JP2663147B2 - Storage media type game equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a storage medium type game facility using a storage medium to which valuable data substantially equivalent to money or a game value is added, and more particularly to a predetermined game apparatus. The present invention relates to a storage medium-type game facility capable of operating a game terminal device non-business under conditions.

[Prior Art] In recent years, a card-type pachinko gaming system has been proposed as an example of a storage medium-type game facility in which a game is played through a card-shaped storage medium. The card method has the advantage that the player only needs to carry the card, which is a storage medium, and can reduce the burden of carrying a large number of pachinko balls that are easy to fall. Conventionally proposed card-type pachinko gaming systems are roughly divided into the following two types.

In the first method, when issuing a card, the number of balls held corresponding to the purchase amount is stored in the card, a pachinko game is performed within the range of the number of balls held, and the number of balls held is increased or decreased in the game process. (See JP-B-47-42227).

In the second type of card system, when a card is purchased, a card in which only the code number is recorded is issued, the number of balls held is stored in a management device, and the card is stored by inserting the card into a card reader of a pachinko machine. The player can play the game by calling the held ball count. (61-32709)
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By further developing the card-type pachinko gaming system as described above, a management device and each terminal device (a pachinko machine, a card issuing machine and a payment machine). Is connected via a transmission medium so that unauthorized use of the card can be prevented, and the operating information of each terminal device can be constantly grasped by the management device.

However, when the management device and each terminal device are tightly coupled as described above, it is possible to enhance the function of the system, but only operate the pachinko machine alone or operate the pachinko machine for purposes other than sales. The inconvenience of not being able to do this occurs.

If the pachinko machine cannot be operated independently, turn on the power of the entire system even when you want to check whether or not each pachinko machine operates normally when opening a new store or replacing pachinko machines, etc. Or have the issuing machine issue the card using real banknotes. In addition, a minor failure such as disconnection of the display machine during business hours that does not have to stop the operation of the pachinko machine or a failure that is not reflected in the system such as a malfunction of the accessory or the launching device occurred, and after repairing it, There is the inconvenience of not being able to perform hammering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium-type game facility in which a management device and various game terminal devices are communicably connected to each other so that various game terminal devices can be operated independently, so-called trial hitting and the like. An object of the present invention is to enable non-business operation and facilitate maintenance of a game terminal device.

Another object of the present invention is to enable only a specific game terminal device to be operated as a demonstration when introducing a new game terminal device to a user.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of gaming terminal devices having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and each of the gaming terminals A management device capable of collecting signals read by the storage medium reading device of the terminal device, wherein each of the gaming terminal devices,
In a storage-medium type gaming facility connected via transmission means so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device, each of the gaming terminal devices is based on information read by the storage medium reading device. Determining whether or not to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device, and a control device for controlling the gaming terminal device based on the determination result, wherein the control device reads the storage medium from the storage medium by the storage medium reading device. When the read information is information indicating a specific storage medium, the game terminal device is operated independently without transmitting / receiving information to / from the management device.

Further, in order to achieve the other object, a plurality of gaming terminal devices having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and the storage medium reading device of each of the gaming terminal devices A management device capable of collecting the information read by the game terminal device,
In a storage-medium type gaming facility connected via transmission means so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device, each of the gaming terminal devices is based on information read by the storage medium reading device. And determining whether or not to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device, and a control device for controlling the gaming terminal device based on the determination result, wherein the information read from the storage medium is a specific When information indicating that the storage medium is included, the game terminal device is operated, and information distinguished from a normal game is transmitted to the management device by the transmission unit.

Further, the gaming terminal device has storage means for storing information transmitted / received to / from a management device, and the storage means has a data area for storing operation data relating to a normal operation of the gaming terminal device. Separately, a specific mode operation data area for storing operation data generated when a specific storage medium is inserted into the storage medium reading device and the gaming terminal device is operated may be provided.

[Operation] According to the above means, if the storage medium storing the specific information is used, only the power of the gaming terminal device is turned on, and the gaming terminal is turned off even when the management device and the transmission unit are not powered on. The device can be operated independently, thereby enabling non-business operations such as so-called trial driving and achieving the above-mentioned object of facilitating maintenance of the gaming terminal device.

Further, when a storage medium storing the specific information is used, when the information distinguished from the normal game by the transmission means is transmitted to the management device, the specific game terminal is used during the normal business hours. Only the device can be operated in a non-business state as a demonstration.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a card-type pachinko gaming system as a storage medium-type gaming facility.

The pachinko gaming system according to this embodiment includes a pachinko machine 100 as a gaming terminal device and a storage medium issuing device that issues a card CD as a storage medium having local value in order to start a game in each pachinko machine. Machine 200, a prize ball obtained as a result of the game and a payment machine 300 as a storage medium payment device for paying the remaining purchase money not used for the game, and centrally managing the various terminal devices, It comprises a control device 400 for controlling, and a data transmission line 500 for organically connecting the control device 400 and each terminal device, and these constitute an organic combination. This organic combination can be interposed only by the card CD, and the card can be operated and its valuable data can be converted only by the organic combination. For this reason, the pachinko machine 100, the issuing machine 200, the settlement machine 300, and the management device 400, which are the components of the organic binder, each have a card reader (in this specification, a card that writes on the magnetic surface of a card is also a card reader) A card reader and a terminal device are stored in the storage device of the management device 400 in the form of a file.

Next, before a detailed description of each component of the organic conjugate, a card used in the system of the present embodiment will be described.

The card CD used in the system of this embodiment is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the purchase amount AM, the card insertion direction DIR, and the issue date (= valid date) along the center of the card. ) A print display section PRT is provided for printing information necessary for a player such as DATE and an issue serial number n necessary for the recovery of a damaged card at the time of issuance. Therefore, there is no need to prepare a plurality of types of cards on which different amounts of money are printed in advance.

Immediately above the print display area PRT, there is a genuine discrimination physical layer TF1 to TF4 composed of a concealing member using a special paint such as magnetic ink or a hologram that is difficult to forge such as a magnetic ink that cannot be seen from the card surface. And a punch hole forming part PH for recording the state of the card, that is, the history or state transition of the card, such as issued, resurrected, played, returned to zero, and settled, in the form of a punch. _{1 ~PH 5} is provided.

By detecting the above-mentioned perforations formed in the card with the photoelectric detector, the number of balls held is read from the file of the management device using the code recorded on the magnetic surface, and the state of the card can be easily checked without checking. Thus, it is possible to reduce the burden on the controller and the management device of the card reader required to determine the processing corresponding to the state of the card.

On the other hand, below the print display unit PRT, a magnetic recording unit MG coated with a magnetic material is provided, and a margin other than the magnetic recording unit MG, the print display unit PRT, and the authenticity discrimination physical layers TF1 to TF4 is provided. Although not shown, a pattern such as an illustration for decoration, a hall name of a pachinko parlor, and the like are printed on the portion. Instead of providing the authenticity discrimination physical layers TF1 to TF4, an elaborate pattern that is difficult to imitate a decorative pattern may be used, and the pattern may be optically inspected to discriminate the authenticity of the card. In the card of this embodiment, the magnetic recording portion MG, print display portion PRT, authenticity discrimination physical layer TF1~TF4 and the punch hole forming portion PH ₁ ~PH
₅ are formed along the card insertion direction. In the card of FIG. 2 (A), the magnetic recording portion MG is provided only in a part of the longitudinal direction. However, like the print display portion PRT, the magnetic recording portion MG may be formed in a continuous band shape from end to end of the card.
Alternatively, a magnetic material may be applied to the entire back surface of the card to form a magnetic recording portion.

The magnetic recording section MG is divided into, for example, five tracks TR1 to TF5 as shown in FIG. 2 (B), of which the fifth track TR5 records the other four bits for parity check. You. On the left side of the magnetic recording section MG, an 8-bit timing code TMS serving as dummy data for protecting the valid data section, 4-bit auxiliary data STX indicating the start of data, and a code of a game store are shown in order.
Bit identification code DSC, 16-bit date data DATE for displaying card issue date, 16-bit card number No converted based on issue serial number n, 4-bit auxiliary data indicating end of data ETX, above data STX to ET
A check bit LRC for parity check for each bit string of each data up to X, and an 8-bit timing code TME as dummy data for protecting a valid data portion are recorded. Note that a spare area RSU is provided between the card number No. and the auxiliary data ETX so that information other than the above can be entered.

As described above, the information recorded on the magnetic surface of the card of this embodiment includes an identification code for specifying the usable space of the card, an issue date for indicating the validity period of the card, and an issue serial number n. In this case, only a card number as an identification code generated by using an appropriate function or a conversion method and a check code for error detection are used, and the purchase amount and the number of balls are not recorded. These are configured to be able to be extracted in real time from the data file of the management device 400 by the card number. This prevents fraud by copying the card and minimizes the damage caused by fraud. In other words, even if the card is copied, no damage occurs beyond the purchase price and the number of balls registered in the data file, so copying the card is a completely useless act.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, the authenticity of the card is determined not only by the magnetic recording information recorded on the card but also by the physical identification layers TF1 to TF4, which are difficult to forge, so that the illegality of the card can be more reliably determined. Can be prevented. Also,
Since a fraudulent card can be immediately detected by checking the authenticity discrimination physical layers TF1 to TF4, the fraudulent card can be found more quickly than sending the magnetic information to the management device and determining the fraudulent card. In the embodiment, four authenticity discrimination physical layers are provided, but the number may be one.

In addition, the above cards are disposable to facilitate card management, and to reduce costs associated with disposables, the standard size of the card is 86 mm long and 54 mm wide, and paper is selected as card material. I have. When a thermal printer is used as a device for printing money or the like, thermal paper may be used as the card material.

 FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the card and the issuer 200.

The card issuing machine 200 of this embodiment includes a bill identifying device 210 for identifying bills for card purchase, and a card reader 22 for printing an amount corresponding to the purchase amount and recording a card number.
0, a balance payout device 230 for discharging change, various indicators 241 to 245, a control unit 250 for controlling the entire issuing machine 200, and the like.

Corresponding to the bill validator 210, the front panel 201 is provided with a bill insertion slot 211, a purchase price selection switch group 212 and a price display 213. Therefore, when the player first inserts a bill from the bill insertion slot 211, the money display 213
Displays the input amount. Then, the selection switch group 212
By pressing a switch corresponding to a desired purchase price from among the cards, a card corresponding to the desired purchase price is issued from the card outlet 202 of the card reader 220. Further, each of the money amount selection switch groups 212 is configured by a switch with a built-in lamp, and when the switch is operated, the corresponding built-in lamp is turned on. Then, the inserted bill is collected in the bill storage tank 214.

The card reader 220 takes out the blank cards stored in the card tank one by one, prints the purchase amount, the issue date and the issue serial number n given by the management device 400 on the surface, The card number and identification code (store code), date of issue, check code, etc., calculated by the management device 400 are recorded on the magnetic surface of the card, and further punched at the issued punching position PH ₁ (see FIG. 2). After making a hole, the card is discharged from a card discharge port 202 provided in the front panel 201. Issuing serial number n
Means that the management device 400, which has received an application for card purchase from the card issuer 200, determines the issue serial number n in the order of acceptance for purchase applications from a plurality of card issuers under its control, and issues each card. Number given to the machine,
The card obtained by performing the code conversion processing such as the above-described bit rearrangement based on the issuance serial number n is recorded as a card number on a magnetic surface of the card and issued, and information on the card is stored in a file in the management device 400. To be recorded. In addition, the issue serial number n is printed on the display PR
Since the information is printed on T, the card can be restored from the file information of the management device even if the information in the magnetic recording unit MG becomes unreadable due to damage to the card or the like.

In order to enable generation of a card number from the issue serial number n, the control program of the management device 400 is provided with a card number generation routine and a code conversion routine. In order to confirm the coincidence with the serial number n, an inverse conversion and an inverse calculation routine are prepared.

On the other hand, when a bill is inserted from the bill insertion slot 211 of the issuing machine 200, the purchase amount is determined by the amount selection switch 212, and a balance is generated, the remaining money annoyance device 230 for refunding the money is stocked. A bill tank 231 to be stored is provided, and a bill corresponding to the balance is discharged through a bill discharge port 232 provided in the front panel 201.

Further, on the front panel 201 of the card issuing machine 200,
Issue lamp 24 indicating that the card can be issued
1.Issuance stop lamp 242 indicating that the card cannot be issued, a bill pool over display 243 indicating that the tank 214 is full of bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 211, and unissued cards in the card tank 221 are empty. Card shortage indicator 244 that informs that the money has become empty, and the bill tank 231 of the balance dispenser.
A change shortage indicator 245 is provided to notify that the stock bills have run out. Further, in order to detect the above state and turn on the corresponding indicator, the bill tank 214,
Sensors 261, 262, and 263 are provided in the 231 and the card tank 221, respectively.

Furthermore, in the card issuing device 200 of this embodiment, the management device 400 can identify the issuing device that issued a specific card by distinguishing each of the plurality (several tens) of issuing devices 200 installed in the game arcade. A device number setting device 205 is provided inside the device so that the device number set by the device 205 is sent to the management device 400 to generate a transmission address at the time of data communication and for each issuing machine. Used to create data files.

Although not particularly limited, the same number as the machine number set by the setting device 205 is displayed on a name plate 206 attached to an upper portion of the front panel 201 of the issuing machine.

The card reader 220 has the details as shown in FIG.
At one end (right end in the figure), a card having a blank magnetic recording unit MG and a print display unit PRT is inserted into a card tank 810 containing a large number of cards and a card ejection device 820 for taking out cards one by one from the tank. Is provided. The card removal device 820 includes transport rollers 824 and 825 disposed along a card travel path 823, drive motors 826 for the rollers 824 and 825, and a photoelectric sensor 816 that detects an end of the removed card. The transport roller 82 disposed opposite to the opening 810a provided in a part of the bottom wall of the tank 810.
4 separates the cards in the tank and transport rollers 8
By 25, the card is sent to the card reader 220 side. When the leading edge of the card reaches the roller 825, it is detected by the sensor 816, and the rotation of the transport roller 824 is stopped. Thus, it is possible to prevent two cards from being fed.

The card CD removed from the card tank 810 by the card removal device 820 is inserted into the card intake 809,
When detected by the sensor 814, the conveyance motor 802 including a pulse motor is driven, and the conveyance roller 804 is rotated via the belt 803. Then, the card CD is transferred to the transport roller 8
The sheet is conveyed along the traveling path 806 sandwiched between the 04 and the guide roller 805, and is taken into the card reader. Transfer motor 80
2 is provided with a rotation detector (sensor 5) 815 such as an encoder for detecting a rotation angle, and when the card is conveyed by a predetermined amount, the motor is stopped.

In the center of the main body of the card reader 220, a magnetic head 808 is provided.
a and 808b are provided. One head 808a writes data such as an identification code into the magnetic recording section MG of the card, and the other head 808b reads for confirmation.
(Since the card readers 180 and 310 of the pachinko machine 100 and the settlement machine 300 do not perform writing, the recording head 808a is unnecessary.) Then, a punch hole is formed between the magnetic heads 808a and 808b. A perforation device 807 is provided. In the card reader 220 of the issuing machine 200, the punching device 807 is driven when the card is issued, so that the punch holes drilled at a predetermined punching position PH _1.

In addition, a photoelectric sensor 813 for detecting a punched hole is provided near the punching device 807 to confirm whether the punching by the punching device 807 has been performed. The sensor 813 is a pachinko machine or checkout machine is used to grasp the status of the card by detecting the punched holes PH ₁ ~PH ₅ drilled in the card.

A sensor 811 for detecting the end of the card and an optical sensor 812 for optically detecting a security mark on the card are arranged near the card outlet 801.

Further, behind the card reader 220 (on the left side in the figure), a printing device 830 for printing the purchase amount AM, the issue date DATE and the issue serial number n on the print display section PRT of the conveyed card. Is arranged. Printing device 830
Are a pair of transport rollers 831 and their corresponding guide rollers 832 and their drive motors 833;
And a thermal head 834 arranged between the card detection sensor 817 and the card detection sensor 817.

The motor based on the detection signals of the sensors 811 to 817
The control of the 802,826,833, the perforation device 807, the magnetic heads 808a, 808b, and the thermal head 834 is performed by a controller 228 composed of a microcomputer (188 for a pachinko machine, 31 for a checkout machine).
Performed by 9).

FIG. 5 shows a card issuing machine 20 configured as described above.
A configuration example of a control system of 0 is shown.

In the drawing, reference numerals L1 to L5 denote lamps built in the purchase amount selection switch group 212, and the lamp corresponding to the turned on switch is turned on to illuminate the operation button from behind. It is supposed to.

In this embodiment, the magnetic heads 808a and 808b, the transport motor 802, the punching device 807,
The printing device 830 and the card removal device 820 are controlled by a controller 228 (see FIG. 4) such as a CPU (microcomputer) based on detection signals from the sensors 811 to 815, and are provided in the controller 228 and the issuing machine. The various sensors and indicators, the bill validator 210, and the balance payout device 230 that are provided are controlled by a unit controller 251 in a control unit 250 that also includes a microcomputer.

The unit controller 251 performs the card issuing process by controlling the above-mentioned components and receiving the card number, collects the operation data, and transmits the operation data in the unit memory 270 as a parallel communication unit including a dual port memory. Write to data area SDA. The operation data written in the unit memory 270 is transmitted to the management device by a transmission controller and a network control unit (NAU), which will be described later, by data communication with the management device 400 via a transmission cable (network). The data sent from the management device 400 is also temporarily stored in the unit memory 2.
The data is written to the reception data area RDA in 70, and the unit controller 251 reads the data to receive data. The unit memory 270 is provided with a shared data area CDA in which commands and status information for transmitting the transmission data and the reception data in the memory to the other controller are stored.

Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the unit memory 27, respectively.
2 shows a configuration example of a transmission data area SDA, a reception data area RDA, and a supply data area CDA in 0.

The hot code shown in Table 1 is written by the management device 400 in the transmission area of the unit memory 270, for example, by writing a code such as 010101 ‥‥ 01 at the time of system startup, and the management device 400 To check if the RAM data is destroyed by noise such as static electricity,
An abnormality in transmission data can be detected quickly.

Note that the monitor information 1 shown in Table 1 above corresponds to Table 4
As shown in the figure, a bit indicating that a test is being executed at system startup, a bit indicating initial value setting / unset, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a bit indicating a local network (transmission cable 500) error (for low and high layers) (2 bits) is composed of a bit indicating an issuer abnormality.

Further, as shown in Table 5, the monitor information 2 indicates a bit indicating an abnormality in the card reader, a bit indicating the presence or absence of a card, a bit indicating a state in the banknote tank, a bit indicating a banknote jam, and a forcible withdrawal of the banknote. It comprises a bit, a bit indicating the state of the balance dispenser in the bill tank, a bit indicating an abnormality of the balance dispenser, and the like.

Next, a configuration example of a pachinko machine that provides an original game will be described with reference to FIG.

Pachinko machine 100 as a gaming terminal device of this embodiment
Is composed of a gaming machine body 110 and a control unit 160 which is mounted on an island facility or the like above the gaming machine body in a one-to-one correspondence with the gaming machine, and mainly performs processing relating to cards and collecting operation data during the game. Is done.

The control unit 160 is configured separately from the gaming machine main body 110, and has a card insertion / ejection slot 161, an amount display 162 for displaying the amount of money the card has, and a ball display for displaying the number of balls held by the player in digital numbers. 163, an analog display 164 in which a plurality of lamps are arranged in a line, and a call switch 165 for calling a clerk are provided on the front surface. Analog display 1 above
Numeral 64 is used to display the number of balls in play in an analog manner, and to display a hit state or a free state by simultaneous blinking and moving blinking.

In addition, although not particularly limited, a safe lamp 166 for displaying a prize ball, a game display lamp 167 for indicating that the game is being played, and a sound effect sound, which are conventionally provided on the main body of the pachinko machine, are provided on the front of the control unit 160. Further, a speaker 168 for generating a warning is provided. Further, the pachinko machine 10 is located at a position located inside the island facility on the side of the control unit 160.
0 is separated from the management device 400, a test switch 171 for enabling a game operation using a test card described later, and a pachinko machine 100 on the front of the unit.
Are provided with nameplates 172, each of which specifies a machine number given to each of them.

Inside the control unit 160, a card reader 180 corresponding to the card insertion / ejection slot 161 and a machine number setting switch 173 behind the machine name plate 172 further control the entire control unit 160. Unit controller 1
90 are each provided. Unit controller 190
Is a transmission line such as an optical fiber or a coaxial cable.
1 connects to the control device 150 of the gaming machine main body 110 and to the management device 400 via a transmission controller and a local network (transmission cable) described later.

The card reader 180 of the pachinko machine is substantially the same as the card reader 220 for the issuing machine shown in FIG. 4, and is different in that it does not have a printing device 809, a card tank 821, and a card removal device 822.

On the other hand, the game machine main body 110 of the present embodiment is configured as a closed-type game machine that circulates and uses game balls sealed in the machine, and has a circulation device 120 that circulates the sealed balls.
In addition, at the lower part of the gaming machine main body 110, a reflecting device 111 for firing the above enclosed balls one by one into the gaming area and its operation dial 1
There are provided a purchase switch 113, an end switch 114, and an interruption switch 115 for enabling a game procedure using the card. The configuration of the game area is the same as the conventional one. The purchase switch 113 is connected to the card slot 161
This is an instruction switch for converting a game ball into a game ball in a unit of 200 yen or the like within a range of the amount of money of the card on the assumption that the card is inserted into the game ball.
The number of possessed balls is displayed on the possessed ball indicator 163, and the number of possessed balls is decremented by one each time one game ball is fired by the hit ball launching device,
When a prize ball is generated, it is added and displayed for the number of prize balls.
The end switch 114 is turned on at any time when the player wants to end the game (including when the player wants to change the game console), so that the card in use is controlled by the control unit 16.
It can be discharged from zero. At that time, the unit controller 190 registers the number of balls held by the player (sum of purchased balls and acquired balls) in the file of the management device 400 at that time, and then ejects the card from the insertion / ejection opening 161. Further, the interruption switch 115 is a switch used to temporarily stop the game for a break although the player does not intend to stop the game at the game machine currently playing, and when this switch is operated. The unit controller 190 once ejects the card and waits until the same card is inserted again, during which time no other cards are accepted. Of the above switches, the purchase switch 113 and the interruption switch 115 are of a built-in lamp type.
The lamp in 3 flashes, and when the interruption switch 115 is pressed, the built-in lamp is turned on until the interruption is released.

The test switch 171 is in a “free” state in which no card is inserted into the control unit 160 during the operation of the system, or when the suspend switch 115 is turned on to “suspend”, Is valid only when the test switch 171 is turned on, and is not accepted even if the test switch 171 is turned on during the game. However, the test switch 171 is always valid while the system is not operating.

 FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the back surface of the gaming machine main body 110.

A prize ball collecting gutter 122 covering a plurality of prize ball derivation holes 121 formed so as to penetrate the game board corresponding to a prize area provided in a game area on the front of the game board 101 is provided on the back of the game board 101. Installed. The bottom wall of the prize ball collecting gutter 122 is inclined downward toward the center to be guide shelves 122a and 122b,
The first guiding gutter 123 is connected to the lower end of the flow, and the winning balls flowing into the winning ball collecting gutter 122 flow down on the guide shelves 122a and 122b to be collected and flow down the first guiding gutter 123. It is detected by the safe sensor 131 on the way. Further, a collecting gutter 124 is provided on the back surface of the game board corresponding to the out hole 102 provided at the lower part of the game area, and the end of the collecting gutter 124 is provided at the end of the first guiding gutter 123. Have joined. Further, in this embodiment, a second guiding gutter 125 is provided for collecting a winning game ball in a large variable winning device provided in the game area, and the end of the second guiding gutter 125 is provided at the end of the collecting gutter 124. Has been joined. The recovery gutter 124 and the second guiding gutter 125 are provided with an out sensor 132 and a safe sensor 133, and detect a game ball flowing into them. First
By providing the guide gutter 123 and the second guide gutter 125, it is possible to provide the player with different numbers of prize balls obtained by winning the respective winning regions.

The confluence of each of the gutters is communicated at a communication port 127 in the middle of a guide gutter 126 for guiding the collected game balls to the hitting ball firing device 111.

As shown in FIG. 8, the guide gutter 126 has a foul ball intake 104 provided in the middle of an arc-shaped guide rail 103 for guiding a game ball fired by the hit ball firing device 111 to an upper part of the game area. A foul ball, a safe ball (winning ball) and an out ball are all finally collected by the guide gutter 126, and the hitting ball launcher 111
Is guided until. In the middle of the guide gutter 126, a foul sensor 134 for detecting game balls collected from the foul ball intake 104, a ball narrator 105 for aligning the game balls collected in the guide gutter, and a box for extracting the enclosed ball to the outside. Ball lever 106
Is provided. The ball detected by the foul sensor 134 is subtracted from the shot ball, and the number of hit balls actually hit in the game area is accurately counted. Also, guide rail 10
At the start end of 3, firing sensors 135 and 136 for detecting a hit ball fired by the hit ball firing device 111 are provided, so that an empty hit is not counted as a firing ball,
The number of shots is counted by the movement of the hit ball from the firing sensor 135 side to the firing sensor 136 side. On the other hand, when the movement of the hit ball from the firing sensor 136 side to the 135 side is detected as the reverse, it is counted as a return ball (a foul ball). The ball pulling lever 106 prevents the rotation of the rotatable rotating plate 107 provided so as to constitute a part of the bottom wall of the guide gutter 126 to supply the game ball to the hitting ball firing device side, and When the sliding plate 107 is slid upward as shown in FIG. 9 (A), the rotating plate 107 is rotated downward by its own weight to discharge the game balls in the guide gutter 126.

On the other hand, a ball feed 128 having a ball receiving portion 128a is swingably attached to the lower end of the guide gutter 126 as shown in FIG. 9 (B).
The game balls inside are separated one by one and moved to the firing start position of the guide rail 103. Ball feed 128
Is rotated upward in conjunction with the firing rod 111a of the hit ball firing device 111. A separation wall 109 is formed at the boundary between the guide gutter 126 and the start end of the guide rail 103. When the ball feed 128 is rotated upward, the game ball engaged with the ball receiving portion 128a at the tip end By moving over only one of the separation walls 109, the ball moves. Note that a cylindrical weight 129 is built in the ball feed 128, and the weight of the weight allows the ball feed 128 to smoothly return to the rotation.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a control system of the pachinko machine 100.

A controller 188 shown in FIG. 8 includes transport motors 802 as components of the card reader 180 shown in FIG.
The controller controls the magnetic head 808b and the punching device 807. The various switches 165, 171 and 173 provided on the card reader 188 and the control unit 160 and the display
The 162, 163, 164, 166, 167 and the speaker 168 are controlled by a unit controller 190 also formed of a microcomputer.

Communication between the card reader controller 188 and the unit controller 190 is performed by a function code, and the function codes from the unit controller 190 to the card reader controller 188 include “initial value setting”, “card Eight types of commands, "acceptable", "card unacceptable", "card ejection", "reload", "retransmission request", "status request", and "return to zero" are prepared. On the other hand, from the card reader controller 188 to the unit controller 190
The function codes for "Send card number", "Test card insertion confirmation", "Status transmission", "Resend request", "Normal end", "Abnormal end",
Eight types of “initial value request” and “self discharge” are prepared.

Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, a control device 150 of the game machine main body 110, various sensors, a display, and the like are connected to the unit controller 190 via an optical cable 191. In order to enable communication using an optical fiber cable, a parallel-to-serial converter for converting parallel data and serial data and an optical-to-optical converter for converting electrical signals and optical signals are used.
Optical multiplexed data links (interfaces) 192 and 193 including electrical converters and the like are provided between the unit controller 190 and the optical fiber cable 191 and between the optical fiber cable and the control device 150.

In addition, by using the optical fiber cable 191 for data communication between the unit controller 190 and the control device 150 of the pachinko machine, a large number of wirings conventionally arranged in a complicated manner on the back side of the pachinko machine are cleared, Maintenance and management can be facilitated, and incorrect wiring connection can be prevented.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of a control system of the gaming machine main body 110.

Under the control of the unit controller 190 via the optical multiplex data link 193 and the optical cable 191, together with the control device 150, the hitting ball launching device 111 and the purchase switch 113
A built-in purchase enable indicator lamp 113a and a built-in interrupt indicator 115a built into the interrupt switch 115 are installed via a driver 195. Also, a purchase switch 113, a game end switch 114,
The signal from the interruption switch 115 is transmitted to the unit controller 190 via the optical multiplex data link 193 and the optical fiber cable 191.

The control device 150 is also configured by a microcomputer, and the control device 150 includes emission sensors 135 and 136.
The detection signals from the safe sensors 131 and 133, the foul sensor 134, and the out sensor 132 are input. Based on these signals, a winning ball, a foul ball, an out ball, and the like are determined, and the unit controller 190 is notified.

On the other hand, the unit controller 190 calculates operation data such as the number of payout balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of possessed balls, the sales amount, etc., based on the detection signals relating to these game balls, the signals from the purchase switch 113, and the like. It generates operation information (game state), monitor information, and the like regarding the machine, and writes them into the transmission data area SDA of the unit memory 170 composed of a dual port memory.

Operation data and the like written in the unit memory 140 are as follows:
The data is transmitted to the management device by data communication with the management device 400 by a transmission controller described later. Also a management device
The data sent from 400 is also once written to the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 170, and the unit controller 190 reads this to receive data. Unit memory 170 is provided with a shared data area CDA in which commands and status information for notifying the other controller that transmission data and reception data are in the memory are stored.

Tables 6, 7 and 8 show the unit memory 17 respectively.
2 shows a configuration example of a transmission data area SDA, a reception data area RDA, and a shared data area CDA in 0.

In this embodiment, the transmission data area SD is used so that a test operation using a test card can be performed without losing data of the operating gaming machine even during business hours.
An area for storing test card operation data is provided in A. During the test operation, the test card operation data memory is updated while holding the transmission operation data before the start of the test. However, when the system is operating, that is, online, only the original operating data and the hot code in the transmission data area are transmitted, and the test card operating data is not transmitted to the management device.

During the test operation, it is better to store only the number of payout balls, the number of collected balls, the difference number, the number of held balls, and the number of purchases as test card data in the transmission data area, and monitor information 1, 2 and card text etc. Although there is no need to write, in this embodiment, the test card operation data column has the same configuration as the original transmission operation data column for ease of program creation.

During the test operation, the gaming machine may be powered on independently. In this case, since the data is not sent from the management device to the reception data area in Table 7, the purchase ball rate, the number of main prize balls, and the number of sub prize balls are determined in advance without using the initial value data in Table 7. As a fixed data for the test operation, the same or different rate and the number of prize balls as the system setting values are given to the unit controller 190 by the program.

The monitor information 1 shown in Table 6 includes a bit indicating that a test is being executed at system startup, a bit indicating whether an initial value is set / not set, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a local network, as shown in Table 9. Bits (2 for low-rise and high-rise) indicating abnormalities of (transmission cable 500)
Bit), a bit indicating a gaming machine abnormality, and the like. Further, the monitor information 2 has bits indicating an abnormality of the card reader as shown in Table 10.

Further, the operation information includes a bit indicating a stop state as shown in Table 11, a bit indicating that a game is interrupted, a bit indicating a forced termination state by a management device or a controller based on a communication error or fraud detection, etc. The bit includes a bit indicating that there is a game machine, a bit indicating that the gaming machine is in a free state without a player, and the like.

From the above Table 11, the actual state of the pachinko machine is represented by the free state, 0000000000000001 during the game, 0000000000000010 at the time of the forced termination reception, 0000000000000100 at the time of interruption, and 0000000000001000 at the time of the occurrence of the stop, 0000000000010000.

 FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of the payment machine 300 described above.

The payment machine 300 of this embodiment includes a card reader 310 that reads the card number of the inserted card CD, a balance payment device 320 for refunding an amount corresponding to an unpurchased amount remaining unused for the card, It is composed of a printer 330 for issuing a receipt on which the number of balls held by the game is printed, various displays 340 to 342, a control unit 350 for controlling the entire settlement machine 300, and the like.

Corresponding to the card reader 310, the panel 301 has a card insertion slot 311, a ball number display 312 for displaying the number of awarded balls (the number of balls held), and an amount display 313 for displaying an unpurchased amount. Is provided. When a player first inserts a card through the card insertion slot 311, the card reader 310 reads the card number recorded on the magnetic surface of the card CD, sends the card number to the management device 400, and receives data related to the card. Then, the unpurchased amount is displayed on the amount display 313, the obtained number of balls is displayed on the number-of-balls display 312, and a receipt is issued by the printer 330. Further, the inserted card by drilling interpolation apparatus 807 after settlement completion, the formation of punch holes at a predetermined punching position PH ₅ is discharged from being made.

In this embodiment, a recording head is not necessary for the card reader of the checkout machine. However, by providing a recording head and erasing and discharging the data on the magnetic surface of the settled card, the card number can be reduced. May be made impossible to decipher the conversion method, and forgery of the card may be prevented.

The configuration of the card reader 310 is the same as that of the card reader of the issuing machine 200.
It is almost the same as 220 (see FIG. 4)
The card storage tank 314 is arranged at that position without the 22 and the card tank 821. Then, the transport direction of the card is opposite to that of the issuing machine. The printer 330 pulls out the blank sheet stocked in a roll state, prints the date of issue, the number of balls acquired, the amount of unused money, and the card history on the surface, and discharges it from the receipt issuing port 331. I do.

At the same time, money corresponding to the unpurchased amount is paid out from the balance payment device 320. The balance payout device 320 includes a bill tank 321 for stocking bills and a bill outlet 322. In addition, since a fraction of less than 1000 yen occurs at the time of settlement, a coin dispensing device 326 including a coin tank 324 for storing an effect of 100 yen unit and a coin payout port 325 is provided.

Further, on the front panel 301 of the settlement machine 300, a settlement lamp 341 indicating that the card is being settled, a settlement stop lamp 342 indicating that the card cannot be settled, and a tank 313 with a card inserted from the card insertion slot 311. Card orb flow indicator L11 and balance payout device 320 to indicate that it is full
Insufficient indicator L12 indicating that the stock banknotes in the banknote tank 321 have run out, a high excess / deficiency display section L13 indicating that the stock coins in the coin tank 324 of the coin dispenser have run out, and roll paper in the printer 330 There is provided a monitor display lamp group 340 composed of a paperless indicator L14 and the like for indicating that the battery has run out. In addition, sensors 361, 362, 363, and 364 are provided in the card tank 314, the bill tank 321, the coin tank 324, and the printer 330, respectively, in order to detect the above states and turn on the corresponding indicators. The coin dispensing device 326 has a coin removal switch 327.
Is provided.

Further, the settlement machine 300 of this embodiment has a stand for distinguishing each of the plurality of settlement machines installed in the amusement store and allowing the management device 400 to recognize the settlement machine that has performed the settlement of the specific card. A number designator 305 is provided inside, and the machine number set by the setter 305 is sent to the management device 400 to generate a transmission address for data communication and to create a data file for each settlement machine. Provided.

Although not particularly limited, the same number as the unit number set by the setting unit 305 is the front panel 301 of the checkout machine.
Is displayed on a nameplate 306 attached to the upper part of the label.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of a control system of the payment machine 300 configured as described above.

Note that, in the figure, reference numerals L11 to L14 denote lamps constituting the monitor display lamp group 340.

In this system, a magnetic head 808b, a punching device 807, and a transport motor 802 constituting a card reader 310 are controlled by a controller 319 (a controller shown in FIG. 4) comprising a CPU (microcomputer) based on detection signals from various sensors 811 to 815. 228), various sensors and indicators provided in the controller 319 and the checkout machine, a bill dispenser 320, a coin dispenser 326, and a printer 330.
Is a control unit also composed of a microcomputer
It is controlled by a unit controller 351 in 350.

The unit controller 351 controls the above components, checks the card number, receives and displays the card data, executes the settlement processing, collects the operation data, and stores it in the unit memory 370 including a dual port memory. Write to the transmission data area SDA. The operation data written in the unit memory 370 is sent to the management device by data communication between the transmission controller and the management device 400 via the transmission cable. The data sent from the management device is also temporarily written to the reception data area RDA in the unit memory 370, and the unit controller 3
The data is received by the reading of this by 51. Unit memory 370 is provided with a shared data area CDA for storing commands and status information for notifying the other controller that transmission data and reception data are in the memory.

Tables 12, 13, and 14 show the unit memory 37, respectively.
2 shows a configuration example of a transmission data area SDA, a reception data area RDA, and a shared data area CDA in 0.

As shown in Table 13, in this embodiment, the card history data is also received, printed on a receipt together with the time data, and ejected, thereby impressing the player that the payment data has high reliability. Can be. However, the history data is up to 20 in the card file
It is data up to times.

Note that the monitor information 1 shown in Table 12 above corresponds to Table 15
As shown in the figure, a bit indicating that a test is being executed at system startup, a bit indicating initial value setting / unset, a bit indicating a hot code error, and a bit indicating a local network (transmission cable 500) error (for low and high layers) , 2 bits), a bit indicating an abnormality of the payment apparatus, and the like.

The monitor information 2 includes a bit indicating a printer error, a bit indicating a card reader error as shown in Table 16,
Bit indicating the state in the coin tank, bit indicating coin jam in the coin dispensing device 326, bit indicating abnormality in the coin dispensing device 326, bit indicating the state in the banknote dispensing device 320, abnormality in the bill dispensing device 320 And the like.

Next, the pachinko machine 100, the card issuing machine 200, and the payment machine 300 configured as described above are collectively controlled, and operation data is collected in real time. A management device 40 for restoring the data state and restarting the operation of each part of the system, enabling the aggregation of data necessary for the management of game points, and issuing a resurrection card of the same qualification when the card is damaged
0 will be described.

FIG. 14 shows a specific configuration of the management device 400, and FIG. 15 shows a system configuration of the management device.

The management device 400 includes a main control device 401 storing a central processing unit CPU of a minicomputer class, a main storage device M-MEM including a semiconductor memory (RAM), a timer (including a calendar) TMR, a communication control device SCC, and the like. The main control device 401 includes a floppy disk storage device 402 as an auxiliary storage device, a hard disk storage device 403, and a personal computer 410 provided above the main control device 401. The personal computer 410 also has a CRT display device 411 for displaying messages and collected data, a console 412 for the operator to give commands and setting data, a built-in CPU, and communicates with a central processing unit in the main control device 401. It comprises a local processing unit 413 connected via a line and an interrupt circuit, and a printer 414 for printing collected data and the like.

Communication control devices 406a and 406b are provided in the main control device 401 in order to connect the local processing device 413 and the central processing unit CPU.

The printer 414 includes a buffer 414a for temporarily storing data to be printed in order to improve the throughput of the management device 400.

In addition, the management device 400 includes a card reader 407 that issues a resurrection card or a test card as a medium for causing the system to perform an action from each terminal, and a “card generated by a pachinko machine”, which is unique to the pachinko gaming system. The auxiliary printer 408 that prints emergency information generated by the system such as “stop” in real time is provided by the main controller 4.
It is provided above 01 and is connected to the central processing unit CPU via the communication control devices 406c and 406d.

The SCC is a transmission control device for enabling data transmission between terminal devices via a network.

In addition, in the event of a power failure, at least 10 data is transferred to the hard disk storage device 403 to protect the operation data of all terminals volatilely held in the main storage device and the data of all issued cards to the hard disk storage device 403. An auxiliary power supply 409 that enables the management device to operate for about a minute is provided below the main control device 401.

In this embodiment, a system mainly including a pachinko machine, a card issuing machine, a checkout machine, and a management device will be described. However, the present invention also includes an in-store broadcasting device, a prize exchange device, a vending machine, and the like. It can be extended to systems that are under control. In particular, there is a possibility that the prize exchange apparatus can easily apply a method that allows the prize exchange apparatus to directly exchange prizes without passing through the checkout machine 300 using a card.

Further, the console 412 configuring the management device 400 also has a unique key configuration most suitable for the pachinko gaming system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of the console 412. FIG. 1B shows the upper surface of the console, that is, the panel surface, and FIG. 1A shows the rear surface of the console.

In FIG. 16, reference numeral 421 denotes a store opening switch for instructing business hours for each terminal of the system, and reference numeral 422 denotes a store close switch for instructing the end of business.
After the switch 421 is turned on, the card can be operated in each terminal device until the store closing switch 422 is turned on.
423 is an end switch for storing operation data of all terminal devices in the floppy disk storage device 402 after the business is closed, and instructing the management device to stop operation, and 424 is for instructing a recovery process of a damaged card. It is a card resurrection switch.

The four switches of the store opening switch 421, the store closing switch 422, the end switch 423, and the card resurrection switch 424 are particularly important switches for the present system, and in order to prevent the system from being easily operated during the operation of the system, Key switch (upper in the figure)
It is linked to 420, and unless the key switch 420 is turned on, the switches 421 to 424 cannot be operated to be turned on.

Numerals 425, 426, and 427 are numeric keys, a return key, and a delete key similar to those provided on a console or the like of an ordinary personal computer or the like.

On the other hand, reference numeral 428 denotes a display menu switch for giving an instruction to display data relating to the card and operation data of each terminal on both sides of the CRT display device 411, and reference numeral 429 denotes a CRT clear switch for requesting erasure of data displayed on the CRT display device. It is. Reference numeral 430 denotes a print menu switch for giving a command to cause the printer 414 to print data on the card, operation data of each terminal, and the like, and 431 denotes a print stop switch for requesting the printer 414 to stop printing. 432 is a setting switch for requesting the setting of the number of hits or the hitting mode in the pachinko machine, and 433 is hitting, that is, the game cannot be continued because the prize balls of the set hitting number are paid out. A stop release switch 434 for giving a command to release the stop state of the pachinko machine that is in operation, forcibly shuts down terminal devices by type at the end of business hours, normal control and data collection due to communication network abnormalities, etc. Forced termination switch for forcibly terminating all terminal devices when it becomes impossible, or forcibly stopping a specific terminal device when a player's fraud is discovered, 435 cancels termination of a forcedly terminated terminal device An end release switch 439 is a date / time setting switch. Further, the console 412 of the embodiment is provided with a buzzer 440 that generates a sound to urge the operator to wake up when an emergency such as a pachinko machine is hit and a buzzer stop switch 436 that instructs to stop the sound generation. Have been.

Of the above switches, the switches 421 to 424 and 432 to 436 indicated by double frames in the figure are switches with built-in lamps. Lights up. However, the lamp in the buzzer stop switch 436 is linked with the buzzer, lights up while the buzzer is sounding, and the stop switch 43
Turns off when 6 is pressed.

Further, the console 412 of this embodiment has a test card switch 437 for giving a test card issuance command on the back thereof, an exchange rate of purchased balls and store codes, a total number of terminal devices, and a prize ball 1 when the system is introduced. A built-in switch 438 is provided for making a setting request such as the number of prize balls per piece. With these switches 437
438 is a switch that is rarely used unlike other switches, and is a switch that only needs to be known by a specific person (such as a manager of an amusement store), and is provided on the back of the console. .

Here, the test card will be described. As is clear from the configuration already described, in the gaming system of this embodiment, all the terminal devices (pachinko machines, card issuing machines, settlement machines) are under the control of the management device, and can be operated by exchanging card numbers and the like. State, and the terminal cannot operate alone. However, since pachinko machines are frequently used, jamming and so-called tulips and other accessories often break down, and it is necessary to adjust nails within the game amount range to adjust the payout rate. In this case, a test driving is performed after repair or nail adjustment.In this embodiment, the test switch 171 in the control unit 160 of each pachinko machine described above is turned on, and a special device issued by the management device is used. When a test card is inserted from the card insertion / ejection opening 161 of the control unit 160, a certain number of balls is given, and the pachinko machine can execute a game operation alone. As a result, it is not necessary to start up the entire system in trial running during non-business hours. In addition, during business hours, a trial hit can be performed without impairing the operation data during the game.

The card reader 407 provided in the management device 400 has exactly the same configuration as the card reader 220 in the card issuing machine shown in FIG.

However, a method may be employed in which a blank card is inserted from outside, a code is recorded on a magnetic surface, and the blank is ejected, without a blank card inside. In that case, the card tank can be omitted. Further, since the test card and the resurrection card issued by the management device 400 do not always need to specify the date of use and the serial number of the issuance as in other general cards, the printing device may be omitted. However, it is also possible to incorporate a printing device and print out and issue the fact that the card is a test card. Incidentally, it has become so punch holes in a predetermined punching position PH ₂ of the card by the perforating apparatus 807 during resurrection card issuing.

As described above, the terminal devices 100, 200, and 300 of this embodiment are all under the control of the management device 400, and cannot operate independently unless the management device 400 is activated. Therefore, when the system starts up, the management apparatus 400 initializes all terminals by giving them set values. In addition, prior to this initialization, the terminal numbers are collected from each terminal device to enable data transmission, and each transmission address is formed. During operation of the system, operation data of all terminal devices is collected in real time and stored in the main memory M-MEM.

As described above, in this embodiment, the amount of data handled by the management device 400 is enormous. Therefore, in the embodiment, these data are organized by file management to facilitate handling.

Table 17 shows a file configuration example of data managed by the management device 400.

These files are usually recorded in the main memory M-MEM, but all files are saved in the hard disk storage 403 at the time of power failure. Further, the data files relating to the terminal devices, ie, the pachinko machine files (hereinafter referred to as P machine files), the issuing machine files and the checkout machine files are stored in the floppy disk storage device 402 at the end of business.
And is provided for monthly operation data tallying and the like.

Next, each file shown in Table 17 will be described in more detail.

The setting value file FL1 in the table depends on the characteristics and configuration of the system such as the exchange rate of purchased balls, the store code, the number of terminals, the number of prize balls, the number of hits, etc. Is a setting value that fluctuates. This setting value file is normally loaded from the hard disk HDD to the main storage device at the start of business.
The set value file FL1 can be updated from the console by pressing a built-in switch when replacing a pachinko machine or the like.

 Table 18 shows a configuration example of the setting value file FL1.

In the same table, the exchange rate of purchased balls is the number of lending balls for the unit of purchase amount (for example, 200 yen), that is, the number of initially held balls, and the number of NAUs is the connection between a high-layer network and a low-layer network as a data transmission system. Is the total number of network adapter units (communication control devices) provided in the network. Further, the number of prize balls from a certain pachinko machine to a certain pachinko machine is set in a table indicated by a symbol i. Two types of prize balls can be set for each prize ball. Moreover, as shown by i = 1 to 16, in this embodiment, all the pachinko machines of the game store are used.
It is divided into 16 groups, and the number of two prize balls of main and sub can be set separately. However, consecutive machine numbers are given to pachinko machines having the same set value, and the target range is specified by the start number and end number.

Further, the number of hits is set in the table indicated by j, and the hitting mode is set in the table indicated by k. Here, the hit mode indicates a method of calculating the number of hits (arithmetic formula). For example, a mode in which hitting is performed when the number of payout prize balls reaches the hit number, or the number of payout prize balls. There is a mode in which, when the number of hit balls is subtracted from the number of hits reaches the number of hits, hitting is performed when the hitting number is reached. There is no particular limitation,
In this embodiment, as shown by j = 1 to 16, k = 1 to 16, the number of hits and the hitting mode can be independently set for each of 16 groups.

Table 19 shows the configuration of the transmission address file FL2 used for data transmission.

In Table 19, the type flag is a flag for indicating the type of terminal. "1" indicates a pachinko machine, "2" indicates a card issuing machine, "4" indicates a checkout machine, and "0" indicates a terminal. Indicates the absence of each. Vehicle number and serial number are "4"
And the serial number of the terminal device excluding "9", and the unit number is the number of each terminal device placed under one NAU (network adapter unit) regardless of the type of terminal, The channel number is a number serving as an address of each terminal device as viewed from the management device.

The NAU number and the unit number are set by the setting switches (1
73, 205, 305, 561). In the case of a pachinko parlor, it is a skip number given by a number excluding "4" and "9". Here, the fact that "4" and "9" are not used indicates that an octal representation is possible. Therefore, using the conversion table shown in Table 20, the unit number displayed in decimal notation is set to 0.
Expressed only with numbers from 7 to 7. According to this, for example, "25
The number "8" is written as "247".

If this is represented by a binary code in a binary octal system, it will be "010/100/111". This code indicates “167” in decimal notation, whereby the pachinko machine numbers missing “4” and “9” are consecutive numbers.
On the other hand, the lower 6 bits of the above code are taken, and this is regarded as a code “10 · 0111” expressed in a binary coded decimal system, and this is “27H” when expressed in HEXA. In this embodiment, this is used as the unit number. Further, “NAU number + unit number” in which an NAU number is prefixed to the unit number is used as a channel number. According to such a method, in the custom of a pachinko game store having a number that does not use “4” and “9”, efficient address processing that matches the characteristics of a microcomputer that performs data processing using only the binary system Becomes possible.

The file is created for all terminal devices based on the response data of the unit table request by the management device after the line test.

Table 21 shows a configuration example of the card file FL3. The card file FL3 contains information for each card.

In the same table, the card number is a number obtained from the issue serial number n using the function f (n), and the number of balls and the amount of money, and the card status is the current status of the card specified by the issue serial number n and the card number. This information is referred to as a card text in this embodiment. Here, the card status is, as shown in Table 22, a bit indicating a free status that is not used in a game, a bit indicating a game, a bit indicating a pause temporarily leaving the gaming machine, A bit indicating that the card has been settled, a bit indicating that both the number of balls held and the balance of the card have become zero, a bit indicating that one or more hits have occurred in the past, It is composed of a bit indicating that the card is used in the pachinko machine, a bit indicating that the card has been restored, and the like.

On the other hand, returning to Table 21, in the card file FL3, a terminal serial number indicating the position of the terminal where the card is currently present and a terminal number are registered. Since pachinko machine gaming stores do not use the numbers “4” and “9” as unit numbers as a convention, two types of terminal numbers, back and front, are generated.

In Table 21, the i-counter indicates the number of actions taken by the card, that is, the number of times the card has been ejected from the system as the organic combination to the outside. Number, number of balls, amount,
Card information such as time, that is, card history is recorded. Statistically, most players play with less than 20 pachinko machines per day.
It is decided to record the card history up to 20 times. However, 20
If the number of times exceeds the number of times, the information is recorded in a form updating the table indicated by i = 20. In the above case, the i counter does not count the interruption of the game. That is, each card information is recorded in a new area at the time of interruption, but the value of the i-counter is substantially updated by recording the card information in the same area without updating the counter when the game end switch is turned on after the interruption is released, and recording the card information in the same area. The number is matched.

Here, the state and action of the card and the registration of the card information to the FL3 in the card file will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a card is issued in the card issuing machine 200, the card is ejected and the card shifts from the unissued (blank) state SS0 to the free state SS1. then,
When the card is inserted into the desired pachinko machine 100, the gaming state S
Move to S2. Here, when the ball and the amount of money of the card become zero by the game, the card is ejected and the state is returned to zero return SS3
Move on to Further, when the interruption switch 115 is pressed during the game, the card is ejected, and the state shifts to the interruption state SS4, and returns to the game state SS2 again by reinserting the same card. Then, when the end switch 114 is pressed to end the game during the game, the card is ejected and the state shifts to the free state SS1. The card is ejected by the forced termination or hitting by the CPU, and the game state SS2 is shifted to the free state SS1.
When the user goes to the checkout machine 300 with the card in the free state and performs the checkout process, the card is collected after an invalid mark is added, and the state is shifted to the settled state SS5. In the system of this embodiment, it is also possible to go to the checkout machine 300 without returning to the pachinko machine with the card in the interrupted state SS4 and perform the checkout process.In that case, the state shifts from the interrupted state SS4 to the settled state SS5. .

In the state transition diagram described above, an action accompanied by recording of card information in the card file FL3 is indicated by a circle in the arrow indicating the transition direction. In each block, the code indicated by XXH represents the corresponding state in hexadecimal using the code indicating the card state in Table 22 (HE
XA expression).

 Next, Table 23 shows a configuration example of the P machine file FL4.

In the figure, items from the machine number to the card status are as follows:
These are data held in the transmission data area shown in Table 6, which are sampled once a second by the management device 400 and registered in a file. In addition, the number of main prize balls, the number of sub prize balls, the number of hits, and the hit mode,
Setting value files shown in Table 18 at system startup
It is registered in the P machine file FL4 based on FL1.

Table 24 and Table 25 show the issuing machine file FL5 and the checkout machine file FL6, respectively. The data items shown in Table 24 are shown in Table 1.
The data stored in the transmission data area of the issuing machine shown in Table 25 and the data items shown in Table 25 match the data stored in the transmission data area shown in Table 12. These are sampled by the management device once a second.

In Tables 23 to 25, data marked with a circle in the save column is data saved on the floppy disk FDD at the end of business.

Next, the card issuing machine 100, the pachinko machine 200, the settlement machine 300, and the management device 400 that performs centralized control of those terminal devices as the terminal devices configured as described above are organically connected to perform data transmission and card transfer. A data transmission path (local area network) that enables operation will be described. FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of a pachinko game system using a hierarchical data transmission path.

That is, 100 to 1000 terminal devices are grouped in units of 20 to 40, for example, in units such as island facilities of a game store,
In each group of terminal devices, a token passing method in which a node (terminal device) having an access right called a token that circulates at high speed on a ring-shaped transmission path has a right to transmit and receive data in the form of a packet. Is connected to a network adapter unit (hereinafter, referred to as NAU) 530 by a low-layer network (token bus) 510.

A plurality of NAUs 530 that control each low-layer network (token bus) 510 are connected to the management device 400 via a high-level network 520 of the CSMA / CD system.

The low-layer network 510 is 2.5Mbps (megabit /
Second) and have a high-speed network 520
Is controlled to have a transmission rate such as 10 Mbps,
The NAU530 acts as a buffer that absorbs the difference between the two transmission rates and enables smooth data transmission,
The burden on the management device 400 is reduced, and a large amount of operation data can be collected.

In FIG. 18, the symbol P indicates a pachinko machine as a terminal device, the symbol H indicates a card issuing machine, and the symbol S indicates a checkout machine.

Each of the terminal devices P, H, and S is connected to a branch line branched from the low-layer network 510 by a cable branch circuit 540 as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 12. The control units 160, 250 and 350 of each terminal device are connected to the end of each branch line. In FIG. 18, a reference unit U indicates a control unit of each terminal device.

FIG. 19 shows a configuration example of a control unit common to each terminal device.

That is, a unit memory 170 (27, 27) as parallel communication means is provided between the unit controller 190 (251, 351) for controlling each terminal and the low-layer network 510.
0,370), a data transmission controller 551 for transmitting and receiving data without disturbing the operation of the unit controller 190 (251,351), and a buffering packet memory 552 for holding transmission / reception data in the form of packets for speeding up data transmission. A communication controller 553 for establishing transmission and reception rights in the low-layer network (token bus) 510, converting parallel data to be transmitted to serial data, and converting received serial data to parallel data, A level conversion circuit 554 for performing signal level conversion and a cable branch circuit 540 for separating and coupling a transmission signal and a reception signal are connected. Each of the controllers 551 and 553 is constituted by a microcomputer, and the packet memory 552 includes:
Like the unit memory 170, it is configured by a dual port memory. However, there is no shared data area in which a command is stored in the packet memory 552, and transmission / reception requests between the data transmission control 551 and the network controller 553 are directly exchanged between the controllers.

FIG. 20 shows a circuit configuration example of the NAU (network adapter unit) 530 that buffers data transmission between the low-layer network 510 and the high-layer network 520.

The NAU 530 of this embodiment includes a low-layer network controller 533 that establishes a transmission / reception right in the low-layer network 510 and performs serial-parallel conversion of data, and a high-layer network that establishes a transmission / reception right and serial-parallel conversion of data in a CSMA / CD high-layer network. Network controller 537
And a data transmission controller 535 for controlling data transfer between these network controllers 533 and 537. Among the above controllers, the low-layer network controller 533 is composed of a communication LSI dedicated to token passing, and the high-layer network controller 537 and the data transmission controller 535 are composed of general-purpose microcomputers. Further, between these controllers 533 and 535 and between 535 and 537, buffer packet memories 534 and 536 for absorbing a difference in data transmission speed between the low-layer network 510 and the high-layer network 520 are provided.
And are connected respectively. The above packet memory 534,
536 is constituted by a dual port memory and has a transmission data area and a reception data area. Between the low-layer network controller 533 and the low-layer network (talks bus) 510, a branch circuit 531 for separating and coupling a transmission signal and a reception signal, and a level conversion circuit 532 for converting the level of a transmission / reception data signal are provided. It is connected. Similarly, a level conversion circuit 538 and a branch circuit 539 are connected between the high-layer network controller 537 and the high-layer network 520.

Further, the NAU 530 of this embodiment has a NAU number setting unit 561 for setting a number for distinguishing a plurality of connected NAUs from each other, and a terminal device existing on the low-layer network 510 under the control of each NAU 530. Among them, a minimum number setting device 562 for setting the minimum number and a number setting device 563 for setting the number of terminal devices existing on the low-layer network are provided. The set values of the setting units 561 to 563 are input to the data transmission controller 535 in the NAU 530, and the NAU number is used for forming the transmission address of each NAU in the high-layer network 520. Further, the transmission address of each terminal device in the low-layer network 510 is formed by the minimum number and the number.

In the hierarchical local network 500 (FIG. 18), when the system starts up, the management device 400 performs a line test through each NAU 530 and sets a set value for each terminal device. Terminal device P, once a second using
Operation data is collected from H and S and stored in its own memory. The accumulated data is stocked in the data file in the management device 400 from each NAU 530 through the high-layer network 520 once a second in response to a request from the management device 400.

As described above, since the communication network has a hierarchical configuration using the NAU 530 as a buffer and the high-layer network 520 has a transmission speed four times the transmission speed of the low-layer network 510 of 2.5 Mbps, 100 to 1000 Even in a system having a terminal device, a large amount of operation data as shown in Tables 1, 6, and 12 can be collected from each terminal device to the management device once a second.

Next, an example of a control operation procedure when a test card is inserted into a pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 24.

When the pachinko machine 100 and the control unit 160 are powered on, the internal registers and the like of the unit controller 190 and the card read controller 188 are initialized (steps S101 and S201), and the unit memory 170 is cleared by the transmission controller 530. You.

When the clearing of the unit memory 170 is completed, the transmission controller 530 sends a unit memory clear end signal to the unit controller 190 of the pachinko machine. The unit controller 190 waits for this clear end signal (step S102), and upon receiving this signal, reads the unit number from the setting device in the control unit 160, calculates the serial number and the lower order of the channel number, and stores the transmission data area in the unit memory 170. The machine number, serial number, and channel number of the pachinko machine are written in (step S103). When the entire system is powered on and online, the NAU's transmission controller 535 calculates the transmission address of each terminal under its own control from the unit number etc. in this transmission data area and creates a unit address table I do.

Then, the unit controller 190 waits for a "line test" packet containing the date and the identification code from the management device to be sent (step S104). If the "line test" packet is received, the process jumps to step S11 and waits for the transmission of the "initial value setting" packet from the management device.

On the other hand, when the power of the pachinko machine is turned on alone (hereinafter referred to as “off-line”), no “line test” packet is sent, so that the steps from step S104
Proceeding to S105, it is determined whether or not the test switch 171 has been turned on. If the test switch 171 has been turned off, the process returns to step S105 again to receive a "line test" packet. The determination of the presence or absence of the “line test” packet in step S104 can be performed by checking whether or not the “date” column in the reception data area of unit memory 170 is $ 0.

There is no “line test” packet, and step S105
If it is determined that the test switch 171 has been turned on, the date and the identification code (all are zero at this time) are read from the reception data area of the unit memory 170 and sent to the card reader controller 188 (step S10).
6). Then, the card reader controller 188 receives and stores this (step S202).

Next, the unit controller 190 transmits a function code that enables the card to be accepted to the card reader controller 188, and the card reader controller 188 transmits the function code.
Upon receipt of this, the card reader 188 puts the card reader into an operating state (a state where the transport motor can be driven immediately when the sensor detects the card) (steps S107 and S203).

Then, the unit controller 190 proceeds to step S12.
The process jumps to 1, starts a 10-second timer, and waits for a function code from the card reader controller (step S122). And 10 after the test switch is turned on
If no function code is received from the card reader controller after the elapse of seconds, that is, if no card is inserted within 10 seconds, the process returns to step S104 to receive the "line test" packet or turn on the test switch. Wait for.

When the power of the entire system is turned on and the process proceeds from the reception of the “line test” packet in step S104 to the “initial value setting” packet waiting state in step S191, the transmission controller 530 commands the shared eta area in the unit memory 170. By writing to the register, the unit controller 190 recognizes that the “initial value setting” packet has been received. Then, unit controller 190 reads the date and the identification code from the received initial value data from the reception data area of unit memory 170 and sends them to card reader controller 188 (step S112). Upon receiving the initial value, the card reader controller 188 stores it in its own memory so that it can determine whether or not it matches the code read from the inserted card (step S211).

Next, the unit controller 190 waits for a “store opening code” packet from the management device, and sets the command register C in the shared data area in the unit controller 170.
Upon seeing R2 and recognizing that the “store opening code” packet has been received (step S113), the card reader controller
The function code for enabling the acceptance of the card is transmitted to the card reader 188 (step S114), and when the card reader controller 188 receives the function code, the card reader is set to the operating state (step S212).

Then, the unit controller 190 waits for a function code from the card reader controller 188 (step S115). Here, a normal game card is inserted into the card reader, the card number recorded in the magnetic recording unit is read, and the card number is sent to the unit controller 190 together with the function code by the card reader controller 188 (step S213).
Then, the unit controller 190 starts the control flow S300 for the normal game.

On the other hand, in the waiting state of step S115,
Is turned on, the control by the unit controller 190 jumps from step S115 to S122. Step S1
The procedure from 21 to S130 is the same as in the offline state, and the unit controller 190 first starts a 10-second timer.
Then, it waits for a function code from the card reader controller 188 (step S122). here,
If the test card is inserted into the card reader within 10 seconds after the test switch is turned on, the card reader controller 18 checks the punched holes on the card, reads the magnetic code, and reads the magnetic code.
8 transmits a function code indicating test card insertion to unit controller 190 (step
S221). When the unit controller 190 receives this, it initializes only the test card operation data column in the transmission data area of the unit memory 170. At this time, the purchase amount column of the operation data is set to a predetermined amount (for example, 1000 yen), thereby enabling a game (hereinafter, referred to as a trial) within a certain amount range (step). S12
3). Then, when a part of the money is converted into the number of balls by turning on the purchase switch 113, the operation data for the test card in the transmission data area is updated accordingly (step S124). Then, a trial is started, and when signals from various hitting ball detectors are input, the number of outgoing balls, the number of outgoing balls, and the like in the test card operating data area are calculated in accordance therewith to update the operating data ( Step S125).

Note that the purchase ball rate in step S124 and the number of main prize balls and the number of sub prize balls used in the calculation in step S125 are based on the initial value data transmitted from the management device when online, and the initial value data in the reception data area when offline. Instead of the value, a fixed value given in advance by the control program of the unit controller is used.

In this embodiment, the interruption switch 115 can be operated even during the attempt with the test card, and when the interruption switch is turned on, the card reader controller 188
A function code for instructing ejection of the card is transmitted to the CPU, and the operation information in the operation data for the test mode is changed from "playing" to "interrupted" (step S12).
6) Wait for a function code from the card reader controller (step S127). When the card reader controller receives the "card ejection" function code, the test card is ejected from the card reader (step S222).

When the original test card or another test card is reinserted into the card reader during this interruption, the interruption state is released (steps S233 and S128), and the test held in the transmission data area of the unit memory is performed. The trial starts by taking over the operation data for the mode. At this time, the operation information in the operation data for the test mode is changed to “in game”.

Further, in this embodiment, the test switch can be operated even during the suspension of the test mode. If the test switch 171 is turned on during the suspension of the test mode, the operation returns to the step S121 to return to the operation data for the test mode. Is initialized, so that a try is possible.

Further, when the end switch 114 is turned on during the test using the test card, the operation information in the test mode operation data area is changed to “free” (step S129), and then the test mode end processing is executed. (Step S1
30). Here, the test mode end processing is to transmit a function code for disabling card ejection and card acceptance when offline, and to transmit a function code for enabling card ejection and card acceptance when online. It is. After the test mode end process, the process returns to step S104 when offline and returns to step S125 when online, and waits for transmission from the card reader.

In the system of the above embodiment, the ON state of the test switch is valid when online, when the operation state of the pachinko machine is “free”, “interrupted”, and “forced termination”. Only step S115
Then, the process proceeds to the normal game S300, and even if the test switch is turned on during the game, it is not accepted.

In the above embodiment, an operation data area used in the test mode is provided in the transmission data area of the unit memory 170 in addition to an area for storing operation data relating to the original game. As a result, even if the pachinko machine is suspended, it is possible to perform a test with a test card.However, if the system is configured such that a test with a test card can be performed only in the free state, the operation data area for the test mode is omitted. In this case, the original transmission operation data area may be shared. In this case, when testing the pachinko machine that has been suspended, the suspended state may be released with a regular card, the end switch may be pressed to put the pachinko machine in the free state, and then the test switch may be pressed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the test card is issued in the management device. However, the card issuing machine 200 may be provided with a test card issuing function and a command switch so that the issuing machine issues the test card.

In the above-described embodiment, the card issuing machine assigns a card number to the card as a storage medium, and the management device manages the card data using the card number and transmits the data in response to a request from the gaming machine. The game is made possible, but instead of sending data from a card issuing device or management device configured to issue a card with data stored on the card itself and issuing the card, the issuing device itself is used alone The invention can also be applied to a game facility configured to issue a card upon judging in the above. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a game machine having a pachinko game machine of a sealed ball circulation system as an example of a game machine has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, a gaming machine equipped with a gaming machine configured to convert valuable data held by a card into a real ball at each gaming machine and supply it to the inside of the game from a supply plate on the front of the gaming machine to play one game. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a game machine provided with a game machine of any configuration (including a game machine other than a pachinko game machine) as long as the game is played using a storage medium.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides a plurality of game terminal devices having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and the storage of each of the game terminal devices. A management device capable of collecting signals read by the medium reading device, wherein each of the gaming terminal devices is connected via a transmission unit so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device. In the media-type game facility, each of the gaming terminal devices determines whether or not to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device based on information read by the storage medium reading device, and performs a game based on the determination result. A control device for controlling a terminal device, wherein the control device indicates that information read from the card-shaped storage medium by the storage medium reading device is a specific storage medium. In the case of the information, the game terminal device is operated independently without transmitting / receiving the information to / from the management device. Therefore, if the storage medium storing the specific information is used, the game terminal device The game terminal device can be operated alone even when the power supply of the management terminal and the transmission means are not turned on and the power supply of the management terminal and the transmission means is not turned on. This makes it possible to facilitate the maintenance of the gaming terminal device.

Also, a plurality of game terminal devices having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and management capable of collecting information read by the storage medium reading device of each of the game terminal devices. Device, wherein each of the gaming terminal devices is a storage medium type gaming facility connected via transmission means so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device, wherein each of the gaming terminal devices includes:
A control device for determining whether or not to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device based on information read by the storage medium reading device, and controlling the gaming terminal device based on the determination result; When the information read from the storage medium includes information indicating that it is a specific storage medium, the game terminal device is operated, and the information distinguished from the normal game by the transmission unit is transmitted. In the case where the information is transmitted to the management device, at the time of normal business, when introducing a new gaming machine to a user, only a specific gaming machine can be operated in a non-business state as a demonstration. There is.

Further, the gaming terminal device has storage means for storing information transmitted / received to / from a management device, and the storage means has a data area for storing operation data relating to a normal operation of the gaming terminal device. Separately, when a specific storage medium is inserted into the storage medium reading device and a specific mode operation data area for storing operation data generated when the gaming terminal device is operated is provided, for example, the specific mode By storing test mode operation data in the test operation data area, even if you try using a special test card, the normal game operation data will not be updated.
Do not sacrifice the profits of the player and the original business data, so that not only during non-business hours but also when the entire equipment is powered on online, that is, during test operation, using a special test card There is an effect that it becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a pachinko gaming system to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views showing the configuration of cards used in the system according to the present invention; Rear view, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration example of a card issuing machine used in the system according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a card reader, and FIG. FIG. 6A is a front view showing a configuration example of a pachinko machine, FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a control unit of the pachinko machine, FIG. FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a configuration example of the back surface of the pachinko machine, FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a configuration example of the sealed ball circulation device on the back surface of the pachinko machine, and FIG. FIG. 9 (B) is an enlarged view showing details, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the entire pachinko machine, FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control device of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 12 is a configuration example of a checkout machine. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the checkout machine, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the entire management device, and FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of the management device itself. Fig. 16 shows an example of the configuration of the console of the management device.
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a rear view, FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state transition of a card in the gaming system of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a configuration example of a transmission system in the gaming system of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control unit that controls data transmission and reception between a unit controller of each terminal device and a transmission path (network). FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing data on a network. NA that performs transfer control
FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 are flowcharts showing an example of a series of control operation procedures when a pachinko machine is operated by a test card. It is. 100: Pachinko machine, 110: Gaming machine body, 120: Enclosed ball circulation device, 160: Control unit, 170: Unit memory, 180: Card reader, 190: Unit controller, 200: Card issue Machine, 210 ... Bill validator, 220
…… Card writer, 230 …… Balancet dispenser, 250 …… Control unit, 300 …… Payment machine, 310 …… Card reader, 32 ……
Bill dispenser, 330 …… Printer, 350 …… Control unit,
400 …… Management device, 510 …… Low layer network, 520 ……
High-rise network, 530 ... NAU (network adapter unit).

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of game terminals having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and signals read by the storage medium reading devices of the respective game terminal devices are collected. A possible management device, wherein each of the game terminal devices is a storage medium type game facility connected via a transmission means so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device; The device includes a control device that determines whether to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device based on information read by the storage medium reading device, and controls the gaming terminal device based on the determination result, When the information read from the storage medium by the storage medium reading device is information indicating that the storage medium is a specific storage medium, the control device is configured to communicate with the management device. Storage medium type game equipment, characterized in that operating without transmission and reception of broadcast game terminal device alone. 2. A plurality of game terminal devices having a storage medium reading device capable of reading information stored in a card-shaped storage medium, and collecting information read by the storage medium reading device of each of the game terminal devices. A possible management device, wherein each of the gaming terminal devices is a storage medium type gaming facility connected via transmission means so that information can be mutually transmitted and received with the management device; The device includes a control device that determines whether to enable the operation of the gaming terminal device based on information read by the storage medium reading device, and controls the gaming terminal device based on the determination result, When the information read from the storage medium includes information indicating that the storage medium is a specific storage medium, the control device operates the gaming terminal device and performs the transmission. Storage medium type game equipment, characterized in that to transmit the information to be distinguished from the normal game to the management device by means. 3. The game terminal device has storage means for storing information transmitted / received to / from a management device, and the storage means stores operation data relating to a normal operation of the game terminal device. In addition to the data area, a specific mode operation data area for storing operation data generated when a specific storage medium is inserted into the storage medium reading device and the gaming terminal device is operated is provided. The storage-medium type gaming facility according to claim 2.