JP2023051187A - Prize Exchange System and Prize Exchange Method - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve security in a prize exchange POS corresponding to self operation.SOLUTION: A prize exchange system includes: a plurality of interposed machines (3) having an interposed camera (4) function of imaging a face image of a player; a prize exchange POS (51) in which a person who wants prize exchange can perform prize exchange by himself/herself, the prize exchange POS (51) including a device camera (55) that images a face image of the person who wants prize exchange; a face authentication part (121) that compares face images to determine whether the face images match each other; and a comparison result acquisition unit (51d) that disables or interrupts prize exchange when face images imaged by the interposed cameras do not include the face image matching the face image imaged by the device camera.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a gift exchange system.

Even today, in amusement parlors (game parlors) represented by pachinko parlors and pachislot parlors, fraud is unbearable, and the forms of fraud are changing into various forms. Fraud reduces the sales of amusement facilities and puts pressure on the management of the amusement facilities. Therefore, in game arcades, countermeasures such as increasing the number of attendants (employees) and strengthening surveillance against fraudulent acts are taken.

In Patent Document 1, in order to deal with fraudulent acts, a large number of surveillance cameras are installed in amusement arcades, and when the person who deposits money into the ball holding card or the deposit card is different from the liquidator, settlement is prohibited or interrupted. is described. Patent document 1 also describes prohibiting or suspending the exchange of prizes when the player and the person who exchanged the prizes are different.

JP 2013-158504 A

Recently, from the viewpoint of labor saving, self-service gift exchange POSs have been released in which players themselves can exchange gifts. In order to use such gift exchange POS (Point of sale) with peace of mind, it is necessary to automatically (unmanned) handle security issues that have hitherto been handled by staff. There is a demand for technical development to improve security in a gift exchange POS that can be handled.

The technique of Patent Document 1 outputs an imaging request instruction to a monitoring camera to acquire an image when an event occurs in each of the card unit, the balance adjustment machine, and the gift POS. Therefore, when a plurality of imaging request instructions are input to one monitoring camera at the same timing, there is a risk that an accurate image cannot be obtained when an event occurs. In particular, when a large number of events needing to be captured at once occur, the monitoring camera will prioritize and capture images. For example, when a large number of events occur at the same time, the player with the largest balance is preferentially imaged. As a result, events that can be imaged are omissions that have occurred with respect to events that need to be imaged. Such a situation is insufficient for the security of a gift exchange POS capable of self-response.

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to implement a technology capable of enhancing security in a gift exchange POS capable of self-service.

In order to solve the above problems, a prize exchange system according to one aspect of the present invention has a function of capturing a face image of a player, and a function of accepting payment and lending out game media within the accepted payment amount. , a function of receiving a recording medium and associating a game value balance indicating a game value obtained in relation to the execution of a game with the recording medium; A prize exchange device having a function of capturing an image, and receiving the recording medium and exchanging a game value balance associated with the recording medium for a prize; a database, a face recognition unit that compares face images and determines whether or not the faces match, and images captured by the inter-stand machine before the time when the gift exchange device receives the recording medium and stored. the face image associated with the recording medium accepted by the prize exchange device does not include a face image that matches the face image captured by the prize exchange device. a determination unit that prohibits or suspends the exchange of prizes when determined by the face authentication unit.

According to the above configuration, in the prize exchange system, the face image of the player is compared with the face image associated with the recording medium to determine whether the player and the prize exchange person are the same person. can be done. By photographing the face image of the player with each inter-machine, there is no omission or omission as in the case of photographing with a surveillance camera. Therefore, when a person who exchanges gifts uses a recording medium obtained by fraudulent act to exchange gifts, it is possible to determine that the gift exchange is fraudulent, thereby enhancing the security of the gift exchange POS capable of self-response. be able to.

The determination unit determines whether the face of the face image captured by the prize exchange device is captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine within a predetermined period before the time when the prize exchange device accepts the recording medium. The determination may be made based on whether or not the face matches the face in the face image associated with the recording medium accepted by the gift exchange apparatus.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to limit the face image captured by the inter-stand machine to be used for determination by the determination unit. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to determine whether or not they match.

The determining unit associates facial images captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine with the recording medium accepted by the prize exchange device before the time when the prize exchange device accepted the recording medium. When all the faces of the captured face image match the faces of the face image captured by the gift exchange device, the gift exchange may be enabled.

According to the above configuration, when the face image of the person exchanging the prize and the face image of the player are all matched, the exchange of the prize is enabled, thus enhancing the security. be able to.

The inter-stand machine may capture the face image of the player at the timing when a predetermined event occurs.

According to the above configuration, fraud can be determined by capturing a face image in a specific event. Therefore, while shortening the time required for face authentication, it is possible to accurately determine the change in the processor of the recording medium.

The event may be when payment is received, when the recording medium is received, or when the recording medium is ejected.

According to the above configuration, since the image of the player is captured at the timing when the game medium lending machine accesses the recording medium, changes in the player can be detected, and security can be improved.

A prize exchange method of a prize exchange system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a function of capturing a face image of a player, a function of accepting payment, lending a game medium within the accepted payment amount, and a recording medium. a function of receiving and associating a game value balance indicating a game value obtained in relation to execution of a game with the recording medium; a prize exchange device that accepts the recording medium and exchanges the game value balance associated with the recording medium with a prize; and a facial image database that accumulates facial images captured by the inter-stand machine. A prize exchange method for a prize exchange system comprising: a face authentication step of comparing facial images and determining whether or not the faces match; It is determined in the face authentication step that the face images captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine within the period do not include a face image whose face matches the face image captured by the prize exchange device. and, if so, a decision step to disallow or suspend the prize exchange.

According to one aspect of the present invention, security can be enhanced in a gift exchange POS that allows self-service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a system block diagram which shows the whole picture of the game hall system of the game hall based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a prize exchange processing subsystem in the game arcade system; 4 is a flow chart showing actions of a player with respect to a prepaid card in the gaming arcade system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flow chart regarding processing at the payment machine and the POS according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flow chart relating to settlement/prize exchange processing according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flow chart regarding fact confirmation at the time of theft according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a list of usage histories of facilities of the game arcade displayed on the display device of the hall computer; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a card usage history showing a camera image displayed on the display device of the hall computer;

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment (hereinafter also referred to as "this embodiment") according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

§1 Application Example First, an example of a scene to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overview of a game arcade system 1 of a game arcade according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a game hall management system (prize exchange system) 1 includes a plurality of game machines 2, a plurality of inter-machine machines 3, a payment machine 50, and a prize exchange POS (prize exchange device, hereinafter referred to as POS). ) 51 , a counter 52 , a hall computer 100 , a prepaid management server 110 , a face authentication server 120 , a gift exchange management server 130 , and a plurality of HUBs 7 .

A player's face image is captured by an inter-machine camera 4 provided on each inter-machine 3 or by a device camera 55 provided on a payment machine 50, a POS 51, and a counter 52. - 特許庁By collating the photographed face image with the face authentication server 120, the player playing on the gaming machine 2 can be identified from the list of players registered in the face authentication server 120.例文帳に追加.

Here, in game arcades, prepaid cards (recording media) such as membership cards and visitor cards may be stolen, and the stolen prepaid cards may be used to settle accounts and exchange prizes. In such a case, it is necessary not to accept the operation at the timing of payment and prize exchange. For this reason, the present application constructs a system capable of detecting changes in the facial image of the holder of the prepaid card at various locations in the game arcade and detecting the occurrence of theft.

§2 Configuration example (outline of the game hall management system)
The game table 2 is a device for a player to play a game using game media, and is a so-called pachinko machine, a slot machine, or the like. Game media are, for example, game balls for pachinko machines, coins for slot machines, and the like. For convenience of explanation, the following description assumes that the game medium is a game ball.

The inter-machine machine 3 is provided on the side of the game machine 2 for each game machine 2.例文帳に追加The machine 3 includes a display, a ball dispensing mechanism, a banknote depositing device, a non-contact IC reader, a game ball counting sensor, a dispensing switch, a card reader (first reading unit) 5, and the like. The machine 3 accepts a prepaid card with a card reader (recording medium), and associates the amount of money received from the bill depositing device with the prepaid card. The inter-machine machine 3 supplies a lentable amount of game balls to the corresponding game machine 2 within the range of the balance associated with the prepaid card by a ball payout mechanism. In addition, the inter-machine 3 counts the game balls collected by the inter-machine 3 with a counting sensor, and associates it with the prepaid card as the remaining amount of balls (game value balance). Such an inter-stand machine 3 is provided with an inter-stand machine camera 4, and an image captured by the inter-stand machine camera 4 is output to an external device.

The inter-machine camera 4 is installed or built in the inter-machine 3. - 特許庁The imaging area of the inter-machine camera 4 is set so as to include the face of the player on the corresponding game machine 2 and its surroundings, and has a function of imaging the face image of the player. An image captured by the inter-machine camera 4 is hereinafter referred to as a camera image.

The inter-machine camera 4 may be a camera that takes an image from above the gaming table 2 . In this case, since it is possible to image the action of the player's hand, it may become easier to image the scene of the fraudulent act.

Card reader 5 reads the serial number (identifier) of the prepaid card. The face authentication server 120 may store the serial number of the card reader 5 in association with the camera image of the inter-machine camera 4 . When only cash is inserted without inserting a prepaid card, the card reader 5 issues a prepaid card in which the amount corresponding to the cash is recorded as the balance. The issued prepaid card is held by the inter-stand machine 3 until it is discharged from the inter-stand machine 3.

The settlement machine 50 includes a display, a banknote dispensing device, a curing dispensing device, a non-contact IC reader, a settlement switch, a card reader, and the like. The settlement machine 50 reads the prepaid card and dispenses cash from the banknote dispensing device or the hardening dispensing device based on the information on the balance associated with the prepaid card. A device camera 55 having a function of capturing a face image of a payer is installed or built in the checkout machine 50 .

The POS 51 is a prize exchange device that allows the prize exchange person to exchange prizes. The POS 51 has a display, a keyboard, a card reader (second reading unit) 56, a barcode reader, and the like. The POS 51 uses the card reader 56 to read the prepaid card and exchange it for a prize based on the information on the number of outstanding balls associated with the prepaid card. In addition, the POS 51 uses a barcode reader to read the barcode of the receipt, and exchanges for prizes based on the information on the number of remaining balls displayed by the barcode reader. The POS 51 is provided with or built in with a device camera 55 having a function of capturing a face image of the person exchanging gifts.

The counter 52 includes a display, a ball payout mechanism, a game medium counting sensor, a non-contact IC reader, a ticket issuing switch, a card reader, and the like. The counting machine 52 counts the game balls brought in by the player and associates the counting result with the prepaid card as the remaining number of put out balls, or issues a receipt with a bar code indicating the information of the remaining number of put out balls. do. A device camera 55 having a function of capturing the face image of the counter is installed or built in the counter 52 .

An image captured by the device camera 55 of the payment machine 50, the POS 51, or the counter 52 is hereinafter also referred to as a camera image. That is, a camera image is an image newly captured by a camera, and is a general term for images used to specify the captured face of the player.

A hall computer (sales terminal) 100 manages information (hall sales data) relating to a game played on each game table 2 installed in the game hall. Also, the hall computer 100 manages the system in the game hall. For example, the hall business data corresponds to the operation of each gaming machine 2 (information on the payout of game balls on each gaming machine 2, information on calling players on each gaming machine 2, error information, etc.). 100 monitors these information.

The prepaid management server 110 converts rental information (customer gaming value balance data) of game balls purchased at each machine 3 into information from each machine 3, the payment machine 50, the POS 51, and the counter 52. managed based on That is, it manages the exchange of game balls (game value balance) and cash. The prepaid management server 110 also manages customer data such as member information. Furthermore, the prepaid management server 110 may store the number of paid balls in association with the serial number of the prepaid card.

The face authentication server 120 manages (accumulates) camera images (face image data (face image database) 122 (see FIG. 2)) captured by each inter-machine camera 4 and each equipment camera 55 in a database. Images managed by the face image data 122 are referred to as face images to distinguish them from camera images.

The face authentication server 120 manages face image data 122 . The face image data 122 stores a plurality of face images of the player for each serial number of the prepaid card and an event in which the images were taken. Among the stored face images, a face image having a strong feature amount suitable for face authentication may have an authentication face image flag set and may be preferentially used for face authentication. . A plurality of face image flags for authentication may be set, and are assigned in descending order of feature quantity. For example, it is desirable that the number of face images for which the face image flag for authentication is set is about five for each player. The event of imaging (timing of imaging) will be described later.

Of the face images stored in the face image data 122, the visitor card may be overwritten and stored every other day. As for the membership card, the oldest data may be sequentially overwritten and saved.

The prize exchange server 130 manages prize exchange data, such as prize inventory information and exchange date and time information, when exchanging the remaining number of game balls for prizes at the POS 51 . Also, when exchanging prizes, in order to determine whether or not the prepaid card belongs to the player, the camera image captured by the POS 51 is compared with the face image data stored in the face authentication server 120, and the same face is identified. The POS 51 makes a request to the face authentication server 120 to confirm whether the face is captured.

HUB 7 is a so-called switching hub, and performs mutual communication with each machine 3, payment machine 50, POS 51, counter 52, hall computer 100, prepaid management server 110, face authentication server 120, and prize exchange management server 130. Establish.

(type of prepaid card)
Prepaid cards include membership cards and visitor cards. A membership card is a card issued by registering the membership information of the player himself/herself in advance. On the other hand, the visitor card is a prepaid card that can be issued by the inter-machine 3 without registering member information and can be used only for that day. You can play games with a visitor card, but you can receive various services such as storing and carrying over game balls by using a membership card.

The prepaid card is associated with the type of the prepaid card, the ID information (recording medium identifier) of the prepaid card, information on the remaining money, information on the remaining number of game balls, and the like. When the prepaid card is a membership card, the hall computer 100 checks the ID information of the prepaid card with the prepaid management server 110 and the face authentication server 120, thereby allowing the player associated with the prepaid card to A face image can be acquired. It should be noted that acquisition of the player's face image associated with such a prepaid card can be performed not only by the hall computer 100 but also by any of the prepaid management server 110, the face authentication server 120, and the prize exchange server 130.

(Subsystem for gift exchange processing)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prize exchange processing subsystem in the game arcade system 1. As shown in FIG. Based on FIG. 2, the prize exchange process will be described.

The prize exchange processing subsystem includes the POS 51, the prize exchange management server 130, the face authentication server 120, and the device camera 55, card reader 56, and barcode reader 57 provided in (or connected to) the POS 51. , a keyboard 58 and a display 59 . The POS 51 includes an image acquisition unit 51a, a recording medium reading unit 51b, an information output unit 51c, a comparison result acquisition unit (determination unit) 51d, a POS processing unit 51e, an input unit 51f, a display control unit 51g, Prepare. The prize exchange management server 130 includes an information input unit 131 , a communication unit 132 , a prize exchange unit 133 , and prize exchange data 134 . The face authentication server 120 includes a face authentication section 121 and face image data 122 .

The equipment camera 55 captures the face image of the player operating the POS 51 . The device camera 55 outputs the captured camera image to the image acquisition section 51a.

The image acquisition unit 51 a acquires a camera image from the equipment camera 55 . Background removal or the like may be performed on the acquired camera image. The image acquisition unit 51a outputs the camera image to the information output unit 51c.

The card reader 56 can read the information of the prepaid card used by the player in the game. The card reader 56 outputs the information read from the prepaid card to the recording medium reading section 51b.

The recording medium reading unit 51b acquires information read by the card reader 56 from the prepaid card. The recording medium reading unit 51b outputs the acquired information to the information output unit 51c. The information to be acquired includes the type of prepaid card, serial number (recording medium identifier), information on the number of game balls played, and the like. When the prepaid card is a membership card, the information on the number of game balls put out includes information on the storage and carrying over of game balls.

The information output unit 51 c outputs the input camera image to the face authentication server 120 and outputs the information acquired from the input prepaid card to the gift exchange management server 130 . At this time, the information output unit 51c may output the camera image to the prize exchange management server 130 as well.

Information obtained from the prepaid card input to the prize exchange management server 130 is input to the information input unit 131 . The information input unit 131 starts gift exchange processing based on the input prepaid card information. The information input unit 131 notifies the face authentication server 120 via the communication unit 132 that a prize has been exchanged.

Upon receiving this notification, the face authentication unit 121 of the face authentication server 120 refers to the camera image input from the information output unit 51c and the face image data 122, Explore face images. At this time, as the range of the face image to be searched, the face image captured by the intercom camera 4 within a predetermined period before the time when the prepaid card is read is set as the search range. The predetermined period is, for example, the current day. The face authentication unit 121 outputs the presence or absence of the corresponding face image to the comparison result acquisition unit 51d of the POS 51. FIG. That is, the face authentication unit 121 compares the face image and the camera image to determine whether or not the faces match.
After searching for the face image of the player, the search is performed again (narrowed down) by the serial number of the prepaid card. Thus, even if a thief plays a game with another prepaid card and has stolen the prepaid card, the thief can be found because each serial number of the prepaid card is used for limitation.

The comparison result acquisition unit 51d receives the comparison result between the camera image and the face image in the face image data, and if there is a matching face image and if the face image is valid, the process is transferred to the POS processing unit 51e. do. If there is no matching face image or if the face image is not appropriate, the comparison result acquisition unit 51d notifies the staff of the game arcade using a notification unit (not shown). Determination as to whether or not the face image is valid will be described later. Also, if the facial image is not appropriate, the exchange of prizes is prohibited or the process is interrupted.

Also, before the time when the POS 51 accepts the prepaid card, the face of the face image associated with the prepaid card in the face image data 122 storing the face images captured by the inter-machine camera 4 If all of the faces match the face of the camera image captured by the device camera 55, the gift may be exchanged.

The POS processing unit 51e accepts the player's operation and advances the prize exchange processing when the process is transferred from the comparison result acquisition unit 51d. At this time, the POS processing unit 51e causes the display control unit 51g to display the display 59, and based on the display, the player uses the bar code reader 57 and the keyboard 58 to enter the prize exchange details via the input unit 51f. It is transmitted to the POS processing section 51e. The POS processing unit 51 e outputs the exchange contents of the input prize to the prize exchange unit 133 .

The prize exchanging unit 133 dispenses the inputted prize from a prize dispensing storage box (not shown) installed near the POS 51 and edits the prize exchange data 134 based on the inputted prize exchange contents. .

Although the comparison result acquisition unit 51d is provided in the POS 51, the result is not limited to this. A judgment may be made.

§3 Operation Example Next, a detailed operation example will be described, focusing on theft of a prepaid card in the inter-stand machine 3. FIG. Cases in which a prepaid card is stolen are not limited to this, and may occur in any device (such as the POS 51).

(Game flow in normal game hall system)
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a player's action on a prepaid card in the gaming arcade system 1 according to the first embodiment.

A player inserts a prepaid card with a balance of money or game media into a card reader of the inter-machine 3 or inserts cash into the inter-machine 3 to issue a new prepaid card. That is, the player causes the inter-machine 3 to receive a prepaid card and lends game balls (S11). The inserted prepaid card and the newly issued prepaid card are held in the card reader. The held prepaid card is ejected by operating a payout switch on the inter-machine 3. In the case of a visitor card, it is ejected when there is a balance of money or balls.

The player starts the game (S12), temporarily interrupts the game and leaves the game table 2, and then finishes the game (S13, S14).

After finishing the game, the player operates the payout switch on the inter-machine machine 3 to take out the prepaid card from the card reader (S15). As described above, in the case of a visitor card, it is discharged only when there is a balance of money or the balance of the number of balls played, so if there is no balance of money or the number of balls played (game value balance), the player simply leaves. shop.

If there is a game value balance, the player causes the payment machine 50 to read the ejected prepaid card, and the payment machine 50 settles the balance (S16-S18). The settlement machine 50 pays out the balance based on the balance information associated with the read prepaid card.

When there is a remaining amount of put out balls, the player causes the POS 51 to read the ejected prepaid card, and the POS 51 exchanges the prizes (S16, S19, S20). The POS 51 exchanges prizes based on the information on the remaining balls associated with the read prepaid card. The player leaves the store after completing the payment, the exchange of prizes, or both.

(Imaging for each event)
In the game flow in the game arcade system described above, the inter-machine camera 4 and the equipment camera 55 acquire camera images at the timing when a predetermined event unique to each device occurs.

As events, when the inter-stand machine 3 receives a deposit, when a prepaid card is received (S11, S34), when a player leaves the seat (S13), and when a prepaid card is ejected from the inter-stand machine 3 (S14, S31). , the time of payment at the payment machine 50 (S18), and the time of gift exchange at the POS 51 (S20). At the time of these events, the player's face image is captured as a camera image.

Here, capturing a camera image that does not capture the player when the player leaves the seat is taken to show that the front of the gaming machine is empty. In other words, in the event of actual theft, if the prepaid card is stolen from the inter-machine machine 3 attached to the game machine 2 that has become unmanned once, it is an image for proving that the player has left the seat. be.

(Acts of Thieves)
Next, the act of a thief who steals a prepaid card will be explained.

While the player is away, the thief ejects the prepaid card from the inter-stand machine 3 and acquires it (S31). Also, the player loses the prepaid card ejected from the inter-stand machine 3 (S32), and the thief finds it (S33). The thief may play a game by inserting the prepaid card obtained in S31 or S33 into the inter-machine 3 (S34).

The thief pays for the acquired prepaid card and exchanges for prizes according to the game flow of the game arcade system. Therefore, in the settlement by the settlement machine 50 and the gift exchange by the POS 51, if the prepaid card is obtained illegally, it is necessary to prevent the settlement and the gift exchange.

In addition, when theft occurs, the game hall will crack down. By announcing a term indicating that a theft has occurred using a broadcasting device that broadcasts within the game arcade via an annunciator (not shown), the attendant's attention is urged. In addition, by clearly indicating the part where the theft was detected on the intercom possessed by the attendant, the attendant can be instructed to take action.

Furthermore, when the theft is revealed at the payment machine 50 or the POS 51, the payment processing or the gift exchange processing is disabled or interrupted, and confirmation is made by the staff. To that end, an annunciator may be used to direct the attendant to the appropriate device.

(Determination of theft using face image)
The captured camera image is subjected to face authentication by comparing it with existing face image data 122 at the face authentication server 120 . At the stage of face authentication, if the camera image of the player is different from the face image of the face image data 122, it can be determined that the prepaid card has been stolen. Therefore, in this case, the face authentication server flags the serial number of the prepaid card as being stolen and notifies the attendant. Upon receiving the notification, the staff goes to the player (thief) to confirm the facts.

For example, while player A playing a game with a certain prepaid card is away from his seat, player B (thief) ejects the prepaid card, steals it, then plays a game, settles accounts, and exchanges prizes. try to do In this case, the events are the time when player A inserts a prepaid card and starts playing (T1), the time when player A leaves the seat (T2), and the time when player B ejects the prepaid card ( T3), the point in time when player B plays a game on another gaming machine (T4), and the point in time when player B pays the bill and exchanges prizes (T5) are recorded as events.

Here, when checking the camera image linked to the serial number of the prepaid card, T1 and T2 are the same person, and T3 to T5 are the same person. At this time, since it is clear from the face image of the face authentication server 120 that the player has changed from T2 to T3, even if the face image and the camera image immediately before the payment/prize exchange are the same person, determine that a theft has occurred. That is, if the face image of the face image data 122 is not the same person even once, it is determined that the prepaid card has been stolen.

Upon confirming the fact of theft, the face authentication server 120 may inform the staff of the fact of theft via an alarm device (not shown). In addition, the announcement may be made on the in-store broadcast. As a result of these measures, the staff may conduct a fact check on the thief, which will be described later.

(Anti-theft measures at payment machines)
The settlement machine 50 and the POS 51 take countermeasures against theft using the above-described method of judging theft.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart regarding processing in the payment machine 50 and the POS 51 according to the first embodiment.

A camera image is captured by the equipment camera 55, and the image acquisition unit 51a acquires the camera image. Background removal or the like may be performed on the acquired camera image. The camera image is output to the information output section 51c. Further, the recording medium reading unit 51b reads the prepaid card and acquires the serial number of the prepaid card (S41).

The information output unit 51c outputs the camera image to the face authentication server 120 (S42). The information output unit 51c outputs the serial number to the prepaid management server 110 (S43). The information output unit 51c notifies the prepaid management server 110 of execution of the settlement/gift exchange process (S44).

The face authentication server 120 compares the input camera image with a large number of face images stored in the face authentication server 120, and confirms whether the same person is present (S45). At this time, it is confirmed whether the players possessing the same prepaid card are the same person in the camera images taken by the device camera 55 and the inter-machine camera 4 . Also, if the prepaid card is a membership card, it is confirmed whether the face image of the player used before (on the day or at the time of the most recent visit) is the same as the camera image. That is, it detects the case where the original holder of the prepaid card is different from the player due to theft or the like. Furthermore, it detects whether the face image captured by the camera image matches the face image registered as an unauthorized customer.

If the face image of the same person is registered (Yes in S46), the settlement/gift exchange process is performed (S47). If the face image of the same person is not registered (No in S46), the process proceeds to S49.

The settlement machine 50 locks the settlement, and the POS 51 locks the prize exchange (S49). As a result, the player cannot exchange the game value balance until it is confirmed that he/she is the legitimate holder of the prepaid card.

The fact is confirmed by the staff of the game arcade (S50). Details will be described later. As a result of checking the facts, it is confirmed whether or not there is permission for settlement or exchange of prizes (S51). If there is permission (Yes in S51), the settlement/gift exchange process is performed (S52). If there is no permission (No in S51), the player who tried to settle the account or exchange the prize is registered as an unauthorized player (S53). After that, the clerk collects the prepaid card and gives an explanation to the player (S54).

(Settlement and prize exchange processing)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to settlement/prize exchange processing according to the first embodiment.

The settlement machine 50 or the POS 51 issues an execution notification to the prepaid management server 110 to execute settlement of the game value balance (unreturned cash, remaining number of game balls, and remaining number of played balls) and prize exchange processing ( S61).

Permission for game value balance adjustment/prize exchange processing is confirmed (S62). If the settlement/gift exchange is not permitted (No in S62), a message is displayed on the display 59 and the prepaid card is returned (S63). On the other hand, if the settlement/gift exchange is permitted (Yes in S62), the process proceeds to S64.

The need to return the prepaid card is confirmed (S64). Specifically, if the inserted prepaid card is a visitor card and there is no balance (No in S64), the prepaid card is collected and reused at the game arcade without being returned (S65). On the other hand, if the prepaid card is a member card or a visitor card and there is a balance (Yes in S64), the prepaid card is returned (S66). It waits for confirmation whether the player has collected the prepaid card (S67).

The settlement machine 50 or POS 51 refunds the game value balance (S68). In other words, the settlement machine 50 refunds the balance recorded on the prepaid card as cash, and the POS 51 exchanges prizes based on the remaining amount of game media and the amount of paid balls. It waits for confirmation whether or not the player has collected the cash or the prize (S69).

(Confirmation of facts at the time of theft)
Next, a description will be given of the fact-checking process by the staff of the game arcade in the case of suspicion of theft. FIG. 6 is a flowchart regarding fact confirmation at the time of theft according to the first embodiment.

The attendant confirms the serial number of the prepaid card of the payer or the prize exchange person (S71), and searches the hall computer 100 using the serial number (S72).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a list of usage histories of facilities of the game arcade displayed on the display device of the hall computer 100. As shown in FIG. The usage history 101 is composed of a search condition input section 102 and a usage history list 103 . The display contents of the usage history list 103 are switched based on the search conditions input by the search condition input unit 102 . Here, in the usage history list 103, the history of each event in each device, such as payment and settlement, can be understood.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the card usage history in which the camera image displayed on the display device of the hall computer 100 is displayed. Further, by selecting the detailed display button 104 in a specific line of the usage history list 103, the event history of the prepaid card (with the same serial number) in which the event occurred can be displayed (see FIG. 8).

The card usage image list 105 shown in FIG. 8 mainly displays the serial number 106 and a plurality of events (S73). Each of the multiple events has a camera image 107 , detailed information 108 and a registration button 109 . The detailed information includes, in addition to the event occurrence time, the machine number of the gaming machine 2 and the category of the event (deposit, refund, settlement, prize exchange, etc.). That is, by confirming the card use image list 105, the player's camera images for a specific prepaid card can be confirmed in chronological order, and theft or the like can be clarified at a glance (S74).

In the unlikely event that a theft has occurred (Yes in S75), by pressing the registration button 109 in the event where the theft has occurred, the payer of the face image of the camera image or the gift exchange person in the event is identified as a thief. It can be certified and registered as a fraudulent customer. In addition, the player is prohibited from settlement and exchange of prizes (S76). If the attendant confirms that no theft has occurred (No in S75), the person who pays the bill or the person who exchanges the prize can pay the bill and exchange the prize (S77).

§4 Actions/Effects Face images taken by each machine 3 (face images with no omissions or omissions as in the case of being taken by a surveillance camera) at the time of self-supported gift exchange at the POS 51, and the gift exchange machine Since the face image of the person who exchanges the prize is compared with the face image of the person who exchanged the prize, it is possible to effectively detect the fraudulent exchange of prizes.

In addition, when an event occurs at the inter-stand machine 3, the payment machine 50, the POS 51, etc., the serial number of the prepaid card and the camera image are linked and managed, so that the change in the facial image corresponding to the serial number can be searched. there is Therefore, it is possible to recognize the change of the player by changing the face image in any event, so that it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of theft.

As described above, in the above configuration, the POS 51 can detect the theft of the prepaid card, so that a self-service POS 51 with enhanced security can be realized.

[Example of realization by software]
The functions of the POS 51, the face authentication server 120, and the camera unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as "apparatus") are programs for causing a computer to function as the apparatus, and for causing the computer to function as each control block of the apparatus. It can be realized by the program of

In this case, the apparatus comprises a computer having at least one control device (eg processor) and at least one storage device (eg memory) as hardware for executing the program. Each function described in each of the above embodiments is realized by executing the above program using the control device and the storage device.

The program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not temporary. The recording medium may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any transmission medium, wired or wireless.

Also, part or all of the functions of the above control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, integrated circuits in which logic circuits functioning as the control blocks described above are formed are also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is also possible to implement the functions of the control blocks described above by, for example, a quantum computer.

Further, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI may operate on the control device, or may operate on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[Additional notes]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 amusement center system 2 game table 3 inter-machine machine 4 inter-machine camera 5, 56 card reader 7 HUB
10 camera unit 50 payment machine 51 prize exchange POS, POS (prize exchange device)
51a image acquisition unit 51b recording medium reading unit 51c information output unit 51d comparison result acquisition unit (determination unit)
51e POS processing unit 51f input unit 51g display control unit 52 counter 55 equipment camera 57 barcode reader 58 keyboard 59 display 100 hall computer 110 prepaid management server 120 face authentication server 121 face authentication unit 122 face image data (face image database)
130 prize exchange server 131 information input unit 132 communication unit 133 prize exchange unit 134 prize exchange data

Claims (6)

A function of capturing a face image of a player, a function of accepting payment and lending out game media within the range of the accepted payment amount, and accepting a recording medium and transferring the recording medium to the recording medium obtained in connection with the execution of the game. a plurality of inter-machine machines having a function of associating a game value balance indicating a game value;
a prize exchange device having a function of capturing a face image of a prize exchange person, receiving the recording medium, and exchanging a game value balance associated with the recording medium with a prize;
a facial image database for accumulating facial images captured by the inter-stand machine;
a face authentication unit that compares face images and determines whether or not the faces match;
face images associated with the recording medium accepted by the prize exchanging device, among the face images captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine before the time when the prize exchanging device accepted the recording medium. a determining unit for disabling or interrupting the gift exchange when the face authentication unit determines that a face image whose face matches the face image captured by the prize exchange device is not included therein. gift exchange system. The determination unit determines whether the face of the face image captured by the prize exchange device is captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine within a predetermined period before the time when the prize exchange device accepts the recording medium. 2. The gift exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the judgment is made by determining whether or not the face image in the face image associated with the recording medium received by the gift exchange device matches the face in the existing face image. The determining unit associates facial images captured and accumulated by the inter-stand machine with the recording medium accepted by the prize exchange device before the time when the prize exchange device accepted the recording medium. 3. The gift exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the gift exchange is enabled when all the faces of the captured face image match the faces of the face image taken by the prize exchange device. 4. The prize exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inter-stand machine captures the face image of the player at the timing when a predetermined event occurs. 5. The gift exchange system according to claim 4, wherein the event is when payment is received, when the recording medium is received, or when the recording medium is ejected. A function of capturing a face image of a player, a function of accepting payment and lending out game media within the range of the accepted payment amount, and accepting a recording medium and transferring the recording medium to the recording medium obtained in connection with the execution of the game. a function of associating a game value balance indicating a game value with a plurality of inter-machine machines; A prize exchange method for a prize exchange system comprising: a prize exchange device for exchanging a game value balance and a prize; and a face image database for accumulating face images captured by the inter-machine machine,
a face authentication step of comparing face images and determining whether or not the faces match;
A face image whose face is the same as the face image picked up by the prize exchange device among the face images picked up and accumulated by the inter-stand machine before the time when the prize exchange device accepted the recording medium. and a decision step of disabling or interrupting the gift exchange when it is determined in the face authentication step that the face authentication step does not include.

Images