indicating the inquiry is transmitted, and the initial value “0” is also transmitted for the transaction serial number.

  In response to receiving this connection request, the control unit 328 returns a connection response including its own device ID and the transaction serial number transmitted before the occurrence of the lower offline state to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410). In addition, it is determined whether or not the device ID included in the received connection request matches its own device ID, and whether or not the transaction serial numbers match. It is determined that the dispensing unit 4 has been exchanged during the lower offline state. The case where the device IDs match (there is no replacement) will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 328 transmits a host system connection notification request in order to confirm the communication state between the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the management computer 150 based on the determination result that it has been exchanged in this way.

  In response to receiving the higher system connection notification request, if the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, the control unit 410 returns a higher system disconnection notification while the communication state with the management computer 150 is online. If so, a host system connection notification is returned.

  When the host system disconnection notification is received, the control unit 328 determines that the incomplete payout is impossible because the counting / payout unit 4 cannot check the number of balls to be described later. The lower offline flag is recorded on the receiving visitor card, and the visitor card is returned. When a visitor card in which the lower offline flag is recorded is inserted into another card unit 3, the number of possessed balls recorded in the visitor card is managed by the management computer 150, as will be described later. It is updated to the number of possessed balls.

  On the other hand, when the host system connection notification is received, the control unit 328 is transmitting that there is a subtraction that has not been paid out, the card ID of the accepting visitor card, and the occurrence of a lower offline state. An error notification including the subtraction number (same as the number of payouts), the new number of balls after subtracting the subtraction number, and the transaction serial number included in the count withdrawal completion notification is sent to the counting / payout unit 4 (control unit 410). Send to.

  In response to the reception of this error notification, the control unit 410 stores the card ID in the RAM 410b and acquires the number of balls managed by the management computer 150 in association with the card ID included in the received error notification. It is stored in the RAM 410b, and it is determined whether or not the acquired number of balls matches the total of the number of subtractions and the number of balls included in the received error notification.

  If the number of possessed balls acquired from the management computer 150 matches the total of the number of subtracted balls and the number of possessed balls, an error response including the received transaction number of the error notification and “OK” is returned, and the subtraction is performed. When the count shift completion waiting notification for starting the payout of the number is shifted to a reception waiting state, on the other hand, if they do not coincide, an error response including the transaction number of the received error notification and “NG” is returned.

  When the control unit 328 receives the error response including “NG”, the multi-function lamp 301 indicates that the incomplete payout is impossible in a predetermined notification mode (for example, alternating high-speed blinking of yellow and blue). Turn on to alert.

  On the other hand, when an error response including “OK” is received, the control unit 328 transmits again the count withdrawal completion notification that was being transmitted when the lower offline state occurred, and paid out the pachinko balls of the subtraction number. The counting / dispensing unit 4 is executed.

  In response to the reception of the count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) starts paying out the pachinko balls of the subtraction number included in the received count withdrawal completion notification, and the payout of the subtraction number is completed. In this case, the payout is terminated, and a management ball 150 is transmitted to the management computer 150 including a card ID stored in the RAM 410b and a new ball count obtained by subtracting the subtraction number. In the visitor saving management table, the number of possessed balls stored corresponding to the card ID is updated, and the number of retained balls stored in the RAM 410b is updated.

  Then, a count payout completion notification (the number of stored balls is uniquely “0” because of a visitor card) including the updated number of held balls and a transaction serial number is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  In response to the reception of the count payout end notification, the control unit 328 checks whether the number of possessed balls included in the count payout end notification is equal to the number of possessed balls recorded in the receiving visitor card, After checking whether the transaction serial numbers match and returning the count payout completion response (OK) on the condition that they are the same, and updating the final transaction serial number stored in the RAM 328b to the transaction serial number, Sb2 Return to the standby state of Sb11.

  Note that the control unit 410 updates the final transaction serial number stored in the RAM 410b to the transaction serial number in response to the reply of the count payout end response (OK).

  Next, a case where the trouble is solved without exchanging the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the communication state between the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 is returned to the online state will be described with reference to FIG.

  Note that the processing up to the occurrence of the lower offline state is the same as that in FIG. 30, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  When the lower offline state is canceled and the online state is restored, the counting / dispensing unit 4 transmits a connection request including the device ID and the transaction serial number.

  However, the device ID included in this connection request includes the device ID of the corresponding card unit 3 stored in the EEPROM 410d at the time of startup and the transaction serial number (count deduction) received from the card unit 3 before the occurrence of the lower offline state. When reception of the completion notification is completed, the transaction serial number included in the count withdrawal completion notification is displayed. When reception of the count withdrawal completion notification is not completed, the final transaction sequence number stored in the EEPROM 410d. ) Is returned.

  In response to the reception of this connection request, the control unit 328 returns a connection response as described above, determines whether or not the device ID included in the received connection request matches its own device ID, and the transaction. It is determined whether or not the serial numbers match. If the device IDs match, it is determined that the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 has not been replaced during the lower offline state.

  On the basis of the determination result that the exchange is not performed, the control unit 328 further determines that the lower offline state has occurred after the completion of the reception of the count withdrawal completion notification when the transaction serial number matches, and the transaction serial number is If they do not match, it is determined that the lower offline state has occurred before completion of reception of the count withdrawal completion notification.

  If these transaction serial numbers do not match, the control unit 328 determines that the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 has not started paying out in response to reception of the count withdrawal completion notice, The number of subtractions (same as the number of payouts) included in the count withdrawal completion notification that was being sent when the subordinate offline state occurred and that there is a subtraction that has already been subtracted from the number but has not been paid out. ), An error notification including the new number of possessed balls after subtraction of the subtraction number and the transaction serial number is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the reception of this error notification, the control unit 410 determines whether or not the number of possessed balls stored in the RAM 410b matches the total of the number of subtractions and the number of retained balls included in the received error notification.

  In the case where the number of possessed balls stored in the RAM 410b matches the total of the subtracted number and the number of possessed balls, the control unit 410 returns an error response including the received transaction number of the error notification and “OK”. Then, the process shifts to the reception waiting state of the count withdrawal completion notification for starting the payout of the subtraction number. On the other hand, if they do not match, an error response including the transaction number of the received error notification and “NG” is returned. . When an error response including “NG” is received, as described above, the multifunction lamp 301 notifies that the incomplete payout is impossible.

  On the other hand, when an error response including “OK” is received, the control unit 328 transmits again the count withdrawal completion notification that was being transmitted when the lower offline state occurred, and paid out the pachinko balls of the subtraction number. The counting / dispensing unit 4 is executed.

  Note that the processing subsequent to the transmission of the count withdrawal completion notification is the same as that in FIG. 30, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  On the other hand, if the transaction serial numbers match, it is determined that a lower offline state has occurred after completion of receipt of the count withdrawal completion notification, and the payout started in response to the receipt of the count withdrawal completion notification is the corresponding count / Since there is a possibility that it has already been carried out in the payout unit 4, a ball number confirmation request including the number of balls is transmitted, and the number of balls held in the counting / dispensing unit 4 and the number of the balls Ask whether the number is the same.

  In response to reception of this number-of-balls confirmation request, the control unit 410 determines the number of balls when the number of balls included in the received number-of-balls confirmation request matches the number of balls stored in the storage unit 410b. A confirmation response (OK) is returned, and if there is no match, a number-of-balls confirmation response (NG) is returned.

  In the case of receiving this number-of-balls confirmation response (OK), the control unit 328 returns a count payout completion response (OK) and updates the last transaction serial number to the transaction serial number, and then enters the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11. Return.

  On the other hand, when receiving the number-of-balls-acknowledgment response (NG), the control unit 328 has already subtracted from the number of balls in the visitor card and has completed payout, as in the case where the transaction serial numbers do not match. That there is no subtraction, and the subtraction number (same as the number of payouts) included in the count withdrawal completion notification that was being sent when the lower offline state occurred, the new number of coins and transactions after subtracting the subtraction number An error notification including a serial number is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410).

  In response to the reception of this error notification, the control unit 410 confirms that the number of held balls stored in the RAM 410b is larger than the number of held balls included in the received error notification, and the number of held balls stored in the RAM 410b. The number of unpaid balls is identified from the difference between the number of possessed balls included in the error notification and an error response including the received transaction number of the error notification and “OK” is returned, and the identified unpaid out It shifts to the reception waiting state of the count withdrawal completion notification to start paying out the number of balls.

  On the other hand, when an error response including “OK” is received, the control unit 328 retransmits the count withdrawal completion notification that was being transmitted when the lower offline state occurred, and counts the payout of unpaid pachinko balls. -Make the payout unit 4 execute.

  In response to receiving the count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410) starts paying out the identified unpaid pachinko balls, and pays out when the unpaid pachinko balls are paid out. Is sent to the management computer 150, and a request to update the number of balls including the card ID stored in the RAM 410b and the new number of balls after subtraction is sent to the management computer 150, and the visitor saving management table of the management computer 150 The number of possessed balls stored in correspondence with the card ID is updated, and the number of retained balls stored in the RAM 410b is updated.

  Then, a count payout completion notification (the number of stored balls is uniquely “0” because of a visitor card) including the updated number of held balls and a transaction serial number is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  Since the processing after the transmission of the count payout end notification is the same as that in FIG. 30, the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the flow when the visitor card is forcibly discharged because there is no counting / dispensing unit 4 to be exchanged will be described with reference to FIG.

  Note that the flow up to the occurrence of the lower offline state and the notification of the occurrence of the lower offline state are the same as those in FIG. 30, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, the lighting mode of the multi-function lamp 301 is alternately flashing red and green, so that it is notified that a lower offline state (unpaid offline) has occurred. If the clerk determines that the problem that has occurred is irresolvable and there is no counting / dispensing unit 4 to be exchanged, it takes a long time before the card unit 3 can be used. In order to avoid the player becoming unable to play, the visitor card being received by the card unit 3 is forcibly discharged.

  When these visitor cards are forcibly ejected, the “forced ejection” button on the remote control possessed by the attendant is directed to the IR light receiving unit 315 provided on the protrusion 305 of the card unit 3. Operate in state.

  By this operation, a predetermined infrared signal corresponding to the operation of the “forced discharge” button (forced discharge operation) is output from the remote controller, so that the IR light receiving unit 315 can specify the forced discharge operation. By being converted to a predetermined electrical signal and output to the display control board 329, the forced discharge information based on the forced discharge operation is output from the display control board 329 to the control unit 328.

  In response to the reception of the forced discharge information, the control unit 328 starts displaying on the display unit 312 that it is in the forced discharge mode and that the card is being processed, and then displays a lower offline indicating that the visitor card being received is offline. After recording the flag (“1”), the visitor card is ejected from the card insertion slot 309 and returned.

  When the visitor card in which the lower offline flag (“1”) is recorded in this way is inserted into another card unit 3, as shown in FIG. The number of possessed balls recorded in the visitor card is updated to the number of retained balls stored in association with the card ID of the card.

  Specifically, in response to accepting a visitor card in which a lower offline flag (“1”) is recorded, the control unit 328 has a card ID read from the accepted visitor card and a member ID (not a visitor card). A card insertion notification including the number of balls and flag data (lower offline flag) is transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4.

  The counting / dispensing unit 4 that has received this card insertion notification first determines that the inserted card is a visitor card from the head code of the received card ID, and performs the number-of-balls matching process. From the management computer 150, the number of possessed balls stored in the management computer 150 in association with the card ID and the collation result are acquired.

  When these lower offline flags are recorded, since the verification NG is normally transmitted from the management computer 150 as the verification result, the control unit 410 does not match the number of balls in response to the reception of the verification NG. And a request for updating the number of balls including the number of balls and the transaction serial number acquired from the management computer 150 is transmitted to the card unit 3 (control unit 328).

  In response to reception of this number-of-balls update request, the control unit 328 updates the number of balls recorded in the receiving visitor card to the number of balls included in the received number-of-balls update request and The offline flag is deleted, and an update completion notification including a transaction serial number included in the received number update request received after the update is returned.

  In response to the reception of the update completion notification, the control unit 410 updates the number of balls recorded in the visitor card being received by the card unit 3 to the correct number of balls managed by the management computer 150. It is determined that the card has been completed, the card insertion result (OK) is returned, and the payout of the number of balls is validated.

  In response to receiving this card insertion result “OK”, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) stores the card ID, prepaid balance, and number of balls read from the receiving visitor card in the card table and stores them. After displaying the number of balls (the number of balls already counted) and the prepaid balance, the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb11.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the payout is completed after transmission of the count withdrawal completion notification (subtraction end notice) for starting payout from the counting / payout unit 4 in response to the completion of the subtraction. Even if the lower offline state (communication impossible state) occurs before receiving the count payout end notification (payout end notification) indicating that the lower offline state (communication impossible state) is resolved, the online state is restored. In response to this, by sending an error notification and count withdrawal completion notification as a withdrawal request in the present invention, the payout of pachinko balls of the subtraction number included in the error notification and count withdrawal completion notification is sent to the counting / dispensing unit 4 This is done by sending out pachinko balls that have already been subtracted (payout number) before sending the count withdrawal completion notice (subtraction end notice). By but not completed, it is possible to prevent damage to the player is generated.

  In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the counting / dispensing unit 4 has been replaced during the lower offline state, and an error that becomes a dispensing request on the condition that it has been determined that the counting / dispensing unit 4 has been replaced. When it is determined that the counting / dispensing unit 4 has not been exchanged while sending the notification and the counting withdrawal completion notification, the number-of-balls confirmation request including the number of balls after subtraction is provided on the condition that the transaction serial number is the same. In this way, when it is specified that the counting / dispensing unit 4 was exchanged when returning to the lower online state, the pachinko balls were not paid out at all by the exchange. By sending an error notification and a count withdrawal completion notification, the subtraction number (the number of payout game media) is paid out to the counting / payout unit 4 while no exchange is made. If the transaction serial number is the same, the counting / dispensing unit 4 that has not been exchanged is transmitted in order to send a number-of-balls confirmation request including the number of balls after subtraction, which is a subtraction notification in the present invention. Since the counting / dispensing unit 4 can reliably specify the number of balls after subtraction by the number-of-balls confirmation request, as described above, If a problem occurs during the payout of pachinko balls, it is possible to specify the number of unpaid pachinko balls based on the specified number of balls after subtraction, so the counting / payout unit 4 is replaced. Even if not, it is preferable that the number of unpaid pachinko balls can be specified and payout can be performed without excess or deficiency, but the present invention is not limited to this. An error notification that becomes a payout request without judging whether or not the counting / payout unit 4 has been replaced for the purpose of avoiding at least the occurrence of damage to the player due to the fact that the payout of all pachinko balls is not carried out. In addition, a count withdrawal completion notification may be transmitted.

  In this case, as described above, in order to prevent excessive pachinko balls from being paid out due to duplicate payout, the number of held balls after subtraction as in this embodiment. By sending an error notification that includes a payout request and a count withdrawal completion notification, the counting / payment unit 4 can reliably identify the number of balls that have been subtracted so that the number of unpaid pachinko balls can be identified. It is sufficient to pay out only the number of unpaid pachinko balls.

  In the above embodiment, both the device ID of the card unit 3 and the transaction serial number are used as the exchange presence / absence specifying information. However, in this way, only the device ID receives the count withdrawal completion notification. Whether or not the transaction is complete cannot be specified. For example, if a low order offline state occurs in the first transaction, the transaction sequence number transmitted from the counting / dispensing unit 4 after the exchange will be the same. However, the present invention is not limited to this because it is possible to prevent inaccurate specification of the presence / absence of replacement, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only the device ID or the transaction serial number may be used as the replacement presence / absence specifying information. Information other than these device IDs or transaction serial numbers may be used as exchange presence / absence specifying information.

  Further, in the above embodiment, even when the transaction serial numbers are not the same, an error notification and a count withdrawal completion notification are transmitted in the same manner as when the exchange is specified, and the subtraction number is paid out. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, when the presence / absence of replacement is determined only by the device ID without using these transaction serial numbers, if the device ID is the same, A request to confirm the number of possessed balls may be transmitted uniquely.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the fact that an unpaid offline has occurred is reported, and in this way, the transmission of the count withdrawal completion notification after recording to the visitor card that is accepting the number of held balls after subtraction is performed. A staff member, etc. can accurately recognize the occurrence of a state that may cause damage to the player due to the occurrence of a low-level offline state, that is, the withdrawal of the number of possessed balls is not made. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which these notifications are not performed may be employed.

  In the embodiment, the visitor card that is compulsorily ejected during unpaid offline is recorded with the lower offline flag that is the lower communication impossible state discharge information in the present invention, and the visitor card in which the lower offline flag is recorded. Is received, the number of balls in the visitor card is updated to the number of balls that can be identified by the management computer 150 in association with the card ID recorded in the visitor card. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from losing the number of lost balls, and to discharge the visitor card before the lower offline state returns to the online state. By having the other card unit 3 accept the visitor card, you can quickly play games using the number of balls before subtraction. Can be opened, thus entails that the player is unable to implement the game, it is possible to prevent occurrence of disadvantages of the player and the game arcade.

  According to the embodiment, the number of balls based on the number of pachinko balls counted by the counting / dispensing unit 4 during reception of the visitor card is the number of balls that can identify the number of balls. Since it can be specified by recording directly on the card, when the player ends the game and leaves the pachinko machine 2, it is only necessary to receive and possess only the visitor card. Can be improved.

  Further, according to the embodiment, the number of balls is sequentially recorded on the visitor card (general recording medium) according to the counting of pachinko balls (game media) in the counting / dispensing unit 4 serving as the game media counting device. Therefore, it is possible not only to reduce the player's disadvantage when the connection between the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device) and the card unit 3 is defective, but also to detect the return button operation (discharge operation). However, the present invention is not limited to this, but it is possible to quickly record the visitor card (game recording medium). By performing only when the card is returned, the number of rewrites to the visitor card may be reduced.

  Further, according to the embodiment, from the time when the count start notification is received until the time when the count end response is returned to the count / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device), the return button operation (discharge operation) is detected. Since the return process of discharging the visitor card (general recording medium) is prohibited, the recording of the new number of possessed balls (number of owned game media) on the visitor card (general recording medium) is not completed In addition, it is possible to avoid the disadvantage of the player due to the visitor card (general recording medium) being discharged.

  Further, according to the embodiment, when a count start notification is received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game media counting device), the contents transmitted / received to / from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game media counting device) are the membership card ( It is necessary to develop a different communication program or use a different communication program for each type of the recording medium because it is the same at the time of receiving the member recording medium) and the visitor card (general recording medium). As a result, development costs and program capacity can be reduced.

  Further, according to the embodiment, from the time when the count payout start notification (payout start notification) is received until the time when the count withdrawal completion notification that becomes the subtraction end notification is returned to the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device), Return processing to eject the visitor card (general recording medium) in response to detection of the return button operation (ejection operation) is prohibited, so the number of pachinko balls to be paid out in the counting / payout unit 4 (game media counting device) Before the recording of a new number of possessed balls (the number of owned game media) reduced by the number of visitor cards (general recording media) is completed before the visitor card (general recording media) is discharged. Alternatively, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a disadvantage in the game hall.

  In addition, according to the embodiment, when a payout start notification is received from the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device), the contents of transmission / reception with the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) are the membership card ( It is necessary to develop a different communication program or use a different communication program for each type of the recording medium because it is the same at the time of receiving the member recording medium) and the visitor card (general recording medium). As a result, development costs and program capacity can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, an operation other than the reception of the membership card and the visitor card (game recording medium) is performed by transmitting the absence mode start notification to the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device). In conjunction with the card unit 3 away mode, the pachinko ball counting and payout in the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device) can be prohibited, and the player is a member in the absence. It is only necessary to have a card and a visitor card (game recording medium), and the convenience of the player can be improved.

  In addition, when the game hall introduces each pachinko machine 2 such as this embodiment that can count the number of pachinko balls acquired by the pachinko machine 2, it has already been introduced. When the card unit does not have a connection function with the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) like the card unit 3 which is the gaming apparatus of the present invention, the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium) In addition to the introduction of the counting device, it is necessary to change the control unit for connecting to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game media counting device), as in the card unit 3 of this embodiment. If a device having a connection function with the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game medium counting device) has been introduced in advance, only the counting / dispensing unit 4 (game media counting device) is newly introduced. Since it is possible to construct a system of individual car count at a low cost.

  Moreover, even if there is no specific plan for building a system for counting each unit when a card unit is newly introduced, the card unit 3 (game device) of the present invention can be used in the future. Therefore, it is possible to construct a system for counting each vehicle at a low cost.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the visitor card and the membership card are both illustrated in the same card shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a general recording medium is shown in FIG. As shown, a non-contact IC module 502 including a non-contact IC chip having a non-contact communication function may be used as a visitor coin 50 that is insert-molded into a disk shape with an exterior resin 501.

  When these visitor coins 50 are used, as a gaming apparatus, a coin insertion slot 340 for inserting these visitor coins 50 and a visitor coin separately from the card insertion slot 342 into which a membership card is inserted. A coin discharge port 341 for discharging 50 is provided, and as shown in FIG. 34, recorded member information of a membership card inserted from the card insertion port 342 and visitor coin (VC) inserted from the coin insertion port 340 is recorded. A card unit 3 ″ having a reader / writer 368 that can perform reading and writing and can issue visitor coins (VC) stored in the storage path may be used.

  The reader / writer 368 shown in FIG. 34 is configured by a housing having a rectangular parallelepiped when viewed from the side. The above-described coin insertion slot 340 is disposed at the upper front portion, and the card insertion slot is disposed at the lower front portion. 342 and a coin discharge port 341 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction (see FIG. 33), and an input path 380 through which a visitor coin VC inserted from the coin input port 340 naturally flows down (rolls) in a vertical orientation is provided. 340 extends rearward (left side in FIG. 33) and is recorded on the inserted visitor coin VC on one side of the insertion path 380 in the vicinity of the coin insertion slot 340 in the insertion path 380. A VC head 368a for reading and writing (including erasing) stored information is provided.

  The VC head 368a is not particularly shown in detail, but the inserted visitor coin VC can be held at the reading position, and the flow path of the held visitor coin VC is set to the VC head 368a. There is provided a flow path switching mechanism (not shown) that can be switched and discharged to either the recovery path 381 extending from the rear side or the return path 382 extending from the lower surface side of the VC head 368a. Thus, the visitor coin VC held at the position where the VC head 368a is disposed can be collected or returned.

  The recovery path 381 is bent downward on the back side of the VC head 368a, extends downward from the bent portion, and the lower portion communicates with the coin discharge port 341. The flow path blocking mechanism for blocking the flow of the visitor coin VC is disposed in the path of the spare path 383, so that the recovered visitor coin VC can be stored in the recovery path 381. ing. The return path 382 extends downward from the lower surface side of the VC head 368a, and is bent forward at the position where the common head 368b provided near the coin discharge port 341 in the return path 382. The coin discharge port 341 is communicated.

  The common head 368b is the right side of the return path 82 and the spare path 383 when the reader / writer 368 is viewed from the front side, and the left side of the card slot (not shown) communicating with the card insertion slot 342, that is, the spare path 383 and the return path. It is arranged at a position sandwiched between the path 382 and a card slot (not shown), and can read and write information recorded on the member card inserted from the card insertion slot 342. The visitor coin VC issued through the spare path 383 is held at the arrangement position of the common head 368b by a holding mechanism (not shown) so that the information recorded on the issued visitor coin VC can be read and written. It can be done.

  Note that the reader / writer 368 returns the visitor coin VC even if the visitor coin VC is accepted while accepting the member card, and also returns the visitor coin VC and accepts the membership card while accepting the visitor coin VC. By returning the card, only one of the membership card or the visitor coin VC is accepted.

  That is, the recording medium processing means of the present invention accepts any one of a visitor card, a visitor coin, which is a general recording medium, and a membership card, which is a membership recording medium, regardless of its shape and the like. Any information can be read and written as long as each information recorded on the visitor card, visitor coin or membership card can be read and written.

  Also, as described above, when these membership cards (member recording media) and visitor coins (general recording media) are inserted into and removed from individual insertion slots, in trouble mode, visitor coins are transferred to the visitor coins. It is preferable to wait for the completion of the writing of the number of holding coins and discharge the membership card and the visitor coin so as to prevent the visitor coin from being forgotten as much as possible.

  In the above embodiment, in the trouble mode, the upper offline flag is recorded on the member card regardless of whether the processing performed in the counting / dispensing unit 4 in the upper offline state is counting or paying out. At the same time, the membership card ID and the upper offline flag are recorded on the visitor card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these processes are counted and paid out in the upper offline state. It is executed only when the processing executed in the unit 4 includes payout, that is, when the payout history is included in the processing history in the upper offline state stored in the EEPROM 328c. When the processing performed in the payout unit 4 is only counting processing, The visitor card does not store the membership card ID, and the membership card ID is not stored in the visitor card, and the additional number of balls counted during the upper offline state specified from the counting history. You may make it record and issue the number-of-balls data which makes the number of balls (the total number of each additional balls | bowls when there are a plurality of counting histories).

  In this case, when a visitor card in which the upper offline flag and the number of balls held (the number of additional balls) are received, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) receives the card as shown in FIG. The card insertion notification including the high-order offline flag (“1”) read from the visitor card, the card ID, and the number of possessed balls is sent to the corresponding counting / dispensing unit 4 to count / pay. In the control unit 410 of the unit 4, the number-of-balls matching process for transmitting the number-of-balls matching request including the card ID included in the received card insertion notification and the number of balls to the management computer 150 is performed. The

  Then, in response to the reception of the number-of-balls matching request, the management computer 150 returns a matching result of the matching NG in response to a mismatch in the number of balls corresponding to the card ID. Since there is a record of the upper offline flag (“1”) in the visitor card, the management computer 150 responds to the visitor card saving management table in response to the transmission of the update request including the card ID and the number of possessions. The number of possessed balls stored in association with the card ID is updated to the number of retained balls included in the received update request.

  The card insertion result including “OK” is returned to the card unit 3 on the condition that the update completion notification indicating that the update request is completed is received from the management computer 150, as in the case of receiving the normal card insertion notification. Then, the number of balls can be paid out.

  In addition, when it is desired to reflect the number of balls held by these visitor cards on the membership card, an attendant may be called to carry out the above-described migration process.

  That is, when only the counting is performed in the upper offline state, the counted additional number of balls is not reflected in the management computer 150, so even if the member card is inserted into another card unit 3, it is not yet reflected. Since there is no problem since the reflected number of balls can only be used, there is no need to record the upper offline flag on the member card, and the counted additional number of balls is used in the other card unit 3 If possible, the member player will not suffer damage, so the additional number of balls is recorded as the number of possessed balls, and by issuing a visitor card with the high-level offline flag recorded, it is recorded on the visitor card. The number of holding balls (the number of additional balls) can be used in the same way as a normal visitor card.

  That is, as described above, the upper offline flag is recorded in the issued visitor card, and when these visitor cards are received, the flag data including the upper offline flag, the card ID, the number of possessions ( In response to the card insertion notification including the additional number of balls) being transmitted to the counting / dispensing unit 4 (control unit 410), the update request transmission process is performed as described above, thereby corresponding to the card ID. Then, the number of possessed balls managed by the management computer 150 is updated to the number of possessed balls read from the visitor card, so that the number of possessed balls read from the visitor card is reliably reflected in the management computer 150. And impersonating with a visitor card that does not have these high-level offline flags recorded. Teeth, the lifting piece count and that is write illegally visitors card and lifting piece count of illegally obtain been visitor card is justified is reflected in the management computer 150 can also prevent the result being used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the member ID as the member identification information and the prepaid balance data as the game value identification information are recorded on the member card as the member recording medium. Is not limited to this. For example, only the membership card ID is recorded on the membership card as membership identification information and game value identification information, and the membership player ID can be specified by the membership card ID. The prepaid balance that is managed in association with the member card ID in the system controller may be specified by the member card ID. Thus, the member identification information and the game value identification information are the same information. There may be.

  In the above embodiment, in response to receiving the count start notification from the count / payout unit 4 (game media counting device), the count start including the member card being accepted and the (member) card ID read from the visitor card is started. By returning the response, the management computer 150 can specify the number of possessed balls after counting from the (member) card ID, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in these counting start responses Returns a count start response not including the (member) card ID, and the (member) card ID included in the card insertion notification may be stored and used as these (member) card IDs. .

  In the embodiment, before the pachinko balls are paid out in the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device), the number of balls held in the visitor card is subtracted and updated. It is not limited, and the subtraction update of the number of possessed balls is performed in response to the reception of the count payout completion notification that the payout of the pachinko balls in the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device) is completed. Anyway.

  In the above embodiment, when the membership card is being received and the communication state between the counting / payout unit 4 (game medium counting device) and the management computer 150 shifts to the trouble mode in the offline state, the card insertion slot By keeping the membership card from 309 reserved and waiting for completion of writing the number of balls in the visitor card, the membership card and the visitor card are ejected to prevent the visitor card from being forgotten as much as possible. The present invention is not limited to this, and these membership cards are discharged from the card insertion slot 309 without reservation, and for example, a display on the display unit 312 and an audio message indicating that the visitor card is further discharged. May be used to prevent a visitor card from being forgotten.

  In the above embodiment, the card unit 3 and the counting / dispensing unit 4 are illustrated as separate devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the front view of FIG. 36 and FIG. As shown in the block diagram, these may be one device (unit) 3 ′. In this case, as shown in FIG. 37, the control unit 328 also serves as the control unit 410, and the control unit 328 ( Each time the identification processing means) counts pachinko balls (game media) in the acquired ball counter 407 (game medium counting means), the number of possessed balls (number of possessed game media) based on the count is calculated by the card reader. Recording is performed on the visitor card (general recording medium) being received by the writer 327 (recording medium processing means). In these integrated devices (units) 3 ′, the communication unit 335 that performs data communication with the management computer 150 corresponds to the member identification information transmission unit of the present invention.

It is a system configuration figure showing the whole picture of the game system in the example of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine 2, the card unit 3, and the counting / payout unit 4 used for the game system of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention. It is top view sectional drawing which shows the structure of the card reader / writer 327 used for the card unit 3 of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the protrusion part 305 of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the card table of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the game information table of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention. (C) is a figure which shows the member game information used in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transmission data sequence transmitted from the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the counting / payout unit 4 used in the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system controller 100 used in the Example of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the membership card table in the system controller 100 used in the Example of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a visitor card table. It is a figure which shows the unit management table in the system controller 100 used in the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management computer 150 used in the Example of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the member saving management table in the management computer 150 used in the Example of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a visitor saving management table. (A) is a figure which shows the member information table in the management computer 150 used in the Example of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the game history table classified by member. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content implemented in the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is an exchange figure which shows the processing content of the card unit 3 used in the Example of this invention, and the counting / payout unit 4. FIG. It is a front view which shows the other form of the game apparatus of this invention. FIG. 34 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a reader / writer in the other gaming machine shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 34 is a partially cutaway view showing an IC coin used in the other gaming device shown in FIG. 33. It is a front view which shows the other form of the game apparatus of this invention. FIG. 37 is a block diagram of another gaming device shown in FIG. 36.

Explanation of symbols

2 Pachinko machine 3 Card unit 4 Counting / dispensing unit 16 Out ball counter 50 Visitor coin 100 System controller 102 CPU
105 Storage Device 106 Input Device 107 Display Device 109 Communication Unit 150 Management Computer 152 CPU
155 Storage device 156 Input device 157 Display device 170 Free gift exchange POS terminal 309 Card insertion slot 312 Display unit 314 Transparent touch panel 315 IR light receiving unit 321 Bill recognition unit 327 Card reader / writer 328 Control unit 334 Communication unit 335 Communication unit 368 Reader / writer 370 Card Storage unit 401 Discharge button 402 Ball cutting / dispensing unit 403 Guide tube 404 Counting ball inflow path 405 Loading hopper 406 Inlet shutter 407 Acquired ball counter 408 First communication unit 409 Second communication unit 410 Control unit 410a Control microcomputer (MPU)
410d EEPROM

Claims (9)

Each member game in the game hall has at least a function of counting the number of game media and a function of paying out game media within the range of the counted number of game media. Can communicate with a game medium counting device that can communicate with a management device that manages the number of game media owned by each member player in association with member identification information that can individually identify a person,
General-purpose recording medium in which the number of owned gaming media that can specify the number of owned gaming media and the gaming value that can specify the level of gaming value that can be used for games are recorded, or the member identification information And at least one member recording medium on which the game value specifying information is recorded, and a record for reading at least each information recorded on the received general recording medium or member recording medium Medium processing means;
Member identification information transmitting means for transmitting at least member identification information read by the recording medium processing means to the game medium counting device;
In order to lend a game medium corresponding to the magnitude of the game value to be used by using at least a part of the magnitude of the game value specified from the game value specifying information read by the recording medium processing means Game media lending means,
When the recording medium being received by the recording medium processing means is the general recording medium, the number of owned gaming media based on the number of gaming media counted by the gaming medium counting device during the receiving of the general recording medium is calculated. A specification processing means for performing specification processing for enabling specification of the number of owned game media by the general-purpose recording medium by recording the specified information on the number of owned game media;
A discharge operation detecting means for detecting a discharge operation for discharging the general recording medium or the member recording medium;
With
A gaming device for discharging the general recording medium or the member recording medium being received by the recording medium processing means in response to detection of the discharging operation by the discharging operation detecting means,
The number of owned game media that can be specified by the general recording medium by the specifying processing means on the condition that the member recording medium is newly received during the reception of the general recording medium, The member identification information read by the recording medium processing means from the newly received member recording medium is transmitted to the game medium counting device by the member identification information transmitting means, and the number of owned game media is determined by the member identification information. In addition to the number of owned game media stored in the management device in association with the information, and when the number of owned game media specifying information is already recorded on the general recording medium, the number of owned game media specifying information A gaming apparatus characterized by performing a transition process for deleting the game.   The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a special operation receiving unit that is inoperable by a player and receives a special operation for performing the transition process.   A transition number determining means for determining the number of times the transition process has been performed in a predetermined period and determining whether the specified number of transition processes has reached a predetermined upper limit number; The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the transition process is performed on the condition that it is determined that the upper limit number has not been reached.   In association with the member identification information read out from the newly received member recording medium, the number of game media owned on that day, which are individually managed in the management device and acquired on the business day, are counted as the game media counting device. The number of game media owned on the day acquired via the number of game media and the number of game media owned on the day for determining whether or not the number of game media owned on the day acquired by the number of game media acquired on the day is 0. The game device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transition process is performed on the condition that the number of game media possessed on the corresponding day is determined to be 0 by the means.   Each time the identification processing means receives the count end notification transmitted from the game medium counting device by counting the game media in the game medium counting device as the specification process, 5. The process for recording the number of owned game medium identification information capable of specifying the number of new owned game media to the general recording medium being received by the recording medium processing means is performed. The gaming device according to any one of the above.   While receiving the recording medium for general use, the game medium counting device is started when a count start notification transmitted from the game media counting device is received in response to the start of counting of game media. By receiving a count end notification transmitted from the game medium counting device in response to the end of counting of game media, the number of owned game media specifying information for specifying the number of new owned game media after the count is obtained. Responding to the detection of the discharge operation by the discharge operation detecting means until a count end response indicating that the specification process for recording on the receiving general recording medium is completed is returned to the game medium counting device. 6. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein discharging of the general recording medium is prohibited.   When receiving the count end notification from the game medium counting device during the reception of the member recording medium, the number of owned game medium specifying information capable of specifying the new number of owned game media after the count is being received. 7. The game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the counting end response is returned without being recorded on the member recording medium.   A payout start notification that can specify that a game medium payout operation has been performed in the game medium counting device during acceptance of a general recording medium in which the number of owned game media is recorded is received from the game medium counting device. For recording the number of owned game media number specifying information that can specify the number of newly owned owned game media after payout in the game media counting device according to the payout operation from the received time on the receiving general recording medium Prohibiting the discharge of the general recording medium in response to the detection of the discharge operation by the discharge operation detecting means until a subtraction end notification indicating that the specification process is completed is returned to the game medium counting device. The game device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   When receiving the payout start notification from the game medium counting device while receiving the member recording medium, the number of owned game medium specifying information that can specify the number of new owned game media after the payout is being received. 9. The gaming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the subtraction end notification is returned without being recorded on the member recording medium.

Images