JP2011000227A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a device for games from being left alone in a test mode.SOLUTION: Value specifying information that enables the specification of values applicable for games (hereinafter referred to as 'values') stored is transmitted to a server from the device for games. The server updates the involved values on the basis of the value specifying information from the device for games and information indicating a request for shift corresponding to the input received is transmitted. The device for games carries out a shift to a mode corresponding to the request for shift from the server and it is determined whether the timing reaches for switching over to the normal mode from the test mode or not. Then, mode specifying information that enables the specification of in which mode the involved values are stored between the normal or test mode is transmitted together with the value specifying information. The server updates the values stored in the mode corresponding to the mode specifying information from the device for games. When communication with the server is disrupted, the device for games carries out a switch over to the normal mode when given the determination that the switching timing is reached.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gaming system including a gaming device that accepts a recording medium capable of recording information capable of specifying a gaming availability value, and a server that can communicate with the gaming device and manages the gaming availability value. .

  Conventionally, in a system including a plurality of gaming devices (game devices) and a game hall management device (server) that manages the plurality of gaming devices, the normal mode is switched to the normal mode when performing the business process. While game-related data such as game ball count data in between are handled as data in the normal mode, the game mode such as game ball count data during the test mode is transferred to the test mode when checking the operation of the gaming machine. Some data was handled as data in test mode.

  In such a system, there is a system in which when the test release time is registered in the game hall management device and the test release time comes, the game hall management device operates to release the test mode of the gaming machine (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 10-118292 A (paragraphs [0073], [0085])

  However, in the system of Patent Document 1, when the gaming device goes offline with the server, even if the server returns from the test mode to the normal mode, the server cannot cancel the testing mode of the gaming device. The gaming device has a problem that it cannot return from the test mode.

  For this reason, for example, when a game is played by a player in a state where the gaming device has not returned from the test mode, data relating to the game, such as game ball count data, is treated as data in the test mode, Since it is not treated as data in the normal mode, the player may suffer a disadvantage.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming system capable of preventing a gaming apparatus from being left in a test mode.

Specific examples of means for solving the problems and their effects

(1) A recordable medium (for example, a membership card or a visitor card) capable of recording information that can specify a usable value of a game that can be used for a game (for example, the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held, the number of balls that have been stored, or the remaining amount of prepaid) A game device (for example, a card unit 3, a jet counter) for receiving the game, and a server (for example, management computer 150, system controller 100, card management company) that can communicate with the game device and manage the game usable value. A gaming system including a management server 12),
The gaming device is:
Value storage means for storing the game usable value (for example, RAM 328b, card table in FIG. 9A, stored ball count data in FIG. 9D, Sb20 (card receiving process) in FIG. 20, Sb21 (FIG. 22) Lending process), Sb22 (issuance / payment process), Sb24 (replay process), Sb25 (payout process in FIG. 24)),
Value specifying information transmitting means (for example, member ID, card ID, number of possessions, prepaid balance) that can specify the game usable value stored in the value storing means to the server (for example, 20 sends a card acceptance notification in Sb20 (card acceptance process) in FIG. 20, sends a loan completion notice in Sb21 (lending process) in FIG. 20, sends an issuance request in Sb22 (issue / payment process) in FIG. In Sb23 (return processing in FIG. 23), a visitor card return notification, a membership card return notification, etc.)
The server
Value updating means for updating the game usable value based on the value specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting means (for example, the number of possessed balls, the number of stored balls in the member saving management table of FIG. 16A), 16 (b) visitor savings management table number of possession, member card table of FIG. 14 (a), addition and subtraction update of prepaid balance of visitor card table of FIG. 14 (b),
Transition request input accepting means (for example, the mode of FIG. 12) that accepts an input of a transition request indicating whether to shift to the normal mode to be shifted when performing processing during business or to shift to the test mode to be shifted when checking operation A transition operation to the normal mode as a transition operation, acceptance of the transition operation to the test mode by the management computer 150), and
When an input of a request for transition to the test mode is accepted by the transition request input accepting means, information indicating a request for transition to the test mode (for example, a request for transition to the test mode), input to the normal mode When an input of a transition request is accepted, a transition request transmitting means (for example, FIG. 12) transmits information indicating a transition request to the normal mode (for example, a transition mode transition request to the normal mode) to the gaming device. Of various mode transition requests)
The gaming device further includes:
A transition request receiving means (for example, Sm2, Sm2 + in the mode transition control process of FIGS. 27, 35, and 37) for receiving information indicating a transition request to the test mode or the normal mode from the server;
When the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is received by the transition request receiving means, the mode is switched to the test mode, while when the information indicating the request for transition to the normal mode is received, the normal mode Mode switching means (for example, Sm6 and Sm14 in the mode transition control process of FIGS. 27, 35, and 37),
Switching time determining means (for example, St0 of the transition time-up process of FIG. 31, St0 ′ of the transition time-up process of FIG. 39) for determining whether or not it is time to switch to the normal mode from the test mode;
The value specifying information transmitting means can specify mode specifying information (for example, a mode flag in FIG. 10) that can specify whether the game usable value is stored in the normal mode or the test mode by the value storing means. And send
When the normal mode is specified by the mode specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting unit, the value updating unit calculates the game usable value stored in the value storing unit during the normal mode. On the other hand, if the test mode is specified by the mode specifying information, the game usable value stored in the value storage means during the test mode is updated (for example, in the storage device 155 of FIG. 15). Update the data in various tables in the normal mode storage area and test mode storage area),
When the mode switching means is unable to communicate with the server, it is determined by the switching time determining means that the switching time has been reached (for example, St0 of the transition time-up process of FIG. 31 and the transition time-up process of FIG. 39). On the condition that YES is determined at St0 ′), the mode is switched to the normal mode (St6 of the transition time-up process in FIGS. 31 and 39).

  According to such a configuration, the game usable value is stored by the gaming device, and the value specifying information capable of specifying the stored game usable value is transmitted to the server. A test that is transferred by the server when the game usable value is updated based on the value specifying information transmitted from the gaming device, and when the operation is confirmed or the operation is shifted to the normal mode that is transferred when performing the business process. When a request to enter the mode is accepted, and when the request to enter the test mode is accepted, information indicating the request to enter the test mode, and the request to enter the normal mode are accepted In this case, information indicating a request for shifting to the normal mode is transmitted to the gaming device. When the gaming device receives information indicating a request for transition to the test mode or the normal mode from the server, and when information indicating a request for transition to the test mode is received, the game device is switched to the test mode, while When the information indicating the transition request is received, the mode is switched to the normal mode, and it is determined whether or not it is time to switch from the test mode to the normal mode, and the game usable value is stored in either the normal mode or the test mode. The mode specifying information that can specify whether it has been performed is transmitted together with the value specifying information. When the normal mode is specified by the mode specifying information transmitted from the gaming device by the server, the game usable value stored during the normal mode is updated, while the test mode is specified by the mode specifying information. In the case of the game mode, the game usable value stored during the test mode is updated. When the gaming device cannot communicate with the server, it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that it is determined that the switching has occurred.

  For this reason, when the server is in the normal mode and information indicating a request for switching from the server to the normal mode is transmitted to the gaming device, if the server and the gaming device are unable to communicate, the gaming device is in the test mode. At this time, if the stored game usable value is transmitted together with the mode identification information of the test mode, the game usable value that should be updated as the stored game usable value during the normal mode Is updated as the game usable value stored during the test mode, so there may be a disadvantage for the owner of the game usable value, but it was determined that communication was not possible and switching was made. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gaming system capable of preventing the gaming apparatus from being left in the test mode because the mode is switched to the normal mode. Kill. Even if communication is not possible, switching to the normal mode is not performed unless switching occurs, so the test can be executed in a state where communication with the server is not possible.

  (2) The switching time determining means includes time measuring means (for example, Sm16 of the mode transition control process of FIG. 27) for measuring the time elapsed since the mode switching means switched to the test mode. When the time measured by (1) reaches a predetermined time (for example, a cancellation timer value) (for example, when YES is determined in St0 of the transition time-up process in FIG. 31), it is determined that the switching time has been reached.

  According to such a configuration, the time elapsed since the switching to the test mode is measured by the gaming device, and when the measured time reaches a predetermined time, it is determined that the switching time has come.

  Therefore, since it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that it is determined that the predetermined time has been reached, it is possible to prevent the gaming apparatus from being left in the test mode. Further, before the predetermined time is reached, the test mode can be continued, and the test of the communication disabled state can be performed.

  (3) The switching time determining means includes time measuring means (for example, Sc6 of the communication state detection process in FIG. 36) for measuring the time elapsed since communication with the server is disabled, and is measured by the time measuring means. When the time reaches a predetermined time (for example, a release timer value) (for example, when YES is determined in St0 of the transition time-up process in FIG. 31), it is determined that the switching time has been reached.

  According to such a configuration, the time elapsed since the gaming device became unable to communicate with the server is measured, and when the measured time reaches a predetermined time, it is determined that the switching time has been reached.

  Therefore, since it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that it is determined that the predetermined time has been reached, it is possible to prevent the gaming apparatus from being left in the test mode. Further, before the predetermined time is reached, the test mode can be continued, and the test of the communication disabled state can be performed.

  (4) When transmitting the request for transition to the test mode, the transition request transmitting means also transmits the predetermined time (for example, including a release timer value in the request for transition to the test mode ( (See Sm2 of the mode transition control process in FIGS. 27 and 35)).

  According to such a configuration, when a request for shifting to the test mode is transmitted by the server, a predetermined time is also transmitted.

  For this reason, since the predetermined time is transmitted at the start of the test mode, it is possible to prevent the predetermined time from being inconsistent between the server and the gaming device, and the switching time when switching to the normal mode is different. In addition, when a request for transition to the test mode is transmitted to a plurality of gaming devices, the same predetermined time is set in each gaming device, so that the predetermined time does not match among the plurality of gaming devices. It is possible to prevent the time of switching to the mode from being different.

(5) When transmitting the request for transition to the test mode, the transition request transmitting means also transmits a scheduled time (for example, release time) to end the test mode as the switching time (for example, Transmitting the request for transition to the test mode including the release time (see Sm2 ′ of the mode transition control process in FIG. 37))
The switching time determining means determines whether or not the current time has reached the switching time (for example, St0 ′ of the transition time-up process in FIG. 39).

  According to such a configuration, when the request to shift to the test mode is transmitted by the server, the scheduled time for ending the test mode is also transmitted as the switching time. It is determined by the gaming device whether or not the current time has been switched.

  This prevents the gaming device from being left in the test mode because it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that the scheduled time has been reached when the server and the gaming device cannot communicate. can do. Even if communication is not possible, switching to the normal mode is not performed unless the scheduled time is reached, so the test can be executed in a state where communication with the server is not possible.

(6) The server further includes:
When communication with the gaming device is enabled before the switching time determining means determines that the switching time has been reached, the mode of the gaming device is confirmed, and the confirmed mode is determined by the transition request transmitting means. Mode match determination means for determining whether or not it matches the mode of the gaming device indicated by the previously transmitted transition request;
When the mode match determination unit determines that the modes do not match, the shift request transmission unit transmits the previously transmitted transfer request again (for example, see FIG. 34).

  According to such a configuration, when communication with a gaming device is enabled by the server before it is determined that switching has occurred, the mode of the gaming device is confirmed, and the confirmed mode is transmitted last time. It is determined whether or not it matches the mode of the gaming apparatus indicated by the transition request. If it is determined that the mode does not match, the transition request transmitted last time is transmitted again.

  For this reason, when the server and the gaming device become communicable before it is determined that the switching has occurred, the mode of the gaming device can be immediately corrected.

(7) The gaming device further comprises:
When the mode is switched to the test mode by the mode switching unit, a test recording unit (for example, Sb22 (issued in FIG. 20) for recording a test flag indicating that the mode has been used in the test mode is recorded on the recording medium to be returned. -Write test flag at the time of new visitor card deposit issuance in the test mode in the deposit process), test flag at the time of return of the membership card and visitor card in S213 and S222 of the return process of FIG. 23 executed in Sb23 of FIG. Write) and
When the mode is switched to the test mode by the mode switching means, the test flag is not recorded, and the game usable value identified from the information capable of identifying the game usable value is 0. The recording medium is acceptable, but the test flag is not recorded, and the recording medium whose game usable value specified from the information capable of identifying the gaming usable value is not 0 is unacceptable. In the accepting disabling means (for example, in Sb20 (card accepting process) in FIG. 20), when the mode at that time is the test mode, the control unit 328 accepts that the read test flag is “0”. If the card is specified as a visitor card, the prepaid balance and the number of balls are present If there is no (0), the acceptance is continued, but if the prepaid balance or the number of balls is present (not 0), the visitor card is discharged and returned in the same manner as the membership card. Prepare.

  According to such a configuration, when the game device has been switched to the test mode, the test flag indicating that it has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned recording medium, and the test mode is switched to. However, the test flag is not recorded, and the recording medium having the game usable value specified by the information that can specify the game usable value is 0 is acceptable. Recording media that are not recorded and that have a non-zero game use value specified from information that can specify a game use value are not acceptable.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent the disadvantage caused by the use of the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium when not in the test mode being used during the test mode, and the recording is recorded on the recording medium. Since the game usable value specified by the information is 0, a recording medium that does not cause a disadvantage can be used in the test mode by being accepted.

(8) The gaming device further includes:
When the mode is switched to the test mode by the mode switching unit, a test recording unit (for example, Sb22 (issued in FIG. 20) for recording a test flag indicating that the mode has been used in the test mode is recorded on the recording medium to be returned. -Write test flag at the time of new visitor card deposit issuance in the test mode in the deposit process), test flag at the time of return of the membership card and visitor card in S213 and S222 of the return process of FIG. 23 executed in Sb23 of FIG. Write) and
Reception information transmitting means for transmitting reception information indicating whether or not the test flag is recorded on the recording medium to the server (for example, reception information indicating whether or not the test flag is recorded on a member card or a visitor card) Is transmitted to the management computer 150)
The server further includes:
Reception information receiving means for receiving the reception information (for example, reception information from the card unit 3 is received);
Test flag determination means for determining whether or not the reception information received by the reception information reception means indicates that the test flag is not recorded (for example, the received reception information has no test flag recorded) Whether or not to indicate that)
Game usable value determining means for determining whether or not the game usable value specified by the value specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting means is 0 (for example, transmitted member ID, card ID, Or, it is determined whether or not the counted number of balls, the number of balls held, or the number of balls stored specified by the number of balls is 0),
In the state where the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is transmitted by the transition request transmitting means, the test flag determining means determines that the test flag is not recorded, and the game can be used. If it is determined by the value determining means that the game usable value is 0, the recording medium can be accepted, but the test flag determining means determines that the test flag is not recorded. And when the game usable value determining means determines that the game usable value is not 0, the game device that is the transmission source of the reception information is instructed to disable the recording medium. Is transmitted to the card unit 3 (for example, information indicating a request to shift to the test mode is transmitted to the card unit 3). If it is determined that the test flag is not recorded in the status and the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, or the number of stored balls is determined to be 0, the membership card or visitor card If it is determined that the test flag is not recorded, and the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, or the number of stored balls is determined to be not 0, the member card Or a disabling instruction for disabling reception of a visitor card is transmitted to the card unit 3 that is the transmission source of the reception information).
The gaming device further includes:
Disabling instruction receiving means for receiving the disabling instruction transmitted by the disabling instruction transmitting means (for example, a disabling instruction from the management computer 150 is received);
Based on the disabling instruction received by the disabling instruction receiving means, the receiving disabling means for disabling acceptance of the recording medium (for example, the member card or the visitor card based on the received disabling instruction) It is impossible to accept).

  According to such a configuration, when the gaming device is switched to the test mode, the test flag indicating that the test mode has been used is recorded on the returned recording medium, and the test flag is recorded on the recording medium. Reception information indicating whether or not is recorded is transmitted to the server. The server determines whether or not the received reception information indicates that the test flag is not recorded, and determines whether or not the game usable value specified by the transmitted value specifying information is 0. When it is determined that the test flag is not recorded in the state in which the information indicating the request to enter the test mode is transmitted to the gaming device, and the game usable value is determined to be 0 Accepts the recording medium when it is determined that the test flag is not recorded, and it is determined that the game usable value is not zero. A disabling instruction for disabling is transmitted to the gaming device that is the transmission source of the reception information. Based on the received disabling instruction, the gaming device disables the reception of the recording medium.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent the disadvantage caused by the use of the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium when not in the test mode being used during the test mode, and the recording is recorded on the recording medium. Since the game usable value specified by the information is 0, a recording medium that does not cause a disadvantage can be used in the test mode by being accepted.

(9) The gaming device further includes:
Test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that it has been used in the test mode on the returned recording medium when the mode switching means has switched to the test mode (the test recording of (7) above) As well as means)
The transfer request input accepting unit erases the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium stored in the value storage unit and the test flag recorded on the recording medium in the test mode. Further accepting an input of a transition request as to whether or not to shift to the erasing mode to be shifted (for example, further acceptance at the management computer 150 of the transition operation to the erasing mode as the mode transition operation of FIG.
The transition request transmission means, when the transition request input acceptance means accepts an input of the transition request to the erase mode, indicates information indicating the transition request to the erase mode (for example, a transition mode transition request to the erase mode) )
The transition request receiving means can further receive information indicating a request for transition to the erasure mode (for example, Sm1 of the mode transition control process of FIGS. 27, 35, and 37),
The mode switching means switches to the erase mode when the information indicating the request for transition to the erase mode is received by the transition request receiving means (for example, the mode transition control process of FIGS. 27, 35, and 37). Sm8),
The gaming device further includes:
Recording to the recording medium in the test flag and the test mode is performed on the condition that the test flag is recorded on the recording medium that is being received or received when the mode switching unit switches to the erasing mode. Erasing means (for example, Sy5 and Sy7 in the erasing mode process of FIG. 29) for erasing the game usable value specified by the information that is specified.

  According to such a configuration, when the game device is switched to the test mode, the test flag indicating that the game device has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned recording medium. Transition request for transition to erasure mode to be transitioned when erasing the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium stored in the test mode and the test flag recorded on the recording medium by the server Is further received, and when an input of a request to enter the erase mode is accepted, information indicating a request to enter the erase mode is further transmitted. When information indicating a request to enter the erasure mode is received by the gaming device, the mode is switched to the erasure mode. When the information is switched to the erasure mode, a test flag is recorded on the recording medium being accepted or accepted. The game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium in the test flag and the test mode is deleted.

  Therefore, in each gaming device, the game usable value specified by the test flag and the information recorded on the recording medium in the test mode can be erased, so it is necessary to provide a special device for erasing them. In addition, there are usually several tens to several hundreds of gaming devices in a game arcade, and if these gaming devices have such a configuration, it is possible to erase them efficiently. It can be.

(10) The gaming system further includes a prize exchange device (for example, a POS reader / writer) for exchanging for a prize using the game usable value.
The gaming device further includes:
When the mode switching means is switched to the test mode, a test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that the test mode has been used on the recording medium to be returned (for example, the test mode is switched to the test mode). A test flag indicating that it was used in the test mode is recorded on the returned membership card or visitor card)
The transition request transmitting means transmits information indicating the transition request to the gift exchange device (for example, a transition mode transition request is also transmitted to the POS reader / writer).
The prize exchange device is:
A device exchange request receiving means for receiving a gift exchange for receiving information indicating a request for shifting to the test mode or the normal mode from the server (for example, a request for shifting to the test mode or the normal mode is received from the management computer 150). )When,
When the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is received by the gift exchange device transition request receiving means, the information is switched to the test mode, while the information indicating the request for transition to the normal mode is received. The gift exchange device mode switching means for switching to the normal mode (for example, when a request for shifting to the test mode is received, the mode is switched to the test mode, while the request for shifting to the normal mode is received. Sometimes switch to normal mode)
Utilization in which the game usable value specified from information recorded on a recording medium in which the test flag is not recorded is unusable when the premium mode switching unit is switched to the test mode. Disabling means (for example, the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls specified from information recorded on a member card or a visitor card in which the test flag is not recorded when the test mode is switched) Is not available).

  According to such a configuration, when the game device is switched to the test mode, the test flag indicating that the game device has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned recording medium. The server also transmits information indicating the transfer request to the gift exchange device. When the information indicating the request for shifting to the test mode is received by the gift exchange device, the information is switched to the test mode, while when the information indicating the request for shifting to the normal mode is received, the mode is switched to the normal mode. When the mode is switched to the test mode, the game usable value specified from the information recorded on the recording medium in which the test flag is not recorded is made unusable.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent a disadvantage that the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium when not in the test mode is used for exchanging prizes in the test mode.

(11) The gaming device further comprises:
Determining means for determining whether or not the game usable value exists when the request for transition to the test mode is received by the transition request receiving means (for example, mode transition in FIGS. 27, 35, and 37) Control process Sm11),
The mode switching means determines that the game usable value does not exist by the determination means when the information indicating the request to shift to the test mode is received by the shift request receiving means (for example, FIG. 27 The test mode is switched on the condition that the determination is NO in Sm11 of the mode transition control process of FIGS. 35 and 37 (for example, Sm14 of the mode transition control process of FIGS. 27, 35, and 37).

  According to such a configuration, when the game device receives a request to enter the test mode, it is determined whether or not there is a game usable value, and information indicating the request to enter the test mode is provided. When it is received, it is switched to the test mode on condition that it is determined that there is no game usable value.

  For this reason, since the game usable value in the normal mode is not safely evacuated, there is a disadvantage that it is used during the test mode or erased when entering the test mode. Can be prevented.

It is a system configuration figure showing the whole picture of a game system in an embodiment of the invention. It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine and card unit which were 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 used in embodiment of this invention. It is top view sectional drawing which shows the structure of the card reader / writer used for the card unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the protrusion part of the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the counting and fraction payout unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the card unit of an embodiment of the invention. It is a fracture | rupture top view which shows the internal structure of the counting and fraction discharge unit used for embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the card table of the card unit used in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the game information table of the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. (C) is a figure which shows the member game information used in embodiment of this invention, (d) is a figure which shows the number-of-balls data used in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transmission data sequence transmitted from the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the various modes in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention, and its content. It is explanatory drawing which shows the information transmitted / received between the card unit used in embodiment of this invention, the management computer, and the system controller. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system controller used in embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the member card table in the system controller used in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a visitor card table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management computer used in embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the member saving management table in the management computer used in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows a visitor saving management table. (A) is a figure which shows the unit management table used in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the storage / payout history table used in embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the member information table in the management computer used in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the game history table classified by member. It is a figure which shows the storage ball discharge | emission setting screen in the management computer used in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content implemented in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the count information processing implemented in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the lending process implemented in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the return process implemented in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the payout process implemented in the card unit used in embodiment of this invention. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the flow path in the inside of the counting and fraction discharge unit used for embodiment of this invention, and the flow-down condition of the pachinko ball. (A) is a flowchart which shows the content of the process at the time of business closing implemented in the card unit in embodiment of this invention, (b) is the processing content of the count invalidation process which comprises the process at the time of business end FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the mode transfer control process implemented in the card unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process at the time of the normal mode transition implemented in the card unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the erase mode process implemented in the erase mode in the card unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the communication state detection process implemented in the card unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the transition time-up process implemented in the card unit in embodiment of this invention. It is the 1st figure showing exchange of information between a management computer and a card unit in a normal mode or a test mode in an embodiment of the invention. It is the 2nd figure showing exchange of information between a management computer and a card unit in a normal mode or a test mode in an embodiment of the invention. It is a 3rd figure which shows transfer of the information between the management computer and card unit in normal mode or test mode in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the mode transfer control process implemented in the card unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the communication state detection process implemented in the card unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the mode transition control processing implemented in the card unit in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the communication state detection process implemented in the card unit in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the transition time-up process implemented in the card unit in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for implementing a gaming system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall image of a gaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gaming system includes a card reader-type pachinko machine (hereinafter abbreviated as a pachinko machine) 2 that is a gaming machine arranged in parallel on each of the gaming islands (not shown) arranged in the game hall, and a predetermined side of the pachinko machine 2 A visitor card having a prepaid function, which is a game recording medium that is issued to a general player who is not registered as a member in a one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko machine 2 at a side position of A process for accepting a membership card, which is a game recording medium issued to a member player registered as a member of the gaming machine, and lending a pachinko ball, which is a gaming medium used for gaming in the gaming machine, A card unit 3 that counts pachinko balls acquired in a game in the pachinko machine 2 that performs and pays out (returns) pachinko balls within the counted number of pachinko balls, and a card A system controller 100 for managing visitor cards, membership cards, and card units 3 used in the knit 3, management of the number of balls counted in each card unit 3, and member players possessing membership cards Management computer 150 that manages the number of saved balls that can be used for replaying games and the number of possessed balls recorded in the visitor card, and game information such as the base data of each pachinko machine 2 installed in the game hall It mainly comprises a hall computer 140 serving as a game information management device of the present invention to be managed, and a prize exchange POS terminal 170 provided at a prize counter in the game hall for exchanging prizes.

  And each apparatus which comprises these gaming systems of this embodiment is connected so that bidirectional | two-way data communication is possible via the hub (HUB) 7 and the communication cable 8, as shown in FIG. Each connected device is assigned a local IP address to form a local area network (LAN), and each of these devices connected to the local area network (LAN) can be individually identified. Each device has an IP address table in which a device (unit) ID and a local IP address are associated with each other, a unit management table (see FIG. 17A) described later, and the like. By assigning each local IP address specified from the device (unit) ID to the transmission data and transmitting / receiving it, It has to be able to perform the transmission and reception of data to.

  As described above, the system controller 100 of the present embodiment manages the prepaid balance (game value) remaining in each member card and each visitor card, and these members via the communication line 11. It is connected to a management server 12 installed in a card management company outside the game hall that manages cards and visitor cards so that bidirectional data communication can be carried out. By transmitting the management information, the card management company can grasp the sales by the membership card and the visitor card of each game hall by the management server 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a monitoring camera system for monitoring the inside of the game hall is connected to the hall computer 140 of the present embodiment, and the monitoring image inside the gaming hall captured by the monitoring camera system. However, it is stored and managed together with the base data of each pachinko machine 2 and the like. Note that game information such as the base data of each pachinko machine 2 managed by the hall computer 140 is updated to the latest information by transmission data transmitted from the card unit 3 corresponding to each pachinko machine 2, as will be described later. It has been updated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 are provided with various signals associated with the lending of a plurality (25 in this embodiment) of pachinko balls that are predetermined as payout units. The terminal terminal lending completion signal (EXS) and the table READY signal (PRDY) output from the pachinko machine 2, the card unit READY signal (BRDY) output from the control unit 328, and the terminal terminal lending request completion confirmation signal (BRQ). ) Are connected so as to be able to send and receive, and a jackpot signal, a probability changing signal, a time-shortening signal, a winning ball signal, and a start signal, which will be described later, output from the pachinko machine 2 are connected to be inputable.

  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. A hitting ball supply tray 23 is provided 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. Are provided, and an effect variable display unit 29 for displaying effect images and a variable display device 30 for variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information called “ordinary symbols” are provided. 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 at the start winning opening 34, all special symbols are variably displayed (variable display) in the special figure variable display section 28, and the effect display is started in the effect variable display section 29. After that, when the special symbol in the special figure variable display unit 28 stops and the result of the stop display becomes a predetermined specific display mode, the left, middle and right effects in the production variable display unit 29 are displayed. The variable display of the symbol 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) occurs and a big hit signal is output. By being in a state, 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 the present embodiment is equipped with an information output board (not shown) for outputting these signals to the outside, 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 prize 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 the present embodiment) is paid out.

  The pachinko machine 2 according to the present embodiment has a control for counting and paying out a predetermined number of prize balls from a game control board that controls the game in the pachinko machine 2 based on a prize ball signal that is output based on a prize. And a prize ball control board (not shown) that performs control for counting and lending out 25 pachinko balls, which are payout units, based on signals input / output from the card unit 3 in the same manner as a normal CR machine. In addition, pachinko balls can be lent out in multiples of 25 balls, which is the payout unit.

  Next, the visitor card and membership card used in the present embodiment will be briefly described. The visitor card and membership card used in the present embodiment are non-volatile for storing various data. Use of an IC card equipped with an IC chip having a volatile memory and a controller for rewriting and reading out the recorded information and performing non-contact communication with an external reader / writer device. The card and the membership card are pre-stored in a card ID that can identify each individual card, specifically, a visitor card that starts with VC and a membership card that starts with KC. And the type of the prepaid balance that can be identified from the card ID and the prepaid balance can be specified. And data, (there flag is "1", "0" indicating no flags) test flag indicating that it has been used in the test mode various data for are stored.

  The member card is issued to a member player who has registered as a member in the amusement hall, and a member ID assigned to the member is stored in a non-rewritable manner. In addition, as will be described later, the member player can use the membership card to store the pachinko balls once acquired and counted so that they can be used again in the game after the next day. However, these member cards do not directly record the number of stored balls, which is data of the stored balls, and the number of stored balls is associated with the member card ID and the member ID in the management computer 150 as will be described later. By being stored, it is specified from the member card ID or member ID.

  The visitor card is purchased and issued by a card issuing / payment machine (not shown) installed in the amusement hall, and is also issued by the card unit 3. The visitor card stores the number of balls and date based on the counted number of balls counted by the player who owns the visitor card, and the number of balls is stored only on the day of each game in the game hall. The card unit 3 can be used.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the number of possessed balls is written and recorded only on the visitor card, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of retained balls and the number of accumulated balls are not limited thereto. The data may be recorded on the membership card as in the visitor card.

  Next, the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 10 and FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. Various display units such as a multi-function lamp 301 that is configured by LEDs and can be informed of the state of the card unit 3 by being lit in a plurality of colors, a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, and a device from the front of the device A protruding portion 305 formed to protrude to the front side, a payout button 311 for receiving a counting payout operation for paying out the counted number of balls, and a card insertion slot 309 for inserting a member card or a visitor card are provided. .

  A card insertion slot 309 provided on the front surface of the card unit 3 is connected to a card slot 392 of a card reader / writer 327 (see FIG. 7) built in a position corresponding to the card insertion slot 309. A visitor card or a membership card can be inserted into the card slot 392 through the insertion slot 309.

  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.

  Further, a liquid crystal display 313, which will be described later, and a switch corresponding to each button are provided inside the protrusion 305, and these correspond to the protrusion 305 as shown in FIG. By being connected to the display control board 329 provided at the position in the apparatus, display control of the liquid crystal display 313, input position detection by the transparent touch panel 314, and the like are performed by the display control board 329.

  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 accepted.

  Further, a control unit 328 for controlling the operation of the card unit 3 is provided at a substantially central position of the card unit 3 so as to be easily connected to each part constituting the card unit 3, and as will be described later. Various operations of the card unit 3 are controlled by the control unit 328.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a recovery channel box 348 having a recovery channel inclined from the front side to the rear (inward) side of the card unit 3 is provided at the lowermost position of the card unit 3. In addition, the card unit 3 is disposed at the lower end position of the front surface of the card unit 3 on the front surface side of the recovery flow path box 348 at the lower position of the lower plate 24 of the pachinko machine 2, thereby being discharged from the lower plate 24. There is a connecting rod 344 for allowing the pachinko balls discharged from the box-like counting / fractional payout unit 340 to flow into the card unit 3 while counting the pachinko balls that are less than the payout unit number. A connecting rod mounting port 348 ′ to be mounted is provided, and the pachinko balls that flow down the connecting rod 344 and flow into the recovery flow path box 348 from the connecting rod mounting port 348 ′ are recovered. The road box 348 from the front side of the card unit 3 will flow down to the rear (inner) side, and is discharged to a collecting gutter (not shown) of the game island from the rear lower end of the card unit 3.

  In the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the card unit 3 main body engages with a unit holder 31 'formed at the upper and lower positions thereof, and the card unit 3 main body is directed in the front direction. A cylinder lock (not shown) is provided at a predetermined position below the front surface of the card unit 3 via a unit holder 31 that is held so that it can be pulled out. The card unit 3 can be pulled out by canceling. The unit holder 31 is provided with a connector for relaying various connection cables. A communication cable or the like connected to the control unit 328 is relay-connected via the unit holder 31. It is devised so that a communication cable or the like is not entangled when the card unit 3 body is pulled out and the card unit 3 body cannot be pulled out.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card unit 3 of the present embodiment. As described above, the card unit 3 mainly controls the bill identification unit 321, the card reader / writer 327, the display control board 329, the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340, and the control of each part of the card unit 3. And a control unit 328 that implements various functions of the card unit 3, and a bill identification unit 321, a card reader / writer 327, a counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 and a display control board 329 are provided in the control unit 328. To send and receive various data.

  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 the member card and visitor card inserted from the card insertion slot 309. I do.

  The configuration of the card reader / writer 327 used in this 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 slot 309. In addition, an insertion sensor 397 for detecting that a membership card or a visitor card is being inserted, a shutter solenoid 399 for moving a shutter to prevent insertion of a new membership card or a visitor card from the card insertion slot 309, , A guide rail 398 extending from the card insertion slot 309 and allowing a membership card or a visitor card to slide, and a membership card or a visitor card disposed so as to sandwich the guide rail 398 and inserted into the card slot 392 In the card slot 392, as well as membership cards and visitors An intake / discharge roller 387 ′ for discharging the card from the card insertion slot 309, a drive motor 386 ′ for driving the intake / discharge roller 387 ′, and an inward side of the card slot 392 by the intake / discharge roller 387 ′. The movement of the taken member card or visitor card on the guide rail 398 is carried out by being driven and rotated by the drive motors 386 and 393, and one side of the transport rollers 387 and 388 is stretched. A transport mechanism comprising a transport belt 391, a solenoid 389 for raising and lowering a stop pin that stops the transported member card or visitor card at a predetermined position, or a member card or visitor card stopped at a predetermined position A communication head 390 for supplying power to the terminal and for data communication, and a member card connected to the communication head 390. And a communication board 327a for controlling data transmission / reception with a user card or a visitor card, and reading of data from the inserted member card or visitor card and writing to the member card or visitor card are in a non-contact state. It is possible at.

  The transport roller 387 constituting the transport mechanism provided in the card reader / writer 327 of the present embodiment is 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 membership card or visitor is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the communication head 390 while one membership card or visitor card is retained (held) between the card insertion slot 309 and the transport roller 387. Data can be read and written by stopping the card, and the visitor card issued when necessary and the member card being received can be discharged from the card insertion slot 309 almost continuously.

  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. A new visitor card can be issued.

  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 stretched around the transport rollers 371. 372 and a transport mechanism for moving (storing and discharging) the visitor card, and pressing the visitor card stored in the card storage unit 370 toward the transport 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 come into contact with the transport belt 372. The visitor card is stored in a state where the protrusion of the central portion of the transport belt 372 is eliminated and the transport belt 372 contacts the entire surface of the visitor card, and when the visitor card is discharged, the visitor that contacts the transport belt 372 is stored. The card is discharged to the conveyance belt 391 by moving the conveyance belt 372 in the direction opposite to that of taking in the card.

  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 can In 370, you can recognize that the visitor card is full. The visitor card without performing the recovery of terpolymers card is ejected from the card insertion opening 309.

  When the visitor card is replenished to the card storage unit 370, a visitor card having a remaining balance of 0 is transferred to the card insertion slot 309 in a state where the attendant has shifted to the card replenishment mode (see FIG. 11) by operating the remote controller. By sequentially inserting, the inserted visitor cards are sequentially stored in the card storage unit 370.

  Next, the control unit 328 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 328 is accepting a central processing unit (CPU) 328a capable of executing a control program and a card reader / writer 327. (Membership) card ID and prepaid balance of the visitor card and membership card, the number of balls, the number of stored balls, the number of points visited, the corresponding pachinko machine 2 machine data, the game information of the members in the game, the counting and fraction payout unit The RAM 328b that can store various data such as the number of balls stored, which is the number of pachinko balls stored in 340, the control program executed by the central processing circuit (CPU) 328a, and the device ID of the card unit 3 Non-volatile memory that can rewrite and store various data such as setting information and (member) card IDs that are away EEPROM 328c and a real-time clock (RTC) 328d capable of outputting time information, calendar information, etc. at that time. RAM 328b is backed up by a battery (not shown), and is stored for a predetermined period even when the power is cut off. Data is retained.

  The control unit 328 of the present embodiment is connected to the prize ball control board (not shown) provided in the pachinko machine 2 so as to be able to exchange various signals accompanying the lending of the pachinko balls as described above. In addition, as described above, by connecting to the information output board of the pachinko machine 2 through the signal cable, various external output signals such as a big hit signal can be input.

  The control unit 328 is connected to an out ball counter 16 provided at a lower position of the corresponding pachinko machine 2 so that each count signal from the out ball counter 16 can be input. In response to the input of the count signal from the counter 16, a predetermined number corresponding to the count signal is added to the value of the total number of shot balls in a game information table (see FIG. 9B) to be described later.

  Further, the control unit 328 is connected to the counting / fractional payout unit 340 and, as will be described later, in response to the reception of the counting information output from the counting / fractional payout unit 340, the lower position of the display unit 312 The total number of balls counted by the counting and fraction paying unit 340 (before that time) is updated by updating the value of the counted balls (see FIG. 5) displayed in If the number of balls already counted on that day already exists, the total number of balls held) is displayed as the counted number of balls.

  The control unit 328 is connected to a payout button switch 311 ′ corresponding to a payout button 311 provided at a position below the protrusion 305 on the front surface of the apparatus, and a signal corresponding to the operation of the payout button 311 By inputting from the button switch 311 ′, the presence / absence of the operation of the payout button 311 is grasped, and when the payout button 311 is operated, a payout process described later is performed to pay out pachinko balls corresponding to the number of payout units. While performing from the corresponding pachinko machine 2, the pachinko balls with a fraction less than the number of payout units are paid out from the counting / fractional payout unit 340.

  In the card table stored in the RAM 328b of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, the (member) card ID or member ID read from the visitor card or member card inserted into the card reader / writer 327 is displayed. (Member card only), (Member) card ID and prepaid balance based on prepaid balance data, Card ID or (Member) card ID and number of possessed balls specified from member ID, (Member) card The number of stored balls specified from the ID and the member ID (members only) and the number of store visit points specified from the member ID (members only) are stored.

  Further, in the game information table of the present embodiment stored in the RAM 328b, as shown in FIG. 9B, game information for three days including today, that is, today's data, previous day's data, and previous day's data. 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 state based on the input statuses of the above-mentioned jackpot signal, probability changing signal, and short time signal output from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 to the input terminals 1 to 3 (not shown). Game state (only today) and latest game state data (input state of input terminal 1 to input terminal 3, 0: LOW / not connected, 1: HIGH, only today) from the left bit and previous game state data (Game state data before being updated to the latest game state data, today only), the total number of balls hit from the start of business, the total number of winning balls, the number of difference balls (total number of driving balls-total number of winning balls ), The total number of starts, reset every time the occurrence of a big hit state is identified, the number of start after hit that is the number of start after the occurrence of the big hit, the number of big hits that is the number of occurrence of the big hit from the start of business, the start of business Occurrence of probability change from time The number of probability changes that is the number of times, the number of times that the short-time state has occurred since the start of business operation, and the number of consecutive games that are the number of jackpots that occurred from the big hit that occurred in the normal gaming state to the next normal gaming state The game information consists of the latest information based on the jackpot signal, the probability changing signal, the short time signal, the start signal, the winning ball signal, and the out ball count signal input to the input terminal. Updated to

  Note that today's table data tabulated and managed in these game information tables, as shown in FIG. 10, a specific data header indicating that it is transmission data including the table data at the head, and the card unit 3. In response to reception of a transmission request from the hall computer 140 as a transmission data string of a predetermined format to which a device ID and a mode flag that can specify a mode type (a normal mode, a test mode, and an erasure mode described later) (When the game state changes, at that time). The ECC in FIG. 10 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. 9C, the game information from the time when the member card is inserted into the card reader / writer 327, that is, the The game information regarding the game of the member who possesses the inserted member card is 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 shown in FIG. 9 (d), stored ball number data is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 328 b, and the counting / fractional payout unit 340 is stored in a later-described storage unit inside the counting / fractional payout unit 340. The number of pachinko balls that have flowed in as a result of counting is added and updated to the stored ball count data, while the number of pachinko balls that have been paid out from the counting / fractional payout unit 340 is subtracted and updated from the stored ball count data. Thus, the number of pachinko balls currently stored in the storage unit can be specified by the stored ball number data.

  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 indicator display control, and other overall operation controls, as shown in FIG. 20, 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 response to the operation of the payout button 311, the number of balls counted (including those specified by the inserted visitor card and member card) is paid out (returned), and the number of balls paid out is subtracted from the counted number of balls. Payout processing, and transition to the away mode upon receipt of a signal based on the away operation on the remote control To perform the various processes of unattended processing, and the like of the eye.

  The control unit 328 is connected to the system controller 100, the hall computer 140, the management computer 150, etc. connected to the local area network (LAN) via the communication unit 334 and the HUB 7 so as to be able to perform data communication. These computers can send and receive various data 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. 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, image data used for menu display, and the like are stored. A processing program that performs determinations and processes associated with inputs from various switches and a touch panel independently of a VROM (not shown), a VRAM (not shown) that temporarily stores display data to be displayed on the display unit 312, and the control unit 328 Is implemented based on the display data (page data) output from the control unit 328, etc. The type of display screen, and is capable of displaying on the liquid crystal display 313 constituting the display unit 312.

  Here, the various operation modes in the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The card unit 3 is roughly divided into a normal mode that is shifted when performing various processes during business, and these business modes. Three modes: a test mode that is transferred when performing operation checks (tests) of various processes, and an erase mode that is transferred when erasing recorded data recorded on the visitor card used in these test modes As shown in FIG. 12, the mode transition control process shown in FIG. 27 is performed in response to the reception of various mode transition requests from the management computer 150, as shown in FIG. The received mode transition request is shifted to each corresponding mode.

  Further, in addition to these modes, a transition is made when the player leaves the game by interrupting the game, or when a staff member refills the card storage unit 370 of the card reader / writer 327 with a visitor card. Card replenishment mode, and additional reserve mode that is transferred when replenishing pachinko balls to a storage unit 338 in a counting / fractional payout unit 340, which will be described later. Transition is possible in both modes.

  In other words, the away mode, card replenishment mode, and added reservation mode are lower modes that are shifted in the normal mode, which is the basic mode, and in the test mode. The operation is carried out by operating a remote control (not shown) possessed.

  Specifically, in the normal mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is set to the non-lighting state, and all the operations can be performed and recorded on the membership card or the visitor card. Normal data (no additional data) is recorded as the data to be transmitted, and the transmission data including the normal flag (00) indicating the normal mode is transmitted as the mode flag of the transmission data transmitted to the management computer 150, the hall computer 140, etc. Data is sent.

  Further, in the test mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is a continuous red lighting state, and all the operations can be performed and recorded on the membership card or the visitor card. As data to be transmitted, a test flag is additionally recorded, and transmission data including a test flag (10) indicating a test mode is transmitted as a mode flag of transmission data transmitted to the management computer 150, the hall computer 140, and the like. .

  Further, in the erase mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is a red blinking lighting state, and only the operation related to the erase mode processing shown in FIG. 29 can be performed, and the test flag is set. For the recorded visitor card, all the data to be erased is erased from the recorded data, and the mode flag of the transmission data transmitted to the management computer 150, the hall computer 140, etc., indicates the erase mode. Transmission data including the flag (11) is transmitted.

  In the away mode, the function lamp 301 is lit yellow to indicate that the user is away from the seat, and the display unit 312 displays “being away”. The returned membership card or visitor card can only be accepted and verified, and the mode flag of the transmission data sent to the management computer 150, hall computer 140, etc. should be the normal mode at the time of transition to the away mode. For example, the transmission data including the normal flag (00) indicating the normal mode is transmitted, and if the time when the mode is shifted to the away mode is the test mode, the transmission data including the test flag (10) indicating the test mode is transmitted.

  Further, in the card replenishment mode, the lighting state of the function lamp 301 does not change, and the display unit 312 displays “replenishment is possible”, and operations include receiving a visitor card to be replenished and the card storage unit 370. Only the operation related to the card replenishment such as the storage operation of the card can be performed, and the mode flag of the transmission data transmitted to the management computer 150, the hall computer 140 or the like may be the normal mode when the mode is shifted to the card refill mode. For example, transmission data including a normal flag (00) indicating the normal mode is transmitted, and if the time when the mode is shifted to the card replenishment mode is the test mode, transmission data including the test flag (10) indicating the test mode is transmitted.

  In addition, in the added reservation mode, the lighting state of the function lamp 301 is not changed, and “display is possible” is displayed on the display unit 312. As operations, the pachinko ball to be replenished and the inserted pachinko are displayed. Only operations related to replenishment of pachinko balls, such as storage operations in the ball storage unit 338, can be performed, and the mode flag of transmission data transmitted to the management computer 150, the hall computer 140, etc. is shifted to the additional reservation mode. If the received time is the normal mode, the transmission data including the normal flag (00) indicating the normal mode is transmitted, and if the time when the mode is shifted to the addition reservation mode is the test mode, the test flag (10) indicating the test mode is included. Transmission data is transmitted.

  Further, as will be described later, the control unit 328 communicates with the management computer 150 depending on whether or not an online confirmation request is periodically transmitted from the management computer 150 (about every 10 seconds in this embodiment). It is possible to detect whether the device is online or offline (communication disabled), and an online confirmation response including the device ID is returned to the management computer 150 in response to the reception of these online confirmation requests. The management computer 150 can also detect the online / offline state of each card unit 3. These online confirmation requests may be substituted by other data transmission requests.

  As the detection of these offline, the control unit 328 sends an online confirmation request to the management computer 150 when the online confirmation request has not been received for a predetermined time, and responds to the transmission of the online confirmation request. When there is no online confirmation response, it is determined that an offline state has occurred.

  Similarly, in the management computer 150, when an online confirmation request is transmitted again to the card unit 3 to which an online confirmation response is not returned, and the online confirmation response is not replied to the online confirmation request again, It is determined that an offline state has occurred.

  The control unit 328 is connected to the counting / fractional payout unit 340 so that various data such as counting information and a fractional payout request can be transmitted and received by serial communication capable of transmitting and receiving data with a small number of communication lines.

  Here, the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. The counting / fractional dispensing unit 340 of the present example is composed of the lower plate 24 of the pachinko machine 2 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. Are connected to a recovery flow path box 348 provided at the lowest position of the card unit 3 via a connecting rod 344. ing.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the end of the connecting rod 344 bent at a right angle is attached to the connecting rod mounting port 348 ′ connected to the recovery flow path box 348 provided below the front surface of the main body of the card unit 3. Thus, the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 is positioned immediately below the lower plate 24.

  The top surface of the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 is formed with a hopper-shaped insertion portion 345 into which pachinko balls discharged from the lower plate 24 are inserted, and the front side of the card unit 3 main body ( On the left side), there is provided a return storage section 342 for storing the paid-out (returned) fractional pachinko balls so that they can be taken out.

  In addition, a step portion is provided on the hitting operation handle 25 side of the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 of the present embodiment, and an elastic member is provided on the upper surface of the step portion so that the height of the elastic member is high. A hand placement member 343 whose position can be adjusted is arranged so that the player can place a portion near the wrist of the hand on the hand placement member 343 when operating the hitting operation handle 25. In a long game, it is possible to prevent the hand from getting tired by operating the hitting operation handle 25, but the present invention is not limited to this. The member 343 may not be provided.

  The counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 mainly includes an upper unit 340a constituting the upper part of the unit and a lower unit 340b constituting the lower part of the unit. The upper unit 340a is detachable from the lower unit 340b. Has been.

  The upper part of the upper unit 340a is a throwing-in part 345 having a concave shape capable of temporarily storing pachinko balls discharged from the lower plate 24.

  An inflow port 346 connected to the counting channel 347 formed in the lower unit 340b is provided at the lowest position on the bottom surface of the charging unit 345. As will be described later, the counting channel 347 is formed so as to be inclined toward the connecting rod 344 so that the connecting rod 344 side is downward, and the inflow port 346 is connected to the counting channel 347. It is provided so as to open toward the rear side of the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340, which is in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction.

  Therefore, the pachinko balls thrown into the insertion portion 345 flow into the counting channel 347 from the inflow port 346 and flow down on the counting channel 347 in the direction of the connecting rod 344. Counting is performed by a counting sensor 356 (described later) provided in the downstream portion (see FIG. 8).

  That is, the counting passage of the present invention is formed by the inflow port 346 and the counting channel 347, and the direction of the inflow port 346 is provided so as to be perpendicular to the direction of the channel in the counting channel 347. The passage has one bent portion, so that it is possible to prevent the rod-shaped metal member from being inserted from these inflow ports 346 and reaching the counting sensor 356.

  In addition, an inclined cover portion 345 ′ formed so as to be inclined to the front side of the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 is provided at the upper portion of the counting channel 347, and the pachinko balls on the inclined cover portion 345 ′ are It flows down to the front side of the input part 345. That is, the pachinko balls thrown into the throwing portion 345 are once collected at the front side position of the throwing portion 345, and then the bottom of the throwing portion 345 has the bottom of the throwing portion 345 in which the inflow port 346 is formed. By being inclined toward the hand placement member 343 side (right side), it flows down toward the inflow port 346 and flows from the inflow port 346 toward the rear of the counting / fractioning unit 340. It has become.

  In this way, the pachinko balls put in from the lower plate 24 are once collected on the front side of the loading unit 345, so that the pachinko balls in the loading unit 345 can be easily taken out without being obstructed by the lower plate 24. This is preferable. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inserted pachinko balls may not be collected on the front side of the input unit 345.

  The inlet 346 is provided with an inlet shutter 352 for blocking the inflow of pachinko balls from the inlet 346. By opening the inlet shutter 352, the inlet 345 A pachinko ball flows into the counting channel 347 from the inlet 346.

  In addition, the side of the upper unit 340a on the side of the connecting rod 344 (on the left side) is provided with a counting operation unit 355 that is operated by the player when counting, and by the operation in the counting operation unit 355, The inflow shutter 352 is opened in response to the operation of the counting switch 355 ′ included in the counting operation unit 355.

  On the other hand, on the front surface of the lower unit 340b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a bottomed box-like return storage section 342 is provided at the end position of the connecting rod 344. A front portion of the return storage portion 342 is provided so as to protrude from the front surface of the lower unit 340b, and a take-out concave portion 342 ′ is provided at a portion of the front surface of the upper unit 340a that is an upper position of the return storage portion 342. It is provided so that the fractional pachinko balls paid out to the return storage section 342 can be easily taken out from the return storage section 342.

  Next, the structure of the lower unit 340b of this Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340 when the upper unit 340a is removed, as viewed from above, that is, a plan view of the lower unit 340b as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 8, it mainly includes a counting channel 347, a counting module 330, an inflow channel 339, a storage unit 338, a discharge channel 337, a return channel 335, and a return storage unit 342.

  The counting channel 347 is a two-channel channel formed across the lower unit 340b in the rear part of the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 that is located immediately below the inclined cover portion 345 ′. Pachinko balls flow down in alignment toward the connecting rod 344 side.

  The counting module 330 is provided on the downstream side of the counting channel 347 and includes a counting sensor 356 for detecting and counting pachinko balls flowing down the counting channel 347.

  On the front side of the counting flow path 347, there is a storage part 338 for storing pachinko balls used for paying out pachinko balls having a fraction less than the payout unit number, and the front side of the storage part 338 has a height on the rear side. The storage portion 338 and the downstream portion of the counting module 330 are connected by an inflow passage 339 inclined toward the storage portion 338 side. The pachinko balls that have been counted by the counting sensor 356 are allowed to flow into the storage section 338 through the inflow passage 339 and be stored.

  A pachinko ball outlet 338 ′ stored in the reservoir 338 is provided at a front side position of the reservoir 338, and the outlet 338 ′ is directed toward the outlet 338 ′ in the reservoir 338. Guide grooves (not shown) formed so as to meander are provided, and the pachinko balls that have flowed into the storage portion 338 are stored in an aligned state on the guide grooves in the order of flow, The pachinko balls stored in advance are discharged from the outlet 338 ′.

  In addition, two flow paths are formed in the counting module 330, and among the two flow paths, one flow path on the front side is a flow path changing shutter at the downstream end position of the counting module 330. 351 is provided, and when the flow path changing shutter 351 is projected and retracted, the flow direction of the pachinko balls can be switched to the connecting rod 344 side or the inflow path 339 side.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a storage ball sensor 357 for detecting and counting pachinko balls flowing down the inflow passage 339 and stored in the storage portion 338 is located near the branch portion to the inflow passage 339. Is provided.

  Further, the outlet 338 ′ has the lowest height in the reservoir 338 so that the pachinko balls stored in the reservoir 338 naturally flow down toward the outlet 338 ′. The outlet 338 ′ is connected to the discharge channel 337 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the discharge passage 337 is provided with a recess mounted on the rotation shaft of the discharge motor 353 and having a recess capable of accommodating one pachinko ball on the outer periphery thereof, as shown in FIG. A sprocket 353 ′ is arranged, and the discharge sprocket 353 ′ regulates the natural outflow of pachinko balls from the outlet 338 ′, and the discharge motor 353 is operated to rotate the discharge sprocket 353 ′. Pachinko balls that have flowed out to the outlet 338 ′ are taken into the recesses formed in the payout sprocket 353 ′ one by one and discharged into the discharge flow path 337 by the rotation of the payout sprocket 353 ′. It flows down the path 337, joins the connecting rod 344, and is collected in the card unit 3.

  In the middle of the discharge flow path 337, a pachinko ball that has flowed down the discharge flow path 337 by advancing and retreating the flow dividing port 336 to the return passage 335 connected to the return storage section 342 and the flow path switching plate mounted. The flow path switching solenoid 358 that can be switched to the connecting rod side or the return path side is provided, and a discharge sprocket 353 ′ is disposed at an upstream position of the flow outlet 336 of the discharge flow path 337. A payout sensor 354 for detecting and counting the pachinko balls lifted and supplied to the discharge flow path 337 is provided, and the payout sensor 354 pays out (returns) to the player through the return passage 335. The number of balls can be counted, and pachinko balls collected (discharged) in the card unit 3 from the storage unit 337 through the connecting rod 344 can be counted. It has become to so that.

  In addition, inside the lower unit 340b located below the stepped portion where the hand placement member 343 is provided, a control microcomputer or the like serving as a control unit 350 for controlling the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340 is mounted. A control board 341 is incorporated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control board 341 includes the flow path changing shutter 351, the inlet shutter 352, the dispensing motor 353, the dispensing sensor 354, and the counting switch 355 ′ incorporated in the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340. The counting sensor 356, the storage ball sensor 357, and the flow path switching solenoid 358 are connected, and the control board 341 is controlled to form each function of the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340.

  In addition, the control board 341 is electrically connected to the main body of the card unit 3 via a connecting rod 344.

  Specifically, a connection channel formed so as to incline from the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 toward the connection rod mounting port 348 ′ is provided inside the connection rod 344, and the connection channel The connecting rod cover 344 ′ is attached to the upper portion of the connecting rod cover, and a connecting cable is installed in the connecting rod cover 344 ′.

  A predetermined number of metal connection terminal pins 349 ′ connected to the control unit 328 or a power supply circuit (not shown) via a connection cable are provided at an upper position on the front side of the recovery flow path box 348 inside the card unit 3 body. A connection terminal portion 349 is provided.

  These connection terminal pins 349 ′ are provided so as to face the upper position of the connection rod attachment port 348 ′ attached to the connection rod 344.

  On the other hand, a terminal insertion member connected to the connection cable in the connection rod cover 344 ′ is provided at the end of the connection rod cover 344 ′ attached to the connection rod attachment port 348 ′.

  Therefore, when the connecting rod 344 is mounted in the connecting rod mounting port 348 ′, the connection terminal pin 349 ′ is inserted into the terminal insertion member, and the connection terminal pin 349 ′ and the terminal insertion member are electrically connected to each other. The control unit 328 and the control board 341 inside the main body are communicably connected, and operating power is supplied to the control board 341 from the card unit 3 main body.

  Here, the flow of the pachinko balls in the counting / fractional payout unit 340 will be described with reference to FIG. 25. When pachinko balls are counted in a state where no pachinko balls are stored in the storage unit 338, FIG. As shown in (a), when the flow path is changed to the inflow path 339 side by the flow path changing shutter 351, the counted pachinko balls counted by the counting sensor 356 pass through the inflow path 339 into the storage unit 338. It flows into and is stored.

  At this time, the pachinko balls flowing into the inflow path 339 and the storage section 338 are detected by the storage ball sensor 357, and each time one pachinko ball is detected, the control board 341 (control section 350). On the other hand, when the detection signal is output, the number of replenishment balls, which is the number of pachinko balls flowing into the storage portion 338 and the inflow path 339 in the control board 341 (control unit 350), is counted. The replenishment ball number information including the counted replenishment ball number is transmitted to the control unit 328, whereby the replenishment ball number is added and updated to the stored ball number data. The replenishing ball number information is given the device ID of the card unit 3 by the control unit 328 and transmitted to the management computer 150, so that the replenishing ball number information is stored in the storage / dispensing history table based on the replenishing ball number information. As a storage / dispensing history corresponding to the device ID, a storage / dispensing history including the type of “storage” and the number of supplementary balls is registered.

  Specifically, from the start of input of a detection signal according to detection of a new pachinko ball by the storage ball sensor 357, the storage ball sensor 357 causes the storage portion 338 and the inflow path 339 to be filled with the pachinko balls. Count the number of detection signals that are input until the pachinko ball is detected continuously for a predetermined time or longer, or until the pachinko ball is not detected for a predetermined time or longer, and the count number is replenished. To the control unit 328, the control unit 328 adds and updates the count number included in the supplemented ball number information to the stored ball number data.

  After the inside of the storage section 338 and the inflow path 339 are filled with pachinko balls in this way, the flow path change to the inflow path 339 side by the flow path change shutter 351 is canceled as shown in FIG. As a result, all the pachinko balls that have been counted by the counting sensor 356 flow down the connecting rod 344 and are collected in the game island via the collection flow path box 348 inside the card unit 3.

  In the state where pachinko balls are stored in the storage unit 338 in this way, when the number of pachinko balls having a fraction less than the dispensing unit, for example, 20 balls are paid out (returned), that is, as will be described later. In addition, when a fraction payout request including 20 balls, which is the fraction to be paid out (returned), is received from the control unit 328, the flow path is switched by the flow path switching solenoid 358 to the return path 335 as shown in FIG. , And by operating the payout motor 353 until a detection signal of 20 which is the payout ball number (fraction) included in the received fraction payout request is input from the payout sensor 354, the payout ball number (fractional number) ) 20 pachinko balls are supplied to the discharge flow path 337, so that the 20 pachinko balls supplied to the discharge flow path 337 Flows into the return passage 335 from, comes to be stored is returned to the return reservoir 342.

  When a number of detection signals corresponding to these fractions are input from the dispensing sensor 354, a fraction dispensing completion notification is transmitted to the control unit 328 as a response to the fraction dispensing request. 328 subtracts and updates 20 which is the fraction included in the fraction payout request from the stored ball count data, and transmits a payout completion notification to the management computer 150 as will be described later.

  In addition, when a discharge request including the number of discharged balls, for example, 55 balls, transmitted from the control unit 328 in response to receiving the discharge instruction from the management computer 150 is received, as shown in FIG. In addition, the payout motor 353 is operated until the detection signal 55, which is the number of discharged balls included in the received discharge request, is input from the payout sensor 354 without switching the flow path to the return passage 335. Thus, by supplying 55 pachinko balls corresponding to the number of discharged balls to the discharge flow path 337, the 55 pachinko balls supplied to the discharge flow path 337 are connected to the inside of the connecting rod 344 and the card unit 3 main body. It is recovered in the game island through the recovery flow path box 348.

  When a number of detection signals corresponding to the number of discharged balls are input from the payout sensor 354, a discharge completion notification is transmitted to the control unit 328 as a response to the discharge request. In 328, 55, which is the number of discharged balls included and transmitted in the discharge request, is updated by subtraction from the stored ball number data.

  In addition, when the number of discharged balls included in the discharge request is the total number, the payout motor 353 is operated until there is no input of the pachinko ball detection signal from the payout sensor 354, so that the storage unit 338 and the inflow passage 339 are operated. All the stored pachinko balls are discharged to the connecting rod 344, and the storage part 338 and the inflow path 339 are in an empty state.

  Next, the system controller 100 of this Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 13, 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, and a work memory. 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 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 / payment machine connected to a local area network (LAN), and a management server installed in the card company 12 for data communication with Bis Unit (DSU) 110 is connected is a conventional computer.

  The storage device 105 has a membership card table (FIG. 14 (FIG. 14)) 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)) and a visitor card table (see FIG. 14B) for managing the prepaid balance remaining on the visitor card.

  In the membership card table, as shown in FIG. 14A, each membership card is associated with a membership card ID that can be individually identified, and the membership ID of the membership player who has issued the membership card, and 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. 14B, 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). ), The latest issuance date and time when the prepaid card was issued, the prepaid balance, and an unusable flag indicating whether or not the card is unusable are stored in the visitor card. The prepaid balance, the availability of the visitor card, and the latest issue date and time can be specified from the card ID.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the storage device 105 stores a membership card table and a visitor card table used for managing information related to card usage during the test mode of the card unit 3. And a normal mode storage area in which a member card table and a visitor card table used for managing information related to card use in the normal mode of the card unit 3 are stored. When the mode flag included in the transmission data (see FIG. 10) such as various requests and notifications transmitted from 3 is a flag corresponding to the test mode, the member card table or the visitor card table in the test mode storage area Is updated while the mode included in the transmission data (see FIG. 10) is updated. If the flag is a flag corresponding to the normal mode, the information in the test mode and the information in the normal mode are stored separately by updating the member card table or the visitor card table in the normal mode storage area. , Has come to be managed.

  The system controller 100 (CPU 102) of the present embodiment transmits the device ID of the card unit 3 transmitted from each card unit 3 in response to the reception of the membership card or the visitor card in the card unit 3, and the received membership card or In response to receipt of a card acceptance notification including the (member) card ID read from the visitor 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 it to the card unit 3 .

  In addition, 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 lending processing in the card unit 3 (membership). ) Subtract update processing for subtracting and updating the tax-included usage amount included in the loan 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 receives the received card payment notification, which will be described later, transmitted in response to the issue / payment process in the card unit 3 or the card issue / payment machine. Corresponding to the (member) card ID included in the card payment notification, a payment update process is performed to add and update the payment amount included in the card payment notification to the prepaid balance stored in the member card table or visitor card table.

  In addition, the system controller 100 (CPU 102) of the present embodiment is included in the received issuance notification in response to the issuance notification transmitted from the card unit 3 when the card unit 3 issues the visitor card. Corresponding to the card ID, “0” is stored in the prepaid balance stored in the visitor card table, and update processing for updating the data of the status and the latest issue date is performed.

  Next, the management computer 150 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 15, the management computer 150 used in the present embodiment has a central processing unit that performs various processes performed by the management computer 150 on a data bus 151 that transmits and receives data inside the computer. (CPU) 152, RAM 153 used as a work memory, real-time clock (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, and various screens A display device 157 that displays and outputs, a printer 158 that prints various information, and a communication unit 159 that performs data communication with the card unit 3 and the gift exchange POS terminal 170 connected to the local area network (LAN) are connected. Computer.

  In the storage device 155, in addition to a processing program in which processing contents for performing various processing executed in the management computer 150 are described, the number of saving balls owned by the member player possessing the membership card Recorded in the visitor card and member saving management table (see FIG. 16 (a)) for managing the number of possessions acquired by the member player and the number of stored balls acquired by the member player before the day. A visitor saving management table (see FIG. 16 (b)) for managing the number of possessions acquired on the day by the player possessing the visitor card, and the counted balls at that time in each card unit 3 in the game hall A unit management table (see FIG. 17 (a)) for managing the number and the card being received by each card unit 3, and each card unit. A storage / payout history table (see FIG. 17B) for managing the number of existing storages stored in the storage unit 338 at that time, the storage history from the storage unit 338, and the payout history; A member information table (see FIG. 18 (a)) in which member information relating to a member player who owns the player is stored, and a game history including game information of the member player for each member ID that can identify the member player A stored game history table for each member (see FIG. 18B) is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the storage device 155 includes a test mode storage area in which the various tables used for managing information during the test mode of the card unit 3 are stored, and the card unit 3. The normal mode storage area storing the above-described various tables used for managing information in the normal mode is provided separately, and is included in the transmission data transmitted from the card unit 3 (see FIG. 10). If the mode flag is a flag corresponding to the test mode, the corresponding data in the test mode storage area is updated, while the mode flag included in the transmission data (see FIG. 10) is a flag corresponding to the normal mode. In some cases, the corresponding data in the normal mode storage area is updated, so that the information in the test mode and the normal mode are updated. Information and is stored separately in the middle, and is managed. However, the unit management table and the storage / payout history table shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B are common to each mode.

  In the member saving management table, as shown in FIG. 16A, 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 day, which is the number of balls that have not been used for game or prize exchange, and the number of balls acquired by that member player before that day The number of stored balls, which is the total number of balls that are unused for gaming or prize exchange, is stored, and the savings owned by the member player from the member card ID or member ID stored in the member card It is possible to specify the number of balls and the number of balls that are balls.

  Note that the number of possessions managed in the member savings management table is managed as the number of possessions only on that day, and the number of possessions existing in the member savings management table in the processing at the end of business (data update processing) after the end of business. The number of balls is reset after being added to the number of balls.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the visitor saving management table associates each visitor card with a card ID that can be individually identified, and possesses the latest issue date and time of the visitor card and the visitor card. The total number of balls that the player has acquired on that day and the number of balls that are unused for the game or prize exchange are stored, and the card ID stored in the visitor card It is now possible to specify the number of possessions possessed by a player.

  The number of balls managed in the visitor savings management table is valid only on that day when the number of possessed balls is counted, and is present in the visitor savings management table in the processing at the end of business after the closing of business described later. It is invalidated by resetting the number of holding balls to be reset. In addition, when the number of possessions before the day is recorded on the visitor card, the number of possessions is erased as invalid.

  In the unit management table, as shown in FIG. 17A, the local IP address of the card unit 3 is stored in association with the device ID uniquely assigned to each card unit 3 installed in the game hall. A local IP, an island where the island number of the game island where the card unit 3 is installed are stored, a situation where the card unit 3 is receiving a card or is waiting, and The corresponding unit number in which the unit number of the pachinko machine 2 corresponding to the card unit 3 is stored, the reception ID in which the card ID of the member card or visitor card being received is stored, and the count of each card unit 3 at that time The number of finished balls is stored, and the data of the counted number of balls is periodically updated according to the reception of the transmission request from the management computer 150. Is transmitted from each card unit 3 after a predetermined time (for example, after 5 seconds) after the change of the counted number of balls, so that the latest counted number of balls is managed. Yes. The data of “situation”, “reception ID”, and “counted number of balls” are reset when the mode is shifted to the normal mode or the test mode.

  As shown in FIG. 17B, the storage / payout history table is linked to the card unit 3 in association with the device ID uniquely assigned to each card unit 3 installed in the game hall. The number of pachinko balls stored at that time is stored in the storage unit 338 inside the counting / fractional payout unit 340 together with the current storage number, the type of whether it is date, storage or payout (including discharge), storage or In the case where the number of balls paid out and the type is storage, a storage / payout history including the number of pachinko balls remaining in the storage unit 338 out of the number of stored balls is stored, The number of pachinko balls stored in the storage section 338 of each card unit 3 can be specified at the time, and the time when the pachinko balls are stored or dispensed can be specified. It has become.

  In addition, when the storage / dispensing history of the type “dispensing” is newly registered, the number of balls included in the newly registered “dispensing” storage / dispensing history is set to the oldest type “storage”. Subtraction update from the existing number of storage / dispensing histories (if the number of existing items is small, the subtraction update is performed in order from the oldest history in order), and the number of existing items becomes zero and the number of existing items is zero. All the previous history is deleted, and in this way, the pachinko that has been stored in the storage unit 338 for the longest by the storage / dispensing history of the oldest type is “storage”. The storage period of the balls can be specified, and the storage periods of the pachinko balls existing in the storage unit 338 can also be specified.

  As shown in FIG. 18 (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 the day of receiving 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. 18 (b), for each member ID, the game history of the member player, specifically, the date of visit to the store, the table of the pachinko machine 2 that played the game. 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.

  Further, the management computer 150 of the present embodiment has a function of causing the storage unit 338 of each card unit 3 to discharge pachinko balls stored after a preset upper limit period, and these pachinko balls In the stored ball discharge setting screen shown in FIG. 19, settings such as an upper limit period for discharging the water can be performed individually in the normal mode and the test mode.

  In the storage ball discharge setting screen of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the setting item of the storage upper limit period for designating the upper limit period and the timing for determining whether or not the upper limit period is exceeded Whether to set the item of determination time for designating and the form of discharging only pachinko balls that exceed the upper limit period or the form of discharging all pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 In the card unit 3 that has performed the discharge, it is necessary to refill the storage portion 338 with the pachinko balls that are required to be discharged when the discharge is performed. There are provided a discharge notification item for designating whether or not to perform discharge notification, and a notification time item for designating the execution time for performing the discharge notification.

  For each of these items, after selecting the desired content, by selecting and inputting the “setting” selection input section provided below the stored ball discharge setting screen, the setting content of the stored ball discharge setting screen Is updated and stored. Note that, when a “reset” selection input section provided at the bottom of the stored ball discharge setting screen is selected and input, the contents of each item on the screen are initialized to a predetermined default state.

  Here, for example, in the case where the storage ball discharge setting screen is set as shown in FIG. 19, the flow of discharging the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 of each card unit 3 will be described. Briefly, the management computer 150 performs the storage ball discharge process shown in FIG. 26B when the determination time of the storage ball discharge setting screen is reached, that is, when the process at the end of business is executed. Then, the card unit 3 in which the pachinko balls are stored exceeding the storage upper limit period set on the stored ball discharge setting screen is stored in the storage / dispensing history table (see FIG. 17B). Based on the stored data, the pachinko balls stored over the storage upper limit period are discharged.

  Specifically, the number of existing storages and the date of the oldest storage / dispensing history whose type is “storage” is higher than “3 days”, which is the upper limit period set in the storage upper limit period item. Whether or not it is the previous one, that is, the device ID of the card unit 3 that includes a date older than the date three days ago and that stores the storage / dispensing history of the type “storage”, transmits the discharge instruction. Extract all as targets.

  When “all” is selected as the discharge mode, a discharge instruction including the total number of discharged balls is transmitted to the card units 3 of all the extracted device IDs.

  In response to the reception of the discharge instruction, the card unit 3 discharges the control unit 328 including the total number of discharged balls from the control unit 328 to the control board 341 (control unit 350) of the counting / fractional payout unit 340 as described above. By transmitting the request, all the pachinko balls stored in the storage part 338 and the inflow path 339 are discharged to the connecting rod 344, and the storage part 338 and the inflow path 339 are emptied. In addition, when the number of existing storages becomes “0” due to this discharge, all the storage / payout histories stored corresponding to the device IDs of the card units 3 that have performed these discharges are erased.

  In addition, when “excessive period balls only” is selected as the discharge mode, the number of pachinko balls that have exceeded the period (number of excess period balls) is specified for each card unit 3 of each extracted device ID. Then, a discharge instruction including the specified number of balls over the specified period as the number of discharged balls is transmitted.

  The number of balls that exceed the period is all of the history that includes the date before the upper limit period of “3 days” in the storage / dispensing history that includes the type of storage that is stored corresponding to each extracted device ID. It is specified by specifying and totaling the number of existence in the specified storage / dispensing history.

  As described above, the card unit 3 counts from the control unit 328 in response to the discharge instruction including the specified number of excess balls as the number of discharged balls being transmitted to the card unit 3. -By sending a discharge request including the number of balls over the period, which is the number of balls to be discharged, to the control board 341 (control unit 350) of the fraction dispensing unit 340, the old in the inflow path 339 and the guide groove of the storage unit 338 Of the pachinko balls stored in the state of being arranged in order, only the number of over-period balls stored in the area near the outlet 338 ′ as the leading portion is counted and discharged to the connection channel 344. In addition, as a result of this discharge, a new storage / payout history including the date, the number of balls that have been discharged, and the type of “payout” is newly registered, as described above, before the upper limit period. As the number of existences in the storage / dispensing history of the storage type “0” becomes “0”, the storage / dispensing history in which the existence number has become “0”, as well as the storage / dispensing in which these types are “0”. All the storage / dispensing histories in which the types older than the history are paid out are deleted.

  Then, the device ID extracted as the transmission target of the discharge instruction is registered as the card unit 3 to be discharged and is notified at the notification time on the stored ball discharge setting screen, that is, before the business disclosure (opening process). At this time, by transmitting a discharge notification instruction to the card unit 3 of the device ID registered as the discharge notification target, the pachinko stored in the display unit 312 of the card unit 3 that has received the discharge notification instruction. By displaying the discharge notification message that the ball is discharged and the storage unit 338 needs to be replenished with the pachinko ball, it is notified that the stored pachinko ball has been discharged.

  In response to the display of the discharge notification message, the attendant at the game hall operates the remote controller (not shown) to carry out the added reserve mode operation to shift the card unit 3 to the added reserve mode and refill the pachinko machine. After throwing the balls into the throwing unit 345, by operating the counting operation unit 355, the thrown pachinko balls are stored in the storage unit 338 and added to the pachinko balls without being added to the counted number of balls. Is done. After the replenishment, the clerk operates the remote controller again to cancel the added reserve mode and return to the normal mode.

  Along with this discharge notification message, the number of pachinko balls required for replenishment, that is, the number of balls that can be newly stored is specified and displayed from the difference between the number of stored balls and the maximum number of stored balls at that time. Anyway.

  In addition, the management computer 150 according to the present embodiment has an information providing function for transmitting member information such as store visit points stored in the member information table to the system controller 100 and the hall computer 140. An attendant or the like can check the member information on the hall computer 140 used for checking the game information of the pachinko machine 2 in the game hall or checking the video of the surveillance camera.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the card unit 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the control unit 328 of the card unit 3 is activated by turning on the power to the card unit 3, thereby performing the activation process of Sb1, initializing various tables, checking the connection status of each unit, and system controller. 100, hall computer 140, management computer 150 connection confirmation request transmission and each setting data based on the setting information returned from system controller 100, hall computer 140, management computer 150 in response to the connection confirmation request transmission Set initial values, etc.

  Then, after the activation process is completed, the process of Sb2 to Sb10 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) Operation, cash acceptance by inserting a bill from the bill insertion slot 302, operation of a return button by a player, operation of a replay button 319 (reception of replay operation information from the display control board 329), operation of a payout button 311, Stand-by state for detecting the leaving operation (reception of leaving operation information from the display control board 329) and the operation of the menu button 316 (reception of main menu display operation information from the display control board 329) in the remote control possessed by the staff It becomes.

  The control unit 328 monitors the reception of the counting information transmitted from the counting / fractioning unit 340 in parallel with the normal processing shown in FIG. 20 after the start processing of Sb1. Processing, processing for monitoring reception of an added reserve request transmitted from the remote controller in response to an added reserve mode operation on the remote controller, and a big hit signal, probability change output from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 or out ball counter 16 An interrupt monitoring process (not shown) for monitoring the input or change of the medium signal, the short / middle signal, the start signal, the prize ball signal, and the out ball counting signal is based on a processing task that is separate from the processing task that performs these normal processes. By performing, it is possible to monitor the occurrence of each target state, and sequentially perform addition update to the counted number of balls, transition to and cancellation of the added reserve mode, and game information update processing It has become the jar.

  Here, the flow in which the pachinko balls are counted in the card unit 3 will be described. When counting pachinko balls, the player is first paid out from the pachinko machine 2 and stored in the lower plate 24. The pachinko balls are thrown into the throwing portion 345 by operating a lever provided on the lower plate 24.

  Then, after the amount of pachinko balls to be counted is thrown into the throwing part 345, the counting operation part 355 is operated to open the inlet shutter 352 provided at the inlet 346 to the counting channel 347. As a result, the pachinko balls temporarily stored in the insertion portion 345 flow into the counting channel 347 from the inlet 346, flow down the counting channel 347, and are detected by the counting sensor 356. Every time a pachinko ball is detected, a count sensor signal of a predetermined pulse is output to the control board 341 (control unit 350).

  When a predetermined number (for example, 10) of count sensor signals are input from the count sensor 356 within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), the control board 341 (control unit 350) has 10 balls. Count information including a constant count command indicating that the counter is counted is transmitted to the control unit 328 every time a predetermined number of count sensor signals are counted, and within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). When a predetermined number (for example, 10) of counting sensor signals are not input, the counting includes a fraction counting command corresponding to the number of counting sensor signals that are input and counted at a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). Send information. As these fraction counting commands, a command of a type corresponding to a number less than a predetermined number may be determined in advance. If the predetermined number is 10, the fraction counting command corresponding to 1 to the fraction counting corresponding to 9 is performed. Nine types of fraction counting commands up to the command may be used.

  The count information is received at the SS1 step in the count information processing shown in FIG. 21 performed by the control unit 328, and it is determined that the count information is received, and the process proceeds to the SS2 step. It is determined whether or not the count prohibition state is outputting the count prohibition instruction.

  When counting is prohibited, the process proceeds to step SS5, where the display unit 312 displays that a counting error has occurred, and the process proceeds to an error notification process in which the multifunction lamp 301 is lit. If counting is not prohibited, the process proceeds to step SS3, and it is determined whether or not it is in the addition reservation mode by the remote controller possessed by the attendant.

  The number of balls specified from the command included in the count information received during the prohibition of counting is returned by paying out the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 in the same manner as the fractional payout. You may make it return to the storage part 342. FIG.

  If not in the reserve mode, the process proceeds to step SS4 to add and update the number of balls according to the type of command included in the received count information to the number of balls in the card table and the number of balls counted in the display unit 312. Then, the process returns to the SS1 step. On the other hand, in the addition reservation mode, the process returns to the SS1 step without performing the SS4 step.

  That is, the pachinko balls that have flowed into the counting flow path 347 from the inlet 345 through the inlet 346 are detected one by one by the counting sensor 356 and added to the number of held balls and the number of balls already counted.

  In addition, in these additions, an addition end detection timer for detecting the end of the addition (in this embodiment, 5 seconds is set) is reset for each addition, and the addition end detection timer is timed up. When the predetermined time set in the addition end detection timer has elapsed since the last addition was performed, the device ID of the card unit 3, the card ID of the receiving card, and the addition Is sent to the management computer 150 so that the number of balls after addition is the number of balls in the member saving management table or visitor saving management table of the management computer 150. The counted number of balls in the unit management table is updated without delay to the counted number of balls included in the number-of-rolls-update request.

  Next, when the player inserts a visitor card or a membership card into the card insertion slot 309 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 described above, the insertion detection information accompanying the insertion of the visitor card or membership card is a card reader. As a result of output from the writer 327 to the control unit 328, the control unit 328 determines that there is card acceptance in Sb2, advances to the step of Sb20, and performs card acceptance processing.

  In the card acceptance process of the present embodiment in 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 used as the card. Data stored in the card slot 392 of the reader / 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 ), Prepaid balance data, number of possession data (visitor card only), test flag, and the like.

  When the current mode is the normal mode, the control unit 328 determines that the read test flag is “1” and the received card is a member card based on the read card ID. , Eject and return the membership card. In other words, the membership card stored (registered) in the member savings management table and member information table of the test mode storage area so that it can be used in the test mode is returned without being accepted in the normal mode and only in the test mode. It has come to be used.

  Note that the prepaid balance of the membership card in which the test flag is “1” can be erased only in the erase mode described later, and the test flag which is recording data other than the prepaid balance can be erased, It is possible to delete information stored (registered) in the member saving management table or the member information table in association with the member card ID of the member card by executing a predetermined operation in the management computer 150. Yes.

  In addition, when the mode at that time is the normal mode, the control unit 328 determines that the read test flag is “1” and the received card is a visitor card from the read card ID. Sends an erasure request for the recorded data (prepaid balance, number of possessions, test flag) recorded on the received visitor card to the management computer 150, as in the erasure mode described later. The recorded data is erased accordingly.

  Specifically, if there is a prepaid balance in the accepted visitor card, the system controller 100 is given a card ID read from the accepted visitor card, a prepaid balance to be erased, and a mode flag indicating a test mode. In response to receiving the balance erasure permission returned in response to the transmission of the balance erasure request, the prepaid balance is erased. In addition, when the balance erasure permission is not received (when the balance erasure cannot be received), the prepaid balance is not erased, a prepaid balance error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error, and the visitor card is displayed. Discharge.

  When the system controller 100 receives the balance deletion request, the system flag is included in the visitor card table stored in the test mode storage area because the mode flag indicating the test mode is included in the balance cancellation request. The prepaid balance is erased (updated to “0”) on condition that the prepaid balance stored in association with the card ID included in the balance elimination request matches the prepaid balance included in the balance elimination request. In both cases, the balance erasure permission is returned, and if they do not match, the balance erasure impossible is returned.

  If the received visitor card has the number of possessed balls, the management computer 150 issues an erasure request including the card ID read from the accepted visitor card, the number of retained balls, and a mode flag indicating the test mode. The number of possessed balls is erased by receiving the erasure permission returned in response to the transmission. When no erasure permission is received (when erasure is not accepted), the recorded data is not erased, a recording data error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error, and the visitor card is ejected. .

  In response to the reception of the erasure request, the management computer 150 includes a mode flag indicating the test mode in the erasure request, so that the visitor saving management table stored in the test mode storage area stores , It is determined whether the number of possessed balls stored in association with the card ID included in the erasure request matches the number of possessed balls included in the erasure request, and the number of possessed balls is identical. If the number of possessed balls is erased and a permission for erasure is returned, and if the number of possessed balls does not match, the erasure is returned.

  Further, in the normal mode, the control unit 328 continues to accept the visitor card and the membership card whose read test flag is “0”.

  In addition, when the mode at that time is the test mode, the control unit 328 determines that the read test flag is “0” and the received card is a member card from the read card ID. Ejects the membership card and returns it. That is, when a regular member card is received by mistake during the test mode, it is possible to prevent the remaining prepaid amount of the member card, the number of stored balls, and the number of held balls from being used.

  In addition, when the mode at that time is the test mode, the control unit 328 determines that the read test flag is “0” and the received card is a visitor card based on the read card ID. Will continue accepting when there is no prepaid balance and number of possessions (0), while if there is a prepaid balance or number of possessions (not 0), the visitor card will be the same as the membership card. Drain and return.

  In this embodiment, when a visitor card whose test flag is “0” is received during the test mode, the visitor card is held at a predetermined reading position of the card reader / writer 327 so that the reception is continued. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and by accepting the visitor card whose test flag is “0” in the card storage unit 370, the acceptance is continued, that is, in the test mode. You may make it usable.

  Further, in the test mode, the control unit 328 continues to accept the visitor card and the membership card whose read test flag is “0”.

  That is, the control unit 328 matches the test flag of the accepted member card or visitor card with the mode at that time (if the test flag is “1”, it is in the test mode, and if the test flag is “0”, it is in the normal mode. ), And when the visitor card whose test flag is “0” is received when the prepaid balance and the number of balls are not present during the test mode, the acceptance is continued, while the test flag is “ If you receive a membership card or visitor card that is “0” (either the prepaid balance or the number of possessions is present), return the received membership card or visitor card without erasing the recorded data, If a member card with a test flag of “1” is accepted during normal mode, it will be accepted without erasing the data. Return the membership card, when in the normal mode test flag has received a visitor card is "1", to discharge the visitor card accepted to erase the data that has been recorded (return).

  In other words, the normal mode of the present embodiment has a function of an erasing mode for erasing recorded data of a visitor card used in the test mode, as will be described later, and is a mode that also serves as these erasing modes. In this way, it is preferable that the recorded data of the visitor card used in these test modes can be erased without shifting all the card units 3 in the game hall to the erase mode as will be described later. The present invention is not limited to this, and the normal mode may not serve as the erase mode.

  Note that, in these normal mode and the erasure mode described later, the processing contents when a member card with a test flag of “1” is accepted are different, but the present invention is not limited to this. These member cards may be similarly processed in the erasing mode (erasing the prepaid balance).

  When the control unit 328 determines that the acceptance is continued (except when a visitor card having no prepaid balance and no number of balls is accepted during the test mode), the control unit 328 reads out from the accepted membership card or visitor card ( (Member) An authentication request including a card ID, prepaid balance data, device ID, and mode flag is transmitted to the system controller 100, and a card authentication process for receiving an authentication result from the system controller 100 is performed.

  In response to the reception of the authentication request, the system controller 100 determines that the (member) card ID included in the received authentication request is a member card table or a visitor card table (mode flag is set) corresponding to the mode flag included in the received authentication request. If the value corresponds to the normal mode, the member card table or visitor card table in the normal mode storage area, and if the value of the mode flag corresponds to the test mode, the member card table or visitor card table in the test mode storage area) It is determined whether or not “1” is stored in the unusable flag as well as whether or not it exists, and “1” is not stored in the unusable flag, that is, “0” is stored in the unusable flag. If stored, the member card table is associated with the (member) card ID. Or, the prepaid balance stored and managed in the visitor card table matches the prepaid balance included in the received authentication request, that is, the prepaid balance specified from the received prepaid balance data read from the member card or visitor card On the condition that it matches, if it matches, “authentication OK” is returned as an authentication result, and if the (member) card ID does not exist in the member card table or the visitor card table, or an unusable flag If “1” is not available for use, and if the prepaid balance does 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.

  In the following description, if each table in the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 is in the normal mode storage area or the test mode storage area, unless otherwise specified, It is assumed that the storage area corresponding to the mode flag in the transmission data to be transmitted is used.

  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. If the returned authentication result is “authentication OK” while returning the card and completing the card acceptance process, the (member) card ID, member ID (member only) and prepaid balance read from the accepted card are returned. Are stored in the card table, and as shown in FIG. 29, the management computer 150 reads (member) card ID, device ID, and number of balls (from the visitor card) read from the received membership card or visitor card. And a card acceptance notification including the mode flag.

  In response to reception of this card acceptance notification, the management computer 150 first determines whether or not the number of possessed balls included in the received card acceptance notification is present, and if so, verifies the number of possessed balls. Perform verification processing.

  Specifically, in the visitor saving management table, whether or not the number of possessed balls stored corresponding to the card ID included in the card acceptance notification matches the number of retained balls included in the received card acceptance notification. Determine whether.

  If they do not match in the verification determination, the card unit 3 returns the verification error information indicating that the verification of the number of possessed balls is NG to the card unit 3 that is the transmission source of the received card acceptance notification. The visitor card is returned.

  On the other hand, if they match in the collation determination, or if the received card acceptance notification does not include the number of possessed balls (in the case of a membership card), the process proceeds to a normal acceptance process.

  In the normal acceptance process, the management computer 150 first updates the “status” data corresponding to the device ID included in the card acceptance notification to “accepting” in the unit management table and is included in the card acceptance notification. The (member) card ID is stored in the “reception ID” item of the unit management table.

  Next, the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls (member only) corresponding to the (member) card ID included in the received card acceptance notification are associated with the (member) card ID in the member saving management table or the visitor saving management table. In addition to specifying from each stored data, if the card ID is a member card ID, further specify the PIN and store visit point stored in the member information table corresponding to the member card ID, Sending the received card acceptance notification to the reception processing completion notification including the specified number of held balls, number of stored balls (member only), point of visit (member only), PIN (member only), and (member) card ID Reply to the original card unit 3.

  In response to the reception of the acceptance process completion notification, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) determines the number of possessed balls, the number of stored balls (member only), the point of visit (member only), the PIN number ( (Member only) is stored in the card table, the prepaid balance stored in the card table is displayed on the remaining balance indicator of the corresponding pachinko machine 2, and the number of balls stored in the card table is counted. It displays on the display part 312 as a number, and it returns to the standby state of Sb2-Sb10. In addition, at the time of receiving the acceptance processing completion notification, if the number of balls is already stored in the card table, that is, after playing the game without using the card and acquiring the pachinko ball and counting it, When it is inserted (for example, when a member card or a visitor card is forgotten to be inserted), the number of balls included in the acceptance process completion notification is added to the number of balls already stored and updated.

  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 the operation of the lending button is present in the step Sb3 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, proceeds to the step Sb21, and executes the lending process.

  In this lending process, as shown in FIG. 22, first, in S001, the card is 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). It is determined whether or not the prepaid balance is less than 1 frequency (= 100 yen) corresponding to 25 balls as the payout unit in the corresponding pachinko machine 2, and the prepaid balance is less than 1 frequency (= 100 yen) If it is determined (YES), the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, while the prepaid balance is determined to be 1 frequency (= 100 yen) or more (NO). In S002, whether or not the prepaid balance is equal to or greater than 5 times (= 500 yen) set as the use frequency of the lending process in the present embodiment. Judges.

  Here, if it is determined that the prepaid balance is equal to or greater than 5 frequency (= 500 yen), which is the frequency of use (YES), in S003, the money amount lending process is performed while the frequency of usage is 5 frequency. If it is determined that the price is less than (= 500 yen) (NO), in S013, the display amount ball lending process is performed, and the process proceeds to S004.

  In the use amount ball lending process of S003, a payout signal for instructing the payout of the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the frequency of use (= 500 yen), specifically, the payout of 25 balls that is the frequency of use. (BRQ) is output five times, and the corresponding pachinko machine 2 is made to pay out 125 balls corresponding to 5 times (= 500 yen).

  Specifically, PRDY HIGH / LOW output from the pachinko machine 2 is determined. If PRDY is HIGH, a predetermined error process is performed, and the lending process is terminated.

  When PRDY is LOW, after BRDY is switched to LOW, BRQ is set to LOW, waiting for detection of EXS HIGH from the pachinko machine 2, and BRQ is set based on detection of LOW of EXS. Switch to HIGH and wait for detection of EXS HIGH.

  Next, when the payout for one time in the pachinko machine 2 is completed and the HIGH level of the EXS is detected, the control unit 328 displays the prepaid balance displayed on the balance indicator, the prepaid balance data on the card table, and the receiving member. 100 yen corresponding to the one time is subtracted from the prepaid balance data stored in the card or visitor card, and the number of BRQs is counted, and the counted number of BRQs is equivalent to the number of use of 5 times. Compare with 5 times.

  If the number of BRQs counted in this comparison does not match the number of 5 times, the payout process for the above-mentioned 1 times is performed again, and the number of BRQs counted in the comparison with the above-mentioned usage frequency Is equal to 5 times, BRDY is set to HIGH, and the used amount ball lending process in S003 is terminated.

  In S004, the device ID uniquely assigned to the card unit 3 to the system controller 100, the card ID of the member card or the visitor card being accepted, and the usage amount (500 yen) corresponding to the usage frequency. And a mode completion flag including the mode flag are transmitted, and reception of an update completion notification transmitted from the system controller 100 is awaited in S005. The system controller 100 that has received the lending completion notification subtracts the usage amount included in the lending completion notification from the prepaid balance stored in the member card table or the visitor card table in association with the card ID included in the lending completion notification. Update is performed, and an update completion notification is returned to the card unit 3.

  When an update completion notification is received from the system controller 100 (YES in S005), it is determined in S006 whether the card being received is a visitor card. If it is determined that the card is not a visitor card (NO), While the lending process is ended and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, if it is determined that the visitor card is (YES), in S007, the prepaid balance (displayed in the card table of the RAM 328b) displayed on the balance display. It is determined whether or not the same as the stored prepaid balance is zero.

  If it is determined that the prepaid balance is not zero (NO), the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, while the prepaid balance is determined to be zero (YES). In step S008, it is determined whether the number of balls stored in the card table of the RAM 328b is zero.

  If it is determined that the number of possessed balls is not zero (NO), the lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, while the number of retained balls is determined to be zero (YES). In step S009, a capture notification including the card ID of the visitor card is transmitted to the system controller 100. In step S010, the device ID of the card unit 3 and the card ID of the card unit 3 are transmitted to the management computer 150. A capture notification including the visitor card ID is transmitted, and reception of an update completion notification transmitted from the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 is awaited in S011.

  The system controller 100 that has received the capture notification changes the “status” corresponding to the card ID included in the received capture notification to “in storage” in the visitor card table, and An update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3.

  In addition, the management computer 150 that has received the take-in notification updates the number of held balls corresponding to the card ID included in the received take-in notification in the visitor savings management table, and unit management In the table, change the “status” corresponding to the device ID included in the received capture notification to “standby”, delete the card ID stored in “acceptance ID”, and send the capture notification from An update completion notice is transmitted to the card unit 3.

  If it is determined in S011 that an update completion notification has been received from the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 (YES), in S012, an accepting process of taking in the accepted visitor card and storing it in the card storage unit 370 is performed. The lending process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  On the other hand, in the display amount ball lending process of S013, the frequency obtained by dividing the prepaid balance (same as the prepaid balance stored in the card table of the RAM 328b) displayed on the balance indicator by 100 yen corresponding to 1 count. If the prepaid balance is 400 yen, for example, a payout signal (BRQ) for instructing the payout of 25 balls, which is a single frequency, is output four times, and the number of 4 times corresponding to 400 yen (= 100) The corresponding pachinko machine 2 is paid out in the same manner as in the case of the above-mentioned payout, and the prepaid balance displayed on the balance indicator, the prepaid balance data on the card table, and the receiving 400 equivalent to the number of 4 times that prepaid balance data recorded on a membership card or visitor card is used for pachinko ball lending Amount of money but that is subtraction update, that is updated to "0", the program proceeds to S004. In this case, it is always determined as YES in S007 that has proceeded from S004.

  As described above, in the usage amount ball lending process in S003, the usage amount (here, 5 times (= 500 yen)) is used, and in the display amount ball lending process in S013, the display amount (that is, 1 time ( = Integer multiple of 100 yen) is used, so the prepaid balance used in this lending process is always an integral multiple of 1 degree (= 100 yen). Therefore, the prepaid balance specified from the prepaid balance data recorded on the card is always an integer multiple of 1 (= 100 yen), and no fraction less than 100 yen is generated.

  Further, in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 described above, when a player inserts cash (banknote) from the banknote insertion slot 302, money identification information accompanying 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 issue / payment processing.

  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 out, and an issuance request including the read card ID, the input amount, the mode flag, and the device ID of the card unit 3 is transmitted to the system controller 100.

  In response to receipt of this issuance request, the system controller 100 determines whether the card ID included in the received issuance request is a visitor card table (in this case, either the normal mode storage area or the test mode storage area). If it exists, the “status” of the visitor card table corresponding to the card ID is updated to “in use”, and the current date and time output from the RTC 104 is updated. In addition to storing in the latest issue date and time, the received input amount is stored in the “remaining amount” as a prepaid remaining amount, and “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.

  However, if the card ID included in the issuance request is stored in the visitor card table in a storage area different from the storage area corresponding to the mode flag, the storage of the card ID is stored in the storage area corresponding to the mode flag. After moving to the visitor card table, the memory of the visitor card table in the transfer source storage area is deleted.

  In addition, with the transmission of “issue permission”, the system controller 100 includes the latest issue date and time stored, the card ID and device ID included in the received issue request, and the received issue request to the management computer 150. The management computer 150 notifies the management computer 150 of the issue notification including the received mode flag, and the management computer 150 receives the received issue at the latest issue date and time of the visitor saving management table corresponding to the card ID included in the received issue notification. The latest issue date and time included in the notification is stored, the “status” of the unit management table corresponding to the device ID included in the received issue notification is updated to “accepting”, and the received card is received as the “reception ID” The ID is stored and the unit management table is updated.

  Upon receipt of the above “issue permission”, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) writes the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount and the test flag (only in the test mode) to the visitor card moved to the card slot 392. And storing the card ID of the visitor card and the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount in the card table, and displaying the prepaid balance on the remaining amount indicator, and then ending the issue / payment processing to complete Sb2 Return to the standby state of Sb10.

  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 input amount) is updated. The same) and the device ID of the card unit 3, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being received, and the mode flag are transmitted to the system controller 100, and the system controller 100 Member card table or visitor card table The said input money amount of money to be added update the prepaid balance, which is stored in association with the (membership) card ID Te.

  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 Sb10.

  In addition, when the player operates the return button in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 described above, a signal from the return button switch for detecting the operation of the return button by the player is input 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.

  In this return process, as shown in FIG. 23, first, in S201, it is determined whether there is a card (member card or visitor card) being received by the card reader / writer 327. If it is determined that there is no card being accepted (NO), in S202, the return operation accepted in Sb5 is invalidated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S201 that there is a member card or visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327 (YES), the operation of the payout button 311 is invalidated and the counting / fractional payout unit 340 is determined in S203. Is output to prohibit counting.

  In response to the output of the counting prohibition instruction, the counting / fraction dispensing unit 340 disables the operation of the counting operation unit 355, thereby prohibiting the opening of the inflow shutter 352, so that a new pachinko ball is counted. It is forbidden.

  In step S204, it is determined whether the card being received by the card reader / writer 327 is a membership card. If it is determined in S204 that the accepted card is a membership card (YES), the membership card ID of the membership card and the member game information table are stored in the hall computer 140 in S210. The member card return notification including the member game information data being sent is transmitted, and the device ID of the card unit 3, the card ID of the card to be returned, and the card table are stored in the management computer 150 in S211. A return notification including the number of held balls and the number of stored balls (members only) and a mode flag is transmitted, and in S212, reception of an update completion notification transmitted from the hall computer 140 and the management computer 150 is awaited.

  The hall computer 140 that has received the member card return notification associates the member game information data included in the member card return notification with the member card ID included in the received member card return notification in the member-specific game history table. The update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 that is the source of the member card return notification.

  In addition, the management computer 150 that has received the member card return notification indicates the number of balls and the number of balls stored in the member saving management table corresponding to the (member) card ID included in the received member card return notification. , Update to the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls included in the received membership card return notification, and change the “status” corresponding to the device ID included in the received membership card return notification to “standby” in the unit management table Then, the member card ID stored in the “accepting ID” is deleted, and an update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 that is the transmission source of the member card return notification.

  If it is determined in S212 that an update completion notification has been received from the hall computer 140 and the management computer 150 (YES), a test flag (only in the test mode) is recorded on the member card in S213, and a discharge instruction is issued to the card reader / writer. The member card being output to 327 is ejected from the card insertion slot 309 and returned. In S214, the card table and member game information table are reset. In S215, the operation of the payout button 311 is invalidated and the counting / fractional payout is performed. The prohibition of counting in the unit 340 is canceled, and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  That is, the membership card being accepted by the card unit 3 is different from the case of a visitor card, which will be described later, regardless of whether the prepaid balance is zero and whether the number of possessed balls is a fractional unit. Always returned. If the prepaid balance of the returned membership card is not zero, the prepaid balance can be settled in the settlement apparatus 180.

  When the card to be returned is a member card, the control unit 328 transmits a return notification including the member game information data stored in the member game information table and the mode flag, and resets the member game information table. Thus, the member game information data is registered in the member-specific game history table.

  If it is determined in S204 that the card being accepted is a visitor card (NO), the prepaid balance stored in the card table (that is, the prepaid balance recorded in the visitor card) is zero in S220. It is determined whether or not. If it is determined in S220 that the prepaid balance is not zero (NO), it is determined in S221 whether or not the number of possessed balls stored in the card table is a fractional number (24 or less in this example). judge. If it is determined in S221 that the number of possessed balls is not a fraction less than the unit (NO), that is, it is determined that the number of retained balls is equal to or greater than the payout unit, the number of retained balls and the test flag (only in the test mode) are displayed in S222. Record in the visitor card and proceed to S216. On the other hand, if it is determined in S221 that the number of possessed balls is a fraction less than a unit (YES), in S223, a pachinko ball having a fraction less than a unit is paid out from the pachinko balls stored in the ball storage unit 355 and played. Less than the unit payout process for returning to the user, the number of balls (in this case zero) and the test flag (only in the test mode) are recorded on the visitor card, and the process proceeds to S216. Details of the payout of the pachinko balls stored in the ball storage unit 355 will be described in detail in Sh5 of FIG. If it is determined in S221 that the number of balls is zero, the process proceeds to S216 without performing the process in S223.

  Next, in S216, a visitor card return notification including the device ID of the card unit 3, the card ID of the visitor card, and the number of balls stored in the card table is transmitted to the management computer 150. In step S217, it waits for reception of an update completion notification transmitted from the management computer 150.

  The management computer 150 that has received the visitor card return notification displays the number of possessed balls stored in correspondence with the card ID included in the received visitor card return notification in the visitor saving management table in the storage area corresponding to the mode flag. Update the number of balls included in the received visitor card return notice, store the current date and time output from the RTC 104 in the latest issue date and time, and receive it in the unit management table of the storage area corresponding to the mode flag Change the “status” corresponding to the device ID included in the visitor card return notification to “standby”, delete the card ID stored in “acceptance ID”, and the card unit that is the sender of the visitor card return notification An update completion notification is transmitted to 3.

  When an update completion notification is received from the management computer 150 (YES in S217), in S218, the discharge support is output to the card reader / writer 327, and the accepted visitor card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309 and returned, and in S219, The card table is reset, and the process proceeds to S215. In other words, the visitor card being accepted by the card unit 3 is always returned when the prepaid balance is not zero. The prepaid balance of the returned visitor card can be settled in the settlement apparatus 180.

  If it is determined in S220 that the prepaid balance is zero (YES), in S231, the number of held balls stored in the card table is less than a unit fraction (24 balls or less in this example) as in S221. ). If it is determined in S231 that the number of held balls is not a fraction less than the unit (NO), that is, it is determined that the number of held balls is equal to or more than the payout unit, in S232, the number of held balls is stored in the visitor card as in S222. Record and proceed to S216. That is, the visitor card being accepted by the card unit 3 is returned on condition that the number of possession balls is not zero when the prepaid balance is zero. Since the prepaid balance of the visitor card returned here is zero, it cannot be settled in the settlement apparatus 180.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S231 that the number of possessed balls is a fractional unit (YES), a pachinko ball having a fractional unit fraction is stored in the ball storage unit 355 in S233, similarly to S223. A less than unit payout process for paying out from the pachinko ball and returning it to the player is performed, and the process proceeds to S240. If it is determined in S231 that the number of possessed balls is zero, the process proceeds to S240 without performing the process in S233.

  In S240, a capture notification including the card ID of the visitor card is transmitted to the system controller 100. In S241, the device ID of the card unit 3 and the card ID of the visitor card are transmitted to the management computer 150. In S242, the reception of the update completion notification transmitted from the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 is waited.

  The system controller 100 that has received the capture notification changes the “status” corresponding to the card ID included in the received capture notification to “in storage” in the visitor card table, and An update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3. In addition, the management computer 150 that has received the take-in notification updates the number of held balls corresponding to the card ID included in the received take-in notification in the visitor saving management table and updates the unit management table. , Change the “status” corresponding to the device ID included in the received capture notification to “standby”, delete the card ID stored in “acceptance ID”, and An update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3.

  When an update completion notification is received from the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 (YES in S242), in S243, the accepting visitor card is taken in and stored in the card storage unit 370, and the process proceeds to S219. That is, the visitor card being accepted by the card unit 3 is taken in without being returned when the prepaid balance is zero and the number of held balls is a fractional unit. According to this, it is possible to prevent a loss of the game hall caused by returning and throwing away a visitor card in which a small number of balls are recorded.

  Returning to FIG. 21, when the player operates the replay button 319 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 described above, the replay operation information is displayed from the display control board 329 that detects the operation of the replay button 319. Is input to the control unit 328, the control unit 328 determines that there is an operation of the replay button 319 in Sb6, proceeds to Sb24, and performs replay processing.

  In this replay process, first, it is determined whether or not the number of balls is “0”. If the number of balls is not “0”, the operation is invalidated, and “ After the message “Please operate the payout button” is displayed on the display unit 312, the process returns to the standby state of Sb <b> 2 to Sb <b> 10, but if the number of held balls is “0”, the RAM 328 b It is determined whether or not the collated flag indicating whether or not the password stored in the password is “1” indicating that the collation has been completed. Perform the PIN code acceptance process.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the number of possessed balls acquired by the member player on the day is different from the number of accumulated balls, and payout is performed without requiring a fee. Disabling the replay operation when it exists, eliminates the disadvantage of the member player due to the use of the accumulated number of fees in spite of the existence of the number of balls that do not charge Can be done.

  In the password acceptance process of the present embodiment, first, a password acceptance screen including a numeric keypad and an announcement display for prompting entry 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 the two coincide, the collation flag in the predetermined area in the RAM 328b is updated to “1” indicating the collation. The replay ball lending process is executed on condition that the number of stored balls stored in the card table is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of replay unit balls (135 balls).

  On the other hand, in the case of “1” indicating that collation has been completed, it is further 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 greater than a predetermined number of replay unit balls. Is in the lit state, 135 balls, which is the number of replay units, are subtracted from the number of balls stored in the card table and updated, the replay display unit 320 (LED 320a) is turned off, and the replay ball lending is performed. Perform the process. In the replay ball lending process according to the present embodiment, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the number of replay units (135 balls), specifically, the number of replay units (135 balls) minus 10 fees is 125. As in the case of the lending process described above, the pachinko machine 2 is caused to output a signal instructing the payout of 25 balls, which is a payout unit in the corresponding pachinko machine 2, five times.

  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 turned on again after the replay ball lending process is completed. State.

  Then, a replay completion notification including the member card ID and member ID stored in the card table, the number of replay units subtracted from the number of balls (135 balls), and a mode flag is transmitted to the management computer 150. After that, the replay process is ended and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  The management computer 150 that has received the replay completion notification, in the member saving management table, determines the number of replay units (from the membership card ID included in the replay completion notification and the number of stored balls stored in association with the member ID). (135 balls) is subtracted and updated.

  Further, when the payout button 311 is operated in the above-described standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, an operation signal from the payout button switch 311 ′ is input to the control unit 328, so that the control unit 328 pays out in Sb7. When it is determined that the button 311 is operated, the process proceeds to Sb25, and the payout process shown in FIG. 24 is performed. When the payout operation is invalid, the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 is continued without proceeding to Sb25.

  In the payout process of the present embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 24, it is determined whether or not there is a counted number of balls, that is, the number of balls in the card table (Sh1).

  In the determination at the step of Sh1, if there is no counted number of balls (the number of holding balls), the process proceeds to the step of Sh6 and, for example, an error message “There is no counted number of balls” on the display unit 312. Is displayed to inform the player that there is no counted number of balls (the number of balls held), and then the payout process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  On the other hand, if there is a counted number of balls (the number of balls held), the process proceeds to step Sh2, where the counted number of balls is 125 balls or more corresponding to a preset number of 5 payouts which is a predetermined payout setting number. It is determined whether or not there is.

  If it is determined that the number of balls is 125 or more, the process proceeds to Sh8 to perform a payout set number payout process.

  Specifically, in the payout set number payout process, the high / low PRDY output from the pachinko machine 2 is determined as in the case of the usage frequency loan process described above, and the condition is that PRDY is LOW. After switching BRDY to LOW, BRQ is set to LOW, and a state of waiting for detection of EX HIGH from the pachinko machine 2 is entered, and BRQ is switched to HIGH based on detection of the LOW of EXS. The payout of 25 pachinko balls corresponding to the frequency is executed, and a state of waiting for detection of HIGH of EXS is entered.

  Next, when the payout of one payout unit in the pachinko machine 2 is completed and the HIGH of the EXS is detected, the control unit 328 counts the number of BRQs, and the counted number of BRQs corresponds to the number of payouts set to 5 degrees. Compare with 5 times.

  If the number of BRQs counted in this comparison does not match the number of 5 times, the above-mentioned payout process is performed once again, and the number of BRQs counted in the above comparison is the set number of payouts. If it matches the 5th frequency, BRDY is set to HIGH.

  Then, the control unit 328 determines from the counted number of balls in the display unit 312 and the number of balls in the card table (if the card being received is a visitor card, the number of balls in the visitor card being received). While subtracting and updating the number of balls, the device ID uniquely assigned to the card unit 3, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being received, and the ball that has been paid out to the management computer 150 The payout completion notification including the number (125 balls) and the mode flag is transmitted and stored in association with the (member) card ID in the member saving management table or visitor saving management table of the management computer 150. After the number of balls paid out from the number of balls (125 balls) is subtracted and updated, the process proceeds to Sh20 card collection determination processing.

  In this card collection determination process, it is determined whether or not the accepted card is a visitor card whose number of counted balls (number of balls) after subtraction update is “0”. If the visitor card is “0”, the prepaid balance is also “0”, as in the case where the prepaid balance in the aforementioned lending process is “0”. After collecting the visitor card, the payout process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in the step of Sh2 is a determination result that is not equal to or greater than the set number of payouts, the process proceeds to the step of Sh3 and 25 balls, which is the number of payout units in the pachinko machine 2 corresponding to the counted number of balls. It is determined whether it is above.

  When it is determined that the number of balls is not more than 25 in the determination, for example, when the counted number of balls is 20, the process proceeds to the step of Sh4 and is stored in the storage unit 338 specified from the stored ball number data. It is determined whether or not the number of remaining pachinko balls (remaining number) is 20 or more that is the counted number of balls, that is, whether or not 20 balls that are the counted number of balls can be paid out. .

  In this determination, when it is determined that the number of pachinko balls (remaining number) stored in the storage unit 338 is not equal to or greater than the counted number of balls, that is, 20 pachinko balls cannot be paid out. In the case of, the process proceeds to the step of Sh7, and the display unit 312 displays a message “Cannot pay out due to lack of balls. Please call an attendant.” The storage ball remaining number error notification process of lighting in a predetermined lighting mode for notifying that a storage ball remaining number error has occurred is performed.

  As described above, the clerk who grasps that the number of pachinko balls (remaining number) stored in the storage unit 338 is small by using this notification, shifts to the added reservation mode using the remote control, as described above. By replenishing the pachinko balls, the pachinko balls can be paid out from the storage unit 338.

  On the other hand, in the determination in the step of Sh4, if it is determined that the number of pachinko balls (remaining number) stored in the storage unit 338 is equal to or more than 20 balls, which is the counted number of balls, the step of Sh5 is performed. Going forward, a fraction payout request including the number of payout balls of 20 which is the counted number of balls is transmitted to the counting / fractional payout unit 340.

  In response to the reception of the fraction payout request, the counting / fractional payout unit 340 switches the flow path to the return passage 335 by the flow path switching solenoid 358 and is the number of payout balls (fraction) included in the received fraction payout request. By operating the payout motor 353 until 20 detection signals are input from the output sensor 354, 20 pachinko balls corresponding to the payout balls (fraction) are returned from the diversion port 336 on the discharge flow path 337. By flowing into the passage 335 and being returned to and stored in the return storage unit 342, the player can take out these 20 paid-out pachinko balls from the return storage unit 342.

  Then, at the stage where the payout of 20 pachinko balls based on the fraction payout request is completed, the control unit 350 of the counting / fractional payout unit 340 transmits a fraction payout completion notification to the control unit 328.

  In response to the reception of the fraction payout completion notice, the control unit 328 determines the number of balls counted on the display unit 312 and the number of balls held on the card table (if the card being received is a visitor card, the visitor card being received). The number of balls paid out is subtracted and updated from the number of possessed balls). Thereby, the counted number of balls and the number of balls are “0”.

  And, to the management computer 150, the device ID uniquely assigned to the card unit 3, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted, the number of paid-out balls (20 balls), The payout ball returned from the number of possessed balls stored in association with the (member) card ID in the member saving management table or visitor saving management table of the management computer 150 by transmitting a payout completion notification including the mode flag After the number (20 balls) is subtracted and updated to “0”, the card collection determination process of Sh20 described above is performed, and then the payout process is terminated and the process returns to the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10.

  When these payout completion notifications are received, the “payout” type and the number of payout balls are stored as the storage / payout history corresponding to the device ID in the storage / payout history table based on the payout completion notification. A storage / dispensing history including (20 balls) is registered.

  That is, when the counted number of balls (the number of possessed balls) is a fraction less than 25 balls corresponding to the number of times that is the payout unit, the player operates the payout button 311 so that the pachinko ball of the fraction is By being paid out from the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 in the counting / fractional payout unit 340, it is returned to the player.

  On the other hand, in the determination in Sh3, when it is determined that the counted number of balls (the number of balls held) is 25 or more, the process proceeds to the step of Sh9, and the maximum payout within the range of the counted number of balls is possible. After specifying the payout unit and the fraction less than the payout unit, the process proceeds to the step of Sh10 to pay out the number of balls of the specified maximum payout unit from the corresponding pachinko machine 2, and the steps of Sh4 and Sh5 described above are performed. By carrying out, the specified number of pachinko balls are paid out to the return storage unit 342 in the counting / fractional payout unit 340.

  Specifically, for example, if the number of possessed balls (the number of counted balls) is 110 balls, in the step of Sh9, the value obtained by dividing 110 balls which is the number of retained balls by 25 balls which are payout units. An integer value of 4 is specified as the payout frequency corresponding to the maximum payout unit, and 10 balls less than the payout unit, which is the remainder of the value divided by the payout unit of 25 balls, are specified as a fraction.

  Then, in Sh10, the PRDY output from the pachinko machine 2 is determined to be HIGH / LOW, and on the condition that PRDY is LOW, BRDY is switched to LOW, then BRQ is set to LOW, and the EXS from the pachinko machine 2 is set. HIGH detection waiting state, and by switching the BRQ to HIGH based on the detection of the LOW of the EXS, 25 pachinko balls corresponding to a single payout unit are paid out, and the EXS HIGH detection It will be in a waiting state.

  Next, when the payout of one payout unit in the pachinko machine 2 is completed and the HIGH level of the EXS is detected, the control unit 328 counts the number of BRQs, and the payout number specified in the step of Sh8. Compare with 4 times corresponding to 4 degrees which is the frequency.

  If the number of BRQs counted in this comparison does not match the number of 4 times, the payout process for the above-mentioned 1 time is performed again, while the number of BRQs counted in the above comparison is the number of payouts set to 4 If it matches, BRDY is set to HIGH.

  Then, the control unit 328 calculates the number of balls counted on the display unit 312 and the number of balls held on the card table (if the card being received is a visitor card), the number of balls on the visitor card being received) In addition to subtracting and updating 100 balls corresponding to the 4 times of payout, the device ID uniquely assigned to the card unit 3 to the management computer 150 and the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted And a payout completion notification including the number of balls paid out (100 balls) and a mode flag, and associated with the (member) card ID in the member saving management table or visitor saving management table of the management computer 150 After subtracting and updating the number of balls (100 balls) paid out from the number of held balls, the steps of Sh4 and Sh5 are carried out, 10 pachinko balls, which are the fractions of each, are paid out to the return storage unit 342 in the counting / fractional dispensing unit 340, and the number of balls that have been paid out is subtracted and updated, and the counted balls on the display unit 312 are counted. And the number of balls held in the card table (if the card being accepted is a visitor card, the number of balls held on the visitor card being accepted) are all set to “0” and are being accepted by the management computer 150 The number of balls in this card is also “0”.

  In other words, when the counted number of balls (the number of balls) is 25 balls or more corresponding to one payout unit, which is less than 125 balls corresponding to the set number of payouts, and there are fractions, In order to pay out the fraction, the player can pay out the pachinko balls of that fraction from the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 in the counting / fractional payout unit 340 without operating the payout button 311 individually. To be returned to. Even when these fractions are paid out, as described above, a payout completion notification including the payout ball number is transmitted to the management computer 150, so that the storage is performed based on the payout completion notification. In the payout history table, a storage / payout history including the type of “payout” and the number of payout balls (10 balls) is registered as the storage / payout history corresponding to the device ID.

  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.

  The output of the leaving operation information is detected in Sb8 in the above-described standby state of Sb2 to Sb10, so that it is determined that there is a leaving operation, and the process proceeds to Sb26 to perform the leaving process.

  In this leaving process, the control unit 328 first invalidates all operations and outputs a count prohibition instruction to the counting / fractional payout unit 340 (control unit 350) to count new pachinko balls. Ban.

  The control unit 328 determines the (member) card ID and the member ID (member card only) and the number of balls being received by the card reader / writer 327 even if the card data in the RAM 328b is lost due to a long power interruption or the like. (Member) card ID and the member ID are stored in a predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c, and then a discharge instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327 to accept the member card or visitor card being received. The function lamp 301 is turned on in yellow to indicate that the user is away from the seat, and the display unit 312 displays “separated” and the elapsed time (remaining time of the predetermined away time). At the same time, by outputting a card insertion enabling instruction to the card reader / writer 327, the shutter is released along with the ejection. The solenoids 399 that the shutter of the card insertion opening 309 is a sinking state, the process proceeds to Away mode that only allows the card insertion from the card insertion opening 309.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, since the RAM 328b of the control unit 328 is backed up by a battery, the card whose member ID (member only) and member ID (member only) are to be canceled in the away mode. The information may be stored again in a predetermined area in the RAM 328b, or, as in the present embodiment, the (member) card ID and member ID (member ID) are stored in the card table when a member card or visitor card is received. (Only card) is already stored, the new (member) card ID and member ID are not stored, and the (member) card ID and member ID already stored in the card table are omitted. (Membership card only) may be used.

  The player may leave his / her seat by bringing the membership card or visitor card discharged from the card insertion slot 309.

  In the transition to the above-described leaving mode, the control unit 328 transmits a leaving notice including the device ID, the (member) card ID of the ejected card, and the mode flag to the system controller 100 and the management computer 150. By registering these (member) card IDs as leaving cards, even if these discharged cards are received by other card units 3 or the POS terminal 170 for gift exchange, they cannot be used for the cards. It is supposed to be returned.

  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 ( (Member card only) matches, the (member) card ID and member ID (member card only) stored in the predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c are erased, and the operation performed in the transition to the away mode is prohibited. By canceling the prohibition of counting, the mode is changed from the away mode to the normal mode, and the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 is returned.

  In the case where the player who has left the seat does not return even if the predetermined time has passed, the seat leaving mode can be forcibly canceled. When the forced release is performed, the clerk only has to operate the forced release button provided on the remote control that is possessed, and the forced release button is operated from the remote control (forced release operation) by operating the forced release button. The infrared signal is converted into a predetermined electrical signal that can specify the forced release operation by the IR light receiving unit 315 and output to the display control board 329. The forced release operation information indicating that the forced release operation has been performed is output from the display control board 329 to the control unit 328.

  When the forced release operation information is input during these leaving modes, the control unit 328 stores the (member) card ID and the member ID (member card only) and the number of balls stored in a predetermined storage area of the EEPROM 328c. Is stored in the other predetermined area of the EEPROM 328c as forced release history data, and then the data is erased and the card table is reset.

  Then, by canceling the prohibition of the operation and counting prohibition 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 Sb10, and a new member card or visitor card and It is possible to accept bills.

  The forced release history data is transmitted to both 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-related process at the time of closing (FIG. 26A). Since the system controller 100 and the management computer 150 store and manage the forced release history data stored and managed in the system controller 100 or the management computer 150 even when there is a complaint by a person away from the seat. Thus, even if a failure occurs in either the system controller 100 or the management computer 150, the number of balls possessed by the away person can be reliably guaranteed.

  When the player operates the menu button 316 in the standby state of Sb2 to Sb10 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 Sb10. 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 Sb10.

  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 a payout ranking, a jackpot ranking, a consecutive house ranking, etc. is displayed, and ranking data of the type selected on the submenu screen is acquired from the hall computer 140 and displayed on the display unit 312. Is displayed.

  In addition, when the “Point display” menu is selected, the number of points of the store points stored in the card table (if the store point is not stored, the store point acquisition request is sent to the management computer 150. When the “Notification” menu is selected, the notification information stored in the RAM 328b is displayed on the display unit 312. 312 is displayed.

  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, the flow of processing at the end of business will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 34. First, the system controller 100 starts the processing at the end of business at the end of business. When the operation stop request is transmitted to the unit 3, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) accepts various operations such as a lending operation and a payout operation, and a new member card or visitor to the card reader / writer 327. Inhibition of card insertion, update of various game information data such as game information table and pooled ball count data, and return to the system controller 100 of an operation stop notification indicating that the operation has been stopped, The system shifts to a state of waiting for reception of a processing end-time processing request from the computer 150.

  The system controller 100 that has received the operation stop notification transmits an end-of-business notification indicating that the processing of the membership card and the visitor card has been completed to the management computer 150. Upon detecting that the business has been closed, a business time end processing request is transmitted to the control unit 328 of each card unit 3.

  The control unit 328 that has received the business end process request starts the business end process shown in FIG. In this business end process, as shown in FIG. 26 (a), the count invalidation process (Sk1), the data update process (Sk2), the stored ball discharge process (Sk3), and the tightening related process (Sk4) are performed. The

  In the count invalidation process in the step of Sk1, as shown in FIG. 26B, first, it is determined whether or not there is a card (visitor card or member card) being received by the card reader / writer 327 (Sd1). ).

  If there is no card being accepted, the process proceeds to step Sd2. On the other hand, if there is a card being accepted, the process proceeds to step Sd5 to determine whether the card being accepted is a visitor card. It is determined from the card ID read from the receiving card stored in the item of the card ID.

  When the accepted card is a visitor card, the determination in Sd5 is “Yes” and the process proceeds to Sd6. Further, whether there is a recorded number of balls (recording number of balls is present) On the other hand, when the accepted card is a membership card, it is determined as “No” in the determination of Sd5, and the process proceeds to the step of Sd9 and the return process is performed.

  If there is a ball number recorded in the accepting visitor card, the process proceeds to step Sd7 to record the number of balls currently present and the date on which the number of balls was counted. When the card reader / writer 327 is instructed to erase and proceeds to step Sd8, if there is no number of balls recorded in the accepted visitor card, the process proceeds to Sd8 without going through step Sd7. Proceeding to the step, it is determined whether there is a prepaid balance of the visitor card being accepted, that is, whether there is a prepaid balance in the card table. In addition, the record of the number of possessed balls erased in Sd7 and the record of the date when the number of possessed balls are counted are used as card invalidation information including the card ID, the device ID, and the mode flag as in the step of Sd3. The recording data erased by the visitor card may be managed by the management computer 150 by transmitting to the management computer 150.

  If the prepaid balance does not exist, that is, it is “0”, the process proceeds to step Sd12, and after the visitor card being received is collected in the card storage unit 370 of the card reader / writer 327, the process proceeds to step Sd2. If the prepaid balance is present, that is, it is not “0”, the process proceeds to step Sd9 and a return process is performed.

  In the return process of step Sd9, the visiting visitor card or membership card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309. At this time, if the test mode is in effect, a test flag is recorded and discharged.

  If the card to be ejected is a membership card, it includes the device ID of the card unit 3, the membership card ID of the card to be returned, the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls stored in the card table, and a mode flag. When the return notification is transmitted to the management computer 150, the number of held balls and the number of stored balls stored in correspondence with the member card ID included in the received return notification in the member saving management table are returned. The membership card ID stored in the “accepting ID” corresponding to the device ID received in the unit management table is deleted while being updated to the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls included in the notification. When the card to be ejected is a visitor card, the return notification is not transmitted in order to collectively update the visitor saving management table in an update process described later.

  Then, the process proceeds to step Sd10, and the card discharge is notified until the card is removed or a predetermined time elapses in a notification mode corresponding to the type (visitor / member) of the discharged card. Specifically, when the visitor card is discharged, the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is changed to a yellow fast blinking state to notify the discharge of the visitor card, while when the membership card is discharged, the multi-function lamp The discharge state of the membership card is notified by setting the lighting state of 301 to a high-speed blinking state of blue.

  Cards discharged in this way are collected and collected separately by the clerk for each card type, that is, for each visitor card or membership card, and stored until the proper owner makes an offer. Therefore, when these clerks collect and collect, it is possible to confirm which type of card is being discharged in which card unit 3 from a distance without going to the card unit 3, so the types of these discharged cards The workability of each separate collection work is improved.

  Then, after sending discharge history information including the (member) card ID and device ID of these discharged cards to the management computer 150 (Sd11), the process proceeds to step Sd2.

  In this way, all the discharge history information transmitted from the card unit 3 is stored for a predetermined period in the management computer 150 as a discharge history file to which the date of the day is added. The card received by the card unit 3, that is, each visitor card or member card that the player has forgotten to take out, which card unit 3 was inserted (discharged) on which date was also managed later. Since it can be specified (confirmed) by the computer 150 and the information can be used as important information for specifying the legitimate owner of the visitor card or the membership card, it is easy to return these cards to the legitimate owner.

  Next, in step Sd2, it is determined whether or not there is a counted number of balls (the number of balls in the card table).

  If the number of balls already counted does not exist, it is determined as “No” in the step of Sd2, and the count invalidation process is terminated. On the other hand, if the number of balls already counted is present, the process proceeds to the step of Sd3. After the invalidation information including the ID, the counted number of balls (the number of balls held), and the mode flag is transmitted to the management computer 150, the counted number of balls (the number of balls held in the card table) is deleted ( Sd4), the count invalidation process is terminated. The management computer 150 that has received the transmitted invalidation information stores and manages the received invalidation information as an invalidation history on that day.

  Next, the control unit 328 performs the data update process of Sk2. In this data update process, each game information data in today's data of the game information table for which update is prohibited is transmitted to the hall computer 140 together with the device ID, and the game information of the hall computer 140 is updated to the final data. After updating the previous day's data two days ago, today's data the previous day, and resetting the today's data, the card table and the member game information table are reset, and the data updating process ends.

  Next, the control unit 328 performs Sk3 storage ball discharge processing. In the stored ball discharge process, the apparatus waits to receive a discharge instruction transmitted from the management computer 150. When the above-described discharge instruction is received from the management computer 150 in this discharge instruction reception waiting state, a discharge request including the number of discharged balls (for example, the total number) is output to the control board 341 (control unit 350) of the counting / fractional payout unit 340. ), And collects all the pachinko balls including the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 beyond the storage upper limit period from the storage unit 338 and collects the stored ball count data “0”. Update to

  Next, the control unit 328 performs Sk4 tightening-related processing. In this closing-related process, information such as the usage history of the prepaid balance is transmitted to the system controller 100, and as described above, data such as forced cancellation history data in the absence of the seat is stored in both the system controller 100 and the management computer 150. Send to memorize.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described discharge history information is transmitted only to the management computer 150. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as with the above-described forced release history data, By sending and storing both of the management computers 150, the discharge history information may be confirmed even if either the system controller 100 or the management computer 150 malfunctions.

  In response to the completion of the Sk4 tightening-related processing, the control unit 328 transmits a processing end notification including the device ID to the management computer 150.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the management computer 150 performs data update processing in response to reception of processing end notifications from all the card units 3.

  In this data update process, all card IDs stored in the unit management table in association with the device ID included in the invalidation information (stored as invalidation history) received from the card unit 3 are extracted and extracted. When the number of possessed balls stored in the visitor savings management table in association with the card ID is reset (erased) as invalidated, and the number of retained balls exists in the visitor savings management table, After adding the number, that is, the number of balls that were recorded on the visitor card but were not used on that day and the card ID to the invalidation history, all these existing balls are reset, so that business day The number of possessed balls stored in the visitor saving management table is invalidated.

  By counting the number of balls already counted (number of balls held) included in each of these invalidation histories, the number of balls that have been invalidated in the card unit 3 (no The total number of invalidated counting balls (number of balls) including the number of balls) can be tabulated, and the total number of invalidated balls that have been tabulated and the invalidation history information are shown in the figure. As shown in FIG. 12, it is transmitted to the hall computer 140 after the completion completion notification is transmitted to the system controller, and is used and stored as data for accounting processing.

  As the last process in these data update processes, all the data of “situation”, “acceptance ID”, “counted number of balls” in the unit management table are reset to update the unit management table, and after the unit management table is updated In, an end completion notice is transmitted to the system controller.

  Upon reception of the completion completion notification from the management computer 150, the system controller 100 detects that the preparation for termination has been completed in the management computer 150, and shifts to a predetermined termination process.

  Next, the flow when changing the mode of the card unit 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 12 and 27 to 31.

  As described above, the card unit 3 has a normal mode, a test mode, and an erase mode as basic modes, and the transition to these modes is performed in the management computer 150 as shown in FIG. Implemented by performing a mode transition operation.

  When it is desired to perform an operation test of the card unit 3, the management computer 150 may perform a transition operation to the test mode as a mode transition operation, and the card operation is performed from the management computer 150 to each card unit 3 by the transition operation. A mode transition request (test) for mode transition is transmitted.

  In addition, when the operation test is completed and the recorded data of the visitor card and the membership card used in the test mode is to be erased, the management computer 150 performs an operation for shifting to the erasing mode as a mode shifting operation. As a result of this transition operation, a transition mode transition request (erase) to the erase mode is transmitted from the management computer 150 to each card unit 3.

  Further, when it is desired to set the business state or the same state as the business state, the management computer 150 may perform a transition operation to the normal mode as the mode transition operation, and the management computer 150 transfers each card unit 3 by the transition operation. A request for transition to normal mode (normal) is transmitted.

  In response to the reception of various mode transition requests transmitted as a result of the mode transition operation being performed by these management computers 150, the card unit 3 performs the mode transition control process shown in FIG.

  The transition to various modes can be set for each card unit 3 or for each group of card units 3.

  In this mode transition control process, as shown in FIG. 27, first, whether or not the received mode transition request is a transition mode transition request (erase) to the erase mode (Sm1), the transition mode to the test mode It is determined whether or not it is a transition request (test) (Sm2) and whether or not it is a transition mode transition request (normal) to the normal mode.

  In the transition mode transition request (test) to the test mode, in this embodiment, a release timer that is a determination value of the normal mode transition timer is used as information that can specify the transition time from the test mode to the normal mode. Contains the value. When the value of the normal mode transition timer that starts counting in Sm16 described later becomes equal to or greater than the release timer value, the card unit 3 is shifted from the test mode to the normal mode.

  If the received mode transition request is a transition mode transition request (erase) to the erase mode, the process proceeds to step Sm7, and whether or not the mode at the time of receiving the mode transition request is the test mode, That is, it is determined whether or not the test mode is in effect. If the test mode is in effect, the mode is shifted to the erase mode (Sm8), and the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is flashed in red corresponding to the erase mode. While notifying that the mode has been shifted to the erase mode and starting the erase mode process shown in FIG. 29 described later, when not in the test mode, that is, in the normal mode, the mode is not shifted to the erase mode. Then, a transition error including the device ID of the card unit 3 is returned to the management computer 150 (Sm9), and the mode transition control process ends.

  In other words, since the erase mode is for erasing the visitor card and membership card data used during the test mode, only the transition from the test mode is possible, and the transition from the normal mode is impossible. If, for some reason, for example, as will be described later, there is a card unit 3 that has returned from the test mode to the normal mode because the communication state with the management computer 150 is offline, these devices are present. By transmitting the migration error including the ID, it is possible to easily grasp the card unit 3 that has a communication failure during the test mode.

  In the erase mode thus shifted, the erase mode process shown in FIG. 29 is performed. In this erasure mode process, first, it is determined whether or not the counted number of balls (the number of balls in the card table) exists (not “0”) (Sy1).

  If the counted number of balls (the number of balls in the card table) exists, the process proceeds to Sy2 to execute the process of deleting the counted number of balls and proceeds to the step of Sy3, while the counted number of balls (of the card table) If the number of possessed balls does not exist, the process proceeds to the Sy3 step without going through the Sy2 step.

  In this step of Sy2, the number of balls already counted (the number of balls held in the card table) is reset (erased), the device ID of the card unit 3, the number of balls counted (the number of balls held), and the erase mode are set. The deletion information including the mode flag shown is transmitted to the management computer 150.

  The management computer 150 that has received the transmitted erasure information recognizes that the information related to the test mode is erasure because the mode flag included in the received erasure information is a mode flag indicating the erasure mode. The unit management table is updated by resetting (erasing) the data stored in the “counted number of balls” in the unit management table (see FIG. 17A) in the mode storage area.

  Next, in the Sy3 step, it is determined whether or not a card whose test flag is “1” is being received. If the card is not being received, the process proceeds to the Sy9 step, while the card is being received. If there is, the process proceeds to step Sy4, and it is determined based on the data stored in the prepaid balance in the card table whether or not the prepaid balance exists in the receiving card.

  Then, when there is a prepaid balance, the remaining amount erasure process of Sy5 is performed and the process proceeds to step Sy6. On the other hand, when no prepaid balance is present, the process proceeds to step Sy6 without performing the remaining amount erasure process of Sy5. To do.

  In the remaining amount erasing process of Sy5, first, the system controller 100 is erased the remaining amount including the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted, the prepaid remaining amount to be erased, and a mode flag indicating the erasing mode. By receiving the remaining amount erasure permission returned in response to transmitting the request, the prepaid remaining amount is erased. Note that when the balance erasure permission is not received (when the balance erasure is not possible), the prepaid balance is not erased, a prepaid balance error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error, and the card is ejected. Thus, in the test mode, there is an abnormality in which the prepaid balance is inconsistent, and the identification of the card in which the abnormality has occurred can be easily confirmed.

  When the system controller 100 receives the balance deletion request, the system controller 100 recognizes that the information about the test mode is erased because the balance deletion request includes a mode flag indicating the erase mode. The prepaid balance is stored on the condition that the prepaid balance stored in the visitor card table in the storage area in association with the card ID included in the balance erasure request matches the prepaid balance included in the balance erasure request. It erases (updates to “0”) and sends back the remaining amount erasure permission.

  Next, in step Sy6, it is determined whether or not the card being accepted is a membership card. If the card is a membership card, the process proceeds to step Sy8, and the membership card being accepted is inserted from the card insertion slot 309. On the other hand, if the card being accepted is not a membership card, that is, if it is a visitor card, the process proceeds to step Sy7, the card data erasure process is performed, then the process proceeds to step Sy8, and the visitor being accepted The card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309.

  In the Sy7 card data erasing process, first, it is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls is present in the receiving visitor card. If the number of possessed balls does not exist, it is not necessary to delete these cards, so the card data erasing process is terminated. On the other hand, if the number of possessed balls exists, the management computer 150 receives the received visitor. The number of possessed balls is erased by receiving the erase permission returned in response to the transmission of the erase request including the card ID read from the card, the number of possessed balls, and the mode flag indicating the erase mode.

  When the erasure permission is not received (when the erasure is not received), the number of possessed balls is not erased, a recording data error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error and eject the card. In addition to the fact that there is an abnormality in the number of balls in the test mode, the identification of the card in which the abnormality has occurred can be easily confirmed.

  Further, in response to receiving the erase request, the management computer 150 recognizes that the information related to the test mode is erased because the erase request includes a mode flag indicating the erase mode, and the test mode Whether or not the number of possessed balls stored in the visitor saving management table stored in the storage area in association with the card ID included in the erasure request matches the number of possessed balls included in the erasure request The number of possessed balls is erased on the condition that the number of possessed balls is the same, and an erasure permission is sent back.

  Then, after the card being accepted at the time of shifting to the erasing mode process is ejected at the step of Sy8, the process proceeds to the step of Sy9, and the state shifts to a waiting state for inserting a new card from the card insertion slot 309.

  In this standby state, when a new card is inserted, the process proceeds to step Sy10, and the recording data recorded on the inserted card is read by the card reader / writer 327, and “1” is set as the test flag. Is recorded, and if “1” is not recorded as the test flag, that is, “0” is recorded as the test flag, the process proceeds to Sy8 and the card is ejected. After that, the process shifts to the standby state of Sy9 again. On the other hand, when “1” is recorded as the test flag, the process proceeds to the Sy4 step, and the above-described processing of Sy4 to Sy8 is performed. The recorded data on the registered membership card or visitor card is erased and discharged.

  On the other hand, if the received mode transition request is a transition mode transition request (test) to the test mode, the process proceeds to step Sm10, and whether or not the mode at the time of receiving the mode transition request is the normal mode. That is, it is determined whether or not the normal mode is in effect. If the normal mode is in effect, the cancellation timer value included in the test mode transition request received in Sm2 is stored in the RAM 328b in Sm11-. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step Sm11. On the other hand, if it is not in the normal mode, that is, in the erase mode, a transition error including the device ID of the card unit 3 is returned to the management computer 150 (Sm15). The control process ends. That is, the transition to the test mode is possible only during the normal mode.

  In this step of Sm11, whether or not there is a counted number of balls (the number of held balls in the card table), that is, there is a counted number of balls (the number of held balls) in the normal mode before the transition to the test mode. It is determined whether or not to do.

  If the number of balls already counted (the number of balls in possession) exists, the process proceeds to step Sm12, and the number of balls that have been counted (the number of balls in possession) can be specified by the information recorded on the card, and then the card is ejected (issued) ), The process returns to step Sm11.

  In the discharge / issuance process of Sm12, the same process as the return process in the normal mode is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not a member card or a visitor card being received by the card reader / writer 327 is present. If there is no membership card or visitor card, the number of counted balls (the number of possessed balls) is stored in the card storage unit 370. Is recorded and discharged (issued) on the visitor card, and if present, the number of balls held in the management computer 150 in association with the (member) card ID of the accepted membership card or visitor card is displayed. At the same time, the number of possessed balls is recorded (visitor card only) and the receiving card is discharged.

  In this discharging / issuing process, the control unit 328 sends the device ID of the card unit 3 to the management computer 150, the (member) card ID of the card to be ejected, the number of balls held in the card table, and the presence / absence of issuance. A discharge / issue notification including an issue flag (“1” with issue, “0” without issue) and a mode flag is transmitted.

  In response to the receipt of the discharge / issue notification, the management computer 150 stores the card ID included in the received discharge / issue notification in the member saving management table or visitor saving management table in the storage area corresponding to the mode flag. The number of held balls is updated to the number of held balls included in the received issuance notification, and the “status” corresponding to the device ID received in the unit management table of the storage area corresponding to the mode flag is set to “standby” The card ID stored in the “acceptance ID” is deleted (only when there is no issue flag), and an update completion notification is transmitted to the card unit 3 that is the transmission source of the issue notification. In addition, when the issue flag exists in the discharge / issue notification (when the issue flag is “1”), in the visitor saving management table of the storage area corresponding to the mode flag, the latest The current date and time output from the RTC 104 is stored in the issue date and time.

  In response to the reception of the update completion notification, the card unit 3 (control unit 328) transfers the card table to the member card or visitor card being received (including the visitor card moved from the card storage unit 370 to a predetermined reading position). After recording the number of holding balls and the test flag (only in the test mode), a discharge instruction is output to the card reader / writer 327 and the visitor card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309.

  When the membership card is discharged, the membership game information table is reset after the data of the membership game information table is also transmitted to the management computer 150.

  After returning to the step of Sm11 after carrying out these discharge / issuing processes, the counted number of balls (the number of possessed balls) is “0”, so there is no counted number of balls (the number of retained balls). After the determination, the process proceeds to step Sm13, and the data stored in the game information table at that time, the information such as the usage history of the prepaid balance, etc. are backed up and stored as return data, and then the game information table and the member game information are stored. The table and the card table are initialized to the initial state and the test mode is entered, and the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is changed to the test mode as a red continuous lighting state corresponding to the test mode (Sm14).

  Next, a response to transition to the test mode is transmitted to the management computer 150 (Sm14 +). Then, the normal mode transition timer for counting the elapsed time since the transition to the test mode is reset to 0 and set to start the timing (Sm16).

  Thus, in this embodiment, when the number of balls that have already been counted (the number of balls in the normal mode before the transition to the test mode) exists when shifting to the test mode, the number of balls that have been counted. Discharge (issue) in such a way that it can be identified from the member card or visitor card being accepted, and the counted number of balls (the number of balls) will be invalidated so that there will be no disadvantage to the player In the same manner, the card units 3 having these counted balls (the number of balls) also shift to the test mode at the same time, so that the number of balls already counted (the number of balls) does not shift to the test mode. This is preferable because a large number of card units 3 are generated and it is possible to avoid the trouble of performing processing for specifying and transferring the card units 3 that do not shift to the test mode. The invention is not limited thereto, those when the normal counting already piece count in the mode (number of lifting balls) are present, may perform the transition control so as not to shift to the test mode.

  Next, the communication state detection process which the card unit 3 of this Embodiment implements is demonstrated based on FIG. The communication state detection process is always executed in the same row as Sb22 in FIG. As described above, the control unit 328 of the card unit 3 communicates with the management computer 150 depending on whether or not an online confirmation request transmitted periodically (about 10 seconds in this embodiment) from the management computer 150 is received. Whether the communication state is an online (communication possible) state or an offline (communication impossible) state is detected, and the occurrence of the offline (communication impossible) state or the occurrence of the online (communication possible) state is included in steps Sc1 and Sc3. Detected.

  The occurrence of the online state is detected at the step of Sc3 and proceeds to the step of Sc4 to determine whether or not the communication state at the time of occurrence is offline, and when it is not offline, that is, already online. In this case, the process returns to the caller process of the communication state detection process. On the other hand, if it is offline, that is, if it is newly online, the process proceeds to step Sc8 and the time when the online state occurs. It is determined whether or not the mode is in the test mode.

  And when not in the test mode, that is, in the normal mode or the erasing mode, the process proceeds to the step of Sc10 and the online return processing is performed, so that the offline notification by the multi-function lamp 301 is terminated, Various notifications and the like to be transmitted to the management computer 150 and the system controller 100 are transmitted in the processing during the offline period. On the other hand, if it is in the test mode, nothing is done and the process returns to the calling source process.

  The occurrence of the offline state is detected at the step Sc1, and after the transition time-up process described later in FIG. 31 is executed at the next Sc1 +, the process proceeds to the step Sc2, where the communication state at the time of occurrence has already been determined. It is determined whether or not it is offline. If it is already offline, the process proceeds to step Sc3. If it is not already offline, that is, if it is newly offline, the process proceeds to step Sc5. Then, it is determined whether or not the mode at the time when the offline state occurs is in the test mode.

  If it is not in the test mode, that is, if it is in the normal mode or the erasing mode, the process proceeds to step Sc7 and offline notification processing is performed, so that the occurrence of the offline is changed to the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301. On the other hand, if it is in the test mode, the process returns to the calling process of the process.

  When it is determined that there is offline detection in Sc1 + in FIG. 30 and the normal mode transition timer set by the transition to the test mode has timed out, the transition time-up process shown in St1 to St7 in FIG. 31 is performed. As a result, the test mode is canceled and the mode is changed to the normal mode.

  Specifically, first, it is determined whether or not the value of the normal mode transition timer is equal to or greater than the cancellation timer value received in the test mode transition request in Sm2 of FIG. 27 (St0). When it is determined that the value of the normal mode transition timer is less than the release timer value, the process returns to the calling source process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the normal mode transition timer is equal to or greater than the release timer value, it is determined whether or not the mode at this time is in the test mode (St1). When the time-up is invalidated and the process is returned to the caller process of the process, and in the test mode, the same process as the transition to the normal mode in the mode transition control described above is performed, and the process shifts to the normal mode. .

  In other words, when a card (member card, visitor card) is being accepted at the time of migration, the card being accepted is ejected without erasing the record of the card (St2), and the card table is reset ( St3) When the counted number of balls (the number of balls held) exists, the counted number of balls (the number of balls held) is also reset.

  Then, it is determined whether there is storage (backup) of return data stored at the time of transition to the test mode (St4). If there is no storage (backup) of return data, the process proceeds to step St6. On the other hand, if there is storage (backup) of return data, the game information table and the information such as the usage history of the prepaid balance are transferred to the test mode using the return data, as in step Sm5 described above. After carrying out the return process for returning to the normal state (St5), the process proceeds to St6, the mode is changed to the normal mode, and the lighting state of the multi-function lamp 301 is changed to the normal mode as the non-lighting state corresponding to the normal mode. In step St7, the timer count of the normal mode transition timer is canceled, and the process returns to the calling process of the process.

  On the other hand, if the received mode transition request is a transition mode transition request (normal) to the normal mode, the process proceeds to step Sm3, and whether or not the mode at the time of receiving the mode transition request is the normal mode. In other words, it is determined whether or not the normal mode is in effect, and if not in the normal mode, that is, in the test mode or the erase mode, the process proceeds to the step of Sm3 + and the normal mode transition processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is in the normal mode, the process proceeds to step Sm9, which includes the device ID of the card unit 3, and that it is determined Yes in step Sm3 (transition mode transition request in normal mode (normal ) Is returned to the management computer 150, and the mode transition control process is terminated.

  In the normal mode transition process of Sm3 +, the normal mode transition process shown in FIG. 28 is performed. In the normal mode transition processing, first, it is determined whether or not a card with a test flag of “1” is being received. If the card is not being received, the process proceeds to step Sj8 while the card is received. If it is in the middle, the process proceeds to step Sj2, and it is determined based on the data stored in the prepaid balance in the card table whether or not the prepaid balance exists in the receiving card.

  If there is a prepaid balance, the remaining amount erasure process of Sj3 is performed and the process proceeds to step Sj4. On the other hand, if no prepaid balance is present, the process proceeds to step Sj4 without performing the remaining amount erasure process of Sj3. To do.

  In the remaining amount erasure process in Sj3, first, the system controller 100 is made to erase the remaining amount including the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted, the prepaid balance to be erased, and a mode flag indicating the test mode. By receiving the remaining amount erasure permission returned in response to transmitting the request, the prepaid remaining amount is erased. Note that when the balance erasure permission is not received (when the balance erasure is not possible), the prepaid balance is not erased, a prepaid balance error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error, and the card is ejected. Thus, in the test mode, there is an abnormality in which the prepaid balance is inconsistent, and the identification of the card in which the abnormality has occurred can be easily confirmed at the time of shifting to the normal mode.

  When the system controller 100 receives the balance elimination request, the system controller 100 recognizes that the information about the test mode is erased because the balance elimination request includes a mode flag indicating the test mode. The prepaid balance is stored on the condition that the prepaid balance stored in the visitor card table in the storage area in association with the card ID included in the balance erasure request matches the prepaid balance included in the balance erasure request. It erases (updates to “0”) and sends back the remaining amount erasure permission.

  Next, in step Sj4, it is determined whether or not the accepted card is a membership card. If it is a membership card, the process proceeds to step Sj7, and the accepted membership card is inserted from the card insertion slot 309. On the other hand, if the card being accepted is not a membership card, that is, if it is a visitor card, the process proceeds to step Sj5, the card data erasing process is performed, and then the process proceeds to step Sj6, where the visitor being accepted The card is collected in the card storage unit 370. When the card storage unit 370 is full, the visitor card is discharged from the card insertion slot 309.

  In the card data erasing process of Sj5, first, it is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls is present in the receiving visitor card. If the number of possessed balls does not exist, it is not necessary to delete these cards, so the card data erasing process is terminated. On the other hand, if the number of possessed balls exists, the management computer 150 receives the received visitor. The number of possessed balls is erased by receiving the erase permission returned in response to the transmission of the erase request including the card ID read from the card, the number of possessed balls, and the mode flag indicating the test mode.

  When the erasure permission is not received (when the erasure is not received), the number of possessed balls is not erased, a recording data error is displayed on the display unit 312 to notify the error and eject the card. In addition to the occurrence of an abnormality in the number of balls in the test mode, the identification of the card in which the abnormality has occurred can be easily confirmed at the time of transition to the normal mode.

  Further, in response to receiving the erase request, the management computer 150 recognizes that the information about the test mode is erased because the erase request includes a mode flag indicating the test mode, and the test mode Whether or not the number of possessed balls stored in the visitor saving management table stored in the storage area in association with the card ID included in the erasure request matches the number of possessed balls included in the erasure request The number of possessed balls is erased on the condition that the number of possessed balls is the same, and an erasure permission is sent back.

  In step Sj8, resetting the card table to the initial state resets (erases) all data such as the number of counted balls (the number of balls held) counted in the test mode before shifting to the normal mode. The

  In the step of Sm4 to be transferred after the normal mode shift processing, it is determined whether or not there is a return data storage (backup) stored at the time of shift to the test mode. In other words, there may be no return data storage (backup), as in the case where the test mode is entered when there is no data in the normal mode when the card unit 3 is introduced. After proceeding to step Sm5 only when there is (backup), and performing return processing for returning information such as a game information table and a prepaid balance usage history to the state when shifting to the test mode using the return data , The process proceeds to Sm6, and after the completion of the normal mode transition process, the member game information table is initialized to the initial state, and the normal mode is entered. After notifying that the mode has been changed, a response to the normal mode is returned to the management computer 150 in Sm6 +. In Sm7, it releases the timer count of the normal mode transition timer, returns to the processing of the calling source of the processing.

  FIG. 32 is a first diagram illustrating exchange of information between the management computer and the card unit in the normal mode or the test mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 32, when the mode shift operation to the test mode is accepted in the management computer 150 in the normal mode, the management computer 150 transmits a request to shift to the test mode including the release timer value to the card unit 3. Then, the card unit 3 is shifted to the test mode, and a response to shift to the test mode is returned from the card unit 3 to the management computer 150. Thereafter, the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 are in the test mode. Exchange of information.

  When the management computer 150 accepts a mode transition operation to the normal mode in the test mode, the management computer 150 transmits a request for transition to the normal mode to the card unit 3, and the card unit 3 is shifted to the normal mode. Then, a response to transition to the normal mode is returned from the card unit 3 to the management computer 150, and thereafter, information is exchanged between the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 as in the normal mode.

  FIG. 33 is a second diagram illustrating the exchange of information between the management computer and the card unit in the normal mode or the test mode in the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 33, the transmission / reception of information up to the transition to the test mode is the same as in FIG.

  When the management computer 150 accepts a mode transition operation to the normal mode in the test mode, the management computer 150 transmits a request for transition to the normal mode to the card unit 3, and the card unit 3 is shifted to the normal mode. The Then, when a response to the transition to the normal mode is returned from the card unit 3 to the management computer 150, if the connection between the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 is in an offline state, the management is performed after returning to the online state. Information is exchanged between the computer 150 and the card unit 3 as in the normal mode.

  It should be noted that when returning to the online state, the request for transition to the normal mode and the transition response may be transmitted again.

  FIG. 34 is a third diagram illustrating the exchange of information between the management computer and the card unit in the normal mode or the test mode in the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 34, the exchange of information until the mode is changed to the test mode is the same as that in FIG.

  When the management computer 150 accepts a mode transition operation to the normal mode in the test mode, a request for transition to the normal mode is transmitted from the management computer 150 to the card unit 3. At this time, when the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 are in an offline state, if the normal mode transition timer reaches the release timer value and the time is up, the card unit 3 is shifted to the normal mode and managed. Information is exchanged between the computer 150 and the card unit 3 as in the normal mode. On the other hand, if the normal mode transition timer has not reached the release timer value and the time has not expired, the test mode is continued as it is.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the card unit 3 (game device) stores the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been stored, and the number of balls that have been stored. The member ID that can specify the number of stored balls, the card ID, and information indicating the number of possessed balls are transmitted to the management computer 150. The management computer 150 updates the counted number of balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls based on the member ID, the card ID, and the information indicating the number of held balls transmitted from the card unit 3, and performs the processing during the business. When a transition request is entered for whether to transition to the normal mode that is transitioned when performing the operation, or to transition to the test mode that is transitioned when performing the operation check, and when the request for transition to the test mode is accepted When the input of the transition mode transition request to the test mode and the transition request to the normal mode is accepted, the transition mode transition request to the normal mode is transmitted to the card unit 3. When the card unit 3 receives a request for shifting to the test mode or the normal mode from the management computer 150 and receives the request for shifting to the test mode, the mode is switched to the test mode. When the transition mode transition request is received, the mode is switched to the normal mode, and it is determined whether or not it is time to switch from the test mode to the normal mode, and the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls are stored. A mode flag that can specify whether the operation is performed in the normal mode or the test mode is transmitted together with information indicating the member ID, the card ID, and the number of balls. When the normal mode is specified by the mode flag transmitted from the card unit 3 by the management computer 150, while the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls stored in the normal mode are updated, When the test mode is specified by the mode flag, the counted number of balls, the number of balls held, and the number of balls stored during the test mode are updated. When the card unit 3 is in an offline state with the management computer 150, it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that it has been determined that the switching has occurred.

  For this reason, if the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 enter an offline state when the management computer 150 enters the normal mode and a transition mode transition request from the management computer 150 to the normal mode is transmitted to the card unit 3, the card If the unit 3 is left in the test mode, and the stored number of balls, the number of balls and the number of balls stored are transmitted together with the mode flag of the test mode, the unit 3 is originally stored in the normal mode. The number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have to be updated as the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have to be updated as the number of balls, the number of balls that have been stored, and the number of balls that have been stored during the test mode Since it is updated as the number of stored balls, there may be a disadvantage for the owner of the counted number of balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls. When the online mode is reached before switching to the mode, the test mode can be continued. On the condition that it is determined that the mode has been switched, the mode is switched to the normal mode. It is possible to prevent the test mode from being left alone. In addition, since the switching to the normal mode is not performed unless the switching occurs even in the offline state, the test can be executed in the offline state with the management computer 150.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the time elapsed from when the card unit 3 was switched to the test mode is measured by the normal mode transition timer, and the value of the measured normal mode transition timer reaches the release timer value. When it is done, it is determined that it is time to switch.

  For this reason, when the time elapsed since the time of switching to the test mode went online before reaching the release timer value, it was determined that the release mode value was reached while the test mode could be continued. Since it is switched to the normal mode on the condition, it is possible to prevent the card unit 3 from being left in the test mode. Further, if the release timer value is not reached, the test mode can be continued and the test in the offline state can be performed.

  In addition, according to the above embodiment, when the management computer 150 transmits a request for shifting to the test mode, a cancellation timer value is transmitted.

  For this reason, when the release timer value is not transmitted, when the release timer value is changed by the management computer 150 or the card unit 3, the release timer value becomes inconsistent and the switching time for switching to the normal mode is different. However, since the release timer value is transmitted at the start of the test mode, the release timer value does not match between the management computer 150 and the card unit 3, and the switching time for switching to the normal mode is different. This can be prevented. In addition, when a request for transition to the test mode is transmitted to a plurality of card units 3, the same release timer value is set in each card unit 3. Can be prevented from being different and the switching time for switching to the normal mode is different.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the management computer 150 is brought online with the card unit 3 before it is determined that the switching has occurred, the mode of the card unit 3 is confirmed, and the confirmed mode is Then, it is determined whether or not the mode of the card unit 3 indicated by the previously transmitted transition request matches, and when it is determined that the mode does not match, the previously transmitted transition request is transmitted again.

  For this reason, when the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 are brought into an online state before it is determined that the switching has been made, the mode of the card unit 3 can be immediately corrected.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the card unit 3 is switched to the test mode, a test flag indicating that the card unit 3 is used in the test mode is recorded on the returned member card or visitor card, When switching to the test mode, the test flag is not recorded, and the counted number of balls, the number of balls that are identified from the information that can specify the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held, and the number of balls that have been stored A visitor card whose number and number of balls is 0 can be accepted, but the test flag is not recorded and the number of balls already counted, the number of balls held, and the number of balls can be specified A visitor card in which the specified number of balls, the number of balls to be held, and the number of balls to be stored is not 0 is not accepted.

  For this reason, the occurrence of disadvantages due to the use of the counted number of balls, the number of balls held and the number of stored balls specified in the information recorded on the visitor card when not in the test mode is prevented during the test mode. Visitor cards that do not cause any disadvantage because the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls specified by the information recorded on the visitor card are 0. Can be used in the test mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, the visitor card is processed in this way, but the member card may be processed in the same manner.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the card unit 3 is switched to the test mode, the test flag indicating that the card unit 3 has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned membership card or visitor card. . The management computer 150 counts the number of balls counted, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls and the test flag recorded on the member card or visitor card, which are specified by the information recorded on the member card or visitor card stored in the test mode. When a request for transition to the erase mode to be transitioned when erasing is received is further received, and when a request for transition to the erase mode is accepted, a transition mode transition request to the erase mode is further transmitted. The When the card unit 3 receives a request for transition to the erase mode, the mode is switched to the erase mode. When the card unit 3 is switched to the erase mode, a test flag is displayed on the member card or visitor card that is being accepted or received. On the condition that it is recorded, the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls specified by the information recorded on the member card or visitor card in the test flag and test mode are deleted.

  For this reason, each card unit 3 can erase the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls specified by the information recorded on the membership card or visitor card in the test flag and test mode. There is no need to provide a special device for erasing them, and usually several tens to several hundreds of card units 3 are provided in a game arcade, so that these card units 3 have such a configuration. Thus, it is possible to efficiently perform these erasures.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the card unit 3 receives the request for transition to the test mode, it is determined whether or not the number of counted balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls exist. When the request for transition to the test mode is received, the test mode is switched on condition that it is determined that the counted number of balls, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls do not exist.

  For this reason, the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held in normal mode, and the number of balls that have been stored are not safely evacuated, so they may be used during test mode or erased when entering test mode. It is possible to prevent the disadvantage caused by the

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent a member card or a visitor card in which “1” is recorded in the test flag by being used in the test mode from being illegally used in the normal mode. The number of balls (counting game media number) recorded on the visitor card by using a visitor card in which “0” is recorded in the test flag that can be used in the normal mode and the test card can be tested. The flag data can be erased in the card unit 3 by setting the card unit 3 (game device) to the erase mode without bringing the visitor card to the prize counter or the like. The work of erasing the recorded information recorded on the visitor card used in Kill.

  In addition, according to the above embodiment, the normal mode also serves as the erasure mode. For example, the visitor card data erasure used as the test mode before the start of business operation is not shifted to the erasure mode every time. Since it can be carried out by directly shifting from the test mode to the normal mode, it is possible to improve the workability of the store opening work accompanied by the operation check and to delete these arbitrarily during the business after the start of business. Therefore, the degree of freedom of these erasing operations can be significantly improved.

  In addition, according to the above embodiment, by shifting to the erasing mode, it is possible to erase the counted number of balls (the number of holding balls) as the number of counting game media not recorded on the visitor card. It is possible to prevent the number of game media from being used illegally during the normal mode.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the number of balls already counted (the number of holding balls), which is the number of counted game media counted during the normal mode, that is, during actual business, is not used in the test mode. While the generation of profits can be prevented, the number of counted balls (number of balls) is not recorded, that is, the number of balls counted (number of balls) is “0”. Any visitor cards that are not available can be used in the test mode as acceptance continues.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, when there is a counted number of balls (the number of possessed balls) that is counted in the normal mode and is not recorded in the visitor card when shifting to the test mode, Is recorded and discharged (issued), or the transition to the test mode is prohibited, so the number of balls that have not been recorded on the visitor card (the number of balls) is used during the test mode, It is possible to prevent a disadvantage caused by being erased when shifting to the test mode.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, in the management computer 150 (management device), the operation is performed in the test mode based on the mode flag (mode type information) included in the transmission data from each card unit 3 as the received operation information. Since it is possible to identify whether the operation is in the normal mode or in the normal mode, the information regarding the operation during the test mode and the information regarding the operation during the normal mode can be accurately distinguished and managed.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, it has storage part 338,413 which stores the pachinko ball in the counting and fraction paying units 340,400, and the pachinko ball of fraction is stored from the pachinko ball stored in this storage part 338,413. Since the balls are paid out, it is possible to eliminate the complication of the card unit 3 due to the supply path.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, in the card unit 3 which is a gaming device, the return passage 335 for returning the fractional pachinko balls to the player is provided inside the counting / fractional payout unit 340. For example, compared with the case where a return path is provided for returning and supplying pachinko balls discharged from the central part of a card unit, which is well practiced in the past, to the upper plate of the pachinko machine, these return paths 335 are a game. You can avoid obstacles and obstructions.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the counted number of balls becomes only a fraction, the fraction is paid out in accordance with the operation of the payout button 311. Either paying out the pachinko balls or leaving these fractional pachinko balls without paying them out can be selected by performing / not performing the operation of these payout buttons 311.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since the pachinko ball currently stored by the storage part 338 can be discharged to the connection rod 344, the pachinko ball by which the same pachinko ball continues being stored by the storage part 338 over a long period of time. The occurrence of defects such as deterioration of the card can be prevented, and by performing these discharges, the card unit 3 in which no pachinko balls are stored in the storage section 338 can be easily identified, and the pachinko balls can be accurately stored in these storage sections 338. Can be replenished.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the storage period of the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 exceeds the storage upper limit period set on the storage ball discharge setting screen of the management computer 150, the management computer Since the discharge instruction is transmitted from 150 and the pachinko balls stored in the storage unit 338 are surely discharged, the pachinko balls are stored in the storage unit 338 for a long period of time. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of defects.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, as indicated by Sm16 in FIG. 27, the time elapsed since the transition to the test mode is measured by the normal mode transition timer. In the second embodiment, the normal mode transition timer measures the time elapsed since the card unit 3 went offline with the management computer 150 during the test mode.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the mode transition control processing performed in the card unit 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 35, in the second embodiment, since the time elapsed since the transition to the test mode is not measured, the mode transition control process described in FIG. 27 of the first embodiment. The process except Sm16 is executed. Since the processes other than Sm16 are the same as those in FIG. 27, the overlapping description will not be repeated.

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the communication state detection processing performed in the card unit 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the communication state detection process of the first embodiment of FIG. 30, when it is determined that an offline state has newly occurred in Sc1 and Sc2, and it is determined that the test mode is in Sc5, nothing is done. Returned to the process that called the process. Also, when it is determined in Sc3, Sc4, or Sc8 that the online state has been restored during the test mode, the process returns to the calling source process without doing anything.

  Referring to FIG. 36, in the communication state detection process of the second embodiment, it is determined that a new offline state has occurred in Sc1 and Sc2, and if it is determined that the test mode is in Sc5, the test is performed. The normal mode transition timer for counting the elapsed time after entering the offline state during the mode is reset to 0 and set to start timing (Sc6), and then the process returns to the caller process of the process. Like that. Also, if it is determined in Sc3, Sc4, or Sc8 that the online state has been restored during the test mode, the normal mode transition is performed if the normal mode transition timer set by occurrence of the offline in the test mode is counting. The timer count of the timer is canceled, and the process returns to the process that called the process.

  As a result, when the normal mode transition timer set due to the occurrence of an offline state in the test mode times out, the transition time up process shown in FIG. 31 is performed, so that the test mode is canceled and the normal mode Migrate to

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the time elapsed since the configuration and part of the first embodiment have been changed and the card unit 3 has entered the offline state with the management computer 150 is the normal mode transition timer. When the value of the measured normal mode transition timer reaches the release timer value, it is determined that the time for switching has been reached.

  For this reason, when the online state is reached before the time elapsed since the time when the management computer 150 went offline has reached the release timer value, the test mode can be continued while the release timer value has been reached. Since it is switched to the normal mode on the condition that it is determined, it is possible to prevent the card unit 3 from being left in the test mode. Further, if the release timer value is not reached, the test mode can be continued and the test in the offline state can be performed.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, as indicated by Sm16 in FIG. 27, the time elapsed since the transition to the test mode is measured by the normal mode transition timer, as indicated by St0 in FIG. When the value of the normal mode transition timer reaches the release timer value received in the request for transition to the test mode indicated by Sm2 in FIG. 27, the test mode is shifted to the normal mode.

  In the third embodiment, when the current time reaches the release time received in the test mode shift request, the test mode shifts to the normal mode.

  FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the process contents of the mode transition control process performed in the card unit 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 37, in the third embodiment, since the time elapsed since the transition to the test mode is not measured, the mode transition control process described in FIG. 27 of the first embodiment. The process except Sm7 and Sm16 is executed.

  Further, in Sm2 of the mode transition control process of the first embodiment, the release timer value is received in the test mode transition request, and in Sm11−, the release timer value is stored in the RAM 328b. However, in Sm2 ′ of the mode change control process of the third embodiment, the release time is received in the request to enter the test mode, and the release time is stored in the RAM 328b in Sm11− ′. To do.

  FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the communication state detection processing performed in the card unit 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the communication state detection process of the second embodiment in FIG. 36, the normal mode transition timer is set in Sc6, and the normal mode transition timer is canceled in Sc9.

  Referring to FIG. 38, in the communication state detection process according to the third embodiment, there is no need to perform the processes of Sc6 and Sc9 because there is no need to measure time with the normal mode transition timer. Since other processes are the same as the processes of FIGS. 30 and 36, the repeated description will not be repeated.

  FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the transition time-up processing performed in the card unit 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the transition time-up processing of the first embodiment and the second embodiment of FIG. 31, it is determined at St0 whether or not the value of the normal mode transition timer has reached the release timer value.

  Referring to FIG. 39, in the transition time-up process of the third embodiment, it is determined at St0 ′ whether the current time has reached the release time received at Sm2 ′ in FIG. To do.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when the configuration and part of the first embodiment are changed and the management computer 150 transmits a request for shifting to the test mode, the test mode is also set. The release time to end is transmitted as the switching time. The card unit 3 determines whether or not the current time has been switched.

  For this reason, when the current time comes online before the release time, the test mode can be continued, but the normal mode is entered on the condition that the release time has been reached in the offline state. Since the switching is performed, it is possible to prevent the card unit 3 from being left in the test mode. In addition, since the switch to the normal mode is not performed unless the release time is reached even in the offline state, the test can be executed in the offline state.

  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 the present invention can be changed or added without departing from the scope of the present invention. include.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the management computer 150 and the card unit 3 can be shifted to the normal mode, the test mode, and the erasing mode. The number of balls and the number of stored balls are handled separately in the normal mode and the test mode, and the switching from the test mode to the normal mode has been described on the condition that the card unit 3 is determined to have switched.

  However, similarly, the system controller 100 and the management server 12 of the card management company can be shifted to the normal mode, the test mode, and the erasing mode, and the system controller 100 and the management server 12 of the card management company can calculate the prepaid balance. Treated separately in normal mode and test mode, and in the normal mode and test mode, the prepaid balance is handled in the same way as the counted number of balls, the number of possessed balls, and the number of accumulated balls in the embodiment described above, and the card unit 3, the test mode may be switched to the normal mode on the condition that it is determined that the switching has been performed in the offline state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the card unit 3 can be shifted to the normal mode, the test mode, and the erasing mode as a gaming device, and the card unit 3 counts the number of balls counted, The number of stored balls is handled separately in the normal mode and in the test mode, the communication state detection process of FIG. 30 is executed constantly or periodically, and the transition time-up process of FIG. If it is executed and the time is up, the mode is shifted to the normal mode, that is, the mode is switched from the test mode to the normal mode on the condition that it has been determined that the mode has been switched in the offline state. The same applies to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other gaming devices, for example, a jet counter that counts game balls and records the number of balls counted on the membership card or visitor card, or information recorded on the membership card or visitor card The POS reader / writer for exchanging the counted number of balls, the number of balls held and the number of balls specified in the above can be transferred to a normal mode, a test mode, and an erasing mode. With these gaming devices, When the number of balls that have already been counted, the number of balls that have been held, and the number of balls that have been stored are handled separately in the normal mode and in the test mode, and the communication state detection process of FIG. 31 is executed. If the time is up, the mode is changed to the normal mode, that is, at the time of switching in the offline state. It is determined that the condition was, may be switched from the test mode to the normal mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the card unit 3 is switched to the test mode, a test flag indicating that the card unit 3 has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned member card or visitor card. When switching to the test mode, the test flag is not recorded, and the counted number of balls, the number of balls that are identified from the information that can specify the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held, and the number of balls that have been stored A visitor card whose number and number of balls is 0 can be accepted, but the test flag is not recorded and the number of balls already counted, the number of balls held, and the number of balls can be specified A visitor card whose specified number of balls, number of balls to be held, and number of balls to be stored is not 0 is not accepted.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be as follows. When the card unit 3 is switched to the test mode, a test flag indicating that the card has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned member card or visitor card, and a test flag is recorded on the member card or visitor card. Reception information indicating whether or not it has been sent is transmitted to the management computer 150. The management computer 150 determines whether or not the received reception information indicates that no test flag is recorded, and the counted number of balls specified by the transmitted member ID, card ID, or number of balls It is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls or the number of stored balls is 0, and in the state where the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is transmitted to the card unit 3, it indicates that the test flag is not recorded. If it is determined that the number of balls counted, the number of balls held, or the number of balls stored is zero, the member card or visitor card can be accepted, but a test flag is recorded. If it is determined that the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held, or the number of balls that have been stored is not 0, the membership card or visitor card cannot be accepted. Functionalised instruction is transmitted to the sender of the card unit 3 of the reception information. Based on the received disabling instruction, the card unit 3 disables acceptance of the membership card or the visitor card.

  If configured in this way, the number of counted balls, the number of possessed balls, or the number of stored balls specified by the information recorded on the member card or visitor card when not in the test mode will be used in the test mode. Can be prevented, and there is no disadvantage because the number of counted balls, the number of possessed balls, or the number of stored balls specified by the information recorded on the membership card or visitor card is 0. The membership card or the visitor card can be used in the test mode by accepting it.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, the card unit 3 which can use the counted number of balls, the number of possession balls, or the number of stored balls in a game was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same control may be performed with an apparatus that can use the number of balls already counted, the number of balls held, or the number of balls stored in addition to the game.

  For example, in a POS reader / writer for exchanging for a prize using the number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that have been held, or the number of balls that have been stored, control may be performed as follows.

  When the card unit 3 is switched to the test mode, a test flag indicating that the card unit 3 has been used in the test mode is recorded on the returned membership card or visitor card. The management computer 150 transmits a transfer mode shift request to the POS reader / writer. When the POS reader / writer receives a request for shifting to the test mode, the mode is switched to the test mode. On the other hand, when the request for shifting to the normal mode is received, the mode is switched to the normal mode. The number of balls that have been counted, the number of balls that are held, and the number of balls that are specified from information recorded on a member card or a visitor card on which no test flag is recorded are disabled.

  If configured in this way, the number of counted balls, the number of balls and the number of balls specified by the information recorded on the member card or visitor card when not in the test mode are used for prize exchange in the test mode. It is possible to prevent a disadvantage caused by being used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inlet shutter 352 is opened in response to the operation of the counting switch 355 ′ that is built in the counting operation unit 355 by the operation of the counting operation unit 355. did. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition, if there is an operation such as depositing or inserting a card, the inlet shutter 352 may be opened, and there is no operation such as depositing or paying out for a certain period of time. The inlet shutter may be closed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when a banknote is received in the state in which the card is not inserted in the card unit, the visitor card is always issued and the prepaid balance is recorded. For example, when accepting 1000 yen, which is a low-priced bill, the pachinko ball corresponding to the 1000 yen is paid out from the corresponding pachinko machine 2 so that the visitor card is It may not be issued.

  In the above embodiment, the management computer 150 also manages the members. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the management of these members is performed by individual computers. You may do it.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as the number of saving balls of the member, the number of holding balls acquired on the day and the number of saving balls acquired before the day are exemplified individually, but the present invention is limited to this. However, the number of balls acquired on the day may be managed as the number of stored balls in a unified manner.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which both a membership card and a visitor card are used is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and only one of the membership card and the visitor card is used. It is good also as a system to do.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the membership card and the visitor card make it possible to specify the prepaid frequency that is the value for gaming, and the specified prepaid frequency can be used for games, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, these membership cards and visitor cards are those for which the prepaid frequency, which is a game value, cannot be specified, that is, the membership card can only specify the number of possessed balls and the number of stored balls. The card may be one that can specify the number of balls.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transition to the basic mode, the normal mode, the test mode, and the erase mode is performed by receiving the mode transition request from the management computer 150, that is, the mode transition of each card unit 3 is performed. The management computer 150 can be implemented all at once, but the present invention is not limited to this. The transition to the basic mode, the test mode, and the erase mode, such as the away mode, is performed. As in the case of the transition to, by performing a predetermined transition operation on the remote control possessed by the staff in the hall, a transition permission request including the device ID is transmitted from the card unit 3 to the management computer 150, and the management computer 150 The mode can be shifted for each individual card unit 3 by shifting in response to the reply of the transfer permission. It may be.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, in the count invalidation process of the process at the time of termination processing, it is determined whether or not there are the counted number of balls and the number of balls in Sd2 and Sd6, and the number of balls counted and the number of balls held. Only when there is a ball, the number of balls that have already been counted is invalidated (reset), the number of balls that have been held, and the date is deleted. It is preferable that the processing time and the processing load are consumed unnecessarily by performing invalidation (reset) and erasing unnecessarily in, and the number of times of rewriting the card can be prevented from being consumed unnecessarily. The present invention is not limited to this, and even if the number of counted balls or the number of balls is zero without determining whether or not there are the number of balls counted or the number of balls in Sd2 and Sd6. Invalidation( Set) or erasure, that is, invalidation processing for invalidating the number of counted game media based on the receipt of the processing request at the end of business, or erasure processing of the number of balls recorded on the visitor card May be uniquely implemented.

  In the above embodiment, the test mode flag is set to “1” to store (record) the number of balls to be counted as the number of game media in the visitor card as test data, and the test mode flag is set to “0”. Thus, the number of balls to be counted as the number of game media is stored (recorded) in the visitor card as data in the normal mode, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, similar to the management computer 150 In addition, a normal mode storage area used for data storage (recording) in the normal mode and a test mode storage area used for data storage (recording) in the test mode are individually set in advance in the visitor card storage area. By storing the number of balls in a predetermined test mode storage area that is separate from the normal mode storage area, When the number of possessed balls, which is the number of several game media, is recorded as test data, and if there is a record of the number of possessed balls in the test mode storage area, the step of Sj3 in the above-described normal mode transition processing or erasure Similarly to the process in the Sy7 step in the mode process, data such as the number of balls that are recorded in the test mode storage area may be deleted.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  2 Pachinko machine, 3 card unit, 100 system controller, 102 CPU, 105 storage device, 106 input device, 107 display device, 109 communication unit, 140 hall computer, 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 return path, 337 Discharge flow path, 338 storage section, 340 counting / fraction dispensing unit, 341 control board, 344 connecting rod, 345 loading section, 347 counting flow path, 350 control section, 353 dispensing motor, 355 counting operation Department, 356 counting sensor, 370 card storage portion.

Claims (11)

A game device including a game device for receiving a recording medium capable of recording information capable of specifying a game useable value usable for a game, and a server capable of communicating with the game device and managing the game useable value. A system,
The gaming device is:
Value storage means for storing the game usable value;
Value specifying information transmitting means for transmitting to the server value specifying information capable of specifying the game usable value stored in the value storing means,
The server
Value updating means for updating the game usable value based on the value specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting means;
A transition request input receiving means for receiving a transition request input whether to shift to a normal mode to be shifted when performing processing during business operation or to shift to a test mode to be shifted when checking operation;
Information indicating a request for transition to the test mode when the request for transition to the test mode is accepted by the transition request input receiving means, and the normal when the request for transition to the normal mode is accepted A transition request transmitting means for transmitting information indicating a transition request to the mode to the gaming device;
The gaming device further includes:
Transition request receiving means for receiving information indicating a request for transition to the test mode or the normal mode from the server;
When the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is received by the transition request receiving means, the mode is switched to the test mode, while when the information indicating the request for transition to the normal mode is received, the normal mode Mode switching means for switching to
Switching time determining means for determining whether or not it is time to switch from the test mode to the normal mode;
The value specifying information transmitting means transmits mode specifying information capable of specifying in which of the normal mode and the test mode the storage of the game usable value by the value storing means is performed,
When the normal mode is specified by the mode specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting unit, the value updating unit calculates the game usable value stored in the value storing unit during the normal mode. On the other hand, when the test mode is specified by the mode specifying information, the game usable value stored in the value storage means during the test mode is updated,
The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein when the communication with the server is impossible, the mode switching means switches to the normal mode on condition that the switching time determining means determines that the switching time has been reached.   The switching time determining means includes time measuring means for measuring a time elapsed from when the mode switching means switches to the test mode, and when the time measured by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined time, the switching The game system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the time has come.   The switching time determining means includes time measuring means for measuring a time elapsed from when communication with the server is disabled, and determining that the switching time has been reached when the time measured by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined time. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:   The game system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the transition request transmitting means transmits the predetermined time together when transmitting the transition request to the test mode. The transition request transmitting means transmits a scheduled time to end the test mode as the switching time when transmitting the transition request to the test mode,
The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the switching time determination unit determines whether or not a current time has reached the switching time. The server further includes:
When communication with the gaming device is enabled before the switching time determining means determines that the switching time has been reached, the mode of the gaming device is confirmed, and the confirmed mode is determined by the transition request transmitting means. Mode match determination means for determining whether or not it matches the mode of the gaming device indicated by the previously transmitted transition request;
6. The transition request transmitting means, when it is determined by the mode matching determining means that the modes do not match, again transmits the previously transmitted transition request, according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The described gaming system. The gaming device further includes:
Test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that the test mode has been used on a recording medium to be returned when the mode switching means is switched to the test mode;
When the mode is switched to the test mode by the mode switching means, the test flag is not recorded, and the game usable value identified from the information capable of identifying the game usable value is 0. The recording medium is acceptable, but the test flag is not recorded, and the recording medium whose game usable value specified from the information capable of identifying the gaming usable value is not 0 is unacceptable. The gaming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: an acceptance disabling unit. The gaming device further includes:
Test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that the test mode has been used on a recording medium to be returned when the mode switching means is switched to the test mode;
Reception information transmitting means for transmitting reception information indicating whether or not the test flag is recorded on the recording medium to the server;
The server further includes:
Reception information receiving means for receiving the reception information;
Test flag determination means for determining whether or not the reception information received by the reception information reception means indicates that the test flag is not recorded;
A game usable value determining means for determining whether or not the game usable value specified by the value specifying information transmitted by the value specifying information transmitting means is 0;
In the state where the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is transmitted by the transition request transmitting means, the test flag determining means determines that the test flag is not recorded, and the game can be used. If it is determined by the value determining means that the game usable value is 0, the recording medium can be accepted, but the test flag determining means determines that the test flag is not recorded. And when the game usable value determining means determines that the game usable value is not 0, the game device that is the transmission source of the reception information is instructed to disable the recording medium. Disabling instruction transmitting means for transmitting to
The gaming device further includes:
A disabling instruction receiving means for receiving the disabling instruction transmitted by the disabling instruction transmitting means;
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reception disabling unit that disables reception of the recording medium based on the disabling instruction received by the disabling instruction receiving unit. The gaming system described in 1. The gaming device further includes:
When the mode switching means is switched to the test mode, the recording medium to be returned includes a test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that the mode is used in the test mode,
The transfer request input accepting unit erases the game usable value specified by the information recorded on the recording medium stored in the value storage unit and the test flag recorded on the recording medium in the test mode. Further accepting the input of the transition request whether to shift to the erasure mode to be transferred at the time,
The transition request transmitting means further transmits information indicating a transition request to the erase mode when an input of the transition request to the erase mode is accepted by the transition request input accepting means,
The transition request receiving means can further receive information indicating a transition request to the erase mode,
The mode switching means switches to the erasure mode when information indicating a transition request to the erasure mode is received by the transition request receiving means.
The gaming device further includes:
Recording to the recording medium in the test flag and the test mode is performed on the condition that the test flag is recorded on the recording medium that is being received or received when the mode switching unit switches to the erasing mode. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an erasing unit that erases the game usable value specified by the specified information. The gaming system further includes a prize exchange device for exchanging for a prize using the game usable value,
The gaming device further includes:
When the mode switching means is switched to the test mode, the recording medium to be returned includes a test recording means for recording a test flag indicating that the mode is used in the test mode,
The transfer request transmitting means transmits information indicating the transfer request to the gift exchange device,
The prize exchange device is:
A gift exchange device transition request receiving means for receiving information indicating a request for transition to the test mode or the normal mode from the server;
When the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is received by the gift exchange device transition request receiving means, the information is switched to the test mode, while the information indicating the request for transition to the normal mode is received. A gift exchange device mode switching means for switching to the normal mode;
Utilization in which the game usable value specified from information recorded on a recording medium in which the test flag is not recorded is unusable when the premium mode switching unit is switched to the test mode. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising disabling means. The gaming device further includes:
Determining means for determining whether or not the game usable value exists when a request for transition to the test mode is received by the transition request receiving means;
The mode switching means is provided on the condition that when the information indicating the request for transition to the test mode is received by the transition request receiving means, the determination means determines that the game usable value does not exist. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the game system is switched to a test mode.

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