JP2011092351A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an occurrence of disadvantage in processes in a case where an error occurs when transmitting a command from a main board to a sub board by identifying a command having a possibility of including the error and then delivering it to a higher-order process. <P>SOLUTION: There is provided a game machine, especially a communication means of commands from a control part (the main board) to a sub control part (the sub board). The processes from receiving a main command till reading a command buffer are as follows. (Code C) An error occurs. An error flag is set. Even if received data are lost (??? indicates that the data are lost), the error occurrence can be transmitted to a next process. (Code E) A telegram 2 of No.2 is received. The telegram 1 of the No.2 is already stored, so that the telegram 1 and the telegram 2 are combined to complete a command No.2. An error bit of the command No.2 is turned on by receiving a fact that the error flag is set when receiving the telegram 1 of No.2. The presence/absence of error can be thus transmitted to the next process for every command. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and more particularly to a command communication means from a control unit (main board) to a sub control unit (sub board).

  A ball ball game machine (a so-called pachinko machine) installed in a game machine installation store or the like uses a game ball (also called a game medium) to play a game. The borrowed game balls are launched to the board surface provided on the game board of the ball game machine, and a predetermined number of game balls are paid out each time the game balls enter a predetermined winning opening. The game balls to be paid out are called prize balls.

There are the following winning holes provided on the board of the ball game machine.
(1) Ordinary winning device (2) Start chucker (starting winning device)
(3) Attacker (Large winning device)
(4) Through chucker (winning chucker)

The start chucker (starting winning device) is also called a specific winning device. When a game ball is accepted by the start chucker (start prize-winning device) and enters the winning state, the prize ball is paid out and an electronic lottery is performed. In the case of winning, the game state is advantageous to the player from the normal state. Thus, the attacker (large winning device) is opened.
The attacker (large winning device) is also called a special winning device.

  The through chucker (winning chucker) does not pay out the winning ball directly, but is included in the winning slot in this specification. When it is detected that the game ball has passed through the through-chucker (winning chucker), an electronic lottery is performed. The time is released to make it easier for the game ball to enter the start chucker (start prize winning device). The game ball received by the through chucker (winning chucker) moves on the board as it is, and is received by another winning port or a discharge port (out port) described below.

  In addition to the prize opening, a discharge port (out port) is provided on the board surface of the ball game machine. The discharge port (out port) is an opening provided in the lower part of the guide rail (portion where the game balls are collected by gravity) arranged in a spiral shape to partition the game area on the board surface. Is for accepting a game ball that has not been accepted by any of the normal winning device, start chucker (start winning device), and attacker (large winning device), and discharging it out of the board.

  Pachinko machines and other gaming machines that are installed and used in pachinko parlors and other gaming venues are given a certain value to gaming media such as pachinko balls, and the gaming media acquired through games are exchanged for various prizes. can do. In the gaming machine, various drive devices such as a lamp device and a sound generation device that are operated based on the supply of the game medium, and a control circuit device (control) corresponding to control these drive devices are provided in the housing. And a sub-control unit), and when the player plays a game, they are appropriately operated to make the game full of fun. Further, in recent years, a variable symbol display device such as a liquid crystal image display device capable of variably displaying predetermined identification information (symbol) is built in, and when predetermined conditions are satisfied, the identification information is changed and then stopped and displayed. The thing which operates a symbol variable display apparatus has become mainstream. Such control is realized by transmitting a predetermined command from a control unit that mainly executes game processing to a sub-control unit that mainly executes effect processing.

  Due to laws and regulations governing gaming machines, the flow of commands from the control unit (main board) to the sub-control unit (sub-board) is one-way, and conversely, it is allowed to send a signal containing commands from the sub-control unit to the control unit. It has not been.

  In such one-way communication, even when a command cannot be received correctly, it is not possible to request retransmission. Therefore, even if there is an error, it is necessary to reconfigure the command as much as possible to avoid losing the command as much as possible. If many commands are lost, the effect by the sub-board is not performed, and the player's interest is impaired.

  However, there is a possibility that an error is included in the reconfigured command, and if it is handled in the same manner as a command that has been successfully received, there may be a disadvantage that an unintended process is executed.

  Therefore, in the case where a command reception error occurs, the present invention makes it possible to identify a command that may contain an error and then deliver it to a higher-level process (planning layer). The purpose is to prevent inconvenience.

The present invention includes a plurality of effect devices, a control unit that executes control related to a game including internal lottery processing and control related to effects, and generates a command for controlling the plurality of effect devices, and the control unit. In a gaming machine comprising: a sub-control unit that executes a process related to an effect based on the received command,
The command includes a first message indicating the start of a message and a second message following the first message.
The control unit generates the first telegram corresponding to the process to be executed by the sub-control unit, generates the second telegram corresponding to the first telegram, the first telegram and the second telegram Including a command transmission unit for transmitting to the sub-control unit in this order,
The sub-control unit receives a command including the first message and the second message from the command transmission unit and detects an error when receiving the first message and the second message, and the receiver A buffer for storing the first telegram and the second telegram in the order received, a command construction unit for reading the first telegram and the second telegram from the buffer at a predetermined timing, and constructing a command based on the first telegram, A command buffer for storing the command constructed by the command construction unit, a command read generation unit for reading out the command from the command buffer and generating a production command for each of the plurality of production devices, and detecting the error by the receiver Including a command receiver with an error flag set when
The command construction unit examines the error flag when constructing the command, and sets a predetermined error bit among a plurality of bits included in the command when the error flag is set. And configure the command
The command read generation unit
Check if the command exists in the command buffer,
When a command is present in the command buffer, read the command and check if the error bit of the command is set;
When the error bit is not set, control the plurality of presentation devices based on the command,
When the error bit is set, execute a predetermined process,
When the command does not exist in the command buffer, check the error flag,
When the error flag is set, a predetermined process is executed.

The command buffer is a one-dimensional memory, a ring buffer that is treated as a circular memory in which the last and first are connected, a write pointer that is a write pointer for the ring buffer, and a read that is a read pointer. And a pointer
The command construction unit
When the write pointer catches up with the read pointer, the read pointer and the write pointer are advanced,
Write the constructed command to the command buffer based on the write pointer,
The error bit of the written command may be set.

  Specifically, the fact that the write pointer has caught up with the read pointer means that the difference between the address indicated by the write pointer and the address indicated by the read pointer matches the progress unit of the pointer.

  According to the present invention, when a reception error occurs, an error flag is set, and when a buffer overflows, an error bit is set so that a command that may contain an error can be identified. It can be handed over to higher processing. By executing the process on the assumption that an error exists, the influence of the error can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the surface structure of a game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface structure of a game machine. It is a figure (front view) which shows the mode of the board surface seen from the player. It is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. It is an explanatory view of a command generation processing flowchart and a first message / second message according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a functional block diagram of the command receiving part which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a functional block diagram of a command read system according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a process flowchart of the sub-control part which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a command reception and the registration process flowchart to a command buffer which concerns on embodiment of invention. 5 is a flowchart of processing for reading from a command buffer according to an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the error bit which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the command reception which concerns on embodiment of invention, the registration process to a command buffer, and the reading process from a command buffer. It is a process flowchart at the time of the command buffer overflow which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the process at the time of the command buffer overflow which concerns on embodiment of invention.

An outline of the structure of the ball game machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
First, the external structure of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The outer frame 50 is a wooden frame member having a vertical rectangular shape for fixing to an installation location (island facilities or the like) provided in a gaming machine installation sales shop.
The main body member 51 is a member that is provided inside the outer frame 50 and serves as a longitudinal rectangular gaming machine base body that is rotatably attached to the outer frame via a hinge portion 51a. The main body member 51 is formed in a frame shape and has a space portion inside thereof.
The opening frame door 52 is mounted on the front surface of the main body member 51 on the front side of the gaming machine so as to be openable and closable, and is configured in a frame shape so that the inside is an opening. It is a door member.
A transparent plate member made of glass or resin is provided at the opening of the opening frame door 52, and an electrical decoration 52a, a speaker 52b, and the like are attached in the vicinity of the opening.
A game board (not shown in FIG. 1), which will be described later, is detachably attached to the main body member 51 using a predetermined fixing member so as to face the space of the main body member 51. After the game board is mounted on the main body member 51, the game area can be observed from the opening.

The door 53 with a ball tray is a door member provided at least with a ball tray for storing a game ball attached to the lower part of the main body member 51 on the front surface of the gaming machine so as to have a lock function and be openable and closable. In addition, the following members are attached to the door with a ball tray in the present embodiment.
(1) A ball tray in which a plurality of game balls can be stored and a passage for guiding the game balls to the firing drive device 48 is provided.
(2) A rotary operation handle 48b for performing an operation of launching the stored game ball guided to the launch drive device 48 to a game area provided on the board surface 11 of the game board 10.
(3) A ball lending-related operation unit provided with buttons for instructing a read-in related to reading a paid card and a lending process related to a borrowed game ball.
(4) A storage ball discharge operation button for a ball tray for releasing the game ball stored in the ball tray into a game ball collecting container (common name, dollar box).

Next, an internal configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit that is provided via the main body member 51 or the game board 11 or a support member attached thereto, and performs electrical game control processing to generate main processing information.
40b is provided through the main body member 51 or the game board 11 or a support member provided to the main body member 51, or a sub member that performs control to perform predetermined output mode processing by obtaining processing information generated by the control unit 40. It is a control unit.
A payout control unit 42 performs payout control of prize balls.
43 is a game ball payout device for paying out game balls.
Reference numeral 44 denotes an electric decoration control unit that controls a lamp and electric decoration 52a (not shown).
An acoustic control unit 46 generates sound by controlling and driving the speaker 52b.
49 is a control device for controlling the firing drive device 48, and is a launch control device for controlling the launch of a game ball to a game area provided on the board surface via a rotary operation handle 48b.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the game board of the gaming machine.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a board surface of the game board 10. The board surface 11 changes the direction of the guide rail 12, the discharge port (out port) 13 that guides the game ball that has fallen through the substantially circular game area defined by the guide rail 12, and the direction of the game ball that moves in the game area. It is a rectangular board surface provided with a plurality of obstacles such as the nailing 14 and the windmill 14a.

  The game area of the board surface 11 described above is partitioned and formed into a substantially circular shape by the guide rail 12 (including a sliding part for sliding the game ball and a regulation part for regulating the game ball), and the movement of the game ball that has been launched It is an area that regulates the range. A restricting portion is provided to follow the sliding portion. The sliding portion is arranged on the board surface 11 in a spiral as a whole.

  The discharge port (out port) 13 is a collection opening provided at a position where the game balls thrown into the game area converge.

  The game nails as the obstacles 14 are a plurality of rod-shaped members that are driven into appropriate positions on the board surface 11 in order to make the movement direction irregular by contacting with the game ball or to restrict the movement direction.

Reference numeral 30a denotes a variable display device (center accessory) that is provided at the center or slightly above the game area and has one or more variable display units such as an effect display lamp and a liquid crystal display device LCD.
30b is a through chucker (winning chucker).
30c is a normal winning device having a normal winning opening.
30d is a start chucker (start winning device) having a start winning opening.
30e is an attacker having a big prize opening.
In the following description, 30b to 30d may be collectively referred to as a winning opening 30 or the like.
Although not shown, the ball passage detectors 20b, 20c, and 20d are provided inside the 30b, 30c, and 30d (the reference numerals in parentheses in the figure mean that).

The start winning device of the start chucker 30d is also called a specific winning device, and the big winning device of the attacker 30e is also called a special winning device.
The start chucker (start winning device) 30d is provided with movable pieces on both sides for expanding and contracting the opening range of the winning opening, making a variable display by winning a game ball and winning a prize for a player. Device.
The attacker (large winning device) 30e is driven and controlled by a movable door that exposes the winning port and closes the winning port, and is compared with other winning devices by winning game balls. This is a winning device that allows more prize balls to be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit (also referred to as a “main board”) that performs electrical game control processing and generates main processing information. The control unit 40 moves (flows down) the game area and receives signals from the ball passage detectors 20b to 20d that detect the game balls that have passed through the winning holes 30b to 30d, respectively, and passes the gaming balls through the winning holes 30b to 30d. A winning determination unit 40a for performing a lottery / determination in accordance with this is included. Further, a command transmission unit TX that generates a command and transmits the command to the sub-control unit 40b is included.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes a display control unit that turns on the effect display lamp of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a. The display control unit 41 determines the identification lighting information (variable display) according to the result of electronic determination of whether or not the winning condition determination unit 40a satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, the passing of a game ball to a predetermined passing port). This is a display control device that performs stop display after variably displaying (displayed on the effect display lamp of the device (center accessory) 30a).

  It should be noted that the liquid crystal display device LCD is selected according to the result of the electronic winning / losing lottery based on the establishment of a predetermined condition in the winning determination unit 40a provided in the control unit 40 (for example, winning of a game ball to the start winning device 30d). The identification display information is variably displayed (the contents of the effect change according to the lottery result). This is because the control unit 40 sends a lottery result (or an effect command corresponding thereto) to the sub-control unit 40b, and the sub-control unit 40b receiving the lottery result generates an image corresponding to the lottery result. It is executed by displaying on the liquid crystal display device LCD. The LCD of the variable display device (center accessory) 30a is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to the big hit state and also displays a background image, various characters, and the like in an animated manner. When it is detected that the game ball has passed through the start chucker (start winning device) 30d, the displayed symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time, and the lottery is drawn when the game ball start chucker (start winning device) 30d passes. The stop symbol determined by the random number for lottery is displayed on the LCD and stopped.

  The attacker 30e includes an opening / closing plate that can be opened forward. When the symbol after the LCD fluctuation stops is a winning symbol such as “777”, a special game called “big hit” is started, and the opening / closing plate of the attacker 30e is opened a predetermined number of times. After the opening / closing plate of the attacker 30e is opened, the opening / closing plate is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number of game balls are won.

42 is a payout control unit that receives the signal of the winning determination unit 40a and controls the game ball payout device 43 according to the game balls passing through the winning holes 30b to 30d and / or according to the lottery / determination result. .
43 is a game ball payout device provided with a driving source for paying out a predetermined number of game balls according to the result of the lottery / determination according to the game balls passing through the winning openings 30b to 30d and / or as the game profits. .

  The winning devices 30b to 30d in which the game balls are provided in the game area are respectively provided with ball passage detectors (for example, switches) 20b to 20d so that the passage of the game balls can be detected. When the position of any of the winning devices 30b to 30d passes, the ball passage detectors 20b to 20d detect this, and the winning determination unit 40a performs a predetermined lottery / determination process. For example, when the ball passage detector 20b detects a game ball that has passed through the through chucker (winning chucker) 30b, a predetermined lottery is performed, and when winning, the start chucker (starting winning device) 30d is released for a predetermined time. That is, a pair of movable pieces provided opposite to each other on both the left and right sides of the start chucker (start winning device) 30d are opened outward. At the same time, the effect of winning is displayed on the variable display device (center accessory) 30a. Then, when it is detected that the game ball has passed the start chucker (starting winning device) 30d, a predetermined lottery is performed, and when winning, the big winning device of the attacker 30e is released.

  40b is a sub-control unit (also referred to as “sub-board”) that performs control to perform predetermined output mode processing including effects such as blinking of light and generation of sound by obtaining processing information generated by the control unit 40. It is. The sub control unit 40b includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a VDP (video display processor) that generates an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD. An output signal from the sub-control unit 40b is sent to peripheral boards such as the lamp control unit 44, the acoustic control unit 46, and the movable body control unit 47. Further, the sub-control unit 40b receives a signal from the effect button ESW operated by the player (in FIG. 1, the display of the effect button ESW is omitted).

  The sub-control unit 40b includes a command receiving unit RX that receives commands from the control unit 40. The command receiving unit RX includes, for example, a serial communication IC, a buffer (including a FIFO), and a program for operating these hardware. The command receiving unit RX is realized by the CPU of the sub-control unit 40b operating according to the program, controlling the serial communication IC, and reading data from the buffer.

  Reference numeral 44 denotes an electric decoration control unit for controlling lighting of the lamp / electric decoration 52a and the like provided on the game board 10 or the gaming machine casing.

  An acoustic control unit 46 generates sound effects / sounds through a speaker 52b provided in the gaming board 10 or the gaming machine casing.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a movable body control unit that controls the movable body 52 c provided in the game board 10.
The movable body 52c is an obstacle that changes the falling action of the game ball launched on the game board 10, and the state is changed by the processing of the sub-control unit 40b (the movable body 52c in FIG. 3). Is omitted). The movable body 52c, for example, moves back and forth between a normal state and a different state. The movable body is, for example, a flat plate shape, a cylindrical shape, a disk shape, a gear shape having irregularities, or the like. Although not shown, a power unit for driving the movable body 52c is provided. The movable body control unit 47 actually drives the power unit. The power unit is, for example, a driving device using electric power or magnetic force such as a motor or a solenoid, or a control device including a driving source.

  The liquid crystal display device LCD, the lamp / electrical decoration 52a, the speaker 52b, and the movable body 52c are effect devices for performing effects appealing to the player's vision and hearing. The lamp control unit 44, the acoustic control unit 46, and the movable body control unit 47 are devices that drive and control the devices, and incorporate an effect processing IC therein. The VDP built in the sub-control unit 40b is also a drive control device. In the following description, the lamp control unit 44, the acoustic control unit 46, the movable body control unit 47, and the VDP that drive and control the above-described production device such as the liquid crystal display device LCD will be referred to as the production device control unit. The term “production device” is sometimes used when referring to both a device and a production control device). The lamp control unit 44, the acoustic control unit 46, and the movable body control unit 47 may be built in the sub control unit 40b like a VDP.

  The effect button ESW is pressed by the player, and when pressed, changes the aspect of the effect image displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD to increase the player's participation in the game, It is designed to enhance interest. For example, an effect image displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD can be selected in conjunction with the operation of the effect button ESW.

  As described above, the sub control unit 40b includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a VDP. A CPU (processing unit), ROM (nonvolatile storage unit, memory), RAM (readable and writable storage unit, memory), VDP, and I / O (not shown) are connected to a BUS (not shown) composed of a plurality of bits (wiring). I / O device) is connected. Processing related to the game executed by the sub-control unit 40b is executed by the CPU operating in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM. When performing processing, the CPU stores various data in the RAM, reads as necessary, performs processing, and stores it again as necessary. The RAM may have received a battery backup, and in this case, the stored contents are retained even during power-off.

  The sub-control unit 40b receives an effect command from the main control unit 40, and controls the liquid crystal display device LCD, the lamp / lighting 52a, the speaker 52b, the movable body 52c, the effect button ESW, and the like based on the command.

The command transmission unit TX and the command reception unit RX will be described.
FIG. 5A is a flowchart of processing executed by the command transmission unit TX, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of commands generated by the command transmission unit TX.

  The command generated by the command transmission unit TX includes a plurality of electronic messages. The first message is called the start message, the last message is called the end message, and the message between them is called an intermediate message. FIG. 5B shows an example of a command composed of two messages, that is, a first message and a second message. This is the simplest configuration, and the description after FIG. 6 will be described by taking the two telegrams in FIG. 5B, that is, commands including the first telegram and the second telegram as examples. Note that the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to commands including three or more messages including intermediate messages, and the procedure is not changed.

  In the example of FIG. 5B, each message is 8-bit (1 byte) data. When the first bit (MSB) is 1, it means the first message, and when it is 0, the first message. Means a second telegram other than. These have the following significance, for example. The first electronic message means the first electronic message of the command and means information for identifying the process to be executed by the sub-control unit 40b. The second message means that the command is a cascading command to the first message, and the details of the process to be executed by the sub-control unit 40b are specifically specified. For example, when it means that the first message is a command related to the liquid crystal display device (a command for causing the liquid crystal display device to execute a predetermined process), the second message is a specific to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device. This specifies the type of image (effect). Therefore, a command is meaningful only when the first message and the second message are correctly arranged in that order. If one of them is lost, the remaining message has no meaning, and the sub-control unit 40b does not perform any operation, or even if it operates, the intended operation does not occur. The same applies when the order of the first message and the second message is switched. In addition, when a plurality of commands, command 1 and command 2, are received, the middle part is missing and the first message of command 1 and the second message of command 2 are combined, and the intended operation is expected. Can not.

  Whether the first message or the second message can be determined by the first bit. However, the first bit is used when the command reception unit RX receives a communication IC (not shown). However, when the message is stored in the FIFO buffer after that, the first bit is deleted, so that the first bit is stored in the FIFO buffer. The first telegram and the second telegram cannot be distinguished from the data itself. However, since the FIFO buffer stores data in the correct order based on the first bit, the order does not get out of order. In other words, it is guaranteed that the order of the messages stored in the FIFO is correct. On the other hand, when a command is constructed by reading from the FIFO, the order of messages may be out of order.

  With reference to Fig.5 (a), the command generation process of the command transmission part TX is demonstrated. One command is generated according to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the CPU of the control unit 40 is operating and it is necessary to cause the sub-control unit 40b to execute an effect or the like, the CPU executes the process of FIG.

S1: A first message is generated.
The CPU of the control unit 40 generates a first telegram corresponding to a required operation such as an effect. The relationship between the operation and the first message is determined in advance, and is stored in a memory (ROM) in the form of a table, for example. The CPU of the control unit 40 searches the memory and determines the first telegram corresponding to the necessary processing.

S2: The number of messages is set to generate messages after the second message.
When the command consists of a first message and one second message, the number of second messages = 1 and k = 1 (k is a parameter for counting the number of messages). Similarly, when the first message and the second message are two, the number of second messages = 2. If the first message and the number of messages corresponding to the first message are stored in advance in the table, the number of messages can be changed for each command.

S3: Generate an nth message.
If the first telegram is determined, the second telegram following this is limited to a predetermined one. For example, the second telegram is selected depending on the type of performance to be executed. For example, in the above table, the first telegram and a plurality of second telegrams (for example, the second a telegram, the second b telegram,...) That can be selected correspondingly are defined in advance, and the CPU of the control unit 40 Selects one of a plurality of second telegrams corresponding to the required operations such as effects (for example, the second a telegram is selected and used as the second telegram). The same applies to the third and subsequent messages.

S4: It is determined whether the message generation is finished.
Specifically, when k reaches a predetermined number of messages (the number of messages corresponding to an operation such as an effect selected with reference to the table), YES is determined in S4. If NO in S4, k is set to k + 1 (S6), and the next message is generated.

S5: The first telegram and the second telegram are transmitted.
The first telegram and the second telegram generated by the above procedure are collected and transmitted as one command to the sub-control unit 40b. Since the first message and the second message are transmitted continuously, the message of another command is not mixed with one command.

Next, the command receiving unit RX will be described.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the command receiving unit RX.

  R0 is a receiver (communication IC) that receives a signal from the control unit 40. Since the command transmission unit TX of the control unit 40 outputs a serial signal, the receiver R0 receives the serial signal. Since transmission using a serial signal is known, the description thereof is omitted.

  During the transmission, errors such as a parity error and a framing error may occur. At the time of data transmission, one parity bit is added to data bits (for example, 8 bits), and the number of 1s is adjusted to be an even number (or odd number) in the entire data bits including the parity bits. The receiving side checks the number of 1s in the entire data bits including the parity bit, and if it is not even (or odd), it is determined that a communication error has occurred because data has changed due to noise or the like. This is a parity error. In addition, when transmitting data, a predetermined start bit is added before the data bit and a stop bit is added after the data bit. If the stop bit cannot be detected, it is determined that a framing error has occurred. To do. Since the contents of the parity error and the framing error and the detection method thereof are publicly known, further explanation is omitted.

  The receiver R0 has a function of automatically detecting a parity error or a framing error. When it is determined that a parity error or a framing error has occurred, a built-in error flag (not shown) is set (= 1). The built-in error flag is composed of a register or a memory. Note that this built-in error flag may also be used as the error flag EF in FIG.

  R1 is a FIFO buffer that stores commands received from the control unit 40, that is, telegram 1 and telegram 2 (hereinafter, the command is composed of two telegrams 1 and 2) in the order of reception. .

  In the figure, the receiver RO and the FIFO buffer R1 are separately displayed, but they may be configured as one IC.

  FIFO is first-in first-out, and is a buffer from which the first stored data is retrieved first, that is, a buffer from which the oldest data in time is retrieved preferentially. is there.

  FIFO type buffers are known, but a brief description will be added. The FIFO type buffer is configured, for example, by connecting a plurality of D type latches in series. The larger the number of latches connected, the more data can be stored. The number of latches is sometimes called the number of stages. The FIFO type buffer can store data corresponding to the number of stages. Data input to the latch on the input side is automatically moved to the output side and taken out in order. Even when data is not taken out, the FIFO buffer can store data by the number of stages. If data is not taken out even though data is input, and as a result, data is stored in all stages, data can no longer be received (stored). This is called FIFO full (FIFO full).

  When transmitting a command consisting of a plurality of messages from the control unit, if the FIFO is full for some reason in the sub-control unit, in other words, if the FIFO buffer overflows, the transmitted data is not stored in the buffer, so that the data is Will be lost. For this reason, the sub-control unit fails to receive the command.

  The receiver R0 generates an overrun error when the data accumulation in the FIFO buffer R1 exceeds the limit.

  As described above, data can be read from the FIFO buffer R1 in the order of writing. The FIFO buffer R1 preferably includes a mechanism that automatically clears all data when it is read out. For example, when the FIFO buffer R1 becomes empty (empty), a signal indicating that is output to the outside, and each latch of the buffer is cleared by the signal. Further, it is assumed that the FIFO buffer R1 outputs a signal indicating FIFO full to the outside.

  The FIFO buffer R1 may be simply referred to as “FIFO”.

  R2 is a command constructing unit that constructs a command from the telegram 1 and telegram 2 read from the FIFO buffer R1.

  R3 is a command buffer for storing the command constructed by the command construction unit R2. The command stored here can cause the CPU or VDP of the sub-control unit 40b to execute a predetermined effect.

  R4 is a timer that provides an interrupt signal to the command construction unit R2 at predetermined intervals. Based on the signal from the timer R4, the command construction unit R2 reads and constructs the command.

  EF is an error flag that is set when a parity error or a framing error occurs. This flag is, for example, an area (address) designated in advance in a CPU register or memory, and where and how the flag is configured is arbitrary.

  R6 is a reference table that is referred to when the command construction unit R2 constructs a command. In the reference table R6, a combination of the correct message 1 and message 2 is stored in advance. For example, in the reference table R6, it is assumed that aah and bbh are defined as a message 2 corresponding to the message 1 xxh (h means a hexadecimal number). When the command construction unit R2 constructs the command xxh + aah, it can be seen that this is a correct command by referring to the reference table R6. On the other hand, if the command is xxh + cch, since these are combinations not defined in the reference table R6, it is understood that the command is illegal.

  The command construction unit R2 and the timer R4 are realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program, but these can also be realized by hardware such as an IC. The reference table R6 is defined in a table format or a program in a memory (ROM).

  FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an apparatus relating to the production command to the command reading of each production device. Each element of FIG. 7 is incorporated in the sub-control unit 40b, for example. Specifically, the processing unit such as the command read generation unit 40c is realized by the CPU of the sub-control unit 40b operating according to a predetermined program (may be realized by hardware such as an IC). In addition, in FIG. 7, although the case where there are three effect devices A thru | or C is shown, it cannot be overemphasized that this is an illustration.

  Reference numeral 40c denotes a command read generation unit that reads the command from the command buffer R3, generates a command for controlling a plurality of effect devices according to the command, and writes the command to the buffer. BuffA to BuffC are buffers provided in each of a plurality of effect devices. BuffA is a buffer for a sound device, BuffC is a buffer for a liquid crystal display device, and BuffB is a buffer for another effect device B.

  CRe-A to CRe-C are command reading units that read commands from the buffers BuffA to BuffC at a predetermined timing.

  The command read by the command reading unit CRe-A is sent to the acoustic control unit 46. The command read by the command reading unit CRe-C is sent to the VDP. The command read by the command reading unit CRe-B is sent to the lamp control unit 44 or the movable body control unit 47, for example.

  FIG. 8 is a process flowchart executed in the apparatus shown in FIGS.

S11: The receiver R0 receives a command (including an effect command) from the control unit 40.

S12: The command construction unit R2 stores the received command in the command buffer R3.
If the command construction unit R2 is realized by a program, when the CPU of the sub-control unit 40b receives a command from the control unit 40, it writes the command in the command buffer R3.

  Then, the command read generation unit 40c (the CPU of the sub control unit 40b) executes the processes of S13 to S15.

S13: A command is taken out from the command buffer R3.

S14: Analyzing the contents of the command (specifically, an instruction command for production) and generating a device control command for each device based on the result.
The command received from the control unit 40 instructs what kind of effect is to be performed, and does not directly control the effect device. Therefore, the command reading / generating unit 40c analyzes the command and generates a device control command for each device. For example, if the effect instruction command displays a jackpot image on the liquid crystal display device LCD, blinks a lamp or the like, and plays a loud fanfare, the jackpot image display command is used as the command for the liquid crystal display device, and the sound device A fanfare generation command is generated as a command for a lamp, and a blinking command for a lamp is generated as a command for a lamp control unit.

S15: The device control command is stored in each device buffer.
In the above example, the jackpot image display command is stored in the buffer BuffC, the fanfare generation command is stored in the buffer BuffA, and the lamp blinking command is stored in the buffer BuffB.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of command reception / registration to the command buffer according to the embodiment of the invention. The process of FIG. 9 corresponds to S11 and S12 of FIG. Hereinafter, the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

S20: A command (data) is received by the receiver R0.
The receiver R0 has a built-in memory and CPU for receiving data, and automatically receives a serial signal from the outside. Such a process and the structure for it are known.

S21: It is determined whether or not reception has been successful.
The receiver R0 has a function of automatically detecting a parity error or a framing error. When it is determined that a parity error or a framing error has occurred, a built-in error flag is set (= 1).

S22: When the built-in error flag is checked and it is determined that the signal has been received normally (YES in S21), the error flag EF remains cleared (= 0). When the error flag EF is set, it is cleared.

S23: When the built-in error flag is checked and it is determined that the signal cannot be normally received (NO in S21), the error flag EF is set. Then, it is checked whether received data exists (S24). For example, if only the stop bit cannot be detected, the data bits including the parity bit received before that are stored in the register of the receiver R0 (in contrast, if the start bit cannot be detected, Data reception itself is not performed). If the reception of the data bit can be confirmed and the parity is correct, it can be considered that the data bit has been correctly received and that the stop bit has simply not been received. In such a case, the data is validated (YES in S24).

S25: The received data (including those determined to have been received in S24) are registered in the command buffer R3.

S26: The command buffer R3 is checked.
When message 1 and message 2 are ready (YES in S27), error flag EF is further examined (S28).

  When the electronic message 1 and the electronic message 2 are prepared and the error flag EF is not set (= 0), the electronic message 1 and the electronic message 2 are combined to form a command (S30).

  When message 1 and message 2 are aligned and error flag EF is set (= 1), the error bit of message 1 is turned on (= 1) (S29), and message 1 and message 2 are combined. A command is configured (S30). As shown in FIG. 11B, the error bit is the first bit (MSB) of the first message. As shown in FIG. 5A, this bit indicates that the message is the first message. However, after storing in the FIFO buffer R1, it is no longer necessary to distinguish between message 1 and the other (stored data). Since it was not used, it was converted to an error bit. As a result, a dedicated flag area can be secured for each command, and an error can be determined for each command.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing for reading from the command buffer according to the embodiment of the invention. The process in FIG. 10 corresponds to S13 in FIG. Hereinafter, the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

S40: It is determined whether the command buffer R3 is empty.
If there is a command constructed and stored by the command construction unit R2, NO in S40, and if no such command exists, YES in S40.

  If YES in S40, the error flag EF is read, and if it is set, the fact that an error has occurred in command reception is transmitted to the next process (S43). This means that the command sent from the control unit 40 is missing. If the command is lost, the effect by the sub-control unit 40b is not performed, and the interest of the player is impaired. Therefore, when performing the performance, processing is performed while recognizing that the command is lost, so that the interest of the player is not impaired.

  For example, the lost command is interpolated with the previous and subsequent commands that have been successfully received (select the command to be executed based on the previous and subsequent commands, so that an intermediate result of the processing results of the previous and subsequent commands is output), Alternatively, it is possible to repeat the immediately preceding command or execute the immediately following command first. When the command for the liquid crystal display device is lost, for example, in the command read generation unit 40c, the previous drawing command is executed again based on the information from the error flag EF. Thereby, it is prevented that drawing is not performed and images are not displayed (frame dropping etc.). In the case of a sound, the same sound as the previous command is generated.

  To repeat, the processing (predetermined processing) performed by the command read generation unit 40c in S43 is as follows: (1) The occurrence of an error in command reception indicates the next processing (for example, command read units CRe-A to CRe- C), (2) execute if there is no conflict with the previous and subsequent commands, discard the command if there is a conflict, and (3) receive the lost command normally. Interpolation with commands before and after that, (4) repeating the immediately preceding command, (5) executing the immediately following command first, and so on.

S41: NO in S40, that is, when a command exists, the command is read out.
S42: The error bit of the read command is checked.

  If the error bit is not set (NO in S42), each rendering device executes processing according to the command (S44).

  If the error bit is set (YES in S42), each rendering device executes the process on the assumption that an error exists (S45). It can be recognized that there is a possibility that the command has an error by judging the error bit in the processing of S42. For example, if a possibility of an error is recognized, the command is discarded and the execution is stopped. If there is no conflict with the previous and subsequent commands, the command is executed, and if there is a conflict, the command is discarded. , Etc. can be performed. For example, if the preceding and following commands are for drawing an image for a liquid crystal display device, but the read command is for switching the screen, there is a contradiction between these commands. It can be. Instead of comparing with the preceding and succeeding commands, it may be compared with a correct command list stored in advance in the reference table R6 or the like to determine whether or not the contents are inconsistent. For example, if it is not in the command list, the command is discarded. Such a process can be performed by the command read generation unit 40c.

  To repeat, the processing (predetermined processing) performed by the command read generation unit 40c in S45 is: (1) that an error has occurred in command reception, the next processing (for example, command read units CRe-A to CRe- C), (2) execute if there is no conflict with the previous and subsequent commands, discard the command if there is a conflict, and (3) receive the lost command normally. Interpolation with commands before and after that, (4) repeating the immediately preceding command, (5) executing the immediately following command first, and so on.

  There are various uses of the error flag and error bit, and the present invention is not limited to the above example.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of processing from main command reception to command buffer reading according to the embodiment of the invention. Hereinafter, explanation will be added to this figure.

  In the code A, the control unit 40 sends No. 1 message 1 is received. It is assumed that no error has occurred during this reception. Therefore, the error flag is not set and remains normal. The electronic message 1 of 1 is registered as it is in the command buffer (the arrow of the sign A means this, the same applies except for the sign C). In the code a, no. Since only message 1 of message 1 is received and message 2 is still received, the command buffer is not read (assuming that commands other than message 1 of message No. 1 are not stored in the command buffer).

  In the symbol a, the control unit 40 sends a No. 1 message 2 is received. It is assumed that no error has occurred during this reception. Therefore, the error flag is not set and remains normal. The electronic message 2 of 1 is registered as it is in the command buffer. In the command buffer, no. Since message 1 of message 1 is stored, by combining message 1 and message 2, command No. 1 is stored. 1 is completed. Then, at a predetermined timing, the command No. 1 is read.

  In the code C, when receiving a command from the control unit 40, an error has occurred for some reason. In response to this, an error flag is set (error flag = abnormal). In the example of the code C, since the received data is lost (??? means that the data is lost), no data is written in the command buffer. Since the command buffer is empty in the example of the code c, the error flag status (error flag = abnormal) is notified to the command buffer reading side. The notification is not made unless the command buffer is empty. In this case, the reading side of the command buffer can know the occurrence of an error by using an error bit (see reference numeral 0).

  In FIG. 2 message 1 is received. An error has occurred for some reason during this reception. In response to this, an error flag is set (error flag = abnormal). However, the received data is not lost. Assume that message 1 of 2 has been received. For example, when data can be confirmed for a framing error. A framing error is an error that occurs when a stop bit cannot be detected when data is received (a data frame does not have a specified specification). For example, a data frame starts with an L start bit after changing from H to L, and is composed of a predetermined length of data and a predetermined number of H stop bits. Is limited (there is a stop bit after the data). Therefore, if L continues for a predetermined length, a framing error occurs, but data can be received even at this time (note that there is a high possibility that an erroneous bit exists in the received data). In the code D, an error flag is set and the received No. Write message 1 of 2 to the command buffer.

  In the code O, the control unit 40 determines No. 2 message 2 is received. It is assumed that no error has occurred during this reception. In response to this, the error flag is cleared. The No. The second message 2 is registered as it is in the command buffer. In the command buffer, no. Since message 1 of message 2 is stored, by combining message 1 and message 2, command no. 2 is completed. However, no. Since the error flag is set when message 1 of message 2 is received, command no. 2 error bit is turned on. The error flag is cleared by command No. It may be cleared after the error bit 2 is turned on. Then, at a predetermined timing, the command No. 2 is read out. On the command buffer read side, the command number is indicated by an error bit. 2 can recognize that there is a possibility of an error. For example, if a possibility of an error is recognized, the command is discarded and the execution is stopped. If there is no conflict with the previous and subsequent commands, the command is executed, and if there is a conflict, the command is discarded. , Etc. can be performed. Instead of comparing with the preceding and succeeding commands, it may be determined whether the contents are inconsistent with the contents by comparing with the correct command list (if the command is not in the command list, the command is discarded). The error bit is erased when the command buffer is read (in order to prevent the error bit from being recognized as data (bit) constituting the command).

  In the code | symbol K, it is No. from the control part 40. 3 message 1 is received. It is assumed that no error has occurred during this reception. Therefore, the error flag is not set and remains normal. The third message 1 is registered as it is in the command buffer. In the code number, no. Since only the electronic message 1 of 3 is received and the electronic message 2 has not been received yet, the command is not constructed and the command buffer is not read.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of processing when the command buffer overflows according to the embodiment of the invention.

  The command buffer R3 is composed of a ring buffer. A ring buffer is a control method for managing and operating a buffer in a ring shape and a buffer realized thereby. The ring buffer reserves a certain area of memory and treats the range as if it is a “ring”. For example, the “ring” is rotated in one direction, and a read pointer (read pointer) and a write pointer (write pointer) are prepared as variables. When writing to the ring buffer, the write pointer advances. The read pointer can be read up to the position indicated by the write pointer. Also, the write pointer cannot pass over the read pointer. Writing begins to write into the buffer from the current write pointer. When writing, the write pointer is advanced by one, but if it catches up with the read pointer, the buffer is full and no further writing is possible. This is an overflow condition.

  The ring buffer is read sequentially from the read pointer. It ends as if all reading has been completed when it coincides with the write pointer. When both the write pointer and the read pointer reach the end of the buffer, they are returned to the top address. This is why it is processed conceptually as if it were a ring. According to the ring buffer, buffer management without overflow can be realized with only “actual area” and “two pointer variables”.

  The pointer is an instruction that holds the address of the next record to be accessed or a memory area or register for that purpose. The advance of the pointer means that the contents of the pointer are updated to indicate the next address.

  Description will be added to the processing of FIG.

S50: It is determined whether the write pointer has caught up with the read pointer.
The fact that the write pointer has caught up with the read pointer means that the difference between the address indicated by the write pointer and the address indicated by the read pointer matches the progress unit of the pointer ((read pointer) − (write pointer) = 1), in other words When the write pointer is advanced, the read pointer coincides with or exceeds the read pointer (for example, (write pointer) + 1 ≧ (read pointer). The write pointer coincides with the read pointer ( ((Write pointer) = (read pointer)) may also be included.

  In this state (YES in S50), when a command is received (YES in S51), the processes after S52 are executed. When a command is received, the command (message 1, message 2) is stored in the FIFO buffer R1, and the command construction unit R2 reads the command (message 1, message 2) by the timer R4. It is.

S52: The read pointer is advanced.
The read pointer is forcibly advanced regardless of whether the command is read or not. This secures an area for writing commands. Note that there is a command that cannot be read by forcibly moving the read pointer.

  When an overflow occurs in the ring buffer, one of “discard received command (data)” and “discard registered command” is selected. In the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, since recovery at the time of reception error is considered, when overflow occurs in the ring buffer, there is a possibility that commands (data) that can be recovered are stored. Therefore, “Discard registered commands” is selected.

S53: The write pointer is advanced.
S54: Write the received command according to the write pointer.
An area for registering a new command is secured by the processing of S52 and S53.

S55: The command indicated by the REIT pointer is specified.
S56: Turn on the error bit of the specified command.
The error bit of the next command to be read is turned on by the processing of S55 and S56. The error bit indicates that a command existed before the command but was lost. Then, the lost command is interpolated with the previous and subsequent commands that have been successfully received (select the command to be executed based on the previous and subsequent commands, so that the intermediate result of the processing results of the previous and subsequent commands is output), Alternatively, special processing such as repeating the immediately preceding command or executing the immediately following command first can be performed.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of command buffer (ring buffer) read processing according to the embodiment of the invention, and particularly shows processing when the command buffer overflows. The write pointer is a pointer indicating a write address, and at the time of writing, data is written to the next location (+1 address). The read pointer is a pointer that indicates a read address, and at the time of reading, data is read from the next location (+1 address). A description will be added according to this figure.

  “Before overflow” in the figure indicates a state immediately before overflow. There is a write pointer immediately before the read pointer of the ring buffer (in other words, the write pointer has caught up with the read pointer). Since the write pointer cannot overtake the read pointer, as long as data is not newly read, no. Unless one command is read out, overflow occurs when new data is received.

  In the “before overflow” in the same figure, no. In order to receive 55 commands, an overflow occurs. The operation at the time of overflow in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to “after overflow” in FIG.

  “After overflow” in the figure indicates a state immediately after overflow. In the embodiment of the present invention, when new data (command) is received in a state where the ring buffer is full, priority is given to writing new data. Therefore, old data may be overwritten and lost. In “after overflow” in the figure, the read pointer is forcibly advanced (the address is incremented by 1) so that the write pointer can move. Then, a command is written in accordance with the write pointer (in the example of the figure, the command No. 55 is written). Note that no data (command) originally exists at the place where the command is written, and no data is lost. However, as the read pointer has advanced, no. The command 1 cannot be read (note that when reading, data is read from the location one address ahead of the read pointer (+1 address)). No. in the figure. A line with 1 off means this. New commands are successfully written due to the processing of the anomaly. There is no particular problem with newly written commands.

  On the other hand, an old command that has not been read (command No. 1 in the figure) cannot be read as described above. Thus, in order to indicate that the command cannot be read, that is, lost, the error bit of the next readable command (No. 2 command in the figure) is turned on. Thereby, it is possible to notify that the command has been lost.

  According to the embodiment of the invention, even when there is an error in command transmission from the control unit to the sub-control unit, the command can be reconfigured.

  There is a dummy command method for registering error occurrence information as a dummy command (a command that means an error occurrence that does not overlap with a normal command), but this method consumes an area for one command each time an error occurs. This means a decrease in the number of commands that can be registered in the command buffer (ring buffer), which is not preferable. Moreover, measures must be taken when errors occur continuously. If an error occurs in all data, the ring buffer capacity is halved. In addition, it is preferable to avoid processing such as not registering when there is a continuous error because it leads to an increase in processing load. In the embodiment of the invention, the error determination is performed with the first bit of the message 1 of the command. Therefore, even if error information is added, the data amount (number of bits) does not change, and the number of commands that can be registered is reduced. There is no problem. According to the embodiment of the invention, it is possible to reconfigure more commands than the dummy command method.

  In addition, when a command does not exist in the command buffer, an error flag provided separately when an error occurs is set, so an error occurs when a command does not exist in the command buffer, We were able to solve the problem that “error detection is not possible if no command is received”.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

40 control unit 40b sub control unit 40c command read generation unit R0 receiver R1 FIFO buffer R2 command construction unit R3 command buffer EF error flag

Claims (2)

A control unit that generates a command for controlling the plurality of presentation devices while performing control related to the game including internal lottery processing and control related to the presentation, and the command received from the control unit In a gaming machine comprising a sub-control unit that executes processing related to production based on
The command includes a first message indicating the start of a message and a second message following the first message.
The control unit generates the first telegram corresponding to the process to be executed by the sub-control unit, generates the second telegram corresponding to the first telegram, the first telegram and the second telegram Including a command transmission unit for transmitting to the sub-control unit in this order,
The sub-control unit receives a command including the first message and the second message from the command transmission unit and detects an error when receiving the first message and the second message, and the receiver A buffer for storing the first telegram and the second telegram in the order received, a command construction unit for reading the first telegram and the second telegram from the buffer at a predetermined timing, and constructing a command based on the first telegram, A command buffer for storing the command constructed by the command construction unit, a command read generation unit for reading out the command from the command buffer and generating a production command for each of the plurality of production devices, and detecting the error by the receiver Including a command receiver with an error flag set when
The command construction unit examines the error flag when constructing the command, and sets a predetermined error bit among a plurality of bits included in the command when the error flag is set. And configure the command
The command read generation unit
Check if the command exists in the command buffer,
When a command is present in the command buffer, read the command and check if the error bit of the command is set;
When the error bit is not set, control the plurality of presentation devices based on the command,
When the error bit is set, execute a predetermined process,
When the command does not exist in the command buffer, check the error flag,
A gaming machine, wherein a predetermined process is executed when the error flag is set. The command buffer is a one-dimensional memory, a ring buffer that is treated as a circular memory in which the last and first are connected, a write pointer that is a write pointer for the ring buffer, and a read that is a read pointer. And a pointer
The command construction unit
When the write pointer catches up with the read pointer, the read pointer and the write pointer are advanced,
Write the constructed command to the command buffer based on the write pointer,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the error bit of the written command is set.

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