JP2013010019A - Card unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card unit (a ball lending machine and a dispenser unit) configured to prevent a fraction value less than a minimum unit value from being generated in a remaining valuable value even when a game is quit without using up all valuable value available for lending game media.SOLUTION: When the ball lending unit performs unit lending processing for lending Pachinko balls (120 Pachinko balls) corresponding to a predetermined unit lending value (tax-included 500 yen), the ball lending unit performs first lending processing for dispensing and lending balls (100 Pachinko balls) corresponding to the number of Pachinko balls (25 Pachinko balls) of one unit to be dispensed by a Pachinko machine during lending, and second lending processing for dispensing the fractional balls (20) not satisfying the number of Pachinko balls of the one unit from a ball dispensing device of the dispenser unit arranged adjacent thereto. The ball lending unit does not perform any of the fist lending processing and the second lending processing on condition that it is decided that at least one of the Pachinko machine and the dispenser unit is not ready for dispensing a Pachinko ball.

Description

  The present invention relates to a card unit that performs a lending process for paying out and lending a game medium by using a valuable value that can be used for lending a game medium, and in particular, paying out the game medium to a corresponding gaming machine. Further, the present invention relates to what is performed from the payout means of the payout unit constituting a part of the card unit.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a card unit that performs a lending process for paying out and lending a pachinko ball using a card remaining amount that is an example of valuable value that can be used for lending game media. It is known that the pachinko balls are paid out from a corresponding pachinko machine and a ball payout device (ball cutout unit) provided in the card unit. In this card unit, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, when a card is received and a lending operation is performed, the consumption unit amount (105) from the remaining amount of the card to the lending unit amount (100 yen) + consumption tax amount (5 yen). Yen) is subtracted and the pachinko ball for the consumption unit amount is paid out from the pachinko machine, and when the remaining card amount after subtraction becomes a fractional amount less than the consumption unit amount, the fractional amount is subtracted from the remaining card amount, The fractional amount of pachinko balls are paid out from the ball dispensing device. In the card unit, as shown in the modification of FIG. 11, when a card is received, the fractional amount generated in the card remaining amount is specified, the fractional amount is subtracted from the card remaining amount, and the pachinko ball corresponding to the fractional amount is a ball. When paying out from the payout device and a lending operation is performed thereafter, the consumption unit amount is subtracted from the remaining amount of the card, and the pachinko balls corresponding to the consumption unit amount are paid out from the pachinko machine. According to this card unit, even if a consumption tax is collected for the amount used to lend pachinko balls, a fractional amount of pachinko balls are loaned, so eventually all the remaining card amount is used up. be able to.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-348972 (FIGS. 8 and 11)

  However, in the card unit shown in Patent Document 1, if the game is stopped halfway without using up all the remaining card amount, the lending unit amount (that is, the number of game media per unit paid out by the pachinko machine in lending (25 May be a fractional amount less than 100 yen, which is equivalent to the minimum unit value), and in order to settle the fractional amount and return it to the player, Such as preparing 10 yen coins, 5 yen coins, 1 yen coins) and replenishing the settlement apparatus.

  The present invention has been made based on such a background, and its purpose remains even if the game is stopped halfway without using up all the valuable value that can be used for lending game media. The object is to provide a card unit in which a fractional value less than the minimum unit value does not occur in the valuable value.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. Note that the reference numerals used in the description and drawings of the embodiments for carrying out the invention to be described later are added in parentheses for reference, but the constituent elements of the present invention are not limited to those added.

First, the invention according to means 1
A card unit provided corresponding to a gaming machine (pachinko machine 10),
Of the valuable value (management balance, amount of money received, number of stored balls, amount of electronic money) that constitutes a part of the card unit and can be used for lending game media (pachinko balls), a predetermined unit loan value ( A game from the gaming machine between the lending processing means (control unit 21) for performing unit lending processing (ball lending processing) for lending gaming media equivalent to an integer multiple of 100 yen and the corresponding gaming machine. A loan processing unit (ball lending unit 20) having a lending communication means (ball lending communication unit 21a) for performing communication for paying out and lending the medium;
A payout unit (30) that forms part of the card unit and has payout means for paying out and lending out game media based on a command from the loan processing unit;
The lending processing means, when performing the unit lending process, out of game media corresponding to the unit lending value, the number of gaming media to be paid out by the gaming machine for lending (number of lending balls = 25) Requesting the lending of the number of gaming media in one unit as a first lending process in which the lending communication means performs communication for lending the portion corresponding to (an integral multiple of the number of unit lending balls) from the gaming machine. The lending request signal is transmitted to the gaming machine, and the lending of the number of gaming media per unit is instructed based on the fact that the requesting approval signal indicating that the lending request is accepted is received from the gaming machine. A lending command signal to be transmitted to the gaming machine, a lending completion signal indicating that the lending has been completed is received from the gaming machine, and fractional gaming media less than the number of gaming media per unit Number (end An instruction to lend number of balls = less than 25) to payout from said dispensing means performs second lending process to be performed on the payout unit,
The lending processing unit determines whether or not the gaming machine is in a state where the game medium can be paid out, and also determines whether the payout means is in a state where the game medium can be paid out (control unit). 21)
The lending processing means, on the condition that at least one of the gaming machine or the paying means is not in a state in which a game medium can be paid out by the payout determining means, the first lending process and the second lending process. The card unit is characterized in that neither is performed.
According to this, in the unit lending process performed by the lending processing unit, among the gaming media corresponding to the unit lending value, the first lending processing for paying out a portion corresponding to the number of gaming media per unit from the gaming machine, This is a case where the game is stopped halfway without using up all the valuable value by performing the second lending process of paying out the number of fractional game media less than the number of game media from the payout means of the payout unit provided. However, the remaining valuable value does not have a fractional value less than the minimum unit value corresponding to the number of game media that one unit pays out in lending. Therefore, even if an indirect tax amount such as a consumption tax is collected for the value used for the lending of game media, if the unit loan value includes the indirect tax amount (so-called internal tax), all the valuable value will be Even if the game is stopped halfway without being used up, the remaining valuable value will not have a fractional value less than the minimum unit value, and in order to settle the fractional value and return it to the player, There is no need to prepare a large amount of coins and replenish the checkout device. Further, even when there is no space in the lending processing unit with a payout means, it is possible to pay out the fraction game media.
Further, if at least one of the gaming machine or the payout means is not in a state where the game medium can be paid out due to a failure, a jammed game medium, a shortage of game media, etc., both the first loan process and the second loan process are performed. As a result, there is no fractional value less than the minimum unit value in the remaining valuable value.

The invention according to means 2
The card unit (the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30) described in the means 1,
The lending communication means (ball lending communication unit 21a) pays out and lends the number of gaming media per unit (number of lending balls = 25) from the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) as the first lending processing. For repeated communication,
The lending processing unit (ball lending unit 20) or the paying unit (30) displays an unpaid value display means for displaying an unpaid value that is the valuable value corresponding to the number of game media not paid out by the first lending process. The card unit further includes an (unpaid frequency display 25a).
According to this, even if the first lending process is not completed due to a failure in the gaming machine, a jammed game medium, a lack of game media, etc., the unpaid value is displayed, thereby The clerk of the store can confirm the unpaid value and compensate the player, so that the player will not lose, and the remaining valuable value may have a fractional value less than the minimum unit value. No.

The invention according to means 3 is
The card unit (the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30) described in the means 1 or 2,
The lending processing unit (ball lending unit 20) further includes connection confirmation means (control unit 21) for confirming connection with the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) and confirming connection with the payout unit (30). Have
The lending processing means (control unit 21) is configured so that any one of the first lending process and the second lending process is performed on the condition that the connection confirmation means does not confirm the connection with at least one of the gaming machine or the payout unit. It is a card unit characterized by not performing.
According to this, if the connection with at least one of the gaming machine or the payout unit is not confirmed in the lending processing unit, neither the first lending process nor the second lending process is performed. (2) One of the lending processes cannot be performed, and a fractional value less than the minimum unit value does not occur in the remaining valuable value.

The invention according to means 4 is
A card unit (ball lending unit 20 and payout unit 30) described in any one of means 1 to 3,
The lending processing unit (ball lending unit 20), in accordance with the unit lending processing, calculates the unit lending value (integer multiple of 100 yen) from the valuable value (remaining management amount, received money amount, number of stored balls, electronic money amount). Subtraction processing means (control unit 21) for performing subtraction processing for subtracting
The subtraction processing means is a card unit that performs the subtraction process regardless of completion of the first lending process and the second lending process.
According to this, since the subtraction process is performed regardless of the completion of the first lending process and the second lending process, the first lending process and the second lending process are caused by the occurrence of failure, game media clogging, lack of game media, or the like. Even if one of the lending processes cannot be performed, a fractional value less than the minimum unit value does not occur in the remaining valuable value.

Furthermore, the invention according to means 5 is the card unit (ball lending unit 20 and payout unit 30) described in any one of means 1 to 4,
The value of the valuable value (remaining amount) owned by the player in association with the recording medium identification information (recording medium ID) that can individually identify the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) owned by the player. It can communicate with the management device (remaining amount management device 50) to manage,
Recording medium receiving means (passage unit 100) for receiving the recording medium;
Based on the reception of the recording medium by the recording medium reception means, the valuable value acquisition means (control unit 21) acquires the value of the valuable value corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device. )When,
Valuable value storage means (RAM of the control unit 21) for storing the value of the valuable value acquired by the valuable value acquisition means;
Further comprising communication enable / disable detecting means (control unit 21) for detecting whether communication with the management apparatus is possible (online) or communication is impossible (offline).
The lending processing means includes
When the communicability detection unit detects the communicable state, the unit lending process is performed using the value of the valuable value managed by the management device,
When a communication impossible state is detected by the communication enable / disable detecting unit, the recording medium receiving unit receives a recording medium, and the valuable value storing unit stores the magnitude of the valuable value. On the condition, the unit lending process is performed using the value of the valuable value stored in the valuable value storage means.
According to this, even if communication with the management device that manages the value of the valuable value is impossible, the unit lending process is performed using the value of the valuable value acquired and stored from the management device. Therefore, the operation of the gaming machine can be secured.

  The lending processing means may perform the second lending process subsequent to the first lending process as long as it performs the first lending process and the second lending process, and continues to the second lending process. The first lending process may be performed, and the second lending process may be performed during the first lending process.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a game system including a ball lending unit and a payout unit which are card units according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view illustrating an example of a ball lending unit, a payout unit, and a pachinko machine according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B-1 is a cross-sectional left side view of the ball lending unit. 2 (b-2) is a partial sectional left side view of the ball dispensing unit, FIG. 2 (c) is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along the line XX, and FIG. 2 (d) is a functional block of the passage unit. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional left side view schematically showing a passage unit provided in the ball lending unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a passage unit provided in the ball lending unit. FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating an example of a settlement apparatus, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents of a display provided in the settlement apparatus. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of the balance management DB and the setting value DB stored in the balance management apparatus, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of the settlement DB stored in the settlement apparatus. Yes, FIG. 6C is a diagram showing an example of the storage area of the membership card or visitor coin, and FIG. 6D is a diagram showing an example of the lending frequency / ball number DB stored in the center management apparatus. . FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the balance unit that is online with the balance management device. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is accepted in a ball lending unit that is online with the remaining amount management device. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of usage amount determination processing performed by the ball lending unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ball lending process performed by the ball lending unit. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where a recording medium is received in the balance unit that is online with the balance management device. FIG. 12 is a diagram subsequent to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram subsequent to FIG. 11, illustrating an example of processing when the serial numbers do not match. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where a return operation is received in the ball lending unit that is online with the balance management device. FIG. 15 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the ball lending unit. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the balance management device and the ball lending unit in an offline state. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is accepted in the balance management device and a ball lending unit in an offline state. FIG. 19 is a first diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is accepted in the balance management device and the ball lending unit in an offline state. FIG. 20 is a second diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is accepted in the balance management device and the ball lending unit in an offline state. FIG. 21 is a third diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is accepted in the balance management device and the ball lending unit in an offline state. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return to an online state with a ball rental unit is detected. FIG. 23 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the settlement apparatus. FIG. 25 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a settlement operation is accepted and a return operation is accepted in the settlement apparatus. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the settlement apparatus. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in a payment apparatus that is online with a balance management apparatus, a payment operation is received, and a return operation is received. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the return to the online state with the settlement apparatus is detected. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the ball lending process performed by the ball lending unit. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a second modification of the ball lending process performed by the ball lending unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ball lending unit and a payout unit which are card units according to the second embodiment, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a block diagram. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stored ball replay process performed by the ball lending unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ball lending unit and a payout unit, which are card units according to the third embodiment, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a block diagram. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic money ball lending process performed by a ball lending unit according to the third embodiment. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a first method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit in the offline state by the remaining amount management device. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a second method for specifying the offline consumption amount used in the ball lending process in the ball lending unit in the offline state by the remaining amount management device. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a third method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit in the offline state by the remaining amount management device. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a fourth method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit in the offline state by the remaining amount management device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30 which are card units according to the present invention use valuable values (management balance, amount of money received, number of balls stored, amount of electronic money) usable for lending game media (pachinko balls). Thus, a lending process (ball lending process) for paying out and lending the game medium is performed. In particular, the ball lending unit 20 is a game medium corresponding to a predetermined unit lending value (an integer multiple of 100 yen). When a unit lending process for lending is performed, a portion corresponding to the number of gaming media of one unit that the gaming machine pays out in lending (number of unit lending balls = 25) is paid out and lended from the corresponding gaming machine The first lending process for performing communication for the above and the number of fractional game media (the fractional number of balls = less than 25) that is a portion that is less than the number of game media of one unit, Disbursement 31) and performs a second lending processing for lending paid out from.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 including the card unit stores the remaining value, which is the valuable value used for lending gaming media (pachinko balls), in a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). Is not recorded but managed as a management balance in association with individually identifiable recording medium identification information (recording medium ID) (so-called complete ID management is performed). Since this gaming system 1 employs complete ID management, the remaining amount used for lending gaming media is not recorded on the recording medium, so there is no risk that the remaining amount will be tampered with, and security can be ensured. The cost of the medium can be reduced. That is, for example, when the recording medium is an IC card or an IC coin, if the remaining amount is recorded on the recording medium and security is to be ensured, it is necessary to mount the CPU on the recording medium and manage the remaining amount. However, if the remaining amount is not recorded on the recording medium as in the present invention, it is not necessary to mount the CPU on the recording medium, so that the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. When a CPU is mounted on a recording medium, the card unit side control program becomes complicated because information is exchanged with the CPU. This increases the system design cost, but the CPU is mounted on the recording medium. If not, the control program does not have to be complicated, and the system design cost can be reduced.

  In addition, when the ball lending unit 20 constituting the card unit accepts money in an incommunicable state (offline state) in which the card management unit 50 cannot communicate with the balance management device 50, the gaming system 1 uses the received money amount as the valuable value. Lending processing (offline one-time lending) for the received money amount for lending the corresponding game medium is performed.

  Further, the gaming system 1 updates the serial number recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the specific process performed by the ball lending unit 20 constituting the card unit, and the cooperation performed by the remaining amount management device 50 corresponding to the specific process. The serial number associated with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium is updated along with the processing, so that the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state incapable of communicating with the remaining amount management device 50 has occurred returns to the online state without waiting. The recording medium ejected from the ball lending unit 20 is received by another ball lending unit 20 in the online state, so that the serial number recorded on the recording medium is associated with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium. The specific number is managed by the ball lending unit 20 from the serial number managed by the remaining amount management device 50 due to the occurrence of an offline state. It identifies that the cooperative processing corresponding to the processing has not been performed by the balance management apparatus 50, and is characterized in that it is possible to deal with. Here, the serial number is a serial number that starts from an arbitrary number (for example, 0) and is added one by one.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ball lending unit 20 constituting the card unit includes a coin insertion slot 111, a coin discharge slot 112, a first holding unit (inserted coin holding unit 120), and a communication path. 161 and an input recording medium discharge path (inserted coin discharge path 160) having a first guide path 163, and a storage / discharge path 130 having a storage path 131 and a second guide path 133. The first and second guide passages 163 and 133 are overlapped with each other, and the coin discharge port 112 is overlapped with respect to the storage discharge passage 130 in the thickness direction of the disc-shaped recording medium (visitor coin 5). The recording medium processing mechanism is provided so as to face the surface.

  In the embodiment described below, this recording medium processing mechanism is provided in a ball lending unit 20 that performs a ball lending process as a predetermined special process, and a payment apparatus 60 that performs a payment process as the special process. The ball lending unit 20 and the payment device 60 are communicably connected to the remaining amount management device 50 and constitute the gaming system 1 as a whole.

  In the following, the gaming machine corresponding to the ball lending unit 20 is a pachinko machine 10, the gaming medium is a pachinko ball, the lending process is a ball lending process, and the pachinko machine 10 pays out in lending. An example in which the number of unit lending balls, which is the number of balls, is 25 will be described, and the reader / writer will be abbreviated as “R / W”, the database as “DB”, and step S as “S”.

  In the following, an example will be described in which an indirect tax amount corresponding to the amount used for ball lending processing is collected and the indirect tax is a consumption tax that has already been introduced. A game tax or the like that may be possible. In this example, an example in which the consumption tax rate is 5% will be described. In the present invention, even if the consumption tax amount corresponding to the amount used for the ball lending process is collected, the remaining valuable value is equivalent to the number of game media per unit (25) paid out by the pachinko machine 10 in the lending. The unit lending value is an integral multiple of 100 yen including the consumption tax amount (so-called internal tax) so that a fractional value of less than 100 yen, which is the minimum unit value, does not occur. In other words, in this example where the consumption tax rate is 5%, the unit lending value of 100 yen includes the amount used for ball lending processing of 95.2 yen and the consumption tax amount of 4.8 yen. The lending amount per ball is 4.0 yen including tax, excluding consumption tax (hereinafter simply referred to as “tax excluded”), and including tax including consumption tax (hereinafter simply referred to as “tax included”). The unit price is 4.2 yen.

  In addition, the ball lending unit 20 and the gaming system 1 have a ball lending process using the management residual amount or the received monetary amount as the valuable value, and the valuable value in addition to the first embodiment. A second embodiment for performing a stored ball replay process that is a ball lending process using a certain number of stored balls, and an electronic money ball that is a ball lending process using the amount of electronic money as the value in addition to the first embodiment The third embodiment that performs lending processing is included, and each embodiment includes three examples (FIGS. 10, 30, and 31) having different modes of ball lending processing. In the following, the first embodiment will be described first, then the second embodiment will be described only with respect to differences from the first embodiment, and then the third embodiment will be described only with respect to differences from the first embodiment. Finally, a modified example will be described.

[1. Game system 1 including ball lending unit 20 according to the first embodiment]
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the structure of the game system 1 containing the ball lending unit 20 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10, and a sales management device 40 that can communicate with the ball lending unit 20 via a terminal device (not shown). And a balance management device 50 communicable with the ball lending unit 20 and a settlement device 60 communicable with the balance management device 50 in the game hall, and a center management device 70 communicable with the balance management device 50 Prepare for an off-site card company. Of the components shown in FIG. 1, the member management device 80 is provided only in the gaming system 1 according to the second embodiment to be described later, and the electronic money management server 90 is a gaming system according to the third embodiment to be described later. Only 1 is provided.

  Here, the center management device 70 is a computer that controls the remaining amount management device 50 provided in each game arcade, and each unit lending value (that is, the amount including tax) that is an integral multiple of the minimum unit value (100 yen in this case). 100 yen, 200 yen,... 1000 yen), the amount of tax-excluded loan corresponding to the tax-inclusive usage amount, the number of loaned balls corresponding to the tax-inclusive usage amount, and the loan from the pachinko machine 10 The lending power without tax and the number of balls to be loaned, and the lending power without tax and the number of balls to be lending related to the lending from the ball dispensing device 31 are managed by the lending power / ball number DB shown in FIG.

  The loan frequency / ball number DB shown in FIG. 6D is based on the fact that the loan ball number corresponding to the minimum unit value is set by the operator's manual input in the center management device 70 as follows. Created. Specifically, if the consumption tax rate to be collected is 5%, the minimum unit value of 100 yen is divided by the above-mentioned unit price including tax of 4.2 yen. Twenty-four lent balls corresponding to a unit value of 100 yen including tax are set by manual input by the operator. The reason why the number of balls to be rounded is rounded up is that the number of balls less than one is loaned at the burden of the game hall so that the player does not lose.

  Next, the number of balls lent equivalent to 100 yen including tax is multiplied by 4.0 yen, which is the unit price excluding tax, of 24, and the amount used without tax corresponding to 100 yen including tax is 96. Yen is calculated, and 96 yen, which is the usage amount without tax, is divided by 100 yen, which is the minimum unit value, and 0.96 frequency, which is the lending frequency without tax, corresponding to the 100 yen usage amount including tax is calculated. . Next, by multiplying the number of lending balls equivalent to 100 yen including tax, the amount used without tax, and the number of loans without tax, it corresponds to each amount including 100 yen to 100 yen in increments of 100 yen. The number of balls to be loaned, the amount used without tax, and the number of loans without tax are calculated and set. Thereby, the 2nd to 5th columns from the left of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIG.

  For each use amount including tax, the integer part of the tax-excluded loan frequency corresponding to the use amount including tax is set as the tax-excluded loan frequency (* 1 column) related to the loan from the pachinko machine 10, and from the pachinko machine 10 Multiply the number of loans excluding tax related to lending by 25 units, which is the number of unit lending balls, to calculate the number of balls related to lending from the pachinko machine 10, and the fractional portion of the number of lending without tax corresponding to the amount of tax included Is set as a tax-free loan frequency relating to the loan from the ball paying device 31, and the ball paying device 31 is subtracted from the loaned ball number corresponding to the used amount including tax to the loaned ball number related to the loan from the pachinko machine 10. Calculate and set the number of borrowed balls (* 2 column) related to lending from. Thereby, four columns on the right side of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIG. 6D are set, and the same DB is created as a whole.

  In this case, the actual tax-included unit price is constant at 4.16 ... yen calculated by the formula of 100 yen ÷ 24, regardless of the amount of usage, so the consumption tax rate to be collected is 5% In this case, the amusement hall bears the difference from the ideal unit price including tax of 4.2 yen.

  If the collected consumption tax rate is 10%, the minimum unit value including tax is calculated by rounding up the value obtained by dividing 100 yen, which is the minimum unit value, by 4.4 yen, including the unit price including tax. After the number of loaned balls corresponding to the used amount of 100 yen is set, the loan frequency / ball number DB is created in the same procedure as described above. The actual tax-included unit price in this case is also constant at 4.34... Yen calculated by 100 yen / 23 formulas.

  The contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB set in this way are transmitted from the center management device 70 to the remaining amount management device 50 of each game hall before the game hall starts business, and the remaining amount management device 50. To the sales management device 40 and each ball lending unit 20 and stored in the remaining amount management device 50, the sales management device 40, and each ball lending unit 20.

  The sales management device 40 is a so-called hall computer, which manages game data in each pachinko machine 10 in a game DB (not shown) and sales amount in the ball lending unit 20 corresponding to each pachinko machine 10. Are managed by the sales DB shown in FIG. In this sales DB, each ball lending unit 20 is associated with an individually identifiable device ID, and the accumulated sales amount excluding tax used in the ball lending process in each ball lending unit 20 and the sales amount excluding tax. The corresponding consumption tax amount and the number of balls lent by the ball lending process are managed.

  As shown in S127 of FIG. 8, S514 of FIG. 17, or S526 of FIG. 18 described later, the sales management device 40 is output from the ball lending unit 20 on which the ball lending processing has been performed, and receives a terminal device (not shown). When the sales information including the sales pulse indicated by 1 pulse for every 100 yen including tax and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 added by the terminal device is received, The tax-included usage amount calculated by multiplying the number of sales pulses included in the information by 100 yen and the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB (FIG. 6D) received and stored from the center management device 70 Based on the tax-free sales amount equivalent to the tax-inclusive usage amount, the consumption tax amount obtained by subtracting the tax-inclusive usage amount from the tax-inclusive usage amount, and the number of loaned balls corresponding to the tax-inclusive usage amount. Identify and exclude the tax Revenue, consumption tax, and the lending piece count, sales amount managed by the sales DB in association with the device ID included in the received sales information, it adds to consumers tax, and lending piece count.

  In this gaming system 1, banknotes 2, membership cards 4, and visitor coins 5 are used. The banknote 2 is an example of money, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), here, four kinds of 1000 yen banknote, 2000 yen banknote, 5000 yen banknote, and 10000 yen banknote are used.

  The membership card 4 is an example of a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 6C, a card ID is recorded as a recording medium ID that is recording medium identification information that can individually identify the recording medium. The membership card 4 is also an example of a card-like recording medium, on which information for performing the special processing (ball lending processing and settlement processing) is recorded. Here, the card ID which is the recording medium ID is recorded. It corresponds to this information. Here, the recording medium ID of the member card 4 is a four-digit number beginning with M indicating a member player (member), for example, as shown in FIG. Since complete ID management is adopted in this gaming system 1, the remaining amount used for lending pachinko balls is not recorded on the membership card 4.

  Further, the serial number is recorded on the member card 4. This serial number is obtained by the serial number updating means (the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20), which will be described later, by the specific processing (taken of accepted money described later, ball lending processing for the amount used in the online state, offline consumption information or With the off-line settlement information erasing process), it is updated by the first serial number updating process. The serial number is updated by the third serial number update process by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 in accordance with the settlement process described later.

  The membership card 4 is formed with a recording area (not shown) in which a recording medium ID, off-line consumption information, off-line payment information, a serial number, and the like are recorded at a predetermined portion on a thin plastic plate having a rectangular shape. Here, it is an IC card on which a non-contact type integrated circuit having a nonvolatile EEPROM as the recording area is mounted. Here, the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, and serial number are recorded in the storage areas corresponding to the respective information. This membership card 4 is issued to a player who has registered as a member.

  By inserting the member card 4 issued in this way into the ball lending unit 20 in which the player is online, the remaining management amount of the member card 4 can be used for lending game media. By inserting it into 60, it becomes possible to settle the management balance of the membership card 4. The membership card 4 cannot be inserted into the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state.

  In the following, “visitor” means a player who does not have the membership card 4 or a player who does not use the membership card 4 even if it has the membership card 4. Therefore, even a member player who has been issued a membership card 4 does not use it even if he does not have the membership card 4 (for example, he has forgotten the membership card 4) or possesses the membership card 4. In that case, it becomes a visitor.

  The visitor coin 5 is an example of a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 6C, a coin ID is recorded as a recording medium ID which is recording medium identification information capable of individually identifying the recording medium. The visitor coin 5 is also an example of a disk-shaped recording medium, on which information for performing the special processing (ball lending processing and settlement processing) is recorded. Here, the coin ID, which is the recording medium ID, is recorded. It corresponds to information. Here, the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 is a four-digit number starting with V indicating the visitor, for example, as shown in FIG. Since this game system 1 employs complete ID management, the remaining amount used for lending pachinko balls is not recorded in the visitor coin 5 either.

  The serial number is also recorded in the visitor coin 5. This serial number is also processed by the serial number updating means (the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20), which will be described later. (Or the off-line settlement information erasing process), the first serial number updating process is performed. The serial number is updated by the third serial number update process by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 in accordance with the settlement process described later.

  The visitor coin 5 is formed by forming a recording area (not shown) in which a recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, a serial number, and the like are recorded at a predetermined portion of a plastic coin having a disk shape. Here, it is an IC coin equipped with a non-contact type integrated circuit having a nonvolatile EEPROM as the recording area. Here, the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, and serial number are recorded in the storage areas corresponding to the respective information. The visitor coin 5 is delivered from the card company to the amusement hall in a state where the recording medium ID is recorded in advance but the offline consumption information, the offline payment information, and the serial number are not recorded. It is stored in the storage passage 131.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, in the ball lending unit 20 that is communicable with the remaining amount management device 50 (online state), after accepting money without accepting the membership card 4 or visitor coin 5, it is shown in FIG. Thus, based on having received the discharge operation (operation of the return button 16 to be described later) from the player, the remaining amount (stored amount to be described later) of the received monetary amount that is not used for the ball lending process is not zero. As a condition, the visitor coin 5 is issued (discharged).

  When the player coins 5 thus issued are inserted into the online ball lending unit 20, the management balance of the visitor coins 5 can be used for lending game media, and the player enters the checkout device 60. By putting it in, it becomes possible to settle the management balance of the visitor coin 5. The visitor coin 5 cannot be inserted into the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state.

  Here, the off-line settlement information recorded on the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 is information that can specify the settlement amount settled by the settlement apparatus 60 in the offline state, and in the present embodiment, as will be described later, Even if the amount itself is not recorded as off-line settlement information, the settlement amount can be specified by the remaining amount management device 50. For this reason, as offline settlement information, a flag indicating whether settlement has been performed in the offline state is recorded. Specifically, 1 is recorded as a flag when the settlement is performed in the offline state, and 0 is recorded as the flag when the settlement is not performed in the offline state.

  Also, the membership card 4 and visitor coin 5 of this embodiment are composed of reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data as management balance specifying information that can specify the management balance as shown in FIG. 6C. An area where the original data and the calculation method flag can be recorded is provided, and when the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is returned from the ball lending unit 20, the management remaining amount specifying information corresponding to the management remaining amount is stored in each area. The details will be described later.

  The pachinko machine 10 provided corresponding to the ball lending unit 20 is an example of a gaming machine, and plays a game by driving a pachinko ball that is a game medium into the game area. Here, the corresponding ball lending unit 20 Is a so-called CR-type pachinko machine in which pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 by exchanging signals related to lending of pachinko balls and performing ball lending processing. The pachinko machine 10 is installed according to the model of the pachinko machine 10 and the like on a game island (not shown) arranged in the game hall.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a game area, an upper plate, a lower plate, a launching handle, and the like on the front surface thereof, a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, and a return button. 16, and as shown in FIG. 1, a game control board 11, a payout control board 12, a ball payout device 13, etc. are provided therein, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. 1. Yes.

  The game control board 11 controls the gaming state in the pachinko machine 10. The payout control board 12 is connected to the ball payout device 13 and controls the ball payout device 13. Further, the payout control board 12 is communicably connected to a ball lending communication unit 21a described later of the ball lending unit 20, and when a ball lending process described later is performed, the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending unit 20 are pachinko. Signals related to ball lending (ball lending request signal, request acknowledgment signal, ball lending command signal, and ball lending completion signal shown in FIG. 10 to be described later) are exchanged. In addition, 25 pachinko balls, which are the number of unit loan balls stored in advance, are loaned from the ball dispensing device 13. Further, the payout control board 12 is also connected to a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, and a return button 16. The ball payout device 13 pays out a pachinko ball lent to a player through ball lending processing and a pachinko ball (so-called prize ball) given to the player as a result of the game. Here, the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 are arranged on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10, but can communicate with the ball lending unit 20 via the payout control board 12. Since it is connected, it belongs to the ball lending unit 20.

  The remaining frequency indicator 14 converts the management balance (stored balance) stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 to the minimum unit value of 100 yen (when the consumption tax rate is 5%). Is a display for displaying the integer part of the quotient divided by the sum of 5 yen) as the remaining frequency, in this case a 2-digit 7-segment display. The ball lending button 15 is a button for accepting a ball lending operation for performing a ball lending process using the management remaining amount of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) from the player. The return button 16 includes a membership card 4 held by a card holding unit 191 described later, a visitor coin 5 held by an inserted coin holding unit 120 described later, or a visitor coin 5 held by a storage coin holding unit 140 described later. This is a button for accepting a return operation for returning the game from the player.

  Next, the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30 which are card units according to the present invention will be described. First, the payout unit 30 constitutes a part of the card unit, and has a vertically long box shape. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a ball dispensing device 31, a dispensing ball sensor 31b, and a ball supply passage 31c are provided therein. Here, the ball payout device 31 and the payout ball sensor 31 b are connected to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20.

  The ball payout device 31 is an example of a payout means, and pays out and rents game media (pachinko balls) based on a command from a loan processing unit (ball loan unit 20) described later. The ball payout device 31 receives the supply of pachinko balls from a ball supply basket provided on the amusement island via the ball supply passage 31c, and the number of balls loaned from a loan processing means (control unit 21) that performs the second loan processing. When the payout command indicating is received, the commanded loan number is temporarily stored, and a control is performed to drive a motor (not shown) provided in the ball payout device 31 to pay out one pachinko ball. In addition, the process of repeatedly subtracting and updating the stored number of lent balls is repeated, and when the stored number of lent balls becomes zero, the control is performed to stop the motor, whereby the number of balls paid out is changed to the command Pachinko balls are paid out until the number of loaned balls is reached. That is, the ball payout device 31 monitors whether or not the commanded payout of the number of loaned balls has been completed.

  When the pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31 are detected by a payout ball sensor 31b provided between the ball payout device 31 and the nozzle 31a, the ball lending unit 20 is moved from the payout ball sensor 31b. Each time one pachinko ball is detected, one payout ball pulse is transmitted to the control unit 21, and the ball lending unit 20 that has received the payout ball pulse receives the payout number counting means (ball lending described later). The value of the payout ball counter provided in the control unit 21 of the unit 20 is added and updated. The pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31 are supplied to the upper plate of the pachinko machine 10 through the nozzle 31a.

  Next, the ball lending unit 20 is an example of a lending processing unit, and constitutes a part of the card unit. The ball lending unit 20 accepts a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) and records the received recording medium. Lending processing means for performing a management remaining amount lending process for lending gaming media within the range of the management remaining amount which is the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the ID, and performs the management remaining amount lending processing Various processes including this are performed in cooperation with the remaining amount management device 60. The lending processing means accepts money (banknote 2) and performs a received money amount lending process (offline lending) for lending a game medium within a range of the accepted money amount that is the amount of the accepted money. Is.

  That is, the lending processing means performs unit lending processing for lending a pachinko ball corresponding to the unit lending value out of the valuable value (management residual amount, received money amount) that can be used for lending the pachinko ball, As the ball lending process which is a unit lending process, the ball lending process for the amount used (the management remaining amount lending process) shown in S128 of FIG. 8 and S527 of FIG. 18, and the ball lending process for the accepted monetary amount shown in S515 of FIG. Offline lending (receiving money amount lending process). Here, the unit lending value is an integral multiple of the minimum unit value, and in the ball lending process based on the reception of the ball lending operation, a later-described ball lending set amount (when the management remaining amount is equal to or more than the ball lending set amount) ), Or the remaining management amount (when the remaining management amount is less than the ball lending set amount), and in the case of off-line lending, it is the received monetary amount (1000 yen here).

  The lending processing means, when performing a ball lending process as a unit lending process, pays out a portion corresponding to the number of unit lending balls (that is, an integer multiple of 25) from the corresponding pachinko machine 10 for lending. The first lending process in which communication is performed by the lending communication means (the ball lending communication unit 21a), and the fractional ball number (that is, less than 25) are paid out from the payout means (the ball paying device 31) of the payout unit 30 provided therewith. A second lending process is performed in which a command for lending is given to the payout unit 30. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the second lending process is performed following the first lending process.

  The ball lending unit 20 is also an example of a transaction apparatus, and lends game media using a management balance that is the balance managed by the balance management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. The management remaining amount lending process is performed as a transaction process.

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 receives the visitor coin 5 and performs special processing using the amount of special processing value (remaining amount in this case) specified from the recorded information (here, the recording medium ID) of the received visitor coin 5. (In this case, lending processing) and accepting money, the amount of special processing value corresponding to the remaining amount not used for special processing of the amount of money received is recorded from the recorded information of the visitor coin 5 It is possible to specify (here, a deposit request including the received monetary amount is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 at the time of accepting money, and a subtraction request including a used amount is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 at the time of accepting the ball lending operation) The visitor coin 5 is discharged.

  The ball lending unit 20 has a vertically long box shape, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a multi-function lamp 22, a bill insertion slot 23a, a remaining amount indicator 26, an unpaid frequency display on the front surface thereof. 2a, a coin insertion slot 111, a coin ejection slot 112, a card insertion slot 190, and the like, and as shown in FIG. The ball lending communication unit 21a, the external communication unit 21b, the passage unit 100, and the like, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. The ball lending unit 20 can identify each ball lending unit 20 individually by the device ID.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like, and each processing element stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby each component included in the ball lending unit 20 is provided. The various operations are performed by controlling the operation. Here, the device ID is stored in an EEPROM which is a nonvolatile storage means.

  Further, the EEPROM of the control unit 21 transmits the ball lending set amount set for the ball lending unit 20 and the off-line reference amount (of FIG. 6A) transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 before the game hall starts business. Set value DB) is received and stored.

  Further, the EEPROM of the control unit 21 receives the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB shown in FIG. 6D transmitted from the center management device 70 via the balance management device 50 before the game hall starts business. To remember. Based on the contents of the lending frequency / ball number DB stored here, in the ball lending process, the lending frequency (* 1 column) for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to pay out and the ball paying device 31 of the paying unit 30 The number of loaned balls (* 2 field) that commands the payout is determined.

  Further, the control unit 21 is an example of a payout number counting unit, and counts pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31 of the payout unit 30. Specifically, the pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31 are counted. Every time a ball is counted by the payout ball sensor 31b, the value of the payout ball counter provided in the control unit 21 is added and updated based on the reception of the payout ball pulse transmitted from the payout ball sensor 31b. To do.

  The control unit 21 is an example of a management remaining amount acquisition unit, and transmits an insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the received recording medium to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S202 in FIG. 11), thereby corresponding to the recording medium ID. In addition, the management remaining amount managed in addition is acquired from the remaining amount management device 50 (S221, S241 in FIG. 12), and the acquired management remaining amount is stored in the RAM as the remaining amount storage means (S222, S242). Hereinafter, the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is referred to as “stored remaining amount”. Further, the control unit 21 is an example of a remaining amount updating unit, and subtracts and updates the used amount used for the management remaining amount lending process from the stored remaining amount in accordance with the management remaining amount lending process (S128 in FIG. 8 and S527 in FIG. 18) ( S126 in FIG. 8 and S524 in FIG. 18).

  Further, the RAM of the control unit 21 stores the processing state of the ball lending unit 20. Specifically, when money is accepted, the processing state is memorized as “money accepted”, and when the ball lending operation is accepted, the processing state is memorized as “ball lending operation accepted” and returned. When the operation is accepted, the processing state is stored as “return operation reception”, and when the recording medium is received, the processing state is stored as “recording medium reception”. When the lowermost visitor coin 5 is supplied to the stored coin holder 140, it is stored that the processing state is “recording medium supply”. Other functions of the control unit 21 will be described later.

  The control unit 21 is provided with a ball lending communication unit 21a and an external communication unit 21b. As described above, the ball lending communication unit 21a is communicably connected to the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10. The ball lending communication unit 21a is an example of a lending communication unit, and performs communication with the corresponding pachinko machine 10 to pay out and lend a pachinko ball from the pachinko machine 10, and here the first As one lending process, communication for paying out and lending the number of unit lending balls from the pachinko machine 10 is repeatedly performed, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The external communication unit 21b is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 51 of the balance management device 50, and manages communication between the ball lending unit 20 and the balance management device 50.

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a deposit request transmission unit, and is based on the receipt of money when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Is sent to the remaining amount management device 50 to identify the received monetary amount and the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). A deposit request including the recording medium ID is transmitted (S103 in FIG. 7).

  Specifically, when money is received without receiving a recording medium, a deposit request including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140 and the received money amount is transmitted, and the membership card 4 When the money is accepted in the state where the insertion of the money is accepted, a deposit request including the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the accepted money amount is transmitted, and the insertion of the visitor coin 5 is accepted. When money is received in the state of being, the deposit request including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 and the received money amount is transmitted. That is, for the deposit request, the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140, the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120. One of the five coin IDs is included as the recording medium ID.

  The remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received this deposit request records the received monetary amount specified from the deposit request (here, the received monetary amount included in the deposit request) from the recording medium ID identified here from the deposit request. A process of storing in association with the recording medium ID included in the payment request is performed (S105 in FIG. 7), and the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the received money amount is specified. A possible remaining amount notification (here, a planned remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S106).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a subtraction request transmission unit, and a first subtraction request for subtracting a used amount used for a management remaining amount lending process (a ball lending process for a used amount) from the management remaining amount. This is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50, and here, a subtraction request including the recording medium ID and the used amount is transmitted (S125 in FIG. 8). Here, the used amount included in the first subtraction request is a management remaining amount (that is, a stored remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) and a predetermined reference loan in a later-described used amount determining process (S123). If it is determined by comparison with a ball lending set amount (for example, 500 yen) that is an amount, and if the remaining memory amount ≧ the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount is the amount used, and the remaining memory amount <the lending amount set If there is, the remaining storage amount is the amount used. That is, the first subtraction request is a request for subtracting the reference loan amount (ball lending set amount) used for the management remaining amount loan processing from the management remaining amount, or the storage remaining amount used for the management remaining amount loan processing from the management remaining amount. A request for subtraction.

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a reception notification transmission unit, and has received a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Based on this, a recording medium reception notification (here, an insertion notification) including the recording medium ID and serial number recorded in the received recording medium is transmitted to the balance management device 50 (FIG. 11). S202). If offline consumption information and / or offline payment information is recorded on the received recording medium, an insertion notification including the offline consumption information and / or offline payment information is transmitted.

  Specifically, when insertion of the membership card 4 is accepted, an insertion notification including the card ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and device ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is sent. When the insertion of the visitor coin 5 is accepted, an insertion notification including the coin ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and device ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is transmitted. That is, the insertion notification includes either the card ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 as the recording medium ID.

  Receiving the insertion notification, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 performs determination by a serial number determination unit (control unit 52) described later (S203 in FIG. 11). Then, it is determined that the serial numbers match, and on the condition that there is no offline consumption information and offline settlement information included in the insertion notification, a remaining amount notification including a management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification Is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221 in FIG. 12).

  On the other hand, on the condition that the serial numbers match and there is offline consumption information included in the insertion notification, the insertion notification is made for the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. Offline consumption subtraction update processing (here, processing for storing the offline consumption amount in association with the recording medium ID) for subtracting and updating the offline consumption amount specified by the offline consumption information included in the file (FIG. 11). S 211 to S 214), an offline consumption information deletion request (in this case, a correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID) for instructing deletion of the offline consumption information (Remaining amount notification) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 12).

  Further, on the condition that the serial numbers are matched and there is offline settlement information included in the insertion notification, the insertion notification is made for the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. 11 performs an off-line settlement amount subtraction update process (here, a process of storing the off-line settlement amount in association with the recording medium ID) for subtracting and updating the off-line settlement amount specified by the off-line settlement information included in the file (FIG. 11). S216, S218, S219), an off-line settlement information erasure request for erasing the off-line settlement information (here, a correction amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount from a management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID) (Scheduled remaining amount notification) including the ball rental unit 20 is transmitted (S241 in FIG. 12).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a return notification transmission unit, and based on the detection of the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later to the online state, An online return notification including offline consumption information, offline payment information, and a recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is transmitted to the balance management device 50. Here, the return to the online state is performed. A start request is transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 detected (S601 in FIG. 22), and a start response corresponding to the start request is returned to the remaining amount management device 50 (S606), and then recorded on the recording medium. Online return notification including the current recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, and serial number to the balance management device 50 To send Te (the S607). This online return notification is equivalent to the insertion notification, and the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the online return notification performs the same processing as when the insertion notification is received.

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a cooperation process request transmission unit, and transmits a cooperation process request for requesting a cooperation process corresponding to the specific process to the balance management device 50.

  Specifically, the ball lending unit 20 that has received the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7) performs a loanable process (in this case, taking in accepted currency) as a specific process by the loanable processing means described later (S108). In accordance with the specific processing, the serial number recorded on the recording medium is updated by a serial number updating means (to be described later) (S109), and loanable information (here, money collection) indicating that the loanable processing has been performed. Notification) is transmitted to the balance management device 50 as a cooperation processing request (S110). The remaining amount management device 50 that has received the notification of taking in money receives received money amount addition processing for adding the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium to the management remaining amount of the recording medium. In addition, an added update process (in this case, erasure of the received monetary amount) for updating the received monetary amount to a state where it can be specified is performed as a cooperative process (S113, S114). The serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium is updated (S115).

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 that performs the management remaining amount lending process (the ball lending process for the used amount) as the specific process (S128 in FIG. 8) is recorded on the recording medium by the serial number updating means described later along with the specific process. The serial number is updated (S124), and the first subtraction request is transmitted to the balance management device 50 as a cooperation processing request (S125). Receiving the subtraction request, the remaining amount management device 50 performs the first subtraction process for subtracting the used amount from the management remaining amount as the cooperation process (S129), and the recording medium ID of the recording medium is associated with the cooperation process. The associated serial number is updated (S130), and a subtraction completion notification indicating that the first subtraction process is completed is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S132). The ball lending unit 20 can perform the next lending process on condition that the subtraction completion notification is received.

  Also, the ball lending unit 20 that has received the notice of the planned balance (S241 in FIG. 12) performs offline consumption information erasure processing for erasing offline consumption information and offline settlement information erasure processing for erasing offline settlement information as specific processing (S243). , S244), the serial number recorded on the recording medium is updated by the serial number update means (to be described later) in accordance with the specific processing (S245), and the fact that the offline consumption information erasure processing and the offline settlement information erasure processing have been performed. The off-line information deletion notification shown is transmitted to the balance management device 50 as a cooperation processing request (S246). The remaining amount management device 50 that has received the offline information deletion notification subtracts the offline consumption amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium from the management amount of the recording medium, The offline consumption amount subtracted update process (in this case, deletion of the offline consumption amount) for updating the offline consumption amount to a state where it can be specified is performed as a linkage process (S247 in the same), and the recording of the recording medium is performed. Offline settlement amount subtraction processing for subtracting the offline settlement amount stored in association with the medium ID from the remaining management amount of the recording medium, and offline settlement for updating the offline settlement amount to a state in which it can be specified The amount-subtracted update process (in this case, the deletion of the off-line settlement amount) is performed as a linkage process (S248), and these linkage processes With and update the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (the S227).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 12) updates the serial number recorded on the recording medium by the serial number updating means described later (S223), and sends the remaining amount reception notification to the remaining amount management device 50. Then, it is transmitted (S224). Receiving the remaining amount reception notification, the remaining amount management device 50 updates the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (S227).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a return notification transmission unit, and has received a return operation (operation of the return button 16) when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Is sent to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 including the recording medium ID (S184 in FIG. 14). Specifically, when a return operation is received without receiving a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), a return notification including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is transmitted. When the return operation is accepted while the insertion of the membership card 4 is accepted, a return notification including the card ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is transmitted, and the insertion of the visitor coin 5 is accepted. When the return operation is accepted in the state of being present, a return notification including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is transmitted. That is, the return notice includes the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140, the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120. One of the five coin IDs is included as the recording medium ID. The remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received this return notification transmits a return permission notification to the ball lending unit 20 (S185).

  Since the device ID is included in the information (request or notification) transmitted from the external communication unit 21b, the remaining amount management device 50, based on the device ID received together with the information, the ball that is the transmission source of the information The rental unit 20 can be specified.

  The multi-function lamp 22 is a lamp that notifies the state of the ball lending unit 20 by lighting or blinking in any one of a plurality of predetermined colors. For example, when the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 are not received, the multi-function lamp 22 is lit in blue to notify the fact, and when the membership card 4 is accepted, the multifunction lamp 22 is lit in green to notify that fact. When 5 is received, it is lit in yellow to notify that, and when an abnormality has occurred, it is flashed in red to notify that.

  The bill validator 23 is an example of money accepting means (money accepting and identifying means), and accepts money. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the four kinds of bills 2 from the bill insertion slot 23a. It is a discriminator that accepts the insertion and identifies the authenticity and denomination of the accepted bill 2. The banknote 2 received by the banknote discriminator 23 is discharged from the back of the ball lending unit 20 through the banknote passage 23b to the outside through the banknote passage 23b, and a banknote transport mechanism (not shown) provided on the game island. And is collected in a safe (not shown). Moreover, the banknote 2 received by the banknote identification machine 23 is discharged | emitted from the banknote insertion port 23a by the return process of a received money, and is returned to a player.

  In this bill discriminator 23, all types of money can be received in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50. When money is received, a deposit request including a received money amount and a recording medium ID (see FIG. 7 S103) is transmitted to the balance management device 50. Further, in the offline state with the remaining amount management device 50, only money of 1000 yen or less can be accepted, and when the money is accepted, offline one-off lending (S515 in FIG. 17) described later is performed.

  The unpaid frequency indicator 25a is an example of an unpaid value display means for displaying an unpaid value (unpaid frequency) that is a valuable value corresponding to the number of pachinko balls not paid out by the first lending process. Then, on the condition that the first lending process has not been completed (NO in S12 or S14 in FIG. 10), the unpaid frequency obtained by subtracting the value of the payout frequency counter that counts the frequency already used for lending from the loan frequency is displayed. (S18).

  The unpaid ball number display unit 25b is an example of an unpaid game medium number display means, and the payout number counting means (paid ball number counter of the control unit 21) from the fraction game medium number (number of fraction balls) paid out by the second lending process. The number of unpaid game media (number of unpaid balls) obtained by subtracting the number of game media counted (number of balls) is displayed, and here, the value of the payout ball counter is a fractional ball within a predetermined time. On the condition that the number of loaned balls has not been reached (YES in S24), the number of unpaid balls is displayed (S27).

  The remaining amount display 26 is a display for displaying the storage remaining amount (that is, the management remaining amount) stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, and is a 5-digit 7-segment display here.

  The passage unit 100 constitutes a part of the recording medium processing mechanism, and the inserted coin holding portion 120, the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the storage discharge passage 130 are integrally formed. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 3, the passage unit 100 includes a control unit 101, a recording medium R / W 102, an upper antenna inside a unit main body 100 a having a vertically long box shape. 103, the lower antenna 104, the inserted coin guide passage 113, the supply passage 114, the inserted coin holding portion 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121, the second inserted coin stopper 122, the storage passage 131, and the second guide passage 133. A storage / discharge passage 130, a storage coin holding portion 140, a first storage coin stopper 141, a second storage coin stopper 142, an inserted coin discharge passage 160 having a communication passage 161 and a first guide passage 163, and a card holding portion 191. Etc. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inclined portion 162 is provided in the communication passage 161 which is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the thickness of the visitor coin 5 is set to the insertion coin discharge passage 160 with respect to the storage discharge passage 130. By shifting in the direction, the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 are formed so as to overlap each other and face the coin discharge port 112 in parallel with each other in parallel to the left and right. Here, each passage is a passage that rolls or falls due to the weight of the visitor coin 5 in a state where the visitor coin 5 stands.

  The control unit 101 is communicably connected to the control unit 21, and based on a command from the control unit 21, the recording medium R / W 102, the first connected as shown in FIG. The operation of the inserted coin stopper 121, the second inserted coin stopper 122, the first stored coin stopper 141, and the second stored coin stopper 142 is controlled. The control unit 101 stores that the passage unit 100 is provided in the ball lending unit 20, and performs control based on the storage. Specifically, when a return operation is received while the visitor coin 5 is held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121 that is normally closed is opened to connect the visitor coin 5 to the communication path 161. Then, the first insertion coin stopper 121 is controlled to be closed. Further, when the remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 becomes zero, the normally closed second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is stored in the storage passage 131. Control to close the second inserted coin stopper 122 is performed. Further, when the return operation is accepted while the storage coin holding unit 140 holds the visitor coin 5, the normally closed first storage coin stopper 141 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is discharged from the coin discharge port 112. After the first storage coin stopper 141 is closed, the normally closed second storage coin stopper 142 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage coin holding part 140. Control to close the second storage coin stopper 142 is performed.

  The recording medium R / W 102 reads the recording information of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) and writes information to the recording medium. The recording medium R / W 102 is an IC reader / writer corresponding to the membership card 4 that is the IC card and the visitor coin 5 that is the IC coin. The recording medium R / W 102 corresponds to the inserted coin holding unit 120 and reads the recorded information of the visitor coin 5. An upper antenna 103 that is a first reading unit, and a lower antenna 104 that is a second reading unit that corresponds to the stored coin holding unit 140 and the card holding unit 191 and reads recorded information of both the visitor coin 5 and the member card 4 are provided. ing. As a result, information is read from and written to the visitor coin 5 inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 and held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 via the upper antenna 103. In addition, information is read from and written to the visitor coin 5 that is discharged from the storage passage 131 and held by the storage coin holding unit 140 via the lower antenna 104. Further, information is read from and written to the member card 4 inserted through the card insertion slot 190 and held by the card holding unit 191 via the lower antenna 104.

  The coin insertion slot 111 is a part into which the visitor coin 5 is inserted. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coin insertion slot 111 is formed on the front surface of the ball lending unit 20, and the visitor coin 5 is inserted in a standing state. Possible vertical hole. The coin insertion slot 111 is provided with a shutter (not shown) that is opened and closed by the control of the control unit 101, and the coin insertion slot is opened by the shutter except in a state of waiting for recording medium reception described later (for example, S193 in FIG. 14). 111 is shielded so that the visitor coin 5 cannot be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passage unit 100 includes an inserted coin guiding passage 113 for guiding the visitor coin 5 inserted into the coin insertion slot 111 to the inserted coin holding unit 120. The passage 113 is a passage that is inclined toward the rear from the coin insertion slot 111. The passage unit 100 includes a supply passage 114 that communicates with the inserted coin holding portion 120 and supplies the visitor coin 5 to the inserted coin holding portion 120, and the supply passage 114 here is an upper surface of the passage unit 100. It is a passage formed vertically from the bottom to the bottom. Note that the supply passage 114 is not used in the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20.

  The coin discharge port 112 is provided below the coin insertion port 111 and is a portion from which the visitor coin 5 is discharged. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c), the front surface of the ball lending unit 20 is provided. The first guide passage 163 formed on the end side of the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the second guide passage 133 formed on the end side of the storage discharge passage 130 face each other, and both guide passages face each other. This is a container-like part that receives the visitor coin 5 discharged from the container.

  The card insertion port 190 is provided on the side of the coin discharge port 112 and is a part into which the membership card 4 is inserted. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c), the ball lending unit 20 Is a vertically long hole that can be inserted in a state where the membership card 4 is erected. The card holding part 191 is a part for holding the membership card 4 inserted from the card insertion slot 190, and is located behind the card insertion slot 190 as shown in FIG.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2C, the lower antenna 104 is disposed between the stored coin holding part 140 and the card holding part 191, thereby recording information on both the visitor coin 5 and the member card 4. Is configured to read. According to this, compared with the case where the reading part corresponding to the card holding part 191 is provided separately from the lower antenna 104, space can be saved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  The inserted coin holding unit 120 is an example of a first holding unit, and a first reading unit (upper antenna 103) that reads recorded information of the visitor coin 5 is provided in correspondence with the visitor coin 5 ( (Hereinafter also referred to as “inserted coins”). Here, the end portion of the inserted coin guide passage 113 is a portion defined by the first inserted coin stopper 121 and the second inserted coin stopper 122. . In the inserted coin holding unit 120, the visitor coins 5 that have been inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 and rolled in the inserted coin guide passage 113 by their own weight are the first inserted coin stopper 121 and the second inserted coin stopper that are in the closed state. 122 is held and held.

  The first inserted coin stopper 121 is a stopper formed between the inserted coin holding part 120 and the inserted coin discharge passage 160.

  The second inserted coin stopper 122 is a stopper formed between the inserted coin holding part 120 and the storage passage 131.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the storage / discharge passage 130 stores the collected visitor coins 5 (here, the visitor coins 5 having no remaining amount) out of the visitor coins 5 held by the inserted coin holder 120. This is a passage for discharging the visitor coin 5 to the coin discharge port 112, and has a storage passage 131 and a second guide passage 133.

  The storage passage 131 is a passage that is connected to the inserted coin holding portion 120 and stores the visitor coin 5. Here, the storage passage 131 is inclined backward from the inserted coin holding portion 120, bent vertically downward along the way, and In the middle, it is bent in a semicircular arc shape toward the rear, and a first storage coin stopper 141 is provided at the end. In the storage passage 131, the visitor coin 5 previously inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 before the game hall business is started, and the second coin stopper 122 is opened during the game hall business, and the inserted coin holding unit 120. The visitor coins 5 that have been released from the holding are blocked by the first storage coin stopper 141 in the closed state and stored in a line. Here, “aligned in a line” means that the surfaces of the visitor coins 5 are aligned so that the circumferences are in contact with each other. The storage passage 131 here can store seven visitor coins 5.

  The first storage coin stopper 141 is a stopper formed between the storage passage 131 and the second guide passage 133.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passage unit 100 includes a discharge passage 132 that is continuously provided from the middle of the storage passage 131 and discharges the visitor coin 5 from the storage passage 131. This is a passage that is vertically formed downward from an opening formed in the lower half of the semicircular arc-shaped portion of the storage passage 131 and opens on the lower surface of the passage unit 100. In the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20, the discharge passage 132 is shielded by the discharge passage shielding plate 153 at the branch portion between the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 by mounting a first cover member 150 described later. Therefore, the discharge passage 132 is not used.

  The second guide passage 133 is a passage that is formed with the storage coin holding portion 140 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. Here, the second guide passage 133 is inclined forward from the end of the storage passage 131 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. A second stored coin stopper 142 is provided near the terminal end to form a stored coin holding portion 140.

  The storage coin holding unit 140 is an example of a second holding unit, and a second reading unit (lower antenna 104) that reads recorded information of the visitor coin 5 is provided correspondingly, and the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131. (Hereinafter also referred to as “storage coins”). In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the vicinity of the terminal end of the second guide passage 133 is a portion partitioned by the second storage coin stopper 142. In the storage coin holding part 140, the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131 with the first storage coin stopper 141 opened is blocked by the second storage coin stopper 142 in the closed state. Always kept.

  Here, the second storage coin stopper 142 is a shutter that opens and closes under the control of the control unit 101, and is normally in a closed state, and holds the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131. When the second storage coin stopper 142 receives a return operation in a state where the inserted coin holding unit 120 does not hold the visitor coin 5 and the card holding unit 191 does not hold the member card 4, the control unit 101 receives the return operation. In this way, the opened visitor coin 5 rolls in the second guide passage 133 by its own weight and is discharged to the coin discharge port 112. Then, the second storage coin stopper 142 is then closed again under the control of the control unit 101 at a predetermined timing, and again holds the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inserted coin discharge path 160, which is an input recording medium discharge path, is a path for discharging the visitor coin 5 to be returned to the coin discharge port 112, and is connected to the communication path 161 and the first path. And a guide passage 163. The communication passage 161 is a passage connected to the inserted coin holding portion 120 and is formed vertically downward from the inserted coin holding portion 120 here. The first guide passage 163 is a passage that is connected to the communication passage 161 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. Here, the first guide passage 163 is inclined forward from the lower end of the communication passage 161 to communicate with the coin discharge port 112. Is formed.

  Here, in the middle of the communication passage 161 that is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, as shown in FIG. 4, an inclined portion 162 that is inclined to the left in front view is provided, and the lower end of the communication passage 161 is at the bottom. It is shifted in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the upper end of the communication passage 161. As a result, the first guide passage 163 connected to the lower end of the communication passage 161 is shifted in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the second guide passage 133, and the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 is formed so as to overlap with the coin discharge port 112.

  Here, the function of the control unit 21 will be described. First, the control unit 21 is an example of a (card unit) communication enable / disable detecting unit, and it is determined whether it is in a communicable state (online state) capable of communicating with the remaining amount management device 50 or is incapable of communication (offline state). It is something to detect. Specifically, reception of the communication confirmation request is periodically detected based on a communication confirmation request periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) transmitted from a communication unit 51 (to be described later) of the balance management device 50. Is determined to be in an online state (that is, a communicable state in which communication with the remaining amount management device 50 is possible), and when the reception of the communication confirmation request is not detected for a certain period (for example, one minute), the offline state (that is, the remaining amount management device 50 and It is determined that the communication is not possible.

  The control unit 21 is an example of a connection confirmation unit, and confirms the connection with the pachinko machine 10 and confirms the connection with the payout unit 30.

  Specifically, the control unit 21 functioning as a connection confirmation unit transmits a connection confirmation signal continuously transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 via a connection confirmation signal line provided between the pachinko machine 10. While the reception is monitored and the connection confirmation signal is continuously received, it is determined that the connection is established with the pachinko machine 10. When the connection confirmation signal is not received, the connection is established with the pachinko machine 10. Judge that it is not.

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a connection confirmation means periodically transmits a connection confirmation signal to the ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30, and the connection transmitted from the ball dispensing device 31 in response to the connection confirmation signal. The reception of the response signal is monitored, and while the connection response signal is continuously received, it is determined that the connection is made with the payout unit 30 and within a predetermined time after the connection confirmation signal is transmitted. When the connection response signal is not received, it is determined that the connection unit 30 is not connected.

  When it is determined that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, the control unit 21 functioning as the connection confirmation unit stores an unconnected flag in the RAM, and the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30. If it is determined that the connection with both is confirmed, the storage of the unconnected flag is deleted. And the control part 21 which functions as a lending processing means to be described later is based on the condition that the unconnected flag is stored, that is, the connection confirmation means does not confirm the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30. Neither the first lending process nor the second lending process is performed.

  The control unit 21 is an example of a payout determination unit. The control unit 21 determines whether or not the pachinko machine 10 is in a state in which the pachinko balls can be paid out, and the ball payout device 31 of the payout unit 30 can pay out the pachinko balls. It is determined whether or not there is.

  Specifically, the control unit 21 that functions as a payout determination unit transmits a connection confirmation signal continuously transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 via a connection confirmation signal line provided between the pachinko machine 10 and the control unit 21. The payout is possible to indicate that the communication between the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending unit 20 is possible (standby state) while monitoring reception and continuously transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 While the reception of the signal is monitored and the connection confirmation signal and the payout enable signal are continuously received, it is determined that the pachinko machine 10 is in a state where the pachinko ball can be paid out, and the connection confirmation signal or the payout If at least one of the possible signals is not continuously received, it is determined that the pachinko machine 10 is not in a state where the pachinko ball can be paid out.

  The ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30 is in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed from the ball dispensing device 31 (that is, the ball dispensing device 31 is not out of order and the ball dispensing device 31 has a predetermined number of pachinko balls or more. The payout enable signal is periodically transmitted to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 functioning as a payout determination unit periodically detects reception of the payout enable signal. Determines that the ball dispensing device 31 is in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed, and determines that the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed when reception of the payout enable signal is not detected for a certain period of time.

  When it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is not in a state in which the pachinko ball can be paid out, the control unit 21 functioning as the payout determination unit stores a ball lending impossibility flag in the RAM, and the pachinko machine 10 If it is determined that both the ball dispensing device 31 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed, the memory of the ball lending impossibility flag is erased. And the control part 21 which functions as a lending processing means to be described later is that the ball lending impossibility flag is stored, that is, at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball paying device 31 is not in a state where the pachinko balls can be paid out by the payout determining means. On the condition that it is determined, neither the first lending process nor the second lending process is performed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7 to be described later, the control unit 21 functions as a lending possible processing unit and a serial number updating unit in order to perform a deposit process when money is received in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50. That is, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts money in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50 (S101 in FIG. 7), as described above, a payment request including the recording medium ID and the received money amount is sent to the remaining amount management device 50. (S103), and receives a scheduled remaining amount notification from the remaining amount management device 50 in response to the deposit request (S106).

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a lendable processing unit, in response to the reception of the scheduled remaining amount notification, allows the lending of the pachinko ball within the range of the total amount specified from the scheduled remaining amount notification. Is performed as a specific process, and here, as the loanable process, a process of taking accepted money is performed (S108 in FIG. 7). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number update unit performs a first serial number update process for updating the serial number of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in accordance with the lending process that is the specific process (S 109). ). Here, the first serial number update process is the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, or the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191. Is a process of instructing the recording medium R / W 102 to update by adding 1 to the serial number recorded in the recording medium. As described above, the external communication unit 21b functioning as the cooperation process request transmitting unit provides loanable information (here, a recording medium ID) indicating that the loanable process has been performed in accordance with the loanable process that is the specific process. ) Including the money collection notification) including the request to the balance management device 50 (S110). The specific processing means is a combination of the serial number updating means and the cooperation processing request transmitting means.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8 to be described later, the control unit 21 uses the amount-of-use determination processing means, the loan to perform the ball lending processing for the amount used when receiving the ball lending operation in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50. It functions as processing means, serial number updating means, subtraction processing means, and remaining amount updating means.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a usage amount determination processing means performs the usage amount determination process shown in FIG. . Specifically, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount stored in the RAM (that is, the management remaining amount) is zero (S01), and if it is determined to be zero (YES), the ball lending operation is performed. If it is invalidated (S02), the process ends, and it is determined that it is not zero (NO), the stored balance is compared with the ball lending set amount (for example, 500 yen) which is the reference loan amount, and the stored balance Is determined to be equal to or more than the ball lending set amount (S03). Here, the ball lending set amount is set for each ball lending unit 20 in increments of 100 yen within the range of 100 yen to 1000 yen by the operator's manual input in the balance management device 50, and will be described later with reference to FIG. ) And is distributed from the balance management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20 and stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 21. If it is determined in S03 that the stored balance is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount (YES), the ball lending set amount is determined and set as a used amount, and in S03, the stored remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount. Is determined (NO), the remaining storage amount is determined and set as the usage amount, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit performs a ball lending process for the usage amount determined by the usage amount determination processing unit as the management remaining amount lending process which is a specific process (S128 in FIG. 8). This ball lending process will be described later with reference to FIG. Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number updating unit performs a first serial number updating process for updating the serial number of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in accordance with the management remaining amount lending process which is the specific process (same as above). S124). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtracting processing means performs unit lending value (usage amount) from valuable value (management remaining amount) with ball lending processing (here, management remaining amount lending processing which is a specific processing) as unit lending processing. As described above, the external communication unit 21b functioning as the cooperation process request transmission unit transmits the first subtraction request as the cooperation process request to the balance management device 50 as the subtraction process for subtracting the value (same as above). S125). That is, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtraction processing unit performs the subtraction process regardless of the completion of the first loan process and the second loan process. Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the remaining amount updating means subtracts and updates the used amount from the stored remaining amount in accordance with the management remaining amount lending process (S126).

  The control unit 21 updates the serial number of the recording medium to the initial value when the serial number of the recording medium reaches an upper limit value (for example, 255). When updating the serial number recorded in the membership card 4 held by the holding unit 191 or the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, it is determined whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value. , The serial number is updated to an initial value (for example, 0). Thereby, the storage area of the serial number can be made as small as possible, and the recording medium can be continuously used even after the serial number reaches the upper limit value, and the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the serial number has reached the upper limit by repeatedly updating the serial number in the storage area of the serial number defined in the program executed by the control unit 21 (for example, 0 to 255 if the storage area is 8 bits) Prevents program stoppages and errors.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 17 described later, the control unit 21 functions as a lending processing unit and a subtraction processing unit in order to perform off-line lending when accepting money in the offline state with the remaining amount management device 50.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit lends a pachinko ball within the range of the accepted monetary amount based on accepting money when the communication availability detecting unit detects an offline state. In this case, the ball lending process (offline lending) for the received monetary amount is performed without the player's operation (S515 in FIG. 17). This ball lending process will be described later with reference to FIG. Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtraction processing unit obtains a unit lending value (accepted monetary amount) from a valuable value (accepted monetary amount) in accordance with a ball lending process (here, accepted monetary amount lending process) which is a unit lending process. Here, as the subtraction process for subtraction, the received money amount is stored, and the received money is taken and treated as payment confirmation (S513). That is, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtraction processing unit performs the subtraction process regardless of the completion of the first loan process and the second loan process.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, which will be described later, the control unit 21 uses the remaining amount management device 50 to perform a ball lending process for a used amount when a ball lending operation is accepted in an offline state, It functions as a processing means, a subtraction processing means, and a remaining amount updating means.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as the usage amount determination processing means performs the usage amount determination process shown in FIG. 9 based on the reception of the ball lending operation (operation of the ball lending button 15) (S521 in FIG. 18). (S523). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit performs a ball lending process for a used amount shown in FIG. 10 described later (S527). That is, the ball lending unit 20 of this example has already received a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) when the occurrence of an offline state is detected, and acquires and controls the corresponding management balance from the balance management device 50. Lending processing is performed using the stored remaining amount on condition that the stored amount is stored in the RAM of the unit 21 and the stored remaining amount is not zero. In addition, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtraction processing unit adds, as the subtraction processing, an off-line consumption amount for subtracting the used amount used for the lending processing from the management remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50. (5) (S525). That is, the control unit 21 functioning as a subtraction processing unit performs the subtraction process regardless of the completion of the first loan process and the second loan process. Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the remaining amount updating means subtracts and updates the used amount from the stored remaining amount in accordance with the lending process (S524).

  The control unit 21 is an example of the consumption information specifying unit, the consumption information recording unit, and the recording medium discharging unit. When the recording unit is returned in the offline state after performing the lending process using the remaining storage amount, The offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount that is the amount used for the lending process is specified from the remaining storage amount, the specified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium, and the recording medium is returned (discharged) To do.

  Specifically, every time the lending process is performed using the remaining storage amount, the control unit 21 adds up the used amount used for the lending process as an offline consumption amount (S525 in FIG. 18). The EEPROM of the control unit 21 stores a reference value (reference value related to the offline consumption amount) unique to the ball lending unit 20 distributed from the remaining amount management device 50, and functions as a consumption information specifying unit. Specifies the value obtained by subtracting and updating the total offline consumption amount from the reference value as offline consumption information, and the control unit 21 functioning as the consumption information recording unit records the specified offline consumption information on a recording medium. Command is issued to the recording medium R / W102.

  When the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded is received by the online ball lending unit 20, the recording medium ID of the recording medium is received via the external communication unit 21b which is an example of (offline) consumption information transmitting means. And an insertion notification including offline consumption information are transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50, and the management remaining amount is corrected.

  Further, when a recording medium on which offline settlement information is recorded in the settlement apparatus 60 described later is received by the online ball lending unit 20, the recording medium is transmitted via the external communication unit 21b, which is an example of offline settlement information transmission means. The insertion notification including the recording medium ID and the off-line settlement information is transmitted to the balance management device 50, and the management balance is corrected.

  The control unit 21 and the recording medium R / W 102 are examples of the management remaining amount specifying information recording unit and the transaction apparatus recording medium discharging unit, and return (discharge) the recording medium (regardless of the online state or the offline state). In some cases, management residual amount specifying information capable of specifying the management residual amount of the recording medium (the storage residual amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) is recorded on the recording medium and returned (discharged). Specifically, the calculation method flag that can specify the calculation method and the original data (reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data) for calculating the management balance by the calculation of the calculation method are recorded. Here, a method for specifying the management remaining amount specifying information will be described based on a specific example.

  Specifically, the storage balance is calculated by a predetermined mathematical formula a = y + x × z ÷ w, where a is a storage balance, x is reference data, y is addition data, z is multiplication data, and w is division data. At this time, the ball lending unit 20 of this example selects an addition priority calculation method when priority is given to addition and a multiplication / division priority method when priority is given to multiplication and division. That is, the mathematical expression of the addition priority calculation method is a = (y + x) × z ÷ w, and the mathematical expression of the multiplication / division priority calculation method is a = y + (x × z ÷ w).

  Here, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are distributed and stored from the balance management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20. In this case, different multiplication data, division data, and addition data may be distributed for each ball lending unit 20, or the same data may be distributed. The ball lending unit 20 then calculates reference data based on the pre-stored multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the storage balance (management balance) stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data are recorded on the recording medium as original data.

  Here, it is assumed that multiplication data z = 100, division data w = 2, and addition data y = 90 are preset in the ball lending unit 20. If the calculation method is the addition priority calculation method and a = 5000 yen, the reference data x = 10 is calculated from 5000 = (90 + x) × 100/2.

  Further, it is assumed that multiplication data z = 90, division data w = 1, and addition data y = 500 are preset in the ball lending unit 20. If the calculation method is a multiplication / division priority calculation method and a = 5000 yen, the reference data x = 50 is calculated from 5000 = 500 + (x × 90 ÷ 1).

  Then, as shown in Example 1 and Example 2 in FIG. 6C, original data including reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and an operation method flag are recorded on the recording medium. For example, the calculation method flag is recorded as “0” for the addition priority calculation method and “1” for the multiplication / division priority method. In this way, the remaining amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the calculation method and the original data for calculating the remaining amount are recorded, so that illegal activities such as reading or altering the remaining amount from the recording medium are prevented. be able to.

  Next, the balance management apparatus 50 will be described. The remaining amount management device 50 manages the remaining amount used for lending serial numbers and pachinko balls by associating the membership card 4 or visitor coin 5 with a recording medium ID that can be individually identified. The balance management device 50 is provided at a predetermined location (for example, a management office) in the game hall, and is connected to a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a display 53, an input device 54, A hard disk 55 and an out-of-field communication unit 56 are provided.

  The hard disk 55 as storage means is provided with an area for storing a remaining amount management DB and a setting value DB shown in FIG. In this remaining amount management DB, the remaining amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), and the remaining amount is updated and managed under the control of the control unit 52. Further, in the remaining amount management DB, serial numbers that are updated by second serial number update processing to be described later are managed in association with the recording medium ID.

  The remaining amount management DB is an example of a card unit specifying information storage unit, and is a ball lending unit 20 that has received at least the recording medium of the recording medium ID in association with each recording medium ID, and the remaining amount management device. 50, an apparatus ID that can identify the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state that cannot communicate with the remaining amount management apparatus 50 after receiving the recording medium in an online state that can communicate with the apparatus 50 is stored. Here, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the recording medium with the recording medium ID in the previous online state is stored.

  A method for storing the device ID will be described. First, when the ball lending unit 20 in an online state with the balance management device 50 receives money, a deposit request including the received money amount is transmitted to the balance management device 50 (S103 in FIG. 7). Since the information transmitted at this time includes the recording medium ID and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the information associates it with the received recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. The received device ID is stored.

  Further, when the ball lending unit 20 that is online with the balance management device 50 receives the recording medium, an insertion notification is transmitted to the balance management device 50 (S202 in FIG. 11). Since the information transmitted at this time also includes the recording medium ID and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the information transmits a scheduled remaining amount notification or a remaining amount notification in the remaining amount management DB. Sometimes, the received device ID is stored in association with the received recording medium ID (S220 and S240 in FIG. 12).

  Here, the reason why the device ID is stored at the time of transmission of the planned remaining amount notification or the remaining amount notification is as follows. That is, in the processing for serial number mismatch, which will be described later, when subtracting the ball lending set amount (S272 in FIG. 13), it is necessary to specify the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that received the previous recording medium (S269). If the device ID included in the insertion notification is stored when the insertion notification is received, the device ID received this time is overwritten on the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that received the previous recording medium, Since there is a problem that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the previous recording medium cannot be specified, in order to avoid such a situation, the timing of storing the device ID included in the insertion notification is set as the planned remaining amount. This is the time when the notification or the remaining amount notification is transmitted (in other words, after the sequence number mismatch processing shown in FIG. 13 ends).

  Here, the remaining amount management device 50 does not erase the device ID managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the return notification even when the return notification accompanying the return operation (S184 in FIG. 14) is received. Keep memorized. Therefore, the remaining amount management DB stores the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the recording medium with the recording medium ID in the previous online state. That is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received at least the recording medium of the recording medium ID last time and has entered the offline state after receiving the recording medium in the online state is also managed. When storing the device ID in the remaining amount management DB, if the device ID has already been stored, the stored device ID is deleted and a new device ID is stored, so-called overwrite processing is performed. .

  Here, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state accepts the recording medium and then returns to the online state in the state of accepting the recording medium, as in the case of accepting the recording medium in the online state, An online return notification corresponding to the insertion notification is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S607 in FIG. 22), and the recording medium ID and the device ID are associated with each other and stored in the remaining amount management DB.

  Further, in this example, when the settlement apparatus 60 that is online with the balance management apparatus 50 receives the recording medium, a settlement request is transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50 (S702 in FIG. 24). Since the information transmitted at this time includes the recording medium ID of the received recording medium and the device ID of the settlement apparatus 60, the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the information is as described above in the remaining amount management DB. For the same reason, the received device ID is stored in association with the received recording medium ID at the time of payment settlement information described later (S220 and S240 in FIG. 25).

  In the remaining amount management DB, a status indicating a processing state relating to the recording medium is stored in association with the recording medium ID. A method for storing the status will be described. First, when the balance management device 50 receives a deposit request from the ball lending unit 20 (S103 in FIG. 7), it stores that the deposit processing is in progress as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the deposit request (S104). On condition that the money take-in notification is received from the lending unit 20 (S110), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the money take-in notice is updated to the deposit process (S116). Here, “payment processing is in progress” is a status indicating that the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, and “payment processing completed” indicates that an added update process described later is being performed on the received monetary amount. It is a status indicating.

  Further, when receiving the subtraction request from the ball lending unit 20 (S125 in FIG. 8), the remaining amount management apparatus 50 stores subtraction processing completed as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the subtraction request (S131).

  Further, when the remaining amount management device 50 receives an insertion notification, online return notification, or supply notification from the ball lending unit 20 (S202 in FIG. 11, S607 in FIG. 22, S193 in FIG. 14), the insertion notification, online return notification, Alternatively, the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the supply notification is stored as being inserted (S209 in FIG. 11, S274 in FIG. 13), and the fact that the remaining amount reception notification or offline information deletion notification has been received from the ball lending unit 20 As a condition (S224 in FIG. 12, S246 in FIG. 15, S246 in FIG. 15 and S246 in FIG. 23), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the remaining amount reception notification or offline information deletion notification is updated to the inserted processing (FIG. 12). S228, S228 in FIG. 15, and S228 in FIG. 23).

  Further, when receiving the settlement request from the settlement apparatus 60 (S702 in FIG. 24), the remaining amount management apparatus 50 inserts processing as a status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, as in the case of receiving the insertion notification. 11 (S209 in FIG. 11 and S274 in FIG. 13), and on the condition that the settlement permission information reception notification or the offline information deletion notification is received from the settlement apparatus 60 (S224b and S246 in FIG. 25), the settlement permission information The status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the reception notification or the offline information deletion notification is updated to the insertion processing completion (S228). Here, the status after the insertion processing is managed as the status, and the device ID of the payment device 60 is managed as the device ID used, and the payment request is received in association with the recording medium ID included in the payment request. This corresponds to managing the settlement request reception information indicating that the transaction has been completed. Moreover, updating the status after the insertion processing to the status after the settlement processing corresponds to the settlement request erasure processing for erasing the settlement request reception information managed in association with the recording medium ID.

  Further, in the remaining amount management DB, the received monetary amount included in the deposit request, the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount specified from the insertion notification, online return notification, or supply notification are stored in association with the recording medium ID. Has been. That is, in response to the receipt of the deposit request, the remaining amount management device 50 determines the received monetary amount specified from the deposit request (here, the received monetary amount included in the deposit request) as the recording medium ID identified from the deposit request. A process of storing in association with (here, the recording medium ID included in the deposit request) is performed. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits to the ball lending unit 20 a remaining amount notification that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the received monetary amount. A notice of the planned remaining amount including the amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S106 in FIG. 7).

  Further, the remaining amount management device 50, in response to reception of the insertion notification, records the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount specified from the insertion notification as the recording medium ID specified from the insertion notification (here, included in the insertion notification). The recording is performed in association with the recording medium ID). Then, the communication unit 51 transmits to the ball lending unit 20 a residual amount notification that can specify a correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the management residual amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. Here, a notice of the planned remaining amount including the correction amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 12).

  Further, in response to receiving the online return notification, the remaining amount management device 50 stores the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount specified from the online return notification in association with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification. I do. Then, the communication unit 51 provides correction amount specifying information that can specify a correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID to the ball lending unit 20. In this case, a notice of the remaining balance including the correction amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 12).

  The set value DB is for managing a reference loan amount, and here, a lending standard set for the ball lending unit 20 in association with each ball lending unit 20 that can be individually identified. A ball lending set amount which is an amount is managed for each ball lending unit 20. The ball lending setting amount in this example is an amount including the consumption tax amount, and is an integral multiple of 100 yen, which is the unit loan amount including the consumption tax amount, for example, 1000 yen for 10 degrees or 500 yen for 5 degrees. .

  The setting value DB manages reference values related to offline consumption information. Here, each ball lending unit 20 is associated with a device ID that can be individually identified, and is set for the ball lending unit 20. An off-line reference amount that is a reference value is managed for each ball lending unit 20. In this example, the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount.

  The ball lending set amount and the off-line reference amount stored in the set value DB are distributed from the remaining amount management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20 before the game hall starts business, and control of each ball lending unit 20 is performed. It is stored in the EEPROM of the unit 21.

  Although not shown, in the hard disk 55, the sales amount and the like in each ball lending unit 20 are managed by a sales DB similar to the sales management apparatus 40 shown in FIG. In the remaining amount management device 50, when a subtraction request shown in S125 of FIG. 8 described later is received from the ball lending unit 20 on which the ball lending processing has been performed, the usage amount included in the subtraction request and the center management device 70 receive it. Sales amount without tax corresponding to the amount used, and the tax from the amount used, based on the stored loan frequency / ball number DB (FIG. 6D). The consumption tax amount obtained by subtracting the used amount and the number of loaned balls corresponding to the used amount are identified, and the specified sales amount without tax, the consumption tax amount, and the number of loaned balls are included in the received subtraction request. Is added to the sales amount, consumption tax amount, and number of loaned balls managed in the sales DB.

  Further, when the remaining amount management device 50 receives the online return notification shown in S125 of FIG. 22 from the ball lending unit 20 that has returned from the offline state to the online state, the offline consumption amount (that is, the offline state ball) included in the offline return notification. (Use amount in lending process) and the use of the tax amount corresponding to the off-line consumption amount based on the loan frequency / ball number DB (FIG. 6D) received and stored from the center management device 70 The sales amount without tax, the consumption tax amount obtained by subtracting the usage amount without tax from the offline consumption amount, and the number of loaned balls corresponding to the offline consumption amount are specified, and the specified sales amount and consumption tax amount without tax. Sales amount, consumption tax amount, and number of loaned balls managed in the sales DB in association with the device ID included in the received offline return notification. It is added for.

  Furthermore, in the remaining amount management device 50, the off-line lending consumption including the off-line lending consumption amount that is the cumulative value of the amount of received money used for off-line lending from the ball lending unit 20 that has returned from the off-line state to the on-line state. When the amount notification is received, the offline one-off loan consumption amount (that is, the amount used in the off-line one-off loan) included in the off-line one-off loan consumption notification, the loan frequency received from the center management device 70 and stored Based on the content of the number of balls DB (FIG. 6 (d)), the sales amount without tax corresponding to the offline one-time lending consumption amount and the tax-free usage from the offline one-time lending consumption amount. The consumption tax amount reduced by the amount and the number of loaned balls corresponding to the off-line lending consumption amount are specified, and the specified sales amount without tax, consumption tax amount, and the number of loaned balls are Revenue managed by the sales DB in association with the device ID included in the off-line shot rental expenditure notification received, adds to consumers tax, and lending piece count.

  The display 53 is a display device for displaying various types of information, and the input device 54 is an input device for receiving various types of input. The control unit 52 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the hard disk 55 is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, each component of the balance management device 50 is configured. Various operations are performed by controlling the operation.

  Here, the function of the control unit 52 will be described. The control unit 52 (remaining amount management apparatus) is an example of a communication availability detection unit, and is in a communicable state (online state) capable of communicating with the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60 or incapable of communicating (offline). Status). Specifically, a communication confirmation request is transmitted periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) from the communication unit 51 to each of the ball lending units 20 and the settlement apparatus 60, and according to the communication confirmation request, the ball lending unit 20, Based on the communication confirmation notification sent back from the settlement apparatus 60 to the communication unit 51, while the reply of the communication confirmation notification is periodically detected (that is, the ball rental unit 20 and the settlement apparatus) If it is determined that it is in a communicable state capable of communicating with 60) and the reply of the communication confirmation notification is not detected for a certain period (for example, 1 minute), it is in an offline state (that is, communication failure that cannot communicate with the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60). Is determined to be possible). The hard disk 55 stores the fact that the offline state has occurred.

  The control unit 52 is an example of a subtraction processing unit, and performs a first subtraction process for subtracting the used amount from the management remaining amount based on the reception of the first subtraction request (S125 in FIG. 8) ( (S129).

  The control unit 52 is an example of a cooperation processing unit, and performs the cooperation processing in response to the reception of the cooperation processing request, and the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) accompanying the cooperation processing. The second serial number update process for updating the serial number associated with is performed. Here, the second serial number updating process is a process of updating by adding 1 to the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB.

  The control unit 52 functioning as the cooperation processing means receives the loanable information (here, the money pickup notification) that is the cooperation processing request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 (S110 in FIG. 7), and It is possible to specify that the accepted monetary amount addition process for adding the received monetary amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium to the management remaining amount of the recording medium and that the accepted monetary amount has been added. The addition update process for updating to the state is performed as a linkage process (S113, S114), and the second serial number update process is performed (S115). The added update process here is a process of erasing the accepted money amount.

  Further, the control unit 52 functioning as the cooperation processing means receives the first subtraction request, which is the cooperation processing request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 (S125 in FIG. 8), and determines the reference loan amount as the management remaining amount. The first subtraction process for subtracting from is performed as a linkage process (S129), and the second serial number update process is performed (S130). The first subtraction process here is a process of subtracting the used amount included in the subtraction request from the management remaining amount. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits a subtraction completion notification indicating that the subtraction process has been performed to the ball lending unit 20 (S132).

  Further, the control unit 52 responds to the reception of the remaining amount reception notification (S224 in FIG. 12) transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement permission information reception notification (S224b in FIG. 25) transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60. Then, the second serial number update process is performed (S227 in FIG. 12, S227 in FIG. 25).

  Further, the control unit 52 receives the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in response to the payment completion notification (S 783 in FIG. 26) which is a payment execution notification described later. A fourth serial number update process for updating is performed (S785), a management remaining amount update process (S784) for updating the management remaining amount associated with the recording medium ID to zero, and the recording medium ID A settlement request erasure process (S786) for erasing the settlement request reception information managed in association with each other is performed. The fourth serial number update process here is a process for updating by adding 1 to the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. The management balance update process is a process for deleting the management balance. Further, the settlement request erasure process is a process for updating the status from the insertion process to the settlement process. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits a remaining amount erasure completion notification indicating that these processes have been performed to the settlement apparatus 60 (S787).

  In addition, when the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID reaches an upper limit value (for example, 255), the control unit 52 sets the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID as an initial value. In order to update the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the received information, it is determined whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value, and it is determined that the serial number has been reached. Sometimes, the serial number is updated to an initial value (for example, 0). Thereby, the storage area of the serial number can be made as small as possible, and the recording medium can be continuously used even after the serial number reaches the upper limit value, and the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the serial number has reached the upper limit value by repeatedly updating the serial number in the storage area of the serial number defined in the program executed by the control unit 52 (for example, 0 to 255 if the storage area is 8 bits) Prevents program stoppages and errors.

  The control unit 52 is an example of a serial number determination unit, which receives a recording medium ID and a serial number of the recording medium from the ball lending unit 20, and the received serial number is a serial number associated with the received recording medium ID. Specifically, it is determined whether or not they match. Specifically, the recording medium reception notification (in this case, the insertion notification) transmitted from the reception notification transmission means of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60. In response to the payment request, the online return notification transmitted from the return notification transmission means of the ball lending unit 20, or the supply notification transmitted from the ball loan unit 20, the insertion notification, the payment request, the online return notification, Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the serial numbers included in the supply notification match the serial numbers associated with the recording medium IDs included in them (S203 in FIG. 11 and S203 in FIG. 24). The control unit 52 functioning as a serial number mismatch processing means performs a predetermined serial number mismatch processing on condition that the serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers do not match. Further, the control unit 52 functioning as a serial number matching time processing means performs a predetermined serial number matching time process on condition that the serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers match.

  Specifically, processing is performed when the serial numbers do not match, provided that the serial numbers are determined not to match by the serial number determination means, and that the received money amount is stored in an unadded state (that is, deposit processing is in progress). Then, the received money amount addition process and the added update process are performed (S262 in FIG. 13). That is, when the serial numbers do not match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the remaining amount management device 50 receives the monetary amount after the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7). This is a case where an offline state occurs before receiving the take-in notification (S110). In this case, since the accepted money is taken in the ball lending unit 20, the accepted money amount is received in the remaining amount management device 50. Is added to the management balance and the received money amount is deleted.

  On the other hand, if the serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers match and the received money amount is stored in an unadded state (that is, the deposit process is in progress), the reception process is performed as a serial number match process. The added update process is performed without performing the money amount addition process (S205 in FIG. 11). That is, when the serial numbers match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the ball lending unit 20 notifies the planned remaining amount after the remaining amount management device 50 receives the deposit request (S103 in FIG. 7). This is a case where an offline state has occurred before receiving (S110). In this case, since the accepted money is returned in the ball lending unit 20, the remaining money management device 50 also manages the received money amount. In this case, the received money amount is deleted without being added to the amount.

  The serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers do not match and manages the payment request reception information in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) (that is, the status is in the process of depositing). Alternatively, the management remaining amount update process and the settlement request erasure process are performed as a serial number mismatch process on the condition that the use apparatus ID is not the insertion process and the use apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60 (FIG. 13). S267). That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60, the balance management apparatus 50 notifies the settlement completion (S783 in FIG. 26). In this case, since the money is paid out in the settlement apparatus 60, the remaining balance management apparatus 50 deletes the management balance and updates the status to the settlement process. The processing is performed.

  Further, it is determined by the serial number determination means that the serial numbers do not match, and the added update processing is performed for the received monetary amount (that is, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the device ID used is the ball rental unit 20) The first subtraction process is performed as a process when the serial numbers do not match. That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the apparatus ID used is the apparatus ID of the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 issues a subtraction request (S125 in FIG. 8). This is a case where an offline state occurs before reception. In this case, since the ball lending process for the amount used is performed in the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50 performs the first subtraction process. is there.

  Specifically, if the remaining management amount is equal to or greater than the set amount of the ball lending, the set amount of the ball lending is the amount used, and thus the set amount of the ball lending is managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request. The management remaining amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount (S272 in FIG. 13), and if the management remaining amount is less than the set amount of the ball lending, the management remaining amount is the used amount, and therefore the management remaining amount is deleted (S273).

  Here, in this example, the ball lending setting amount to be subtracted in S272 of FIG. 13 is set for each ball lending unit 20, and is not necessarily a fixed amount. Therefore, the present invention has the following functions to specify the ball lending set amount and correct the remaining amount accurately.

  First, the control unit 52 is an example of a card unit specifying unit, and it is determined by the serial number determination unit that the serial numbers do not match, and an added update process is performed on the received monetary amount (that is, the received monetary amount is Deleted = status is not in the process of depositing or inserting, and the device ID used is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20), the card unit identification information in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium The card unit that the recording medium of the recording medium ID has been accepted last time is identified from the information stored in the storage means (remaining amount management DB). Here, the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request Is identified as the device ID of the card unit that received the recording medium in the previous online state. (S269 in FIG. 13).

  Further, the control unit 52 is an example of a reference loan amount determination unit, and it is determined by the sequence number determination unit that the sequence numbers do not coincide with each other, and an added update process is performed on the received currency amount (that is, the received currency amount). Is deleted = the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the used device ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20) It is determined whether or not the management remaining amount is less than the reference loan amount. Here, the remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request is the card unit specifying means. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or more than the ball lending set amount managed in the set value DB of FIG. 6A in association with the device ID specified by (S271 in FIG. 13). Then, as described above, when it is determined that the amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending setting amount, the control unit 52 determines the ball lending setting from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or the payment request. While the amount is subtracted (S272), if it is determined that the amount is less than the ball lending set amount, the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request is deleted (S273). ).

  That is, it is a recording medium discharged from the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state before the remaining amount management device 50 receives the subtraction request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 after performing the ball lending processing for the amount used. Therefore, the usage amount is not subtracted from the management balance. Therefore, the used amount (the set amount of ball lending or the remaining management amount) is specified, and correction is performed to subtract the specified used amount.

  The communication unit 51 is communicably connected to the external communication unit 21b of the ball lending unit 20 as described above, and manages communication between the balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20. The communication unit 51 is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 61 of the settlement apparatus 60 and manages communication between the balance management apparatus 50 and the settlement apparatus 60. Further, the communication unit 51 is connected to the sales management device 40 so as to be communicable.

  The communication unit 51 requests the ball lending unit 20 to start an operation when detecting the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection unit (control unit 52) to the online state. A start request is transmitted (S602 in FIG. 22). Further, the communication unit 51 receives a start response transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 in response to the start request (S605).

  The communication unit 51 is an example of a payment permission information transmission unit, and is included in the payment request in response to the reception of the payment request transmitted from the payment request transmission unit (the communication unit 61 of the payment device 60) described later. The settlement permission information including the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60. That is, when the offline consumption information and the offline payment information are not included in the payment request, the payment permission information including the management balance is transmitted to the payment apparatus 60 (S221a in FIG. 25). On the other hand, when offline payment information and / or offline payment information is included in the settlement request, the offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount are subtracted from the management balance that is managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request. The settlement permission information including the corrected amount is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S241a). In addition, the communication unit 51 receives a payment permission information reception notification (S224b) or an offline information deletion notification (S246) transmitted from the payment device 60 according to the payment permission information.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the out-of-field communication unit 56 is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 71 of the center management device 70 via the Internet. It is responsible for communication.

  Next, the settlement apparatus 60 will be described. The settlement apparatus 60 receives the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) and pays the money corresponding to the management balance managed by the balance management apparatus in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. The settlement process is performed. This checkout device 60 is provided at a predetermined location in the amusement hall (for example, near the end of the game island or near the prize exchange counter), and exhibits a kiosk terminal type shape as shown in FIG. 5 (a). 1 includes a display 63, a bill payout port 64a, a coin payout port 65a, the coin insertion port 111, the coin discharge port 112, the card insertion port 190, and the like, as shown in FIG. A unit 61, a control unit 62, a bill dispenser 64, a coin dispenser 65, a coin collection unit 66, the passage unit 100, and the like, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. The settlement apparatus 60 can be individually identified by the apparatus ID, and the apparatus ID is stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 62.

  The communication unit 61 is communicably connected to the communication unit 51 of the balance management device 50 and manages communication between the settlement device 60 and the balance management device 50. When information is transmitted from the communication unit 61, the device ID stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 62 is transmitted together with the information. The communication unit 61 is an example of a payment request transmitting unit, and based on the reception of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), the payment includes at least the recording medium ID recorded on the received recording medium. The request is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. Here, as with the insertion notification, the balance request includes the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, serial number, and the device ID of the settlement device. It transmits with respect to the management apparatus 50 (S702 of FIG. 24).

  The communication unit 61 is an example of a settlement execution notification transmission unit, and transmits a settlement execution notification indicating that the settlement process is performed to the balance management device 50. Here, as a settlement execution notification, A completion notification is transmitted (S783 in FIG. 26). Note that “indicating that the settlement process is to be performed” means that the process is a transmission process associated with the settlement process regardless of the settlement process. In this example, after the payment of money (ie, the settlement process) in S781. , Sending a payment completion notice when payment is completed. In addition, the communication unit 61 receives a remaining amount erasure completion notification (S787) transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 in response to the settlement completion notification.

  The control unit 62 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, each component included in the settlement apparatus 60 is controlled. Various operations are performed by controlling the operation. The function of the control unit 62 will be described later.

  The RAM of the control unit 62 is provided with an area for storing the settlement DB shown in FIG. In this settlement DB, every time the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement in an offline state, the settlement balance (that is, the management balance identified from the management balance identification information recorded on the recording medium) is used as the settlement management balance. , Stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). In addition, the RAM of the control unit 62 stores the accountable time distributed from the center management device 70 via the balance management device 50 as the time during which the account settlement device 60 can perform offline settlement processing.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the touch panel display 63 is a display device for displaying various types of information and an input device for receiving various types of input. On the display 63, when the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 can be received, a message prompting the user to insert the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is displayed as shown in D1. Here, when the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is inserted and the payment adjustment information corresponding to the payment request is transmitted from the balance management apparatus 50, as shown in D2, the management balance or correction included in the payment adjustment information The amount is displayed as the remaining amount, and a “settlement” button for accepting a settlement operation and a “cancel” button for canceling the settlement process are displayed. When the “settlement” button is operated in D2, the money corresponding to the remaining amount is paid out, and as shown in D3, an instruction to return the remaining amount and an instruction to withdraw the membership card 4 or visitor coin 5 A message to collect is displayed. When the “cancel” button is operated in D2, as shown in D4, the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is returned and a message to that effect is displayed. If there is an abnormality in the member card 4 or visitor coin 5 accepted in D1, that effect is displayed as shown in D5.

  The banknote dispenser 64 and the coin dispenser 65 are for dispensing money. Specifically, a predetermined type and a predetermined number of banknotes 2 are taken out from a banknote storage unit 64b provided behind the banknote dispenser 64. The coin payout port 64a is paid out and a predetermined type (100 yen coin, 500 yen coin) and a predetermined number of coins are taken out from the coin storage 65b provided at the upper part of the coin dispenser 65, and the coin payout exit Pay out from 65a. In this example, as described above, the management balance is in units of 100 yen, and since there is no fractional amount less than 100 yen in the management balance, it is only necessary to pay out money from the settlement apparatus 60 in units of 100 yen. Therefore, in order to settle the fractional amount of less than 100 yen and return it to the player, the game hall prepares a large amount of coins (50 yen coins, 10 yen coins, 5 yen coins, 1 yen coins) and the settlement apparatus 60 There is no hassle of refilling. The coin collecting unit 66 is a part for collecting the visitor coin 5 discharged from the discharge passage 132 of the passage unit 100 described below, and is provided below the discharge passage 132.

  Compared with the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20, the passage unit 100 provided in the payment apparatus 60 is provided with a second cover member 150 ′ instead of the first cover member 150, and the second guide passage 133 is Since the discharge passage 132 is not used but only the control of each stopper by the control unit 101 is different and the other points are the same, only the different points will be described below and the same points Description of is omitted.

  First, in the passage unit 100 provided in the settlement apparatus 60, a second cover member 150 'is mounted instead of the first cover member 150. That is, both the first cover member 150 that shields the discharge passage 132 and the second cover member 150 ′ that opens the discharge passage 132 can be attached to the storage passage 131 of the passage unit 100. The second cover member 150 ′ is housed in a branching portion between the housing groove covering portion 151, the second guiding groove covering portion 152 covering the portion of the second guiding groove 133a, and the housing groove 131a and the discharging groove 132a. The storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ that shields the groove 131a side, and a discharge groove covering portion 154 ′ that covers the discharge groove 132a. Since the second cover member 150 ′ does not include the discharge passage shielding plate 153 like the first cover member 150, the discharge passage 132 is opened without being shielded even when the second cover member 150 ′ is attached. The The second cover member 150 ′ is formed of a transparent member, and has a plurality of long holes 150 a formed at appropriate locations, and is fitted and attached to the unit main body 100 a. The second guide groove covering portion 152 is formed with a first guide groove through which the visitor coin 5 can pass while standing. A lower cover member 170 and an upper cover member 180 are attached to the unit main body 100a to which the second cover member 150 'is attached in the same manner as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the second cover member 150 ′, the lower cover member 170, and the upper cover member 180 (hereinafter referred to as “each cover member”) are attached to the unit main body 100a, so that the passage unit provided in the settlement apparatus 60 is provided. 100, and spaces through which the visitor coins 5 can pass are formed between the grooves covered by the cover members, and the spaces constitute the passages. Specifically, the storage passage 131 is formed between the storage groove 131a, the upper cover member 180, and the second cover member 150 ′, and the second guide is formed between the second guide groove 133a and the second cover member 150 ′. A passage 133 is formed, and the storage discharge passage 130 is formed by the storage passage 131 and the second guide passage 133.

  However, in the passage unit 100 provided in the settlement apparatus 60, the storage passage 131 side at the branching portion between the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 is shielded by the storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ by mounting the second cover member 150 ′. Therefore, the second guide passage 133 connected to the storage passage 131 is not used. Meanwhile, a discharge passage 132 is configured and used between the discharge groove 132a and the second cover member 150 '. That is, both the first cover member 150 that shields the discharge passage 132 and the second cover member 150 ′ that opens the discharge passage 132 can be attached to the storage passage 131. By attaching the first cover member 150, The visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage coin holding part 140, and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the discharge passage 132 by attaching the second cover member 150 ′. According to this, since the inserted visitor coin 5 can be collected through the discharge passage 132 by attaching the second cover member 150 ′, for example, the checkout apparatus 60 that needs to collect a large amount of visitor coins 5 is also concerned. Since the passage unit 100 can be used, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  Further, a communication passage 161 having an inclined passage 162 is formed between the communication groove 161a and the upper cover member 180 and the lower cover member 170, and the first guide groove (second guide groove covering portion 152) and the lower cover member 170 are formed. The first guide passage 163 is formed between the communication path 161 and the first guide passage 163, and the inserted coin discharge passage 160 is formed in the same manner as the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20. is there.

  The control unit 101 stores that the passage unit 100 is provided in the settlement apparatus 60, and performs control based on the storage. Specifically, when a return operation is received while the visitor coin 5 is held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121 that is normally closed is opened to connect the visitor coin 5 to the communication path 161. Then, the first insertion coin stopper 121 is controlled to be closed. When the settlement process for the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is completed, the normally closed second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage passage 131. Control to close the second inserted coin stopper 122 is performed. Here, the visitor coin 5 supplied to the storage passage 131 passes through the discharge passage 132 and is recovered by the coin recovery unit 66. Since the storage passage 131 positioned in front of the storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ is not used, the first storage coin stopper 141 provided in the storage passage 131 is not controlled, and the second guide passage 133 is used. Therefore, the second storage coin stopper 142 provided in the second guide passage 133 is not controlled.

  Here, the function of the control unit 62 will be described. This control unit 62 is an example of a (settlement device) communication availability detection unit, and indicates whether it is in a communicable state (online state) capable of communicating with the remaining amount management device 50 or is incapable of communication (offline state). It is something to detect. Specifically, based on a communication confirmation request periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) transmitted from the communication unit 51 of the balance management device 50 to the settlement device 60, the communication confirmation request is received periodically. While it is detected, it is determined that it is in an online state (that is, a communicable state capable of communicating with the remaining amount management device 50), and when it is not detected for a certain period of time (for example, 1 minute), an offline state (that is, a remaining amount) is detected. It is determined that the communication apparatus cannot communicate with the management apparatus 50.

  Further, the control unit 62 is an example of a settlement unit (a settlement processing unit). When an online state is detected, the control unit 62 is managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. Based on the management balance, perform online payment processing to settle, and when an offline state is detected, identify the management balance from the management balance identification information recorded on the received recording medium, and settle the specified management balance Perform offline checkout processing. In off-line payment processing, the calculation method is specified from the calculation method flag recorded on the received recording medium, and the reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data recorded on the recording medium are calculated by the specified calculation method. The remaining management amount is calculated and specified. Here, the settlement process is a process for instructing the banknote dispenser 64 and / or the coin dispenser 65 to dispense money. Then, the money corresponding to the command is paid out from the banknote dispenser 64 and / or the coin dispenser 65.

  The control unit 62 is an example of a specific processing unit, and updates the serial number of the recording medium in accordance with a predetermined specific process among various processes performed in cooperation with the balance management device 50. A serial number update process (third serial number update process) is performed, and a cooperative process request for requesting a cooperative process corresponding to the specific process is transmitted to the balance management device 50. Here, the first serial number update process means that the serial number recorded on the received recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is updated by adding 1 to the recording medium R via the control unit 101. This is a process of instructing / W102.

  Specifically, based on the receipt of the recording medium (S701 in FIG. 24), a settlement request is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S702), and the settlement permission information is received from the remaining amount management device 50. (S241b in FIG. 25), the process of deleting the offline consumption information and the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is performed as a specific process (S243, S244), and the first serial number update process is performed (S245). Then, an offline information deletion notification is transmitted to the balance management device 50 as a cooperation processing request (S246). In the remaining amount management device 50 that has received such an offline information deletion notification, a process of subtracting and deleting the stored offline consumption amount and the stored offline settlement amount from the management remaining amount is performed as a cooperative process (S247, S248), and the second The serial number update process (fourth serial number update process) is performed (S227).

  Further, based on the receipt of the settlement operation from the player (S780 in FIG. 26), the process of paying out the money for the licensed amount is performed as the specific process (S781), and the first serial number update process is performed ( In step S782, the settlement completion notification is transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50 as a cooperation processing request (step S783). In the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the settlement completion notification, a process for deleting the management remaining amount (updating to zero) is performed as a linkage process (S784 in the same), and a second sequence number update process (fourth sequence number update process). ) Is performed (S785 of the same).

  Further, the RAM of the control unit 62 stores the processing state of the settlement apparatus 60. Specifically, when a recording medium is received, it is stored that the processing state is “recording medium reception”, and when a settlement operation is received, it is stored that the processing state is “accounting operation acceptance” and returned. When the operation is accepted, the fact that the processing state is “reception of return operation” is stored.

  Next, the operation of the gaming system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the member card 4 is “card”, the visitor coin 5 is “coin”, the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50 is “managed balance”, and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The remaining balance is expressed as “memory balance”. In the following description, the serial number recorded in the visitor coin 5 of the stored coin holding unit 140 of the ball lending unit 20, or held by the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the inserted coin holding unit 120. The serial number recorded in the visitor coin 5 is also called “recording serial number”. The serial number managed by the remaining amount management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID is also referred to as “management serial number”.

  First, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 in an online state. The ball lending unit 20 receives money in a state waiting for money reception (S101), and transmits a deposit request including the recording medium ID and the received money amount to the remaining amount management device 50 (S103).

  Receiving the deposit request in S103, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 stores, in the remaining amount management DB, as deposit processing in progress as a status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the deposit request (S104), and received in the deposit request. A monetary amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S105), and a scheduled remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the received monetary amount is sent to the ball rental unit. (S106).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the scheduled remaining amount notification in S106 stores the sum included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S107), and takes in the accepted currency accepted in S101 (S108). , The recording medium (that is, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 when the member card 4 is received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 when the visitor coin 5 is received, If neither the membership card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 is accepted, the number is updated by adding 1 to the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held in the storage coin holding unit 140 (S109), and the currency pickup notification including the recording medium ID is added. Is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S110), the remaining amount is displayed on the remaining amount display 26, and the remaining amount based on the remaining amount is stored. The displayed on the remaining power indicator 14 (S 111), the ball lending operations, a state of waiting for a money reception, or return operation (S112).

  The remaining amount management device 50 that has received the money acquisition notification in S110 stores, in the remaining amount management DB, the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the money acquisition notification. (S113), the received money amount is deleted (S114), 1 is added to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID and updated (S115), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated. Are updated to the deposit processing (S116).

  Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50. When the ball lending unit 20 is waiting for the ball lending operation and the ball lending button 15 is pressed to accept the ball lending operation (S121), the RAM of the control unit 21 stores the unconnected flag. That is, it is determined whether or not it has been determined that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 has not been confirmed by the connection confirmation means (S122a).

  If it is determined in S122a that the unconnected flag is stored (YES), that is, it is determined that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 has not been confirmed, the ball lending process for the used amount ( The ball lending operation is invalidated without performing any of the first lending process and the second lending process (FIG. 10) which are S128). According to this, in the ball lending unit 20, if the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, neither the first lending process nor the second lending process is performed. One of the processing and the second lending processing cannot be performed, and the remaining management balance does not generate a fractional amount of less than 100 yen.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S122a that the unconnected flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that the connection between the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is confirmed, the ball lending prohibition flag is displayed in the RAM of the control unit 21. Is stored, that is, whether or not at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is determined not to be in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed is determined (S122b).

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is memorized in S122b (YES), that is, if it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state where the pachinko ball can be dispensed, the ball lending for the amount of use is used. The ball lending operation is invalidated without performing any of the first lending process and the second lending process (FIG. 10) which are the processes (S128). According to this, if at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state where the pachinko balls can be paid out due to a failure, clogging of pachinko balls, a shortage of pachinko balls, etc., the first lending process and the second Since neither lending process is performed, the remaining management balance does not generate a fractional amount of less than 100 yen.

  Here, if the pachinko machine 10 is in a state where the pachinko balls can be paid out, and the ball payout device 31 cannot pay out the pachinko balls, the ball lending process for the amount of use 500 yen will be performed. Is performed, and 100 pachinko balls for a fraction of 4 times are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 (see FIG. 6 (d)), but the tax included corresponding to the 100 pachinko balls when the consumption tax rate is 5%. Since the usage amount is 420 yen, if the 420 yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount, a fractional amount of less than 100 yen is generated in the management remaining amount. That is, in the present invention, if only one of the first lending process and the second lending process is performed, a fractional amount is generated in the management balance, so that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is a pachinko machine. If the ball is not ready to be paid out, neither the first lending process nor the second lending process is performed.

  Further, in the present invention, the first lending process and the second lending process are combined into a unit price including tax of 4.16... Yen, so that only the first lending process is performed, and 100 pieces of 4 times. When the pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 and the consumption tax rate is 5%, 420 yen is subtracted from the management balance as the tax-inclusive usage amount corresponding to the 100 pachinko balls, the tax-inclusive unit price in this case is 4. Since it becomes 2 yen and does not match the original tax-included ball unit price of 4.16... Yen, if the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state where it can dispense the pachinko ball, the first lending process In addition, neither of the second lending process is performed.

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is not stored in S122b (NO), that is, if it is determined that both the pachinko machine 10 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state where the pachinko balls can be dispensed, the use shown in FIG. The amount determination process is performed (S123), and when the recording medium (that is, the member card 4 is received, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 is received, the inserted coin holding unit If neither the visitor coin 5 held at 120, the membership card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 is accepted, 1 is added to the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held by the storage coin holder 140 and updated (S124). A subtraction request including the recording medium ID and the usage amount determined in the usage amount determination process is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S125).

  Next, the ball lending unit 20 subtracts the used amount from the remaining storage amount (S126), and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 and one sales pulse for every 100 yen used amount are sent to the stand terminal device (not shown). On the other hand (S127), a ball lending process for the used amount is performed (S128). The terminal device to which the sales pulse of S127 is input transmits sales information to which the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is added to the sales management device 40.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 10, the ball lending process for the amount used in S128 performed by the ball lending unit 20 will be described. First, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 sets the usage amount determined in the usage amount determination process in S123 based on the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB (FIG. 6D) stored in the EEPROM. The corresponding lending frequency (* 1 field) for instructing paying out to the pachinko machine 10 and the number of loaned balls (* 2 field) for instructing paying out to the ball paying device 31 of the paying unit 30 are determined ( S10). Specifically, when the usage amount is 500 yen, 4 degrees is determined as the loan frequency for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to be paid out, and the number of loan balls for instructing the ball payout device 31 to be paid out. Determine 20 pieces. Then, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 first performs the first lending process, and when the first lending process is completed, the second lending process is subsequently performed. When the loan frequency determined in S10 is zero (for example, when the usage amount is 100 yen), the second loan process is performed without performing the first loan process.

  In the first lending process, first, a ball lending request signal requesting lending of the number of unit lending balls (25) is transmitted to the pachinko machine 10 (S11), and the ball lending request signal is received to receive a pachinko ball. A request acknowledge signal indicating that the loan request has been accepted, transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 that has been confirmed to be ready for paying out (that is, there is no out of ball and no error), for a predetermined time ( For example, it is determined whether or not it has been received within 5 seconds (S12). If it is determined in S12 that the request acknowledgment signal has been received within the predetermined time (YES), a ball lending command signal for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to lend a unit lending ball number (25) is transmitted. (S13), the ball lending command signal is received, the pachinko ball is paid out, and the ball lending indicating that the lending has been completed is transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 which has completed lending the pachinko ball of the unit lending number of balls. It is determined whether or not the completion signal is received within a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) (S14). If it is determined in S14 that the ball lending completion signal has been received within the predetermined time (YES), the value of the payout frequency counter provided in the control unit 21 that counts the frequency already used for lending is added. (S15), it is determined whether or not the value of the payout frequency counter has reached the loan frequency determined in S10 (S16).

  If it is determined in S16 that the value of the payout frequency counter has not reached the loan frequency (NO), the process returns to S11 and the processes of S11 to S16 are repeated until the value of the payout frequency counter reaches the loan frequency. Do it. That is, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit repeatedly performs communication (S11 to S14) for paying out and lending the unit lending balls from the pachinko machine 10 as the first lending processing. On the other hand, if it is determined in S16 that the value of the payout frequency counter has reached the loan frequency (YES), the value of the payout frequency counter is reset (S17), the first loan process is completed, and the second 2 Perform lending processing.

  In this first lending process, if it is determined in S12 that a request acknowledgment signal has not been received within a predetermined time (NO), and a ball lending completion signal has not been received within a predetermined time in S14 (YES) If it is determined, the unpaid frequency obtained by subtracting the value of the payout frequency counter from the loan frequency determined in S10 is displayed on the unpaid frequency display 25a, assuming that the first lending process has not been completed (S18). ), Go to S17. According to this, even if the first lending process is not completed due to a failure in the pachinko machine 10, a clogged pachinko ball, a shortage of pachinko balls, etc., the unpaid frequency is displayed, so that Since the store clerk can check the unpaid frequency and compensate the player (that is, hand the unpaid frequency x 25 pachinko balls to the player), the player will not lose, In addition, since the subtraction process (transmission of the subtraction request in S125) is performed, a fractional amount of less than 100 yen does not occur in the remaining management balance.

  In the second lending process, a payout command indicating the number of loaned balls determined in S10 is transmitted to the ball payout device 31 of the payout unit 30 to instruct the payout of the number of loaned balls (S21). The timer T provided in the control unit 21 starts counting (S22), the timer T is a predetermined time (a time sufficient for the ball dispensing device 31 to dispense up to 24 pachinko balls, For example, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout ball counter has reached the number of loaned balls determined in S10 before timing out after measuring 15 seconds (S23, S24). If it is determined in S23 and S24 that the value of the payout ball counter has reached the number of loaned balls before the timer T times out (YES in S23), the timer T is reset (S25), and the payout ball The value of the number counter is reset (S26), the second lending process is completed, and the process proceeds to S31.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S23 and S24 that the value of the payout ball counter has not reached the loaned ball number before the timer T times out (YES in S24), from the loaned ball number determined in S10. The number of unpaid balls obtained by subtracting the value of the paid-out ball number counter is displayed on the unpaid ball number display 25b (S27), and the process proceeds to S26. According to this, the number of unpaid balls is displayed even if the second lending process is not completed due to a failure in the ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30, a clogged pachinko ball, a shortage of pachinko balls, or the like. As a result, the clerk at the game hall confirms the number of unpaid balls and compensates the player (that is, after handing the pachinko balls of the unpaid balls to the player), then the card unit (the ball rental unit). 20 and / or the payout unit 30), etc. (that is, if the card unit is not faulty, it is a measure to continue using it after accepting a reset operation described later. If this is the case, it is possible to replace the card unit), so that the player does not lose, and the subtraction process (transmission of subtraction request in S125) is performed. Since the are, it is not the fractional value of less than 100 yen occurs in the management balance remaining.

  According to the card units described above (the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30), in the ball lending process, which is the unit lending process performed by the ball lending unit 20, the pachinko corresponding to the unit lending value (integer multiple of 100 yen). A ball lending device for a lending unit 30 provided with a first lending process for paying out a portion corresponding to a unit lending ball number (25) (integer multiple of 25) from the pachinko machine 10 and a fraction ball number. By performing the second lending process to pay out from 31, even if the game is stopped halfway without using up all of the management remaining amount, the remaining management remaining amount does not generate a fractional amount of less than 100 yen. Therefore, even if the consumption tax amount is collected for the value used for lending pachinko balls, if the unit loan value includes the consumption tax amount (so-called internal tax), the remaining management amount will not be used up. Even if the game is stopped at the game center, there will be no fractional amount of less than 100 yen in the remaining management balance, and the amusement hall will prepare a large amount of coins to settle the fractional amount and return it to the player Thus, there is no need to replenish the checkout device 60. Even if the ball lending unit 20 does not have a space for incorporating a payout means, it is possible to pay out fractional balls.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has completed the second lending process subsequent to the first lending process indicates whether or not unpaid is being displayed, that is, at least one of the unpaid frequency indicator 25a or the unpaid bead number display 25b is being displayed. It is determined whether or not (S31). If it is determined in S31 that no unpaid is being displayed (NO), the ball lending process is terminated and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the unpaid display is being performed (YES), the processing of S32 to S40 is performed.

  First, in S32, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero. If it is determined that the stored balance is not zero (NO) in S32, the RAM of the control unit 21 uses the balance management apparatus 50 and the settlement apparatus 60 in the offline state to enable offline settlement processing described later. Processing for returning the recording medium in which the management remaining amount specifying information (original data and calculation method flag) capable of specifying the stored remaining amount (that is, management remaining amount) is recorded is performed.

  Specifically, first, a calculation method is determined (S33), and original data for calculating the remaining amount of storage by the determined calculation method is calculated by the method described above (S34). Here, the calculation method is determined, for example, by alternately selecting the above-described addition priority calculation method or multiplication / division priority calculation method every time the recording medium is discharged (returned). When the recording medium (that is, the member card 4 is received, the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, the visitor coin 5 is received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is received. When neither the membership card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 is received, the visitor coin 5) held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is added to the original data composed of the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method The flag is recorded (S35), the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S36), and the process proceeds to S37.

  In S37, the game store clerk waits for a reset operation, that is, a reset button operation or power-off of the ball lending unit 20, and if it is determined in S37 that there is a reset operation (YES), a recording medium (that is, When the member card 4 is received, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, and when the visitor coin 5 is received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is also a visitor coin. When 5 is not received, the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is returned (S38), and the ball lending process is terminated.

  Then, the display of the unpaid frequency display 25a and / or the unpaid ball count display 25b, which is being unpaid, is erased, and returns to the state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception, and the card unit (ball lending unit 20). And / or if the payout unit 30) does not appear to be out of order, the card unit is used as it is. On the other hand, if the card unit seems to be out of order, the card unit is replaced. Even in these cases, the player does not lose money because the unpaid frequency and / or unpaid balls are compensated.

  If it is determined in S32 that the remaining balance is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not the membership card 4 is being accepted (S39). If it is determined in S39 that the membership card 4 is being accepted (YES), the membership card 4 needs to be returned, so the process proceeds to S37. On the other hand, if it is determined in S39 that the membership card 4 is not being accepted (NO), it is not necessary to return the visitor coin 5, and therefore, similarly to S37, the game store clerk waits for a reset operation ( S40) When it is determined that there is a reset operation in S40 (YES), the ball lending process is terminated, and the display of the unpaid frequency indicator 25a and / or the unpaid ball count indicator 25b which is being unpaid is displayed. The card unit is erased and returned to a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception, and the card unit is continuously used or replaced as described above.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the subtraction request in S125 manages the used amount included in the subtraction request in association with the recording medium ID included in the subtraction request in the remaining amount management DB. Subtract from the management balance (S129), update by adding 1 to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID (S130), and store subtracted as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID (S131) The subtraction completion notification is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S132). Although not shown, the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the subtraction request also updates the sales DB as described above.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the subtraction completion notification in S132 determines whether or not the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero (S133). If it is determined in S133 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process returns to S111.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S133 that the remaining storage amount is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) is being accepted (S134). If it is determined in S134 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), it is in a state of waiting for money or recording medium reception (S135). On the other hand, if it is determined in S134 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S136). If it is determined in S136 that the visitor coin 5 is being received (YES), the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is stored by opening the second inserted coin stopper 122. It is stored in the passage 131 (S137), and enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception (S135). On the other hand, if it is determined in S136 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the member card 4 is being accepted, a state of waiting for a currency acceptance or return operation is entered (S138). That is, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is an example of a recording medium collection unit, and collects a recording medium with a management balance of zero when an online state is detected. Specifically, when the remaining amount of RAM stored in the RAM becomes zero, the visitor coin 5 is collected and stored in the storage passage 131 based on the fact that the visitor coin 5 is received.

  Next, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 in an online state. The ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) while waiting for recording medium reception (S201), reads the recording information of the received recording medium, and reads the read recording medium An insertion notification including the ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S202).

  The balance management device 50 that has received the insertion notification in S202 determines whether or not the serial number included in the insertion notification matches the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification (S203). If it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers do not match (NO), the process proceeds to S260 and the subsequent serial number mismatch processing described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers match (YES), it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is in the deposit process (S204). If it is determined in S204 that the deposit process is in progress (YES), the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The management remaining amount is deleted without adding (S205), and the process proceeds to S209.

  In other words, when the serial numbers match and the status is the deposit process (the received money amount is stored without being added), the remaining amount management device 50 receives the deposit request (S103 in FIG. 7). This is a case where an off-line state occurs before the ball lending unit 20 receives the notice of the scheduled remaining amount (S106). In this case, the accepted money is returned in the ball lending unit 20. If the received monetary amount remains in an unadded state and is left in the unadded state, the game hall will be damaged if the received monetary amount is added to the management remaining amount. In the apparatus 50, the received money amount is deleted without adding the received money amount to the management balance.

  Thus, since it is determined that the serial numbers match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the added currency update process is performed without performing the received monetary amount adding process. Even when the remaining amount management device 50 receives the deposit request and before the ball lending unit 20 enters an offline state before receiving the remaining amount notification (scheduled remaining amount notification), the accurate remaining amount can be determined. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  If it is determined in S204 that the deposit process is not in progress (NO), it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is in the insert process (S206). If it is determined in S206 that the insertion process is in progress (YES), the offline consumption amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The stored management balance is deleted without being subtracted (S207), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID. Erase without doing (S208), and proceed to S209.

  That is, when the serial numbers match, the status is being inserted, and the offline consumption amount and / or the offline settlement amount is stored in an unsubtracted state, the remaining amount management device 50 notifies the insertion and returns to the online state. After receiving the notification or supply notification (S202 in FIG. 11, S607 in FIG. 22, S193 in FIG. 14), the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S241 in FIG. 12), or the remaining amount management device 50 Is received before the settlement apparatus 60 receives settlement settlement information (S241b in FIG. 25) after receiving the settlement request (S702 in FIG. 24). In this case, the balance management apparatus 50 The stored offline consumption and / or offline settlement amount is not erased and remains in the remaining state, and the remaining offline consumption and / or offline When the calculation amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount, the player (when the offline consumption amount and / or the offline payment amount is stored) will suffer damage, and therefore the offline consumption amount and / or the remaining amount management device 50 Processing for deleting the offline consumption amount and / or the offline adjustment amount is performed without subtracting the offline adjustment amount from the management balance.

  As described above, the offline consumption amount and / or the offline adjustment amount are not subtracted on the condition that it is determined that the serial numbers match and the offline consumption amount and / or the offline adjustment amount is stored in an unsubtracted state. Since the balance management device 50 receives the recording medium reception notification (insertion notification) and before the ball lending unit 20 receives the balance notification (planned balance notification), or the balance management device 50 makes a settlement request. Even when the payment apparatus 60 is in an offline state before receiving the payment permission information after receiving the payment, the correct remaining amount can be determined. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  When it is determined in S206 that the insertion process is not in progress (NO), or when the process of S205 or S208 is performed, the remaining amount management device 50 determines the status corresponding to the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. Is stored (S209), and it is determined whether there is offline consumption information included in the insertion notification (S210). If it is determined in S210 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S217). If it is determined in S217 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S220.

  That is, when the serial numbers are the same and there is no offline consumption amount and offline payment amount of the recording medium, first, when the offline state has not occurred, secondly, the offline consumption amount and offline payment amount are recorded. When an offline state occurs before the ball loan unit 20 receives the remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 12) after the remaining amount management device 50 receives the insertion notification from the ball loan unit 20 that has received a non-recording medium, or Thirdly, the settlement apparatus 60 receives the settlement request from the settlement apparatus 60 that has received the recording medium on which the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount are not recorded. Offline status occurs before receiving the message, and in each case, the offline consumption amount and offline that should be deleted Since the calculated amount has not been recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to S220, which will be described later.

  If it is determined in S210 that there is offline consumption information (NO), the used device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB in FIG. 6A corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is specified. Then, the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A corresponding to the specified device ID is specified (S212), and included in the insertion notification from the specified offline reference amount The offline consumption information is subtracted to calculate the offline consumption amount (S213), and the calculated offline consumption amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB (S214) and included in the insertion notification. It is determined whether there is no offline settlement information (S215). If it is determined in S215 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  Here, the used device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 (or the payment device 60) that has received the recording medium last time. Therefore, when the ball lending unit 20 received last time is in an offline state and offline consumption information is recorded and discharged on the recording medium, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored. That is, in S211, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification (including offline consumption information) is specified.

  If it is determined in S215 that there is offline settlement information (NO), the offline settlement amount stored in S214 is subtracted from the management remaining amount to calculate the offline settlement amount (S216), and the process proceeds to S219. If it is determined in S217 that offline settlement information is present (NO), the management balance is set as an offline settlement amount (S218), and the process proceeds to S219. In the remaining amount management DB, the calculated off-line settlement amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S219), and the process proceeds to S240. Here, in the present embodiment, a flag indicating whether or not offline settlement processing has been performed is transmitted as offline settlement information. However, the settlement apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment uses the management balance (the management balance identification information of the recording medium). Since the entire amount is settled without performing the partial settlement of the management remaining amount specified from (2), the offline settlement amount can be identified by the operations of S216 and S219.

  Next, FIG. 12 is a diagram following FIG. When it is determined in S210 that there is no offline consumption information (YES) and it is determined in S217 that there is no offline payment information (YES), the remaining amount management apparatus 50 is associated with the recording medium ID and inserted The device ID included in the notification is stored (S220), and a remaining amount notification including a management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the remaining amount notification in S221 stores the management remaining amount included in the remaining amount notification in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S222), and holds the recording medium (that is, the card if the member card 4 is accepted) When the member card 4 and visitor coin 5 held in the section 191 are received, the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held in the inserted coin holding section 120 is updated by adding 1 (S223), and the recording medium The remaining amount reception notification including the ID is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S224), and the stored remaining amount is displayed on the remaining amount display 26, and the remaining number based on the stored remaining amount is displayed on the remaining number display 14 ( S225), a ball lending operation, a currency acceptance, or a return operation is waited (S226). The remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the remaining amount reception notification in S224 updates the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the remaining amount reception notification by adding 1 in the remaining amount management DB (S227). The status corresponding to the medium ID is updated to have been inserted (S228).

  Further, the remaining amount management device 50 determines that there is offline consumption information (NO) in S210, determines that there is no offline consumption information (YES) in S210, and has offline settlement information in S217 (NO). ) Is stored, the device ID included in the insertion notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S240), and the offline consumption amount is calculated from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. And the scheduled remaining amount notification including the correction amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241). In addition, when there is an offline settlement amount, in this embodiment, it is a full settlement, not a partial settlement. Since the amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount is zero, the correction amount in S241 is zero.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the planned remaining amount notification in S241 stores the correction amount included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S242), and accepts the recording medium (that is, the member card 4) In the case where the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 are accepted, the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is deleted ( S243), the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is erased (S244), 1 is added to the serial number of the recording medium and updated (S245), and the offline information erasure notification including the recording medium ID is left It transmits with respect to the management apparatus 50 (S246), and progresses to said S225.

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the offline information deletion notification in S246 manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line consumption amount is deleted by subtracting from the remaining amount (S247), and the off-line settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. Then, the off-line settlement amount is deleted (S248). Then, the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is updated by adding 1 (S227), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to have been inserted (S228).

  In addition, when the ball lending unit 20 in the online state receives a recording medium discharged by performing a lending process using the remaining storage amount in another ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, the recording medium ID and the offline An insertion notification including consumption information is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. In the remaining amount management device 50, based on the offline reference information and the offline consumption information corresponding to the ball lending unit 20 that has discharged the recording medium, The offline consumption amount is specified, and the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount is notified to the ball lending unit 20, thereby enabling the lending process with the management remaining amount obtained by subtracting and correcting the offline consumption amount, and the remaining amount The management remaining amount managed by the management device 50 is also updated to the value subjected to the subtraction correction.

  In addition, when the ball lending unit 20 in the online state receives a recording medium subjected to offline settlement processing, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID and offline settlement information is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50, and the remaining amount is paid. In the management device 50, the offline payment amount is specified from the offline payment information, and the balance amount obtained by subtracting the offline payment amount from the management balance amount is notified to the ball lending unit 20, and the management balance managed by the balance management device 50 is also offline. It is updated to the value after subtraction correction.

  Next, FIG. 13 is a diagram following FIG. 11, and is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the serial numbers do not match. If it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers do not match (NO), the remaining amount management device 50 adds 1 to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification in the remaining amount management DB. (S260). That is, recording serial number = management serial number. Then, it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is a deposit process (S261). If it is determined in S261 that the deposit process is in progress (YES), the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The added money is added to the management remaining amount, the received money amount is deleted (S262), and the process proceeds to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match and the status is in the process of depositing (stored with the received monetary amount not added), the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7). This is a case where an offline state occurs before the remaining amount management device 50 receives the money take-in notification (S110). In this case, the ball lending unit 20 takes in the accepted money. Regardless, the received monetary amount remains in an unadded state, and if left unattended, the player suffers damage. Therefore, the remaining amount management device 50 adds the received monetary amount to the managed remaining amount. The process of deleting the received money amount is performed.

  As described above, the received monetary amount addition process and the added update process are performed on the condition that it is determined that the serial numbers do not match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state. Even when 20 receives the balance notification (planned balance notification) and before the balance management device 50 goes offline before receiving the serial number update notification (money capture notification), the accurate balance can be determined. it can. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  Here, the effect that occurs when a serial number is recorded on a recording medium as in the present invention will be described with an example. As in this example, in the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the deposit request, the received monetary amount is temporarily stored, the planned remaining amount notification is returned to the ball lending unit 20, and the ball lending unit that has received the planned remaining amount notification 20, after the accepted money is taken in, a money take-in notification is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50, and the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the money take-in notification adds the accepted money amount to the managed balance. When the offline state occurs before the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification, the received currency is returned, and the offline state occurs after the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted. Even if the prior art (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-148683) is used, the ball lending unit 20 passes through the planned remaining amount until the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state occurs returns to the online state. Whether it has received, i.e. whether uptake of accepted coins is performed, it is impossible identified in balance management apparatus 50 side.

  Therefore, when the recording medium discharged from the off-line ball lending unit 20 is received by another on-line ball lending unit 20 and an insertion notification is transmitted, whether or not the accepted currency has been taken in. Cannot be specified on the balance management device 50 side. At this time, if the received money amount is uniformly added to the management remaining amount, if the ball lending unit 20 has not received the scheduled remaining amount notification and the received money has been returned, the game hall suffers damage. On the other hand, if the deposit expected amount is uniformly erased, the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification, and the player suffers damage when the accepted money has been taken in. Also, the use of the remaining amount of the recording medium is not permitted until the off-line ball lending unit 20 returns to the on-line state (for example, the return of the recording medium is prohibited or can be returned, but the off-line ball lending unit 20 If information (for example, an off-line discharge flag) that can be identified is recorded and the other ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 performs processing that cannot be used), the player is inconvenienced. Take it.

  Therefore, as in the present invention, the serial number is recorded on the recording medium, and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is managed by the remaining amount management device 50, and the accepted money is taken in by the ball lending unit 20. The recorded serial number is updated at the time, and the management serial number is updated when the received money amount is added / erased by the balance management device 50. When the serial numbers match, the received money is not taken in. If the serial numbers do not match, specify that the accepted currency is being taken in, and add the received monetary amount to delete it. The remaining amount can be confirmed. Therefore, the player or the game hall does not suffer damage, and the ball rental unit 20 that has entered the offline state does not have to wait for the ball rental unit 20 to return to the online state. Can be settled in, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  If it is determined in S261 that the deposit process is not in progress (NO), it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is in the insert process (S263). If it is determined in S263 that the insertion process is in progress (YES), the offline consumption amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The offline management amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount that has been stored to delete the offline consumption amount (S264), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is managed in association with the recording medium ID. Subtract from the remaining amount, delete the off-line settlement amount (S265), and proceed to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is being inserted, and the offline consumption amount and / or the offline settlement amount is stored in the unsubtracted state, the ball lending unit 20 notifies the planned remaining amount (see FIG. 12). The balance management device 50 is offline before the balance management device 50 receives the offline information deletion notification (S246) after receiving S241) or after the payment device 60 receives the payment permission information (S241b in FIG. 25). This is a case where an offline state occurs before receiving the information erasure notification (S246). In this case, the offline consumption information and / or the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is also erased. Regardless, the offline consumption amount and / or the offline payment amount remain in the unsubtracted state, and the game hall suffers damage if left unattended. Becomes therefore, it performs a process of erasing the balance management apparatus 50 from the management balance by subtracting the off-line expenditures and / or off-line settlement amount.

  In this way, it is determined that the serial numbers do not match, and the offline consumption amount and / or offline settlement amount is not subtracted, and the offline consumption amount and / or offline settlement amount is subtracted from the management balance, and the offline consumption Since the process of deleting the amount and / or the off-line settlement amount is performed, the balance management device 50 receives the serial number update notification (offline information deletion notification) after the ball lending unit 20 receives the remaining amount notification (planned remaining amount notification). The correct remaining amount can be determined even if the user has previously gone offline. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  If it is determined in S263 that the insertion processing is not in progress (NO), whether or not the used device ID stored in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is determined. Is determined (S266). When it is determined in S266 that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is not (NO), that is, when it is determined that it is the device ID of the settlement device 60, it is associated with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. The stored management balance is deleted and the status is updated to the settlement process (S267), and the process proceeds to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the use apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60, the settlement apparatus 60 performs the settlement permission information (S221b or S241b in FIG. 25). Is received (S780 in FIG. 26), and an offline state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the settlement completion notification (S783). In this case, the settlement device 60 Despite payout of money for the authorized amount, the management balance remains in the remaining state without being erased, and if the money is paid out based on the remaining management balance, In order to suffer damage, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 performs a process of deleting the remaining amount.

  As described above, it is determined that the serial numbers do not match, and the settlement request reception information is managed (that is, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the used apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60). As a result, the management balance update process and the settlement request elimination process are performed. Therefore, after the settlement apparatus 60 receives the settlement permission information, the settlement operation is accepted and before the balance management apparatus 50 receives the settlement completion notification. Even if the player is in an offline state, that is, even if money is paid out to the player but the management balance is not updated to zero, the management balance is reduced to zero by receiving the serial number of the recording medium. Can be updated to prevent damage to the playground.

  If it is determined in S266 that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is (YES), the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A is referred to correspond to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. Is used as the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that was last used while the recording medium was online (S269), and the setting value DB shown in FIG. Then, the ball lending set amount corresponding to the specified device ID is specified (S270), and the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is equal to or more than the specified ball lending set amount. It is determined whether or not there is (S271).

  If it is determined in S271 that the management remaining amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount (YES), the remaining amount management DB subtracts the ball lending set amount from the management remaining amount as a used amount (S272), and S274. Proceed to On the other hand, if it is determined in S271 that the management remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount (NO), the management remaining amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount as a usage amount, that is, the management remaining amount is deleted (S273), and S274 Proceed to

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the device ID used is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50 issues a subtraction request (S125 in FIG. 8). This is a case where an offline state occurs before reception. In this case, the remaining amount management device 50 calculates the amount of the used amount from the remaining amount of management even though the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending processing for the amount used. When the subtraction process is not performed and the game room is damaged in this state, the ball lending unit 20 that was last used in the online state is specified, The ball lending set amount is specified. If the management remaining amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount is specified. And performs subtraction processing in location 50.

  As described above, the management balance 50 is not subtracted by the balance management device 50 due to the occurrence of an offline state, even though the management balance loan processing (ball rental processing for the amount used) is performed by the ball loan unit 20. If the recording medium is accepted by another online ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50 associates the serial number recorded on the recording medium with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. It is determined that the serial number managed by the remaining amount management device 50 does not match, and on the condition that the added update processing is performed on the received money amount, it is specified that the subtraction processing has not been performed, Since the remaining amount is determined by performing the subtraction process, the remaining amount of the management is transferred to another ball rental unit without waiting for the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred to return to the online state. It is possible to use in Tsu door 20, without the junk is applied to the player, and that there is no even to a loss game hall. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation where the subtraction process is not performed and to prevent damage to the game hall.

  Here, even when a different ball lending set amount is set for each ball lending unit 20, the ball lending unit 20 in which the recording medium with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification has been received last time is identified and the corresponding ball lending unit 20 is set. Since the lending amount is subtracted from the management balance, the exact balance can be determined. Even when the management remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, the management remaining amount is deleted, so that an accurate remaining amount (that is, zero) can be determined.

  According to the gaming system 1 described above, since the serial number updated in accordance with the specific processing in the ball lending unit 20 is recorded on the recording medium, the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred returns to the online state. The recording medium ejected from the ball lending unit 20 is received by another online ball lending unit 20 without waiting for the recording, and the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the recording medium of the recording medium Although the specific processing is performed in the ball lending unit 20 due to the occurrence of an offline state from the serial number managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the ID, the cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing is performed in the remaining amount management device 50. It is possible to identify and deal with what is not done in

  Here, the effect that occurs when a serial number is recorded on a recording medium as in the present invention will be described with an example. As in this example, when the ball lending process for the amount used is performed in the ball lending unit 20, a subtraction request including the amount used is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50, and the remaining amount management that has received the subtraction request When the device 50 is configured to subtract the usage amount included in the subtraction request from the management balance, if the offline management state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the subtraction request, the conventional technology (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-2000). Even if the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred returns to the online state, it cannot be specified whether or not the usage amount has been subtracted on the remaining amount management device 50 side.

  Therefore, whether or not the usage amount has been subtracted when the recording medium discharged from the offline ball lending unit 20 is received by another online ball lending unit 20 and an insertion notification is transmitted. Cannot be specified on the balance management device 50 side. At this time, if the management remaining amount of the recording medium can be uniformly used, if the used amount is not subtracted from the management remaining amount, the management remaining amount before the subtraction is used by the online ball lending unit 20 and managed. When the remaining amount is used up, even if the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state returns to the online state, the usage amount cannot be subtracted, so the game hall suffers damage. On the other hand, when the ball lending unit 20 that has been subjected to the ball lending process for the amount used becomes offline, the remaining amount of the recording medium is used uniformly until the offline ball lending unit 20 returns to the online state. Do not allow (for example, prohibit the return of recording media, or return information that can be returned but is discharged from the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state (for example, an offline discharge flag) and record other ball lending If the unit 20 or the payment apparatus 60 performs processing that makes it unusable), the player is inconvenienced.

  Therefore, as in the present invention, when the serial number is recorded on the recording medium and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is managed by the remaining amount management device 50, the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process. The recorded serial number is updated, and when the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the usage amount, the management serial number is updated. When the serial numbers do not match, the subtraction is not performed and the usage amount is When the subtraction is subtracted from the management balance and the serial numbers match, it is determined that the subtraction has been completed and the management balance is left as it is. Therefore, the player or the game hall does not suffer damage, and the ball rental unit 20 that has entered the offline state does not have to wait for the ball rental unit 20 to return to the online state. Can be settled in, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  After the processing of S262, after the processing of S265, after the processing of S267, after the processing of S272, and after the processing of S273, the remaining amount management DB is performing the insertion processing as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID. Is stored (S274), and it is determined whether or not there is offline consumption information included in the insertion notification (S275). If it is determined in S275 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S282). If it is determined in S282 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S220.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match and there is no offline consumption information and offline settlement information of the recording medium, first, the balance amount is received after the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7) during the deposit process. If the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the money pick-up notification (S110), secondly, a ball lending process for the used amount is performed, and the remaining amount management device 50 makes a subtraction request (S125 in FIG. 8). ) Is received before receiving the remaining amount management device 50 after the ball lending unit 20 receives the remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 12) or the scheduled remaining amount notification (S241) during the insertion process. If the offline state occurs before receiving the remaining amount receipt notification (S224) or the offline information deletion notification (S246), fourthly, the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement during the insertion process. When an offline state occurs after receiving the consent information (S221b or S241b in FIG. 25) and before the balance management device 50 receives the settlement permission information reception notification (S224b) or offline information deletion notification (S246), Fifth, it is any of the cases where an offline state occurs before the balance management apparatus 50 receives the settlement completion notice (S783 in FIG. 26), and offline consumption to be deleted in either case Since the information and the off-line settlement information are not recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to S220.

  If it is determined in S275 that offline consumption information is present (NO), the use device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB in FIG. 6A corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is specified. (S276), the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A corresponding to the specified device ID is specified (S277), and included in the insertion notification from the specified offline reference amount The offline consumption information is subtracted to calculate the offline consumption amount (S278), and the calculated offline consumption amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB (S279) and included in the insertion notification. It is determined whether there is no offline settlement information (S280). If it is determined in S280 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  If it is determined in S280 that there is offline payment information (NO), the offline payment amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management balance (S281), and the process proceeds to S284. If it is determined in S282 that there is offline settlement information (NO), the management balance is set as the offline settlement amount (S283), and the process proceeds to S284. In the remaining amount management DB, the calculated off-line settlement amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S284), and the process proceeds to S240. About the process after S220 and S240, the process similar to the process at the time of the serial number matching demonstrated in FIG. 12 is performed.

  11 to 13 related to the insertion notification (FIGS. 14 and 15 related to the supply notification, FIGS. 22 and 23 related to the online return notification, and FIGS. 24 and 25 related to the checkout request also. In the same manner), it has been explained that the insertion notification includes offline consumption information and offline payment information. This is recorded in the recording medium received by the ball rental unit 20 among the offline consumption information and offline payment information. It is meant that all of the information is included, and not all three pieces of information are always included. Similarly, in S207, S208, S247, S248, S264, and S265 on the remaining amount management device 50 side, not all processing is necessarily performed. Of the offline consumption amount and the offline adjustment amount, the remaining amount management device 50 This means that if there is something stored in the balance management DB, the stored information is processed. Also, not all processing is necessarily performed for S243 and S244 on the ball lending unit 20 side, and the erasure processing is performed on the offline consumption information and offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium. It means that

  Next, FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where a return operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50. When the return button 16 is pressed and the ball lending unit 20 is waiting for the return operation and receives the return operation (S181), it is determined whether or not the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) is being received. Is determined (S182).

  If it is determined in S182 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), the recording medium ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 5 is sent to the balance management device 50 (S184). The remaining amount management device 50 that has received the return notification in S184 transmits a return permission notification to the ball lending unit 20 (S185).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the return permission notice in S185 determines whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S194). If it is determined in S194 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the calculation method is determined (S195), and the original data in which the stored balance (that is, the management balance) is calculated by the determined calculation method. Is calculated by the method described above (S195a). Then, the original data composed of the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data and the calculation method flag are recorded on the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 (S195b), and the control unit The remaining amount stored in the RAM 21 is erased (S195c), and the first inserted coin stopper 121 is opened, so that the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is inserted into the inserted coin discharge passage 160. Is discharged and returned to the coin discharge port 112 (S196), and it enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception (S192).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S194 that no visitor coin 5 is being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the membership card 4 is being accepted, the calculation method is determined (S197), and the remaining amount of storage is calculated using the determined calculation method. Such original data is calculated by the method described above (S197a). Then, the original data including the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method flag are recorded on the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 (S197b), and the control unit 21 is recorded. The stored balance stored in the RAM is erased (S197c), the membership card 4 is returned (S198), and a state of waiting for money or recording medium is entered (S192).

  If it is determined in S182 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is zero (S183). If it is determined in S183 that the remaining amount of storage is zero (YES), the return operation is invalidated, and a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception is entered. On the other hand, when it is determined in S183 that the remaining balance is not zero (NO), a return notification including the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140 is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50. (S184). The remaining amount management device 50 that has received the return notification in S184 transmits a return permission notification to the ball lending unit 20 (S185).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the return permission notice in S185 determines the calculation method (S186), and calculates the original data such that the storage balance is calculated by the determined calculation method by the method described above (S186a). Then, the original data including the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method flag are recorded on the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 (S186b), and the control unit 21 is recorded. The stored balance stored in the RAM is erased (S186c), and the second storage coin stopper 142 is opened to discharge the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holder 140 from the coin discharge port 112. (S187), the second storage coin stopper 142 is closed and the first storage coin stopper 141 is opened, so that the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131 is removed from the storage passage 131. It is discharged from 131 and supplied to the stored coin holder 140 (S188).

  Then, the recording information of the visitor coin 5 supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 is read (S189), and it is determined whether there is no offline consumption information in the recording information (S190). If it is determined in S190 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline settlement information in the recorded information (S191). If it is determined in S191 that there is no off-line payment information (YES), it enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception (S192).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S190 that there is offline consumption information (NO), or if it is determined in S191 that there is offline payment information (NO), the visitor coin 5 supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 in S189 is stored. A supply notification including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted to the balance management device 50 (S193).

  As described above, the ball lending unit 20 is collected by the checkout device 60 and then replenished to the ball lending unit 20 and stored in the storage passage 131, or in the ball lending unit 20. The issuing means is configured to issue the visitor coin 5 collected and stored in the storage passage 131 when the management remaining amount (remaining storage amount) becomes zero after being received. Specifically, when a deposit is made without accepting a recording medium, the deposit amount is stored in the balance management device 50 as a management balance in association with the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 of the storage coin holding unit 140, and the management The visitor coin 5 is issued (discharged) by performing a return operation before the remaining amount (stored remaining amount) becomes zero.

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 supplies the next visitor coin 5 (the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131) to the storage coin holding unit 140 in response to the issuance (discharge) of the visitor coin 5 to record information. The supply notification including the read visitor coin ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and device ID is sent via the external communication unit 21b that constitutes the offline consumption information transmission means and the offline payment information transmission means. To the remaining amount management device 50. At that time, the ball lending unit 20 determines whether the offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 by the control unit 21 constituting the offline consumption information determination means, and it is determined that the offline consumption information is recorded. A supply notification is transmitted on the condition of this. More specifically, it is also determined whether offline settlement information is recorded, and a supply notification is transmitted on the condition that it is determined that at least one of offline consumption information and offline settlement information is recorded.

  The remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the supply notification in S193 treats the supply notification in the same manner as the insertion notification, and performs the same processing as S203 and subsequent steps described in FIGS. However, the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 12 is replaced with the processing after S240 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 15 will be described.

  In S240, the device ID included in the supply notification, that is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the supply notification, and the remaining management amount managed in association with the recording medium ID A supply balance notification including an amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount (which is always zero in this case) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241a).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the supply balance notification in S241a erases the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 (S243), and the offline settlement recorded in the visitor coin 5 The information is deleted (S244), 1 is added to the serial number of the visitor coin 5 to be updated (S245), and an offline information deletion notification including the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S246). ).

  In this way, the ball lending unit 20 is provided with a supply balance notification transmitted from the balance management device 50 in response to the supply notification, on condition that the supply notification including offline consumption information or offline payment information is transmitted. Based on the reception, the offline consumption information and the offline payment information recorded in the visitor coin 5 are deleted by the control unit 21 constituting the offline consumption information deletion means and the offline payment information deletion means. Then, after the deposit and return operations are performed, the visitor coin 5 from which the offline consumption information and the offline payment information are deleted is issued (discharged).

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the offline information deletion notification in S246 manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line consumption amount is deleted by subtracting from the remaining amount (S247), and the off-line settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. Then, the off-line settlement amount is deleted (S248). Then, the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is updated by adding 1 (S227), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to have been inserted (S228).

  In this way, the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the management remaining amount corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the supply notification received from the ball lending unit 20 by the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information included in the supply notification. Or the amount subtracted by the offline settlement amount specified from the offline settlement information, but in this process performed in response to the supply notification, the management balance is updated to 0 in any case The Rukoto. The visitor coin 5 that is the subject of this supply notification is managed by the offline ball lending process in the off-line ball lending unit 20 where the remaining management amount has been used and collected, or is managed by the off-line settlement process in the off-line settlement apparatus 60. Since the remaining amount is settled and collected and set in the ball lending unit 20, the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information included in the supply notification is equal to the management remaining amount, and the supply notification This is because the off-line settlement amount specified from the off-line settlement information included in is also equal to the management balance.

  Next, FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the ball lending unit 20. When the ball lending unit 20 detects the occurrence of the offline state by the communication availability detecting means (S300), it is specifically controlled whether or not the occurrence of the offline state is detected after the receipt of the currency in S101. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the unit 21 is “money acceptance” (S301).

  If it is determined in S301 that money has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the scheduled remaining amount notification in S106 has been received (S303). If it is determined in S303 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has not been received (NO), the currency accepted in S101 is returned (S306), and it is determined whether or not the stored remaining amount is zero (S307). .

  If it is determined in S307 that the remaining balance is zero (YES), the multi-function lamp 22 informs that the offline state has been detected (S383), and enters a state of waiting for money receipt in the offline state. (S384).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S307 that the remaining balance is not zero (NO), the multi-function lamp 22 notifies that the offline state has been detected (S373), and the remaining balance is displayed on the remaining amount indicator 26 ( S374), in the off-line state, it enters a state of waiting for the ball lending operation, money acceptance or return operation (S375).

  In addition, when the notification of the planned remaining amount has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the deposit request and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the deposit request are included. It is. Here, if an offline state occurs after receiving the deposit request, the serial numbers match and the received money amount is stored in the remaining amount management device 50 in an unadded state (that is, the deposit process is in progress). ), The ball lending unit 20 is in a state where the accepted currency is not taken in. Accordingly, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, YES is determined in S204, and the processing from S205 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S303 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S107 to S109 have been performed (S304). If it is determined in S304 that any process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S305), and the process proceeds to S373. On the other hand, if it is determined in S304 that all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S373.

  When the notice of the remaining balance has been received, an offline state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the money take-in notification (S110 in FIG. 7) and after the money take-in notice is received. And when an offline state occurs. Here, if an offline state occurs before receiving the money pickup notification of the former, the serial numbers do not match, and the received money amount is stored in the remaining amount management device 50 in an unadded state (that is, depositing). The processing is in progress), and the ball lending unit 20 is in a state where the accepted currency is being taken in. Accordingly, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, YES is determined in S261, and the processing from S262 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S301 that the money has not been received (NO), it is determined whether the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the ball lending operation is received in S121. It is determined whether the processing state stored in the RAM is “acceptance of ball lending operation” (S321).

  If it is determined in S321 that the ball lending operation has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the subtraction completion notification in S132 has been received (S322). If it is determined in S322 that the subtraction completion notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is zero (S325).

  If it is determined in S325 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process proceeds to S373. On the other hand, if it is determined in S325 that the remaining storage amount is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not the recording medium is being accepted (S326). If it is determined in S326 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S383. On the other hand, if it is determined in S326 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted, that is, whether or not the accepted recording medium is the visitor coin 5. (S327). If it is determined in S327 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S395. On the other hand, if it is determined in S327 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is released by opening the second inserted coin stopper 122. After storing in the storage passage 131, the process proceeds to S383.

  If it is determined in S322 that the subtraction completion notification has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the processes in S122 (S122a and S122b) to S128 have been executed (S323). If it is determined in S323 that any of the processes has not been executed (NO), the non-executed process (however, since it is offline, the process of S125 is excluded) is executed (S323), and the process proceeds to S325. . On the other hand, if it is determined in S323 that all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S325.

  When the subtraction completion notification has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the subtraction request and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the subtraction request are included. Here, if an offline state occurs before receiving the former subtraction request, the serial numbers do not match and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored, not during the deposit process or the insert process. It will be in the state. Therefore, when the recording medium 20 is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, NO is determined in S263, and YES is determined in S266. In the latter case, when the offline state occurs after receiving the subtraction request, the serial numbers match and the subtraction processing is completed. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, and NO is determined in S206.

  If it is determined in S321 that the ball lending operation has not been received (NO), whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected is after the recording medium reception in S201 or after the recording medium supply in S188. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is “recording medium reception” or “recording medium supply” (S341). If it is determined in S341 that the recording medium has been received or supplied (YES), it is determined whether the remaining amount notification in S221, the scheduled remaining amount notification in S241, or the remaining supply notification in S241a has been received. (S342).

  If it is determined in S342 that the remaining amount notification has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S383. On the other hand, if it is determined in S342 that the remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S222 to S223 in FIG. 12 have been executed (S343). If it is determined in S343 that any process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S345. On the other hand, if it is determined in S343 that all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S345.

  In S345, it is determined whether or not the recording medium is supplied in S188, specifically, whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is “recording medium supply”. If it is determined in S345 that the recording medium has been supplied (YES), the process proceeds to S383. On the other hand, if it is determined in S345 that the recording medium has not been supplied (NO), the process proceeds to S373.

  If it is determined in S342 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S383. In the case where the scheduled remaining amount notification has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the remaining amount management device 50 receives the insertion notification and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the insertion notification are included. In this case, if the offline state occurs after receiving the insertion notification, the serial numbers match, and the remaining amount management device 50 stores the offline consumption amount and / or the offline settlement amount in an unsubtracted state ( That is, during the insertion process), offline consumption information and / or offline settlement information is recorded on the recording medium. Accordingly, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, and YES is determined in S206.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S342 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes of S242 to S245 in FIG. 12 have been executed (S343). If it is determined in S343 that any process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S345. On the other hand, if it is determined in S343 that all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S345.

  When the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received, the offline state occurs before the remaining amount management device 50 receives the offline information deletion notification, and the offline state occurs after receiving the offline information deletion notification And are included. If an offline state occurs before receiving the former offline information deletion notification, the serial numbers do not match, and the remaining amount management device 50 stores the offline consumption amount and / or the offline settlement amount in an unsubtracted state. In other words, the offline consumption information and / or the offline settlement information are recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, and YES is determined in S263, and the processing from S264 is performed.

  If it is determined in S342 that the supply balance notification has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S383. On the other hand, if it is determined in S342 that the supply balance notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes of S243 to S245 in FIG. 15 have been executed (S343). If it is determined in S343 that any process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S345. On the other hand, if it is determined in S343 that all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S345.

  If it is determined in S341 that the recording medium is not received or the recording medium is not supplied (NO), the process proceeds to S383.

  Next, FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state. When the ball lending unit 20 accepts money in a state of waiting for money receipt in the offline state (S510), the ball lending unit 20 determines whether or not the amount of money accepted is 1000 yen that can be used for off-line lending ( S511). If it is determined in S511 that the received money amount is not 1000 yen (NO), the received money is returned.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S511 that the accepted monetary amount is 1000 yen (YES), whether or not the unconnected flag is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 as in S122a of FIG. It is determined whether or not it is determined by the connection confirmation means that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 has not been confirmed (S512a).

  If it is determined in S512a that the unconnected flag is stored (YES), that is, it is determined that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, the ball lending process for the received monetary amount The received money is returned without performing any of the first lending process and the second lending process (FIG. 10) which are (S515).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S512a that the unconnected flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that the connection between the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is confirmed, the control is performed as in S122b of FIG. Whether or not the ball lending prohibition flag is stored in the RAM of the unit 21, that is, whether or not at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is determined not to be able to pay out the pachinko balls by the payout determination unit. Determination is made (S512).

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is stored in S512 (YES), that is, if it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state in which the pachinko ball can be dispensed, a ball corresponding to the accepted monetary amount The received currency is returned without performing any of the first lending process and the second lending process (FIG. 10) which are the lending process (S515).

  On the other hand, if the ball lending impossibility flag is not stored in S512 (NO), that is, if it is determined that both the pachinko machine 10 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed, the received money amount is controlled. It is stored in the RAM of the unit 21 and the accepted money is taken in and treated as payment confirmation (S513), and 10 sales pulses indicating the accepted money amount of 1000 yen are output to the terminal device (not shown) ( S514) The off-line lending which is the ball lending processing for the received monetary amount is performed without the player's operation (S515), and when the ball lending processing for the received monetary amount is completed, the original standby state is established ( S516). The terminal device to which the sales pulse of S514 is input transmits the sales information to which the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is added to the sales management device 40.

  In the ball lending process for the accepted monetary amount in S515, in the ball lending process described with reference to FIG. 10, based on the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB stored in the EEPROM in S10 (FIG. 6 (d)). The lending frequency (9 times) corresponding to the received monetary amount (1000 yen) for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to pay out, and the number of lending balls for instructing the ball paying device 31 of the payout unit 30 to pay out ( 14) and the other points are the same.

  Although not shown in the figure, along with this offline lending, the offline lending consumption stored in the RAM (that is, the cumulative value of the accepted monetary amount used for the offline lending) is added to the received monetary amount. To do.

  Next, FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is received in the balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state. The ball lending unit 20 in the offline state does not accept a new recording medium, but performs a ball lending process using the already received recording medium or the management remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140. Is called. That is, the ball lending unit 20 detects the offline state in the state of S375 that is waiting for the ball lending operation in the offline state (that is, the management remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is not zero). If the ball lending button 15 is pressed and a ball lending operation is accepted (S521), whether or not the unconnected flag is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 as in S122a of FIG. It is determined whether or not it is determined that the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 has not been confirmed by the connection confirmation unit (S522a).

  If it is determined that the unconnected flag is stored in S522a (YES), that is, the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, the ball lending process for the amount used ( The ball lending operation is invalidated without performing any of the first lending process and the second lending process (FIG. 10) which are S527).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S522a that the unconnected flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that the connection between the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is confirmed, the control is performed as in S122b of FIG. Whether or not the ball lending prohibition flag is stored in the RAM of the unit 21, that is, whether or not at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is determined not to be able to pay out the pachinko balls by the payout determination unit. Determination is made (S522).

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is memorized in S522 (YES), that is, if it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state where the pachinko ball can be dispensed, the ball lending for the amount of use is used. The ball lending operation is invalidated without performing either the first lending process or the second lending process (FIG. 10) which is the process (S527).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S522 that the ball lending impossibility flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that both the pachinko machine 10 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed, as shown in FIG. The usage amount determination process is performed (S523), the usage amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount (S524), and the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM is added for the usage amount (S525). The sales pulse of the pulse is output to the stand terminal device (not shown) (S526), and the ball lending process for the used amount is performed (S527). The terminal device to which the sales pulse of S524 is input transmits sales information to which the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is added to the sales management device 40.

  In the ball lending process for the used amount in S527, when the recording medium is inserted into the online ball lending unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60 after the process of S36 in the ball lending process described in FIG. In order to correct the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending processing by subtracting it from the management remaining amount, only the point of performing the processing of S41 to S43 and proceeding to the processing of S37 is different, and the other points are the same. Specifically, after the processing of S36, the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S41), and if a recording medium (that is, the member card 4 is received, the card holding unit) When the member card 4 held by 191 and the visitor coin 5 are received, the stored coin holding unit 140 when the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 and neither the member card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 are received. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5) held in (S42), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S43), and the process proceeds to S37.

  Returning to FIG. 18, when the ball lending process for the used amount in S527 is completed, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is zero (S528). If it is determined in S528 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process proceeds to S534. On the other hand, if it is determined in S528 that the stored balance is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S529). If it is determined in S529 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S534.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S529 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S530). The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the held visitor coin 5 (S531), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S532), and the second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened. Thus, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holder 120 is stored in the storage passage 131 (S533), and the process proceeds to S534.

  In S534, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display 26, and the remaining frequency based on the stored balance is displayed on the remaining frequency display 14 to determine whether the stored balance is zero (S535). If it is determined in S535 that the remaining amount of storage is not zero (NO), it enters a state of waiting for a ball lending operation, money acceptance or return operation in an offline state (S538). On the other hand, if it is determined in S535 that the remaining balance is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not the member card 4 is being accepted (S536). If it is determined in S536 that the membership card 4 is not being accepted (NO), the machine enters a state of waiting for money acceptance in an offline state (S539). On the other hand, if it is determined in S536 that the membership card 4 is being received (YES), the currency reception or return operation is waited in the offline state (S537).

  Next, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 are diagrams subsequent to FIG. The ball lending unit 20 is accepting the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) when the return button 16 is pressed and the return operation is accepted in the offline state waiting for the return operation (S541). It is determined whether or not (S542). If it is determined in S542 that a recording medium has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is zero (S543). If it is determined in S543 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the calculation method is determined (S544), and the original data is calculated by the above-described method so that the stored balance is calculated by the determined calculation method. (S545). Then, the original data composed of the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method flag are recorded on the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 (S546). The remaining amount stored in the RAM is erased (S547), and the process proceeds to S548.

  In S548, it is determined whether the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero. If it is determined in S548 that the amount of offline consumption is zero (YES), the second stored coin stopper 142 is opened, and the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140 is discharged. (S552), the second storage coin stopper 142 is closed, and the first storage coin stopper 141 is opened, so that the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131 is removed. The coins are discharged from the storage passage 131 and supplied to the storage coin holder 140 (S553), and the machine enters a state of waiting for money reception in the offline state (S554).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S548 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S549) and held in the storage coin holding unit 140. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S550), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S551), and the process proceeds to S552.

  If it is determined in S543 that the remaining storage amount is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero (S555). If it is determined in S555 that the amount of offline consumption is zero (YES), the return operation is invalidated (S556), and the machine enters a state of waiting for money reception in the offline state (S554). On the other hand, if it is determined in S555 that the amount of offline consumption is not zero (NO), the processing of S549 to S551 is performed (S557), the return operation is invalidated (S556), and money reception is waited in the offline state. (S554).

  If it is determined in S542 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S560). If it is determined in S560 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the process proceeds to FIG. As described above, when the visitor coin 5 is received in the offline state and the ball lending process for the used amount is performed (S527) and the remaining storage amount becomes zero (YES in S528), the received visitor coin 5 is stored in the storage passage 131. Since it is stored (S533), when the process proceeds from S560 to S561, that is, when the visitor coin 5 is being accepted in the offline state, it is determined in S561 that the stored balance is not always zero (NO), and the process proceeds to S562. move on.

  In S562, the calculation method is determined, and the original data is calculated by the above-described method so that the remaining storage amount is calculated by the determined calculation method (S563). The original data composed of the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method flag are recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 (S564). The remaining amount stored in the RAM is erased (S565), and the process proceeds to S566.

  In S566, it is determined whether the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero. When it is determined in S566 that the amount of offline consumption is zero (YES), the first coin-in stopper 121 is opened to eject the visitor coin 5 held in the coin-in holding unit 120. Then, it returns (S570), and enters a state of waiting for the receipt of money in the offline state (S554).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S566 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S567) and held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S568), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S569), and the process proceeds to S570.

  As described above, the ball lending unit 20 receives the return operation, and if the remaining balance is not zero (NO in S543 in FIG. 19 or NO in S561 in FIG. 20), The visitor coin 5 on which the offline consumption information is recorded, which is held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, is discharged by the control unit 21 constituting the recording medium discharge means.

  Returning to FIG. 19, if it is determined in S560 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the member card 4 is being accepted, the process proceeds to FIG. 21 to determine whether or not the remaining balance is zero. Determination is made (S581). If it is determined in S581 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the calculation method is determined (S582), and the original data for calculating the stored balance by the determined calculation method is calculated by the method described above. (S583). Then, the original data including the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the calculation method flag are recorded on the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 (S584). The remaining amount stored in the RAM is erased (S585), and the process proceeds to S586. On the other hand, if it is determined in S581 that the remaining storage amount is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S586.

  In S586, it is determined whether the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero. If it is determined in S586 that the amount of offline consumption is zero (YES), the member card 4 is returned (S590), and the machine enters a state of waiting for the receipt of money in the offline state (S554).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S586 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S587), and the card holding unit 191 holds it. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the membership card 4 (S588), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S589), and the process proceeds to S590. That is, the membership card 4 is always returned when a return operation is accepted.

  Next, FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return to an online state with the ball lending unit 20 is detected. When the remaining amount management device 50 detects the return to the online state by the communication availability detecting means (S601), it transmits a start request to the ball lending unit 20 (S602). The ball lending unit 20 that has received the start request subtracts the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount to calculate offline consumption information (S603), and holds the recording medium (ie, the card if the member card 4 is accepted). When the member card 4 held by the unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 are received, the stored coin holding unit when the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 and neither the member card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 are received The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5) held at 140 (S604), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S605), and a start response is sent to the remaining amount management device. 50 (S606), recording medium ID of the recording medium, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, Turn, and transmits the online return notification including an apparatus ID to the balance management apparatus 50 (S607).

  Although not shown in the drawing, the ball lending unit 20 that has received the start request stores the off-line lending consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 (that is, the cumulative value of the accepted currency amount used for off-line lending). ) Including the offline one-off lending consumption amount notification is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50, and the remaining amount management device 50 that has received this off-line lending consumption amount notification updates the sales DB as described above.

  Since the online return notification in S607 is equivalent to the insertion notification, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the online return notification has received the insertion notification in S203 and subsequent steps described with reference to FIGS. Similar processing is performed. However, the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 12 is replaced with the processing after S240 shown in FIG. The online return notification is handled in the same manner as the insertion notification, and the insertion notification is replaced with the online return notification in the description of FIGS. Hereinafter, FIG. 23 will be described.

  In S240, the device ID included in the online return notification (that is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20) is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification, and managed in association with the recording medium ID. A scheduled remaining amount notification including a correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the managed remaining amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the planned remaining amount notification in S241 stores the correction amount included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S242), and accepts the recording medium (that is, the member card 4) In the case where the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 are received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is not received, and when neither the member card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 is received The offline consumption information recorded on the visitor coin 5) held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is erased (S243), and the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is erased (S244). 1 is added and updated (S245), and an offline information erasure notification including the recording medium ID is sent to the remaining amount management device 5 Was sent to (S246), the process proceeds to S249.

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the offline information deletion notification in S246 manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID. Subtract from the remaining amount, erase the offline consumption amount (S247), and subtract the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S248).

  Then, in the remaining amount management DB, 1 is added to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the offline information deletion notification and updated (S227), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to the insertion processing completed. (S228). As a result, when the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state enters the online state, the recording medium ID recorded in the accepted recording medium, the offline consumption information in the offline state, and the offline settlement information (the stored coin holding unit 140) Is sent to the remaining amount management device 50, and the remaining amount management device 50 generates a planned remaining amount notification that can specify a correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the management remaining amount. Since the correction amount can be used for the ball lending process, the convenience of the player is improved.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has transmitted the offline information deletion notification in S246 determines whether or not the ball lending process is being performed (S249), and if it is determined that the ball lending process is being performed (YES), The end of the ball lending process is waited (S249a). If it is determined in S249 that the ball lending process is not in progress (NO), or if it is determined in S249a that the ball lending process has been completed (YES), the remaining balance is displayed on the remaining amount indicator 26 and the memory is stored. The remaining number based on the remaining amount is displayed on the remaining number display 14 (S225), and a ball lending operation, money acceptance, or a return operation is waited (S226). In other words, even if the ball lending process is in progress at the time of online return, processing such as sending an online return notification is performed, and after the ball lending process is completed, the remaining amount of memory and the remaining frequency are displayed, and the ball lending operation etc. can be accepted. Is done.

  According to this, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state that cannot communicate with the remaining amount management device 50 accepts money and returns to the online state after lending the ball with an off-line lending or memory balance, Instead, an online return notification including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, and offline payment information is sent to the remaining amount management device 50, and the correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline adjustment amount from the management remaining amount is specified. Since a notice of possible remaining balance (S241 in FIG. 23) is transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 and the correction amount can be used for the ball lending process (S226 in the same), the player is managed without taking time and effort. The remaining amount can be used. Moreover, since the offline information deletion notification is performed even during the offline ball lending process (S249), the management balance can be used immediately after the offline ball lending (S249a), and the player is not kept waiting.

  Further, based on the receipt of the online return notification in the remaining amount management device 50, the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount included in the online return notification are stored (S214, S219 in FIG. 11, S279, S284 in FIG. 13), Based on the reception of the scheduled remaining amount notification in the unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 23), the serial number recorded on the recording medium is updated (S245 in the same), and on the basis of the reception of the offline information deletion notification in the remaining amount management device 50 (S246), the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is updated (S227), and the serial number of the recording medium included in the online return notification does not match the serial number associated with the recording medium ID. The offline consumption amount is subtracted from the management balance (S264 in FIG. 13), and the offline settlement amount is calculated from the management balance. Because it is calculated (S265 in FIG. 13), even if in the middle of the process due to the return to the online state offline occurs again, it is possible to determine the exact balance.

  Although not shown, the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the offline return notification updates the sales DB as described above.

  Next, FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing performed when the payment apparatus 60 receives a recording medium in the online state. When the settlement apparatus 60 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) (S701), the settlement apparatus 60 reads the recording information of the received recording medium, reads the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, serial number, Then, a payment request including the device ID of the payment device 60 is transmitted to the balance management device 50 (S702).

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the settlement request in S702 treats the settlement request in the same manner as the insertion notification, and performs the same processing as S203 and subsequent steps described with reference to FIGS. However, the processing after S220 and the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 12 are respectively replaced with the processing after S220 and the processing after S240 shown in FIG. Further, in the description of FIGS. 11 to 13, it is assumed that the ball lending unit 20 is read as the payment device 60, and the insertion notification is read as the payment request. Hereinafter, FIG. 25 will be described.

  In S220, the device ID included in the settlement request (that is, the device ID of the settlement device 60) is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, and the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. Is sent to the payment apparatus 60 (S221b).

  The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the settlement permission information in S221b adds 1 to the serial number of the received recording medium and updates it (S223), and sends a settlement permission information reception notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium to the remaining amount management apparatus. 50 (S224b), the management balance included in the received payment settlement information is displayed on the screen shown at D2 in FIG. 5B (S225a), and the payment operation or return operation is waited for. (S226a).

  The remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the settlement permission information reception notification in S224b updates the remaining amount management DB by adding 1 to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the settlement permission information reception notification ( In step S227, the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to indicate that the insertion process has been completed (S228).

  In S240, the device ID included in the settlement request (that is, the device ID of the settlement device 60) is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, and the management is performed in association with the recording medium ID. The settlement permission information including the correction amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the remaining amount is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S241b).

  The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the settlement permission information of S241b erases the offline consumption information recorded on the accepted recording medium (S243) and erases the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium (S244). ), By updating the serial number of the recording medium by adding 1 (S245), an offline information erasure notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S246), and FIG. The correction amount included in the received settlement permission information is displayed on the screen indicated by D2 in b) (S225b), and a settlement operation or return operation is waited (S226a).

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the offline information deletion notification in S246 manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID. Subtract from the remaining amount, erase the offline consumption amount (S247), and subtract the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S248), and the process proceeds to S227.

  Next, FIG. 26 shows a settlement operation (“settlement” in the settlement apparatus 60 in the standby state of the settlement operation or the return operation (S226a in FIG. 25 and the screen shown at D2 in FIG. 5B is displayed). It is a figure showing an example of the process at the time of receiving operation ("button operation)" or return operation ("cancel" button operation).

  When the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation (S780), the money for the licensed amount that is the amount (management remaining amount or correction amount) included in the received settlement settlement information is paid out (S781), and the serial number of the recording medium is set to 1. The addition and updating are performed (S782), and a settlement completion notice including the recording medium ID of the accepted recording medium is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S783).

  The balance management apparatus 50 that has received the settlement completion notification in S783 erases the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement completion notification in the balance management DB (S784). 1 is added to the serial number associated with the ID and updated (S785), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to the settlement processing (S786), and the balance erasure completion notification is sent to the settlement apparatus 60. Transmit (S787).

  The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the remaining amount erasure completion notification in S787 determines whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S788). If it is determined in S788 that the visitor coin 5 is being received (YES), the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is stored by opening the second inserted coin stopper 122. The coins are collected by the coin collecting unit 66 through the passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 (S789), and the recording medium is on standby (S790). On the other hand, if it is determined in S788 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the member card 4 is being accepted, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S791). ), And enters a state of waiting for reception of the recording medium (S790).

  When the checkout device 60 accepts the return operation (S795), if the member card 4 is accepted, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S796), and the recording medium is accepted. (S790), and when the visitor coin 5 is received, the first inserted coin stopper 121 is opened to allow the inserted coin holding section 120 to insert the visitor coin 5 into the inserted coin discharge passage. It is discharged and returned to the coin discharge port 112 via 160 (S796), and it enters a state of waiting for reception of a recording medium (S790).

  Next, FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the settlement apparatus 60 detects occurrence of an offline state. When the settlement apparatus 60 detects the occurrence of the offline state by the communication availability detection means (S800), it is specifically controlled whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after receipt of the recording medium in S701. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the unit 62 is “recording medium reception” (S841). If it is determined in S841 that the recording medium has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the payment permission information in S221b or S241b has been received (S842).

  If it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information in S221b or S241b has not been received (NO), the received recording medium is returned (S871), and the multi-function lamp 22 blinks in red to detect offline. Is notified to the store clerk of the game hall (S872), and an off-line shift operation by the store clerk is waited (S873). That is, the control unit 62 of the payment apparatus 60 functions as an allowable operation receiving unit that receives an offline transition operation (offline payment allowable operation) for allowing the payment process in the offline state from the staff. If it is determined in S873 that an offline transfer operation has been performed (YES), the system enters a state of waiting for reception of a recording medium in the offline state (S874).

  The offline transfer operation is, for example, an operation in which the front door of the checkout device 60 is opened with a key, and a personal identification number is input on an operation panel on the back side of the door. In this case, it is possible to settle in an offline state (the offline settlement process is allowed).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information in S221b has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S223 to S226a have been performed (S843). If the process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process (however, since it is in an offline state, excluding the process of S224b) is executed (S844), the process proceeds to S871, and if all the processes have been executed ( YES), the process proceeds to S871.

  If it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information in S241b has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S243 to S226a have been executed (S843). Is not executed (NO), the non-executed process (however, since it is offline, excluding the process of S246) is executed (S844), and the process proceeds to S871, and if all the processes have been executed (YES) ), Go to S871.

  When the payment permission information of S241b has been received, an offline state has occurred before the management apparatus 50 receives the offline information deletion notification, and an offline state has occurred after receiving the offline information deletion notification. Includes cases. Here, if the offline state occurs before receiving the former offline information deletion notification, the serial numbers do not match, and the remaining amount management device 50 stores the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount in an unsubtracted state. (I.e., during the insertion process), the offline consumption information and the offline settlement information of the recording medium are erased. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, and YES is determined in S263, and the processing from S264 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S841 that the recording medium has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the settlement operation has been received in S780. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM is “accounting operation acceptance” (S851). If it is determined in S851 that the settlement operation has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining amount erasure completion notification in S787 has been received (S852).

  If it is determined in S852 that the remaining amount erasure completion notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not each process of S788 to S791 has been executed (S856), and any of the processes is performed. If not executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S857), and the process proceeds to S872. If all processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S872.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S852 that the remaining amount erasure completion notification has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the processes in S781 to S782 have been executed (S853), and any of the processes is performed. If not executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S854), and the process proceeds to S871, and if all processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S871.

  In a case where the balance erasure completion notification has not been received, an offline state occurs before the balance management device 50 receives the settlement completion notification, and an offline state occurs after the settlement completion notification is received. included. If an offline state occurs before receiving the settlement completion notification of the former, the serial numbers do not match and the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60 is stored, not during the deposit process or the insert process. It will be in the state. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, NO is determined in S263, and NO is determined in S266. . In the latter case, when the offline state occurs after receiving the remaining amount erasure completion notification, the serial numbers match and the settlement process is completed. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the payment apparatus 60 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, and NO is determined in S206.

  If it is determined in S851 that the settlement operation has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the return operation reception in S795. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM is “return operation reception” (S861). If it is determined that the return operation has been received (YES), the process proceeds to S871, and the return operation reception is performed. If it is determined that it is not later (NO), the process proceeds to S872.

  Next, FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where a recording medium is received in the balance management apparatus 50 and the payment apparatus 60 that is offline, a payment operation is received, and a return operation is received.

  When the settlement apparatus 60 receives a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) while waiting for recording medium reception in an offline state (S901), it reads the recording information of the received recording medium and reads the read information. It is determined whether or not the recording medium ID is recorded in the settlement DB in FIG. 6B, that is, whether or not the received recording medium is an offline settlement recording medium (S902).

  If it is determined in S902 that the recording medium has been offline adjusted (YES), error processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S902 that the recording medium is not offline adjusted (NO), it is determined whether or not the current time is included in the adjustable time zone (S903). The settlement possible time is set in the center management device 70 (for example, set in a time zone of 9: 00 to 24:00 including business hours of the game hall), and the settlement device 60 is set via the balance management device 50. The control unit 62 of the payment apparatus 60 receives the input of the settable payment available time zone and stores the payment available time zone in the RAM. That is, the control unit 62 and the communication unit 61 of the settlement apparatus 60 function as a settlement allowance time zone accepting unit that accepts a setting input of a settlement allowance time (offline settlement allowance time zone) that is a time zone that allows settlement processing in an offline state. .

  If it is determined in S903 that the current time is not included in the payable time zone (NO), error processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S903 that the current time is included in the payable time zone (YES), the calculation method is determined from the calculation method flag recorded on the accepted recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). The management balance is calculated from the reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the specified calculation method (S905).

  Specifically, if x, y, z, and w are recorded as reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, respectively, and “0” is recorded as the calculation method flag, the calculation method is added. Since this is a priority calculation method, the management balance a is calculated as a = (y + x) × z ÷ w, and if “1” is recorded as the calculation method flag, the calculation method is a multiplication / division priority calculation method. The management balance a is calculated by a = y + (x × z ÷ w).

  For example, if x = 10, y = 90, z = 100, and w = 2 are recorded and the calculation method is the addition priority calculation method, the management remaining amount a = (90 + 10) × 100 ÷ 2 = 5000 yen is calculated. The If x = 50, y = 500, z = 90, and w = 1 are recorded and the calculation method is a multiplication / division priority calculation method, the remaining management amount a = 500 + (50 × 90 ÷ 1) = 5000 yen. Calculated.

  Then, the calculated management balance is displayed on the screen indicated by D2 in FIG. 5B (S906), and a payment operation or a return operation is waited in an offline state (S907).

  When the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation while waiting for the settlement operation reception in the offline state (S911), it pays out the calculated management balance (S912), and the settlement is completed in the offline state. As an offline settlement recording medium that is a recording medium, the recording medium ID is associated with the settled management balance and stored in the settlement DB shown in FIG. 6B (S913), and offline settlement is performed on the recording medium. Information is recorded (S914). Specifically, the offline settlement information is a flag indicating whether offline settlement has been performed, and is “1” when offline settlement is performed, and is “0” when offline settlement is not performed. . When the recording medium on which the offline payment information is recorded is received by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium and the offline payment information is transmitted to the balance management device 50, and the management balance Is corrected.

  Next, the settlement apparatus 60 determines whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S915). If it is determined in S915 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the membership card 4 is being accepted, the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S917). In the offline state, the recording medium is in a standby state (S918). On the other hand, if it is determined in S915 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is released by opening the second inserted coin stopper 122. The coins are collected by the coin collecting unit 66 through the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 (S916), and the recording medium is in a standby state in the offline state (S918).

  Further, when the checkout device 60 accepts the return operation in a state of waiting for the return operation in the offline state (S921), when the member card 4 is accepted, the card holding unit 191 holds the member. The membership card 4 is returned (S922), and it is in a state of waiting for reception of the recording medium in the offline state (S918). When the visitor coin 5 is received, the first inserted coin stopper 121 is opened. Thus, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is discharged and returned to the coin discharge port 112 through the inserted coin discharge passage 160 (S922), and the recording medium is in a standby state in the offline state. (S918).

  As described above, the settlement apparatus 60 of the present example performs the offline settlement process on the condition that the offline transfer operation is received from the staff as the offline allowance operation for permitting the offline settlement process. Further, the recording medium ID of the recording medium subjected to the offline settlement process is stored in the settlement DB constituting the settlement information storage means as the settlement recording medium ID, and the recording medium ID of the received recording medium is stored in the settlement recording medium. Whether or not the ID matches the ID is determined by the control unit 62 constituting the recording medium determining means, and the off-line settlement process is performed on the condition that the ID does not match. Furthermore, the setting part of the accountable time zone that allows the offline settlement process is accepted by the communication unit 61 that constitutes the accountable time zone accepting means, and the offline settlement process is performed on the condition that the current time belongs to the accountable time zone. Do.

  In addition, the settlement apparatus 60 uses offline settlement as offline settlement information that can identify the offline settlement amount settled in the offline settlement process (specifically, the management balance specified from the management balance identification information that has been settled offline). A flag indicating that the processing has been performed is recorded on the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 subjected to the offline settlement process by the control unit 62 and the recording medium R / W 102 constituting the offline settlement information recording means.

  Here, the settlement apparatus 60 of this example records the above flag as offline settlement information because it settles the entire management balance specified from the management balance identification information of the received recording medium in the offline settlement process. doing. That is, when the balance management device 50 receives an insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification from the ball lending unit 20, or a settlement request from the settlement device 60, S216, S218 in FIG. 11 or S281 in FIG. In S283, the off-line payment amount can be specified based on the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management DB and the offline consumption amount specified from the received offline consumption information. Specifically, if offline settlement information and offline consumption information are included in each notification or request, the offline settlement amount is specified by the management balance-offline consumption amount, and if only offline settlement information is included, The management balance is specified as the offline settlement amount.

  In addition, in this example, when offline settlement processing is performed on a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded, the recording medium is collected and discharged without erasing the offline consumption information on the recording medium. Not limited to this, the offline consumption information may be deleted. In this case, when offline settlement information is recorded on the recording medium, offline consumption information is not recorded, so the remaining amount management device issues an insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and settlement request. When received, the management balance is specified as offline settlement amount. In other words, both the management remaining amount used for ball lending in the offline ball lending unit 20 (stored balance) and the management remaining amount provided for offline settlement processing are treated as being provided for offline settlement processing, and are subtracted from the management residual amount. (As a result, the management balance becomes zero).

  Further, as the offline settlement information, the offline settlement amount itself provided for the offline settlement process may be recorded. In this case, the remaining amount management device 50 is included in the insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and settlement request. The offline settlement information itself is specified as the offline settlement amount. Similarly to the offline consumption information, the amount obtained by subtracting the offline adjustment amount from the reference value is set as offline adjustment information, and the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the offline adjustment information from the reference value to specify the offline adjustment amount. Also good. In particular, in the settlement apparatus 60, when a part of the management remaining amount specified from the management remaining amount specifying information is to be settled, it is necessary to record the offline settlement information based on the offline settlement amount as described above. Also in this case, the offline consumption information corresponding to the offline consumption information may be used as an off-line settlement amount, and the offline consumption information on the recording medium may be deleted.

  Further, the settlement apparatus 60 discharges the membership card 4 on which the offline settlement information is recorded by the control unit 62 constituting the settlement apparatus recording medium ejection means, and the visitor coin 5 on which the offline settlement information is recorded as the recording medium collection means. It collects and stores by the control part 62 which comprises.

  Next, FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the return to the online state with the settlement apparatus 60 is detected. When the remaining amount management apparatus 50 detects the return to the online state with the settlement apparatus 60 (S931), it transmits a start request to the settlement apparatus 60 (S932). The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the start request returns a start response to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S933), and records the recording medium that has been settled during the offline state stored in the settlement DB of FIG. 6B. An off-line settlement notice including the medium ID and the settlement management balance is transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50 (S934).

  The balance management device 50 that has received the offline settlement settlement notification in S934 associates the settlement management balance included in the offline settlement settlement with the recording medium ID included in the offline settlement settlement corresponding to the settlement management balance. It is determined whether the management balance stored in the management DB is equal (S935). If it is determined in S935 that the settlement management balance and the management balance are not equal (NO), the fact that there is a mismatch and the recording medium ID are transmitted to the center management device 70 (S936). The recording medium ID is registered as unusable as an unusable recording medium ID (S937).

  That is, the remaining amount management device 50 notifies the center management device 70 that the settlement management remaining amount and the remaining management amount do not match. The notification may be made without displaying or notifying the center management device 70 that the two do not match on the display screen of the balance management device 50 or the like.

  Further, the settlement apparatus 60 determines whether or not the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is being received after transmitting the offline settlement settlement notification (S938). If it is determined in S938 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), the recording medium is in a standby state (S940). On the other hand, if it is determined in S938 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), an online return notification including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, and serial number recorded on the recording medium is sent. It transmits with respect to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S939). Since this online return notification is the same as the payment request, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the online return notification performs the same processing as when the payment request is received in S203 and subsequent steps.

  Next, main effects obtained by the invention according to the first embodiment described above will be described.

  (1-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20. 6 (a), S113 in FIG. 7, S129 in FIG. 8, S247 and S248 in FIG. 12, S262, S264, SS265 and S273 in FIG. 13, S247 and S248 in FIG. 15, S247 in FIG. As described in S248, S247 and S248 in FIG. 25, and S784 in FIG. 26, the remaining amount management device 50 uses the ball for lending in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). The remaining amount is managed.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the ball lending unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10. As described in S121 to S128 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 uses the management remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. Loan processing is performed.

  As described in S101 of FIG. 7 and S510 of FIG. 17, the bill validator 23 and the control unit 21 accept money and identify the money amount. As described in S201 and S202 of FIG. 11 and S221 and S241 of FIG. 12, the remaining management amount corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium received by the control unit 21 and the external communication unit 21b of the ball lending unit 20 is the remaining amount. Obtained from the management device 50. As described in S222 and S242 of FIG. 12, the acquired management balance is stored as a storage balance by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. As described in S126 of FIG. 8, the stored storage balance is updated by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 to the stored balance obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the ball lending process.

  As described in S300 of FIG. 16, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 detects whether the online state where communication with the remaining amount management device 50 is possible or the offline state where communication is not possible.

  As described in S510 to S515 in FIG. 17, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 and money is received, the ball lending processing for the received money amount is performed.

  As explained in S521 to S527 of FIG. 18, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the stored balance is not zero (NO in S01 of the usage amount determination process shown in FIG. 9). If the answer is YES), the ball lending process is performed using the remaining memory amount.

  (1-2) As explained in S525 of FIG. 18, S549 of FIG. 19, S567 of FIG. 20, and S587 of FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process from the stored balance in the offline state. The offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount, which is the amount used for, is specified. As described in S550 of FIG. 19, S568 of FIG. 20, and S588 of FIG. 21, the offline consumption information specified by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). Is done. As described in S552 of FIG. 19, S570 of FIG. 20, and S590 of FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded.

  As described in S202 of FIG. 11 and S607 of FIG. 22, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 has received the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the online state is detected. Based on this, the recording medium ID of the recording medium and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50.

  As described in S202, S211 to S214 in FIG. 11 and S247 in FIG. 12, the management balance 52 managed by the control unit 52 and the communication unit 51 of the balance management apparatus 50 in association with the received recording medium ID is provided. The management residual amount is updated by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the received offline consumption information.

  For this reason, when the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20, the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the offline state can be subtracted from the management balance and updated.

  (1-3) As described in S212 of FIG. 11 and FIG. 6A, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 stores the offline-time reference amount that is a reference value related to the offline consumption amount in the setting value DB. In addition, the ball lending unit 20 stores the offline reference amount corresponding to the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50.

  As described in S549 and S550 in FIG. 19, S567 and S568 in FIG. 20, and S587 and S588 in FIG. Information is recorded on a recording medium.

  As described in S211 to S214 in FIG. 11 and S247 in FIG. 12, based on the subtraction value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption information received from the ball lending unit 20 from the offline reference amount by the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50. Thus, the offline consumption amount is specified, and the management remaining amount is updated.

  For this reason, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, the offline consumption amount calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to zero, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to zero. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting off-line consumption information so that the off-line consumption amount becomes zero, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the off-line state.

  (1-4) As shown in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A, the offline reference amount is set to a different value for each ball lending unit 20. As described in S212 of FIG. 11 and FIG. 6A, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 stores the offline reference amount in the setting value DB in association with the apparatus ID of the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S211 to S214 of FIG. 11, the offline time reference stored by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium with the received recording medium ID. Offline consumption is identified based on the amount.

  For this reason, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, the offline consumption amount calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to zero, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to zero. Further, since the offline reference amount differs for each ball lending unit 20, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state.

  (2-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 as an issuing unit that issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium, in addition to the configuration described in (1-1). . As described in S570 of FIG. 20, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the visitor coin 5, which is a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded, on condition that the remaining storage amount is not zero. As described in S528 and S533 in FIG. 18, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 collects the visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded on condition that the remaining storage amount is zero. .

  As described in S193 of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 that is the collected recording medium to the remaining amount management device 50. As described in S243 of FIG. 15, the offline consumption information recorded on the visitor coin 5 as a recording medium is erased by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted. As described in S187 of FIG. 14 and S552 of FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium from which offline consumption information has been deleted. As described in S247 of FIGS. 12, 15, 23, and 25, the remaining management amount managed by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is determined. And updated to the amount obtained by subtracting the amount of offline consumption specified from the offline consumption information.

  For this reason, even if an offline state occurs, if the remaining management amount is already stored in the ball lending unit 20 as the remaining storage amount, the remaining storage amount is used for lending pachinko balls. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall. Further, when the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20, the amount used for lending the pachinko ball in the offline state can be subtracted and updated from the management remaining amount, and the management remaining amount can be corrected. Furthermore, when the remaining amount of storage becomes zero, it is possible to reliably correct the remaining amount of management until the next issue of the recording medium without requiring the labor of a store clerk or a player.

  In this way, the offline consumption information is not recorded in the visitor coin 5 and the management remaining amount is corrected, but the consumption log (for example, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption amount) in the offline state is stored in the ball lending unit 20. When the ball lending unit 20 returns to the online state, the consumption log is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 to correct the remaining management amount. If it cannot be transmitted to the card, the handling of the visitor coin 5 stored in the ball lending unit 20 becomes inconvenient. For example, if the visitor coin 5 is issued from the ball lending unit 20 without being transmitted to the player's hand without being sent, the management balance that should be corrected is not corrected. Will suffer damage.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, even if the ball lending unit 20 breaks down without returning to the online state, the visitor coin 5 stored in the ball lending unit 20 is (When a visitor coin 5 is stored and issued in another online ball lending unit 20) or after it reaches the player's hand (the player places the visitor coin 5 in an online ball loan) Since the management balance is corrected based on the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 in the case of being inserted into the unit 20), the above-described inconvenience can be prevented.

  (2-2) Not only in the offline state as described above, but also when the online state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 as described in S133, S134, S136, and S137 in FIG. In addition, a recording medium with a remaining management balance is collected. As described in S190 of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 determines whether offline consumption information is recorded on the collected recording medium. As described in S193 in FIG. 14, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information are stored in the remaining amount management apparatus 50 on condition that the offline consumption information is determined to be recorded by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. Sent.

  For this reason, useless communication processing between the ball lending unit 20 and the balance management device 50 can be prevented.

  (2-3) As described in S188 of FIG. 14, the passage unit 100 reads the recorded information of the visitor coin 5 in response to the issuance of the visitor coin 5 as a recording medium by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The next visitor coin 5 is supplied to the lower antenna 104 of the 100 stored coin holders 140. As described in S193 of FIG. 14, when the next visitor coin 5 is supplied to the lower antenna 104 by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption recorded in the supplied visitor coin 5 are provided. Information is read and transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50.

  For this reason, the visitor coin 5 can be issued more quickly than when the offline consumption information is transmitted when the visitor coin 5 is issued and the management balance is updated.

  (3-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes the remaining amount management device 50, the ball lending unit 20, and the payment device 60. The balance management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 are as described in (1-1). As described in S780 to S787 in FIG. 26, the balance of the management corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium is settled by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus.

  As described in S544 to S546 in FIG. 19, S562 to S564 in FIG. 20, and S582 to S584 in FIG. 21, management corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium accepted by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The original data that can specify the remaining amount and the calculation method flag are recorded on the recording medium. As described in S552 of FIG. 19, S570 of FIG. 20, and S590 of FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the recording medium on which the original data and the calculation method flag are recorded.

  As described in S800 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 detects whether it is an online state where communication with the remaining amount management apparatus 50 is possible or an offline state where communication is not possible. As described in S221b and S241b of FIG. 25 and S781 of FIG. 26, when the online state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, it is associated with the recording medium ID of the accepted recording medium. The payment is made based on the management balance managed by the balance management device 50. As described in S904, S905, and S912 of FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the original data and the calculation method flag recorded on the accepted recording medium are used. The management remaining amount is specified, and the specified management remaining amount is settled.

  As described in S914 of FIG. 28, the off-line settlement information that can identify the off-line settlement amount settled in S912 is recorded on the accepted recording medium by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60. As described in S917 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 ejects the member card 4 that is a recording medium on which offline settlement information is recorded.

  As described in S <b> 202 of FIG. 11, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and offline settlement information recorded on the received recording medium to the remaining amount management apparatus 50. As described in S248 of FIG. 12, the management remaining amount managed by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is the offline received from the ball lending unit 20. Updated to the amount subtracted by the off-line settlement amount specified in the settlement information.

  For this reason, since the management balance can be settled even in the offline state, the convenience of the player can be improved. Further, when it is necessary to discharge the recording medium after payment, for example, as with the membership card 4, the management balance is settled offline by accepting the discharged membership card 4 by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state. Since the amount is updated to the amount subtracted, the member card 4 can be used without waiting for the settlement apparatus 60 to return to the online state.

  (3-2) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 as an issuing unit that issues a visitor coin 5 as a recording medium, in addition to the configuration described in (3-1). . As described in S916 of FIG. 28, the visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium on which the offline payment information is recorded is collected by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 62 of the payment apparatus 60.

  As described in S193 in FIG. 14, the visitor coin that is a recording medium that is collected by the checkout device 60 by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 and then set in the ball lending unit 20 (that is, stored in the storage passage 131). 5 is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. As described in S244 of FIG. 15, the offline adjustment information recorded on the recording medium is erased by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on condition that the offline adjustment information is transmitted. As described in S187 of FIG. 14 and S552 of FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium from which the off-line payment information is deleted. As described in S248 of FIG. 12, the management remaining amount managed by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is the offline received from the ball lending unit 20. Updated to the amount subtracted by the off-line settlement amount specified in the settlement information.

  For this reason, since the management balance can be settled even in the offline state, the convenience of the player can be improved. Furthermore, even when the recording medium is collected after settlement, for example, as in the visitor coin 5, the management balance is updated to the amount subtracted by the offline settlement amount before the collected visitor coin 5 is issued. The visitor coin 5 can be used without waiting for the settlement apparatus 60 to return to the online state.

  (3-3) As described in S873 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 accepts an offline transition operation for allowing settlement in the offline state from the store clerk in the game hall, and detects the offline state. If it is, the settlement in the offline state is performed on the condition that the offline migration operation has been accepted.

  For this reason, since the clerk at the game hall can check the situation and allow the settlement in the offline state, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the offline state is intentionally generated and the settlement by the unauthorized recording medium is performed. .

  (3-4) As described in the adjustment DB in FIG. 6A, the control unit 62 of the adjustment apparatus 60 stores the recording medium ID of the adjusted recording medium used for the adjustment in the offline state. As described in S902 of FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the recording medium ID of the received recording medium matches the identification information ID of the settled recording medium. It is determined whether or not to do so. As described in S902 of FIG. 28, the settlement in the offline state is performed on condition that the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 determines that they do not match.

  For this reason, when the received recording medium is not an already settled recording medium in the off-line state, the off-line settlement can be performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent settlement in an offline state with a recording medium that may be fraudulent. In other words, if the visitor coin 5 is collected by the settlement apparatus 60 after settlement, but received again by the settlement apparatus 60 after settlement, there is a suspicion of fraud, and the membership card 4 is Is returned from the checkout device 60, but there is a suspicion of fraud if there is a remaining amount after the checkout, although it is normally settled at the end of the game. 5 or the membership card 4 can be prevented from being settled.

  (3-5) As described in S904 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the payment apparatus 60 accepts a setting input of a payable time that is a time zone in which payment in the offline state is allowed. As described in S903 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement in the offline state on condition that the current time is included in the settlement possible time.

  For this reason, it is possible to limit the time zone in which the settlement in the offline state is performed to the time zone in which the settlement should be performed (for example, during business hours). As a result, the possibility of fraud can be reduced.

  (3-6) As described in S913 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 associates the recording medium ID of the recording medium used for settlement in the offline state with the settlement of the managed balance. Remembered. As described in S934 of FIG. 29, the data is stored based on the detection of the return from the state in which the offline state is detected to the online state by the control unit 62 and the communication unit 61 of the settlement apparatus 60. The recording medium ID and the settlement management balance are transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50.

  As described in S935 of FIG. 29, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 receives the management remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50 corresponding to the received recording medium ID and the settlement device 60. It is determined whether or not the settlement management balance matches. As described in S936 of FIG. 29, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 notifies that the management remaining amount and the settlement management remaining amount do not match on condition that it is determined that they do not match.

  For this reason, when fraud is performed in the settlement in the offline state, the fact can be quickly grasped and dealt with after returning to the online state.

  (3-7) As described in S544 to S546 in FIG. 19, S562 to S564 in FIG. 20, and S582 to S584 in FIG. 21, the calculation method that can specify the calculation method by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The flag and the original data for calculating the management balance by calculation using the calculation method are recorded on the recording medium as information for specifying the management balance. As described in S904 and S905 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the checkout device 60 specifies the calculation method from the calculation method flag recorded on the received recording medium, and the accepted calculation method accepts the calculation method. The original data recorded on the recorded recording medium is calculated, and the management balance is specified.

  For this reason, compared with the case where the management remaining amount is recorded as it is on the recording medium, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as tampering with the recording medium.

[1-1. Ball lending unit 20 according to Modification 1 of the first embodiment]
Next, the ball lending unit 20 according to the first modification of the first embodiment will be described. The ball lending unit 20 according to the modified example 1 is different from the ball lending unit 20 according to the first embodiment described above only in the mode of ball lending processing, and the other configurations, functions, and effects are the same. It is. That is, in the ball lending unit 20 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when the control unit 21 that functions as a lending processing unit performs a ball lending process that is a unit lending process, the first lending process is continued. In the ball lending unit 20 according to the first modification, as shown in FIG. 30, the control unit 21 that functions as the lending processing unit has a ball that is a unit lending process. When performing the lending process, the first lending process is performed following the second lending process.

  Specifically, when performing the ball lending process in S128 of FIG. 8, S515 of FIG. 17, and S527 of FIG. 18, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit, as shown in FIG. After performing the process, the second lending process of S21 to S27 is performed. When the second lending process is completed, the first lending process of S11 to S18 is subsequently performed, and the first lending process is completed. The process proceeds to S31 and subsequent steps.

  According to the card unit (the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30) according to the first modification, in the ball lending process that is the unit lending process performed by the ball lending unit 20, it corresponds to the unit lending value (integer multiple of 100 yen). Out of the pachinko balls to be paid out, the first loan processing corresponding to the number of unit loan balls (25) (integer multiple of 25) from the pachinko machine 10 and the balls of the payout unit 30 provided with the fraction balls By performing the second lending process to be paid out from the payout device 31, even if the game is stopped halfway without using up all the remaining management balance, a fractional amount of less than 100 yen may be generated in the remaining management balance. No. Therefore, even if the consumption tax amount is collected for the value used for lending pachinko balls, if the unit loan value includes the consumption tax amount (so-called internal tax), the remaining management amount will not be used up. Even if the game is stopped at the game center, there will be no fractional amount of less than 100 yen in the remaining management balance, and the amusement hall will prepare a large amount of coins to settle the fractional amount and return it to the player Thus, there is no need to replenish the checkout device 60. Further, even when there is no space in the lending processing unit with a payout means, it is possible to pay out the fraction game media.

[1-2. Ball rental unit 20 according to Modification 2 of the first embodiment]
Next, a ball rental unit 20 according to Modification 2 of the first embodiment will be described. The ball lending unit 20 according to the modification 2 is also different from the ball lending unit 20 according to the first embodiment described above only in the mode of the ball lending process, and the other configurations, functions, and effects are the same. It is. That is, in the ball lending unit 20 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when the control unit 21 that functions as a lending processing unit performs a ball lending process that is a unit lending process, the first lending process is continued. In the ball lending unit 20 according to the second modification, as shown in FIG. 31, the control unit 21 that functions as the lending processing unit is a ball that is a unit lending process. When performing the lending process, the second lending process is performed during the first lending process.

  Specifically, when performing the ball lending process in S128 of FIG. 8, S515 of FIG. 17, and S527 of FIG. 18, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit, as shown in FIG. After performing the process, first, the second lending process is performed by instructing the ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30 to pay out the number of loaned balls determined in S10 (S21). Without waiting for the completion of the lending process, a ball lending request signal requesting lending of the number of unit lending balls (25) is transmitted to the pachinko machine 10 (S11), and the processes of S12 to S18 are performed. Thus, the first lending process is performed. Thereby, the second lending process (that is, the payout from the ball paying device 31) is performed while the first lending process (that is, the payout from the pachinko machine 10) is being performed. When these processes are completed, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout ball counter has reached the number of loaned balls determined in S10 (S23).

  Here, in the ball lending process shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout ball counter reaches the number of balls lending before the timer T times out for a predetermined time (S23). , S24), in the ball lending process shown in FIG. 31, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout ball number counter has reached the loaned ball number without counting by the timer T (S23). In this example in which the second lending process is performed during the first lending process, the second lending process is normally performed when the payout of the pachinko balls by the first lending process is completed (YES in S16). If so, it is because the payout of the pachinko balls by the second lending process has been completed.

  When it is determined in S23 that the value of the payout ball number counter has reached the number of loaned balls (YES), the value of the payout ball number counter is reset (S26), and the first loan processing and the second loan The process is completed, and the process proceeds to S31 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, if it is determined in S23 that the value of the payout ball counter has not reached the loaned ball number (NO), the unpaid ball obtained by subtracting the value of the payout ball counter from the loan ball number determined in S10. The number is displayed on the unpaid ball number display 25b (S27), and the process proceeds to S26.

  According to the card unit (the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30) according to the second modified example, in the ball lending process which is the unit lending process performed by the ball lending unit 20, it corresponds to the unit lending value (integer multiple of 100 yen). Out of the pachinko balls to be paid out, the first loan processing corresponding to the number of unit loan balls (25) (integer multiple of 25) from the pachinko machine 10 and the balls of the payout unit 30 provided with the fraction balls By performing the second lending process to be paid out from the payout device 31, even if the game is stopped halfway without using up all the remaining management balance, a fractional amount of less than 100 yen may be generated in the remaining management balance. No. Therefore, even if the consumption tax amount is collected for the value used for lending pachinko balls, if the unit loan value includes the consumption tax amount (so-called internal tax), the remaining management amount will not be used up. Even if the game is stopped at the game center, there will be no fractional amount of less than 100 yen in the remaining management balance, and the amusement hall will prepare a large amount of coins to settle the fractional amount and return it to the player Thus, there is no need to replenish the checkout device 60. Further, even when there is no space in the lending processing unit with a payout means, it is possible to pay out the fraction game media.

  The ball lending process in the second modification is not limited to the mode illustrated in FIG. 31 as long as “the second lending process is performed during the first lending process”. For example, after a ball lending request signal is transmitted to the pachinko machine 10 in S11, a payout instruction to the ball payout device 31 in S21 may be performed. In addition, after the ball lending of a predetermined frequency (for example, 1) within the lending frequency is completed in the first lending process, the second lending process is performed, and the first of the remaining frequencies is not waited for the completion of the second lending process. A loan process may be performed. Furthermore, in the first lending process, after the ball lending of the predetermined frequency within the lending frequency is completed, the second lending process is performed, and after the completion of the second lending process, the first lending process of the remaining frequency is performed. There may be.

[2. Game system 1 including ball lending unit 20 according to the second embodiment]
Next, the gaming system 1 including the ball lending unit 20 according to the second embodiment will be described. Compared with the first embodiment, the gaming system 1 according to the second embodiment has a member management device 80 communicable with the ball lending unit 20 in the game hall as shown in FIG. Different. Here, the member management device 80 stores a storage DB. In this stored ball DB, the number of stored balls as the valuable value is managed in association with the card ID of each member card 4. This number of balls is the number of the pachinko balls acquired by the member player who owns the member card 4 as a result of the game.

  In addition, the ball lending unit 20 according to the second embodiment is provided with a stored ball number indicator 27 and a stored ball replay button 28 on the front surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 32A, as compared with the first embodiment. 33 and the point that the control unit 21 performs the stored ball replay process as shown in FIG.

  Here, the number of stored balls indicator 27 is a display for displaying the number of stored balls acquired from the member management device 80 and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, and here is a 5-digit 7-segment display. is there. The storage ball replay button 28 is a button for accepting a storage ball replay operation. The stored ball number display 27 and the stored ball replay button 28 are connected to the control unit 21 as shown in FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 33, the storage ball replay process performed by the control unit 21 will be described. This storage ball replay process rents pachinko balls corresponding to the unit loan value (here, 125 stored balls = number of used balls) out of the number of stored balls which is the valuable value managed by the member management device 80. As the unit lending process for performing this, it is a process of performing a ball lending process for the number of balls used. Here, the EEPROM of the control unit 21 receives and stores the number of used balls and the number of commission balls preset by the member management device 80 and transmitted from the member management device 80 before the game hall starts business. . Here, the number of balls used as the unit lending value is, for example, 125 stored balls, and the number of fees for performing the ball lending process for the number of used balls is, for example, 25 stored balls.

  The ball lending unit 20 receives the member card 4 while waiting for recording medium reception (S1001), reads the recorded information of the received member card 4, performs the processing of S202 of FIG. A request for acquiring the number of stored balls including the read card ID is transmitted to the member management apparatus 80 (S1002). The member management device 80 that has received this accumulated ball number acquisition request notifies the ball lending unit 20 of the accumulated ball number notification including the accumulated ball number stored in the accumulated ball DB in association with the card ID included in the accumulated ball number acquisition request. Transmit (S1003). The ball lending unit 20 that has received the notification of the number of stored balls stores the number of stored balls included in the notification of the number of stored balls in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S1004), and stores the stored number of stored balls in the stored number of balls display 27. It is displayed (S1005), and it will be in the state which waits for storage ball replay operation (S1006).

  Next, when the ball lending unit 20 waits for the storage ball replay operation and receives the storage ball replay button 28 and receives the storage ball replay operation) (S1011), as in S122a of FIG. It is determined whether or not the unconnected flag is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, that is, whether or not it is determined that the connection with the at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed by the connection confirmation unit. (S1012a).

  If it is determined that the unconnected flag is stored in S1012a (YES), that is, the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, the ball lending process for the number of balls used Neither the first lending process or the second lending process (FIG. 10), which is (S1017), is performed, and the stored ball replay operation is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1012a that the unconnected flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that the connection between the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is confirmed, the control is performed as in S122b of FIG. Whether or not the ball lending prohibition flag is stored in the RAM of the unit 21, that is, whether or not at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is determined not to be able to pay out the pachinko balls by the payout determination unit. Determination is made (S1012b).

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is memorized in this S1012b (YES), that is, if it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state where the pachinko ball can be dispensed, the number of balls used Neither the first lending process or the second lending process (FIG. 10), which is the lending process (S1017), is performed, and the stored ball replay operation is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if the ball lending impossibility flag is not stored in S1012b (NO), that is, if it is determined that both the pachinko machine 10 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state in which the pachinko balls can be dispensed, the RAM of the control unit 21 It is determined whether or not the number of stored balls stored in (1) is equal to or greater than the number of used balls stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 21 + the number of handling balls (150 in this case) (S1013). When it is determined in S1013 that the number of stored balls is less than the number of used balls + the number of processed balls (NO), the stored ball replay operation is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1013 that the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than the number of used balls + the number of processed balls (YES), a stored ball number subtraction request including the card ID is transmitted to the member management device 80 (S1014). . That is, the control unit 21 functioning as the subtraction processing means calculates the number of stored balls managed by the member management device 80 regardless of the completion of the first lending process and the second lending process, which are ball lending processes for the number of balls used. As a subtraction process for subtracting the number of balls used + the number of fees, a stored ball number subtraction request is transmitted to the member management device 80.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has transmitted this request for subtracting the number of stored balls subtracts the number of used balls + the number of processed balls from the number of stored balls stored in the RAM (S1015), and every 25 used balls (that is, every 100 yen used). ), One sales pulse (here, five sales pulses) is output to the terminal device (not shown) (S1016), and the ball lending process is performed for the number of balls used (S1017). The terminal device to which the sales pulse of S1016 is input transmits the sales information to which the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is added to the sales management device 40.

  The ball lending process for the number of balls used in S1017 is the same as the ball lending process shown in FIG. 10, and after performing the process of S10, the first lending process of S11 to S18 is performed, and the first lending process is performed. When the lending process is completed, the second lending process of S21 to S27 is subsequently performed. When the second lending process is completed, the process proceeds to S31 and subsequent processes. However, in S10, the loan frequency (*) corresponding to the number of balls used and commanding the payout to the pachinko machine 10 based on the content of the loan frequency / ball number DB stored in the EEPROM (FIG. 6 (d)). 1 column) and the number of loaned balls (* 2 column) for instructing the ball dispensing device 31 to dispense. Specifically, the number of balls used here is 125, and the amount of use corresponding to the number of balls used is 500 yen, so 4 degrees is determined as the lending frequency for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to pay out. Then, 20 balls are determined as the number of balls to be dispensed to the ball dispensing device 31. Accordingly, in one replay process of the stored ball, the number of used balls + the number of processed balls = 150 stored balls is used, and 100 pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 and 20 from the ball paying device 31. Pachinko balls are paid out.

  The ball lending process for the number of balls used in S1017 is not limited to the second lending process subsequent to the first lending process as shown in FIG. 10, but the second lending as shown in FIG. The first lending process may be performed subsequent to the process, or as shown in FIG. 31, the second lending process may be performed during the first lending process.

  The member management device 80 that has received the storage number subtraction request in S1014 subtracts the number of used balls + the number of handling balls from the stored number of balls in association with the card ID included in the received storage number subtraction request. (S1018), a notification of completion of subtraction of the number of stored balls indicating that the subtraction of the number of stored balls is completed is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S1019). The ball lending unit 20 that has received the notification of completion of subtraction of the number of stored balls displays the number of stored balls stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 (that is, the number of stored balls after subtraction in S1015) on the stored number display 27 (S1005). Then, the storage ball replay operation is waited (S1006).

[3. Game system 1 including ball lending unit 20 according to the third embodiment]
Next, the gaming system 1 including the ball lending unit 20 according to the third embodiment will be described. The gaming system 1 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a mobile phone 6 is used as shown in FIG. 34 (a). The mobile phone 6 is an example of an electronic money medium, and includes an IC chip that stores a mobile phone ID that can individually identify the mobile phone 6 and the electronic money amount that is the valuable value.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is an electronic money management server that can communicate with the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount management device 50, and the Internet. The difference is that 90 is provided outside the game hall (here, the card company). Here, the electronic money management server 90 stores an electronic money DB. In this electronic money DB, the amount of electronic money is managed in association with the mobile phone ID of each mobile phone 6.

  In addition, the ball lending unit 20 according to the third embodiment has a mobile phone proximity part 29a on the front surface as shown in FIG. 34 (a), as compared with the first embodiment, and the interior thereof. The difference is that the mobile phone R / W 29 is provided and the control unit 21 performs electronic money ball lending processing as shown in FIG.

  Here, the mobile phone R / W 29 is an example of an electronic money medium receiving means. The mobile phone R / W 29 receives the mobile phone 6, reads the mobile phone ID and the electronic money amount from the IC chip of the received mobile phone 6, and electronic money. An electronic money amount subtraction request including the amount used for the ball lending process is transmitted to the IC chip of the mobile phone 6.

  Specifically, the mobile phone R / W 29 uses an electromagnetic wave for accessing the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 toward a hemispherical space centering on the mobile phone proximity portion 29a displayed as “Keitai TOUCH”. When the mobile phone 6 enters the space by being brought close to the mobile phone proximity unit 29a, the mobile phone ID and the electronic money amount are obtained from the IC chip of the mobile phone 6. The electronic money amount subtraction request including the amount used for the electronic money ball lending process is transmitted to the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 while reading. The mobile phone R / W 29 is connected to the control unit 21 as shown in FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 35, the electronic money ball lending process performed by the control unit 21 will be described. In this electronic money ball lending process, a pachinko ball corresponding to the unit lending value (integer multiple of 100 yen = used amount) out of the electronic money amount which is the valuable value stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 is used. The unit lending process for lending is a process of performing a ball lending process for the amount used. Here, the EEPROM of the control unit 21 stores 1000 yen as a reference usage amount. The EEPROM of the control unit 21 stores an accumulated usage amount in which the usage amount used for the ball lending process is accumulated in association with the mobile phone ID read from the mobile phone 6.

  The ball lending unit 20 receives the mobile phone 6 from the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 when receiving the mobile phone 6 by the mobile phone R / W 29 while waiting for the mobile phone reception (S1111). As in the case of S122a in FIG. 8, it is confirmed whether or not the unconnected flag is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, that is, the connection confirmation unit confirms the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30. It is determined whether it is determined that it has not been performed (S1112a).

  If it is determined in S1112a that the unconnected flag is stored (YES), that is, the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30 is not confirmed, the ball lending process for the amount used ( Neither the first lending process nor the second lending process (FIG. 10) which is S1121) is performed, and the cellular phone reception is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1112a that the unconnected flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that the connection between the pachinko machine 10 and the payout unit 30 is confirmed, the control is performed as in S122b of FIG. Whether or not the ball lending prohibition flag is stored in the RAM of the unit 21, that is, whether or not at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 is determined not to be able to pay out the pachinko balls by the payout determination unit. Determination is made (S1112b).

  If the ball lending impossibility flag is memorized in S1112b (YES), that is, if it is determined that at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the ball dispensing device 31 is not in a state in which the pachinko ball can be dispensed, the ball lending for the amount used Neither the first lending process nor the second lending process (FIG. 10), which is the process (S1121), is performed and the cellular phone reception is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1112b that the ball lending prohibition flag is not stored (NO), that is, it is determined that both the pachinko machine 10 and the ball dispensing device 31 are in a state where the pachinko ball can be dispensed, the read electronic money It is determined whether the amount is 100 yen or more, which is the minimum unit value (S1113). If it is determined in S1113 that the amount of electronic money is less than 100 yen (NO), the cellular phone reception is invalidated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1113 that the amount of electronic money is 100 yen or more (YES), it is determined whether or not the amount of electronic money is 1000 yen or more, which is a reference usage amount (S1114). . If it is determined in S1114 that the electronic money amount is 1000 yen or more (YES), the 1000 yen is set as the usage amount, and the process proceeds to S1117. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1114 that the amount of electronic money is less than 1000 yen (NO), the maximum amount (for example, electronic money) that is an integral multiple of the minimum unit value of 100 yen and does not exceed the amount of electronic money. If the amount is 723 yen, 700 yen) is set as the usage amount, and the process proceeds to S1117.

  In S1117, an electronic money amount subtraction request including the usage amount set in S1115 or S1116 is transmitted to the IC chip of the mobile phone 6. That is, the control unit 21 functioning as the subtraction processing means stores the electronic money stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 regardless of the completion of the first lending process and the second lending process, which are the ball lending processes for the used amount. As a subtraction process for subtracting the usage amount from the amount, an electronic money amount subtraction request including the usage amount is transmitted to the IC chip of the mobile phone 6.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has transmitted the electronic money amount subtraction request waits for reception of an electronic money amount subtraction completion notification transmitted from the mobile phone 6 indicating that the subtraction of the electronic money amount has been completed (S1118). When the electronic money amount subtraction completion notification is received (YES), the cumulative usage amount stored in association with the read mobile phone ID in the EEPROM of the control unit 21 is added for the usage amount (S1119). A sales pulse of one pulse for every 100 yen is output to the stand terminal device (not shown) (S1120), a ball lending process is performed for the amount used (S1121), and the mobile phone 6 is on standby for reception. (S1122). The terminal device to which the sales pulse of S1120 is input transmits the sales information to which the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is added to the sales management device 40.

  The ball lending process for the amount used in S1121 is the same as the ball lending process shown in FIG. 10, and after performing the process of S10, the first lending process of S11 to S18 is performed, and the first lending process is performed. When the process is completed, the second lending process of S21 to S27 is subsequently performed. When the second lending process is completed, the process proceeds to S31 and subsequent processes. In the ball lending process for the used amount, if the used amount set in S1115 or S1116 is 1000 yen, 225 pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10, and 15 pachinko balls are sent out from the ball paying device 31. To be paid out.

  The ball lending process for the number of balls used in S1121 is not limited to the second lending process subsequent to the first lending process as shown in FIG. 10, but the second lending as shown in FIG. The first lending process may be performed subsequent to the process, or as shown in FIG. 31, the second lending process may be performed during the first lending process.

  The ball lending unit 20 then sends the electronic money usage information including the mobile phone ID and the accumulated usage amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 every predetermined time (for example, every 3 hours) to the balance management device 50 and the Internet. Is transmitted to the electronic money management server 90 and the stored accumulated usage amount is erased. The electronic money management server 90 that has received the electronic money usage information includes the electronic money usage information from the electronic money amount stored in the electronic money DB in association with the mobile phone ID included in the electronic money usage information. Subtract the accumulated usage.

[4. Ball lending unit 20 and payout unit 30 according to the fourth embodiment]
Next, the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. The ball lending unit 20 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the function of the control unit 21 related to the ball lending processing, and the other configurations, operations, and effects are the same. In addition, the payout unit 30 according to the fourth embodiment is communicable with the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 in the inside thereof as compared with the first embodiment, and also includes the ball payout device 31 and the number of payout balls. The only difference is that it includes a control unit (not shown, but referred to as “control unit 32” for convenience of explanation) to which the sensor 31b is connected, and the other configurations, operations, and effects are the same.

  The control unit 32 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like, and each processing element stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby each component included in the payout unit 30 is provided. The various operations are performed by controlling the operation.

  The EEPROM of the control unit 32 is sent to the ball lending unit 20 from the center management device 70 via the balance management device 50 before the game hall starts business. Among the contents of the number DB, at least the number of loaned balls (* 2 column) for each used amount for instructing the payout to the ball paying device 31 is received from the ball lending unit 20 and stored. Note that the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 according to the fourth embodiment may not store the number of loaned balls in the * 2 column.

  The control unit 32 is an example of a payout number counting means, and counts pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31. Specifically, the pachinko balls paid out from the ball payout device 31 are paid out balls. Each time it is counted by the sensor 31b, the value of the payout ball counter provided in the control unit 32 is added and updated. Note that the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 according to the fourth embodiment does not function as a payout number counting means.

  The ball lending process performed by the ball lending unit 20 and the payout unit 30 according to the fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. First, in the ball lending unit 20, the control unit 21 functioning as the lending processing means is based on the contents of the lending frequency / ball number DB (FIG. 6 (d)) stored in the EEPROM instead of the processing of S10. Then, a process for determining the loan frequency (* 1 column) for instructing the pachinko machine 10 to pay out corresponding to the use amount determined in the use amount determination process of S123 is performed (that is, for the ball payout device 31). The number of loaned balls (* 2 column) commanding the withdrawal is not determined). Then, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 first performs the first lending process, and when the first lending process is completed, the second lending process is subsequently performed.

  In this second lending process, instead of the process of S21, a process of transmitting a fractional ball lending instruction including the used amount determined in the used amount determining process of S123 to the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 , A command for paying out and lending the fraction ball from the ball payout device 31 is given to the payout unit 30, and the command is sent from the payout unit 30 without performing the processing of S22 to S27. Wait for receipt of payout completion notification or unpaid ball count display request.

  The control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 that has received this fraction ball lending instruction receives the received number based on the number of lending balls for each usage amount stored in the EEPROM (* 2 column in FIG. 6 (d)). The number of loaned balls corresponding to the used amount included in the fractional ball number lending instruction (that is, the number of fractional balls) is determined, and the ball payout device 31 is instructed to pay out the determined number of loaned balls. Similar to the process, the timer T provided in the control unit 32 starts to count, and the timer T is set for a predetermined time (the ball payout device 31 has a maximum of 24 pachinko machines in the same manner as the processes of S23 and S24). It is determined whether or not the value of the payout ball number counter has reached the determined number of loaned balls before it times out by measuring a sufficient time for paying out balls, for example, 15 seconds.

  If the control unit 32 determines that the value of the payout ball counter has reached the number of balls to be lent before the timer T times out (YES in S23), the timer T Although not shown, a payout completion notification indicating that the payout of the fractional number has been completed is transmitted to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the number of payout balls is the same as in the process of S26. Reset the counter value. The ball lending unit 20 that has received this payout completion notification completes the second lending process and proceeds to S31.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 32 determines that the value of the payout ball counter has not reached the loaned ball count before the timer T times out (YES in S24), instead of the processing of S27, An unpaid ball number display request for specifying the number of unpaid balls obtained by subtracting the value of the paid-out ball counter from the determined loan ball number is transmitted to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 and is the same as the process of S26. The value of the payout ball counter is reset. The control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the unpaid ball number display request displays the unpaid ball number specified from the received unpaid ball number display request on the unpaid ball number display 25b, and performs the second lending process. After completion, the process proceeds to S31.

  In the fourth embodiment, the unpaid ball count indicator 25b may be provided not in the ball lending unit 20 but in the payout unit 30. In this case, the control unit 32 causes the timer T to time out. If it is determined that the value of the payout ball counter has not reached the loaned ball count by the time (YES in S24), instead of the process of S27, the payout ball counter is calculated from the determined loaned ball count. The number of unpaid balls obtained by reducing the value of is displayed on the unpaid ball number display 25b.

  The fourth embodiment described above can be applied to any of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment.

[5. Modified example]
Finally, a modification of the present invention will be described.

  In the above embodiment, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state performs the ball lending process using the remaining amount of storage, when the return operation is performed or the online state is restored, the ball lending process is used. The offline consumption information is calculated based on the offline consumption amount that is the stored remaining amount and the offline reference amount that is transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20 and stored, and the calculated offline amount When the consumption information is recorded on the recording medium and the recording medium is received by the on-line ball lending unit 20, or the off-line ball lending unit 20 returns to the on-line state, the recording medium recorded on the recording medium The ID and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50, and the remaining amount management apparatus 50 receives the received recording medium ID. The device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB is identified, the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB associated with the device ID is specified, the offline reference amount and the received offline amount The offline consumption amount is specified based on the consumption information, and the offline consumption amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in the remaining amount management DB in association with the received recording medium ID to correct the management remaining amount. I did it.

  Here, referring to FIGS. 36 to 39, when the ball lending process using the stored balance is performed in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, the management remaining amount is corrected by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount. A method for this will be described. In the following, the processing for updating the recording serial number, management serial number, processing for serial number determination, etc. in the ball lending processing and the processing at the time of inserting the recording medium is omitted, and the management residual amount is corrected by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management residual amount. Only the configuration will be described in detail. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount management device 50 calculates the offline consumption amount based on receiving the remaining amount reception notification and the offline information deletion notification instead of the insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and settlement request. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, a process for subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount is performed based on the fact that the remaining amount management device 50 has received the insertion notification. An example will be described. In addition, in the modification shown in FIGS. 37 to 39, the processing performed in the embodiment such as the serial number update processing and the serial number determination processing may be performed together, or not the insertion notification but the remaining amount reception notification or the offline information deletion notification. It goes without saying that processing for subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount may be performed based on the reception of.

  First, with reference to FIG. 36, the method employed in the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a first method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state by the remaining amount management device 50.

  First, in the remaining amount management device 50, the reference amount for offline is stored in association with the device ID of each ball lending unit 20 in the setting value DB shown in FIG. This offline reference amount is transmitted to each ball lending unit 20 at a fixed time (for example, before the start of business at the game hall). For example, an off-line reference amount “15000” yen is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 with the device ID “U0001”. The offline reference amount transmitted here is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21.

  11, when the visitor coin 5 having the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the ball lending unit 20 (S201), the recording medium ID “V0004” recorded in the visitor coin 5 and the ball lending are concerned. An insertion notification including the device ID “U0001” and the like of the unit 20 is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S202). As described in FIG. 12, in the remaining amount management device 50, the device ID “U0001” included in the received insertion notification is stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A (S220), and the received insertion notification is received. The remaining amount notification including the management remaining amount “2500” yen stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221). In the ball lending unit 20, the management remaining amount “2500” yen included in the received remaining amount notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” as a remaining amount (S222).

  Further, as described in FIG. 8, in the ball lending unit 20, when a ball lending operation is accepted (S121), the used amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount (S126), and a ball lending process for the used amount is performed ( In S127), the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the used amount from the remaining management amount (S129). Here, since the ball lending set amount is 1000 yen, by performing the ball lending processing, the 1000 yen is subtracted from the 2500 yen which is the remaining storage amount and the management remaining amount as the usage amount, and the remaining storage amount and the remaining management amount are obtained. It will be 1500 yen.

  At this time, an off-line state between the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount management device 50 occurs. As described with reference to FIG. 18, in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, when a ball lending operation is accepted (S521), the ball lending set amount of 1000 yen is subtracted from the storage remaining amount of 1500 yen as the used amount. (S524), the remaining storage amount becomes 500 yen, and the offline consumption amount corresponding to the recording medium ID “V0004” is added by 1000 yen as the usage amount (S525). Performed (S527). Since the balance is offline, the management balance stored in the balance management apparatus 50 is not subtracted and remains at 1500 yen. Also, as described with reference to FIG. 17, in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, when money (1000 yen) is received (S510), the ball lending processing for the received money amount is performed (S515), Offline consumption is not changed.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 19, when the return operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (S541), the stored offline reference amount “15000” yen—stored as described with reference to FIG. The offline consumption information “14000” is calculated by the formula of the offline consumption amount “1000” yen (S567), and the offline consumption information “14000” is stored in the inserted coin holding unit 120 as the recording medium ID “V0004”. "Is recorded on the visitor coin 5 (S568), and the visitor coin 5 is discharged (S570).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 11, when the visitor coin 5 with the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the balance management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20 (S201), the record recorded in the visitor coin 5 is recorded. An insertion notification including the medium ID “V0004” and the offline consumption information “14000” is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S202). In the remaining amount management device 50, the device ID “U0001” stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A is specified in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification (S211). The offline reference amount “15000” yen stored in the setting value DB shown in FIG. 6A in association with the device ID “U0001” is specified (S212), and the specified offline reference amount “ 15000 "Yen-Offline consumption" 1000 "yen is calculated using the received offline consumption information" 14000 "(S213), and the offline consumption is stored (S214). Then, as described in FIG. 12, the stored offline consumption amount “1000” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1500” yen to make the management remaining amount “500” yen, and the stored offline consumption amount “1000”. The circle is deleted (S247).

  In the example shown in FIG. 36, a value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount is used as the offline consumption information. However, the offline consumption amount itself may be used as the offline consumption information. 50 specifies offline consumption information included in the received insertion notification (supply notification, online return notification, settlement request) as an offline consumption amount, and subtracts and corrects the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount.

  Next, a method different from the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a second method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state by the remaining amount management device 50. In the second method, the number of offline consumptions, which is the number of times that the ball lending process using the stored balance is performed in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, and the remaining amount management device 50 are transmitted to each ball lending unit 20. When offline consumption information is calculated based on the stored offline reference count, the calculated offline consumption information is recorded on a recording medium, and the recording medium is received by the online ball lending unit 20 The recording medium ID recorded in the recording medium and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50, and the remaining amount management apparatus 50 stores them in the remaining amount management DB in association with the received recording medium ID. Device ID is identified, and the reference number of offline times and the ball lending set amount stored in the setting value DB in association with the device ID are specified. The offline consumption amount is specified based on the offline reference count, the ball lending setting amount, and the received offline consumption information, and the offline consumption amount is associated with the received recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. This is a method in which the management remaining amount is corrected by subtracting from the managed management remaining amount.

  In the case of the second method, in the offline state, the ball lending process for the ball lending set amount is performed. To do. The second method is mainly different from the first method shown in FIG. 36 in that the offline reference amount is used instead of the offline reference amount, and the offline consumption amount is replaced with the offline consumption amount. Is to use.

  First, the remaining amount management device 50 stores the reference number for offline use in place of the reference amount for offline use in association with the device ID of each ball lending unit 20 in the setting value DB shown in FIG. . This off-line reference count is transmitted to each ball rental unit 20 at a fixed time (for example, before the game hall starts business). For example, for the ball lending unit 20 with the device ID “U0001”, the offline reference count “30” is transmitted. The offline reference count transmitted here is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21.

  11, when the visitor coin 5 having the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the ball lending unit 20 (S201), the recording medium ID “V0004” recorded in the visitor coin 5 and the ball lending are concerned. An insertion notification including the device ID “U0001” and the like of the unit 20 is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 (S202). As described in FIG. 12, in the remaining amount management device 50, the device ID “U0001” included in the received insertion notification is stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A (S220), and the received insertion notification is received. The remaining amount notification including the management remaining amount “10000” yen stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221). In the ball lending unit 20, the management remaining amount “10000” yen included in the received remaining amount notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” as the remaining storage amount (S222).

  Further, as described in FIG. 8, in the ball lending unit 20, when a ball lending operation is accepted (S121), the used amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount (S126), and a ball lending process for the used amount is performed ( In S127), the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the used amount from the remaining management amount (S129). Here, since the ball lending set amount is 1000 yen, when the ball lending process is performed, the 1000 yen is subtracted from the storage remaining amount and the management remaining amount of 10000 yen as the used amount, and the storage remaining amount and the management remaining amount are reduced. It will be 9000 yen. In this case, the ball lending process is performed once again, and the remaining storage amount and the remaining management amount are 8000 yen.

  At this time, an off-line state between the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount management device 50 occurs. As described in FIG. 18, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state receives a ball lending operation (S521), the ball lending set amount of 1000 yen is subtracted from the storage remaining amount of 8000 yen as the used amount. (S524), the remaining storage amount becomes 7000 yen, and instead of S525, the number of times of offline consumption corresponding to the recording medium ID “V0004” is added once, and the used amount (here, the amount set for the ball rental) The ball lending process for minutes is performed (S527). Since it is in an offline state, the remaining management amount stored in the remaining amount management device 50 is not subtracted and remains 8000 yen. Here, the ball lending process is performed once more, the remaining amount of memory is 6000 yen, and the number of offline consumption is two.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 19, when the return operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (S541), as described with reference to FIG. The recording medium in which the offline consumption information “28” is calculated by the formula of “30” times—the stored offline consumption frequency “2” times, and the offline consumption information “28” is held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 It is recorded on the visitor coin 5 with ID “V0004” (S568), and the visitor coin 5 is discharged (S570).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 11, when the visitor coin 5 with the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the balance management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20 (S201), the record recorded in the visitor coin 5 is recorded. An insertion notification including the medium ID “V0004” and the offline consumption information “28” is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S202). In the remaining amount management device 50, the device ID “U0001” stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A is specified in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification (S211). Instead of S212, the offline reference number “30” and the ball lending set amount “1000” yen stored in the setting value DB shown in FIG. 6A in association with the device ID “U0001” are stored. Instead of S213, the specified offline reference number “30” times—the received offline consumption information “28”) × the specified ball lending set amount “1000” Yen is used as an offline formula. A consumption amount “2000” yen is calculated, and the offline consumption amount is stored (S214). Then, as described with reference to FIG. 12, the stored offline consumption amount “2000” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “8000” yen to make the management remaining amount “6000” yen, and the stored offline consumption amount “2000”. The circle is deleted (S247).

  In the example shown in FIG. 37, as the offline consumption information, a value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption count from the offline reference count is used. However, the offline consumption count itself may be used as the offline consumption information. 50 specifies the offline consumption amount by multiplying the offline consumption information included in the received insertion notification (supply notification, online return notification, payment request) by the ball lending set amount, and subtracts the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount to correct.

  Next, a method different from the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a third method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state by the remaining amount management device 50. In the third method, the off-line ball lending unit 20 transmits the off-line consumption amount used for the ball lending processing using the stored balance, and the balance management device 50 transmits the ball lending unit 20 to each ball lending unit 20 for storage. The offline consumption information is calculated based on the offline reference amount that is different for each time zone when offline occurs (different depending on each time), and the calculated offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium, When the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium are transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. In the remaining amount management device 50, The device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the received recording medium ID is specified, and the ball rental unit 20 of the device ID is identified. The time when the fly-in occurred is specified, the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB in association with the time zone to which the offline occurrence time belongs is specified, the offline reference amount and the received offline consumption information The offline consumption amount is specified on the basis of the storage amount, and the offline consumption amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in the remaining amount management DB in association with the received recording medium ID, so that the management remaining amount is corrected. .

  The third method is mainly different from the first method shown in FIG. 36 in that an offline reference corresponding to a time zone in which offline occurs instead of the offline reference amount corresponding to the device ID. Use money.

  First, in the remaining amount management device 50, the offline reference amount is stored in the setting value DB shown in FIG. 6A in association with the time zone in which offline occurs. The offline reference amount for each time period is transmitted to each ball rental unit 20 at a fixed time (for example, before the game hall starts business). The offline reference amount for each time period transmitted here is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21.

  In this ball lending unit 20, the processing when the visitor coin 5 is received and when the ball lending operation is received are the same as in FIG. Here, when an offline state between the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount management device 50 occurs, the remaining amount management device 50 associates the device ID “U0001” of the ball lending unit 20 with the time “11:22 when the offline occurs. Is stored. In the ball lending unit 20 in the off-line state, the processing when a ball lending operation is accepted and when money is accepted are the same as those in FIG.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 19, when the return operation is received in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (S541), the time “11: when the offline occurs among the stored offline reference amounts. The offline reference amount “16500” yen corresponding to the time zone to which “22” belongs is specified. As described with reference to FIG. 20, the specified offline reference amount “16500” yen—the stored offline consumption amount “ The offline consumption information “15500” is calculated by the formula of “1000” yen (S567), and the offline consumption information “15500” is recorded in the visitor coin 5 of the recording medium ID “V0004” held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. (S568), the visitor coin 5 is discharged (S570).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 11, when the visitor coin 5 with the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the balance management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20 (S201), the record recorded in the visitor coin 5 is recorded. An insertion notification including the medium ID “V0004” and the offline consumption information “15500” is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S202). In the remaining amount management device 50, the device ID “U0001” stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A is specified in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification (S211). The offline occurrence time “11:22” stored in association with the device ID is specified, and the setting value shown in FIG. 6A is associated with the time zone to which the offline occurrence time “11:22” belongs. The offline reference amount “16500” Yen stored in the DB is identified (S212), and the specified offline reference amount “16500” Yen—the offline consumption amount “15500” in the received offline consumption information “15500” formula. 1000 "yen is calculated (S213), and the offline consumption is stored (S214). Then, as described in FIG. 12, the stored offline consumption amount “1000” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1500” yen to make the management remaining amount “500” yen, and the stored offline consumption amount “1000”. The circle is deleted (S247).

  That is, in (1-3) of the “main effects obtained by the invention according to the first embodiment” described above, the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store different reference amounts for offline time depending on each time. Then, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 in which the recording medium of the recording medium ID is received is stored in association with the recording medium ID corresponding to the managed management balance. The ball lending unit 20 records offline consumption information on the recording medium based on the offline reference amount according to the time when it is detected as being offline.

  The balance management device 50 detects the offline state with the ball lending unit 20, stores the time when the offline state is detected and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state in association with each other, and the ball lending unit. The time stored in association with the device ID stored in correspondence with the recording medium ID received from 20 is specified, and the offline consumption amount is specified based on the offline reference amount corresponding to the specified time.

  As a result, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to zero, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to zero. Further, since the offline reference amount varies depending on the time when the offline state is detected, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state. It should be noted that the offline consumption count and the offline reference count may be used instead of the offline consumption amount and the offline reference count.

  Next, a method different from the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a fourth method for specifying the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state by the remaining amount management device 50. In the fourth method, in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process using the stored balance, and the remaining amount management device 50 are transmitted to each ball lending unit 20 and stored. The offline consumption information is calculated based on the offline reference amount that is different for each time zone when offline occurs (different depending on each time), and the calculated offline consumption information and the offline occurrence time are recorded. When the recording medium is recorded on the medium and accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, the recording medium ID, the offline consumption information, and the offline occurrence time recorded on the recording medium are transmitted to the balance management device 50. In the remaining amount management device 50, it is stored in the setting value DB in association with the time zone to which the received offline occurrence time belongs. An offline reference amount is specified, an offline consumption amount is specified based on the offline reference amount and the received offline consumption information, and the offline consumption amount is associated with the received recording medium ID and a remaining amount management DB This is a method in which the management balance is corrected by subtracting from the management balance managed in step (b).

  The fourth method is mainly different from the third method shown in FIG. 38 in that the remaining amount management device 50 does not store the offline occurrence time in association with the device ID, and the ball lending unit 20 The off-line occurrence time is recorded on the recording medium.

  In the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20, the offline reference amount storage method is the same as in FIG. In the ball lending unit 20, the processing when the visitor coin 5 is received and when the ball lending operation is received are the same as those in FIG. Here, when the offline state between the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount management device 50 occurs, the time “11:22” when the offline has occurred is stored in the ball lending unit 20. In the ball lending unit 20 in the off-line state, the processing when a ball lending operation is accepted and when money is accepted are the same as those in FIG.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 19, when the return operation is received in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (S541), the time “11: when the offline occurs among the stored offline reference amounts. The offline reference amount “16500” yen corresponding to the time zone to which “22” belongs is specified. As described with reference to FIG. 20, the specified offline reference amount “16500” yen—the stored offline consumption amount “ The offline consumption information “15500” is calculated by the formula of “1000” yen (S567), and the offline consumption information “15500” and the offline occurrence time “11:22” are held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. It is recorded on the visitor coin 5 having the recording medium ID “V0004” (S568), and the visitor coin 5 is discharged (S568). 570).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 11, when the visitor coin 5 with the recording medium ID “V0004” is received in the balance management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20 (S201), the record recorded in the visitor coin 5 is recorded. An insertion notification including the medium ID “V0004”, offline consumption information “15500”, and offline occurrence time “11:22” is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50 (S202). The remaining amount management device 50 associates the offline occurrence time “11:22” included in the received insertion notification with the time zone to which the offline occurrence time “11:22” belongs, and stores the offline reference amount “ "16500" yen is identified (S212), and the offline consumption amount "1000" yen is calculated by the formula of the identified offline reference amount "16500" yen-the received offline consumption information "15500" (S213), The offline consumption amount is stored (S214). Then, as described in FIG. 12, the stored offline consumption amount “1000” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1500” yen to make the management remaining amount “500” yen, and the stored offline consumption amount “1000”. The circle is deleted (S247).

  The information indicating the time to be recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the time when the offline state occurs or information indicating the time, and may be the time zone when the offline state occurs, or a number indicating the time zone. It may be. Further, the time is not limited to the time when the offline state occurs, and may be any time from the time when the offline state occurs until the recording medium is ejected. For example, the discharge time of the recording medium may be recorded on the recording medium.

  That is, in (1-3) of “Main effects obtained by the embodiment” described above, the following may be performed. The remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store different offline reference amounts depending on each time. The ball lending unit 20 records time specifying information capable of specifying the time and offline consumption information based on the offline reference amount according to the time on the recording medium.

  The ball lending unit 20 further transmits the time specifying information recorded on the received recording medium to the remaining amount management device 50. The remaining amount management device 50 specifies the offline consumption amount based on the offline reference amount according to the time specified from the received time specifying information.

  As a result, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to zero, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to zero. Further, since the offline reference amount varies depending on the time, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state. It should be noted that the offline consumption count and the offline reference count may be used instead of the offline consumption amount and the offline reference count.

  In the above embodiment, as described in S701 in FIG. 24, S221b and S241b in FIG. 25, and S781 in FIG. 26, the settlement apparatus 60 receives the management balance from the remaining amount management apparatus 50 when receiving the recording medium. Although the example of acquiring and adjusting the management balance has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the settlement device 60 records the storage balance on the recording medium, and the settlement apparatus 60 receives the recording medium when the recording medium is received. The recorded remaining amount is read, and the read remaining amount is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. In the remaining amount management device 50, the management remaining amount managed in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium The read remaining amount may be settled on condition that it is determined that the remaining amount transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60 matches.

  In the above embodiment, the recording medium ID is recorded on the member card 4 and the visitor coin 5 and the remaining amount is not recorded. However, the remaining amount may be recorded in addition to the recording medium ID.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, an example is described in which when the offline ball lending unit 20 receives money, the ball lending processing for the received money amount is performed without being operated by the player. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the received money amount is stored, and the ball lending process using all or a part of the stored received money amount is performed based on the reception of the ball lending operation. May be.

  In the above embodiment, as a transaction apparatus, a game medium (ball) using a balance (managed balance) managed in the balance management apparatus in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium as a transaction apparatus. Although the ball lending unit 20 that performs the process of lending is described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, not only at amusement halls, but also at vending machines that are installed at each store and perform processing for paying out goods using the remaining amount of management of the received recording medium, and the purchase price entered for the goods is entered. It may be a POS terminal that performs processing for settlement by subtracting the price from the management balance.

  In the above embodiment, the calculation method and the reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are recorded as the management remaining amount specifying information that can specify the management remaining amount, and the calculation method is 1 The type may be fixed and the calculation method may not be recorded, or any one or a plurality of the reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data may be used. In the above embodiment, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are set in advance in the ball lending unit 20, and the reference data is calculated based on each of these data and the management balance (stored balance). However, as the reference data, for example, a numerical value (for example, the last two digits) of a specific digit of the recording medium ID is used, and based on the reference data and the management balance, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are the original data It may be calculated and recorded as

  Further, as the management balance specifying information, the management balance itself, that is, the storage balance itself may be recorded. In addition, an area for recording the total deposit amount and an area for recording the total consumption amount are provided on the recording medium, and each time the deposit process is performed on the recording medium, the deposit amount is added to the total deposit area, and the ball lending process Is added to the total consumption area every time the transaction is performed, and the settlement amount is added to the total consumption area every time the settlement process is performed. For example, in the online state, when the remaining amount is stored in the RAM in S107 of FIG. 7, the deposit amount (accepted money amount) is added to the total deposit area of the recording medium, and the used amount is subtracted from the stored balance in S126 of FIG. When the money is used, the ball lending usage amount is added to the total consumption area of the recording medium, and when the money is paid out in S781 of FIG. 26, the settlement amount is added to the total consumption area of the recording medium. Further, in the offline state, the received money amount is added to the total deposit area of the recording medium when the received money amount is stored in the RAM in S513 in FIG. When received, the received money amount is added to the total consumption area of the recording medium, and when the usage amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount in S524 of FIG. 18, the usage amount is added to the total consumption area of the recording medium. In S912, when money for the management remaining amount is paid out, the management remaining amount is added to the total consumption area of the recording medium. That is, as the management residual amount specifying information, the total deposit amount and the total consumption amount for the recording medium may be recorded, and the management residual amount may be specified by subtracting the total consumption amount from the total deposit amount.

  The timing for adding the total deposit amount is not limited to the timing described above, and any timing may be used as long as the deposit is confirmed. Specifically, in the online state, addition may be performed after receiving the planned remaining amount notification from the remaining amount management device 50 in S106 of FIG. 7, and in the offline state, NO is determined in S512 of FIG. Then, the addition can be performed.

  Similarly, the timing of adding the total consumption amount is not limited to the timing described above, and any timing may be used after the execution of the ball lending process or the settlement process is confirmed. good. Specifically, in the ball lending process in the online state, the ball lending operation is accepted in S121 of FIG. 8, and the addition is performed after the usage amount is specified in S123, or the ball lending process in the offline state. In S <b> 512, addition may be performed after NO is determined in S <b> 512 of FIG. 17 or after the usage amount is specified in S <b> 523 of FIG. 18. In the online settlement process, addition may be performed after the settlement operation is accepted in S780 in FIG. 26. In the offline settlement process, the settlement operation is performed after the settlement operation is received in S911 in FIG. Addition may be performed.

  In this case, the total deposit amount and the total consumption amount may be collected and recorded after the recording medium is delivered to the amusement hall, or reset every time it is settled in the settlement apparatus 60. You may make it total and record a thing, it resets whenever a memory remaining amount becomes zero by the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20, and totals and records after a memory remaining amount becomes zero. You may do it.

  In the above embodiment, the offline consumption information and the management remaining amount specifying information are calculated and recorded at the timing when the recording medium is ejected. The management remaining amount specifying information may be calculated and recorded on the recording medium.

  In the above embodiment, when the recording medium is inserted, the balance management apparatus 50 stores the device ID in association with the recording medium ID, thereby recording the offline consumption information and discharging the recording medium. Although the device ID of the unit 20 is specified, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the offline consumption information is recorded and returned, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that performs the return is recorded on the recording medium. By including the device ID recorded on the recording medium in the insertion notification and transmitting it to the remaining amount management device 50, the remaining amount management device 50 may identify the device ID of the ball lending unit that has ejected the recording medium. . In this case, the offline occurrence time may be specified directly from the device ID in the method shown in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, when the settlement apparatus 60 returns from the offline state to the online state, the contents of the settlement DB shown in FIG. 6B is transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50 as an offline settlement settlement notification. When the settlement apparatus 60 is closed without returning online, repairs are performed after the power is turned off, and when the power is turned on at the start of business on the next business day, when the online state is entered, the contents of the settlement DB at that time are stored in the balance management apparatus 50. To send to.

  In the above embodiment, the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement with money. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and settlement may be performed by adding electronic money to a mobile phone or card that can store and use electronic money.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the process when the serial numbers do not match is a process for the management remaining amount, such as addition or deletion of the stored received monetary amount and subtraction of the usage amount, is not limited thereto. Even when the serial number mismatch processing is performed, the balance management device 50 may display (notify) the ball lending unit 20 that is the transmission source of the insertion notification or the payment device 60 that is the transmission source of the payment request in an identifiable manner. good. According to this, for example, a store clerk at a game hall temporarily collects a card or coin from the notified ball rental unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60, specifies the remaining amount of the card, etc., and guarantees the player. Is possible. Further, the process when the serial numbers do not match may be a process of transmitting a notification command from the balance management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20 that is the transmission source of the insertion notification or the payment device 60 that is the transmission source of the payment request. According to this, since the notification is performed in the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60, the same countermeasure as described above can be performed. As described above, the process when the serial numbers do not match is not limited to the process for the management remaining amount.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the reference loan amount (ball lending set amount) is set by being distributed from the remaining amount management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20, and the set amount is managed by the set value DB. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reference loan amount may be set in each ball loan unit 20. For example, the ball loan unit 20 is operated by operating a ball loan set amount setting button included in each ball loan unit 20. By setting the ball lending set amount, the set amount may be transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 and managed in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 in the setting value DB. .

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the balance management device 50 first stores the status (S104) in response to receipt of the deposit request, and then stores the received monetary amount (S105). Although the example in which the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted (S106) has been described last, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. In addition, in the ball lending unit 20, in response to the receipt of the scheduled remaining amount notification, first of all, the accepted currency is taken in (S108) as a specific process, and then the first serial number update process (S109) is performed. Although the example in which the money acquisition notification that is the cooperation processing request is transmitted (S110) has been described, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. Furthermore, in the remaining amount management device 50, in response to the receipt of the currency acquisition notification which is a cooperation processing request, first, the accepted monetary amount is added (S113), and then the received monetary amount is erased (S114). Next, an example in which the second serial number update process (S115) is performed and the status update (S106) is finally performed has been described, but the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts the ball lending operation, first the first serial number update process is performed (S124), and then the subtraction request is transmitted ( Next, the usage amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount (S126), and the ball lending process for the usage amount is finally performed (S127). However, the order in which these four processes are performed is limited. Not. In response to the reception of the subtraction request, the remaining amount management device 50 first subtracts the usage amount from the management remaining amount (S129), then performs the second serial number update process (S130), and then The example in which the status is stored (S131) and the subtraction completion notification is finally transmitted (S132) has been described, but the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the ball lending unit 20 first deletes the offline consumption information in response to receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification (S243), and then deletes the offline payment information. (S244), the first serial number update process is performed next (S245), and the offline information deletion notification is finally transmitted (S246). However, the order in which these four processes are performed is limited. Not. Further, in response to the receipt of the offline information deletion notification, the remaining amount management device 50 first subtracts / deletes the offline consumption amount (S247), then subtracts / deletes the offline payment amount (S248), and then The example in which the second serial number update process is performed (S227) and the status update is finally performed (S228) has been described, but the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, in the settlement apparatus 60, the offline consumption information is first erased (S243) in response to the receipt of the settlement authorization information, and then the offline settlement information is erased. (S244) Next, the first serial number update process is performed (S245), and finally the offline information deletion notification is transmitted (S246). However, the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited. . Further, in response to the receipt of the offline information deletion notification, the remaining amount management device 50 first subtracts / deletes the offline consumption amount (S247), then subtracts / deletes the offline payment amount (S248), and then The example in which the second serial number update process is performed (S227) and the status update is finally performed (S228) has been described, but the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26, when the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation, first, the money for the licensed amount is paid out (S781), and then the third serial number update process is performed. (S782) Lastly, an example in which a settlement completion notification is transmitted (S783) has been described, but the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. In response to the receipt of the settlement completion notice, the balance management device 50 first deletes the management balance (S784), then performs a fourth serial number update process (S785), and then updates the status. (S786) Finally, the example in which the remaining amount erasure completion notification is transmitted (S787) has been described, but the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, the ball lending unit 20 determines whether or not the serial number of the recording medium has reached the upper limit value (255 in this case), and the remaining serial number management device 50 also manages the serial number that is being managed. Here, an example of determining whether or not the number reaches 255) has been described, but not limited to this, only the ball lending unit 20 may determine whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value. For example, when the ball lending unit 20 determines that the serial number of the recording medium has reached the upper limit value, the serial number of the recording medium is updated to the initial value, and the recording medium ID and serial number of the recording medium are updated to the initial value. It is also possible to transmit information including this to the balance management device 50 and update the serial number associated with the recording medium ID received by the balance management device 50 to the initial value.

  In the above embodiment, the remaining amount management device 50 also receives the device ID managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB even when receiving a return notification (for example, S184 in FIG. 14) accompanying the return operation. Although an example in which the information is stored without being erased has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the apparatus ID associated with the received recording medium ID may be erased when a return notification is received. . In this case, after the deposit request, the insertion notification, or the settlement request is transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60 to the remaining amount management apparatus 50, and the remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the information stores the apparatus ID. Even if the recording medium is returned in the offline state, the remaining amount management device 50 does not receive the return notification, and thus the device ID is not erased. Therefore, in the offline state, it is possible to specify the ball lending unit 20 in which the recording medium with the recording medium ID has been accepted in the previous online state.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the serial number is incremented and updated by one according to the ball lending process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the serial number may be updated by two, and the update range is arbitrary. That is, the update width may be a common update width determined in advance between the card unit and the remaining amount management apparatus, and may be a negative value, for example. In this case, when the serial number is updated in the ball lending unit 20 and the serial number is not updated in the remaining amount management device 50, [the serial number recorded on the recording medium (that is, the serial number received by the remaining amount management device 50) < The serial number managed by the remaining amount management device 50]. Further, the serial number is not limited to an integer, and may be a character or the like whose order can be specified, such as alphabets or 50 sounds. The “sequential number matching” is not necessarily limited to the value matching, and the serial number (recording serial number) of the recording medium and the serial number (management serial number) of the remaining amount management device 50 are specified to have a predetermined relationship. Cases are also included. For example, if the relationship between the recording sequence number and the management sequence number is shifted by 2, this corresponds to the case where (recording sequence number) = (management sequence number + 2), the sequence numbers match.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the example in which the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount management device 50 are connected so as to be directly communicable is described. A terminal or a relay computer may be interposed, and both may be indirectly connected to be communicable. Moreover, both are not restricted to what can be communicated by wire, You may be what can be communicated by radio | wireless.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 are provided in the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) and connected to the ball lending unit 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a part or all of the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 may be provided in the ball lending unit 20.

  In said embodiment, as shown in FIG.2 (b), the kind of the banknote 2 which can be received with the banknote identification machine 23 is four types, 1000 yen banknote, 2000 yen banknote, 5000 yen banknote, and 10000 yen banknote. Although an example was demonstrated, not only this but the kind of banknote 2 which can be received may be arbitrary 1 type or 2 types or more of these 4 types. The ball lending unit 20 is not limited to accepting only the banknote 2 as money, and may accept only a banknote and a coin, or accept only a coin.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the money (banknote 2) received and collected by the currency accepting means (banknote identification machine 23) is discharged to the outside of the ball lending unit 20, and the banknote Although the example conveyed by the conveyance mechanism has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the accepted and collected money may be stored in the ball lending unit 20.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), an example of accepting money (banknote 2) that is a tangible object in the currency accepting means (banknote identification machine 23) has been described. (For example, money data corresponding to money amount such as electronic money, credit amount specified from a credit card, deposit amount specified from a debit card, etc.) may be received in a contact or non-contact manner. In this case, the collection of money corresponds to the execution of the settlement process, and the return of money corresponds to the suspension of the settlement process.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an example in which the coin discharge port 112 is formed to protrude from the front surface of the card unit (the ball lending unit 20) has been described. The coin discharge port may be formed to be depressed from the front surface of the card unit.

  In the above embodiment, for example, as shown in S103 of FIG. 7, the example in which the deposit request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 includes the accepted monetary amount and the recording medium ID has been described. The insertion notice transmitted from the lending unit 20 is transmitted including the recording medium ID and the apparatus ID, and the remaining amount management apparatus 50 that has received the insertion notice associates the insertion with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notice. When the device ID included in the notification is managed, the receipt request includes the received monetary amount and the device ID, and is included in the deposit request in the remaining amount management device 50 that has received the deposit request. It is also possible to specify a recording medium ID managed in association with the device ID and manage the received money amount included in the deposit request in association with the specified recording medium ID. That is, the deposit request only needs to be information that can identify the received money amount and the recording medium ID. In this case, the device ID is information that can identify the recording medium ID. In addition, when there is only one denomination of money that can be deposited, the amount of money accepted may not be included in the deposit request.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S106 of FIG. 7, as the remaining amount notification that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount, the planned remaining amount notification including the planned remaining amount that is the combined amount is the remaining amount management device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball lending unit 20 grasps the management remaining amount as the storage remaining amount and also grasps the accepted monetary amount. The remaining amount confirmation notification not including the total amount is transmitted as the remaining amount notification from the remaining amount management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20, and based on the fact that the remaining amount confirmation notification is received in the ball lending unit 20, the grasping is performed. It is also possible to calculate a total amount of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount and store the calculated total amount in the RAM of the control unit 21. Further, a remaining amount confirmation notification including only one of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount is transmitted as the remaining amount notification from the remaining amount management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20, and the remaining amount confirmation notification is received in the ball lending unit 20. Based on the above, the sum of the managed balance or received money amount included in the remaining amount confirmation notification and the grasped received money amount or managed balance is calculated, and the calculated sum is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. You may make it memorize in.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S241 of FIG. 12, as the remaining amount notification that can specify the corrected amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the management remaining amount, the scheduled remaining amount notification including the planned remaining amount that is the corrected amount However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball lending unit 20 grasps the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount recorded in the recording medium. Therefore, based on the fact that the remaining amount notification including only the management remaining amount is transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20 and the remaining amount notification is received in the ball lending unit 20, it is included in the received remaining amount notification. A correction amount is calculated by subtracting the grasped offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount from the management remaining amount, and the calculated correction amount is calculated by the RA of the control unit 21. In may be stored.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in S241b of FIG. 25, the correction remaining amount subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline adjustment amount from the management remaining amount includes the planned remaining amount as the correction amount adjustment permission information that can identify the correction amount. Although the example in which the settlement permission information is transmitted from the remaining amount management device 50 to the settlement device 60 has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the settlement device 60 grasps the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, based on the fact that the payment adjustment information including only the management balance is transmitted from the balance management apparatus 50 to the payment apparatus 60 and the payment adjustment information is received by the payment apparatus 60, the received payment permission information is received. A correction amount is calculated by subtracting the grasped offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount from the management balance included in the item, and corresponds to the calculated correction amount It may be to allow a payout of Nusa.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, an example in which the remaining amount is simply stored and managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management device 50 has been described. The amount of money received, the amount of money used, the amount of payment, etc. may be stored and managed together.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the recording medium ID is the card ID of the membership card 4 (a four-digit number starting with M) and the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 (a four-digit number starting with V). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and IDs that do not distinguish between the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 may be used.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the recording medium ID is included in the deposit request in S103, and the remaining amount is managed in association with the recording medium ID from the time of deposit. Not limited to, the device ID is included in the deposit request in S103, the remaining amount is managed in association with the device ID when depositing, and the device ID and the recording medium ID are included in the return notification in S184 to correspond to the device ID. The remaining amount to be managed may be managed in association with the recording medium ID from the time of return. In this case, a process (ie, recording medium R) for managing the amount obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the management remaining amount lending process from the received monetary amount in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium by the remaining amount management device 50. / Remaining amount specifying process for enabling identification from the recording medium ID read from W102), when the money is received in the online state with the remaining amount management device 50, the remaining amount including the device ID and the received money amount Processing to transmit to the management device 50, processing to transmit the subtraction request including the device ID and the usage amount to the remaining amount management device 50 when the ball lending processing for the usage amount is performed, When a discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) is received, a process of transmitting the return notification including the device ID and the recording medium ID to the remaining amount management device 50 is performed.

  In the embodiment described above, an example is described in which the money lending unit 20 receives a money in the online state with the balance management device 50 and transmits a deposit request to the balance management device 50 to perform a deposit process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if the money lending unit 20 accepts money in an online state with the remaining amount management device 50, the remaining amount of the received money amount is not transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 without transmitting a deposit request. When the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is discharged and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, the recording medium ID and the remaining amount are transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. Then, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 may manage the remaining amount in association with the recording medium ID. In this case, the remaining amount specifying means is not used for the ball lending process stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 by subtracting the used amount used for the management remaining amount lending process from the received monetary amount. (Remaining amount) to be managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (that is, the remaining amount specifying process for enabling identification from the recording medium ID read from the recording medium R / W 102). When a discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) is accepted, a notification including the recording medium ID and the remaining amount not used for the ball lending process stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is sent to the remaining amount management device 50. Process to send.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the membership card 4 is a non-contact type IC card and the visitor coin 5 is a non-contact type IC coin has been described. Information may be recorded by a circuit, magnetism, a two-dimensional code (for example, a barcode), a three-dimensional code, or optical interference (for example, a hologram). The shape of the membership card 4 is not limited to a card type, and may be a coin type. Furthermore, the shape of the visitor coin 5 is not limited to a coin type, and may be a card type.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the member card 4 is used as a member recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a mobile phone terminal on which an IC chip recording a recording medium ID is mounted is used for the member. In this case, the ball lending unit 20 or the payment apparatus 60 is provided with a recording medium receiving means for receiving the mobile phone terminal close to it. In the above embodiment, the membership card 4 may not be used.

  In the above embodiment, the membership card 4 that is an IC card and the visitor coin 5 that is an IC coin are not necessarily equipped with a CPU, but may be equipped with a CPU.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the gaming machine is the pachinko machine 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gaming machine is, for example, a slot machine that uses medals as gaming media, and a slot machine that uses pachinko balls as gaming media. Parot (registered trademark), a pachinko machine in which pachinko balls as game media are enclosed in a non-touchable manner, pachinko machines and slot machines that can be played using score data without using pachinko balls or medals An image-type pachinko machine in which game areas and pachinko balls are displayed as images, an image-type slot machine in which reels are displayed as images, and the like may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the lending process is the ball lending process has been described. However, the lending process is not limited thereto, and the lending process includes a medal lending process for lending the medal, the encapsulated type or the image type pachinko machine, In the slot machine, the remaining amount may be converted into a score as a game medium and used for the game.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, as shown in S187 to S188 in FIG. 14, the lowest-order visitor coin 5 stored in the storage passage 131 immediately after the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is discharged. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the coins are received after the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is discharged, The lowest-order visitor coin 5 stored in the storage passage 131 may be discharged and held in the storage coin holder 140.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the full amount of the amount for which payment is permitted is settled in the settlement device 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The desired settlement amount may be settled within the amount range.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the added update process shown in S114 of FIG. 7 is a process of erasing the accepted monetary amount has been described. It is also possible to process. When the received monetary amount is stored cumulatively without being erased or zeroed, the added update process may be a process of setting an added flag for the received monetary amount. Moreover, although the added update process shown in S247 and S248 of FIG. 12 has been described as an example of a process for deleting the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount, the addition update process is not limited to this, Processing to make the off-line settlement amount zero is also possible. Further, when the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount are stored cumulatively without being erased or zeroed, the added update process is a process for setting a subtracted flag for the offline consumption amount or the offline settlement amount. But it ’s okay.

  In the above embodiment, for example, the subtraction completion notification illustrated in FIG. 8 does not include the management remaining amount, and the example in which the storage remaining amount is subtracted in the ball lending unit 20 has been described. The remaining amount may be included, and the management remaining amount may be stored as a remaining storage amount. In this case, when an offline state occurs, the ball lending unit 20 subtracts the remaining storage amount.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, a start request is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 from the remaining amount management device 50 that has detected the return to the online state, and a start response according to the start request After being transmitted from the unit 20 to the remaining amount management device 50, an online return notification is transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 to the remaining amount management device 50 (that is, the ball lending unit 20 in response to a request from the remaining amount management device 50). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and without any exchange of the start request and the start response, the ball lending unit 20 that has detected the return to the online state receives the remaining amount management device 50 from the ball lending unit 20. An online return notification is transmitted (that is, the ball lending unit 20 voluntarily transmits an online return notification regardless of a request from the balance management device 50). ) As it may be. That is, on the basis of the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection means (control unit 21) to the online state, an online return notification is transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 to the balance management device 50. It ’s fine.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the recording medium processing mechanism is provided in the ball lending unit 20 that performs the ball lending process using the remaining amount as a special process has been described, but the types of apparatuses provided with the recording medium processing mechanism are as follows. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, a disc-shaped recording medium on which information capable of specifying the value of special processing value (remaining amount, remaining frequency, etc.) is used as information for performing special processing is used, and along with payment for purchase of goods and services Thus, the recording medium processing mechanism may be provided in a device that performs the processing for subtracting the value for the specific processing as a special processing. In this case, as in the above embodiment, if there is no remaining amount or remaining frequency after the subtraction, the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. If the remaining amount or the remaining frequency becomes zero after the subtraction, the disc-shaped recording medium is collected and stored. When money is received, a new remaining amount or remaining frequency is given to the stored disk-shaped recording medium and discharged.

  In addition, a disc-shaped recording medium on which information that can specify the valid period is recorded is used as information for performing the special process, and a process for inquiring the valid period (for example, whether or not a one-day train ticket is valid) The recording medium processing mechanism may be provided in a device (for example, an automatic ticket checker) that performs the processing for inquiring the information as a special processing. In this case, if it is determined that the query is within the valid period as a result of the inquiry, the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. If it is determined that the valid period has expired as a result of the inquiry, the disc-shaped recording medium is collected and stored. When money is received, a new effective period is given to the stored disk-shaped recording medium and discharged.

  In addition, a disc-shaped recording medium in which information for extracting predetermined data (for example, medical data, resident data, bank account deposit amount, etc.) is used as information for performing special processing is used, and processing for extracting the data is performed. An apparatus for performing special processing may be provided with the recording medium processing mechanism. In this case, when the data is processed, the input of the personal identification number is accepted, and it is determined whether or not the inputted personal identification number matches the personal identification number registered in association with the data. When the determination is made, the data is pulled out, and the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. On the other hand, when it is determined that they do not coincide with each other for a predetermined number of times, the disk-like recording medium is collected and stored without performing the data extraction. When new data is registered, information for extracting the data is recorded on the disk-shaped recording medium stored therein and discharged.

  In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the example in which the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 and the control unit 101 of the passage unit 100 are separately provided has been described. One control unit having both the function of the control unit 21 and the function of the control unit 101 may be provided. The same applies to the settlement apparatus 60.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the card insertion slot 190 is provided on the side of the coin discharge slot 112, and the lower antenna 104 (second reading unit) is stored in the stored coin. Although the example provided between the holding unit 140 (second holding unit) and the card holding unit 191 has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the card insertion slot 190 is provided on the side of the coin insertion slot 111, and the upper portion The antenna 103 (first reading unit) may be disposed between the inserted coin holding unit 120 (first holding unit) and the card holding unit 191. That is, the first reading unit or the second reading unit is disposed between the first holding unit or the second holding unit and the card holding unit 191, so that the disc-shaped recording medium (visitor coin 5) and the card-shaped recording medium are arranged. (Member card 4) may be used as long as it can read both recorded information. According to this, the first reading unit or the second reading unit is located between the first holding unit or the second holding unit and the card holding unit. Since the recording information of both the disk-shaped recording medium and the card-shaped recording medium is read, the reading unit corresponding to the card holding unit is compared with the case where the reading unit is provided separately from the first reading unit or the second reading unit. The space can be saved and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the inclined portion 162 is provided in the communication passage 161 that is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the inserted coin discharge passage 160 is connected to the storage discharge passage 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an inclined portion is provided in the storage / discharge passage 130 so that the storage / discharge passage 130 is shifted in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the inserted coin discharge passage 160. Alternatively, both the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the storage / discharge passage 130 may be provided with inclined portions so that both the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the storage / discharge passage 130 are shifted from the center (for example, half each). good. That is, by shifting a part or all of the inserted coin discharge passage 160 relative to the storage discharge passage 130 in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5, the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 are overlapped to form a coin. What is necessary is just to be formed so that the discharge port 112 may be faced.

  In the above embodiment, the offline settlement information is a flag indicating whether the settlement process has been performed in the offline state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the off-line settlement information may be the off-line settlement amount itself, or may be an amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount from a predetermined reference amount like off-line consumption information.

  In the above embodiment, as described in S188 to S189 in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, when the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140, the offline consumption information and the offline information recorded in the supplied visitor coin 5 are displayed. The settlement information is read out, included in the supply notification, transmitted to the remaining amount management device, and the management remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management device 50 is subtracted and corrected. However, the timing at which offline consumption information and offline settlement information are transmitted to the balance management device to correct the management balance is not limited to this, and after the visitor coin 5 is collected by the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement device 60, the ball is collected. Any timing may be used as long as the rental unit 20 is replenished and discharged (issued) according to the return operation. For example, it may be when the money is supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 and then the money is received or the discharging operation is received, or when the stored information is stored in the storage passage 131, the recorded information is read out. Also good. In the above embodiment, the ball lending unit 20 constitutes the issuing means for issuing the visitor coin 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is provided separately from the ball lending unit 20 and accepts money. Based on the fact that the deposit request including the coin ID of the received visitor coin and the received monetary amount is transmitted to the remaining amount management device and stored in association with each other in the remaining amount management DB of the remaining amount management device. Thus, an issuing device for discharging (issuing) the visitor coin 5 may be used.

  Further, in the remaining amount management device 50 of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIGS. 22 to 25, when an insertion notification, a supply notification or an online return notification is received from the ball lending unit 20, or the settlement device 60. Offline payment amount and offline specified from offline consumption information included in insertion notification, etc. (hereinafter referred to as insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and settlement request collectively) Without subtracting the offline settlement amount specified from the settlement information from the management balance (hereinafter, offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount are collectively referred to as offline consumption amount, etc.), temporarily stored in association with the recording medium ID, After that, notification of offline information deletion, notification of offline information deletion and receipt of payment permission information (hereinafter referred to as offline information deletion notification) The offline information erasure notification and the settlement permission information reception notification are collectively called offline information erasure notification, etc.) It was supposed to be erased. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when an insertion notice or the like is received, the management residual amount such as the offline consumption amount is subtracted, and the offline consumption amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID, and then offline. Only the stored offline consumption amount may be deleted based on the reception of the information deletion notification or the like. In this case, in the sequence number matching process in S207 and 208 of FIG. 11, in addition to the process of deleting the stored offline consumption, etc., the process of adding the offline consumption and the offline settlement amount to the management balance is performed. Done. Further, in the serial number mismatch processing in S264 and S265 in FIG. 13, the stored offline consumption amount is only deleted without performing the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount subtraction process from the management balance. .

  In the above embodiment, the number of loaned balls corresponding to the minimum unit value of 100 yen is set by the operator's manual input in the contents of the loaned power / ball number DB shown in FIG. Based on that, the example in which each value is calculated and set by a predetermined program has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of loaned balls corresponding to 100 yen may be calculated and set by a predetermined program, and each value may be calculated and set based on the set number of loaned balls.

  In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6D, the loan number / ball number DB is set to the loan ball number corresponding to 100 yen which is the minimum unit value by the operator's manual input in the center management device 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 6 (d ′), the loan power / ball number DB is consumed manually by the operator in the center management device 70. It may be created based on the setting of the tax rate.

  Specifically, when 5% is set as the consumption tax rate to be collected by the operator's manual input, each tax-included usage amount is set to 1.05 for each tax-included usage amount from 100 yen to 1000 yen in increments of 100 yen. By rounding up the value after the decimal point, the usage amount without tax corresponding to each usage amount including tax is calculated and set, and each usage amount without tax is divided by 100 yen, which is the minimum unit value. The tax-free loan frequency corresponding to the amount is calculated and set, and by rounding up the value obtained by dividing each tax-free usage amount by 4.0 yen, which is the unit price without tax, it corresponds to each tax-included usage amount The number of balls to be lent is calculated and set. The reason for rounding off the used amount before tax and the number of balls to be loaned is that the number of balls less than one is loaned at the burden of the game hall so that the player does not lose. Thereby, the second to fifth columns from the left of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIG.

  Then, in the same procedure as described in FIG. 6D, for each usage amount including tax, the loan-excluded loan frequency (* 1 column) related to the loan from the pachinko machine 10 and the loan related to the loan from the pachinko machine 10 The number of balls, the tax-free lending frequency related to lending from the ball paying device 31, and the number of lending balls related to lending from the ball paying device 31 are calculated and set. Thereby, the right four columns of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIG. 6D 'are set, and the same DB is created as a whole.

  In this case, the actual unit price including tax differs depending on the amount of use. In other words, the actual tax-included ball unit price when the usage amount is 100 yen is 4.16 ... yen calculated by the equation of 100 yen ÷ 24, and the actual tax-included ball price when the usage amount is 1000 yen. The unit price is 4.18... Yen calculated by the formula of 1000 yen / 239. Therefore, as in the case of FIG. 6D, the amusement hall bears the difference from 4.2 yen, which is an ideal unit price including tax when the collected consumption tax rate is 5%. However, according to FIG. 6 (d ′), it is possible to collect a consumption tax amount that is strictly calculated according to the amount of the usage amount, instead of collecting a certain consumption tax amount according to the usage amount ( In other words, it is possible to lend a ball at a unit price close to the ideal tax-included unit price of 4.2 yen).

  When the consumption tax rate to be collected is set to 10%, the same procedure as described above is used, the usage amount without tax, the usage frequency without tax, and the number of loaned balls (for example, the usage amount is In the case of 100 yen, it is 96 yen, 0.96 frequency, and 23, respectively, and in the case that the usage amount is 1000 yen, 910 yen, 9.10 frequency, and 228 respectively) are set, and the loaning frequency -The number of balls DB is created. The actual unit price including tax in this case is 4.34 ... yen calculated by the equation of 100 yen / 23 when the usage amount is 100 yen, and 1000 yen when the usage amount is 1000 yen. ÷ 4.38 calculated by 228 formulas.

  In the above embodiment, the number of loaned balls corresponding to the minimum unit value of 100 yen is set by the operator's manual input in the contents of the loaned power / ball number DB shown in FIG. Based on this, the example in which each value is calculated and set by a predetermined program has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all or a part of each value may be set manually by an operator. good. Similarly, in the above modification, the content of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIG. 6 (d ′) is determined based on the fact that the consumption tax rate is set manually by the operator in the center management device 70. Although an example in which each value is calculated and set by a program has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and all or a part of each value may be set manually by an operator.

  In the above embodiment, all the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB shown in FIGS. 6D and 6D are stored in the sales management device 40 and each ball loan unit from the center management device 70 via the remaining amount management device 50. Although the example transmitted with respect to 20 was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, You may make it transmit only the content required in each apparatus. Specifically, in the remaining amount management device 50 and the sales management device 40, only the usage amount without tax and the number of loaned balls corresponding to each usage amount including tax are required in the record of the sales DB. To the remaining amount management device 50 and the sales management device 40. Further, in the ball lending unit 20, in the ball lending process, the lending frequency without tax (* 1 column) related to lending from the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to each usage amount including tax, and the number of balls lending related to lending from the ball dispensing device 31 ( * 2) is only required, so the center management device 70 provides the balance management device 50 in addition to the tax-free usage amount and the number of loaned balls corresponding to each usage amount including tax. The amount of loan without extraction and the number of balls in the * 2 column are transmitted, and the amount of loan without tax in the * 1 column and the number of balls in the * 2 column are sent from the remaining amount management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20. May be transmitted.

  In the above embodiment, all of the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB shown in FIGS. Although the example transmitted with respect to 20 was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, The 2nd-5th columns of the loan frequency / ball number DB shown in FIG. The number of loaned balls, the amount used excluding tax, and the number of loans lent are multiplied by an integer, so not all of the contents of the loan frequency / balls DB, but the number of balls lent equivalent to 100 yen including tax, use including tax Only the amount, the usage amount without tax, and the loan frequency are transmitted, and the remaining amount management device 50, the sales management device 40, and / or each ball lending unit 20 transmits the number of loan balls equivalent to the transmitted tax-included usage amount of 100 yen. , Usage including tax, Usage without tax, and loan By multiplying the number by an integer, the number of balls to be paid, the usage amount excluding tax, and the lending frequency without tax are calculated and set in increments of 100 yen from 100 yen to 1000 yen, and the center management With the same procedure (program) as the device 70, for each usage amount including tax, the number of loans without tax (* 1 column) related to the loan from the pachinko machine 10, the number of balls loaned for the loan from the pachinko machine 10, and balls It is also possible to calculate and set the tax-excluded lending frequency related to lending from the payout device 31 and the number of loaned balls related to lending from the ball paying device 31 (* 2 column).

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the contents of the loan power / ball number DB shown in FIGS. 6D and 6D are created and set in the center management device 70 has been described. The contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB may be created and set by the balance management device 50, the sales management device 40, or the ball loan unit 20.

  For example, the number of balls to be loaned or the consumption tax rate corresponding to 100 yen is set by the operator's manual input in the center management device 70, and the number of balls to be loaned or the consumption tax rate corresponding to the set 100 yen is set to the remaining amount management device 50. The remaining amount management device 50 may create and set the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB based on the information transmitted. Further, based on the setting of the number of loaned balls corresponding to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate by the operator's manual input in the balance management device 50, the balance management device 50 creates the contents of the loan frequency / ball count DB. It may be set. When the loan frequency / ball number DB created and set here is used only in the remaining amount management device 50 or transmitted to the sales management device 40, as described above, it is at least stored in the sales DB. It is sufficient to use the tax-excluded amount corresponding to each amount including tax and the number of loaned balls, which are required in the recording. When transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 and used, in addition to the ball lending process Required for the loan, the number of loans excluding tax (* 1 column) related to lending from the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to the amount including tax, and the number of balls related to lending (* 2 column) related to lending from the ball dispensing device 31 It ’s fine.

  Further, the center management device 70 sets the number of loaned balls corresponding to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate by the operator's manual input, and the number of loaned balls or consumption tax rate corresponding to the set 100 yen is set to the sales management device 40. The contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB may be created and set by the sales management device 40 based on the transmitted information. Further, based on the setting of the number of loaned balls corresponding to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate by the operator's manual input in the sales management device 40, the content of the loan frequency / ball number DB is created in the sales management device 40. It may be set. If the contents of the loan power / ball number DB created and set here are used only in the sales management device 40 or transmitted to the balance management device 50, as described above, at least in the sales DB. It is sufficient to use the tax-excluded amount corresponding to each amount including tax and the number of loaned balls, which are required in the recording. When transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 and used, in addition to the ball lending process Required for the loan, the number of loans excluding tax (* 1 column) related to lending from the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to the amount including tax, and the number of balls related to lending (* 2 column) related to lending from the ball dispensing device 31 It ’s fine.

  Further, in the center management device 70, the remaining amount management device 50, or the sales management device 40, the number of loaned balls corresponding to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate is set by the operator's manual input, and the number of loaned balls corresponding to the set 100 yen. Alternatively, based on the fact that the consumption tax rate is transmitted to each ball lending unit 20, the content of the loan power / ball number DB may be created and set in each ball lending unit 20. Also, based on the setting of the number of balls for lending equivalent to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate by the operator's manual input in the ball lending unit 20, the content of the lending frequency / number of balls DB is created in each ball lending unit 20. And may be set. Here, the ball lending unit 20 may create and set the contents of the loan frequency / ball number DB when receiving or setting the number of balls equivalent to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate. In the ball lending process, the number of loans without tax (* 1 column) related to lending from the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to each tax-included usage amount, and the number of balls related to lending from the ball dispensing device 31 ( * 2 column) may be created and set at least. Further, the ball lending unit 20 receives and stores the number of balls lending equivalent to 100 yen or the consumption tax rate, and for each ball lending process, from the pachinko machine 10 corresponding to the amount including tax in the ball lending process. The ball lending process may be performed by calculating the lending frequency without tax related to lending and the number of balls lending related to lending from the ball payout device 31.

  In the above embodiment, in the ball lending unit 20, the usage amount in increments of 100 yen within the range of 100 yen to 1000 yen out of the contents of the loan power / number of balls DB shown in FIGS. 6 (d) (d ′). Although the example in which the number of loans and the number of balls for lending are set for all has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the ball lending set amount is set by the remaining amount management device 50 as shown in FIG. The amount of loan, the number of balls to be loaned, etc. may be set only for each usage amount less than or equal to the ball lending set amount. In this case, ball lending processing other than the ball lending set amount set by the remaining amount management device 50 is not performed (for example, when the lending lending set amount is 500 yen and the management remaining amount is 400 yen, the ball lending process is performed). In the case where the lending frequency, the number of lending balls, etc. are set only for the set amount of the ball lending. Further, when the player can set the ball lending set amount in the ball lending unit 20, the lending frequency, the number of lending balls, etc. are set for each usage amount below the set ball lending set amount. You can do that.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the sales information transmitted to the sales management device 40 includes a sales pulse indicated by one pulse for every 100 yen including tax is described. In the unit 20, the number of loaned balls instructed to the ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30 is counted, and the number of loans (excluding tax) commanded to the pachinko machine 10 is counted once in the sales information. It is also possible to include a frequency pulse indicated by one pulse every time and a ball number pulse indicated by one pulse for every ten loaned balls counted. In this case, when the sales management device 40 receives the sales information, the amount obtained by multiplying the frequency pulse included in the sales information by 100 yen and the number of pulses included in the sales information are the unit price without tax. Sales without tax, which is the sum of 0 yen multiplied, consumption tax by multiplying the sales without tax by the consumption tax rate, and the number of balls and the number of balls by multiplying the frequency pulse by 25 units. The number of balls lent by adding the number of balls indicated by the pulse is calculated, and the calculated sales amount without tax, the consumption tax amount, and the number of lent balls are associated with the device ID included in the sales information in the sales DB. It is added to the sales amount excluding tax, consumption tax amount, and the number of loaned balls memorized in.

  In the above-described embodiment, while the payout determination means (control unit 21) continuously receives the payout enable signal based on the reception of the payout enable signal continuously transmitted from the pachinko machine 10. The pachinko machine 10 is determined to be in a state where the pachinko ball can be paid out, and the pachinko machine 10 is determined not to be in a state where the pachinko ball 10 can be paid out when the payout available signal is not received. In the case where the pachinko machine 10 is in a state where the pachinko balls cannot be dispensed (for example, when the ball dispensing device 13 breaks down or the number of pachinko balls held by the ball dispensing device 13 becomes less than a predetermined number), An error signal is transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 to the ball lending unit 20, and when the payout determination means (control unit 21) receives the error signal, the pachinko machine 10 It may be determined not to be state Haraidaseru the Nko ball.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 30, or FIG. 31, whether the request acknowledge signal is received within a predetermined time (S12), and whether the ball lending completion signal is received within the predetermined time By determining whether or not (S14), it is determined whether or not the first lending process is completed, and the unpaid frequency is displayed on the condition that the first lending process is not completed (S18) However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the loan frequency is displayed at the start of payout, and the unpaid frequency is always displayed by subtracting the display every time a ball lending completion signal is received. It may be continued. Even if there is no payout abnormality, the unpaid frequency in the previous ball lending process (zero if the first lending process is normally performed) may be always displayed regardless of the ball lending process. Furthermore, when an operation (for example, remote control operation) is performed by a game shop clerk, the number of unpaid degrees in the previous ball lending process (zero if the first lending process is normally performed) may be displayed. good.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 30, or FIG. 31, when the unpaid frequency is displayed (S18), as long as there is no reset operation (S37, S40), the ball lending process is not completed. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this. Even when an unpaid frequency is displayed, the ball loan request signal is repeatedly transmitted (retry) to the pachinko machine 10 without resetting the payout frequency counter, and before the reset operation is performed. It is determined whether or not a request acknowledge signal corresponding to the retry has been received, and whether or not there has been a reset operation before receiving the request acknowledge signal, and the request acknowledge signal has been received before the reset operation has occurred When the determination is made, the processing of S12 to S16 is performed. When the value of the payout frequency counter = the loan frequency, the ball lending process is terminated and the main loop shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 17, or FIG. It may be returned to the emissions.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 30, or FIG. 31, it is determined whether or not the number of gaming media counted within a predetermined time by the payout number counting means has reached the fractional gaming media number. Thus, it is determined whether or not the second loan process is completed (S23, S24), and the number of unpaid balls is displayed on the condition that the second loan process is not completed (S27). However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of fractional game media is displayed at the start of payout, and the number of unpaid balls is always displayed by subtracting the display every time the game media is counted by the payout number counting means. The display may be continued sometimes. Even if there is no payout abnormality, the number of unpaid balls in the previous ball lending process (zero if the second lending process is normally performed) may be always displayed regardless of the ball lending process. . Furthermore, when an operation (for example, remote control operation) is performed by a game shop clerk, the number of unpaid balls in the previous ball lending process (zero if the second lending process is normally performed) is displayed. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 30, or FIG. 31, when the number of unpaid balls is displayed (S27), unless there is a reset operation (S37), an example where the ball lending process does not end will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when the number of unpaid balls is displayed, the command (retry) of paying out the number of unpaid balls to the ball dispensing device 31 of the dispensing unit 30 is repeated without resetting the paid-out ball counter. And whether the counting by the payout ball counter is restarted before the reset operation is performed (that is, whether or not the payout according to the retry has been performed) and reset before the counting by the payout ball counter is restarted It is determined whether or not there has been an operation, and if it is determined that counting by the payout ball counter has been resumed before the reset operation has been performed, the processing of S22 to S24 is performed, and the payout ball counter Value = when a loan ball number, 8 to end the ball lending process, may be returned to the main routine shown in FIG. 17, or 18.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, an example has been described in which the ball rental unit 20 in the offline state does not accept the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the recording medium in the ball rental unit 20 in the offline state is described. May be accepted. However, since it is in an offline state and the management remaining amount of the received recording medium cannot be acquired from the remaining amount management device 50, the ball lending process using the management remaining amount of the received recording medium cannot be performed. Even if money is received and off-line lending is performed, off-line consumption information is not recorded on the received recording medium.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, based on the fact that the return operation has been accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (S541), the recording medium is not being accepted (NO in S542), and the storage balance is When it is zero (YES in S543) and the offline consumption is not zero (NO in S555), the processing of S549 to S551 is performed (S557). However, the present invention is not limited to this and is shown in FIG. Similarly to S530 to S532, the processing of S549 to S551 may be performed based on the fact that the remaining balance becomes zero by the offline ball lending process (S527) using the stored remaining amount (YES in S528). good.

  In the second embodiment described above, in 貯玉 the replay process shown in FIG. 33, the first lending process and the second lending process similar to the ball lending process shown in FIG. 10 is performed, which is managed by the member management device 80 Although the example of subtracting the so-called domestic tax (125) from the number of stored balls and the above-mentioned commission ball (25) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of balls (125) of pachinko balls are paid out from the ball paying device 31 of the pachinko machine 10 or the paying unit 30, and the number of used balls and the number of used balls are calculated from the number of stored balls managed by the member management device 80. May be subtracted from the number of balls corresponding to the consumption tax amount (25 yen≈6) and the fee ball.

  In the third embodiment described above, in the electronic money ball lending process shown in FIG. 35, the first lending process and the second lending process similar to the ball lending process shown in FIG. 10 are performed and stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 6 The example of subtracting the so-called internal tax use amount (1000 yen) from the amount of electronic money that has been used has been explained, but this is not the only case. The balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 or the ball payout device 31 of the payout unit 30, and the amount used and the consumption tax amount (50 corresponding to the amount used) are calculated from the electronic money amount stored in the IC chip of the mobile phone 6. Yen) may be subtracted.

  In the third embodiment, the example in which the electronic money medium is the mobile phone 6 has been described as shown in FIG. 34 (a). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic money medium is an IC on which an IC chip is mounted. It may be a portable terminal such as a card or a PDA equipped with an IC chip.

  In said 1st-3rd embodiment, as shown in S23 of FIG.10, FIG.30, FIG.31, in the control part 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the value of the payout ball number counter has reached the number of loaned balls. The example in which it is determined that the second lending process is completed on the condition that it has been determined has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball payout monitoring whether or not the payout of the commanded loan ball number has been completed. The apparatus 31 transmits a payout completion signal indicating that the payout is completed to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the control unit 21 of the ball loan unit 20 receives the payout completion signal. As a result, it may be determined that the second lending process is completed, and according to this, it is not necessary to provide the payout ball sensor 31b. Moreover, in this case, the number of unpaid balls that can specify the number of balls lent (that is, the number of unpaid balls) stored in the ball dispensing device 31 from the ball dispensing device 31 to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. A display request may be transmitted, and the ball lending unit 20 may display the number of unpaid balls specified from the unpaid ball count display request on the unpaid ball count display 25b.

  In said 4th Embodiment, with respect to the control part 21 of the ball lending unit 20, on condition that it determined with the control part 32 of the payout unit 30 having reached the value of the payable ball number counter to the number of loaned balls. Although the example which transmits 2nd loan processing completion notification was demonstrated, not only this but the ball paying-out apparatus 31 which is monitoring whether the payout of the command | indicated loan number was completed was completed. A payout completion signal indicating that the payout unit 30 is transmitted to the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 and the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 receives the payout completion signal to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. On the other hand, the second lending process completion notification may be transmitted, and according to this, the payout ball sensor 31b need not be provided. Further, in this case, the number of lent balls (that is, the number of unpaid balls) stored in the ball dispensing device 31 from the ball dispensing device 31 to the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 via the control unit 32. May be transmitted, and the ball lending unit 20 may display the number of unpaid balls specified from the unpaid ball number display request on the unpaid ball number display 25b.

  In the above fourth embodiment, in the second lending process, the fraction lending instruction including the used amount is transmitted from the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 to the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30, and the fraction ball In the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 that has received the number lending command, an example has been described in which the number of lending balls (number of fraction balls) corresponding to the used amount included in the received fraction lending command is specified. Not only in the first embodiment, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 specifies the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30 from the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 in the second lending process, as in the first embodiment. A fraction ball lending instruction including the number of loaned balls may be transmitted. Further, when the ball lending process other than the ball lending set amount is not performed, the ball lending set amount = usage amount is always used. Therefore, in the second lending process, the payout unit from the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is used. In this case, the payout unit 30 corresponds to the set amount of ball lending. Only the number of balls to be loaned is set, and the pachinko balls of the set number of loans are paid out from the ball payout device 31 based on receiving the payout command from the control unit 21 of the ball loan unit 20. Anyway.

  In said 1st-3rd embodiment, the count of unpaid frequency is performed by the control part 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the unpaid frequency is displayed on the unpaid frequency display 25a provided in the ball lending unit 20. Although the example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the unpaid frequency is counted by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the unpaid frequency is displayed on the unpaid frequency display 25a provided in the payout unit 30. May be. In the fourth embodiment, the unpaid frequency is counted by the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30, and the unpaid frequency is displayed on the unpaid frequency indicator 25a provided in the ball lending unit 20. Alternatively, the unpaid frequency may be counted by the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30, and the unpaid frequency may be displayed on the unpaid frequency display 25a provided in the payout unit 30. In other words, the unpaid frequency indicator 25a may be provided in the ball lending unit 20 or the payout unit 30.

  In the first to third embodiments, the number of unpaid balls is counted by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the number of unpaid balls is displayed on the unpaid ball number display 25b provided in the ball lending unit 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of unpaid balls is counted by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and the number of unpaid balls is displayed on the unpaid ball count display 25b provided in the payout unit 30. Display may be performed. In the fourth embodiment, as described above, the number of unpaid balls is counted by the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30, and the number of unpaid balls is displayed on the unpaid ball count display 25b provided in the ball lending unit 20. The number of unpaid balls may be counted by the control unit 32 of the payout unit 30, and the number of unpaid balls may be displayed on the unpaid ball number display 25b provided in the payout unit 30. Anyway. That is, the unpaid ball number display 25 b may be provided in the ball lending unit 20 or the payout unit 30.

  In the above embodiment, the front cover of the ball lending unit 20 and the front cover of the payout unit 30 may be integrally configured so that the ball loan unit 20 and the payout unit 30 cannot be distinguished from each other in terms of appearance.

  In the above embodiment, the horizontal width of the payout unit 30 may be any width as long as it allows at least a pachinko ball to pass through, and can be arbitrarily configured regardless of the horizontal width of the ball lending unit 20.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8, 17, 18, 33, and 35, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 stores the unconnected flag and the ball lend impossible flag separately. Although the example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when it is determined that the connection confirmation unit does not confirm the connection with at least one of the pachinko machine 10 or the payout unit 30, the ball lending impossibility flag is stored. The determination whether or not the connection flag is stored may not be performed.

  The ball lending unit 20 which is a card unit according to the present invention includes a ball lending process shown in the first embodiment, a storage ball replay process shown in the second embodiment, and an electronic money ball lending process shown in the third embodiment. The single ball lending unit 20 may have a function of performing any two or all of them.

  Finally, another invention described in the above embodiment will be described.

  (1) First, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the card unit further determines whether or not the remaining management amount of the recording medium received when the communicable state is detected by the card unit communication availability detecting means is not zero. Management remaining amount presence / absence management means for managing the management remaining amount presence / absence management means when the inability to communicate is detected by the card unit communication availability detection means after receiving the recording medium. The recording medium is discharged on the condition that the management residual amount of the recording medium is managed to be non-zero by the means.

  Specifically, as described in S561 of FIG. 20, whether or not the management balance of the recording medium accepted when the online state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is not zero. It is managed at least during reception of the recording medium. As described in S570 of FIG. 20, when the offline state is detected after the recording medium is received by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, it is managed that the management balance of the recording medium is not zero. The recording medium is returned on the condition that it has been recorded.

  As described above, even if a communication impossible state occurs after receiving the recording medium, the recording medium is discharged on the condition that the management remaining amount of the recording medium is managed to be non-zero. , A recording medium having a management balance can be surely returned to the player.

  (2) Conventionally, the remaining number (corresponding to the remaining amount of the present application) used for lending game media is associated with the identification code (corresponding to the recording medium identifying information of the present application) of each card (corresponding to the recording medium of the present application). When the game device lending process (corresponding to the lending process of the present application) is performed in the card processing unit (corresponding to the card unit of the present application), the remaining number is subtracted according to the lending of the game medium. There is a system that performs so-called “ID management” (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-30515 (hereinafter referred to as “Document A”) (FIG. 1, FIG. 6, paragraph 0076)).

  Further, conventionally, in a system for transferring data between a plurality of computers, when a processing request is transmitted from a transmitting computer, 1 is added to the serial number of the information storage area, and the processing request including the serial number is received by the receiving side. There is a computer that transmits to a computer, the receiving computer executes processing according to the processing request, registers a serial number included in the processing request, and returns the processing result to the transmitting computer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-148683). Publication (hereinafter referred to as “Document B”) (FIG. 5, paragraphs 0045 and 0046)). Here, if the processing result is not received due to a communication error or the like, the transmitting computer transmits a confirmation request including a serial number to the receiving computer, and the serial number included in the confirmation request is registered in the receiving computer. If it is greater than the serial number, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred before the completion of processing.

  In a system such as that shown in Document A, a processing request (for example, subtraction) is performed to perform processing (for example, subtraction of the remaining frequency) on the remaining amount management apparatus side that is performed in conjunction with specific processing (for example, ball lending processing) in the card unit. If the card unit and the balance management device go offline before the request is received from the card unit, the balance management is performed despite the specific processing (here, the ball lending process) being performed on the card unit side. A mismatch of processing occurs because the processing (in this case, subtraction of the remaining frequency) is not performed on the apparatus side. Here, when the method of document B is applied to the system of document A, the card unit in which the recording medium is used and the remaining amount management device return to the online state, whereby a confirmation request is issued from the card unit to the remaining amount management device. In the case where the processing (in this case, subtraction of the remaining frequency) that is transmitted and the remaining amount management apparatus does not cooperate is specified, it can be identified and dealt with, but the card unit using the recording medium Until the credit card returns to the online state, the remaining amount management apparatus cooperates with the specific process even though the specific process (here, the ball lending process) is performed in the card unit when the offline state occurs. Since it was not possible to specify that the process (here, subtraction of the remaining frequency) has not been performed, the linked process is not performed until returning to the online state. There is a problem that can not be addressed.

  However, the present invention includes the following configuration. In other words, at least a remaining amount management device for managing a remaining amount and a serial number used for lending game media in association with recording medium identification information for individually identifying a recording medium on which a serial number is recorded, and a recording medium for the recording medium A gaming machine that performs various processes including a lending process for lending the gaming medium using a management balance that is managed by the balance management apparatus in association with identification information in cooperation with the balance management apparatus And a card unit provided corresponding to the card unit, wherein the card unit updates a serial number of the recording medium in accordance with a predetermined specific process among the various processes. Specific processing means for performing update processing and transmitting a cooperative processing request for requesting cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing to the remaining amount management device, Further performs the cooperation process in response to the reception of the cooperation process request, and performs a second serial number update process for updating the serial number associated with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium along with the cooperation process. The cooperative processing means receives the recording medium identification information and serial number of the recording medium from the card unit, and determines whether or not the received serial number matches the serial number associated with the received recording medium identification information And a serial number mismatch time processing means for performing a predetermined serial number mismatch processing when it is determined by the serial number determination means that the serial numbers do not match. With this configuration, when the card unit and the balance management device become incommunicable, specific processing is performed on the balance management device side without waiting for the card unit to return to the communicable state. It is possible to identify that the process that cooperates with is not performed and cope with the fact that the process that cooperates is not performed.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a remaining amount management device 50 and a ball lending unit 20. As described with reference to FIG. 6A, the remaining amount management apparatus 50 associates at least a recording medium (for example, a membership card 4 or a visitor coin 5) on which a serial number is recorded with a recording medium ID that can be individually identified, and Manage the balance and serial number used for lending. As described with reference to FIGS. 8, 17, and 18, the ball lending unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 and managed by the remaining amount management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Various processes including a ball lending process for lending a pachinko ball using the management balance are performed in cooperation with the balance management apparatus 50.

  As described in S109 of FIG. 7, S124 of FIG. 8, S223 of FIG. 12, and S245 of FIG. 12, FIG. 15, and FIG. The first serial number update process for updating the serial number of the recording medium is performed in accordance with specific processing (for example, taking in accepted currency, processing for lending money for the used amount, and deleting offline consumption information and offline settlement information) Is called. As described in S110 of FIG. 7, S125 of FIG. 8, S224 of FIG. 12, and S246 of FIGS. 12, 15, and 23, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 performs cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing ( For example, processing for adding / deleting received monetary amounts, first subtracting processing for subtracting the used amount from the remaining management amount, and subtracting / erasing processing for offline consumption and off-line settlement amounts) (for example, taking in money) Notification, subtraction request, remaining amount reception notification, offline information deletion notification, offline information deletion notification) is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50.

  As described in S115 of FIG. 7, S129, S130 of FIG. 8, and S227, S247, S248 of FIGS. 12, 15, and 23, the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 responds to the reception of the cooperation processing request. The linkage process is performed, and a second sequence number update process for updating the sequence number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium is performed in accordance with the linkage process. As described in S202 and S203 of FIG. 11, the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 receives the recording medium ID and serial number of the recording medium from the ball lending unit 20, and the received serial number is received. It is determined whether or not the serial number associated with the recording medium ID matches. As described in S260 to S284 of FIG. 13, when the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 determines that the serial numbers do not match, a predetermined sequence number mismatch process is performed.

  In this way, since the serial number updated with the specific processing in the card unit is recorded on the recording medium, the recording medium ejected from the card unit in which the communication disabled state is inserted is inserted into the communication enabled card unit. As a result, the specific processing is performed in the card unit by the occurrence of the communication impossible state from the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the serial number associated with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium in the remaining amount management device. In spite of this, it is possible to identify and deal with the fact that the remaining amount management apparatus has not performed processing associated with the identification processing.

  (3) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the card unit further performs a lending process for lending a game medium for a predetermined reference lending amount within the range of the management remaining amount as the specific process by a player's operation. The specific processing means transmits a subtraction request for subtracting a reference loan amount used for the loan processing from the management balance as the cooperation processing request to the balance management apparatus, and the balance management apparatus Further includes reference loan amount management means for managing the reference loan amount, and subtraction processing means for performing subtraction processing for subtracting the managed reference loan amount from the management remaining amount based on reception of the subtraction request. And a subtraction completion notification reply means for returning a subtraction completion notice indicating that the subtraction processing is completed to the card unit, and the lending processing means sends the subtraction completion notice. If the non-matching processing means determines that the serial numbers do not match by the serial number determination means, the reference loan amount managed is recorded on the recording medium of the recording medium. The serial number mismatch processing is performed to subtract from the management remaining amount managed in association with the identification information.

  Specifically, as described in S121 and S128 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 performs a player's operation to a predetermined ball lending set amount within the management remaining amount. Ball lending processing for lending pachinko balls is performed as specific processing. As described in S125 of FIG. 8, the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 generates a subtraction request for subtracting the ball lending set amount used for the ball lending processing from the management remaining amount. It is transmitted to the balance management device as a request.

  As described in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A, the ball lending set amount is managed by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50. As described in S129 of FIG. 8, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 executes a subtraction process for subtracting the managed ball lending set amount from the managed remaining amount based on the reception of the subtraction request. As described in S <b> 132 of FIG. 8, a subtraction completion notification indicating that the subtraction process is completed is returned to the ball lending unit 20 by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50.

  As described in S132 of FIG. 8 and S111 and S112 of FIG. 7, the remaining amount and the remaining frequency are displayed in S111 by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on the condition that the subtraction completion notification is received in S132. In S112, the ball lending operation is waited, and the next ball lending process is performed. As described in S272 of FIG. 13, when the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 determines that the serial numbers do not match, the managed ball lending set amount is managed in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Processing is performed when the serial numbers do not match, which is subtracted from the remaining management balance.

  In this way, when the remaining amount is not subtracted on the remaining amount management device side due to the occurrence of a communication impossible state in spite of the loan processing being performed in the card unit, the card unit in another communication enabled state Since the remaining amount of the remaining amount management device is corrected and determined by using the recording medium, the remaining amount of the remaining amount management device can be changed to another amount without waiting for the card unit in which communication is disabled to return to the communication enabled state. The card unit can be used, so that the player is not inconvenienced, and the game hall is not damaged.

  (4) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the reference loan amount management means manages the reference loan amount set for each card unit in association with each card unit, and the remaining amount management device further associates with the recording medium identification information, The card unit that has received at least the recording medium of the recording medium identification information last time has become incapable of communication with the remaining amount management apparatus after receiving the recording medium in a communicable state that can communicate with the remaining amount management apparatus. The card unit identification information storage means for storing information that can identify the card unit and the card unit identification in association with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium when the serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers do not match. From the information stored in the information storage means, the recording medium of the recording medium identification information was previously received. Card unit specifying means for specifying a unit, and the non-coincidence processing means is configured to record a reference loan amount managed in association with the card unit specified by the card unit specifying means. The serial number mismatch processing is performed to subtract from the management balance that is managed in association with.

  Specifically, as described in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A, the ball lending set amount set for each ball lending unit 20 by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 is assigned to each ball lending unit 20. It is managed in association. As described in the remaining amount management DB in FIG. 6A and S220 and S240 in FIG. 12, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 associates the recording medium ID with at least the recording medium ID. A device ID that can identify the ball lending unit 20 that has been received last time and that has been in the offline state after receiving the recording medium in the online state is stored.

  As described in S269 of FIG. 13, when the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 determines that the serial numbers do not match, the device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. The ball lending unit 20 from which the recording medium with the recording medium ID was received last time is identified. As described in S272 of FIG. 13, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 associates the ball lending set amount managed in association with the identified ball lending unit 20 with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Processing is performed when the serial numbers do not match, which is subtracted from the managed balance.

  In this way, the remaining amount management apparatus identifies the card unit that was previously accepted by the recording medium and sets the corresponding reference loan amount even when the reference loan amount (ball loan setting amount) is set for each card unit. Is subtracted from the management balance, so it can be corrected to an accurate balance.

  (5) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the card unit receives money and identifies the amount of the money, transmits a deposit request that can identify the identified received money amount and the recording medium identification information to the balance management device, and In response to receiving the deposit request, the remaining amount management device performs processing for storing the received monetary amount specified from the deposit request in association with the recording medium identification information specified from the deposit request, and Sending a residual amount notice that can specify the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with information and the received monetary amount to the card unit, the card unit, in response to receiving the residual amount notification, Lending possible processing for enabling lending of game media within the range of the total amount specified from the remaining amount notification is performed as the first specific processing, and loanable information indicating that the loanable processing has been performed, Said The remaining amount management device responds to the recording medium identification information of the recording medium in response to the reception of the lendable information, as a cooperation processing request for requesting the cooperation processing corresponding to the fixed processing. A received monetary amount addition process for adding the received monetary amount to the management remaining amount of the recording medium, and an added update process for updating the received monetary amount to an identifiable state. And the received currency amount addition process on the condition that the sequence number determination means determines that the sequence numbers do not match and the received currency amount is stored in an unadded state. The added currency amount adding process is performed on the condition that the added number updating process is performed, and the sequence number determining means determines that the sequence numbers match and the received currency amount is stored in an unadded state. Without performing, performing the addition pre-update processing.

  Specifically, as described in S101 of FIG. 7, money is received and the amount of money is identified by the bill discriminator 23 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. As described in S <b> 103 of FIG. 7, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits a deposit request including the identified received monetary amount and the recording medium ID to the remaining amount management device 50. As described in S105 of FIG. 7, the received money amount specified from the deposit request is changed to the recording medium ID specified from the deposit request by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 in response to the receipt of the deposit request. A process of storing in association with each other is performed. As described in S106 of FIG. 7, the planned remaining amount including the sum of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount managed in association with the recording medium ID by the communication unit 51 and the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50. A notification is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S108 in FIG. 7, the range of the total amount specified from the scheduled remaining amount notification by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 receiving the planned remaining amount notification in response to receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification. The lending process for enabling the lending of game media is performed as the first specific process. As described in S110 of FIG. 7, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 receives a currency acquisition notification indicating that the loanable processing has been performed as a cooperative processing request for requesting a cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing. It is transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50. As described in S113 and S114 of FIG. 7, the received monetary amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 in response to reception of the monetary take-in notification. Is added to the management balance of the recording medium, and added update processing is performed to update the received money amount to an identifiable state by deleting the received money amount. Are performed as the first linkage processing.

  As described in S261 and S262 of FIG. 13, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 determines that the serial numbers do not match and is received on condition that the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state. A money amount addition process and an added update process are performed. As described in S204 and S205 of FIG. 11, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 determines that the serial numbers match, and the received money amount is stored in a state where the received money amount is not added. The added update processing is performed without performing the amount addition processing.

  As described above, in the remaining amount management device, the received money amount addition process and the added update process are performed on the condition that it is determined that the serial numbers do not match and the received money amount is stored in an unadded state. Therefore, even when the card unit receives a balance notice (planned balance notice) and the balance management device becomes unable to communicate before receiving the loanable information (money capture notice), the correct balance It can be confirmed. In addition, the remaining amount management device performs the added update process without performing the received monetary amount addition process on the condition that it is determined that the serial numbers match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state. Therefore, even when the card unit is in a communication impossible state after receiving the deposit request after receiving the deposit request, the correct remaining amount can be determined.

  (6) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the gaming system further includes a settlement apparatus that performs various processes including the settlement process of the management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the recording medium in cooperation with the balance management apparatus, and the settlement apparatus includes: A first serial number update process for updating a serial number of the recording medium in accordance with a predetermined specific process among the various processes is performed, and a cooperative process request for requesting a cooperative process corresponding to the specific process is sent to the remaining amount Specific processing means for transmitting to the management apparatus, wherein the cooperation processing means performs the cooperation processing in response to the reception of the cooperation processing request, and corresponds to the recording medium identification information of the recording medium along with the cooperation processing A second serial number update process is performed to update the serial number assigned to the serial number determination means, and the recording medium identification information and serial number of the recording medium are received from the card unit or the payment apparatus. It is determined whether or not the received serial number matches the serial number associated with the received recording medium identification information. When the serial number mismatching means determines that the serial number does not match, Then, a predetermined serial number mismatch process is performed.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 24 to 29, the gaming system 1 further performs various processes including a settlement process for a management balance corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium. A checkout device 60 is provided in cooperation with the device. As described in S223 and S245 in FIG. 25 and S782 in FIG. 26, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 performs a predetermined specific process among various processes (for example, the settlement process in S226a in FIG. 25, A first serial number update process for updating the serial number of the recording medium is performed in association with the offline consumption information and offline settlement information deletion process of S243 and S244 in FIG. 25 and the settlement process of S781 in FIG. As described in S224b and S246 in FIG. 25 and S783 in FIG. 26, the communication unit 61 and the control unit 62 of the checkout apparatus 60 perform cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing (for example, offline consumption in S247 and S248 in FIG. 25). A linkage processing request for requesting the subtraction / deletion process of the amount and the off-line settlement amount and the management remaining amount deletion process in S784 of FIG. 26 is transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50.

  As described in S227, S247, and S248 in FIG. 25 and S784 and S785 in FIG. 26, the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 performs the cooperation process in response to the reception of the cooperation process request. Along with this, a second serial number update process for updating the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium is performed. As described in S202 and S203 in FIG. 11, S193 in FIG. 14, S607 in FIG. 22, and S702 in FIG. 24, the insertion notification including the recording medium ID and serial number of the recording medium from the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60. The supply notification, the online return notification, or the settlement request is received, and it is determined whether or not the received serial number matches the serial number associated with the received recording medium ID. As described in S260 to S272 of FIG. 13, when the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 determines that the serial numbers do not match, a predetermined sequence number mismatch process is performed.

  In this way, since the serial number updated in accordance with the specific process in the settlement apparatus is recorded on the recording medium, the recording medium discharged from the settlement apparatus in which the communication disabled state has occurred can be transferred to the card unit or the settlement in the communication enabled state. By inserting it into the device, a specific process is performed in the settlement device by the occurrence of a communication impossible state from the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the serial number associated with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium in the remaining amount management device. In spite of being performed, it is possible to identify and deal with the fact that the remaining amount management apparatus has not performed processing associated with the specific processing.

  (7) Conventionally, there has been a system in which the remaining amount is managed in association with the card ID in the remaining amount management device, and the card unit is used for lending using the management remaining amount (for example, Document A (paragraph 0027, No. 0027). 0076 paragraph)). According to such a system, it is possible to prevent an illegal act that increases the remaining amount by falsifying information recorded on the card.

  However, in a system that lends money using the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount management device as in the system disclosed in Document A, if the remaining amount management device and the card unit are in an off-line state in which they cannot communicate, However, there is a problem that it cannot be used for ball lending, which is inconvenient for the player and also causes a decrease in sales for the game hall.

  However, the present invention includes the following configuration. That is, a remaining amount management device that manages a remaining amount used for lending game media in association with recording medium identification information for individually identifying the recording medium, and the remaining amount management in association with recording medium identification information of the recording medium A gaming system comprising a lending processing means for performing lending processing for lending the gaming medium using a management remaining amount managed by a device, and a card unit provided corresponding to the gaming machine. The card unit further includes a management balance acquisition means for acquiring a management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the recording medium from the balance management apparatus, and the management balance acquired by the management balance acquisition means. The remaining amount storage means to be stored and the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means are updated to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the loan usage amount used for the lending processing by the lending processing means. And a card unit communication enable / disable detecting means for detecting whether communication is possible or not possible to communicate with the balance management device, and the lending processing means includes the card unit. The lending process is performed using the remaining amount on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit is not zero when the communication impossible state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a remaining amount management device 50 and a ball lending unit 20. As described with reference to FIG. 6A, the remaining amount management device 50 is used for lending pachinko balls in association with recording medium IDs for individually identifying recording media (for example, membership cards 4 and visitor coins 5). Manage the remaining balance. As described in FIGS. 8, 17, and 18, the ball lending unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10. As described in S121 to S128 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 uses the management balance that is the balance managed by the balance management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Ball lending processing for lending pachinko balls is performed.

  As described in S201 and S202 of FIG. 11 and S221 and S241 of FIG. 12, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 acquires the management balance corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium from the remaining amount management apparatus 50. . As described in S222 and S242 of FIG. 12, the control remaining amount acquired by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is stored. As described in S126 of FIG. 8, the stored remaining amount is updated to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the ball lending process by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. As described in S300 of FIG. 16, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 detects whether the online state where communication with the remaining amount management device 50 is possible or the offline state where communication is not possible. As described in S527 of FIG. 18, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the ball lending process is performed using the stored balance on condition that the stored balance is not zero. Done.

  In this way, even if a communication impossible state occurs, if the management remaining amount is already stored in the card unit as the remaining amount, the remaining amount is used for lending game media. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall.

  (8) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the card unit further specifies consumption information for specifying offline consumption information that can specify an offline consumption amount that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state. The offline consumption when the communication unit is detected by the specifying unit, the consumption information recording unit that records the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying unit on the recording medium, and the card unit communication availability detection unit Consumption information transmitting means for transmitting the recording medium identification information of the recording medium and the offline consumption information to the remaining amount management device based on reception of the recording medium on which information is recorded, and the remaining amount Before the management device manages in association with the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmitting means Management balance is updated to the balance of the taken offline expenditure is subtracted specified offline consumption information received from said consumption information transmitting means.

  Specifically, as described in S525 in FIG. 18, S549 in FIG. 19, S567 in FIG. 20, and S587 in FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process from the stored balance in the offline state. The offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount, which is the amount used for, is specified. As described in S550 of FIG. 19, S568 of FIG. 20, and S588 of FIG. 21, the specified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S202 of FIG. 11 and S607 of FIG. 22, based on the fact that the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 has received the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the online state is detected. Then, the recording medium ID of the recording medium and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the remaining amount management apparatus 50. As described in S202, S211 to S214 in FIG. 11 and S247 in FIG. 12, the communication unit 51 and the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 manage them in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20. The remaining management amount is updated to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information received from the ball lending unit 20.

  As described above, when the recording medium is received by the card unit in the communicable state, the amount used for the lending process in the communication impossible state can be subtracted and updated from the management remaining amount to correct the management remaining amount.

  (9) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the card unit further specifies consumption information for specifying offline consumption information that can specify an offline consumption amount that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state. The consumption information on condition that the specifying means, the consumption information recording means for recording the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying means on the recording medium, and the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means are zero A recording medium collecting unit for collecting the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by a recording unit, and the gaming system further includes an issuing unit for issuing the gaming medium, The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium recovered by the recording medium recovery means, Offline consumption information transmitting means for transmitting to the balance management device, and offline consumption information erasing means for erasing the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information transmitting means transmits the offline consumption information And issuing the recording medium from which the offline consumption information has been erased by the offline consumption information erasing means, and the remaining amount management device in association with the recording medium identification information received from the offline consumption information transmitting means The management remaining amount being managed is updated to an amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information.

  Specifically, as described in S525 in FIG. 18, S549 in FIG. 19, S567 in FIG. 20, and S587 in FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process from the stored balance in the offline state. The offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount, which is the amount used for, is specified. As described in S550 of FIG. 19, S568 of FIG. 20, and S588 of FIG. 21, the specified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. As described in S531 and S533 of FIG. 18, the visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on condition that the remaining amount of storage is zero. Is recovered.

  As described in S193 of FIG. 14, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information recorded in the collected visitor coin 5 are transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 by the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The As described in S243 in FIG. 15, the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium is erased by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted. As described in S191 of FIG. 14 and S552 of FIG. 19, the visitor coin 5 from which the offline consumption information is deleted is issued by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. As described in S247 of FIG. 15, the control balance 52 managed by the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is identified offline from the offline consumption information. Updated to the amount subtracted by the amount consumed.

  In this way, when the stored balance becomes zero, it is possible to reliably correct the managed balance until the next issue of the recording medium without requiring the labor of the store clerk or the player.

  (10) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. In other words, the recording medium collection unit further collects a recording medium with a management balance of 0 when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detection unit, and the issuing unit further includes the recording medium Offline consumption information determination means for determining whether or not the offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium recovered by the medium recovery means, and the offline consumption information transmission means is configured to use the offline consumption information determination means to The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information are transmitted on the condition that it is determined that information is recorded.

  Specifically, as described in S133, S134, S136, and S137 of FIG. 8, when the online state is detected by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the management balance is 0. The visitor coin 5 is collected. As described in S190 of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 determines whether offline consumption information is recorded in the collected visitor coins 5. As described in S193 in FIG. 14, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information are stored on the condition that the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball rental unit 20 determine that the offline consumption information is recorded. Sent.

  As described above, only when offline consumption information is recorded, information is transmitted to the balance management apparatus, so that useless communication processing between the card unit and the balance management apparatus can be prevented.

  (11) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the issuing means supplies the next recording medium to the reading unit for reading the recording information of the recording medium in response to the issuance of the recording medium, and when the next recording medium is supplied to the reading unit The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the supplied recording medium are read and transmitted by the offline consumption information transmitting means.

  Specifically, as described in S188 of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 reads the next visitor coin on the recording medium R / W 102 that reads the recorded information of the visitor coin 5 in response to the issuance of the visitor coin 5. 5 is supplied. As described in S193 of FIG. 14, when the next visitor coin 5 is supplied to the recording medium R / W 102 by the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, recording is performed on the supplied visitor coin 5. The recorded recording medium ID and offline consumption information are read and transmitted.

  In this way, the recording medium can be issued more quickly than when the offline consumption information is transmitted when the recording medium is issued and the management balance is updated.

  (12) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the remaining amount management device and the card unit are offline lending times that are the number of times lending processing has been performed using the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state, or the offline consumption amount The consumption information recording means records a value obtained by subtracting the offline loan count or the offline consumption amount from the reference value as the offline consumption information, and the remaining amount management device is configured to store the consumption information. The offline consumption amount is specified based on a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption information received from the transmission means from the reference value, and the management remaining amount is updated.

  Specifically, as described with reference to the setting value DB in FIG. 6A and FIGS. 36 to 39, the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 perform the ball lending process using the stored remaining amount in the offline state. The offline reference number related to the offline consumption count or the offline reference amount related to the offline consumption amount, which is the number of times performed, is stored. As described in S549 and S550 in FIG. 19, S567 and S568 in FIG. 20, and S587 and S588 in FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 sets the offline loan count or the offline consumption amount to the offline reference count. Alternatively, a numerical value subtracted from the offline reference amount is recorded as offline consumption information. As described in S211 to S214 in FIG. 11 and S247 in FIG. 12, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 subtracts the offline consumption information received from the ball lending unit 20 from the offline reference number or the offline reference amount. The offline consumption amount is specified based on the subtracted value, and the management remaining amount is updated.

  In this way, the offline consumption amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption information is offline. The amount of consumption cannot be made zero. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero, even though the remaining amount is used in a communication impossible state.

  (13) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the reference value is different for each card unit, and the balance management device stores the reference value in association with card unit identification information for individually identifying the card unit, and stores the consumption information. The off-line consumption amount is specified based on the reference value stored in association with the card unit identification information of the card unit that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information received from the transmission means.

  Specifically, as described with reference to the setting value DB in FIG. 6A, FIG. 36 and FIG. 37, the offline reference amount and the offline reference count are different values for each ball lending unit 20, and the remaining amount management is performed. The device 50 stores the offline reference amount or the offline reference number in association with the device ID for individually identifying the ball lending unit 20. As described in S211 to S214 of FIG. 11, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 associates the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium. The offline consumption amount is specified based on the stored offline reference amount or the offline reference number.

  In this way, the offline consumption amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption information is offline. The amount of consumption cannot be made zero. Moreover, since the reference value differs for each card unit, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to further prevent fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero even though the remaining amount is used in the communication impossible state.

  (14) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the balance management device and the card unit store different reference values according to each time, and the consumption information recording means is based on the time specifying information that can specify the time and the reference value corresponding to the time. Off-line consumption information is recorded, the consumption information transmitting means further transmits the time specifying information recorded on the recording medium, and the balance management device is configured to receive the time specifying information received from the consumption information transmitting means. An offline consumption amount is specified based on the reference value corresponding to the specified time.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 39, the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store different off-line reference amounts according to each time. The offline occurrence time at which the offline occurrence time can be specified by the recording medium R / W 102 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, and the offline consumption information based on the offline reference amount according to the time. Recorded on a recording medium. In addition to the offline consumption information, the offline occurrence time recorded on the recording medium is further transmitted to the remaining amount management device 50 by the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 in the online state. The control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 specifies the offline consumption amount based on the offline reference amount according to the time specified from the offline occurrence time received from the ball lending unit 20.

  In this way, the offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium, so even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to zero, The amount of consumption cannot be made zero. Moreover, since the reference value varies depending on the time, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to further prevent fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero even though the remaining amount is used in the communication impossible state.

  (15) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the remaining amount management device and the card unit store different reference values according to each time, and the consumption information recording unit detects the communication disabled state by the communication enable / disable detecting unit. The offline consumption information is recorded based on the corresponding reference value, and the remaining amount management device is further in a state in which communication is impossible by the communication inability detection means for detecting a state in which communication with the card unit is impossible. A non-communication device storage means for storing the card unit identification information of the card unit that is in a state where communication is not possible and the card unit identification information, and the remaining amount management device received from the consumption information transmission means The communication disabled device corresponding to the card unit identification information of the card unit that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information Identifying the stored time to the 憶 means, to identify the offline consumption amount based on the reference value corresponding to the specified the time.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 38, the remaining amount management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store different offline reference amounts depending on each time. The off-line consumption information based on the off-line reference amount according to the time when the ball lending unit control unit 21 detects that it is off-line is recorded on the recording medium. The state where communication with the ball lending unit 20 is detected by the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50 is detected, and the offline occurrence time when it is detected that communication is not possible and the device ID of the ball loan unit 20 which is in communication cannot be obtained. Corresponding and stored. The off-line occurrence time stored corresponding to the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has discharged the recording medium with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is identified and identified by the control unit 52 of the balance management device 50. The offline consumption amount is specified based on the offline reference amount corresponding to the time.

  In this way, the offline consumption amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption information is offline. The amount of consumption cannot be made zero. Further, since the reference value differs depending on the offline occurrence time when it is detected that the card unit and the balance management device are in an incommunicable state, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to further prevent fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes zero even though the remaining amount is used in the communication impossible state.

  (16) Conventionally, there has been a system in which the remaining amount is managed in association with the card ID in the remaining amount management device, and the settlement is performed by the settlement device using the managed remaining amount (for example, Document A (paragraphs 0027, 0035 Paragraph, 0082 paragraph)). According to such a system, it is possible to prevent an illegal act that increases the remaining amount by falsifying information recorded on the card.

  However, in a system that performs settlement using the balance stored in the balance management device, such as the system disclosed in Document A, if the balance management device and the settlement device cannot communicate with each other, There was a problem that it was impossible for the payment to be made and it was inconvenient for the player.

  However, the present invention includes the following configuration. That is, a remaining amount management device that manages a remaining amount used for lending game media in association with recording medium identification information for individually identifying the recording medium, and the remaining amount management in association with recording medium identification information of the recording medium A card unit having lending processing means for lending processing for lending the gaming medium using a management remaining amount that is managed by the apparatus and provided corresponding to the gaming machine; and recording of the recording medium A game system comprising a settlement device for settlement of the management balance corresponding to the medium identification information, wherein the card unit further manages the management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the recording medium A management balance specifying information recording means for recording the balance specifying information on the recording medium; and a recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium, wherein the settlement apparatus further includes the balance A settlement apparatus communication availability detection means for detecting whether the communication apparatus can communicate with a physical apparatus or a communication impossible state capable of communication; and when the communication availability state is detected by the settlement apparatus communication availability detection means The online settlement process for performing settlement based on the management balance managed by the balance management apparatus in association with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium, while the communication by the settlement apparatus communication availability detection means When an impossible state is detected, the settlement means for performing offline settlement processing for identifying the management balance from the management balance identification information recorded on the recording medium and performing settlement of the identified management balance Prepare. Since it is configured in this way, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player.

  Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a remaining amount management device 50, a ball lending unit 20, and a payment device 60. As described with reference to FIG. 6A, the remaining amount management device 50 is used for lending pachinko balls in association with recording medium IDs for individually identifying recording media (for example, membership cards 4 and visitor coins 5). Manage the remaining balance. As described in FIGS. 8, 17, and 18, the ball lending unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10. As described in S121 to S128 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 uses the management balance that is the balance managed by the balance management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Ball lending processing for lending pachinko balls is performed. As described with reference to FIGS. 24 to 29, the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement of the management balance corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium.

  As described in S544 to S546 of FIG. 19, S562 to S564 of FIG. 20, and S582 to S584 of FIG. 21, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 specifies the management remaining amount corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Possible original data and calculation method specifying information are recorded on the recording medium. As described in S552 in FIG. 19, S570 in FIG. 20, and S590 in FIG. 21, the recording medium is discharged by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S800 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 detects whether it is an online state where communication with the remaining amount management apparatus 50 is possible or an offline state where communication is not possible. As described in S221b and S241b in FIG. 25 and S781 in FIG. 26, when the online state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the remaining amount management apparatus is associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Online settlement processing is performed to perform settlement based on the remaining management amount managed at. On the other hand, as described in S904, S905, and S912 of FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the original data and the calculation method specifying information recorded on the recording medium are used. A management balance is identified, and an offline settlement process is performed to settle the identified management balance.

  As described above, the management balance can be settled even in a communication impossible state, so that the convenience of the player can be improved.

  (17) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the settlement apparatus further includes offline settlement information recording means for recording offline settlement information capable of specifying an offline settlement amount settled in the offline settlement process on a recording medium provided for the offline settlement process, A settlement apparatus recording medium ejection means for ejecting the recording medium on which the offline settlement information is recorded by an offline settlement information recording means, and the transaction apparatus further includes the recording medium identification information recorded on the received recording medium And offline payment information transmitting means for transmitting the offline payment information to the balance management apparatus, and the balance management apparatus manages the balance adjustment information in association with the recording medium identification information received from the offline payment information transmission means. The off-line settlement received from the off-line settlement information transmission means for the management balance A management balance updating means for updating the offline payment amount is subtracted forehead is specified by broadcast.

  Specifically, as described in S914 of FIG. 28, the off-line settlement information that can specify the off-line settlement amount settled by the off-line settlement processing is provided to the off-line settlement processing by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60. Recorded on a recording medium. As described in S917 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 discharges the recording medium on which the offline settlement information is recorded.

  As described in S <b> 202 of FIG. 11, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and offline settlement information recorded on the received recording medium to the remaining amount management apparatus 50. As described in S248 of FIG. 12, the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 is received offline from the ball lending unit 20. Updated to the amount subtracted by the off-line settlement amount specified in the settlement information.

  In this way, even when it is necessary to eject the recording medium after settlement, the management balance is subtracted by the offline settlement amount by accepting the ejected recording medium by the card unit in a communicable state. Since the information is updated, the recording medium can be used without waiting for the settlement apparatus to return to the communicable state.

  (18) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the settlement apparatus further includes offline settlement information recording means for recording offline settlement information capable of specifying an offline settlement amount settled in the offline settlement process on a recording medium provided for the offline settlement process, A recording medium recovery means for recovering the recording medium on which the offline adjustment information is recorded by an offline adjustment information recording means, and the gaming system further comprises an issuing means for issuing the recording medium, the issuing means The offline settlement information transmission means for transmitting the recording medium identification information and the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collection means to the remaining amount management device, and the offline settlement information transmission means. The off-recording recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline settlement information is transmitted Offline settlement information erasing means for erasing in settlement information, issuing the recording medium from which the offline settlement information has been erased by the offline settlement information erasing means, and the balance management device from the offline settlement information transmitting means Management for updating the management remaining amount managed in association with the received recording medium identification information to an amount obtained by subtracting the offline settlement amount specified by the offline settlement information received from the offline settlement information transmitting means. The remaining amount update means is provided.

  Specifically, as described in S914 of FIG. 28, the off-line settlement information that can specify the off-line settlement amount settled by the off-line settlement processing is provided to the off-line settlement processing by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60. Recorded on a recording medium. As described in S916 of FIG. 28, the passage unit 100 and the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 collect the recording medium on which the offline settlement information is recorded.

  As described in S193 of FIG. 14, the external communication unit 21b and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmit the recording medium ID and the off-line settlement information recorded on the collected recording medium to the remaining amount management apparatus 50. . As described in S244 of FIG. 15, the offline adjustment information recorded on the recording medium is erased by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 on condition that the offline adjustment information is transmitted. As described in S187 of FIG. 14 and S552 of FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 issues a recording medium from which off-line payment information has been deleted. As described in S248 of FIG. 15, the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 by the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management device 50 is received offline from the ball lending unit 20. Updated to the amount subtracted by the off-line settlement amount specified in the settlement information.

  Thus, even when the recording medium is collected after the settlement, the management balance is updated to the amount obtained by subtracting the offline settlement amount before the collected recording medium is issued. The recording medium can be used without waiting for the return to the possible state.

  (19) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. In other words, the settlement apparatus further includes an allowable operation accepting unit that accepts an offline settlement allowable operation for allowing the offline settlement process from a staff member, and the settlement unit cannot communicate with the settlement apparatus communication availability detection unit. When the state is detected, the off-line settlement process is performed on the condition that the off-line settlement permissible operation is accepted by the permissible operation accepting unit.

  Specifically, as described in S873 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 accepts an offline transition operation for allowing offline settlement processing from the staff. As described in S874 of FIG. 27, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the offline settlement process is performed on the condition that the offline shift operation is accepted.

  In this way, since the clerk can confirm the situation and allow offline settlement processing, it is possible to reduce the possibility that settlement is performed by an unauthorized recording medium by intentionally generating a communication impossible state.

  (20) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the settlement apparatus further includes a settlement information storage unit that stores settlement record medium identification information that is recording medium identification information of a settlement medium that has been subjected to the offline settlement process, and the communication availability detection unit. Whether or not the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium matches the adjusted recording medium identification information stored in the adjusted information storage means when the communication impossible state is detected by Recording medium determination means for determining whether or not the settlement means performs the off-line settlement process on condition that the recording medium determination means determines that they do not match.

  Specifically, as described in the adjustment DB of FIG. 6B, the control unit 62 of the adjustment apparatus 60 stores the recording medium ID of the adjusted recording medium subjected to the offline adjustment process. As described in S902 of FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the recording medium ID of the received recording medium is the recording medium ID stored in the settlement DB. It is determined whether or not they match, and offline settlement processing is performed on the condition that it is determined that they do not match.

  In this way, when the received recording medium is not a recording medium that has been subjected to offline settlement processing, offline settlement processing can be performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent off-line settlement processing using a recording medium that may be fraudulent.

  (21) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. In other words, the settlement apparatus further includes a settlement allowance time zone accepting unit that accepts setting input of an offline settlement allowance time zone that is a time zone allowing the offline settlement process, and the settlement unit is configured so that the current time is the settlement. The off-line settlement process is performed on the condition that it is included in the off-line settlement allowable time zone accepted by the permissible time zone accepting unit.

  Specifically, the communication unit 61 and the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 accept a setting input of a settlement possible time that is a time zone in which offline settlement processing is permitted. As described in S903 of FIG. 28, the off-line settlement process is performed on condition that the current time is included in the settlement-enabled time.

  In this way, the time zone in which the offline settlement process is performed can be limited to the business hours that are the time zone in which the settlement should be performed. As a result, the possibility of fraud can be reduced.

  (22) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the settlement apparatus further includes a settlement amount storage unit that stores recording medium identification information and a settlement amount of the recording medium subjected to the offline settlement process in association with each other, and the communication impossibility detection unit prevents the communication. Based on the detection of the return from the state where the state is detected to the communicable state, the recording medium identification information and the payment amount stored in the payment amount storage means are stored in the balance management device. A balance amount transmitting means for transmitting, wherein the balance amount management device corresponds to the recording medium identification information received from the balance amount transmission means and is managed by the balance amount management device and the balance amount On the condition that the settlement amount determination means for determining whether or not the settlement amount received from the transmission means matches, and that the settlement amount determination means determines that they do not match, the management And a mismatch informing means for informing a fact that the amount and said settlement amount does not match.

  Specifically, as described in S913 in FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 stores the recording medium ID of the recording medium subjected to the offline settlement process in association with the settlement management balance in the settlement DB. Is done. As described in S934 of FIG. 29, the communication unit 61 and the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 store in the settlement DB based on the detection of the return from the offline state to the online state. The recorded recording medium ID and the settlement management balance are transmitted to the balance management apparatus 50. As described in S936 in FIG. 29, the balance of management managed by the balance management apparatus 50 corresponding to the recording medium ID received from the settlement apparatus 60 by the control unit 52 of the balance management apparatus 50, and the settlement apparatus It is determined whether or not the settlement management balance received from 60 matches. As described in S937 in FIG. 29, the control unit 52 of the remaining amount management apparatus 50 transmits to the center management apparatus that the management remaining amount and the settlement management remaining amount do not match on condition that it is determined that they do not match. To be notified.

  As described above, when fraud is performed in the off-line checkout process, it is possible to quickly grasp and deal with the fact after returning to the communicable state.

  (23) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the management remaining amount specifying information recording means records information that can specify a calculation method and original data for calculating the management remaining amount by calculation according to the calculation method as the management remaining amount specifying information, and the adjustment means Specifies the calculation method and the original data from the management balance specifying information, and specifies the management balance by calculating the specified original data by the specified calculation method.

  Specifically, as described in S544 to S546 in FIG. 19, S562 to S564 in FIG. 20, and S582 to S584 in FIG. 21, the calculation method that can specify the calculation method by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The specific information and the original data for calculating the management remaining amount by the calculation by the calculation method are recorded as the management remaining amount specifying information. As described in S904 and S905 of FIG. 28, the calculation method and the original data are specified from the management balance specifying information, and the specified original data is calculated by the specified calculation method, and the management balance is calculated. Is calculated.

  In this way, compared to the case where the management remaining amount is recorded as it is on the recording medium, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the data on the recording medium and falsifying the management remaining amount.

  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. Furthermore, “card unit” can be read as “game device”.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system 4 ... Member card 5 ... Visitor coin 10 ... Pachinko machine 20 ... Ball lending unit 21 ... Control part 21a ... Ball lending communication part 25a ... Unpaid frequency indicator 25b ... Unpaid ball number indicator 30 ... Disbursement unit 31 ... Ball payout device 31a ... Nozzle 31b ... Payout ball sensor 50 ... Balance management device

Claims (5)

A card unit provided corresponding to a gaming machine,
A lending processing means for performing a unit lending process for lending a gaming medium corresponding to a predetermined unit lending value among the valuable values that constitute a part of the card unit and can be used for lending gaming media; A lending processing unit having lending communication means for performing communication for paying out and lending game media from the gaming machine to the corresponding gaming machine;
A payout unit that forms part of the card unit, and has payout means for paying out and lending game media based on a command from the loan processing unit;
The lending processing means, when performing the unit lending processing, out of the gaming media corresponding to the unit lending value, a portion corresponding to the number of gaming media of one unit paid out by the gaming machine for lending As a first lending process in which the lending communication means performs communication for paying out and lending from the lending communication means, a lending request signal requesting lending of the number of gaming media of one unit is transmitted to the gaming machine, and the lending request Based on the fact that the request acknowledgment signal indicating that the license has been accepted is received from the gaming machine, a lending command signal for instructing lending the number of gaming media of one unit is transmitted to the gaming machine, and the lending is completed. A process for receiving a lending completion signal indicating that the game has been completed from the gaming machine, and a command for paying out and lending a fractional number of game media less than the number of game media of one unit from the payout means Performing a second loan processing to be performed on out unit,
The lending processing unit further includes payout determination means for determining whether or not the gaming machine is in a state of paying out game media, and determining whether or not the payout means is in a state of paying out game media. And
The lending processing means, on the condition that at least one of the gaming machine or the paying means is not in a state in which a game medium can be paid out by the payout determining means, the first lending process and the second lending process. A card unit characterized in that neither is performed. The card unit according to claim 1,
The lending communication means repeatedly performs communication for paying out and lending the number of gaming media of one unit from the gaming machine as the first lending processing,
The lending processing unit or the payout unit further includes an unpaid value display means for displaying an unpaid value that is the valuable value corresponding to the number of game media not paid out by the first lending process. unit. The card unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The lending processing unit further includes connection confirmation means for confirming connection with the gaming machine and confirming connection with the payout unit,
The lending processing means does not perform either the first lending process or the second lending process on the condition that the connection confirmation means does not confirm connection with at least one of the gaming machine or the payout unit. Characteristic card unit. It is a card unit given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-3,
The loan processing unit further includes a subtraction processing means for performing a subtraction process for subtracting the unit loan value from the valuable value in association with the unit loan process.
The subtracting means performs the subtraction process regardless of completion of the first lending process and the second lending process. The card unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It is possible to communicate with a management device that manages the value of the valuable value owned by the player in association with the recording medium identification information that can individually identify the recording medium owned by the player,
Recording medium receiving means for receiving the recording medium;
Based on receiving the recording medium by the recording medium receiving means, valuable value acquisition means for acquiring the magnitude of the valuable value corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device;
Valuable value storage means for storing the value of the valuable value acquired by the valuable value acquisition means;
Further comprising communication enable / disable detecting means for detecting whether the management apparatus is in a communicable state or incapable of communication with the management apparatus;
The lending processing means includes
When the communicability detection unit detects the communicable state, the unit lending process is performed using the value of the valuable value managed by the management device,
When a communication impossible state is detected by the communication enable / disable detecting unit, the recording medium receiving unit receives a recording medium, and the valuable value storing unit stores the magnitude of the valuable value. On the condition that the unit lending process is performed using the value of the valuable value stored in the valuable value storage means.

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