JP2018042781A - Game medium dispenser and authentication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform authentication using a mobile communication terminal without consciousness of a function difference of the mobile communication terminal owned by a game player.SOLUTION: An authentication system S authenticates a game player by using a mobile communication terminal 50 owned by the game player. A game medium dispenser 10 includes: a short range radio communication unit 35 for performing short-range wireless communication between the mobile communication terminal 50 and itself, and receiving authentication information of the game player; a camera 36 for photographing the vicinity of the game medium dispenser 10, and acquiring image data of the authentication information of the game player displayed in the mobile communication terminal 50; and a server communication unit 39 for transmitting the image data of the authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal 50 or the authentication information photographed by the camera 36 to an authentication processing unit 46 through the short range radio communication unit 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium lending machine provided alongside a gaming machine and an authentication system using the game medium lending machine.

Conventionally, a plurality of gaming machines such as slot machines are arranged side by side in a game store.
A game medium lending machine for paying out medals (game media) is provided adjacent to each game machine.
The game media lending machine includes a housing, and when a player inserts money into the money insertion slot or inserts a predetermined card medium into the card insertion slot, Make a withdrawal.
There has been disclosed a technique in which a camera is provided in front of the housing of such a game medium lending machine to perform face recognition of the player (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, a technique is disclosed in which short-distance wireless communication is performed between an IC chip built in a mobile communication terminal owned by a player and a game medium lending machine to authenticate the player (member authentication) (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

JP 2014-23770 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-104601

The face authentication described in Patent Document 1 is more reliable as a method for authenticating a player's identity than, for example, authentication using a membership card. On the other hand, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply to a player who does not like to point the camera at his / her face or register his / her biological information on the game hall side.
In addition, there is a problem that authentication using short-range wireless communication as in Patent Document 2 cannot be used unless the portable communication terminal owned by the player has a short-range wireless communication function.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game medium capable of performing authentication using a mobile communication terminal without being aware of a functional difference between mobile communication terminals held by a player. To provide a lending machine and an authentication system.

To achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a game medium lending machine used in an authentication system for authenticating the player using a portable communication terminal held by the player, wherein the portable communication terminal A short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the player and receives the player authentication information; and the player's authentication displayed on the portable communication terminal by photographing the vicinity of the game medium lending machine A camera that acquires image data of information, and a transmission unit that transmits the authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal via the short-range wireless communication unit or the image data of the authentication information captured by the camera to an authentication processing unit The authentication processing unit authenticates the player using the authentication information or the image data.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a communicable area of the short-range wireless communication unit and a photographing area of the camera substantially coincide.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication unit and the camera are housed in the same case, and the game medium lending machine has a housing having a housing front facing the player. The case has an inclined case front surface that protrudes from the front of the housing on the side farther from the gaming machine than the gaming machine side when viewed from above, and the case faces the front of the case inside the case. An antenna of a short-range wireless communication unit and an imaging optical system of the camera are arranged.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the case is formed in a color that makes it difficult to visually recognize the inside from the front of the case.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication unit communicates with an IC chip built in the mobile communication terminal to receive the authentication information recorded in the IC chip, and the camera The figure shape code displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal is photographed.
The invention according to claim 6 is an authentication system for authenticating the player using a portable communication terminal held by the player, and performs authentication of the player by performing short-range wireless communication with the portable communication terminal. A short-range wireless communication unit that receives information, a camera that captures the vicinity of the gaming medium lending machine, and acquires image data of the player's authentication information displayed on the portable communication terminal; and the short-range wireless communication A transmission unit that transmits the authentication information received from the portable communication terminal via the unit or the image data of the authentication information captured by the camera to an authentication processing unit, the gaming medium lending machine, and the authentication information or the And an authentication processing unit that authenticates the player using image data.

According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, when the player is authenticated using the portable communication terminal held by the player, the game medium lending machine is provided with the short-range wireless communication unit and the camera. It is possible to perform authentication regardless of whether the portable communication terminal held by the device supports short-range wireless communication, which is advantageous in improving the convenience of the player.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communicable area of the short-range wireless communication unit and the shooting area of the camera substantially match, so the mobile communication terminal held by the player supports short-range wireless communication. Regardless of whether or not the authentication is performed, the authentication operation can be performed with the same operation feeling, which is advantageous in improving the operability during authentication.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the optical axis of the camera is tilted toward the gaming machine and the player holds the portable communication terminal over the camera, the optical axis of the imaging optical system with respect to the surface (display) This is advantageous in making it easy to bring the image close to vertical (easily taking an image).
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is difficult for the player to visually recognize the camera, and it is advantageous for the player to play a game without worrying about the presence of the camera.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the portable communication terminal held by the player supports short-range wireless communication, the authentication information recorded in the IC chip is used to support short-range wireless communication. If not, the authentication process can be performed using the figure shape code displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the authentication system S containing the game media rental machine 10. FIG. (A) is a front view of the game medium lending machine 10, and (B) is a side view of the game medium lending machine 10. 1 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a game medium lending machine 10. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, an authentication system including the game medium lending machine 10 according to the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an authentication system S including a game medium lending machine 10.
The authentication system S includes a game medium lending machine 10 and a server 40.

The server 40 is provided, for example, for each amusement store (or for each of a plurality of amusement stores of the same series), and holds information of a player who has registered as a member in the amusement store (hereinafter referred to as “member”). Then, the member authentication for the player is performed using the portable communication terminal 50 held by the player.
The server 40 includes a member registration unit 42, a member database 44, and an authentication processing unit 46.
The member registration unit 42 performs member registration processing. A player who wants to register as a member first connects to the member registration unit 42 via the network NW such as the Internet from the mobile communication terminal 50 held by the player. The connection to the member registration unit 42 is performed by, for example, reading QR code (registered trademark), two-dimensional code, bar code, etc. described in a posting or distribution in an amusement shop with the camera of the mobile communication terminal 50 and reading the image information. Is converted into a connection URL to the member registration unit 42.
The member registration unit 42 that has received access from the mobile communication terminal 50 displays a member information input screen for inputting member data such as a member's name and gender along with notes (member rules, etc.) for member registration. It is displayed on 50 displays. When the member data input on the member information input screen is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 50, the member registration unit 42 stores the member data in the member database 44, and the holder of the mobile communication terminal 50 is a member. Is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 50. The transmitted authentication information is recorded as part of the member data.

The authentication information includes IC chip authentication information recorded in an IC chip built in the mobile communication terminal 50, and a figure shape code such as a QR code (registered trademark), a two-dimensional code, and a barcode. There are two types of shape code authentication information. The member registration unit 42 transmits IC chip authentication information to the mobile communication terminal 50 when the IC chip is built in the mobile communication terminal 50 held by the member and is compatible with short-range wireless communication. The mobile communication terminal 50 that has received the IC chip authentication information records the IC chip authentication information in the built-in IC chip.
Further, when the short-range wireless communication is not supported, the figure shape code authentication information is transmitted in a format that can be displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal 50. The mobile communication terminal 50 that has received the figure shape code authentication information stores the figure shape code authentication information so that it can be referred to later. The figure shape code authentication information may be transmitted as image data to the e-mail address of the mobile communication terminal 50, for example, or a URL for displaying the figure shape code authentication information as image data is transmitted on the browser of the mobile communication terminal 50. Also good. When the mobile communication terminal 50 supports short-range wireless communication, it may be possible to select which of the IC chip authentication information and the figure shape code authentication information is used.
Whether or not the mobile communication terminal 50 held by the member supports short-range wireless communication may be identified from, for example, terminal information of a communication destination acquired at the time of communication, or may be selected and input by the member at the time of member information registration. Also good.

  The authentication processing unit 46 performs member authentication processing for the player. The authentication processing unit 46 is the IC chip authentication information transmitted from the server communication unit 39 of the game medium lending machine 10 (when the player's portable communication terminal 50 supports short-range wireless communication) or a figure shape code. It is determined whether the image data of the authentication information (when the player's mobile communication terminal 50 does not support short-range wireless communication) matches the authentication information recorded in the member database 44. If they match, the player is determined to be a member, and for example, an operation such as outputting a control signal for displaying various member information on a touch panel monitor 1804 of the game medium lending machine 10 described later is performed.

The game medium lending machine 10 is a device that is attached to a game machine that uses a game medium to play a game, such as a slot machine. Although FIG. 1 shows only one game medium lending machine 10, generally, a plurality of game medium lending machines 10 are installed in a game store.
The game medium lending machine 10 includes a short-range wireless communication unit 35, a camera 36, and a server communication unit 39 (transmission unit).
The short-range wireless communication unit 35 performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 50 held by the player, and receives the player's authentication information. More specifically, the short-range wireless communication unit 35 communicates with an IC chip built in the mobile communication terminal 50 when the player's mobile communication terminal 50 supports short-range wireless communication. The authentication information (IC chip authentication information) recorded in is received.
The camera 36 captures the vicinity of the game medium lending machine 10 and acquires image data of the player authentication information displayed on the mobile communication terminal 50. More specifically, the camera 36 photographs the figure shape code displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal 50 when the player's mobile communication terminal 50 does not support short-range wireless communication.
The short-range wireless communication unit 35 and the camera 36 acquire authentication information when, for example, a player who uses the game medium lending machine 10 changes (for example, when a card is inserted into a card insertion slot 1802 described later). When the authentication information is acquired by either the distance wireless communication unit 35 or the camera 36 and the authentication in the authentication processing unit 46 is completed, the process is stopped until the next player changes. This is because the authentication information is not read when, for example, another person accidentally brings his / her mobile communication terminal 50 close to the short-range wireless communication unit 35 during the game.

  The server communication unit 39 corresponds to the transmission unit in the claims, and performs authentication processing of the server 40 on authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal 50 via the short-range wireless communication unit 35 or image data of authentication information captured by the camera 36. To the unit 46. In addition, the server communication unit 39 receives the result of member authentication from the authentication processing unit 46 and a control signal to each unit (for example, the touch panel monitor 1804 described above).

Next, the main body configuration of the game medium lending machine 10 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the game medium lending machine 10 includes a housing 12, a housing body 14, a bill burr unit 16, a control unit 18, a dispensing hopper 20, a nozzle chute 22, and a nozzle 24. A counting game medium tray 26, a tray lid 28, and a counting hopper 21. In this embodiment, a case where medals are used as game media will be described.

The housing main body 14 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is configured to be hollow including a bottom plate 1402, a pair of side plates 1404 standing from both sides of the bottom plate 1402, and a top plate 1406 connecting the upper ends of the side plates 1404. .
A front opening 1410 that is an opening on the front side of the housing body 14 is closed by a plurality of front plates, and the housing front surface 14A is constituted by a plurality of front plates.
A rear opening, which is an opening on the rear side, is closed by a plurality of rear plates, thereby forming the housing 12.
Inside the housing 12, a bill burr unit 16, a control unit 18, a dispensing hopper 20, and a counting hopper 21 are housed in order from the top.
The plurality of front plates constituting the housing front surface 14A includes a bill validator front plate 16A, a control unit side front plate 18A, a supply door 30, and a lower front plate 32.

The bill burr unit 16 is for identifying the money thrown by the player, and the front side of the bill burr unit 16 in the front opening 1410 is closed by a bill burr unit front plate 16A. A money slot 1602 for feeding money is provided.
The control unit 18 performs various controls of the game medium lending machine 10.
In the front opening 1410, the front side of the control unit 18 is closed by a control unit side front plate 18A formed integrally with the control unit 18, and the control unit side front plate 18A has a card insertion port 1802 in the control unit 18. A touch panel monitor 1804 is provided.
A card in which identification information unique to a player or a card is recorded is inserted into the card insertion slot 1802, and card information is read and written by the control unit 18. In addition, the identification information of the card | curd which a member holds may be recorded on the member database of the server 40, and it may authenticate together whether the card user is the card owner himself / herself.
On the touch panel monitor 1804, the game state of the player such as the number of paid out medals and the number of acquired medals is displayed by the control unit 18. In the present embodiment, the touch panel type monitor 1804 constitutes a game status display unit that displays the game status of the player.

The nozzle chute 22 is a part that receives a medal paid out from the payout hopper 20 and guides it to the nozzle 24, and the nozzle chute 22 is formed integrally with the lower front plate 32.
The nozzle 24 guides a medal guided from the nozzle chute 22 to a lower plate (not shown) of the gaming machine. The nozzle main body 2402 is swingably coupled to the nozzle chute 22 and is attached to the tip of the nozzle main body 2402. And a nozzle top 2404 provided.

A lower front plate 32 is detachably attached to the lower portion of the front opening portion 1410, and the lower front plate 32 extends from below the portion of the front opening portion 1410 closed by the replenishing door 30 to the lower end of the front opening portion 1410. Is blocked.
The counting hopper 21 counts the number of medals inserted into the counting game medium tray 26, and the medal counting result is transmitted to the control unit 18.
The lower front plate 32 has a front surface 3202 positioned opposite to the inside of the housing 12, and the front surface 3202 constitutes the front surface of the housing 12.
The counting game medium tray 26 is provided on the nozzle chute 22 on the front surface 3202 of the lower front plate 32.

An opening 34 for supplying medals (disk-shaped game media) is provided below the control unit 18, and the opening 34 is opened and closed by a supply door 30.
An opening 34 having a vertically long rectangular shape is formed in the front opening 1410 below the control unit side front plate 18A. The opening 34 is a portion for replenishing the payout hopper 20 with medals.

Here, a camera 36 and a short-range wireless communication unit 35 for authenticating whether or not the player is a member of a game store are disposed on the front 14A of the casing.
In the present embodiment, the camera 36 and the short-range wireless communication unit 35 are accommodated in the same case 38 and arranged on the upper part of the control unit-side front plate 18A, and more specifically, the camera 36 and the short-range wireless communication unit 35. Is provided above the touch panel monitor 1804.
The case 38 has a width extending along the width direction of the housing front surface 14A and a height in the vertical direction, and the case 38 has a side farther from the gaming machine than the gaming machine side when viewed from above. It has an inclined case front surface 3802 protruding from the front surface 14A.
Inside the case 38, an imaging optical system 3602 of the camera 36 is disposed with the optical axis directed toward the case front 3802. Therefore, the optical axis of the imaging optical system 3602 is inclined to the gaming machine side, so that when the player holds the portable communication terminal 50 over, the imaging optical system with respect to the surface (display) of the display device. It is possible to make the optical axis 3602 close to vertical (easily capture an image).
In addition, in the vicinity of the imaging optical system 3602 inside the case 38, an antenna, a light guide plate, and the like of the short-range wireless communication unit 35 are disposed with the case front surface 3802 directed. A communication mark 3502 indicating near field communication is printed on a portion of the case front 3802 that covers a region where these components are located.
Thus, by accommodating the camera 36 and the short-range wireless communication unit 35 in the same case 38, the communicable area of the short-range wireless communication unit 35 and the shooting area of the camera 36 are substantially matched, and the player Regardless of the type of portable communication terminal 50 held by the device (whether or not short-range wireless communication is possible), the authentication operation can be performed with the same operation feeling.
The case 38 is formed of a material having a light transmittance that can be imaged by the camera 36, for example, a synthetic resin material. In the present embodiment, the case 38 is configured in a smoke color that makes it difficult to visually recognize the inside at least on the front surface 14A of the casing, so that the player does not feel the presence of the camera 36 bothering.

As described above, the authentication system S according to the embodiment authenticates the player using the portable communication terminal 50 held by the player, and the short-range wireless communication unit 35 and the camera 36 in the game medium lending machine 10. Therefore, authentication can be performed regardless of whether or not the portable communication terminal 50 held by the player supports short-range wireless communication, which is advantageous in improving the convenience of the player. .
That is, if the mobile communication terminal 50 held by the player is compatible with short-range wireless communication, the authentication information recorded in the IC chip is used. If the mobile communication terminal 50 is not compatible with short-range wireless communication, the mobile communication terminal is used. Authentication processing can be performed using the figure shape codes displayed on the 50 displays.
Further, in the game medium lending machine 10, since the communicable area of the short-range wireless communication unit 35 and the shooting area of the camera 36 are substantially the same, the portable communication terminal 50 held by the player can perform near-field wireless communication. Regardless of whether it is compatible or not, the authentication operation can be performed with the same operation feeling, which is advantageous in improving the operability during authentication.

In the present embodiment, the figure shape code is photographed by the camera 36 and authentication processing is performed. However, for example, the player's face may be photographed by the camera 36 and face authentication may be performed.
In this embodiment, the figure shape code is distributed by communication. For example, a card or the like on which a figure shape code is printed is distributed to a member who does not hold the mobile communication terminal 50, and this card is used as a camera. The authentication process may be performed by photographing at 36.

  In the present embodiment, the server 40 performs the authentication process, but the game medium lending machine 10 may perform the authentication process. That is, the authentication processing unit 46 may be placed in the game medium lending machine 10.

S authentication system NW network 10 game medium lending machine 35 short-range wireless communication unit 36 camera 39 server communication unit 40 server 42 member registration unit 44 member database 46 authentication processing unit 50 portable communication terminal

Claims (6)

A game medium lending machine used in an authentication system for authenticating the player using a mobile communication terminal held by the player,
A short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal and receives the authentication information of the player;
A camera that takes a picture of the vicinity of the gaming medium lending machine and acquires image data of the player authentication information displayed on the mobile communication terminal;
A transmission unit that transmits the authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal via the short-range wireless communication unit or image data of the authentication information captured by the camera to an authentication processing unit,
The authentication processing unit authenticates the player using the authentication information or the image data.
A game media rental machine characterized by that. The communicable area of the short-range wireless communication unit and the shooting area of the camera are substantially matched.
The game medium lending machine according to claim 1. The near field communication unit and the camera are housed in the same case,
The game media lending machine has a housing having a housing front facing the player,
The case has an inclined case front surface that protrudes from the front of the housing on the side farther from the gaming machine than the gaming machine side when viewed from above.
The antenna of the short-range wireless communication unit and the imaging optical system of the camera are arranged toward the front of the case inside the case.
The game medium lending machine according to claim 2. The case is formed in a color that makes it difficult to see the inside from at least the front of the case.
The game medium lending machine according to claim 3. The short-range wireless communication unit communicates with an IC chip built in the mobile communication terminal to receive the authentication information recorded in the IC chip;
The camera captures a figure shape code displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal;
The game medium lending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the game medium is lent. An authentication system for authenticating the player using a portable communication terminal held by the player,
A short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal and receives the authentication information of the player;
A camera that takes a picture of the vicinity of the gaming medium lending machine and acquires image data of the player authentication information displayed on the mobile communication terminal;
A game medium lending machine comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the authentication information received from the mobile communication terminal via the short-range wireless communication unit or image data of the authentication information captured by the camera to an authentication processing unit;
An authentication processing unit for authenticating the player using the authentication information or the image data;
An authentication system comprising:

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