JP2019082862A - Game medium providing method, game medium providing device and game medium providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game medium providing device which does not need a setting of the number of provided game media for each store, and which can prevent a duplication utilization of the provided game medium not intended by a game site.SOLUTION: A game medium providing device includes: information obtaining means for obtaining game medium providing information that is common to users, and for obtaining identification information that can specify the user; game medium providing allowability determining means for determining, when the information obtaining means obtains the game medium providing information and the identification information, whether or not to provide the game medium corresponding to the game medium providing information to the user specified by the identification information; game medium providing means for providing the game media in accordance with the number of provided game medium providing information on the basis of the determination result by the game medium providing allowability determining means; and information storing means for storing, when the game media are provided by the game medium providing means, game medium providing record information indicating that the game media are provided on the basis of a combination of the game medium providing information corresponding to the provided game medium with the identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium providing method, a game medium providing apparatus and a game medium providing system, and more specifically, a game medium free of charge for a user who plays a game using a game medium in a game arcade where a game machine is installed. The present invention relates to a method of providing a game medium, a game medium providing apparatus, and a game medium providing system.

  In game arcades such as arcade game facilities, game machines using medals as game media are installed. Such a game machine is configured to be playable by the user inserting a medal into the game machine. The user can receive the payout of a predetermined number of medals according to the result of the game played.

  In the game arcade, various services are provided to encourage users to come to the store. For example, a service that prints out a service ticket that can be exchanged for a predetermined number of medals on a paper medium such as a newspaper or a magazine and issues it, and provides the medals free of charge to the user who came with the service ticket Service). The user who brings the service ticket presents the service ticket to the store clerk, and the store clerk at the game arcade provides the user with a medal according to the number printed on the service ticket.

  In addition, there is also a mode in which a medal service is performed using a member service using a portable terminal. That is, an e-mail is transmitted to the user who has been registered as a member in advance, and the user displays the content of the e-mail on the display of the portable terminal and presents it to the store clerk of the game arcade. After confirming the content of the service displayed on the display, the store clerk at the game arcade provides the user with a medal according to the content of the service.

  On the other hand, technologies for providing game media free of charge have been proposed, and there is, for example, a "game media lending system" disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-51464). The "gaming medium lending system" includes an ID card set for each player, a card processor for reading data of the ID card, and an account for setting the number of deposited gaming media for each player. A storage means for storing in a storage area, a gaming media counter for counting the quantity of gaming media inserted for the player to deposit in the account, and a quantity for the player to remain in his account in order to play the game A game medium drawer for drawing game media by designating a quantity in the game machine, setting means for setting the quantity of game medium to be additionally stored in the storage area, and the quantity of game medium set by the setting means And control means for additionally storing in the storage area of and making it possible to lend game media to the player free of charge. In this "gaming medium lending system", the number of gaming media stored in the gaming medium storage area set as an account for each player is additionally stored by the setting means, so that the player can play the game media for free. It is supposed to be able to receive service.

JP-A-7-51464 (claim 1, paragraphs 0008, 0010, paragraphs 0012 to 0067, see FIGS. 1 to 9)

  In the medal service using a service ticket, since the store clerk at the game arcade needs to frequently respond to the user, the burden on the sales clerk's work increases, which in turn increases the labor cost. In other words, there is a problem that the cost at the game place increases. In recent years, a technology has been proposed that uses a two-dimensional code when giving points and discounting products, and it is possible to automate the medal service by applying this technology. However, since the user can receive the medal service redundantly using one service ticket, there is a problem that the game site can not prevent the duplicate use of the medal service which is not intended.

  In the medal service using a mobile terminal, there is a problem that a junior or elderly person who does not possess a mobile terminal can not receive the service. In other words, there is a problem that the convenience of the user is reduced. Furthermore, there is a problem that the introduction cost and the operation cost increase because the system becomes large-scale and complicated.

  In the "game media lending system" of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is necessary to set the number of game media to receive the free service for each store.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is not necessary to set the number of game media provided free of charge for each store, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a free service for game media not intended by game arcades. A game medium providing method, a game medium providing apparatus, and a game medium providing system capable of preventing duplicate use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a game medium providing method, a game medium providing apparatus, and a game medium providing system, in which the user's convenience is enhanced while suppressing the increase in cost in the game arcade.
Other objects of the present invention not specified here are apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  A game medium providing method of the present invention is a game medium providing method for providing the game medium to a plurality of users free of charge based on game medium providing information including the number of provided game medium, and the first information acquisition is performed. Information acquiring means for acquiring the game medium providing information common to the plurality of users, and the first information acquiring means or the second information acquiring means acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users When the gaming medium provision information and the identification information are acquired in the acquiring step and the information acquiring step, provision of the gaming medium corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information The game medium providing means determines whether or not the game medium can be determined based on the determination result in the game medium availability determining step and the game medium availability determining step. The game medium providing step of providing the game medium according to the number of the provided skill medium provision information, and the game medium provided corresponding to the provision of the game medium when the game medium is provided in the game medium providing step A game medium provision history information holding step of holding game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium has been provided based on a combination of information and the identification information in the information storage means; In the step, based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired in the information acquisition step and the game medium provision history information, it is determined whether or not the game medium can be provided.

  Note that "providing game media" in the present invention means providing physical gaming media or electronic gaming media to the user. The physical game medium is a game medium as an entity, and the electronic game medium is a game medium associated with information, and is a concept including game medium information of an intangible object.

  In the game medium providing method of the present invention, game medium providing information common to a plurality of users is acquired by the first information acquisition means, and each of the plurality of users is specified by the first information acquisition means or the second information acquisition means. Possible identification information is obtained. When gaming medium provision information and identification information are acquired, a user who provides gaming media is identified based on the identification information, and provision of gaming media corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the identified user is provided. Whether or not is determined by the game medium availability determination means. Then, the game medium providing means provides the game medium according to the number of provided game media included in the game medium providing information based on the determination result of the game medium availability determining means. Since the game medium providing information includes the number of game media provided, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided for each store.

  In addition, when the game medium is provided, the game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium is provided based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium is the information storage means. It is held. Whether to provide the game medium by the game medium provision possibility determination means is determined based on the combination of the acquired game medium provision information and the identification information and the game medium provision history information. In other words, by referring to the gaming medium provision history information, it can be determined whether or not provision of gaming media is being performed corresponding to the combination of the acquired gaming medium provision information and the identification information. Therefore, redundant provision of unintended game media is effectively prevented. In addition, since the service for providing game media is automatically executed without the involvement of the store clerk at the game arcade, the increase in cost can be suppressed, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

  In a preferable example of the game medium providing method according to the present invention, the game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium providing information and the identification information acquired in the information acquiring step. It is determined that the game medium can be provided if the combination of the game medium and the game medium provision history information does not exist.

  The first game medium providing apparatus of the present invention is a game medium providing apparatus for providing the game medium to a plurality of users at no charge based on game medium providing information including the number of game medium provided, The game media providing information and the information obtained by the information obtaining means are information obtaining means for obtaining the game medium providing information common to a plurality of users and obtaining identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users. A game medium provision availability determination unit that determines availability of the game medium corresponding to the game medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information when the identification information is acquired; Game medium providing means for providing the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium providing information based on the determination result by the availability determination means, and the game medium providing means When the game medium is provided, information holding game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium has been provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium Storing means for determining whether or not the game medium can be provided, based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired by the information acquisition means and the game medium provision history information. Determine the availability of

  In the first gaming medium providing apparatus of the present invention, the gaming information providing information common to the plurality of users and identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users are acquired by the information acquiring means. When gaming medium provision information and identification information are acquired, a user who provides gaming media is identified based on the identification information, and provision of gaming media corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the identified user is provided. Whether or not is determined by the game medium availability determination means. Then, the game medium providing means provides the game medium according to the number of provided game media included in the game medium providing information based on the determination result of the game medium availability determining means. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided for each store.

  In addition, when the game medium is provided, the game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium is provided based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium is the information storage means. It is held. Whether to provide the game medium by the game medium provision possibility determination means is determined based on the combination of the acquired game medium provision information and the identification information and the game medium provision history information. In other words, by referring to the gaming medium provision history information, it can be determined whether or not provision of gaming media is being performed corresponding to the combination of the acquired gaming medium provision information and the identification information. Therefore, redundant provision of unintended game media is effectively prevented. In addition, since the service for providing game media is automatically executed without the involvement of the store clerk at the game arcade, the increase in cost can be suppressed, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

  In a preferable example of the first game medium providing apparatus according to the present invention, the game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium providing information acquired by the information acquiring unit and When the combination of the identification information does not exist in the game medium providing history information, it is determined that the game medium can be provided.

  A second game medium providing apparatus according to the present invention is a game medium providing apparatus for providing the game medium to a plurality of users at no charge based on game medium providing information including the number of game medium provided. A first information acquisition unit that acquires the game medium provision information common to a plurality of users, a second information acquisition unit that acquires identification information that can identify each of the plurality of users, and the information acquisition unit When the gaming medium provision information and the identification information are acquired, it is possible to determine whether or not to provide the game medium corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information. Determining means, game medium providing means for providing the game medium according to the provided number of the game medium providing information based on the determination result by the game medium availability determining means, and the game When the game medium is provided by the body providing means, game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium has been provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium. Storing means for determining whether the game medium can be provided, the game medium provision availability determination means, the game medium providing information acquired by the first information acquiring means and the identification information acquired by the second information acquiring means Whether to provide the game medium is determined based on the combination and the game medium provision history information.

  In the second game medium providing apparatus of the present invention, game medium providing information common to a plurality of users is acquired by the first information acquiring means, and identification capable of identifying each of the plurality of users by the second information acquiring means Information is acquired. When gaming medium provision information and identification information are acquired, a user who provides gaming media is identified based on the identification information, and provision of gaming media corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the identified user is provided. Whether or not is determined by the game medium availability determination means. Then, the game medium providing means provides the game medium according to the number of provided game media included in the game medium providing information based on the determination result of the game medium availability determining means. Since the game medium providing information includes the number of game media provided, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided for each store.

  In addition, when the game medium is provided, the game medium provision history information indicating that the game medium is provided based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium is the information storage means. It is held. Whether to provide the game medium by the game medium provision possibility determination means is determined based on the combination of the acquired game medium provision information and the identification information and the game medium provision history information. In other words, by referring to the gaming medium provision history information, it can be determined whether or not provision of gaming media is being performed corresponding to the combination of the acquired gaming medium provision information and the identification information. Therefore, redundant provision of unintended game media is effectively prevented. In addition, since the service for providing game media is automatically executed without the involvement of the store clerk at the game arcade, the increase in cost can be suppressed, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

  In a preferable example of the second game medium providing apparatus according to the present invention, the game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium provided by the first information acquiring unit is provided. When the combination of the information and the identification information acquired by the second information acquisition means does not exist in the game medium provision history information, it is determined that the game medium can be provided.

  A first game medium providing system according to the present invention is a game medium providing system for providing the game medium to a plurality of users at no charge based on game medium providing information including the number of game medium provided. The game medium processing apparatus has a game medium processing device having a function of providing a game medium, and a management device capable of communicating with the game medium processing device. An information acquisition unit that acquires provision information and acquires identification information that can identify each of the plurality of users, and a management medium that combines a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired by the information acquisition unit Control means for controlling transmission to the game medium, and game medium providing means for providing the game medium, and the management device is configured to use the game medium from the game medium processing device. When a combination of provision information and the identification information is transmitted, it is determined whether or not to provide the game medium corresponding to the game medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information. And the game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information corresponding to the determination when it is determined that the game medium can be provided by the means for determining the game medium availability. Information storage means for holding gaming medium provision history information indicating an event, and second control means for controlling to transmit the determination result by the game medium availability determination means to the game medium processing device; The medium provision availability determination means determines the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information transmitted from the game medium processing device and the play. Whether to provide the game medium is determined based on the medium provision history information, and the first control means is responsive to the number of provision of the game medium provision information based on the determination result transmitted from the management device. The game medium providing means is controlled to provide the game medium.

  In the first game medium providing system of the present invention, game medium providing information common to a plurality of users and identification information capable of specifying each of a plurality of users are acquired by the information acquiring means of the game medium processing apparatus. . When a combination of gaming media providing information and identification information is transmitted from the gaming media processing device, the management device identifies the user who provides the gaming media based on the identification information, and sends the identified user to the identified user. Whether to provide the game medium corresponding to the game medium provision information is determined by the game medium provision possibility determination means. Then, when the determination result is transmitted from the management device, provision of game media according to the provided number of game media included in the game media provision information based on the determination result in the game media processing device is made by the game media providing means. To be done. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided for each store.

  Further, in the management device, when it is determined that provision of the game medium is possible by the game medium availability determination means, game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the determination. The game medium provision history information indicating that the game has been played is held in the information storage means. Whether to provide the game medium by the game medium provision possibility determination means is determined based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information transmitted from the game medium processing device and the game medium provision history information. In other words, by referring to the game medium providing history information, it can be determined whether the game medium is being provided corresponding to the combination of the transmitted game medium providing information and the identification information. Therefore, redundant provision of unintended game media is effectively prevented. In addition, since the service for providing game media is automatically executed without the involvement of the store clerk at the game arcade, the increase in cost can be suppressed, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

  In a preferable example of the first game medium providing system according to the present invention, the game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium providing information transmitted from the game medium processing device When the combination of the identification information does not exist in the gaming medium provision history information, it is determined that the gaming medium can be provided.

  A second game medium providing system according to the present invention of the present invention is a game medium providing system for providing the game medium to a plurality of users free of charge based on game medium providing information including the number of game medium provided. A game media processing device having a function of providing the game media, and a management device capable of communicating with the game media processing device, the game media processing device being common to the plurality of users The first information acquisition means for acquiring the game medium provision information, the second information acquisition means for acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users, and the game acquired by the first information acquisition means The tube includes: first control means for controlling to transmit the identification information to the management device by the medium providing information and the second information acquiring means; and game medium providing means for providing the game medium, The apparatus provides the game medium corresponding to the game medium providing information to the user specified by the identification information when the game medium providing information and the identification information are transmitted from the game medium processing device. If it is determined that provision of the game medium is possible by the game medium availability determination means for determining availability of the game medium and the game medium availability determination means, the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the determination Information storage means for holding gaming medium provision history information indicating that the gaming medium has been provided based on a combination, and control to transmit the determination result by the gaming medium provision availability determination means to the gaming medium processing device (2) control means, and the game medium provision availability determination means comprises the game medium provision information transmitted from the game medium processing device and Whether to provide the game medium is determined based on the combination of the note identification information and the game medium provision history information, and the first control means provides the game medium based on the determination result transmitted from the management device. The game medium providing means is controlled to provide the game medium according to the number of provision of information.

  In the second game medium providing system of the present invention, game medium providing information common to a plurality of users is acquired by the first information acquiring means of the game medium processing apparatus, and a plurality of the second information acquiring means of the game medium processing apparatus Identification information that can identify each of the users of is acquired. When a combination of gaming media providing information and identification information is transmitted from the gaming media processing device, the management device identifies the user who provides the gaming media based on the identification information, and sends the identified user to the identified user. Whether to provide the game medium corresponding to the game medium provision information is determined by the game medium provision possibility determination means. Then, when the determination result is transmitted from the management device, provision of game media according to the provided number of game media included in the game media provision information based on the determination result in the game media processing device is made by the game media providing means. To be done. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided for each store.

  Further, in the management device, when it is determined that provision of the game medium is possible by the game medium availability determination means, game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the determination. The game medium provision history information indicating that the game has been played is held in the information storage means. Whether to provide the game medium by the game medium provision possibility determination means is determined based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information transmitted from the game medium processing device and the game medium provision history information. In other words, by referring to the game medium providing history information, it can be determined whether the game medium is being provided corresponding to the combination of the transmitted game medium providing information and the identification information. Therefore, redundant provision of unintended game media is effectively prevented. In addition, since the service for providing game media is automatically executed without the involvement of the store clerk at the game arcade, the increase in cost can be suppressed, and the convenience of the user is also improved.

  In a preferable example of the second game medium providing system according to the present invention, the game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium providing information transmitted from the game medium processing device When the combination of the identification information does not exist in the gaming medium provision history information, it is determined that the gaming medium can be provided.

  In the game medium providing method, the game medium providing apparatus and the game medium providing system of the present invention, it is not necessary to set the number of game media to be provided free of charge for each store, and duplicate use of the free service of game media unintended by the game arcade It is possible to prevent the problem and to improve the convenience of the user while suppressing the cost increase at the game arcade.

It is the schematic which shows the game place where the medal provision apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a schematic front view which shows the medal lender installed in the game arcade of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the medal lending machine of FIG. It is a schematic front view which shows the medal deposit-payment machine installed in the game arcade of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the medal deposit-payment machine of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the control apparatus which comprises the medal lending machine of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the management apparatus installed in the game place of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the member user identification number and registration biometric information managed by the management apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing medal service history information used by the medal providing device of FIG. 4; It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal deposit-payment machine of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal deposit-payment machine of FIG. 4, and is a continuation of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the game place where the medal provision system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a schematic front view which shows the medal lending machine which comprises the medal provision system of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the medal lending machine of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of a control device which constitutes a medal deposit and payment machine of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the medal deposit-payment machine which comprises the medal provision system of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of a control device which constitutes a medal deposit and payment machine of FIG. It is a principal part schematic block diagram of the management apparatus which comprises the medal provision system of FIG. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the operation | movement of the medal provision system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal service in the medal lending machine of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal service in the medal deposit-payment machine of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the medal service in the management apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a game arcade 1 to which the medal providing device 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, in the game arcade 1, a medal lending machine 10, a medal depositing machine 20 incorporating a medal providing device 21, a plurality of game machines 30, and a management device 40 are installed. The medal deposit and payment machine 20 and the management device 40 are communicably connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network) 50. As described later, the token depositing and dispensing machine 20 has a function of the medal providing device 21. The user of the game arcade 1 receives the medal M from the medal lending machine 10 and plays the game machine 30 using the medal M. The user can deposit the medal M acquired by the play on the game machine 30 in the medal deposit / deposit machine 20. The user can also receive the payout of the medal M deposited in the medal deposit / deposit machine 20 and play the game machine 30 using the medal M. As described later, the user who brings the medal service ticket PM can receive the medal M from the medal provision device 21 without charge, and can play the game machine 30 using the medal M.

  First, the medal lending machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The medal lending machine 10 has a function of lending out a number of medals M according to the payment amount of cash. The medal lending machine 10 includes a box-shaped housing 100, a display 102, an input device 104, a bill depositing / dispensing device 106, a coin sorting device 108, a coin safe 110, a medal dispensing device 112, a coin dispensing outlet 114, and a medal dispensing outlet 116. And a controller 118. As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 102, the input device 104, the bill depositing / dispensing device 106 and the coin sorting device 108 are electrically connected to the control device 118.

  The display device 102 has a horizontally long rectangular shape and is disposed on the front upper portion of the housing 100. The display device 102 is configured of a dot matrix type display or a liquid crystal display. Various guide information is displayed on the display device 102.

  The input device 104 has a horizontally long rectangular shape and is disposed below the display device 102. The input device 104 is configured of a touch panel combined with a dot matrix display or a liquid crystal display. A plurality of operation buttons (not shown) are displayed on the input device 104, and the user can specify the number of payouts of the medal M by touching a desired operation button.

  The bill depositing / dispensing device 106 is incorporated in the inside of the housing 100, and includes a bill insertion slot 120 and a bill dispensing outlet 122 disposed on the lower right side of the display device 102. The bill depositing / dispensing device 106 discriminates the authenticity and denomination of the bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 120, accepts the bill determined as a genuine coin as a denomination into a bill storage (not shown), The bill discriminated as a coin and the unrecognizable bill are returned to the bill insertion slot 120. Further, when the amount corresponding to the number of medals paid out by the operation of the operation button of the input device 104 is lower than the denomination of the bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 120, the bill depositing / dispensing device 106 The stored banknotes are paid out to the banknote dispenser 122 as a fishing banknote.

  The coin sorting device 108 is incorporated into the inside of the housing 100 and disposed below the bill depositing / dispensing device 106. The coin sorting device 108 includes a coin insertion slot 124 and a coin return lever 126. The coin sorting device 108 determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 124, stores the coin determined as a genuine coin in the coin safe 110 of the denomination, and determines the coin as a fake coin To the coin payout opening 114. The coin return lever 126 is used when the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 124 is returned. When the coin return lever 126 is operated, coins held in the coin sorting device 108 are paid out to the coin payout opening 114.

  The medal payout device 112 is incorporated in the inside of the housing 100 and disposed on the lower left side of the input device 104. The medal payout device 112 separates the medals M stored in bulk in a medal storage container (not shown) storing the medals M one by one and pays out to the medal payout port 116.

  The control device 118 is disposed at the top in the housing 100 and controls the overall operation of the medal lending machine 10. When the user inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 120 of the bill depositing / dispensing device 106, the bill depositing / dispensing device 106 outputs a bill deposit signal corresponding to the bill deposit amount to the control device 118. The control device 118 causes the display device 102 to display the bill deposit amount according to the bill deposit amount corresponding to the bill deposit signal, and causes the input device 104 to display the operation button. When the user operates the operation button, the medal lending amount corresponding to the number of medals paid out is designated, and the input device 104 outputs a medal lending amount signal corresponding to the medal lending amount to the control device 118. The control device 118 compares the medal lending amount with the bill payment amount, and when the bill payment amount exceeds the medal lending amount, the bill change signal corresponding to the difference between the bill payment amount and the medal lending amount is used as the bill depositing / dispensing device While outputting to 106, the medal payout signal of the number of medals according to the token loan amount is output to the medal payout device 112. As a result, the bill depositing and dispensing apparatus 106 dispenses the fishing bill from the bill dispensing outlet 122. Further, the medal payout device 112 pays out the medals M of the number according to the medal lending amount. When the user inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 124 of the coin sorting device 108, the coin sorting device 108 outputs a coin deposit signal to the control device 118 according to the denomination and number of coins deposited. The control device 118 causes the display device 102 to display the coin deposit amount in accordance with the coin deposit amount corresponding to the coin deposit signal, and causes the input device 104 to display an operation button. When the user operates the operation button, the medal lending amount corresponding to the number of medals paid out is designated, and the input device 104 outputs a medal lending amount signal corresponding to the medal lending amount to the control device 118. The control device 118 outputs a medal payout signal of the number of medal payouts according to the medal lending amount to the medal payout device 112. Thereby, the medal payout device 112 pays out the medals M of the number according to the medal lending amount.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. The medal depositing / dispensing machine 20 has a function of depositing the medal M of a member user of the game arcade 1 (a user who has been registered as a member in the game arcade 1 in advance) and a function of paying out the deposited medal M. It has a function as

  As shown in FIG. 4, the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20 includes a box-shaped case 200, a display device 202 configured of a liquid crystal display panel or the like, a touch panel 206 configuring the input device 204 together with the display device 202, A biometric information acquisition device 210 having a mounting table 208 to be placed, a biometric information authentication device 211, a medal insertion slot 212 for throwing medals, a medal counting device 214, a medal collecting container 216, a medal storage container 218, a medal dispensing device 220, medals It comprises a payout opening 222, a two-dimensional code reader 224, a controller 228 and a communication device 230. As shown in FIG. 5, the display device 202, the input device 204, the biometric information acquisition device 210, the biometric information authentication device 211, the medal counting device 214, the medal payout device 220, the two-dimensional code reader 224 and the communication device 230 are controlled. It is electrically connected to the device 228. In the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20, the display unit 202, the input unit 204, the biometric information acquiring unit 210, the biometric information authenticating unit 211, the medal counting unit 214, the medal payout unit 220, the control unit 228 and the communication unit 230 Processing is performed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, in the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20, the medal dispensing device 220, the two-dimensional code reader 224, and the control device 228 constitute a medal providing device 21.

  The display device 202 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and is disposed on the front upper portion of the housing 200. While various information is displayed on the display device 202, operation buttons 207 such as selection buttons and numeric buttons are displayed as appropriate. For example, a selection button for selecting any one of medal payout, medal deposit, and medal service is displayed. In addition, a number button for inputting a member user identification number UN as member user identification information for identifying a member user registered in advance is displayed, and a number button for inputting the number Nds of paid out medals is displayed. Ru. A touch panel 206 is superimposed on the surface of the display device 202, and along with the display of the operation button 207, the display device 202 and the touch panel 206 constitute an input device 204. When the selection button is displayed as the operation button 207, the member user can designate a predetermined operation of the coin depositing machine 20 by operating the selection button. For example, it is possible to select the deposit operation or the payout operation of the medals as the medal deposit-taking device 20. When a numeric button is displayed as the operation button 207, the member user can input the member user identification number UN and the number of medals paid out Nds by operating the numeric button.

  The biological information acquisition device 210 detects a vein pattern of the user's hand (palm or finger) placed on the mounting table 208 and acquires it as biological information BI. The acquired biometric information BI is input to the biometric information authentication device 211 via the control device 228. The biometric information authentication device 211 compares the biometric information BI with the registered biometric information RBI registered for each member user in the management device 40 described later, and determines whether or not the vein patterns match. The determination result is output from the biometric information authentication device 211 to the control device 228.

  The medal insertion slot 212 is used when a member user deposits the medal M. The medal counting device 214 is disposed below the medal insertion slot 212 and counts the medals M inserted into the medal insertion slot 212. The medal count value is output from the medal counting device 214 and input to the control device 228. In other words, the medal deposit number Ndp is input to the control device 228. The medal collecting container 216 is disposed below the medal counting device 214, and stores the medals M counted by the medal counting device 214. The medals M stored in the medal collection container 216 are collected by a game clerk at the end of the business of the game arcade.

  The medal payout device 220 separates the medals M stored in bulk in the medal storage container (not shown) one by one and pays them out to the medal payout opening 222 and counts the number of medals paid out. The medal count value is output from the medal payout device 220 to the control device 228.

  The two-dimensional code reader 224 is disposed on the right side of the housing 200 and is used when providing a medal service. The two-dimensional code reader 224 has a function of optically reading the two-dimensional code MSC for medal service printed on the medal service ticket PM shown in FIG. 1 and the two-dimensional code UC for user identification printed on the card CD. doing. The medal service ticket PM is, for example, printed on a paper medium such as a magazine or a newspaper, and is designed to allow not only member users but also non-member users to use the medal service. The medal service two-dimensional code MSC includes information on the medal service (hereinafter referred to as medal service information MSI). In other words, the token service ticket PM functions as a recording medium in which the token service information MSI is recorded. The medal service information MSI includes, as shown in FIG. 9, medal service identification information MID and the number of medal services MN. The two-dimensional code reader 224 also has a function of optically reading a two-dimensional code UC for user identification printed on a card CD possessed by a member user or a non-member user. As the card CD, cards issued at places other than the game arcade 1 such as point cards possessed by the user can be used. Therefore, users who are not registered as members in the game arcade 1 can also receive the medal service. The two-dimensional code for user identification UC includes user identification information UID that can identify the user who receives the medal service. The user identification information UID is unique identification information different for each card CD. In other words, the card CD functions as a recording medium in which the user identification information UID is recorded. The two-dimensional code reader 224 acquires the medal service information MSI by the user flipping the medal service ticket PM, and acquires the user identification information UID by the user flipping the card CD. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 224 functions as an information acquisition unit that acquires the token service information MSI and the user identification information UID. The two-dimensional code reader 224 outputs the acquired information to the controller 228.

  The control device 228 includes a main control unit 242, a medal service control unit 244, and a storage unit 246, as shown in FIG. The main control unit 242 causes the display device 202 to display various information and the operation button 207, and controls the operations of the biological information acquisition device 210 and the biological information authentication device 211. That is, the main control unit 242 causes the display device 202 to display the operation button 207 for inputting the member user identification number UN. When the member user identification number UN is input to the input device 204, the main control unit 242 controls the communication device 230 to transmit the member user identification number UN to the management device 40. When the biometric information BI of the member user is acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 210, the main control unit 242 stores the biometric information in the biometric information holding unit 282 of the storage unit 246 described later. When the communication device 230 receives the registered biometric information RBI corresponding to the member user identification number UN, the main control unit 242 authenticates the biometric information BI held in the registered biometric information RBI and the biometric information holding unit 282. Output to the device 211. The determination result in the biometric information authentication device 211 is output to the main control unit 242.

  In addition, the main control unit 242 is based on the selection information for selecting any one of medal payout, medal deposit, and medal service input by the input device 204, the medal payout device 220, the medal counting device 214, and the two-dimensional code reader Control the operation of 224. That is, when authentication is performed by the biometric information authentication device 211 and medal payout is selected, the main control unit 242 causes the display device 202 to display the operation button 207 for inputting the number of medal payouts Nds. The main control unit 242 operates the medal payout device 220 so as to pay out the medal M of the medal payout number Nds input to the input device 204, and transmits the subtraction request of the medal payout number Nds to the management device 40. Control 230; On the other hand, when authentication by the biometric information authentication device 211 and medal deposit is selected, the main control unit 242 operates the medal counting device 214 to count the medal deposit number Ndp, and also adds the medal deposit number Ndp as an addition request. The communication device 230 is controlled to transmit to the management device 40. In addition, when the medal service is selected, the main control unit 242 cooperates with the medal service control unit 244 to execute the medal service process. That is, the main control unit 242 operates the two-dimensional code reader 224 and outputs the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 224 to the medal service control unit 244. The main control unit 242 operates the medal payout device 220 based on the medal service execution information MSEI output from the medal service control unit 244.

  The medal service control unit 244 includes an information identification unit 262, a medal service reception information generation unit 264, a medal service history information search unit 266, a medal service availability determination unit 268, a medal service execution unit 270 and a medal service history information update unit 272. It is. The information identification unit 262 identifies whether the information output from the main control unit 242 is the user identification information UID or the medal service information MSI, and a user identification information holding unit that describes the identified user identification information UID later. At the same time, the token service information MSI is stored in the token service information holding unit 286 described later. The medal service reception information generation unit 264 is a combination of the medal service information MSI stored in the medal service information storage unit 286 and the user identification information UID stored in the user identification information storage unit 284. Generate The medal service history information search unit 266 searches the medal service history information MSHI held in the medal service history information holding unit 288 described later, and the medal service reception information MSRI generated by the medal service reception information generation unit 264 (in other words, (For example, the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224). The medal service availability determination unit 268 determines the availability of the execution of the medal service (in other words, the payout of the medal M) based on the search result by the medal service history information search unit 266. If the medal service acceptance information MSRI does not exist in the medal service history information MSHI, the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the medal service can be executed, and the medal service permission information for permitting the medal service execution unit 270 to execute the medal service. Output MSPI. When the medal service acceptance information MSRI exists in the medal service history information MSHI, the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the execution of the medal service is not possible, and the medal service prohibition information prohibiting the medal service execution unit 270 from executing the medal service. Output MSII. The medal service execution unit 270 executes or does not execute the medal service. That is, when the medal service permission information MSPI is input to the medal service execution unit 270, the medal service execution unit 270 receives the number of medal services (providing the medal M included in the medal service information MSI held by the medal service information holding unit 286). Number) The medal payout information MDI instructing the payout of the MN is output to the main control unit 242. On the other hand, when the medal service prohibition information MSII is input to the medal service execution unit 270, the medal service execution unit 270 outputs, to the main control unit 242, the medal service nonpermission display information MSDI instructing the display of the medal service nonexistence. The medal service history information update unit 272 determines that the medal service acceptance information generation unit 264 determines that the medal service acceptance information generation unit 264 determines that the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the medal service can be performed. The medal service history information MSHI is updated by adding the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 to the medal service history information MSHI. In other words, each time the medal service corresponding to the medal service reception information MSRI (ie, provision of the medal M corresponding to the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) is executed, the medal service reception information MSRI (in other words, If this is done, the medal service history information MSHI is updated by adding the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID).

  The storage unit 246 includes a biometric information holding unit 282, a user identification information holding unit 284, a medal service information holding unit 286 and a medal service history information holding unit 288. The biological information holding unit 282 holds the biological information BI output from the main control unit 242. The user identification information holding unit 284 holds the user identification information UID identified by the information identification unit 262. The medal service information holding unit 286 holds the medal service information MSI identified by the information identification unit 262. The medal service history information holding unit 288 is a medal service history information made up of a combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID (in other words, the medal service reception information MSRI) updated by the medal service history information updating unit 272. Hold the MSHI. The user identification information holding unit 284, the medal service information holding unit 286 and the medal service history information holding unit 288 constitute a medal service information holding unit 248 that holds information on the medal service.

  The communication device 230 is communicably connected to the management device 40 via the LAN 50, and is controlled by the main control unit 242 of the control device 228. When the biometric information BI of the member user is acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 210, the acquired biometric information BI is transmitted to the management device 40. When the registered biometric information RBI is transmitted from the management device 40, the communication device 230 receives the registered biometric information RBI. The communication device 230 outputs the received registered biometric information RBI to the biometric information authentication device 211.

  Next, the management device 40 will be described with reference to FIG. The management device 40 manages the member user's registered biometric information RBI and the number of registered medals Nrg in association with the member user identification number UN. The management device 40 includes an input unit 401, a display unit 402, a communication interface 403, a control unit 404, a data processing unit 405, and a storage unit 406. The management device 40 can be realized by a general computer device having a CPU, a memory, a hard disk and the like. In that case, for example, the input unit 401 can be configured by a keyboard, the display unit 402 can be configured by a liquid crystal display, and the communication interface 403 can be configured by an Ethernet interface. The control unit 404 and the data processing unit 405 can be configured by a CPU and a memory. The storage unit 406 can be configured by a hard disk drive.

  The control unit 404 controls the input unit 401, the display unit 402, and the communication interface 403, and controls input / output of data in the data processing unit 405 and the storage unit 406. The communication interface 403 is connected to the LAN 50, and the management device 40 is communicably connected to the medal deposit / pay machine 20.

  The data processing unit 405 includes a biometric information search unit 412, a registered medal number calculation unit 414, and a registered medal number update unit 416, and the storage unit 406 includes a registered biometric information holding unit 422 and a registered medal number holding unit 424. As shown in FIG. 8, the registered biometric information holding unit 422 holds registered biometric information RBI in association with a member user identification number UN. The registered biometric information RBI is biometric information that the user has registered in advance for each user using the input device 204 and the biometric information acquisition device 210 in the medal deposit-taking machine 20. The registered medal number holding unit 424 of the storage unit 406 holds the registered medal number Nrg in association with the member user identification number UN. The number of registered medals Nrg is the number of medals increased or decreased by deposit or withdrawal of the medals M in the medal deposit / detachment machine 20, and the user can pay out the medals M with the number of registered medals Nrg as an upper limit.

  The biometric information search unit 412 searches the registered biometric information RBI corresponding thereto based on the member user identification number UN transmitted from the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20. As a result of the search, if there is a registered biometric information RBI associated with the member user identification number UN, the control unit 404 transmits the registered biometric information RBI to the coin depositing machine 20. If the registered biometric information RBI does not exist, the control unit 404 transmits the error information to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 20.

  The registered medal number calculation unit 414 executes a process of subtracting or adding the number of registered medals Nrg based on the medal number subtraction request or the medal number addition request transmitted from the medal deposit / payment device 20. That is, when the payout of the medal M is performed in the medal deposit / payment machine 20, the medal payout number Nds is subtracted from the registered medal number Nrg. On the other hand, when medals M are to be deposited in the medal depositing machine 20, the number Ndp of medals deposited is added to the number Nrg of registered medals. The registered medal number updating unit 416 causes the registered medal number holding unit 424 to hold the number of medals subtracted or added by the registered medal number calculation unit 414 as a new registered medal number Nrg. Thereby, the number of registered medals Nrg is updated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG.

  First, at step S1, the user selects one of the operations of medal deposit, medal payout and medal service. That is, when the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 causes the display device 202 to display the operation button 207 for payout / deposit / service, the input device 204 pays out / deposits when the user touches one of the operation buttons. The deposit / service selection information is output to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228. When the user is a nonmember user, medal deposit and medal payout can not be used, and only the medal service can be used.

  In the next step S2, it is determined whether or not medals are paid out. That is, based on the payout / deposition / service selection information output from the input device 204, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 determines whether or not it is a medal payout operation. If it is determined that the medals are paid out, the process proceeds to step S3. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11. In other words, in step S1, step S3 is executed when the medal payout operation button 207 is operated, and step S12 is executed when the medal deposit or medal service operation button 207 is operated.

  At next step S3, a member user identification number UN is accepted. That is, when the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 causes the display device 202 to display the operation button 207 of "number", when the user touches the displayed operation button 207, the member via the input device 204 The user identification number UN is input. The input device 204 outputs the entered member user identification number UN to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228.

  In the next step S4, biometric information of the member user is acquired as biometric information BI of the user. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 causes the display device 202 to display information prompting the user to place the hand on the placement table 208, and the biological information acquisition device 210 is placed on the placement table 208. Automatically detects an abnormal state and acquires an image. The biological information acquisition device 210 acquires biological information based on the acquired image, and outputs the biological information to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228. The main control unit 242 stores the input biological information in the biological information holding unit 282 of the storage unit 246.

  In the next step S5, a registered biometric information transfer request is transmitted to the management device 40. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the communication device 230, and the communication device 230 transmits a registered biometric information transfer request to the management device 40. The registered biometric information transfer request includes the member user identification number UN accepted in step S3.

  In the next step S6, the registered biometric information RBI is received. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the communication device 230 to receive the registered biometric information RBI. As described above, the management device 40 that has received the registered biometric information transfer request transmits the registered biometric information RBI associated with the member user identification number UN to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 20. Therefore, in step S6, the registered biometric information RBI corresponding to the member user identification number UN accepted in step S3 is received. The received registered biometric information RBI is output from the communication device 230 to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228.

  In the next step S7, biometric information authentication is performed. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 outputs the registered biometric information RBI received in step S6 and the biometric information BI held in the biometric information holding unit 282 of the storage unit 246 to the biometric information authentication device 211. The biometric information authentication device 211 executes matching of the registered biometric information RBI and the biometric information BI output from the main control unit 242 of the control device 228, and determines whether or not to authenticate based on the matching result. The determination result is output from the biometric information authentication device 211 to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228.

  In the next step S8, it is determined whether the authentication is successful. That is, based on the determination result by the biometric information authentication apparatus 211, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 determines whether or not the authentication is successful. If it is determined that the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S9. If it is determined that the authentication is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S3, and the processes of steps S3 to S8 are repeatedly executed.

  In the next step S9, the medal payout number Nds is accepted. That is, the number of medals paid out on the input device 204 by the member user touching the displayed operation button 207 in a state where the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 displays the operation button 207 of "number" on the display device 202. Nds is input. The input medal payout number Nds is output from the input device 204 to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228.

  In the next step S10, the medal M is paid out. That is, when the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the medal payout device 220, the medal M of the number Nds of medal payouts received in step S9 is paid out to the medal payout port 222.

  In the next step S11, a registered medal number subtraction request is transmitted to the management device 40. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the communication device 230, and a registered medal number subtraction request is transmitted in which the communication device 230 subtracts the medal payout number Nds from the registered medal number Nrg. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

  In step S12 executed when it is determined in step S2 that medals are not paid out, it is determined whether or not medals are deposited. That is, based on the payout / deposition / service selection information output from the input device 204, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 determines whether or not the medal deposit operation is performed. If it is determined that medals are deposited, the process proceeds to step S13. If it is determined that medals are not deposited, the process proceeds to step S21 of FIG. In other words, in step S1, step S13 is executed when the medal payout operation button 207 is operated, and step S21 is executed when the medal service operation button 207 is operated.

  In steps S13, S14, S15, S16, S17 and S18, the same processes as steps S3, S4, S5, S6, S7 and S8 are executed. If it is determined in step S18 that the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S19. If it is determined that the authentication is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S13, and the processes of steps S13 to S18 are repeatedly executed.

  In step S19, the number of medals is counted. That is, when the member user inserts the medal M into the medal insertion slot 212, the number of inserted medals M is counted by the medal counting device 214. The count value of the medal M is output to the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 as the medal deposit number Ndp.

  In the next step S20, a registered medal number addition request is transmitted to the management device 40. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the communication device 230, and the communication device 230 transmits a registered medal number addition request for adding the medal deposit number Ndp to the registered medal number Nrg. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

  When it is determined in step S12 that medals are not paid out, the medal service is executed. First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 224. That is, when the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 controls the two-dimensional code reader 224 and it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S22, and the two-dimensional code is not read. If it is determined, step S21 is repeatedly performed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 224 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read. When the two-dimensional code is read, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 outputs the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 224 to the medal service control unit 244.

  In the next step S22, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 is the user identification information UID. That is, the information identification unit 262 of the medal service control unit 244 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 is the user identification information UID. If the user identification information UID is identified, the process proceeds to step S23. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S28.

  At step S23, user identification information UID is stored. That is, the information identification unit 262 of the medal service control unit 244 stores the user identification information UID in the user identification information holding unit 284 of the storage unit 246. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S24.

  In the next step S24, as in step S21, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 224. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S25. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is not read, step S24 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 224 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read. When the two-dimensional code is read, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 outputs the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 224 to the medal service control unit 244.

  In the next step S25, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 is the medal service information MSI. That is, the information identification unit 262 of the medal service control unit 244 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 is the medal service information MSI. If it is identified as the medal service information MSI, the process proceeds to step S26. Otherwise, the process returns to step S24. In other words, steps S24 and S25 are repeatedly executed until the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 224 is identified as the medal service information MSI.

  In the next step S26, the medal service information MSI is stored. That is, the information identification unit 262 of the medal service control unit 244 stores the medal service information MSI in the medal service information holding unit 286 of the storage unit 246. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S27 executed when it is determined in step S22 that the user identification information is not UID, it is determined whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 in step S21 is the medal service information MSI. . That is, the information identification unit 262 of the medal service control unit 244 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 is the medal service information MSI. If it is the medal service information MSI, the process proceeds to step S28, and if it is not the medal service information MSI, the process returns to step S21.

  In the next step S28, the medal service information MSI is stored as in step S26.

  In the next step S29, as in step S21, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 224. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S30. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is not read, step S29 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 224 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read.

  In the next step S30, as in step S22, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 242 of the control device 228 is the user identification information UID. When it is the user identification information UID, the process proceeds to step S31, and when it is not the user identification information UID, the process returns to step S29.

  In the next step S31, the user identification information UID is stored as in step S23. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S32.

  In step S32, medal service acceptance information MSRI is generated. That is, medal service information MSI held by medal service reception information generation unit 264 of medal service control unit 244 is held by medal service information holding unit 286 of storage unit 246 and user identification information held by user identification information holding unit 284. By combining the UID, the medal service reception information MSRI is generated.

  In the next step S33, medal service history information MSHI is searched. That is, the medal service history information search unit 266 searches whether or not the medal service acceptance information MSRI generated in step S32 exists in the medal service history information MSHI.

  In the next step S34, based on the search result of the medal service history information MSHI in step S33, the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines availability of the execution of the medal service (in other words, provision of the medal M free of charge). As shown in FIG. 9, the medal service history information MSHI includes medal service reception information MSRI (combination of medal service information MSI and user identification information UID) for which the medal service has been executed in the past. Therefore, when the medal service acceptance information MSRI exists in the medal service history information MSHI, it can be determined that the medal service is already provided by the medal service acceptance information MSRI (combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID). . In that case, the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that execution of the medal service is not possible. On the other hand, when the medal service reception information MSRI (combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) does not exist in the medal service history information MSHI, the combination of the medal service reception information MSRI (the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) Can determine that the medal service has not yet been provided. In that case, the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the medal service can be executed. When the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the execution of the medal service is possible, the medal service availability determination unit 268 outputs the medal service permission information MSPI for permitting the medal service execution unit 270 to execute the medal service. Thereby, step S35 is performed. On the other hand, when the medal service availability determination unit 268 determines that the execution of the medal service is not possible, the medal service availability determination unit 268 outputs the medal service prohibition information MSII for prohibiting the execution of the medal service to the medal service execution unit 270. Thus, step S37 is executed.

  In step S35, a medal service is performed. That is, the medal service execution unit 270 of the medal service control unit 244, to which the medal service permission information MSPI is input, receives the number of medal services (the number of provided medals M) included in the medal service information MSI held by the medal service information holding unit 286. ) The medal payout information MDI instructing the payout of the MN is output to the main control unit 242. The main control unit 242 to which the medal payout information MDI is input controls the medal payout device 220, whereby the medal payout device 220 pays out the medal M of the medal service number MN.

  In the next step S36, the medal service history information MSHI is updated. That is, the medal service history information updating unit 272 of the medal service control unit 244 determines that the medal service reception information MSRI (in other words, the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) when the medal service is executed is a medal. It is added to the service history information MSHI. Thus, by referring to the medal service history information MSHI, it is possible to determine whether or not the medal service corresponding to the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID is provided. After execution of step S36, the process returns to step S1.

  If it is determined in step S34 that execution of the medal service is not possible, the process proceeds to step S34, and information indicating that the medal service is not possible is displayed. That is, the medal service execution unit 270 to which the medal service prohibition information MSII is input outputs, to the main control unit 242, the medal service non-display information MSDI instructing the display of the medal service non-display. When the main control unit 242 to which the medal service disabling display information MSDI is input controls the display device 202, the display device 202 displays that the medal service can not be performed.

  As described above, by executing steps S21 to S37, it is recorded in the medal service history information MSHI that the medal service is executed based on the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID. The medal service availability determination unit 268 is based on whether or not the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 exists in the medal service history information MSHI, whether or not the medal service can be implemented. Determine When it is determined that the execution of the medal service is possible and the medal service is executed (ie, the payout of the medal M is executed), the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID corresponding to the execution of the medal service Is added to and updated in the medal service history information MSHI.

  As described above, in the medal providing device (game medium providing device) 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, medal service information (game media) common to a plurality of users by the two-dimensional code reader (information acquisition means) 224 Provided Information) An MSI and a user identification information (identification information) UID capable of specifying each of a plurality of users are acquired. When the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID are acquired, the user who provides the medal (gaming medium) M is identified based on the user identification information UID, and the medal is displayed for the identified user. Whether to provide the medal M corresponding to the service information MSI is determined by the medal service availability determination unit (gaming medium availability determination unit) 268. Then, based on the determination result of the medal service availability determination unit 268, provision of the medal M according to the provision number MN of the medal M included in the medal service information MSI is performed by the medal payout device (game medium providing means) 220. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the number of medals MN to be provided for each store.

  In addition, when the medal M is provided, medal service history information (gaming medium indicating that the medal M is provided based on a combination of the medal service information MSI corresponding to the provision of the medal M and the user identification information UID) Provision history information) MSHI is held in the medal service history information holding unit (information storage means) 288. Whether to provide the medal M by the medal service availability determination unit 268 is determined based on the combination of the acquired medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID and the medal service history information MSHI. In other words, by referring to the medal service history information MSHI, it is determined whether provision of the medal M has already been performed corresponding to the combination of the acquired medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID. Can. Therefore, the overlapping provision of the unintended medal M is effectively prevented. In addition, since the medal M provision service is automatically executed without the involvement of a game store clerk, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and improve the convenience of the user.

  Furthermore, the combination of the medal service history information MSHI includes the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID, and the combination of the medal service information MSI and the usage identification information UID acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 is the medal service history information MSHI. Since it is determined that the medal service (provision of game media) is possible when it does not exist, duplication of unintended medal service can be more easily prevented.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a game arcade 1A to which the medal providing system 2 of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 12, in the game arcade 1A, a medal lending machine 10A, a medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A, a plurality of game machines 30, and a management device 40A are installed. The medal lending machine 10A, the token depositing and dispensing machine 20, and the management device 40 are communicably connected to each other via the LAN 50. The medal lending machine 10A, the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20, and the management device 40 constitute a medal providing system 2. In the medal providing system 2, as in the first embodiment described above, the user who brings the medal service ticket PM receives the provision of the medal M without charge, and plays the game machine 30 using the medal M. be able to.

  First, the medal lending machine 10A will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The medal lending machine 10A adds the two-dimensional code reader 134 and the communication device 136 to the medal lending machine 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and, in the control device 118A corresponding to the control device 118, the medal service control unit 144 and storage unit 146 is added. The other configuration is the same as that of the medal lending machine 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the same components as those of the medal lending machine 10 of FIG. 2 and FIG.

  The two-dimensional code reader 134 is disposed on the right side of the housing 100 and has the same function as the two-dimensional code reader 224 of the medal deposit / dispenser 20 of FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, it has a function of optically reading the two-dimensional code MSC for medal service printed on the medal service ticket PM shown in FIG. 12 and the two-dimensional code UC for user identification printed on the card CD.

  The communication device 136 is communicably connected to the management device 40 via the LAN 50. The communication device 136 is controlled by the control device 118A and transmits, to the management device 40, the medal service acceptance information MSRI generated by the medal service control unit 144 of the control device 118A described later. Receive medal service permission information MSPI or medal service prohibition information MSII.

  As shown in FIG. 13, control device 118A is disposed at the upper part inside housing 100, controls the overall operation of medal lending machine 10A, and is configured to be able to execute a part of the function of medal providing system 2. ing. The control device 118A is electrically connected to the display device 102, the input device 104, the bill depositing / dispensing device 106, the coin sorting device 108, and the medal dispensing device 112 as well as the medal lending device 10 of FIG. The code reader 134 and the communication device 136 are electrically connected. As shown in FIG. 15, the control device 118A includes a main control unit 142, a medal service control unit 144, and a storage unit 146. The main control unit 142 controls the display device 102, the input device 104, the bill depositing / dispensing device 106, the coin sorting device 108 and the medal dispensing device 112, and provides the same function as the above-described medal lending machine 10. Further, the main control unit 142 cooperates with the medal service control unit 144 to provide a medal service function. That is, the main control unit 142 operates the two-dimensional code reader 134 and outputs the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 134 to the medal service control unit 144. The main control unit 142 operates the medal payout device 112 based on the medal service execution information MSEI output from the medal service control unit 144.

  The medal service control unit 144 includes an information identification unit 162, a medal service acceptance information generation unit 164, and a medal service execution unit 166. The information identification unit 162 identifies whether the information output from the main control unit 142 is the user identification information UID or the medal service information MSI, and a user identification information holding unit that describes the identified user identification information UID later. While storing in 182, medal service information MSI is housed in the medal service information retention section 184 which it mentions later. The medal service reception information generation unit 164 is a combination of the medal service information MSI held in the medal service information holding unit 184 and the user identification information UID held in the user identification information holding unit 284. Is generated, and the generated medal service reception information MSRI (in other words, a combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) is output to the main control unit 142. The medal service execution unit 166 executes or does not execute the medal service based on the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII described later. That is, when the medal service permission information MSPI is input from the main control unit 142 to the medal service execution unit 166, the medal service execution unit 166 receives the number of medal services included in the medal service information MSI held in the medal service information holding unit 184. (The number of provided medals M) The medal payout information MDI instructing the payout of MN is output to the main control unit 142. On the other hand, when the medal service prohibition information MSII is input from the main control unit 142 to the medal service execution unit 166, the medal service execution unit 166 instructs the main control unit 142 to display the medal service disabling display information MSDI. Output.

  The storage unit 146 includes a user identification information holding unit 182 and a medal service information holding unit 184. The user identification information holding unit 182 holds the user identification information UID identified by the information identification unit 162. The medal service information holding unit 184 holds the medal service information MSI identified by the information identification unit 162.

  The communication device 136 is communicably connected to the management device 40 via the LAN 50, and is controlled by the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A. The communication device 142 transmits the medal service acceptance information MSRI input to the main control unit 142 to the management device 40A, and receives the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII transmitted from the management device 40. The communication device 136 outputs the received token service permission information MSPI or the token service prohibition information MSII to the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A. In other words, control device 118A controls communication device 142 to transmit medal service acceptance information MSRI to management device 40A and to receive medal service permission information MSPI or medal service prohibition information MSII transmitted from management device 40. .

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. The medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A is obtained by replacing the control device 228 of FIG. 6 with the control device 228A, and the other configuration is the same as that of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20 of FIG. 5 and FIG. Therefore, the same components as those of the coin depositing and payment machine 20 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Control device 228A omits medal service history information search portion 266, medal service availability determination portion 268 and medal service history information search portion 266 from medal service control portion 244 in control device 228 of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. The token service history information storage unit 288 of the storage unit 246 is omitted. The other configuration of the controller 228A is the same as that of the controller 228. Therefore, the same components as those of the control device 228 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A of FIGS. 16 and 17, the medal service acceptance information generation unit 264 of the medal service control unit 244 generates the medal service acceptance information MSRI (in other words, the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID). Is output to the main control unit 242. The main control unit 242 controls the communication device 230, and the communication device 230 transmits the medal service acceptance information MSRI input to the main control unit 242 to the management device 40A. On the other hand, the main control unit 242 controls the communication device 230, and the communication device 230 receives the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII transmitted from the management device 40A. The communication device 230 outputs the received medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII to the main control unit 242. The main control unit 242 outputs the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII input from the communication device 230 to the medal service execution unit 270.

  The medal service execution unit 270 executes or does not execute the medal service based on the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII. That is, when the medal service permission information MSPI is input from the main control unit 242 to the medal service execution unit 270, the medal service execution unit 270 receives the number of medal services included in the medal service information MSI held by the medal service information holding unit 286. (The number of provided medals M) The medal payout information MDI instructing the payout of the MN is output to the main control unit 242. On the other hand, when the medal service prohibition information MSII is input from the main control unit 242 to the medal service execution unit 270, the medal service execution unit 270 instructs the main control unit 242 the medal service impossibility display information MSDI to display the medal service impossibility. Output.

  Next, the management device 40A will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the management apparatus 40 of FIG. 7, the management apparatus 40A includes an input unit 401, a display unit 402, and a communication interface 403. Since these components are the same as the management apparatus 40 of FIG. 7, the detailed description thereof is omitted here. The management device 40A further includes a control unit 404A, a medal deposit and withdrawal server 41, and a medal service server 42.

  The control unit 404A controls the input unit 401, the display unit 402, and the communication interface 403, and controls input / output of data in the medal deposit server 41 and the medal service server 42. When communication interface 403 receives medal service acceptance information MSRI transmitted from medal lending machine 10A or medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A, controller 404A selects medal service acceptance information MSRI as the second data processing unit 442 of medal service server 42. Output to Further, when medal service permission information MSPI or medal service prohibition information MSII is output from second data processing unit 442 of medal service server 42, control unit 404A communicates medal service permission information MSPI or medal service prohibition information MSII. Output to the interface 403. The control unit 404A controls the communication interface 403 to transmit the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII to the medal lending machine 10A or the medal deposit / payment machine 20A corresponding to the received medal service acceptance information MSRI.

  The medal deposit / payment server 41 includes a first data processing unit 405A and a first storage unit 406A. The first data processing unit 405A corresponds to the data processing unit 405 of the management device 40 of FIG. 7, and the first storage unit 406A corresponds to the storage unit 406 of the management device 40 of FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 16, the same components as those of the management apparatus 40 of FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The medal service server 42 determines whether or not to execute the medal service based on the medal service acceptance information MSRI output from the control unit 404A, and based on the determination result, controls the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII. While outputting to 404A, the medal service history information MSHI is updated. The medal service server 42 includes a second data processing unit 442 and a second storage unit 446. The second data processing unit 442 includes a medal service history information search unit 462, a medal service availability determination unit 464, and a medal service history information update unit 466. The second storage unit 446 includes a medal service history information holding unit 482.

  The medal service history information search unit 462, the medal service availability determination unit 464, the medal service history information update unit 466 and the medal service history information storage unit 482 are the medal service history information search unit 266 in the control device 228 of FIG. The determination unit 268, the medal service history information updating unit 272, and the medal service history information holding unit 288 correspond to each other. That is, the medal service history information search unit 466 searches the medal service history information MSHI stored in the medal service history information storage unit 288, and the medal service reception information MSRI output from the control unit 404A (in other words, the medal service). Confirm the existence of the combination of the information MSI and the user identification information UID). The medal service availability determination unit 268 determines the availability of the execution of the medal service (in other words, the payout of the medal M) based on the search result by the medal service history information search unit 266. If the medal service acceptance information MSRI does not exist in the medal service history information MSHI, the medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that the medal service can be performed, and the control unit 404A permits the medal service permission information MSPI for permitting the execution of the medal service. Output. When the medal service acceptance information MSRI exists in the medal service history information MSHI, the medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that the execution of the medal service is not possible, and the control unit 404A prohibits the medal service prohibition information MSII for prohibiting the execution of the medal service. Output.

  When medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that the medal service is executable, medal service history information update unit 466 receives medal service acceptance information MSRI output from control unit 404A (in other words, medal service information MSI and A combination of user identification information UID) is added to the medal service history information MSHI, and the medal service history information MSHI is updated. In other words, each time the medal service corresponding to the medal service reception information MSRI (ie, provision of the medal M corresponding to the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) is executed, the medal service reception information MSRI (in other words, If this is done, the medal service history information MSHI is updated by adding the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID).

Next, the operation of the medal providing system 2 will be described. Here, only the operation related to the medal service will be described, and the medal lending operation of the medal lending machine 10A, the medal deposit and withdrawal operation of the medal deposit and withdrawal machine 20A, and the biometric authentication action in the medal deposit and withdrawal machine 20A and the management device 40A. I omit the explanation about.
First, with reference to FIG. 17, the interaction between the medal lending machine 10A, the medal deposit / dispense machine 20A, and the management device 40A will be described.

  In the first step ST1, the two-dimensional code for user identification UC and the two-dimensional code for medal service MSC are obtained in the medal lending machine 10A. That is, the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID are acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 of the medal lending machine 10A. The medal service acceptance information MSRI, which is a combination of the acquired medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID, is transmitted from the medal lending machine 10A to the management device 40A in the next step ST2.

  In the management device 40A that has received the medal service acceptance information MSRI (in other words, the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID), whether or not the medal service can be determined in step ST3. In the next step ST4, the determination result in step ST3 is transmitted from the management device 40A to the medal lending machine 10A. That is, the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII is transmitted to the medal lending machine 10A.

  The medal lender machine 10A having received the determination result determines in step ST5 whether or not to execute the medal service based on the determination result. When the medal service permission information MSPI is received, the payout of the medal M is executed in the next step ST6. If the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the process returns to step ST1.

  On the other hand, in step ST7, the two-dimensional code for user identification UC and the two-dimensional code for medal service MSC are obtained in the medal deposit / detach machine 20A. In other words, the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID are acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 of the medal deposit-taking machine 20A. The medal service acceptance information MSRI, which is a combination of the acquired medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID, is transmitted from the depositing machine 20A to the management device 40A in the next step ST8.

  In the management device 40A that has received the medal service acceptance information MSRI, it is determined in step ST9 whether the medal service is acceptable or not. At the next step ST10, the determination result at step ST9 is transmitted from the management device 40A to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 20A. In other words, the medal service permission information MSPI or the medal service prohibition information MSII is transmitted to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 20A.

  The medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A having received the determination result determines in step ST11 whether or not the medal service is to be executed based on the determination result. When the medal service permission information MSPI is received, the payout of the medal M is executed in the next step ST12. If the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the process returns to step ST1.

  Next, the operation of the medal lending machine 10A will be described with reference to FIG. Here, only the operation related to the medal service will be described.

  First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 134. That is, the controller 118A controls the two-dimensional code reader 134 to determine whether the two-dimensional code has been read. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S52, and if it is determined that the two-dimensional code is not read, step S51 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 134 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read. When the two-dimensional code is read, the two-dimensional code reader 134 outputs the information acquired to the control device 118A.

  In the next step S52, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A is the user identification information UID. That is, the information identification unit 162 of the medal service control unit 144 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 is the user identification information UID. If the user identification information UID is identified, the process proceeds to step S53. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S57.

  At step S53, user identification information UID is stored. That is, the information identification unit 162 of the medal service control unit 144 stores the user identification information UID in the user identification information holding unit 182 of the storage unit 146. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S54.

  In the next step S54, as in step S51, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 134. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S55, and if it is determined that the two-dimensional code is not read, step S54 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 134 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read. When the two-dimensional code is read, the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A outputs the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 134 to the medal service control unit 144.

  In the next step S55, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A is the medal service information MSI. That is, the information identification unit 162 of the medal service control unit 144 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 is the medal service information MSI. If it is identified as the medal service information MSI, the process proceeds to step S56, and otherwise, the process returns to step S54. In other words, steps S54 and S55 are repeatedly executed until the information output from the two-dimensional code reader 134 is identified as the medal service information MSI.

  In the next step S56, the medal service information MSI is stored. That is, the information identification unit 162 of the medal service control unit 144 stores the medal service information MSI in the medal service information holding unit 184 of the storage unit 146. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S62.

  In step S57 executed when it is determined in step S52 that the user identification information is not UID, in step S51, it is determined whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 is the medal service information MSI. . That is, the information identification unit 162 of the medal service control unit 144 identifies whether the information acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 is the medal service information MSI. If it is the medal service information MSI, the process proceeds to step S58, and if it is not the medal service information MSI, the process returns to step S51.

  In the next step S58, the medal service information MSI is stored as in step S56.

  In the next step S59, as in step S51, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code has been read by the two-dimensional code reader 134. If it is determined that the two-dimensional code is read, the process proceeds to the next step S60, and if it is determined that the two-dimensional code is not read, step S59 is repeatedly executed. In other words, the two-dimensional code reader 134 stands by until the two-dimensional code is read.

  In the next step S60, as in step S52, it is determined whether the information output from the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A is the user identification information UID. If it is the user identification information UID, the process proceeds to step S61, and if it is not the user identification information UID, the process returns to step S59.

  In the next step S61, the user identification information UID is stored as in step S53. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S62.

  In step S62, medal service acceptance information MSRI is generated. That is, medal service information MSI held by medal service reception information generation unit 164 of medal service control unit 144 held by medal service information holding unit 184 of storage unit 146 and user identification information held by user identification information holding unit 182 By combining the UID, the medal service reception information MSRI is generated.

  In the next step S63, the medal service acceptance information MSRI generated in step S62 is transmitted to the management device 40A. That is, the communication device is such that the medal service acceptance information generation unit 164 of the medal service control unit 144 outputs the medal service acceptance information MSRI to the main control unit 142, and the main control unit 142 transmits the medal service acceptance information MSRI to the management device 40A. Control 136 The transmission of the medal service acceptance information MSRI is executed using an address unique to the communication device 136 (for example, an IP address (Internet Protocol Address)).

  In the next step S64, it is determined whether or not the medal service permission information MSPI has been received. That is, the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A controls the communication device 136 to confirm reception of the medal service permission information MSPI. If the medal service permission information MSPI is received, the process proceeds to step S66. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S65.

  In step S66, it is determined whether medal service prohibition information MSII has been received. That is, the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A controls the communication device 136 to confirm reception of the medal service prohibition information MSII. If the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the process proceeds to step S67. Otherwise, the process returns to step S64. In other words, until one of the medal service permission information MSPI and the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the standby state is established.

  In step S66 executed when it is determined in step S64 that the medal service permission information MSPI has been received, the medal service is executed. That is, the main control unit 142 of the control device 118A outputs the medal service permission information MSPI to the medal service execution unit 166, and the medal service execution unit 166 holds the medal service information MSI held in the medal service information holding unit 184 of the storage unit 146. And the medal payout information MDI instructing payout of the MN (in other words, the number of medals provided) is output to the main control unit 142. The main control unit 142 controls the medal payout device 112 to pay out the medal M of the medal service number MN. Thereby, the medal payout device 112 pays out the medal M.

  In step S67, which is executed when it is determined in step S65 that the medal service prohibition information MSII has been received, the medal service is not executed, and display of medal service impossibility is made. That is, the medal service execution unit 166 outputs, to the main control unit 142, the medal service disabling display information MSDI instructing the display of the token service disabling. The main control unit 142 controls the display device 102 to display that the medal service is not possible.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 21, the operation of the coin depositing and payment machine 20A will be described. The operation of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A corresponds to that in which steps S33 to S37 of the medal service in FIG. 12 are replaced with steps S71 to S75 in FIG. That is, since steps S1 to S20 in FIG. 10 and steps S21 to S32 in FIG. 11 are the same, the description of those steps is omitted here.

  In step S71 executed after the medal service acceptance information MSRI is generated in step S32 of FIG. 21, the medal service acceptance information MSRI generated in step S32 is transmitted to the management device 40A. That is, the communication device is such that the medal service reception information generation unit 264 of the medal service control unit 244 outputs the medal service reception information MSRI to the main control unit 242 and the main control unit 242 transmits the medal service reception information MSRI to the management device 40A. Control 230; The transmission of the medal service acceptance information MSRI is performed using an IP address unique to the communication device 230.

  In the next step S72, it is determined whether or not the medal service permission information MSPI has been received. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228A controls the communication device 230 to confirm reception of the medal service permission information MSPI. If the medal service permission information MSPI is received, the process proceeds to step S74. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S73.

  In step S73, it is determined whether medal service prohibition information MSII has been received. That is, the main control unit 242 of the control device 228A controls the communication device 230 to confirm the reception of the medal service prohibition information MSII. If the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the process proceeds to step S75. Otherwise, the process returns to step S72. In other words, until one of the medal service permission information MSPI and the medal service prohibition information MSII is received, the standby state is established.

  In step S74 executed when it is determined in step S72 that the medal service permission information MSPI has been received, the medal service is executed. More specifically, main control unit 242 of control device 228A outputs medal service permission information MSPI to medal service execution unit 270, and medal service execution unit 270 holds medal service information MSI held in medal service information holding unit 286 of storage unit 246. And the medal payout information MDI instructing payout of the MN (in other words, the number of medals provided) is output to the main control unit 242. The main control unit 242 controls the medal payout device 220 to pay out the medal M of the medal service number MN. Thereby, the medal payout device 220 pays out the medal M.

  In step S75 executed when it is determined in step S73 that the medal service prohibition information MSII has been received, the medal service is not executed, and display of medal service impossibility is made. That is, the medal service execution unit 270 outputs, to the main control unit 242, the medal service disabling display information MSDI instructing the display of the medal service disabling. The main control unit 242 controls the display device 202 to display that the medal service is not possible.

  Next, the operation of the management device 40A will be described with reference to FIG. Here, only the operation related to the medal service will be described.

  In the first step S81, it is determined whether or not medal service acceptance information MSRI has been received. That is, control unit 404A controls communication interface 403 to confirm reception of medal service acceptance information MSRI. If the medal service acceptance information MSRI is received, the process proceeds to step S82. Otherwise, step S81 is repeatedly executed. In other words, until medal service acceptance information MSRI is received, it is in a standby state.

  In the next step S82, the medal service history information MSHI is searched. That is, the medal service history information search unit 462 of the second data processing unit 442 searches whether or not the medal service reception information MSRI received in step S81 exists in the medal service history information MSHI.

  In the next step S83, based on the search result of the medal service history information MSHI in step S82, the medal service availability determination unit 464 of the second data processing unit 442 executes the medal service (in other words, provision of the medal M free of charge). Determine whether or not As shown in FIG. 9, the medal service history information MSHI includes medal service reception information MSRI (combination of medal service information MSI and user identification information UID) for which the medal service has been executed in the past. Therefore, when the medal service acceptance information MSRI exists in the medal service history information MSHI, it can be determined that the medal service is already provided by the medal service acceptance information MSRI (combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID). . In that case, the medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that execution of the medal service is not possible. On the other hand, when the medal service reception information MSRI (combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) does not exist in the medal service history information MSHI, the combination of the medal service reception information MSRI (the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) Can determine that the medal service has not yet been provided. In that case, the medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that the execution of the medal service is possible. If it is determined that the execution of the medal service is possible, the medal service availability determination unit 464 outputs, to the control unit 404A, the medal service permission information MSPI for permitting the execution of the medal service. Thereafter, step S84 is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that execution of the medal service is not possible, the medal service availability determination unit 464 outputs, to the control unit 404A, medal service prohibition information MSII for prohibiting the execution of the medal service. Thereafter, step S86 is executed.

  In step S84, the medal service permission information MSPI is transmitted. That is, control unit 404A controls communication interface 403 to transmit medal service permission information MSPI output from medal service permission determination unit 464. In this case, one of the communication device 136 and the communication device 230 is identified by the IP address of the transmission source of the medal service acceptance information MSRI received in step S81, and the identified communication device 136 or 230 has the token service permission information Send MSPI.

  In the next step S85, the medal service history information MSHI is updated. That is, when the medal service history information updating unit 466 of the second data processing unit 442 executes the medal service, the medal service reception information MSRI (in other words, the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) It is added to the medal service history information MSHI. Thus, by referring to the medal service history information MSHI, it is possible to determine whether or not the medal service corresponding to the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID is provided. After execution of step S85, the process returns to step S81.

  On the other hand, in step S86, medal service prohibition information MSII is transmitted. That is, control unit 404A controls communication interface 403 to transmit medal service prohibition information MSII output from medal service availability determination unit 464. In this case, one of the communication device 136 and the communication device 230 is specified by the IP address of the transmission source of the medal service acceptance information MSRI received in step S81, and the specified communication device 136 or communication device 230 has the token service prohibition information Send MSII.

  As described above, by executing steps S51 to S63 in the medal lending machine 10A, the medal service reception information MSRI including the combination of the medal service information MSI acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134 and the user identification information UID is obtained. It is transmitted to the management device 40A. The medal service acceptance information MSRI including the combination of the medal service information MSI acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224 and the user identification information UID is executed by executing the steps S21 to S32 and S71 in the medal deposit / deposit machine 20A. It is sent to 40A. By executing steps S81 to S84 and S86 in the management device 40A, the medal service acceptance information MSRI transmitted from the medal lending machine 10A or the medal deposit / payment machine 20A (that is, a combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID) Whether or not the medal service is to be executed is determined depending on whether or not the medal service history information MSHI exists. When it is determined that the execution of the medal service is possible, the medal service permission information MSPI is transmitted, and when it is determined that the execution of the medal service is not possible, the medal service prohibition information MSII is transmitted.

  When medal service permission information MSPI is received by executing steps S64 to S67 in medal lending machine 10A, the medal service is executed (that is, payout of medal M is executed) and medal service prohibition information MSII is received. If it does, the medal service is not executed. By executing steps S72 to S75 in the medal deposit / detachment machine 20A, the medal service is executed (that is, the payout of the medal M is executed) when the medal service permission information MSPI is received, and the medal service prohibition information MSII is received. If it does, the medal service is not executed. When step S85 is executed in the management device 40A, it is determined that execution of the medal service is possible, and execution of the medal service (that is, payout of the medal M is executed) in the medal lending machine 10A or the medal deposit / detachment machine 20A. A combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID corresponding to the execution of the medal service is added to the medal service history information MSHI and updated. In other words, it is recorded in the medal service history information MSHI that the medal service is executed based on the received medal service acceptance information MSRI (that is, the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID).

  When the medal service is executed (ie, the payout of the medal M is executed), the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID corresponding to the execution of the medal service is added to the medal service history information MSHI and updated. Ru.

  As described above, in the medal providing system (game medium providing system) 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the two-dimensional code reader (information acquisition means) 134 of the medal lending machine (game medium processing device) 10A or the medal deposit Usage that medal service information (gaming medium provision information) MSI common to a plurality of users and each of a plurality of users can be specified by the two-dimensional code reader (information acquisition means) 224 of the payment machine (gaming medium processing device) 20A Person identification information (identification information) UID is acquired. When the combination of the medal service information MSI and the identification information is transmitted from the medal lending machine 10A or the medal deposit / depositing machine 20A, the management apparatus 40A identifies the user who provides the medal M based on the user identification information UID, The medal service availability determination unit (gaming medium availability availability determination unit) 464 determines whether provision of the medal M corresponding to the medal service information MSI is possible for the identified user. Then, when the determination result is transmitted from the management device 40A, provision of the medal M according to the provision number MN of the medal M included in the medal service information MSI based on the determination result in the medal lending machine 10A or the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A. Is performed by the medal payout device (game medium providing means) 112, 220. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the number of medals MN to be provided for each store.

  Further, in the management apparatus 40A, when the medal service availability determination unit 464 determines that the provision of the medal M is possible, the medal M is provided based on the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID corresponding to the determination. The medal service history information (gaming medium provision history information) MSHI indicating that the game has been made is held in the medal service history information holding unit (information storage means) 482. The provision of the medal M by the medal service availability determination unit 464 is determined based on the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID transmitted from the medal lending machine 10A or the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20A and the medal service history information MSHI. Be done. In other words, by referring to the medal service history information MSHI, it can be determined whether provision of the medal M is performed corresponding to the combination of the transmitted medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID. it can. Therefore, the overlapping provision of the unintended medal M is effectively prevented. In addition, since the medal M provision service is automatically executed without the involvement of a game store clerk, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and improve the convenience of the user.

  Furthermore, the combination of the medal service history information MSHI contains the combination of the medal service information MSI and the user identification information UID, and the combination of the medal service information MSI and the usage identification information UID acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 134, 224 is the medal service history. Since it is determined that the medal service (provision of game media) is possible when it is not present in the information MSHI, duplication of unintended medal services can be prevented more easily.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the medal provision device 21 of the first embodiment and the medal provision system 2 of the second embodiment described above, and appropriate modifications are possible. For example, although the medal depositing / dispensing machine 20 has the function of the medal providing device 21 in the first embodiment, it is of course possible to give the medal lending machine 10 the function of the medal providing device 21. That is, the medal providing device can be configured by adding the two-dimensional code reader, the medal service control unit, and the medal service information holding unit to the medal lending machine 10.

  Further, in the medal providing device 21 of the first embodiment, the user identification information UID is acquired by the two-dimensional code reader 224, but at least identification information capable of specifying the user may be acquired. For example, a one-dimensional code can be recorded on a card CD, and a reader capable of reading both the one-dimensional code and the two-dimensional code can be used. Alternatively, in addition to the two-dimensional code reader (first information acquisition means) 224, another information acquisition device (second information acquisition means) may be provided in order to acquire the user identification information UID. In that case, as the card CD, a card in which a one-dimensional code is recorded, an IC card in which user identification information UID is stored, or the like can be used. Alternatively, the biometric information BI acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 210 may be used as the user identification information UID. Of course, these are also applicable to the medal providing system 2 of the second embodiment.

  Further, in the medal providing device 21 according to the first embodiment, the medal service is performed by paying out the medal M from the medal paying out device 220 (in other words, paying out the physical medal M). Instead of the above, the electronic medal may be deposited on the coin depositing machine 20. In that case, the user can select payment of physical medals and deposit of electronic medals as a medal service, and more various service modes can be realized. This can also be applied to the medal deposit and payment machine 20A of the medal providing system 2 of the second embodiment.

  The present invention can be suitably used in a game arcade where a game machine is played using medals (game media).

1, 1A game place 2 medal provision system 10, 10A medal lending machine 20, 20A medal deposit-and-deposit machine 21 medal provision device 30 game machine 40, 40A management device 41 medal deposit-and-deposit server 42 medal service server 50 LAN
Reference Signs List 100 case 102 display device 104 input device 106 bill depositing / dispensing device 108 coin sorting device 110 coin safe 112 medal dispensing device 114 coin dispensing outlet 116 medal dispensing outlet 118, 118A control device 120 bill insertion slot 122 bill dispensing outlet 124 coin insertion slot 126 coin return lever 134 two-dimensional code reader 136 communication device 142 main control unit 142 communication device 144 medal service control unit 146 storage unit 162 information identification unit 164 medal service acceptance information generation unit 166 medal service execution unit 182 user identification information holding Part 184 medal service information holding part 200 case 202 display device 204 input device 206 touch panel 207 operation button 208 mounting table 210 biological information acquisition device 211 biometric information authentication device 212 medal insertion slot 214 medal counting device 2 6 medal collection container 218 medal storage container 220 medal payout device 222 medal payout port 224 two-dimensional code reader 228, 228A control device 230 communication device 242 main control unit 246 storage unit 248 medal service information holding unit 262 information identification unit 264 medal Service reception information generation unit 266 medal service history information search unit 268 medal service availability determination unit 270 medal service execution unit 272 medal service history information update unit 282 biometric information holding unit 284 user identification information holding unit 286 medal service information holding unit 288 medal Service history information storage unit 401 Input unit 402 Display unit 403 Communication interface 404, 404A Control unit 405 Data processing unit 405A First data processing unit 406 Storage unit 406A First storage unit 412 Biological information search unit 4 4 Registered medal number calculation unit 416 Registered medal number update unit 422 Registered biometric information holding unit 424 Registered medal number holding unit 442 Second data processing unit 446 Second storage unit 462 Medal service history information search unit 464 Medals service availability judgment unit 466 Medals Service history information update unit 482 medal service history information holding unit BI biometric information CD card M medal MDI medal payout information MID medal service identification information MN medal service number (number of medals provided)
Two-dimensional code for MSC medal service MSDI medal service non-display information MSEI medal service execution information MSHI medal service history information MSI medal service information MSII medal service prohibition information MSPI medal service permission information MSRI medal service acceptance information Ndp medal deposit number Nds medal payout number Nrg Registration medal number PM Medal service ticket RBI Registered biometric information UC User identification two-dimensional code UID User identification information UN Member user identification number

Claims (10)

A game medium providing method, wherein the game medium is provided free of charge to a plurality of users based on game medium provision information including the number of game medium provided,
Identification information capable of identifying each of the plurality of users while the first information acquisition means acquires the game medium provision information common to the plurality of users, and the first information acquisition means or the second information acquisition means identifies each of the plurality of users Information acquisition process to acquire
When the game medium provision information and the identification information are acquired in the information acquisition step, it is possible to play the game media availability corresponding to the game medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information A game medium provision possibility determination step determined by the medium provision possibility determination unit;
A game medium providing step of providing the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium providing information based on the determination result in the game medium provision possibility determining step;
When the game medium is provided in the game medium providing step, game medium provision is provided to indicate that the game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium. Game medium providing history information holding step of holding history information in the information storage means;
Equipped with
In the game medium provision possibility determination step, it is determined whether the provision of the game medium is possible or not based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired in the information acquisition step and the game medium provision history information. Media provision method.   The game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information acquired in the information acquiring step does not exist in the game medium providing history information. 2. The game medium providing method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the game medium can be provided in some cases. A gaming medium providing apparatus for providing the gaming medium to a plurality of users at no charge based on gaming medium provision information including the number of provision of gaming media.
Information acquiring means for acquiring the game medium provision information common to the plurality of users and acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users;
When the game medium provision information and the identification information are acquired by the information acquisition unit, it is determined whether the game medium provided for the game medium provision information can be provided to the user specified by the identification information. Game medium provision availability determination means to
Game medium providing means for providing the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium provision information based on the determination result by the game medium provision possibility determination means;
When the game medium is provided by the game medium providing means, the game medium is provided to indicate that the game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium. Information storage means for holding history information;
Equipped with
The game medium availability determination means determines whether to provide the game medium based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired by the information acquisition means and the game medium provision history information. Media providing device.   The game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information acquired by the information acquiring means does not exist in the game medium providing history information. 4. The game medium providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the game medium can be provided in some cases. A gaming medium providing apparatus for providing the gaming medium to a plurality of users at no charge based on gaming medium provision information including the number of provision of gaming media.
First information acquisition means for acquiring the game medium provision information common to the plurality of users;
Second information acquisition means for acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users;
When the game medium provision information and the identification information are acquired by the information acquisition unit, it is determined whether the game medium provided for the game medium provision information can be provided to the user specified by the identification information. Game medium provision availability determination means to
Game medium providing means for providing the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium provision information based on the determination result by the game medium provision possibility determination means;
When the game medium is provided by the game medium providing means, the game medium is provided to indicate that the game medium is provided based on a combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the provision of the game medium. Information storage means for holding history information;
The gaming medium provision possibility determination means is based on a combination of the gaming medium provision information acquired by the first information acquisition means and the identification information acquired by the second information acquisition means and the gaming medium provision history information. A game medium providing apparatus that determines the availability of the game medium.   The game medium providing history information includes a combination of the game medium providing information and the identification information, and the game medium providing information acquired by the first information acquiring means and the identification information acquired by the second information acquiring means 6. The game medium providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that the game medium can be provided when the combination of the game medium and the game medium provision history information does not exist. A gaming medium providing system which provides the gaming media to a plurality of users at no charge based on gaming media provision information including the number of provision of gaming media.
A gaming media processing device having a function of providing the gaming media, and a management device capable of communicating with the gaming media processing device;
The gaming media processing device is
Information acquisition means for acquiring the game medium provision information common to the plurality of users and acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users;
First control means for controlling transmission of the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information acquired by the information acquisition means to the management device;
Game medium providing means for providing the game medium;
Including
The management device is
When a combination of the gaming medium provision information and the identification information is transmitted from the gaming medium processing device, provision of the game medium corresponding to the gaming medium provision information to the user specified by the identification information Game medium provision availability determination means for determining availability;
If it is determined by the gaming medium provision availability determination means that provision of the gaming medium is possible, the fact that the gaming medium has been provided based on a combination of the gaming medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the determination is Information storage means for holding gaming medium providing history information to be shown;
Second control means for controlling to transmit the determination result by the gaming medium provision possibility determining means to the gaming medium processing device;
Including
The game medium availability determination unit determines whether to provide the game medium based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information transmitted from the game medium processing device and the game medium provision history information.
The first control means controls the game medium providing means to provide the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium providing information based on the determination result transmitted from the management device. Provision system.   The gaming medium providing history information includes a combination of the gaming medium providing information and the identification information, and a combination of the gaming medium providing information and the identification information transmitted from the gaming medium processing device is present in the gaming medium providing history information. 8. The game medium providing system according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that the game medium can be provided if the game medium is not present. A gaming medium providing system which provides the gaming media to a plurality of users at no charge based on gaming media provision information including the number of provision of gaming media.
A gaming media processing device having a function of providing the gaming media, and a management device capable of communicating with the gaming media processing device;
The gaming media processing device is
First information acquisition means for acquiring the game medium provision information common to the plurality of users;
Second information acquisition means for acquiring identification information capable of specifying each of the plurality of users;
First control means for controlling to transmit the gaming medium provision information acquired by the first information acquisition means and the identification information to the management device by the second information acquisition means;
And gaming medium providing means for providing the gaming medium.
The management device is
When the gaming medium provision information and the identification information are transmitted from the gaming medium processing device, the provision of the game medium corresponding to the gaming medium provision information can be made to the user specified by the identification information. Game medium provision availability determination means for determining;
If it is determined by the gaming medium provision availability determination means that provision of the gaming medium is possible, the fact that the gaming medium has been provided based on a combination of the gaming medium provision information and the identification information corresponding to the determination is Information storage means for holding gaming medium providing history information to be shown;
Second control means for controlling to transmit the determination result by the gaming medium provision possibility determining means to the gaming medium processing device;
Including
The game medium availability determination unit determines whether to provide the game medium based on the combination of the game medium provision information and the identification information transmitted from the game medium processing device and the game medium provision history information.
The first control means controls the game medium providing means to provide the game medium according to the number of provision of the game medium providing information based on the determination result transmitted from the management device. Provision system.   The gaming medium providing history information includes a combination of the gaming medium providing information and the identification information, and a combination of the gaming medium providing information and the identification information transmitted from the gaming medium processing device is present in the gaming medium providing history information. 10. The game medium providing system according to claim 9, wherein it is determined that the game medium can be provided if the game medium is not present.

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