JP2015221130A - Game system and game management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an enclosed type game machine, when an abnormality occurs with the possible number of games still being left, that can use the possible number of games.SOLUTION: A portable terminal 100, when a failure occurs in an inter-game-machine card processor 10 or a game machine 20, establishes a communication with a card management device 40; the terminal 100 receives from staff and the like the number of holding balls and/or the possible number of games, associating it (them) to information identifying the inter-game-machine card processor 10 and sends it (them) to the card management device 40 to be registered as a tentative number of holding balls. When the card management device 40 sends a registration code associated with this tentative number of holding balls to the portable terminal 100, the portable terminal 100 displays the registration code. An inter-game-machine card processor 10a, upon a receipt of input of the registration code and information identifying the malfunctioning inter-game-machine card processor 10, sends them to the card management device 40; after the card management device 40 has associated the registered tentative number of holding balls as a formal number of holding balls with a card ID to be ejected stored inside the inter-game-machine card processor 10a, and issues the card.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system and a game management method that include a game machine that uses a game medium to play a game and each device provided in the game machine.

  Conventionally, in game stores such as pachinko parlors, the number of game media acquired by a player through a game is managed in association with the number of game media possessed by a recording medium (for example, a card). For this reason, even if the player does not carry the actual game medium (ball or medal), the player can use the number of game media associated with the recording medium again for the game or exchange prizes.

  In addition, recently, problems of brought-in balls from other stores and brought-in balls between different loan rates have become apparent, and therefore, enclosed-type gaming machines that do not generate such brought-in balls are attracting attention. The enclosed game machine has a structure in which the player does not touch the game medium, and the number of game media that can be fired (hereinafter referred to as the number of games that can be played) is managed as data.

  Enclosed game machines and each device attached to the game machine manage the number of game media acquired by the player as data instead of the actual product, and each device transmits the number of game media to the upper management device. By doing so, registration as a portable game medium or a stored game medium is performed. For this reason, when a failure or a communication failure occurs in the gaming machine or each device, registration to the management device cannot be performed, and there is a possibility that data on the number of game media acquired by the player is lost. If such a situation occurs, the player may not be able to use his / her own balls or the number of games available for moving the table or exchanging prizes, which may cause a great disadvantage.

  For this reason, in the enclosed game machine, when a power interruption or a voltage drop below a specified level occurs, the power interruption is detected by a backup means having a power storage function, and the number of launchable machines managed by the gaming machine A technique for urgently saving state data to each device and holding the data is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-12124, A

  However, the prior art represented by the above has a problem in that it cannot be ignored in terms of cost because it duplicates important parts or adds a specific means to the gaming machine or each device. For example, in order to add backup means having a power storage function to a gaming machine, additional devices corresponding to the number of gaming machines push up the cost. In addition, renewal of backup means associated with the introduction of a new machine is also a cost factor, and it is difficult to deal with other than large stores.

  Further, even if it is effective to add backup means to the enclosed game machine and save the data in each stand device, it is necessary to consider backup means for each stand device next. This is because the number of games that can be managed by the enclosed game machine is managed and transferred to each device, and it is possible to move the device and exchange prizes only after each device is registered as a possession ball in the upper management device. Because.

  Furthermore, in the case of a gaming system, not only the gaming machine will fail, but there will also be communication failures due to failure of each stand device or failure of communication equipment including wiring, either of which will sporadically fail. Probability is high. Therefore, it is not efficient to deal with a failure of only one type of device.

  For this reason, in a gaming system including an encapsulated gaming machine, a failure or failure should be dealt with from a system point of view, not a single device, but the conventional technology cannot sufficiently cope with it. In particular, when adopting enclosed game machines, it is an important issue how to retain and make available the data on the number of game media acquired by the player even if the device fails. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and in a state where the number of games that can be played remains in an enclosed game machine, it can be used for communication between game machines, each device, or a higher-level management device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game system and a game management method that can prevent a player from being disadvantaged by making the available number of games available when an abnormality occurs.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention relates to a gaming machine that uses a gaming medium to play a game, each device attached to the gaming machine, and the number of gaming media acquired by the player. A gaming system including a management device that manages the number of game media held and a portable terminal device that can communicate with the management device, wherein the gaming machine uses the number of game media that can be used for a game as the number of games that can be used. The possible game number management means to manage, and the game possible number is subtracted and updated as the game medium is used for the game, and the game possible number is obtained when a predetermined prize is obtained as a result of the game. Game processing means for adding and updating, and each table device request processing means for increasing and decreasing the number of games that can be updated in response to a request from each table device. If the recording medium is accepted Game medium number specifying means for specifying the number of game media associated with the game medium number management means for managing the number of game media specified by the game medium number specifying means, and the number of game media management A first transition means for shifting a part or all of the number of game media managed by the means to the game-capable number, and a game medium managed by the game media number management means for part or all of the game-capable number Second transition means for shifting to a number, and game media number management request means for requesting the management device to manage the number of game media managed by the game media number management means in association with the recording medium. The portable terminal device includes: an input receiving unit that receives input of specific information specifying the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be played; the specific information received by the input receiving unit; Each unit information transmitting means for generating each unit information associated with information to be transmitted and transmitting it to the management device, wherein the management device manages the recording medium and the number of the game media in association with each other When the number-of-medium management means and each unit information are received, the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be indicated by the unit information are being received by each unit device identified by the unit information. It is characterized by comprising each unit information processing means for processing as the number of game media to be associated with the recording medium.

  Further, in the present invention, in the above invention, when each unit information processing means receives each unit information, each unit device specified by the respective unit information and / or a game corresponding to each unit device The information on each vehicle is processed on condition that a predetermined abnormality is detected in relation to the machine.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein each device is managed by the number of game media managed by the number of game media management means and / or the number-of-games management means when a predetermined abnormality occurs. It further comprises display output means for displaying and outputting information that can specify the number of games that can be played.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the management device records the number of game media specified by the information on each device other than the recording medium being received by each device specified by the information on each device. It further comprises an alternative recording medium issuance processing means for performing processing for associating with a medium.

  The present invention further includes a prize management device for performing a prize exchange process in the above invention, wherein the prize management apparatus performs each prize information prize for performing a prize exchange process based on the number of game media specified by the each machine information. An exchange processing means is provided.

  Further, in the above invention, the present invention is converted from the number of terminal management game media including the number of games that can be played in the gaming machine and / or the number of game media held in each device at a predetermined time or the number of terminal management game media. A terminal management game medium number estimation unit that estimates the number of terminal management game media at the current time point from a numerical value of information, and each unit information processing unit receives each unit information when receiving the unit information Comparing means for comparing the number of game media indicated by the above and the number of terminal management game media estimated by the terminal management game media number estimation means is provided.

  In addition, the present invention is a gaming machine that uses a game medium to play a game, each device attached to the gaming machine, a management device that manages the number of game media acquired by a player as the number of game media, A game management method for a gaming system including a mobile terminal device capable of communicating with the management device, wherein each of the platform devices specifies a number of game media to be associated with a recording medium, A transition step of shifting a part or all of the number of the game media to the game-capable number managed by the gaming machine, and the gaming machine can play the game according to a gaming state and / or a request from the respective device A possible game number management step for increasing / decreasing the number, an input receiving step for receiving input of specific information for specifying the number of game media and / or the game possible number by the portable terminal device, and the portable terminal device But Each table information transmission step of generating each table information in which the specific information received by the input receiving step and the information specifying each table device are associated and transmitting the information to the management device; and Each table information processing step for processing the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be indicated by the table information as the number of game media that should be associated with the recording medium that each table device specified by the table information is receiving It is characterized by including.

  According to the present invention, when a failure occurs in any of the communication between each device, the gaming machine, or the upper management device, the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be held by the mobile terminal and each device The number of game media and / or the number of games that can be received by the management device is related to the information for identifying each device as the number of temporary game media. Since it is configured to be registered as a portable game medium in association with an alternative storage medium by input from each other normal device, a player is informed when an abnormality occurs with the number of games remaining in the gaming machine. Can use the number of games that can be played, and can prevent being disadvantaged.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the concept of ball data registration according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the amusement store. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining own device state data, gaming machine state data, and card data stored in the storage unit of the inter-card card processing machine shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card management apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining data stored in the storage unit of the card management apparatus. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining ball data registration at the time of failure of the inter-card card processing machine. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining ball data registration when a gaming machine is out of order. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition of the display unit of the mobile terminal at the time of ball data registration. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a proxy mode screen in the display operation unit of the inter-card processing machine at the time of ball data registration. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of ball data registration by the portable terminal when the inter-card card processing machine or the gaming machine is out of order. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for issuing an alternative card in the proxy mode of the inter-card processing machine at the time of ball data registration. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of ball data registration by the card management device when the inter-card card processing machine or the gaming machine is out of order. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the member management apparatus. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the transfer of ball data when a communication failure occurs between the card management device and the member management device. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transferring ball data by the portable terminal when communication between the card management device and the member management device is abnormal. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transferring ball data by the member management device via the portable terminal when communication between the card management device and the member management device is abnormal. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of ball data migration by the card management apparatus when communication between the card management apparatus and the member management apparatus is abnormal.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a game system and a game management method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In this specification, “mochitama” refers to data indicating the number of game media acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and may be used again for the game only during that day (time before closing). Say what you can do. The stored ball is data indicating the game media acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and can be used again for the game after the next day (time after closing). Mochitama can be used by both general and member players, and is used when a gaming machine is moved. The stored ball is normally only available to member players, and is used when the acquired game medium is used for games from the next day. A predetermined fee may be imposed on the use of the stored ball.

  First, the concept of ball data registration according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the concept of ball data registration according to the present embodiment. In the game store, a plurality of gaming machines 20 are installed, and each gaming machine 20 is provided with an inter-card processing machine 10. The gaming machine 20 is an enclosed gaming machine that is structured so that the player does not touch the gaming medium, and manages the number of game balls that can be fired as the number of games that can be played. Further, the inter-card processing machine 10 manages the possessed balls received from the card management device 40 as data, and accepts operations such as lending balls and replaying possessed balls. Furthermore, the inter-card processing machine 10 manages and transfers the number of games that can be played from the gaming machine 20 and adds it to the ball, and causes the card management device 40 to register the ball in association with the card when the card is ejected. Is discharged.

  When the player enters the store, he or she tries to acquire as many as possible games and exchange prizes. After the game is over, the possible number of games acquired by the player is managed and transferred to the inter-card processing machine 10 as a possession. Further, the number of possessed balls is registered in the card management device 40 in association with the card ID, and the card is discharged. The player takes this card and moves the table to another gaming machine or exchanges prizes.

  At this time, if the inter-card processing machine 10 breaks down during the game and an abnormality such as a communication failure occurs with the card management device 40, the player not only has the original possession ball but also the gaming machine. The possible number of games remaining in 20 cannot be associated with the card as a possession. If the card associated with the ball is not returned, the player cannot use the acquired number of games and cannot move the table or exchange prizes, which may be disadvantageous.

  Therefore, in the gaming system according to the present embodiment, when a failure such as a communication abnormality occurs in the inter-card card processing machine 10 during the game, the number of available balls and the number of balls are summed by ball data registration. The data is registered in the card management device 40 as data and returned to a usable state as a holding ball. Here, the ball data registration refers to data management of the number of balls in the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the number of playable games in the gaming machine 20 by the portable terminal 100 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the like breaks down. This means that the device 40 is temporarily registered as data on the number of temporary balls. Then, by registering the number of temporary balls as the number of balls from the inter-card card processing machine 10 that has not failed, it can be used as a ball.

  This ball data registration will be specifically described. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a communication abnormality due to a failure has occurred in the inter-card card processing machine 10 and communication with the card management device 40 and the gaming machine 20 becomes impossible. In this state, a total of 2500 balls, which is the number of balls managed by the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the number of games that can be managed by the gaming machine 20, is left untreated.

  In the state of FIG. 1, due to communication abnormality in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the number of games that can be played in the gaming machine 20 cannot be managed and transferred, and the inter-card card processing machine 10 manages it. It is not possible to register the possession balls by sending them to the card management device 40. For this reason, the card cannot be ejected because neither the holding ball nor the number of games that can be played can be associated with the card.

  Here, the inter-card processing machine 10 turns on a lamp for notifying abnormality and displays an employee call on the display operation unit 22. The player calls the employee, and the employee carries the portable terminal 100 and rushes to the spot of the broken card processing machine 10. The employee checks the status of the failure and grasps that communication is not possible. Then, by looking at the machine number of the gaming machine 20 and the number of games that can be played and the number of balls displayed on the display / operation unit of the inter-card card processing machine 10, a machine number ("777" in FIG. 1) is displayed on the portable terminal 100. Then, the total number of balls (in the figure, “2500”) of the number of possible games and the number of possessed balls is input. After that, the mobile terminal 100 wirelessly transmits the input unit number, the total number of balls that can be played, and the number of balls in possession to the card management device 40 ((1) in the figure).

  The card management device 40 that has received the card number and the total number of balls first checks the number of games that can be played ((2) in the figure). The card management device 40 manages the number of hitting balls (out number) and the number of winning balls (safe number) that the gaming machine 20 transmits via the inter-card processing machine 10 in almost real time. It is confirmed whether or not the possible number of games is a numerical value within a predetermined range based on the number of difference balls ((2) in the figure). If it is within a predetermined range, the number of balls and the number of games that can be played are added together and registered as the number of temporary balls, and a ball data registration code (hereinafter abbreviated as a registration code) is generated. And the number of temporary balls are associated with each other, and then a registration code is wirelessly transmitted to the portable terminal 100 ((3) in the figure).

  The portable terminal 100 displays the received registration code ((4) in the figure) and prompts the employee to input a registration code and a serial number from another available inter-card card processing machine 10a. The empty inter-card card processing machine 10a accepts the input of the registration code and the original machine number by the employee from the display / operation unit 22, attaches the card ID to be ejected to the card, and transmits it to the card management apparatus 40. ((5) in the figure).

  When the card management device 40 receives the data from the inter-card card processing machine 10a, the card management apparatus 40 registers the card ID to be ejected in the inter-card card processing machine 10 in association with the number of the temporary balls as the number of balls (see FIG. (6)). Then, the inter-card card processing machine 10a discharges the card to be discharged, which is associated with the number of balls, as an alternative card ((7) in the figure). The player can use this substitute card to continue the game by moving the table or exchange prizes. In addition, although the name of a substitute card is given, it is the same as a general card, and for convenience of explanation, only the name of a substitute card is used as a substitute for the original card.

  As described above, the ball data registration according to the present embodiment includes the number of balls that can be played and the number of balls in the card management device 40 by the portable terminal 100 even if a communication abnormality occurs in the inter-card card processor 10. Can be registered. In addition, when registering the ball data, the card management device 40 checks the number of games that can be input, so that it is possible to register the data of the normal number of balls.

  Here, for the sake of explanation, a failure of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is regarded as a communication abnormality, but the failure is not limited to a communication abnormality. Moreover, it is not limited to the failure of the inter-card card processing machine 10. For example, even in the worst situation in which the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 hardly operates due to a power cut or the like, the data on the number of possessed balls and / or the number of games that can be played is similarly registered in the card management device 40. Can do. Therefore, since it is not necessary to deal with each failure type and it is possible to deal with a failure with the same user interface, it is an inexpensive and simple failure handling means. Details will be described later.

  Next, the system configuration of the amusement store will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the amusement store. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gaming machines 20 and an inter-card card processing machine 10 provided corresponding to each gaming machine 20 are installed in the gaming store. The inter-card processing machine 10 is connected to a communication line, which is an in-store network, via the island controller 30. The island controller 30, the card management device 40, the member management device 50, the free gift management device 60, and the checkout machine 80 are connected to the communication line.

  The gaming machine 20 is a device that plays a game by driving a game ball enclosed in the device into a game board surface. The gaming board surface of the gaming machine 20 is provided with a plurality of winning areas (winning openings), and a predetermined number of gaming balls are given as prize balls based on the passing of the gaming balls through the winning area. It has become. In addition, a predetermined number of start areas (start ports) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined lottery is performed based on the game balls passing through the start areas. If the lottery is a big win, an operation that is advantageous in terms of game is performed, for example, by increasing the probability of passing the game ball to the winning area or other starting area by operating a predetermined movable member or the like. There may be an area that doubles as a starting area and a winning area.

  The winning area is provided with a winning sensor for detecting the passing of a game ball to the winning area, and the winning sensor detects the passing (winning) of the game ball that has been driven into the winning area. ing. In addition, the control unit of the gaming machine 20 has a prize ball memory that stores how many game balls are awarded as prize balls for each winning area, and a gameable number memory that indicates the number of balls that a player can throw out. Have.

  Accordingly, when the passing of the game ball that has been struck to a specific winning area is detected by the winning sensor, the gaming machine 20 receives a prize ball to be given from the storage content of the winning ball memory and the number of gaming balls that have passed the winning area. The number is determined, and the determined number of prizes is added to the game possible number stored in the game possible number memory to update the stored content. Further, when the number of games that can be transferred is transferred as the number of balls in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the number of games that can be held in the game-capable number memory is notified to the inter-card card processing machine 10, and the number of games that can be played Is cleared to zero. Further, when a notice of the number of games that can be added by ball lending operation or the like is received from the inter-card processing machine 10, the notified number of balls is added to the number of games that can be played, and the stored contents are updated.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 receives payment, rents out game balls, communicates with the card management device 40, and communicates with the gaming machine 20. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts a bill inserted by the player, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits a payment notification including the deposit amount to the card management device 40, thereby converting the prepaid value into a prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Let them add. Then, if a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, a ball lending request including a card ID and the number of balls lending is transmitted to the card management device 40, and the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40 is subtracted and subtracted. The gaming machine 20 is notified of the number of balls corresponding to the value, and is added to the possible number of games. The inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the card ID and the number of rented balls.

  Further, if the inter-card card processing machine 10 accepts the card insertion, the inter-card card processing machine 10 transmits a card insertion notification to the card management device 40. Further, when the inter-card card processing machine 10 receives the prepaid value, the balance or the balance of the stored ball from the card management device 40, the balance is stored. And when the balance of a possession ball is received and memorize | stored, the balance of the possession ball which the card management apparatus 40 manages is cleared to zero by transmitting a possession ball subtraction request | requirement with respect to the card management apparatus 40.

  Further, when the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the holding ball replay operation, the predetermined number of holding balls managed by its own device is subtracted, and the gaming machine 20 is notified of the number corresponding to the subtracted holding ball number, Add to the number of possible games. Then, the inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the card ID and the number of balls replayed.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the number of possessed balls managed by the own device at a predetermined timing. The timing for notifying the card management device 40 of the number of balls is preferably performed according to the timing at which the number of balls is changed, such as at the time of replaying the ball or at the time of adding the number of balls by pressing the count button of the gaming machine 20.

  When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the stored ball replay operation, it transmits a stored ball replay request to the card management device 40, thereby subtracting and subtracting a predetermined number of stored balls managed by the member management device 50. The number corresponding to the number of stored balls is notified to the gaming machine 20 and added to the possible number of games. In addition, the inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the card ID and the number of replayed balls.

  Further, if the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits a holding ball addition request including the number of holding balls to the card management device 40 and causes the card management device 40 to add the holding balls, A card discharge notification is transmitted to the card management device 40 to control the card discharge. In addition, when the transfer operation of the game possible number is received from the gaming machine 20 before the card return operation, the transferred game possible number is added to the number of possessed balls, and the balance of the possessed balls of the card management device 40 is calculated. Update.

  In addition, the inter-card processing machine 10 has a function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and the authentication key received from the card management device 40. Have. This authentication is performed at the time of the store opening process or the like, and the gaming machine 20 can play a game on the condition that the authentication is successful.

  In addition, the inter-card card processing machine 10 controls display of the status information of the own device and the gaming machine 20 on the display operation unit 22, and operation buttons that can be operated on the display operation unit 22 in order to receive an operation from a player. Display control.

  In addition, the inter-card card processing machine 10 accepts an agency process from an employee or the like when another inter-card card processing machine 10 breaks down, and has the number of temporary balls registered by the portable terminal 100. The number is registered in the card management device 40 as a number, and the substitute card associated with this holding ball is discharged.

  The island controller 30 is a relay device that bundles a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-card card processing machines 10 provided on the gaming island. The card management device 40 is a management device that manages the prepaid value of a card, the number of balls, etc. as card data.

  When the card management device 40 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management apparatus 40 manages the ID of the inserted card and the inter-card card processing machine 10 in association with each other, and prepaid associated with the card ID. The value and the balance of the possession ball are transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10. Further, when the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification is the card ID of the member card, the card insertion notification is transmitted to the member management device 50, and the replay data received from the member management device 50 is used as the interbank card. It transmits to the processor 10.

  In addition, when the card management device 40 receives the holding ball subtraction request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 clears the balance of the holding ball to zero and receives the internal ball addition request from the inter-card card processing machine 10. In such a case, the number of possessed balls indicated in the retained ball addition request is added to the balance of the retained balls.

  Further, when the card management device 40 receives a ball rental request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID, and grants the ball rental permission to the inter-card card processing machine 10. Send. Then, when the storage ball replay request is received, the storage ball replay request is transmitted to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 outputs the storage ball replay data, Transmit to the card processor 10.

  In addition, the card management device 40 determines the number of out balls, the number of winning balls and the number of balls lent, the number of stored ball replay balls, the number of ball replay balls and the like associated with the card ID received from the inter-card processing machine 10. Is managed for each card ID. Furthermore, the card management device 40 manages the number of possessed balls transmitted from the inter-card card processing machine 10 at a predetermined timing as history data.

  Further, when the card management device 40 receives the card ID from the premium management device 60, the card management device 40 notifies the premium management device 60 of the number of possessed balls associated with the card ID. Further, when the card ID is received from the settlement machine 80, the prepaid value associated with the card ID is notified to the settlement machine 80.

  Further, the card management device 40 acquires the gaming machine ID from the inter-card card processing machine 10 and manages the gaming machine 20 installed in the own store. Then, an authentication key for authenticating the gaming machine 20 set in the own store is acquired from the authentication key management center outside the gaming store, and distributed to the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  Further, the card management device 40 receives the usage status of the gaming machine 20 transmitted from the inter-card processing machine 10, and stores and updates the usage status of the gaming machine 20 together with the information of the own device. Furthermore, a table information search request from the inter-card card processor 10 is received and information corresponding to the search condition is returned to the inter-card card processor 10.

  In addition, when the card management device 40 receives a request for securing an empty base from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management apparatus 40 transmits an instruction for securing an empty base to the inter-card card processing machine 10 of the empty base, and as a result Is returned to the requesting inter-card processing machine 10.

  The member management device 50 is a management device that manages member management data of members registered as members in the amusement store. Specifically, the number of stored balls, points, password, name, etc. are managed in association with the member card ID issued to the member.

  When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification from the inter-card processing machine 10, the member management apparatus 50 stores the inter-ball replay data including the balance of the storage ball corresponding to the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification and the personal identification number. Transmit to the card processor 10. Further, when the member management device 50 receives the stored ball replay request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined number of the balance of the stored ball associated with the card ID indicated in the stored ball replay request, and after the subtraction The stored ball replay data including the balance of the stored balls is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10. Note that communication between the inter-card card processor 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40.

  In addition, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the premium management device 60, the member management device 50 notifies the premium management device 60 of the balance of the stored balls corresponding to the designated card ID.

  The prize management device 60 is a terminal device for exchanging prizes attached to a prize exchange counter in the amusement store, and performs prize exchange processing for earned balls, storage balls, and holding balls. The premium management device 60 is connected to a card reader that reads the card ID of the card and a premium dispensing device that dispenses premiums. The gift management device 60 reads the card ID from the general card or the membership card (or identification information corresponding to the card ID from a portable terminal or the like; hereinafter referred to as a card ID), and then uses the card ID as the card management device. 40 to request the balance of the possession of the card ID. In addition, when exchanging prizes for the stored balls, the member management device 50 is requested for the balance of the stored balls.

  When the card associated with the prepaid value is inserted, the checkout machine 80 transmits the card ID of this card to the card management device 40, acquires the prepaid value associated with the card, and adds the prepaid value to the acquired prepaid value. Withdraw cash equivalents.

  Next, the ball lending process when performing the ball lending with the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the player performs a ball lending operation on the inter-card card processing machine 10, the inter-card card processing machine 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination. This electronic message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-card card processing machine 10, an address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and a ball rental request.

  When the card management device 40 receives a message including a ball lending request, the card management device 40 subtracts a prepaid value associated with the card ID in the message by a predetermined value (for example, 100 yen = 5 times when the frequency is 1). The data is updated, and the ball lending permission is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10 of the transmission source. The inter-card card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission transmits an addition signal requesting addition to the number of possible games (for example, 125) corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value to the gaming machine 20.

  The gaming machine 20 that has received the addition signal adds the number of games that can be played, and transmits the number of games that can be added to the inter-card card processor 10. The inter-card processing machine 10 confirms whether or not the addition of the possible number of games has been properly performed using the possible number of games before the addition, the possible number of games after the addition, and the number of ball lending. . Then, the inter-card card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the number of balls added to the possible number of games.

  Next, a description will be given of the ball replay process in the case where the ball replay is performed in the system shown in FIG. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of the general card or the membership card, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and the rate of the inter-card card processing machine 10 Information for identifying the card and a card insertion notification.

  When the card management device 40 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-card card processing machine 10, among the possessed balls associated with the card ID in the message, the balance of the coins at the rate specified by the message Is sent to the inter-card card processor 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 stores the balance of the coins received from the card management device 40. And the message containing the information which specifies card ID and a rate, and a possession subtraction request | requirement is transmitted to the card management apparatus 40. FIG. When the card management device 40 receives the possession ball subtraction request, the balance of the possession ball specified by the card ID and the rate is cleared to zero. In addition, when the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the possession ball replay operation, the balance card balance is subtracted by a certain number, the corresponding number is notified to the gaming machine 20, and is added to the possible number of games. At this time, the inter-card card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 of the number of balls added to the number of games that can be played and the number of balls after subtraction.

  The inter-card card processing machine 10 is transmitted if it receives from the gaming machine 20 a management transfer request for transferring its management by setting the possible number of gaming machines 20 to be possessed by the inter-card card processing machine 10. The number of games that can be played is added to the possession ball of the own device. After that, if a card return operation is accepted, a message including a request for adding coins is transmitted to the card management device 40. This message includes the card ID of the card to be ejected, an address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processor 10 that is the transmission source, information for identifying the rate of the inter-card card processor 10, and possession Includes a balance of balls and a request for adding balls.

  When the card management device 40 accepts a request for adding a ball, the card management device 40 updates the balance of the ball having the rate specified by the message to the received value among the balls associated with the card ID in the message. To do.

  Thereafter, the inter-card card processor 10 transmits a card discharge notification to the card management device 40 and controls the card discharge.

  Next, a stored ball replay process when the replay of the stored ball is performed with the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The inter-card processing machine 10 designates the local address of the card management device 40 as a destination when a membership card is inserted or when identification information corresponding to a card ID is read from a portable terminal that can be used as a membership card. Send a message. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and the rate of the inter-card card processing machine 10 Information for identifying the card and a card insertion notification.

  The card management device 40 transmits a card insertion notification message to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives a card insertion notification message, the member management device 50 includes a personal identification number associated with the card ID in the message and the balance of the stored balls at the rate specified by the message among the stored balls. The stored ball replay data is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 stores the received stored ball replay data, and the balance of the stored ball indicated in the stored ball replay data is the number of game balls paid out in the stored ball replay (the number of stored ball replay units. For example, 125 balls). ) If it is above, it is possible to accept the replay operation of the stored ball.

  When the storage card replay data is stored for the first time after the storage ball replay data is stored, the inter-card processing machine 10 requests the player to input a password, and the input password is the stored ball replay data. Confirm that it matches the PIN number shown in.

  The inter-card card processor 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination when the passwords match. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and the rate of the inter-card card processing machine 10 And information for identifying the storage ball replay request.

  The card management device 40 transmits a telegram of a storage ball replay request to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives a message for a replay request for a stored ball, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined amount of the balance of the stored ball at the rate specified by the message from among the stored balls associated with the card ID in the message, The stored ball replay data including the balance after the subtraction is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 receives the stored ball replay data, updates the balance of the stored ball, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the number of stored ball replay units, and adds it to the number of possible games. Then, the card management device 40 is notified of the number of balls added to the game possible number. Further, it is determined whether the balance of the updated storage ball is less than the number of stored ball replay units. If the updated balance of the stored ball data is equal to or greater than the number of stored ball replay units, the stored ball replay operation can be accepted again, and if the stored ball replay operation is received, a stored ball replay request is transmitted. In the second and subsequent replay operations of the stored ball, it is not necessary to confirm the password. If the balance of the updated storage ball data becomes less than the number of stored ball replay units, the stored ball replay operation cannot be accepted.

  Next, the transition from the holding ball to the storage ball in the closing process will be described. The card management device 40 confirms the balance of the possessed ball in the card management data during the closing process, and if there is a retained ball with a retained balance larger than “0”, the balance of the retained ball is used as the card ID and the rate. In addition, the member management apparatus 50 is notified. The member management device 50 adds the notified balance to the balance of the stored ball specified by the card ID and the rate and updates it. Thereafter, the card management device 40 clears the balance of the holding ball to zero.

  Next, the external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. Although the inter-card card processing machine 10 that accepts only banknotes is illustrated in the figure, a unit that can accept electronic money can also be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-card card processing machine 10 includes a status display unit 11 that displays the status of the apparatus of the inter-card card processing machine 10 by lighting or blinking a predetermined color lamp, and a bill insertion slot that accepts various bills. 12a, a display operation unit 13 such as a touch panel display, and a card insertion slot 14a for receiving a card associated with a card ID are provided.

  The gaming machine 20 is provided with a game board surface, a handle 21 used when throwing out the enclosed game balls onto the game board surface, and a counting button 23. In addition, a display operation unit 22 of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is provided at the lower front portion of the gaming machine 20.

  The count button 23 is a button for subtracting the number of games that can be played by the gaming machine 20 and adding the corresponding number to the ball of the inter-card card processing machine 10. In other words, the counting button 23 is also an operation button for performing a management shift for shifting the management of the number of games that can be fired from the gaming machine 20 to the management of the possession by the inter-card processing machine 10. This management shift corresponds to the counting process in which an open-type gaming machine in which the actual game ball is paid out by winning a prize is counted by the inter-card card processing machine with a counter and added to the holding ball. To do.

  Although the display operation unit 22 is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine 20, input / output control thereof is performed by the inter-card card processing machine 10. The display operation unit 22 is an input / output device such as a touch panel display that displays various kinds of information such as the balance of the possession balls, the number of games that can be played, and accepts various operations such as a display switching operation.

  Next, the internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inter-card card processing machine 10 includes a banknote transport unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a reader / writer 14, a communication unit 15, a gaming machine management board 18, a storage unit 16, and a control. Unit 17 and display operation unit 22.

  The banknote conveyance part 12 is a conveyance part conveyed to the banknote storage part which is not shown in figure, discriminating the money type and authenticity of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion port 12a. The display operation unit 13 is an input / output device such as a touch panel display that displays various kinds of information such as valuable value and accepts various operations such as a ball lending operation.

  The reader / writer 14 is a reading unit that reads a card ID from a card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a is stored in a card storage section (not shown) through the reader / writer 14. The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication with the card management device 40 via a communication line.

  The gaming machine management board 18 is a board built in the inter-card card processing machine 10. The gaming machine management board 18 performs authentication and activation management of the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the gaming machine 20 is authenticated using the authentication key received from the card management device 40. If the authentication is successful, an operation permission is transmitted to the gaming machine 20, and a result of the authentication success is transmitted to the card management device 40. It is preferable to authenticate the gaming machine 20 with a plurality of parameters. And even if it is a case where a part of authentication becomes NG, it is preferable to enable operation | movement only for a fixed period (for example, 10 days).

  Further, the gaming machine management board 18 communicates between the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20. Specifically, acquisition of the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, management shift from the number of possessions to the number of games that can be managed, management transition from the number of games that can be managed to the number of possessions, the number of shot balls (number of outs) in the gaming machine 20 And game results such as the number of winning balls (safe number). The communication between the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 uses encryption communication using a predetermined encryption method.

  The gaming machine management board 18 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the control unit 17 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 is activated, and checks whether the identification information is appropriate. 10 is permitted, and a state in which communication with the gaming machine 20 is possible is set. Note that the gaming machine management board 18 communicates in different encryption modes for communication with the control unit 17 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 is started up and communication with the gaming machine 20.

  The gaming machine management board 18 receives a signal transmitted from the gaming machine 20 at regular intervals, and returns a signal indicating that it has been received to the gaming machine 20 based on the reception of the signal. The signal transmitted from the gaming machine 20 includes, for example, data indicating a signal serial number (hereinafter referred to as “signal serial number”) using a certain range of numbers and data indicating the state of the gaming machine 20. The gaming machine management board 18 has a storage unit that stores the signal sequence number of the signal received from the gaming machine 20 at least once before, and the gaming machine 20 is compared with the signal sequence number received from the gaming machine 20 this time. Control to maintain the consistency of information from.

  This will be specifically described. When the signal sequence number of the received signal is different from the one obtained by adding 1 to the sequence number stored in the storage unit (such as when the number greater than 1 is added), the gaming machine management board 18 As a result, the game machine 20 is requested to retransmit the previous signal. The reply signal returned to the gaming machine 20 also includes a signal sequence number, and for example, 1 is added to the signal sequence number for each transmission. The gaming machine management board 18 stores data indicating the state of the gaming machine 20 included in the received signal in the gaming machine state data 16b.

  In addition, the gaming machine management board 18 determines that the state is abnormal when there is no signal transmission from the gaming machine 20 for a certain period longer than the above certain interval, and performs abnormality processing (notification output, error Down). The data indicating the state of the gaming machine 20 transmitted from the gaming machine 20 includes the current number of games that can be played by the gaming machine 20, game information indicating whether the game machine 20 is normal or probability variation, and the like. In this way, the time interval for acquiring the state of the gaming machine 20 is set to be narrower than the interval at which the gaming balls are launched (used) in the gaming machine 20.

  The gaming machine management board 18 has a security chip. The security chip has its own identification ID and a predetermined encryption / decryption program, and communicates with the security chip of the gaming machine 20.

  The storage unit 16 is a storage device including a hard disk device, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. The storage unit 16 stores its own device state data 16a, gaming machine state data 16b, and card data 16c.

  The own device status data 16a is data indicating the status of the inter-card card processing machine 10. The own apparatus state data 16a includes an inter-card card processor ID and a game setting. The inter-card card processor ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the inter-card card processor 10 within the amusement store. The game setting is data indicating a rate set in the inter-card card processing machine 10. When handling multiple rate game balls in a game store, “ball 1” for 4 yen game balls, “ball 2” for 2 yen game balls, “ball 3” for 1 yen rate game balls As described above, the game type is managed by setting the game type name corresponding to each rate. The inter-card processing machine 10 selects a corresponding rate to be applied to the game from these game types and stores it as a game setting. The game setting may be a game type fixed for each section where the inter-card card processing machine 10 is installed, or may be changeable by a player's operation.

  The gaming machine state data 16b is data indicating the state of the gaming machine 20. The gaming machine state data 16b includes a gaming machine ID, the number of games that can be played, a firing strength, and the like. The gaming machine ID is a gaming machine ID received from the gaming machine 20 by the gaming machine management board 18. The number of games that can be played, the firing strength, and the like are updated each time update data is received from the gaming machine 20.

  The card data 16c is data related to a card that is being used by a player. The card data 16c includes a card ID, a prepaid value, the number of possessed balls, the number of stored balls, and the like. The card ID is a card ID read by the reader / writer 14. When a card is transported from a card storage section (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and the card is ejected, the card data 16c is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during the transport. Also, when a card is transported from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage unit (not shown), the card data 16c is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during the transport. The prepaid value indicates the balance of the prepaid value that can be used for the ball lending, and the holding ball and the stored ball indicate the respective balances.

  The control unit 17 is a control unit that totally controls the inter-card card processing machine 10, and includes a data management unit 17a, a game setting processing unit 17b, a gaming machine state management unit 17c, an abnormality processing unit 17d, a proxy processing unit 17e, and a display control. It has a portion 17f.

  When the card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits a card insertion notification including the card ID and the inter-card card processor ID to the card management device 40. In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives data including a valuable value (at least one of prepaid value, holding ball, and storage ball) from the card management device 40, the data management unit 17a updates the card data 16c with the received valuable value.

  Moreover, if a banknote is inserted in the banknote insertion slot 12a, the data management part 17a will transmit the payment notification containing the money amount of the inserted banknote, card ID, and inter-card processing machine ID to the card management apparatus 40.

  The data management unit 17a transmits a ball lending request including the card ID and the inter-card processing machine ID to the card management device 40 when a ball lending operation is performed by the player. If a ball lending permission is received as a response to the ball lending request, the data management unit 17a subtracts the prepaid value of the card data 16c, and transmits a predetermined number of balls to the gaming machine 20 to obtain a game possible number. Let them add. Then, the data management unit 17a notifies the card management device 40 of the card ID and the number of balls added to the playable number.

  In addition, when the data management unit 17a accepts a replay operation, the data management unit 17a subtracts and updates the retained balls in the card data 16c by a predetermined number unit, and transmits the corresponding number of balls to the gaming machine 20 to be playable. Let it be added to the number. Then, the data management unit 17a notifies the card management device 40 of the number of balls added to the card ID and the number of games that can be played.

  Further, when the balance of the stored ball indicated in the card data 16c is equal to or greater than the number of stored ball replay units, the data management unit 17a displays a stored ball replay button on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22, Replay operation can be accepted. The data management unit 17a transmits a stored ball replay request including the card ID and the inter-card processing machine ID to the card management device 40 when the player performs a stored ball replay operation. If the stored ball replay data is received as a response to the replay request for the stored ball, the balance of the stored ball in the card data 16c is updated, and the number of balls corresponding to the stored ball replay unit number can be transmitted to the gaming machine 20 to play the game. Let it be added to the number. Then, the card management device 40 is notified of the card ID and the number of balls added to the possible number of games. In addition, at the time of the first storage replay operation, the input of a personal identification number is requested, and the fact that it matches the personal identification number indicated in the card data 16c is a condition for transmitting the storage ball replay request.

  In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives a game ball transfer request from the gaming machine 20 through the gaming machine management board 18, the data management unit 17a adds the number of games that can be transferred from the gaming machine 20 to the holding balls of the card data 16c. And update.

  In addition, when the data management unit 17a accepts a card return operation, the data management unit 17a transmits a possessed ball addition request including a card ID, an inter-card card processor ID, and a retained ball balance to the card management device 40. Then, after clearing the card data 16c, a card discharge notification is transmitted to the card management device 40, and the card is discharged.

  In addition, the data management unit 17a notifies the card management device 40 of the current number of possessed balls at a predetermined timing. Further, when a request for shifting the number of games that can be played is received during the game, the card management device 40 is notified of the number of possessed balls after the request for shifting the number of games that can be played.

  The game setting processing unit 17b displays, on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22, the rate corresponding to the current game type set in the game setting of the own device state data 16a, and the rate selection by the player When the setting for accepting is made, a selectable rate is displayed on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22. When the player selects a desired rate, the game setting processing unit 17b updates the game setting in the own apparatus state data 16a with the game type corresponding to the selected rate.

  On the other hand, if the player is not set to accept rate selection, no selectable rate is displayed during the game. In this case, selectable rates are displayed on condition that the remote control operation by the employee is accepted and the authentication is performed. When the employee selects a rate, the game setting processing unit 17b updates the game setting of the own apparatus state data 16a with the game type corresponding to the selected rate. Further, in this case, when there is a signal instructing selection of a game type from a higher-level device such as the card management device 40, the own device state data 16a is displayed by the instructed game type without displaying a selectable rate. Update game settings for.

  The gaming machine state management unit 17c performs a process of updating the gaming machine state data 16b when the gaming machine ID, the number of games that can be played, the firing strength, and the like are acquired from the gaming machine 20. In addition, when a gaming machine ID is acquired from the gaming machine 20, the gaming machine ID depends on whether the gaming machine ID matches the previously acquired gaming machine ID, that is, the gaming machine ID indicated in the gaming machine state data 16b. 20 replacements may be detected. When the gaming machine ID acquired from the gaming machine 20 does not match the previously acquired gaming machine ID, the gaming machine state management unit 17c determines that the gaming machine 20 has been replaced, and the gaming machine ID is determined based on the acquired gaming machine ID. The gaming machine ID in the machine status data 16b is updated, and the updated gaming machine ID and inter-card card processing machine ID are transmitted to the card management device 40.

  In addition, the gaming machine state management unit 17c transmits the number of outs and the number of safes in the gaming machine 20 received by the gaming machine management board 18 to the card management device 40 in substantially real time.

  In addition, the gaming machine state management unit 17c monitors the operating state of the gaming machine 20, and when an error occurs in the gaming machine 20, notifies the abnormality processing unit 17d and the card management device 40 that the error has occurred. .

  The abnormality processing unit 17d is a processing unit that monitors error states of the own device and the gaming machine 20 and performs error processing when an abnormality occurs. When an error occurs in the own device, the abnormality processing unit 17d causes the display operation unit 22 to display an error occurrence and an error occurrence part.

  In addition, when the abnormality processing unit 17d determines that the continuation of the game is inappropriate due to a failure in the communication system or the like in the own device, the abnormality processing unit 17d causes the gaming machine 20 to error down and The number of balls and the number of games that can be played (meaning the latest number of balls and the number of games that can be grasped at the present time, basically communication based on the latest status information acquired by the gaming machine state management unit 17c) (Use the data one time before the point when it becomes impossible) is continuously displayed or highlighted on the display operation unit 22.

  In this case, the error reduction and the display on the display operation unit 22 are not necessarily simultaneous. For example, when an employee is called after the gaming machine 20 has an error, and a predetermined operation is performed on the inter-card card processing machine 10 by the employee terminal, the latest inter-card card processing machine 10 grasps. The configuration may be such that the number of possessed balls and the number of playable games are displayed. In addition, it is preferable that the time information (by the timekeeping function in the inter-card card processing machine 10) that acquired the number of possessed balls and the number of playable games is added and displayed. Furthermore, a configuration in which only the number of games that can be played is displayed. In addition, the display control by the abnormality processing unit 17d is performed not only when the gaming machine 20 is error-down, but also when it is determined that the gaming machine 20 is error-down.

  In addition, when the abnormality processing unit 17d detects that an error has occurred in the gaming machine 20, the error processing unit 17d displays the error occurrence on the display operation unit 22, and the display operation unit 22 emphasizes employee call and handle stop. To do. In this case, the received number of games that can be played is also highlighted when an error is detected. In addition, when the error is detected, the gaming machine state management unit 17c may be instructed not to transmit subsequent out and safe data to the card management device 40, and the number of possible games may be held.

  The proxy processing unit 17e is a processing unit that performs a process that was originally supposed to be performed by the inter-card card processing machine 10 provided alongside the faulty inter-card card processing machine 10 or the malfunctioning gaming machine 20. The proxy processing unit 17e accepts selection of proxy processing from an employee or the like by remote control or manually, and displays a proxy mode screen for proxy processing on the display operation unit 22. Then, from the substitution mode screen, operation inputs such as the table number of the failure table, the number of balls and the number of games that can be played are received, and the input data and the ID of the card at the next scheduled discharge position are transmitted to the card management device 40. To do. After that, the registered number of temporary holding balls receives a response registered in association with the card as an official holding ball, and the card at the discharge position is discharged as a substitute card.

  The display control unit 17 f is a control unit that controls the display of the display operation unit 22. The display control unit 17 f performs necessary display on the display operation unit 22 according to the state of the inter-card card processing machine 10. The display control unit 17 f extracts necessary information from the gaming machine state data 16 b and displays it on the display operation unit 22. In addition, the display control unit 17f extracts the possible number of games received from the gaming machine 20 from the gaming machine state data 16b, performs a summing process with the number of balls in the inter-card processing machine 10 included in the card data 16c, and displays the result. A display is output to the operation unit 22. This display output may be performed each time the stored information of the gaming machine state data 16b is updated, or the received number of games on the gaming machine side or the value obtained by the summing process is greater than or equal to a predetermined display output value. Display output may be performed only when there is a difference (for example, 10 balls or more).

  In addition, the display control unit 17f gives priority to information with high priority such as the number of balls and the number of games that can be notified in accordance with an instruction from the abnormality processing unit 17d in an abnormal state of the own device and the gaming machine 20. Control the display.

  In addition, the display control unit 17f performs urgently necessary operations such as a handle operation stop and an employee call in accordance with an instruction from the abnormality processing unit 17d in accordance with a faulty part of the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20. Highlights for notification.

  Next, the internal configuration of the gaming machine 20 will be described. The gaming machine 20 includes a counting button 23, a communication control unit 24, an effect control unit 25, a game control unit 26, and a game ball control unit 27. The communication control unit 24 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-card card processor 10. The communication control unit 24 has a security chip. The security chip has its own identification ID and a predetermined encryption / decryption program, and communicates with the security chip of the inter-card card processor 10.

  The communication control unit 24 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the game control unit 26 and / or the game ball control unit 27 when the gaming machine 20 is activated, and checks whether the identification information is appropriate. The start of the gaming machine 20 is permitted, and a state in which communication with the inter-card card processing machine 10 is possible is set.

  The communication control unit 24 reads out the game possible number stored in the game possible number memory of the game ball control unit 27 at regular intervals, and the state of the gaming machine 20 stored in the game control unit 26 (normal or during probability variation). Or the like) and the like are transmitted to the inter-card card processor 10 as a signal. This signal includes, for example, data indicating a signal serial number (hereinafter referred to as “signal serial number”) using a certain range of numbers. The communication control unit 24 confirms the signal sequence number included in the reply signal returned from the inter-card card processor 10 for the signal transmitted to the inter-card card processor 10 and compares it with the transmitted signal sequence number. Control to maintain the integrity of information.

  In addition, the communication control unit 24 normally reads out the state of the gaming machine 20 and the number of games that can be played at regular intervals as described above, and transmits them to the inter-card card processor 10 as a signal. When an abnormality (failure, fraud, etc.) occurs and the gaming machine 20 is in an error-down state, the latest state of the gaming machine 20 and the number of games that can be played are transmitted to the inter-card processing unit 10 prior to the error-down. . The transmission of information at regular intervals by the communication control unit 24 may be performed according to a request from the inter-card card processor 10.

  Further, the communication control unit 24 has a function of managing the signal sequence number, stores the signal sequence number assigned to the previously transmitted signal, and when transmitting a signal, the communication control unit 24 sets a value obtained by incrementing the previously transmitted signal sequence number by 1. Attach to signal and send. When the signal sequence number reaches a certain value, it returns to the initial value and circulates. Further, when transmitting the game possible number read from the game possible number memory, the configuration may be such that the value of the game possible number is transmitted as it is, or information indicating a rough number (approximate number) such as adjusting by a certain digit. You may transmit.

  In addition, the communication control unit 24 receives a signal for adding the number of games that can be played from the inter-card processing machine 10 (a loan signal based on valuable value, a management transfer signal based on holding balls), and the game ball control unit 27 Involved in the control of adding to the number of games that can be played. Further, the communication control unit 24 relays the holding ball management request from the game ball control unit 27 to the inter-card processing machine 10.

  The security chip determines whether the data input / output from the communication control unit 24 corresponds to a predetermined data type that requires security, and if not, inputs / outputs the data as it is. On the other hand, if it falls under a data type that requires security, the data encrypted by the encryption program is output when data is input / output. Decode the processed data. The encryption / decryption method is determined in advance with the security chip of the inter-card processing machine 10, and the data encrypted by the other party can be mutually decrypted.

  Further, the gaming machine 20 starts control when the power is turned on at the start of business, but does not enter the normal gaming enabled state when the power is on, but is in a standby control state. In the standby control state, the mutual authentication with the inter-card card processor 10 is OK in the communication control unit 24, and a game is started when a game control start signal is received from the inter-card card processor 10 through the communication control unit 24. It becomes possible.

  The game control unit 26 is a control unit that controls a game by the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the game control unit 26 controls the launching of the game balls onto the game board surface by detecting the handle operation, the detection of the game balls that have entered the winning opening on the game board surface, and the random number (0 to Acquisition and lottery (special symbols and normal symbols) of big hits, small hits, and off numbers for each predetermined range among 65535 random numbers, movable members (tulips, etc.) provided on the game board ), Display control of a special symbol display device provided on the game board surface, detection of anomaly that may be fraudulent (front frame opened, vibration detected, etc.) and notification to the host device.

  In addition, when the game control unit 26 receives a control to stop use from the inter-card processing machine 10, the game control unit 26 stops the game operation of the game machine 20 and plays a game such as the number of games stored in the game number memory. Control to hold the machine status data. In addition, when receiving a return instruction from the use stop, it is returned to the state at the use stop state.

  In addition, the game control unit 26 monitors the state of the gaming machine 20 and notifies an inter-card card processing machine 10 of an error message when a gaming machine error occurs. If the error is in the counting system, the transmission of the gameable number is stopped and the gameable number data is held.

  A lot of obstacle nails are planted on the game board surface, and the game balls fired on the game board surface by the handle operation will fall between the obstacle nails and win or win the prize opening, start opening Without being discharged from the game board surface out of the game board surface. A lottery is made when the game ball wins the starting hole, and when a big hit is made, a big hit game is performed in which a predetermined winning port on the game board surface is controlled to be opened multiple times, and the game ball wins at this winning hole. This makes it easy to give a prize to a player.

  In addition, the jackpot includes a bonus jackpot game with a bonus that gives a predetermined bonus game to the player after the jackpot game ends. Bonus games with benefits include probability variation jackpots and hourly jackpots. The probability variation jackpot and the short-time bonus jackpot are those that give a probability-changing game and a time-shortage game as a bonus game after each jackpot. Time-short game is a normal symbol lottery (opening / closing lottery of the movable member described above) and / or special symbol lottery (big hit lottery by winning the above-mentioned game ball) (from the start of the lottery process until the result is displayed) This is a privilege game that increases the number of lotteries per unit time and increases the probability of winning a big hit per unit time by shortening (time). This special game may include a normal symbol probability variation that increases the probability of winning the normal symbol. The time-saving game based on the time-saving jackpot ends when the number of lotteries for the special symbol lottery is a predetermined number of times after the jackpot. The probability variation game will be described later.

  The game control unit 26 has a probability variation function. The probability variation function is a control for changing the jackpot random number range used for the next lottery (generally about 10 times) when the lottery result falls within a predetermined random number range of the jackpot. It is a function. In the probability variation game, a special symbol lottery is performed using the probability after the change. Stochastic games will continue until the next big hit. Further, the probability variation game and the short time game may be given simultaneously. However, in order to prevent unforeseen game store damage, if the player has acquired a certain amount of game media after the start of probability-changing games or short-time games, it will be stopped (the card will be ejected and a prize exchange or a table move will be requested) It is good also as processing. In this case, the number of game media acquired after entering the probability variation gaming state is counted by the gaming machine 20, and when the counted value reaches a predetermined value, the game stop control such as stopping the launch of the game ball is performed. This can be achieved.

  The effect control unit 25 is a control unit that controls the effect during the game, and includes an effect symbol lottery unit 25a and an effect lottery unit 25b. The effect symbol lottery unit 25a draws the effect symbol (the symbol displayed on the effect symbol display device such as a display device in the game board) based on the special symbol lottery in the game control unit 26 (specifically, the final display) To stop at 7, 7, 7 etc.).

  The effect lottery unit 25b performs an effect type lottery (such as when a character comes out and performs a reach effect) until the lottery result based on the effect symbol is displayed. Such effects are set so that the effects selected for the main lottery result are different.

  The effect control unit 25 stores effect data of each effect. Further, the effect control unit 25 controls the display of the effect symbol display device, and when the effect is executed, the effect display is performed by superimposing the effect data on the background symbol data. Further, when the probability changes, background color data different from the normal state is set.

  The game ball control unit 27 is a control unit that controls the number of games that can be played, and includes a game number management unit 27a and a dispensing control unit 27b. The game number management unit 27a stores the game number in an internal game number memory, and performs a process of updating the game number.

  Specifically, the game number management unit 27a subtracts “1” from the game number every time a game ball is fired, and adds the number of game balls to the game number when a winning occurs. In addition, when the number of balls is notified from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the notified number of balls is added to the game possible number, and the inter-card card processing machine 10 is added to the game possible number. A confirmation signal is transmitted.

  Further, the game possible number management unit 27 a periodically transmits the game possible number to the inter-card card processing machine 10. In this case, the game number management unit 27a does not subtract the game number. In addition, when the count button 23 is operated, the game number management unit 27a transmits a management transfer request to the inter-card card processor 10. At this time, if the operation time of the counting button 23 is less than the predetermined time, the game possible number management unit 27a transmits a management transfer request for adding a predetermined number (for example, 100) to the possession card to the inter-card card processing machine 10. In response to a response indicating completion of addition to the holding ball, a predetermined number is subtracted from the number of games that can be played. Further, if the operation time of the counting button 23 is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the game possible number management unit 27a sends a management transfer request for adding all the game possible numbers at that time to the possession balls to the inter-card card processing machine 10. The number of games is cleared to 0 in response to a response indicating completion of addition to the ball.

  The throwing control unit 27b is a control unit that controls throwing of the game ball, determines the throwing direction of the game ball according to the operation amount of the handle 21, and controls the throwing mechanism to throw the game ball. Let go out.

  The game control unit 26 and the game ball control unit 27 are each configured on separate boards. The game control board on which the game control unit 26 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control unit 27 is configured each have a unique ID. The gaming machine 20 uses the gaming control board ID and the gaming ball control board ID in combination as a gaming machine ID.

  Next, a specific example of data stored in the storage unit 16 illustrated in FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the own device state data 16a, the gaming machine state data 16b, and the card data 16c shown in FIG.

  In the own device state data 16a shown in FIG. 5A, the ID of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is “3001”, and the game type “ball 1” is set as the game setting of the inter-card card processing machine 10. Indicates the state.

  The gaming machine state data 16b shown in FIG. 5B indicates that the ID of the gaming machine 20 is “A0012X4234”, the current number of games that can be played is “1500”, and the firing strength is “38”. Yes. In addition, it shows that the gaming machine 20 is in a normal state with no probability variation and the equipment is operating normally. The reach reliability is data representing the reliability of realization when a big hit reach occurs. The gaming machine state data may include the number of big hits and the number of reach times during the game.

  The card data 16c shown in FIG. 5C indicates that the ID of the card inserted into the inter-card processor 10 is “1001”. Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, the card with the first digit “1” being a general card, and the card with the first digit “2” being a membership card. The card data 16c indicates a state where the prepaid value is “10” frequency. Here, the frequency of prepaid value is equivalent to 100 yen per frequency. Further, the card data 16c indicates a state in which the balance of the ball 1 has “1000” and the balance of the balls 2 and 3 is “0”.

  Next, the internal configuration of the mobile terminal 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the mobile terminal 100. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 100 includes a display unit 101, an input unit 102, a communication unit 103, a storage unit 104, and a control unit 105.

  The display unit 101 is a touch-type liquid crystal panel or the like, and the input unit 102 is a keyboard, buttons, or the like. The display unit 101 and the input unit 102 may be physically integrated to serve as input and display. In this case, the input unit 102 displays a keyboard, a button, or the like on the display screen of the display unit 101, and accepts an input by pressing the button or the like. The communication unit 103 is an interface for performing data communication with the card management device 40, the member management device 50, and the like via a wireless line. In addition, the communication unit 103 can be directly connected to the device via a wire to perform data communication.

  The storage unit 104 stores input data. Data stored in the storage unit 104 includes communication setting data such as the number of balls, the card ID of the player, the registration code, and the address of the communication partner managed by the failed inter-card processor 10.

  The control unit 105 is a control unit that controls the mobile terminal 100 as a whole. The control unit 105 includes an input control unit 105a, a display control unit 105b, and a communication management unit 105c.

  The input control unit 105a is a control unit that receives and controls input from the operator. The input control unit 105a receives an input from the operation screen by operation guidance according to the operation item of the operator. In addition, an input check is performed so that input from an operator without operating authority is not accepted and incorrect information is not erroneously transmitted to the card management device 40.

  The display control unit 105b is a control unit that controls the display of the operation screen in accordance with the failed device and the operation. The display control unit 105b sequentially controls the display unit 101 to display input screens corresponding to input operations. In addition, the display control unit 105b provides the card management device 40 with an estimated value of the number of balls or the number of games that can be played when the inter-card card processor 10 or the display operation unit 22 of the gaming machine 20 is completely blacked out. Display control of buttons that can be inquired.

  The communication management unit 105 c is a management unit that performs settings for performing wireless communication and / or wired communication between the host device and the mobile terminal 100. The communication management unit 105c determines the communication partner according to the ball data registration operation and the wireless and wired environment in the amusement store, and automatically sets communication.

  Next, the internal configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the card management device 40 is connected to a display unit 41 and an input unit 42, and includes a game store network communication unit 44, a storage unit 45, and a control unit 46.

  The display unit 41 is a liquid crystal panel, a display device, or the like. The input unit 42 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The amusement store network communication unit 44 is a wireless and wired interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, the member management device 50, the prize management device 60, the checkout device 80, and the mobile terminal 100 via a communication line in the amusement store. .

  The storage unit 45 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a nonvolatile memory, and stores card management data 45a, device management data 45b, ball count management data 45c, ball count history data 45d, and ball count registration data 45e.

  The card management data 45a is data in which a prepaid value balance, a balance of coins, and the like are associated with a card ID. The device management data 45b is data relating to a device placed in the amusement store. The device management data 45b includes the inter-card card processing machine ID, the address of the inter-card card processing machine 10, the installation location, the gaming machine ID, the model data of the gaming machine 20, and the operating status.

  The number-of-balls management data 45c includes the number of outs transmitted from the gaming machine 20 via the inter-card processing machine 10, the safe number, and the total number of balls rented notified from the inter-card processing machine 10 (the number of balls replayed) And the total including the number of replays of the stored ball. The number of possessed balls history data 45d is data in which a history of the number of possessed balls transmitted from the inter-card processing machine 10 at a regular timing is recorded. The number-of-balls registration data 45e includes the failure table number, the number of balls, the number of games that can be played, the number of balls and the number of temporary balls that are transmitted from the portable terminal 100 when the inter-card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 breaks down. This is data in which the number of temporary balls, which is the sum of numbers, is associated with a registration code.

  The control unit 46 is a control unit that performs overall control of the card management device 40, and includes a card management unit 46a, a device management unit 46b, a ball number management unit 46c, a calculation determination processing unit 46d, and a temporary ball temporary registration processing unit 46e. . Actually, by loading and executing these programs on a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a card management unit 46a, a device management unit 46b, a ball number management unit 46c, a calculation determination processing unit 46d, and a temporary ball temporary registration process The process corresponding to each of the units 46e is executed.

  The card management unit 46a is a processing unit that manages the card management data 45a. The card management unit 46a communicates with the inter-card card processing machine 10, the prize management device 60, and the checkout machine 80 to update the prepaid value and the balance of the coins associated with the card ID.

  In addition, when the card management unit 46a receives a card insertion notification from the inter-card card processor 10, the card management unit 46a notifies the inter-card card processor 10 of the valuable value associated with the card and the balance of possessions.

  Further, the card management unit 46a is instructed by the holding ball temporary registration processing unit 46e to perform the main registration with the number of held balls obtained by adding the number of held balls registered in the ball number registration data 45e and the number of playable games as the number of held balls. If it is, the number of possessions associated with the new card ID is re-registered in the card management data 45a including the prepaid value. The contents associated with the original card ID inserted in the failed inter-card card processing machine 10 are cleared after registration.

  The original card corresponds to the membership card, and the permanent ball temporary registration processing unit 46e instructs the real registration by using the total ball number of the ball number registration data 45e and the number of playable balls as the total number of balls. If it is, the data of the card management data 45a is updated in association with the original card ID. Then, the employee ejects the membership card from the inter-card card processing machine 10 by a predetermined operation, or when the inter-card card processing machine 10 is in error-down, the inter-card card processing machine 10 forcibly Perform the removal process.

  In addition, if the membership card is considered damaged, the inter-card card processor 10 forcibly reissues (transfers), performs registration processing in association with the new membership card ID, Erase card data. In this example, associating with a new card ID is shown as an example, but it is managed as data unrelated to a card associated with a password, a code, or the like (or identification data of an IC chip of a mobile phone with an IC chip). May be. For example, the data code for moving and the input of the password arbitrarily determined by the player (or the IC chip identification data of the mobile phone) are received by the portable terminal owned by the employee, and the inter-card of the player's destination Even if the processing machine 10 accepts the code and password (or mobile phone IC chip identification data), the number of balls held can be associated with the recording medium held by the inter-card card processing machine 10 at the transfer destination. Good.

  In addition, the card management unit 46a receives the number of possessed balls transmitted at regular timing from the inter-card processing machine 10, and stores this in the possessed ball number history data 45d for each card ID and unit number.

  The device management unit 46b is a processing unit that manages the device management data 45b. The device management unit 46b generates device management data 45b based on the inter-card card processor ID acquired from the inter-card card processor 10, the address of the inter-card card processor 10, the installation location, the gaming machine ID, and the operating status. And update.

  In addition, when the device management unit 46b receives the gaming machine ID from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the device management unit 46b inquires of the model data to the model management center and updates the model data of the device management data 45b. Further, when the device management unit 46b updates the gaming machine ID and the model data, the device management unit 46b requests the setting change to the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the member management device 50, so that the setting related to the replacement of the gaming machine 20 is performed. Make changes automatically.

  The number-of-balls management unit 46c aggregates the number of outs, the number of safes and the number of lents transmitted from the inter-card card processing machine 10 from the gaming machine 20 via the inter-card processing machine 10, and Manage numbers. The number of balls management unit 46c updates the number of balls management data 45c in association with the card ID every time the number of outs, the number of safes and the number of balls lent are received.

  The calculation determination processing unit 46d is a processing unit that determines whether the possible number of games transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 is within a predetermined range. The calculation determination processing unit 46d calculates the number of difference balls from the number of outs, the number of safes and the number of balls lent in the number-of-balls management data 45c. If the difference between the calculated value and the transmitted number of games that can be transmitted is compared with a predetermined range compared to the number of games that can be transmitted from the mobile terminal 100, it is determined that the number of balls transmitted is appropriate. When the difference in the number of balls exceeds a predetermined range, it is determined that there has been an unauthorized or erroneous input.

Here, the calculation (estimation) method of the game possible number in the calculation determination processing unit 46d will be specifically described. If the number of outs is O, the number of safes is S, and the total number of rented balls is R, the calculation determination processing unit 46d calculates the game possible number estimated value V,
V = S + RO
Calculate with If the game possible number T transmitted from the portable terminal 100 satisfies | T−V | <α with respect to the predetermined number α (error or the like), the reported game possible number T is regarded as a correct value. If the player starts the game by adding all the possessed balls to the available number of games, and does not perform a counting operation in which the number of available games is managed and transferred to the owned ball, the number of possible games T Only need to check.

When a player adds a part of the number of possessed balls to the game possible number and performs counting in the middle of the game, the reported game possible number T is less than the estimated value by the above formula. Become. For this reason, when counting is performed, if the counted value is C, the estimated number V of possible games is
V = S + R- (O + C)
It becomes. In this case, since the number of possessed balls in the number of possessed balls history data 45d increases when the number of games that can be played is counted, the estimated calculation is performed by assuming this increase as the count value C. Then, it is possible to determine whether or not the reported gameable number T is appropriate as compared with V.

  The calculation determination processing unit 46d can also estimate the number of balls, but since the history of the number of balls is recorded in the ball number history data 45d, the estimation is easier than the number of games that can be played. is there. In particular, if the number of balls is transmitted to the card management device 40 at the time of replay or counting operation where the number of balls changes, there is almost no error due to the failure of the inter-card processing machine 10.

  In addition, the calculation determination processing unit 46d calculates when the display operation units 13 and 22 of the inter-card processing unit 10 and the display unit of the gaming machine 20 are in a blackout state, and the number of possessed balls or the number of possible games is not displayed. The estimated value may be presented to the mobile terminal 100 from the determination processing unit 46d, and after the player's approval is obtained, the number of possessed balls or the number of possible games may be relieved.

  In addition, when the inter-card card processing machine 10 breaks down and the gaming machine 20 is normal, after the inter-card card processing machine 10 breaks down, the player may continue to play the game without noticing. In that case, the estimated value of the number of games that can be calculated by the calculation determination processing unit 46d based on the total including the out and the safe number that was last transmitted to the card management device 40 by the inter-card card processor 10, and the portable terminal 100 There is a possibility that the number of gaming machines that can be transmitted differs. In this case, if the difference between the estimated value of the calculation determination processing unit 46d and the notified value is within a predetermined number β different from α, the larger value is selected by the employee's judgment. It may be.

  The values of the predetermined numbers α and β are related to the time difference between the last acquisition time of the data used by the calculation determination processing unit 46d for calculating the estimated number of games and the time when the notified value is acquired. The value may vary. In this case, it is assumed that the data used for calculating the estimated value and the notified value are associated with the data of the acquisition time.

  The temporary ball registration processing unit 46e receives the number of balls transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 when the inter-card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 fails and communication with the card management device 40 fails. And a processing unit that registers the total value of the possible number of games as the number of temporary balls. When the calculation determination processing unit 46d determines that the number of games that can be played is appropriate, the temporary ball temporary registration processing unit 46e generates a registration code, and in association with this, the number of balls that can be played, the number of games that can be played, and their numbers The number of temporary balls that are the total value is registered in the ball number registration data 45e. In addition, when accepting the stand number, the number of balls, and the number of games that can be played, the input of a personal identification number may be requested.

  In addition, when receiving the machine number and the registration code from the mobile terminal 100, the temporary ball temporary registration processing unit 46e determines whether the registration code and the personal identification number are correct. The provisional number of balls is handed over to the card management unit 46a to be registered as the number of balls. Then, the data of the corresponding number of temporary balls registered in the ball number registration data 45e is cleared to zero and updated. If the registration code or security code is not entered correctly, you will be asked to enter it again.

  Next, a specific example of data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40 will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40. In the card management data 45a shown in FIG. 8A, the card with the card ID “1001” is associated with the prepaid value “25” frequency, and the balance of the number-of-balls data of the balls 1, 2 and 3 Is “0”. Also, the card with the card ID “2002” has a prepaid value “20” frequency, a balance “2000” of the ball 1 data, a balance “750” of the ball 2 data, and the number of balls 3 The data balance “0” is associated. The card with the card ID “1001” is inserted into the inter-card card processing machine 10 with the usage-destination ID “3001”, and the managed ball is managed by the inter-card card processing machine 10, and the player is playing a game. It is shown that.

  In the device management data 45b shown in FIG. 8B, the address on the network of the inter-card processing machine 10 with ID “3001” is “AB.CD.EF.GH”, and the installation location is “island 1-1. ”Indicates that the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is“ A0012X4233 ”and the model of the connected gaming machine 20 is“ EV01 ”. This indicates that the inter-card card processing machine 10 is in an apparatus abnormal state.

  In addition, the address on the network of the inter-card card processing machine 10 with the ID “3002” is “AB.CD.EF.GI”, the installation location is “Island 1-1”, and the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is “A0013X1234” indicates that the model of the connected gaming machine 20 is “EV01”. Further, this indicates that this gaming machine 20 is in a vacant state.

  In the ball count management data 45c shown in FIG. 8C, the card with the card ID “1001” is being used with the unit number “777”, the out number is “3510”, and the safe number is “5735”. It shows that the total number of rented balls including replay is “750”. However, the "777" range from FIG. 8B is in an apparatus abnormal state.

  The number-of-balls history data 45d shown in FIG. 8D indicates that the ball of the player whose card ID is “1001” is “1250” from “1500” from “10:20” to “10:25”. In addition, “10:30” shows a state where the number of holding balls has decreased to “1000”.

  The number-of-balls registration data 45e shown in FIG. 8 (e) has a prepaid value for a player whose card ID is “1001” in the machine number “777” where the registration error is “abc123”. It shows that “25” frequency, the number of possessed balls is “1000”, the number of games that can be played is “1500”, and the number of provisional balls “2500” that is the sum of both is associated. In addition, in the stand number “801”, for the player with the registration code “acd445” and the card ID “1050”, the prepaid value “0” frequency, the number of possessions “500”, and the number of playable games “2000” "And the number of temporary balls" 2500 ", which is the sum of the two, is shown in a state of being associated with each other.

  Next, ball data registration of the number of balls and the number of games that can be played when a failure occurs in the inter-card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 is normal will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining ball data registration when the inter-card card processing machine 10 fails. Here, the description will be made assuming that a communication failure between the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the card management device 40 has occurred in the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  When the inter-card processing machine 10 detects that a failure has occurred and communication with the card management device 40 has been interrupted (step S11), the failure has occurred through the status display unit 11 or the display operation unit 22. Is notified to the player (step S12). Then, an employee call operation is accepted from the player who has confirmed the occurrence of the failure (step S13). Further, the card management device 40 also confirms that the communication with the inter-card card processing machine 10 has been interrupted, and updates the status of the corresponding inter-card card processing machine 10 in the apparatus management data 45b to “abnormal”. (Step S41).

  The employee who receives the call carries the portable terminal 100 and goes to the player. And the portable terminal 100 receives the input of the machine number of the gaming machine 20, the number of balls, and the number of games that can be played from the employee (step S1). The portable terminal 100 that has received the input wirelessly transmits the card number, the number of possessed balls, and the number of games that can be played to the card management device 40.

  The card management device 40 that has received the data from the portable terminal 100 checks the device number of the device management data 45b to check whether or not the transmitted inter-card card processor 10 is in an abnormal state (step S42). If the inter-card processing machine 10 is in an abnormal state, the number of balls received next is checked (step S43). If the number of possessed balls and the number of playable games are within the predetermined range, a registration code is generated, and the number of possessed balls and the number of playable games are registered in the number-of-balls registration data 45e as the number of temporarily possessed balls. (Step S44). Then, the registration code is transmitted to the mobile terminal 100.

  The mobile terminal 100 that has received the registration code displays the registration code (step S2). The employee who confirms the registration code moves to the vacant card processing machine 10a. The inter-card processing machine 10a accepts the selection of the proxy mode from the employee, and accepts the input of the malfunctioning machine number and the registration code (step S11a). Then, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits the input registration code or the like to the card management device 40 in association with the card ID (step S12a), and issues an alternative card (step S13a). Further, the card management device 40 fully registers the number of provisional balls registered in association with the card ID as the number of balls in the card management data 45a and clears the corresponding data in the number of balls registration data 45e (step S45). .

  The data that may be affected by the failure of the inter-card processing machine 10 is the number of balls and the number of games that can be played. As for the number of balls, the number of balls can be extracted as long as the control system has not failed at all. Further, even if the control system has a complete failure, it is possible to make an inquiry to the card management device 40 and confirm it from the possession number history data 45d. Regarding the number of games that can be played, if the gaming machine 20 is normal, the number of games that can be played can be extracted.

  Also, even if the inter-card card processing machine 10 breaks down, there is a possibility that the game will continue without the player being aware. In this case, out to the card management device 40 and transmission of safe data are interrupted, and the time for which the game is continued appears as a gap of the number of games that can be played between the card management device 40 and the gaming machine 20. However, if the error is immediately reduced due to the abnormal process, a large difference should not occur, and the gaming machine 20 can also check the number of games that can be played.

  Here, the description has been made on the assumption that the display operation unit 13 or 22 of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is normal and the number-of-balls data of the card data 16c in the storage unit 16 remains. When the display operation units 13 and 22 are in a blackout state and the number of possessed balls data is not specified from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the latest data of the number of possessed ball history data 45d stored in the card management device 40 is used. You may make it input after an inquiry and an employee confirm.

  Moreover, although the vacant online inter-card card processing machine 10 has received the input of the registration code and issued the substitute card, the prize management device 60 may receive the input of the registration code. Further, the prize management device 60 may be configured to be able to communicate with the mobile terminal 100. In this case, the prize management device 60 is switched from the normal standby mode to an alternative prize exchange input mode in which a registration code can be input or communication with the portable terminal 100 can be performed by a predetermined operation by an employee.

  If there is an input of the registration code, the card management device 40 is inquired about the number of possessed balls associated with the registration code, and shifts to a prize exchange screen in a state where the number of possessed balls is specified as an exchange target. In addition, when the number of possessed balls is acquired through communication with the mobile terminal 100, the screen shifts to a prize exchange screen in a state where the number of possessed balls is the subject of exchange. In this way, it is possible to use the registered number of temporary balls as a formal number of balls as it is for a prize exchange without issuing a substitute card to a player who does not continue the game.

  Next, ball data registration when the inter-card card processing machine 10 is normal and the gaming machine 20 fails will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining ball data registration when the gaming machine 20 fails.

  When the gaming machine 20 detects a gaming machine error when a failure occurs in the gaming machine 20 (step S11b), the inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the card management device 40 that the gaming machine 20 is in an abnormal state. Receiving the notification, the card management device 40 updates the corresponding gaming machine 20 in the device management data 45b as abnormal (step S41).

  The inter-card card processing machine 10 notifies the employee of the abnormal state by the status display unit 11 or the employee call (step S12b), and causes the gaming machine 20 to error-down (step S13b). The employee who received the notification goes with the broken gaming machine 20 carrying the mobile terminal 100.

  Similarly to FIG. 9, the portable terminal 100 accepts input of the machine number, the number of balls, and the number of games that can be played from the employee (step S <b> 1). The mobile terminal 100 transmits the received data to the card management device 40. The card management device 40 checks whether or not the received machine number is in failure (step S42), and if it is in failure, checks the range of the number of balls (step S43). If the number of balls is within the predetermined range, a registration code is generated, and the total value of the number of balls and the number of games that can be played is associated with the number of balls and registered in the ball number registration data 45e (step S44). Thereafter, this registration code is transmitted to the portable terminal 100.

  When the portable terminal 100 receives and displays the registration code (step S2), the employee moves to the vacant card processing machine 10a. The inter-card card processing machine 10a accepts the selection of the proxy mode from the employee, and accepts the input of the machine number and the registration code (step S11a). Then, the received registration code and the card ID to be discharged are transmitted to the card management device 40 (step S12a), and the card to be discharged is issued as an alternative card (step S13a).

  If the received registration code is correct, the card management device 40 associates the registered number of held balls with the card ID and performs main registration in the card management data 45a, and deletes this data from the number of balls registration data 45e (step S45). The process is terminated.

  It is conceivable that the gaming machine 20 breaks down so as to hinder the game, and in the worst case, the possible number of games disappears. However, since the number of games that can be received immediately before the failure is stored in the gaming machine state data 16b and displayed on the display operation unit 22 in the inter-card processing machine 10, the number of games that can be played at that time is relieved to a minimum. The Further, since the inter-card card processing machine 10 is normal, the total number of possessed balls is relieved.

  As in the case where the inter-card processing machine 10 breaks down, instead of issuing a substitute card, the prize management device 60 directly accepts the input of a registration code and uses the number of registered temporary holding balls for prize exchange. You may be able to.

  Next, an operation screen associated with ball data registration will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition of the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 100 at the time of ball data registration. FIG. 11A is a screen that is initially displayed on the mobile terminal 100, and is a screen that accepts selection of which device is malfunctioning. And if the selection which the inter-card card processing machine 10 is out of order here is performed, it will become the screen of FIG.11 (b).

  In FIG. 11 (b), a screen for prompting input of the machine number, the number of balls, and the number of games that can be played is displayed. In addition, there is a display requesting that the estimated ball value request button be pressed. This is when the inter-card card processor 10 breaks down including the control system, and the number of internal balls cannot be extracted from the inter-card card processor 10. It is a remedy. When this button is pressed, the mobile terminal 100 inquires the card management device 40 about the estimated number of balls. And the card management apparatus 40 which received the inquiry returns the nearest number of balls of the corresponding inter-card processing machine 10 from the number-of-balls history data 45d as the estimated number of balls. When the input is completed and the enter button is pressed, the input content is transmitted to the card management device 40. In addition, as shown in FIG.11 (b), you may make it input an employee's PIN code.

  FIG. 11C shows that the card management device 40 that has received data from the mobile terminal 100 checks the unit number and the number of balls, transmits a registration code after completing the registration of the number of temporary balls, and the mobile terminal 100 Is a screen on which the registration code is received and displayed. At this stage, preparations for input from the vacant card processor 10 are complete.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a proxy mode screen in the display operation unit of the inter-card card processing machine 10 at the time of ball data registration. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the input of the faulty machine number, the registration code, the password, and the pressing of the enter button on this proxy mode screen, the inter-card card processor 10 discharges the substitute card associated with the holding ball. Thereafter, the player can continue playing the game using the ball with any of the cards with the replacement card associated with the ball.

  The replacement card discharge operation of the inter-card card processing machine 10 that has accepted the proxy process is the same as the normal card discharge. The only difference is that the number of possessed balls including the number of games that should be managed and transferred to the inter-card processing machine 10 is originally saved as the number of temporarily possessed balls in the card management device 40. In the proxy process, the inter-card processing machine 10 associates a registration code instead of associating the number of retracted temporary holding balls with the card, and the card management device 40 replaces the registration code associated with the card ID. Then, re-associate with the holding ball.

  Next, a processing procedure of ball data registration by the portable terminal 100 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 is out of order will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of ball data registration by the portable terminal 100 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 is out of order.

  The input control unit 105a of the mobile terminal 100 receives a ball data registration request from the employee on the screen of FIG. 11A (step S101). The display control unit 105b displays an input reception screen for receiving the number of balls on the display unit 101 (step S102). If the number of possessed balls data is lost in the inter-card processing machine 10 and there is a request for transmission of the estimated number of balls (step S103; Yes), the estimated value is received by inquiring the card management device 40. (Step S104). If there is no request for an estimated value (step S103; No), the process proceeds to step S105.

  The input control unit 105a receives the machine number, the number of possessed balls (including the estimated value), and the game possible number from the input unit 102 (step S105). If the number of balls is displayed as the estimated number of balls, if that value is acceptable, it is input. Thereafter, the input control unit 105a inquires of the card management device 40 about the received data (step S106).

  If a re-input request due to an input error or the like is received from the card management device 40 (step S107; Yes), the input control unit 105a returns to step S105 and accepts input again. If there is no request for re-input of data from the card management device 40 and it is accepted (step S107; No), a registration code transmitted from the card management device 40 is received (step S108).

  The display control unit 105b displays the received registration code on the display unit 101 (step S109), displays subsequent operation guidance (step S110), and ends the process.

  Next, a processing procedure for issuing an alternative card by the proxy processing of the inter-card card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for issuing an alternative card in the proxy mode of the inter-card card processing machine 10. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the selection of the substitute mode (step S201), it displays the substitute mode screen on the display operation unit 22 (step S202).

  The proxy processing unit 17e of the inter-card card processing machine 10 accepts the input of the table number of the failed table and the registration code from the proxy mode screen (step S203). Then, the received data and the card ID to be ejected next are sent to the card management device 40 (step S204). In response to the response associated with the registered temporary holding number data corresponding to the registration code from the card management device 40, the card to be ejected is ejected as an alternative card (step S205), and the process is terminated.

  Next, a processing procedure of ball data registration by the card management device 40 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 is out of order will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a ball data registration processing procedure by the card management device 40 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 is out of order.

  The possession ball temporary registration processing unit 46e of the card management device 40 receives a ball data registration request from the portable terminal 100 (step S301). When there is an inquiry about the estimated number of balls (step S302; Yes), the card management unit 46a uses the latest number of balls data 45d from the latest number of balls history data 45d as the estimated number of mobile terminals. 100 (step S303). If there is no inquiry about the estimated holding value (step S302; No), the process proceeds to step S304.

  Thereafter, the temporary ball temporary registration processing unit 46e stands by if no machine number, the number of games that can be played, and the number of balls are received (step S304; No). When a telegram such as a machine number has been received (step S304; Yes), it is determined whether or not the machine card processor 10 or the gaming machine 20 with the machine number is out of order (step S305). If there is a failure (step S305; Yes), it is determined whether or not the difference between the number of games and the estimated number of games is within a predetermined range (step S306). If the game possible number is within the predetermined range (step S306; Yes), the sum of the game possible number and the number of possessed balls is registered as the number of temporary possessed balls (step S308). And the registration code matched with the number of temporary holding balls is produced | generated, and it transmits to the portable terminal 100 (step S309).

  Thereafter, the machine number, registration code, and card ID are received from the empty inter-card card processor 10 (step S310). If the received registration code is correct (step S311; Yes), the holding ball temporary registration processing unit 46e. Registers the registered number of temporary balls in the card management data 45a (step S312), and ends the process. If the registration code is incorrect (step S311; No), the process returns to step S310 and waits for reception of the registration code.

  If the transmitted machine number is not in failure (step S305; No), the process returns to step S304 to accept re-input of the machine number. If the possible number of games is not within the predetermined range (step S306; No), the holding ball temporary registration processing unit 46e requests re-input (step S307) and returns to step S304.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the ball data registration to the card management device 40, which is the host device, is relayed by the portable terminal 100 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20 breaks down. The failure response by 100 is not limited to this. When communication is disconnected due to a device or wiring failure between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50, the storage managed by the member management device 50 by the mobile terminal 100 is transferred to the card management device 40 and used. It can also be possible. Here, as a modified example, a description will be given of a ball data transfer for transferring the stored balls of the member management device 50 to the card management device 40.

  When a member performs replay using a stored ball, it is necessary to send a stored ball replay request to the member management device 50 via the card management device 40 and receive a payout of the stored ball. For this reason, if a communication failure occurs between the member management device 50 and the card management device 40, the replay of the stored ball becomes impossible, and the member cannot use the stored ball. In order to avoid this, in the ball data transfer, the stored ball data is transferred to the card management device 40 and added to the holding ball, and then the stored ball is made available as a holding ball by replaying the holding ball.

  First, the internal configuration of the member management apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the member management apparatus 50. As shown in the figure, the member management apparatus 50 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52. The display unit 51 is a liquid crystal panel, a display device, or the like, and the input unit 52 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

  In addition, the member management device 50 includes an amusement shop network communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56. The amusement store network communication unit 54 is an interface unit for data communication with the prize management device 60 and the card management device 40 via a communication line in the amusement store.

  The storage unit 55 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory, and stores member management data 55a. The member management data 55a is data in which a name, a savings balance, a mobile ID m, an address, a telephone number, and the like are associated with the card ID of the member card issued to the member.

  The control unit 56 is a control unit that totally controls the member management apparatus 50, and includes a member management unit 56a and a storage ball transfer processing unit 56b. Actually, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a ROM or a non-volatile memory (not shown), and these programs are loaded into the CPU and executed, whereby the member management unit 56a and the storage ball transfer processing unit 56b. The process corresponding to each is executed.

  The member management unit 56a is a processing unit that manages the member management data 55a. The member management unit 56a communicates with the card management device 40 and the gift management device 60 to update the balance of the savings account associated with the card ID. In addition, when the member management unit 56a receives a member registration request, the member management unit 56a updates the member management data 55a for additional registration of members.

  The storage transfer processing unit 56b is a processing unit that performs storage transfer processing on the card management device 40 when a communication failure occurs between the member management device 50 and the card management device 40. When the storage ball transfer processing unit 56b receives a transfer request for storage balls from the mobile terminal 100 to the card management device 40, the storage ball transfer processing unit 56b transfers the storage balls to the possession data of the members of the card management device 40 via the mobile terminal 100. Let it be added to the number. And the completion response of the savings ball transfer is received from the card management device 40, and the savings data of the member is cleared from the membership management data 55a. In this case, the card management device 40 on the receiver side is substantially the same as the process of accepting the registration of the ball from the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  Next, ball data migration when communication between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 is abnormal will be described. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the transfer of the ball data when the communication between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 is abnormal.

  The card management device 40 and the member management device 50 detect that an abnormality has occurred in communication between them (steps S41a and S51). In this case, when the inter-card card processing machine 10 receives the stored ball replay request (step S11c) and transmits the stored ball replay request to the member management device 50 through the card management device 40, the card management device 40 causes the member management device 50 to The communication card processor 10 is notified that a communication error has occurred (step S42a).

  Receiving the notification of the communication error, the inter-card card processing machine 10 notifies the player that the replay of the stored ball is disabled due to the communication error (step S12c). Here, the inter-card card processing machine 10 accepts an employee call (step S13c). Then, the member card discharge is once accepted from the arriving employee (step S14c).

  Thereafter, the portable terminal 100 accepts input of the card number and the password at the time of replaying the stored ball from the member (step S1a), and transmits this member card data to the member management device 50 (step S2a). When the member management device 50 that has received the member card data authenticates that the member card data is valid (step S52), the member management device 50 transmits the stored ball data to the card management device 40 via the portable terminal 100 (step S52). S53). In response to the completion of reception from the card management device 40, the member management device 50 updates (clears) the stored ball data (step S54).

  The card management device 40 that has received the stored ball data adds the number of stored balls to the number of balls in the card data 16c (step S43a). If the member card is inserted into the inter-card card processing machine 10 and a notification is received (step S15c), the updated number of possessed balls data is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10 (step S44a). Thereafter, upon receiving a request for subtracting (clearing) the number of balls from the inter-card processing machine 10, the number-of-balls data is updated (cleared) (step S45a).

  On the other hand, the inter-card processing machine 10 stores the received ball in the card data 16c and issues a ball subtraction (clear) request to the card management device 40 (step S16c). Then, replay as a holding ball is enabled (step S17c).

  Next, the processing procedure of the ball data migration by the portable terminal 100 in the communication abnormality between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of ball data migration by the mobile terminal 100 in the case of communication abnormality between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50.

  The portable terminal 100 displays a screen for transferring stored ball data and accepts a request for card data from the member management device 50 (step S401). Then, the card data request screen receives input of card information of a card number and a personal identification number from a member or employee (step S402), and transmits a savings ball transfer request to the member management apparatus 50 (step S403).

  If the fact that the card authentication is successful is received from the member management device 50 (step S404; Yes), the portable terminal 100 performs a process of transferring the number of stored balls data between the member management device 50 and the card management device 40 ( Step S405). If reception completion from the card management device 40 is received, a message to that effect is displayed (step S406), and the process ends. When the fact that the card authentication has failed is received (step S404; No), the process returns to step S402 and the card information is input again.

  Next, a processing procedure for transferring ball data by the member management apparatus 50 via the mobile terminal 100 when communication between the card management apparatus 40 and the member management apparatus 50 is abnormal will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of ball data migration by the member management device 50 via the portable terminal 100 when communication between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 is abnormal.

  The stored-ball transfer processing unit 56b of the member management device 50 receives a stored-ball transfer request from the mobile terminal 100 (step S501). The storage ball transfer processing unit 56b transmits a request for card data to the portable terminal 100 (step S502), and waits if no membership card data is received (step S503; No). The member management unit 56a receives the member card information data (step S503; Yes). If the card authentication fails (step S504; No), the member management unit 56a requests retransmission of the card information, and returns to step S502.

  If a notification of successful authentication of card information is received from the member management unit 56a (step S504; Yes), the storage ball transfer processing unit 56b transmits a message to the effect that the storage ball data is transmitted, and the card management device 40 In response to the response, the member ID and the stored ball data are transmitted to the card management device 40 via the portable terminal 100 (step S505).

  Upon receiving a notification of the completion of the storage ball transfer from the card management device 40 (step S506), the storage ball transfer processing unit 56b clears the corresponding member's storage ball number data in the member management data 55a (step S507) and ends the processing.

  Next, a processing procedure for transferring ball data by the card management device 40 when communication between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 is abnormal will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the ball data migration by the card management device 40 when the communication between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 is abnormal.

  The card management unit 46a of the card management device 40 accepts a storage ball transfer request from the member management device 50 (step S601). The card management unit 46a receives the member ID and the number of stored balls data from the member management device 50 (step S602).

  When the reception of the stored ball number data is completed, the reception completion is transmitted to the portable terminal 100 and the member management device 50 (step S603), and the stored ball number is added to the member's held ball number data and updated (step S604). The process ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even if a failure occurs in either the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20, the use of the portable terminal 100 allows the player to acquire the ball and the game that can be played. The number can be registered in the card management device 40 as the number of possessed balls. In addition, regardless of the failure part of the specific inter-card card processing machine 10 or the gaming machine 20, it is possible to easily and quickly relieve the number of possessed balls and the number of games that the player has acquired without requiring a special additional device. Is possible.

  Even if a communication device or wiring between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 fails, the stored data of the member management device 50 can be transferred to the card management device 40 by a simple operation of the mobile terminal 100. Since the transfer is possible, the member can use the stored ball by the card management device 40.

  Further, in this embodiment, even when manual input of an employee or a player is accepted and the ball data is transferred, the card management device 40 checks the range of the number of balls that can be played, thereby preventing erroneous operation and fraud. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the ball data registration in the case where a failure that causes a communication failure has occurred in the inter-card card processing machine 10 has been described, but the failure is not limited to the communication failure of the inter-card card processing device 10. As long as no failure occurs at the same time between the inter-card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20, and any one of them, the portable terminal 100 having almost the same operability does not require a full-time employee, By registering the ball data, it is possible to register the number of balls and the number of games that can be played.

  Further, the portable terminal 100 carried by the employee does not need to be a dedicated machine, and may be used also as a service terminal in the store for exchanging wagons or joining a member. Moreover, the portable terminal 100 may be a portable terminal such as a player's smartphone, and may allow the card management device 40 to check the number of balls via a website. In addition, the wireless communication method of the mobile terminal 100 may be any method.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the ball data migration when the communication failure occurs between the card management device 40 and the member management device 50 has been described, but the ball data migration is not limited to this. For example, in the same game store, a card system for an inter-card card processor with an individual counter and a card system for an inter-card card processor 10 of an enclosed game machine 20 are used together. A card management device may be used. In that case, it can also be used when a communication failure occurs between both card management devices.

  When a communication failure occurs between the two card management devices, mutual holding of the number-of-balls data of both sides by the general card becomes impossible. Also in this case, similarly to the ball data transfer between the member management device 50 and the card management device 40, the number of possessed balls of one card management device is changed to the number of possessed balls of the other card management device by the portable terminal 100. It is possible to migrate as. As a result, a player who has played with an open-type gaming machine by using the inter-counter card processing with each counter, the same general card can be used with the inter-card processing machine 10 provided in the enclosed gaming machine 20. Can be used, and it is possible to replay Mochitama. Conversely, a player who has played with the enclosed game machine 20 can replay the ball with the same card even in the inter-card card processing machine with each counter.

  In this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine that is a kind of a ball-type gaming machine that fires a game ball and gives a prize when the game ball passes through a predetermined area has been described as an example. The use is not limited to this, but other types of ball-type game machines and a predetermined number of game media are set as the number of bets for one game and the reel is rotated. The shape of the game medium to be used is also used for a spinning-type game machine that gives a prize in response to the establishment of a predetermined symbol combination on the stop line set on the spinning cylinder when the cylinder is stopped. Regardless, it can be similarly applied.

  Further, in this embodiment, detailed description of the form of the card, which is a medium for associating the number of game media, is omitted, but such a card includes a magnetic card, an IC card, and the like. Further, although the “card” has been described as an example here for convenience of explanation, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a chip, a stick, a portable terminal, or the like is used in addition to such a card. In particular, when a mobile terminal with an IC chip is used as a medium, since the mobile terminal can be uniquely identified using identification information that can be obtained in a non-contact manner from the IC chip of the mobile terminal, the game medium is associated with the identification information. You can manage the number.

  In addition, each configuration illustrated in the above-described embodiments is functionally schematic and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. That is, the form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed / integrated in an arbitrary unit according to various loads or usage conditions. Can be configured.

  As described above, the gaming system and the game management method according to the present invention are advantageous to the player by making the available number available when a failure occurs while the available number remains in the enclosed gaming machine. Suitable when you want to prevent.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10a Inter-card processing machine 11 Status display part 12 Banknote conveyance part 12a Bill insertion slot 13, 22 Display operation part 14 Reader / writer 14a Card insertion slot 15, 103 Communication part 16, 45, 55, 104 Storage part 16a Self-device State data 16b Game machine status data 16c Card data 17, 46, 56, 105 Control unit 17a Data management unit 17b Game setting processing unit 17c Game machine state management unit 17d Abnormal processing unit 17e Proxy processing unit 17f Display control unit 18 Game machine management Board 20 Game machine 21 Handle 23 Count button 24 Communication control unit 25 Production control unit 25a Production symbol lottery unit 25b Production lottery unit 26 Game control unit 27 Game ball control unit 27a Gameable number management unit 27b Throwing control unit 30 Island controller 40 Card management device 41, 51, 101 Display unit 2, 52, 102 Input unit 44, 54 Amusement store network communication unit 45a Card management data 45b Device management data 45c Number of balls management data 45d Number of balls history data 45e Number of balls registration data 46a Card management unit 46b Device management unit 46c Number of balls Management unit 46d Calculation determination processing unit 46e Mochitama temporary registration processing unit 50 Member management device 55a Member management data 56a Member management unit 56b Savings ball transfer processing unit 60 Free gift management device 80 Settlement machine 100 Portable terminal 105a Input control unit 105b Display control unit 105c Communication management department

Claims (7)

A game machine that uses a game medium to play a game, each device attached to the game machine, a management device that manages the number of game media acquired by a player as the number of game media, and communication with the management device A gaming system including a portable terminal device,
The gaming machine is
A game number management means for managing the number of games that can be used in a game as a game possible number;
Game processing means for subtracting and updating the number of games available as the game medium is used for a game, and adding and updating the number of games available when a predetermined prize is obtained as a result of the game When,
Each device request processing means for increasing and decreasing the number of games that can be played in response to a request from each device, and
Each of the stand devices is
A game medium number specifying means for specifying the number of game media associated with the recording medium when the recording medium is received;
A number of game media management means for managing the number of game media identified by the number of game media identification means;
First transition means for shifting part or all of the number of game media managed by the number of game media management means to the game possible number;
A second transition means for shifting a part or all of the possible number of games to the number of game media managed by the game media number management means;
A number of game media management requesting means for requesting the management device to manage the number of game media managed by the number of game media management means in association with the recording medium;
The portable terminal device
Input receiving means for receiving input of specific information for specifying the number of game media and / or the number of games possible;
Each table information transmission unit that generates each table information that associates the specific information received by the input receiving unit and information that identifies each table device, and transmits the information to the management device;
The management device
Game media number management means for managing the recording medium and the game media number in association with each other;
When the information about each device is received, the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be indicated by the information about each device are associated with the recording medium that is accepted by each device identified by the information about each device. A game system comprising: each information processing means for processing as the number of game media to be played.   When each of the information processing means receives the information of each of the devices, a predetermined abnormality is detected in relation to each of the devices specified by the information of each of the devices and / or a gaming machine corresponding to the each of the devices. 2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the information on each device is processed on the condition that it is set.   Each of the devices has information that can specify the number of game media managed by the game media number management means and / or the number of games manageable by the game number management means when a predetermined abnormality occurs. The game system according to claim 1, further comprising display output means for performing display output.   The management device performs alternative recording for performing processing for associating the number of game media specified by the respective device information with other recording media other than the recording medium being received by the respective device specified by the respective device information The game system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising medium issuing processing means. A premium management device that performs a premium exchange process is further provided.
5. The premium management apparatus includes individual vehicle information premium exchange processing means for performing premium exchange processing based on the number of game media specified by the individual vehicle information. The described gaming system. From the number of terminal management game media including the number of games that can be played in the gaming machine at a predetermined point in time and / or the number of game media possessed in each device, or the value of information converted from the number of terminal management game media, the terminal at the current time A terminal management game medium number estimating means for estimating the number of management game media;
When each of the information processing means receives the information of each of the devices, the number of game media indicated by the information of each device is compared with the number of terminal management game media estimated by the terminal management game medium number estimation means. The gaming system according to claim 1, further comprising a comparison unit. A game machine that uses a game medium to play a game, each device attached to the game machine, a management device that manages the number of game media acquired by a player as the number of game media, and communication with the management device A game management method for a game system including a portable terminal device,
Each of the stand devices specifies a number of game media to be specified that specifies the number of game media associated with the recording medium;
A transition step of shifting a part or all of the number of possessed game media to the number of games that can be managed by the gaming machine;
The game machine number management step in which the game machine increases / decreases and updates the game playable number in response to a game state and / or a request from each device,
An input receiving step in which the portable terminal device receives an input of specific information for specifying the number of game media and / or the number of games available;
Each table information transmission step in which the portable terminal device generates each table information in which the specific information received in the input receiving step and the information for specifying each table device are associated, and transmits the generated table information to the management device; The device processes the number of game media and / or the number of games that can be indicated by the information on each device as the number of game media to be associated with the recording medium being received by each device specified by the information on the device. A game management method comprising: information processing steps for each device.

Images