JP2013158523A - Player management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a player management system capable of controlling continuance of a situation in which the image of a player can not be appropriately captured.SOLUTION: A management device informs a manager of termination of the play of a player (B6) when a face authentication camera is in a monitoring state detecting that the camera is shaded by the player (B2:Yes) at a timing of termination of the play of the player (B1:Yes). Then, the manager can return the state of the face authentication camera to a state in which the camera can capture the image of the player when the player terminates the play. As a result, continuance of the state in which the face authentication camera can not capture the image of the player can be controlled.

Description

  The present invention relates to a player management system for specifying and managing a player who has visited a game hall where a plurality of gaming machines are installed by imaging.

In a conventional management system for game halls, a player's face is imaged by a camera set corresponding to the gaming machine, and game information for each player is managed by associating operation data with the captured face data. A technique is known (see Patent Document 1).
Here, depending on the player, there may be a suspicion that the manager of the game hall adjusts the occurrence frequency of the special game state advantageous to the player such as jackpot according to the imaging result. Further, even a player who is not suspicious may be dissatisfied with being imaged because he / she thinks that the image is being taken without any reason. Therefore, the actual situation is that the player is taking an image so as not to stand out in the game hall.

JP 2001-162011 A

However, a player who is dissatisfied with being photographed may notice the presence of the camera and shield the camera. Moreover, even if the user is not dissatisfied with the imaged image, the camera may be accidentally blocked by placing an object. Even in such a case, the game hall manager who does not want to make the imaging stand out is difficult to point out to the player about the shielding of the camera, and if the camera continues to be shielded, the camera is shielded. There is a problem that not only a player who has played a game but also a player who plays a game with a game machine corresponding to a shielded camera cannot be imaged, and the effect of imaging the game machine cannot be obtained sufficiently. .
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a player management system capable of suppressing a state in which a player cannot be imaged satisfactorily.

The present invention relates to a player management system for managing a player who has visited a game hall where a plurality of gaming machines are installed.
A game specifying means for specifying that the player is playing a game and the game specifying means provided corresponding to the gaming machine and specifying that the player is playing a game on the gaming machine In the state, the imaging means for imaging the player, the player management means for managing the player based on the imaging result of the imaging means, and the game specifying means that the player is playing a game In a state where the imaging means cannot capture the player in a predetermined normal state, the special state setting means for setting the gaming machine corresponding to the imaging means to the monitoring state, and the monitoring And a special notification executing means for executing a special notification to the game hall manager when the player finishes the game in the gaming machine in which the state is set (claim 1).

In the player management system according to claim 1,
When the monitoring state is not set, imaging is performed at a normal magnification at which a plurality of gaming machines can be simultaneously imaged. On the other hand, when the monitoring state is set at the gaming machine, a player who plays a game on the gaming machine May be provided with special imaging means for imaging at a magnification higher than the normal magnification.

In the player management system according to claim 1 or 2,
When the imaging means includes a shielding specifying means for specifying that the imaging means is shielded in the normal state, and the special state setting means specifies that the imaging means is shielded by the shielding specifying means, The monitoring state may be set (Claim 3).

In the player management system according to claim 3,
The shielding specifying means is a non-operation area or a non-operation object that the imaging means images simultaneously with the player and cannot be accessed by the player, and the special state setting means is a state in which the player is playing a game When the player is not imaged and the shielding specifying means is imaged, it may be specified that the imaging means is shielded (claim 4).

In the player management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A gaming machine notification means for notifying a game hall manager of the gaming machine in which the monitoring state is set, a shielding time operating means operated by a game hall manager to execute the special notification, and the monitoring state And an execution state setting unit that sets a notification execution state based on an operation of the shielding-time operation unit after setting, and the special notification execution unit, when the notification execution state is set, While the special notification is executed when the game is finished, the special notification may not be executed when the special notification state is not set (Claim 5).

  When a player is playing a game, the imaging means may be shielded regardless of intentional negligence, and the player cannot be managed. In this regard, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the imaging means has not been able to image the player normally, a special notification is executed to the administrator when the player finishes the game. Thereby, when a player finishes a game, an administrator can return to the state which an imaging means can image a player. As a result, it can be avoided that the state in which the imaging means cannot capture the player continues. In addition, since it is not necessary for the imaging means to return from the state where the player cannot be imaged during the game of the player, the fact that the player is imaged by the imaging means is inconspicuous to the player. It is also possible to obtain an effect.

  When the player finishes the game, the imaging means can be returned to a state in which the player can be imaged, but it is illegal if the player cannot image the player at all when the player is playing a game. It is not desirable from the viewpoint of prevention. In particular, when a player intentionally shields the imaging means, the player is likely to cheat. In this regard, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the image pickup means, the special image pickup means can take an image of the player. If done, the fraud can be detected early. In other words, it means that the special imaging means has a function of enlarging and displaying a gaming machine that is likely to be cheated and a function as an alternative means of the imaging means. In addition, when there is no abnormality in the image pickup means, it is possible to image a plurality of players located in a wide range.

According to the invention of claim 3, the monitoring state is set when it is specified that the imaging means is shielded in the normal state. As a result, it is possible to distinguish between a case where the imaging unit does not function due to an incomplete state of the imaging unit and a case where the imaging unit is shielded in a normal state.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the imaging unit is capable of imaging by determining whether or not a non-operation area or a non-operation object that is not accessible to the player is captured.

  When the imaging means is shielded, the administrator can determine whether or not to notify at the timing when the player playing the game on the gaming machine corresponding to the imaging means finishes the game. Thereby, even when the imaging means is shielded by a player placing a hand in front of the imaging means and playing the game, it is possible to prevent the notification from being executed at the timing when the game is finished. That is, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the shielding of the imaging means is released without the administrator doing anything until the player finishes the game, a notification is given at the timing when the player finishes the game. You can prevent it from happening.

Schematic which shows the whole structure of the player management system in one Embodiment of this invention. Side view of face recognition camera The figure which shows the imaging state with the camera for face recognition The flowchart which shows the response process during game by the management device The flowchart which shows the game end corresponding processing by the management device

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the player management system. A lending device 2 is installed corresponding to the gaming machine 1 in the game hall, and a management device 3 (player management means, game specifying means, special state setting means, special notification executing means, gaming machine notification means, Equivalent to execution state setting means) is installed. The relay device 4 is connected to two gaming machines 1, two lending devices 2 and a management device 3 via a LAN 5. The management device 3 manages game information for each gaming machine 1 by receiving a gaming signal transmitted from the gaming machine side (the gaming machine 1, the lending device 2, etc.) via the relay device 4.

  The game machine 1 to be managed performs a lottery lottery in response to a ball (game medium) fired on the board surface 7 by operating the operation handle 6 constituting the launching device winning a start opening 8 (start winning prize) The lottery result is notified by symbol variation performed on the display unit 9, and a big hit is made according to the variation result. When a big hit occurs, the grand prize winning opening 10 is opened for 15 rounds (R). The balls paid out from the gaming machine 1 by winning are received by the upper tray 11, and the overflowing balls when the upper tray 11 is full are received by the lower tray 12. In addition, the upper limit winning number of 1R is 10, the upper limit opening time is 30 seconds, and 1R is ended when either the upper limit winning number or the upper limit opening time is satisfied.

The next game signal is output from the gaming machine side.
Out signal = a signal that can specify the number of used balls (out, used game media) output from an out BOX that collects used balls (used media). Since one pulse is output for 10 recovered (used and driven) balls, “the number of out signals × 10” is specified as out. A signal output from the gaming machine 1 may be used.
Safe signal = a signal that can specify the number of payout balls (safe, granted game medium) output from the gaming machine 1. Since one pulse is output for 10 payouts corresponding to a game (winning) in the gaming machine 1, “safe signal number × 10” is specified as safe. The supply signal output from the supply device may be a safe signal.
Start signal = a signal that can specify the number of symbol fluctuations (number of actuated items, start) output from the gaming machine 1. Since one pulse is output per symbol change (actual action, start process) in the display unit 9 that changes (actuates) due to winning at the start port 8, “start signal number × 1” is specified as a start. A start winning signal that is output in response to a winning at the start port 8 may be used as a start signal.
-Jackpot signal = a signal that can identify the jackpot output from the gaming machine 1. Since it is a status signal that is output at a level during the jackpot, it is determined that the jackpot signal is being received as being a jackpot.
Sales signal = signal that can specify sales information (number of sales balls, sales amount) output from the lending device 2. Since one pulse is output for every 25 balls that are valued as valuable to the player, “sales signal number × 25” is specified as the number of sales balls, and the number of sales balls × the rental unit price is specified as the sales amount. (Hereinafter, the sales amount corresponding to the amount used by the individual player is also referred to as the investment amount invested by the player).
Replay signal = a signal that can specify the number of replay balls (replay media) output from the lending device 2. Since one pulse is output for every 25 replay balls that are paid for the player's stored balls, “the number of replay signals × 25” is specified as the number of replay balls.

  The lending device 2 pays out a ball corresponding to the price from the nozzle 14 when money is inserted from the money insertion slot 13. Further, a face authentication camera 15 (corresponding to an imaging means) is incorporated, and the upper body centering on the face of the corresponding player is photographed obliquely from the front, and face data is output to the management device 3. Furthermore, the information display device 16 is provided, and the game information of the corresponding gaming machine 1 or the game information of the designated gaming machine 1 can be displayed by the information display device 16.

  The management device 3 creates game information based on various game signals from the gaming machine side. This game information is obtained by accumulating table data and sales data in a range in which it can be determined that one player has continued to play after starting the game based on the face data output from the face authentication camera 15. It is. Such identification by face authentication is performed by extracting and digitizing the features of the face (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) and comparing the digitized data. Details thereof are omitted.

  On the other hand, a plurality of island correspondence cameras 17 (corresponding to special imaging means) are installed corresponding to the islands, and are connected to the management apparatus 3 via the LAN 5. A plurality of island-corresponding cameras 17 are provided corresponding to one island, and usually the whole island is imaged. However, when an abnormality occurs in the face authentication camera 15 as described later, a plurality of island-corresponding cameras are used. In accordance with the position of the face authentication camera 15 in which an abnormality has occurred, the island corresponding camera 17 that performs enlarged imaging is determined. That is, normally, imaging is performed at a normal magnification capable of imaging the entire island, while a predetermined gaming machine 1 can be imaged at a magnification higher than the normal magnification in accordance with a command from the management device 3.

  In the game hall, as described above, the player is imaged by the face authentication camera 15 to create game information. In the case of a player who is dissatisfied with the imaging, the face authentication camera is used. 15 may be noticed and the face authentication camera 15 may be shielded. Even if the user is not dissatisfied with the image, the face authentication camera 15 may be accidentally blocked by placing an object or the like. In such a case, it is possible to specify that the image is shielded based on the imaging result of the face authentication camera 15, but when the face authentication camera 15 breaks down and becomes incomplete, the imaging result alone blocks the image. It is difficult to determine whether the failure has occurred.

  For this reason, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, a camera operation confirmation bar 18 (corresponding to the shielding identification means) is used to identify whether the face authentication camera 15 is shielded in a normal state. And the protective cover 19, and the camera operation check bar 18 is always imaged. The camera operation confirmation bar 18 corresponds to a non-operation object that cannot be accessed by the player.

  The management device 3 can execute a function for managing a gaming state (a state in which a player is playing a game) and a function for managing (monitoring) an illegal act. When managing fraud, if the player's face cannot be recognized in a state in which the player's gaming state is specified, the face authentication camera 15 can be determined as a masked fraud state, but the face authentication camera Since it is also possible that the player's face cannot be authenticated due to 15 failures, the state that specifies that the camera operation confirmation bar 18 is being imaged is set to the normal state, and based on the imaging result in the normal state An illegal act is determined when the face authentication camera 15 is shielded.

In addition to the normal game information management process, the management device 3 executes an in-game response process and a game end response process in connection with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing during game by the management device 3. The management device 3 determines that the player is playing (A1). This determination is based on whether outs occur continuously (the next out occurs within 2 minutes after the occurrence of outs), and whether the player's seat can be identified by the face authentication camera 15. However, the determination method during the game may be arbitrarily changed. In consideration of the occurrence of the shielding state of the face authentication camera 15 as described above, it is desirable to determine based on the occurrence of out.

  When determining that the player is playing a game (A1: YES), the management device 3 determines whether the player is normally imaged (A2). In this case, the face authentication camera 15 captures images at a predetermined cycle (4 seconds), and a state where the player's face is not captured (70%) beyond a predetermined range or a specific part of the player (for example, a game) It is determined that imaging could not be performed normally when the state in which the person's eyes) could not be imaged continued for a predetermined number of times (50 times, that is, 200 seconds) or more. This is in order to prevent the player from deciding that the image has not been picked up normally, for example, because the player has been picked up.

  When the management apparatus 3 cannot capture the player normally (A2: NO), the management apparatus 3 executes the enlarged imaging by the island correspondence camera 17 (A3). In other words, the island-corresponding camera 17 normally captures the entire corresponding island, but if the face authentication camera 15 determines that the player cannot be captured normally, the face authentication camera 15 corresponds. One player who plays a game on the gaming machine 1 is imaged. At this time, although the magnification is usually low, when an abnormality has occurred in the face authentication camera 15, in order to capture an image of one player, the image is captured at a magnification larger than normal. In short, instead of the face authentication camera 15, the player is imaged at a magnification that allows face authentication. Further, when the enlarged imaging is already being executed, the state is maintained.

Next, the management device 3 determines whether the camera operation confirmation bar 18 has been imaged (A4).
FIG. 3 shows the imaging state of the face authentication camera 15, and it is possible to determine the imaging state of the face authentication camera 15 based on the imaging state of the camera operation confirmation bar 18. That is, the state in which the camera operation confirmation bar 18 is imaged as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is the normal state of the face authentication camera 15, and the camera operation confirmation bar 18 is shown in FIG. In addition to the above, the state in which the player's face can be imaged is the normal state, and the camera operation check bar 18 can be imaged as shown in FIG. The state in which the camera operation confirmation bar 18 itself cannot be imaged as shown in FIG. Note that (c) shows a state in which the camera operation confirmation bar 18 cannot be imaged due to noise occurring on the entire imaging screen. However, as a camera operation incomplete state, all areas cannot be imaged at all. Alternatively, various incomplete states are conceivable, such as the fact that only the camera operation confirmation bar 18 cannot be imaged.

When the camera operation confirmation bar 18 can be imaged (A4: YES), the management device 3 determines whether the monitoring state is being set (A5). In this case, since the monitoring state is not being set (A5: NO), the monitoring state is set (A6), and the setting of the monitoring state is notified (A7). This management state notification or the game end notification described later is performed by the management device 3. Specifically, the management device 3 notifies the abnormality, and notifies the intercom (income) of the manager (the salesclerk in charge) which gaming machine 1 has been set in the monitoring state.
Since the management device 3 is in the monitoring state setting state (A5: YES), the management device 3 determines whether there is a notification execution operation by the administrator (A9).

  Now, the administrator confirms the gaming machine 1 that has become abnormal by being notified of the setting of the monitoring state, and determines whether or not notification is necessary when the player who is playing the game has finished the game. For example, when the face authentication camera 15 is accidentally shielded, such as when a hand is placed in front of the face authentication camera 15, there is no need to notify the player of the end of the game. On the other hand, when a shielding object is placed on the front face of the face authentication camera 15, it is determined that notification is necessary when the game is finished, and a notification execution operation is performed. This notification execution operation is performed by an operation performed by a manager on a remote controller (corresponding to an operation unit when shielded).

The management device 3 determines that there is a notification execution operation by the administrator (A9: YES), and sets the notification execution state (A10). Even in the notification execution state, the monitoring state continues.
Note that not only the notification execution state can be set, but also a state where notification is not required when the player finishes the game may be set. In other words, when the monitoring state is set, it may be possible to identify whether the administrator has confirmed or not confirmed whether notification is necessary at the timing when the player finishes the game. Note that the monitoring state and the notification execution state are set for the gaming machine 1 (in the management device 3), but it is not necessary to directly set the gaming machine 1, for example, the face authentication camera 15 If the corresponding gaming machine 1 can be identified, such as setting the monitoring state, this corresponds to setting the gaming machine 1 to the monitoring state.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the camera operation confirmation bar 18 itself has not been imaged (A4: NO), the imaging function of the face authentication camera 15 itself is inadequate and a serious abnormality is reported to the administrator. Abnormality is notified (A8). In this case, if the camera operation deficiency is already being reported, the state is maintained.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a game end handling process by the management apparatus 3. The management device 3 determines whether or not the player's game end has been specified (B1). The end of the game is determined by the fact that the out has not occurred for a predetermined time (2 minutes) or the absence of the player has been specified. When the face authentication camera 15 is not shielded, the determination of the absence is determined by whether or not the background corresponding to the position of the player's face is imaged in a state where the player's face is not imaged. . If it is shielded, it is determined that no out has occurred for a predetermined time.
When the management device 3 specifies the end of the game of the player (B1: YES), the management device 3 determines whether it is in a monitoring state (B2). In this case, since it is in the monitoring state (B2: YES), the enlarged imaging by the island correspondence camera 17 is terminated (B3), and the monitoring state is canceled (B4).

  Next, the management device 3 determines whether the notification execution state is set (B5). In this case, since it is a notification execution state (B5: YES), after notification of the player's game end (corresponding to “execute special notification”) (B6), the notification execution state is canceled (B7). The administrator goes to the notified gaming machine 1 and removes the object that is shielding the face authentication camera 15. Thus, in the notification execution state, the player is notified of the end of the game because the fact that the player is imaged is blatantly, so when the face authentication camera 15 is shielded, the player is immediately notified. This is because it is difficult to take care and remove the shield. In other words, since there are players who think that taking an image is a remote operation of the gaming machine 1, the player does not want to be aware that the image is being taken, or is sensitive to being unable to take an image. This is because there is a situation that you do not want to think that you are reacting.

According to such an embodiment, the following effects can be produced.
When the management device 3 is in a monitoring state in which it is detected that the face authentication camera 15 is shielded by the player at the timing when the player finishes the game, the management device 3 notifies the administrator of the game end of the player. When the player finishes the game, the administrator can return to a state in which the face authentication camera 15 can capture the player. As a result, it is possible to prevent the state where the face authentication camera 15 cannot capture the player from continuing. In addition, since it is not necessary for the face authentication camera 15 to return from the state in which the player cannot be imaged during the game of the player, it is determined that the player is imaging the face authentication camera 15. It is also possible to obtain an effect that makes the person inconspicuous.

While imaging is performed at a normal magnification that allows the entire island to be imaged by the island-corresponding camera 17, when the monitoring state is set in the gaming machine 1, a player who plays a game on the gaming machine 1 has a higher magnification than the normal magnification. Therefore, when the player performs an illegal act while the face authentication camera 15 is shielded, the illegal act can be detected at an early stage. That is, the island correspondence camera 17 has a function of enlarging and displaying the gaming machine 1 that is likely to be cheated, and a function as an alternative to the face authentication camera 15.
Since the management apparatus 3 is configured to specify whether or not the face authentication camera 15 is shielded in the normal state by the camera operation check bar 18, the case where the face authentication camera 15 is not functioning in an incomplete state, It can be distinguished from the case of being shielded in a normal state.

  Since the management device 3 executes the notification at the timing when the player finishes the game when the notification execution state is set, the management device 3 does not execute the notification when the notification execution state is not set. Even when the face authentication camera 15 is shielded by a player placing a hand in front of the authentication camera 15 and playing the game, it is possible to prevent the notification from being executed when the game ends. . That is, when the shield of the face authentication camera 15 is released even if the manager does nothing until the player finishes the game, the player is not notified at the timing when the player finishes the game. be able to.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
If the player cannot be imaged by the face authentication camera 15, the player is likely to cheat. Therefore, when the island-corresponding camera 17 performs an enlarged display, the imaging may be performed at a magnification at which the whole body of the player can be captured (the player's movement can be understood).
If the face authentication camera 15 cannot capture the player and the island corresponding camera 17 can capture the player, the magnification of the island corresponding camera 17 does not need to be changed. In this case, it is desirable to increase the resolution of the island correspondence camera 17. That is, the imaging range is the same, but it is set in advance so that it can be easily expanded later.
The means for specifying whether the face authentication camera 15 is shielded in a normal state is not limited to the camera operation confirmation bar 18, but is a predetermined area (for example, a predetermined wall surface) in the lending apparatus 2. Thus, it may be a part (corresponding to a non-operation area) that the player cannot access.

It may be determined whether the face authentication camera 15 is operating normally by outputting a signal when the face authentication camera 15 is operating normally. In this case, if the player cannot be imaged during the game while the signal is being output, it may be determined that the face authentication camera 15 has been shut off. That is, as long as the failure of the face authentication camera 15 has not occurred and it can be specified that the camera is operating normally, the method for determining that the imaging means is normal may be arbitrarily changed.
The face authentication camera 15 may be provided in the gaming machine 1, or the face authentication camera 15 may correspond to a plurality of gaming machines 1.
The gaming machine may correspond to other gaming machines such as slot machines other than pachinko machines.

It is not limited to specifying a player by face authentication. For example, the player may be specified from the imaging result of the whole body of the player, or the player may be specified by a portion different from the face.
After the monitoring state is set, in order to execute the game end notification, the administrator may not need to confirm. That is, when the monitoring state is set, the game end may be notified without setting the notification execution state.
After setting the monitoring state and the notification execution state, the administrator may arbitrarily release each state.
The notification execution state may be set by operating the management device 3 instead of the remote controller.

  In the drawings, 1 is a gaming machine, 2 is a lending device, 3 is a management device (player management means, game specifying means, special state setting means, special notification execution means, game machine notification means, execution state setting means), 15 A camera for face authentication (imaging means), 17 is a camera corresponding to an island (special imaging means), and 18 is a camera operation confirmation bar (shielding specifying means).

Claims (5)

In a player management system that manages players who have visited a gaming hall where a plurality of gaming machines are installed,
A game specifying means for specifying that the player is playing a game;
An imaging means that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine and that images the player in a state where the gaming identification means identifies that the player is playing a game on the gaming machine;
Player management means for managing a player based on the imaging result of the imaging means;
In a state where the game specifying means specifies that the player is playing a game, if the image pickup means cannot pick up the player in a predetermined normal state, the image pickup means responds. Special state setting means for setting a gaming machine to be in a monitoring state;
Special notification executing means for executing a special notification to the manager of the game hall when the player finishes the game in the gaming machine in which the monitoring state is set;
A player management system characterized by comprising:   When the monitoring state is not set, imaging is performed at a normal magnification at which a plurality of gaming machines can be simultaneously imaged. On the other hand, when the monitoring state is set at the gaming machine, a player who plays a game on the gaming machine The player management system according to claim 1, further comprising special imaging means for imaging the player at a magnification higher than the normal magnification. A shielding specifying means for specifying that the imaging means is shielded in the normal state;
3. The player management system according to claim 1, wherein the special state setting unit sets the monitoring state when it is identified that the imaging unit is shielded by the shielding identifying unit. The shielding specifying means is a non-operation area or a non-operation object that the imaging means images simultaneously with the player and that the player cannot access,
The special state setting means indicates that the imaging means is shielded when the player is not able to image the player and the shield specifying means is imaged in a state where the player is playing a game. 4. The player management system according to claim 3, wherein the player management system is specified. A gaming machine notification means for notifying a gaming machine manager of the gaming machine that has set the monitoring state;
A shielding time operating means operated by a game hall manager to execute the special notification,
An execution state setting means for setting a notification execution state based on the operation of the shielding-time operation means after setting the monitoring state;
When the notification execution state is set, the special notification execution means executes the special notification when the player finishes the game, while when the special notification state is not set, the special notification execution means The player management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the player management system is not executed.

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