JP4050734B2 - Gift voucher issuing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gift voucher issuing device for detecting fraud related to a counting signal sent from a game media counter to a gift voucher issuing device, particularly when the specifications of the game media counter differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. The present invention relates to a gift voucher issuing device that can detect fraud even when connected to a game media counter.

In a game hall in which a plurality of gaming machines represented by pachinko machines and slot machines are installed, a prize exchange system for exchanging game media acquired by the player for prizes is installed.
As shown in FIG. 6, the prize exchange system includes, for example, a game medium counter 30 for counting the number of game media such as pachinko balls and medals, and a count result obtained by the game medium counter 30 in a prize voucher. A gift voucher issuing device 10 that records and issues a ticket, a POS terminal device 40 that performs a gift exchange process using the gift voucher, a management device 50 that performs collation of barcode data recorded on the gift voucher, and the like are provided. .

In this premium exchange system, the number of game media counted by the game media counter 30 is transmitted to the premium voucher issuing device 10 through a communication line. The number of game media is normally transmitted in a pulse number sequence. The
However, in the game hall, the communication line (counting signal line) is crafted, and a pulse generator or the like is connected and input to the prize voucher issuing device 10 to illegally obtain a prize.

Techniques for detecting such illegal activities have been proposed.
For example, as an embodiment, there is a method of detecting an irregularity when a period or pulse width change of a pulse number sequence is detected and a change of a predetermined amount or more is detected.
As another method, for example, when one pulse (counter pulse) is transmitted with another communication line with respect to a predetermined number of pulses to be transmitted, and the two pulses depart from a predetermined relationship. A method that considers fraud has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-046726

However, when the fraud detection method described above is employed, there is a problem that the versatility of the gift voucher issuing device becomes poor.
The specifications of the game medium counter connected to the gift voucher issuing device usually differ depending on the manufacturer. For example, regarding the pulse signal, there are a specification of positive logic (0V is “0”) and a specification of negative logic (0V is “1”). The specifications of the pulse train period and pulse width also vary.
In order to cope with all of these different specifications, fraud detection circuits corresponding to each of these specifications (for example, for positive logic, for negative logic, for cycle a1, for cycle a2,..., For pulse width b1, pulse width It is practically impossible to provide all the fraud detection circuits for b2.

  Under such circumstances, the manufacturer of the gift voucher issuance apparatus sets the fraud detection circuit in accordance with the specifications each time. However, this has been a factor in increasing the cost of the gift voucher issuing device.

  The present invention has been considered in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to detect fraud related to the counting signal regardless of which of the game media counters having different specifications is connected. An object is to provide a gift voucher issuing apparatus that dramatically increases the fraud detection and further increases the accuracy of the fraud detection.

In order to achieve this object, the prize voucher issuing device of the present invention is connected to a game media counter via a signal line, and game media counters with different specifications can be connected, and the connected game media counter is connected. A prize voucher issuing device for receiving the counted number of game media by a pulse number signal, and recording and issuing data relating to the counted value of the received pulse number in a gift voucher, the gift voucher issuing apparatus Has a switching means between the setting mode and the operation mode, and when switched to the setting mode, a pulse signal indicating the count value of the game medium counted for setting by the connected game medium counter is given a predetermined number of times. Receiving and measuring means for measuring ON time and / or OFF time, and storing a plurality of measurement results, and calculating an average value from the stored measurement values, and calculating results of An arithmetic storage means for storing the average value, and when the operation mode is switched, the measurement means for measuring the ON time and / or the OFF time for each of the received pulse number signals, and the numerical value of the measurement result And a comparison / determination unit that compares the average value stored in the calculation storage unit with the average value stored in the calculation storage unit and determines whether or not the predetermined value is within a predetermined range. An abnormality processing means for generating an abnormality process is provided.

When the gift voucher issuing device has such a configuration, the ON time or OFF time measured in the setting mode can be stored as the ON time or OFF time of the regular counting signal sent by the game medium counter. it can. In other words, the gift voucher issuing device of the present invention has a function of measuring and acquiring the specifications related to the counting signal of the connected game medium counter, storing it, and using it for fraud detection.
From this, the premium voucher issuing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to any of the game medium counters having different specifications, and therefore the versatility of the premium voucher issuing apparatus can be enhanced.

  Also, the gift voucher issuing device of the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined range is a range in which the measured value of the ON time and / or OFF time of the pulse number signal is set with respect to the average value. To do.

By setting such a range, the occurrence of abnormality can be detected accurately and reliably. For example, if the difference is small, it can be determined that it is due to mechanical or physical error and not due to fraud. On the other hand, if the difference is large, it can be determined that it is due to fraud. it can.
As a specific example of the predetermined range, for example, ± 20% of an average value of a plurality of ON times or OFF times measured in the setting mode can be used. In this case, when the ON time or OFF time measured in the operation mode deviates from the predetermined range, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred.

In addition, the gift voucher issuing device of the present invention is configured such that the ratio between the measured value of the ON time and the measured value of the OFF time of the pulse number signal is the ratio of the ON time and the OFF time of the average value within the predetermined range. On the other hand, it is a set range.
In addition, the gift voucher issuing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined range is a range in which a ratio between the measured value of the ON time and the measured value of the OFF time of the pulse number signal is set.
By setting such a range, the correlation between the ON time and the OFF time measured by the measuring means in the operation mode, and the correlation between the ON time and the OFF time measured by the measuring means in the operation mode. When the difference exceeds the threshold, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred.
The ratio includes ON time / OFF time, ON time: OFF time, ON time> (or <) OFF time, and the like.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the setting mode, the ON time or OFF time of the regular counting signal output from the game medium counter can be measured and stored. The occurrence of an abnormality can be detected by comparing the ON time or OFF time of the count signal with the stored ON time or OFF time of the regular count signal.
In this way, since the gift voucher issuing device itself can measure and know the specifications related to the regular counting signal sent from the game medium counter, it can count regardless of which of the game medium counters with different specifications is connected. Can detect fraud related to signals. Therefore, the versatility of the gift voucher issuing device can be dramatically improved.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a gift voucher issuing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an embodiment of a gift voucher issuing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an external configuration of a gift voucher issuing apparatus and a game medium counter according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the gift voucher issuing apparatus.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gift voucher issuing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a mode setting unit 11, a receiving unit 12, a counting unit 13, a positive / negative logic switching unit 14, a measuring unit 15, Calculation storage means 16, comparison determination means 17, abnormality processing means 18, display means 19, notification means 20, transmission means 21, card reader 22, ticket issuing unit 23, operation means 24, control means 25.

The mode setting means 11 is means for switching between the setting mode and the operation mode.
In the present embodiment, the “driving mode” is, for example, a mode in which the prize voucher issuing device 10 is operated and operated for the purpose of issuing a prize voucher to the player during the business hours of the game hall. Say.
On the other hand, in the “setting mode”, the game media counter 30 is connected to the prize voucher issuing apparatus 10 and the ON time or OFF time of the count pulse appearing in the count signal sent from the game media counter 30 is determined. It refers to a mode for measuring and storing (in particular, including a mode in which a plurality of ON times or OFF times are measured and averaged and stored). As a case where the switching to the setting mode is performed, for example, the prize voucher issuing device 10 is newly provided in the game hall and connected to the game medium counter 30 or the management device 50 to perform a test run. is there.

The receiving means 12 receives the count signal sent from the game medium counter 30. The received count signal is sent to the counting means 13 or the measuring means 15.
The counting means 13 counts the number of counting pulses of the counting signal. This count value indicates a count result (count value) in the game medium counter 30. The count value is data for a gift voucher issuance process.

The positive / negative logic switching means 14 is means for switching depending on whether the count signal sent from the game medium counter 30 is positive logic or negative logic. As a specific configuration, there are, for example, a switch that is switched by a circuit of the receiving unit 12 and a switch that is switched by software.
Whether the count signal is positive logic or negative logic depends on the specifications of the game medium counter 30. Therefore, the positive / negative logic switching means 14 is switched manually or automatically according to the specifications of the game medium counter 30.

Here, the positive logic and the negative logic of the count signal will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the signal level is represented by voltage, the count signal is represented by positive logic when 0V (“0”) when there is no signal and 5V (“1”) when there is a signal. (The figure (a)), the opposite is expressed with negative logic (the figure (b)). Therefore, the ON pulse and OFF pulse of the signal are as shown in the figure, and the pulse width of the ON pulse is the ON time and the pulse width of the OFF pulse is the OFF time. Note that the pulse widths of the ON pulse and the OFF pulse are usually different for each model or manufacturer of the game medium counter 30.

The measuring means 15 measures the ON time or OFF time of the counting pulse that appears in the counting signal. This measurement is performed based on the setting contents (positive logic or negative logic) in the positive / negative logic switching means 14.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the measuring means 15 samples the count pulse width at a cycle that can be divided by a predetermined number in order to determine the state of the count pulse. This is done to accurately determine the number of pulses if the counting pulse includes chattering. In the sampled state, “0” is determined while “0” is continuously sampled, and “1” is determined while “1” is continuously sampled. The number of samplings during that time is replaced with ON time or OFF time. That is, for example, when the sampling period is 300 μs, if the number of times of sampling is 5, the pulse width is 1.2 ms. The method for measuring the pulse width may be other methods as long as it is a digital measurement method.

  Here, in the setting mode, the measuring means 15 measures the ON time and OFF time of a predetermined number of counting pulses input from the game medium counter 30 by the number of samplings, and stores the predetermined number. The arithmetic storage device 16 can calculate an average value of the ON time and the OFF time by dividing the stored measurement value of the ON time and the OFF time by a predetermined number of times. This average value is stored in the arithmetic storage means 16 as an average value.

  On the other hand, in the case of the operation mode, the measuring means 15 measures the ON time and OFF time of all the counting pulses input from the game medium counter 30 by the number of samplings, and the comparison determination means 17 performs the measured sampling each time. The comparison determination unit 17 compares and determines the number of times and the average value stored in the arithmetic storage unit 16.

The calculation storage unit 16 includes a storage unit and a calculation unit. The storage unit can be composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Randum Access Memory), and the like, and a program (abnormality) for executing predetermined data and various functions of the gift voucher issuing device 10 (Including occurrence detection program).
The storage unit also counts the count value counted by the counting means 13 (the count value at the game medium counter 30), the ON time or the OFF time of the count pulse of the count signal measured by the measuring means 13, and these ON times. An average value of the OFF time, a numerical value (correlation value) indicating the correlation between the ON time and the OFF time, and the like are stored. Further, the operation storage unit 16 stores a threshold value used in the comparison process in the comparison determination unit 17.
The calculation unit of the calculation storage unit 16 calculates the average value of the ON time and OFF time by dividing the total of the stored measurement values of the ON time and OFF time by a predetermined number of times. This average value is stored in the storage unit of the arithmetic storage means 16 as an average value.

  The comparison determination means 17 is a method based on whether or not the sampling number of the measured value deviates more than the set number of times with respect to the average value, or the ratio between the measured ON time and OFF time with respect to the average value, There are a method based on whether or not a set value is deviated or more, and a method based on whether or not the ratio between the ON time and the OFF time deviates more than a set value.

  Moreover, the comparison determination means 17 determines that it is normal (no fraudulent activity is performed) if it is within the predetermined range set as a result of the comparison determination by any method in the operation mode. . On the other hand, when it deviates from the predetermined range, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred (an illegal act has been performed). These determination results are sent to the control means 25.

The abnormality processing means 18 receives the abnormality signal from the comparison judgment means 17, sends a signal to the display means 19, the notification means 20 and the transmission means 2 and stops the ticketing process.
Specifically, the abnormality processing means 18 (or the control means 25), when judged by the comparison judgment means 17 that the fraudulent act has been performed (those where an abnormality has occurred), (1) to the notification means 20 Notification operation instruction, (2) Transmission of abnormality occurrence notification to the management device 50 via the transmission means 21, (3) Abnormality occurrence display instruction to the display means 19, (4) Count stop instruction to the counting means 13, (5) A ticket issuing stop instruction to the ticket issuing unit 23, (6) an acceptance refusal instruction to the operation means 24, and the like can be performed.

The display means 19 can be composed of a 7-segment display or the like, and displays, for example, a date (year, month, day) or a count value. Further, the display means 19 can display characters such as “error” and “-----------------------
The notification means 20 is means for notifying the outside that an illegal act has been performed. Specific examples of notification include, for example, light emission by an LED and output of notification sound by a speaker.
Further, the notification means 20 can include a display means 19. In this case, the display means 19 can display characters such as “illegal”, a picture, and the like in order to notify that an illegal act has been performed.

The transmission unit 21 transmits predetermined data to the management device 40.
In particular, the transmission unit 21 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal from the control unit 25 to the management device 40. In this case, the management apparatus 40 can perform screen display and voice notification regarding the occurrence of abnormality.
The card reader 22 is means for reading predetermined data from the inserted membership card.

The ticket issuing unit 23 is means for recording and issuing a count value on a gift voucher (receipt, ticket).
The operation means 24 is a button or the like operated by a player or a hall employee. The operation means 24 includes, for example, a ticket issuing button for issuing a gift voucher.

The control means 25 can be configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and by reading and executing a program stored in the operation storage means 16, commands are given to the constituent parts of the gift voucher issuing apparatus 10. The various functions of the gift voucher issuing device 10 are executed and controlled by sending or operating on their own.
Further, the control means 25 transmits the positive logic or negative logic set by the positive / negative logic switching means 14 to the measuring means 15.

Next, the operation (fraud detection method) of the gift voucher issuing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of the present embodiment in the setting mode, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of the present embodiment in the operation mode.

First, the operation procedure in the setting mode will be described with reference to FIG.
The gift voucher issuing device 10 and the game medium counter 30 are connected by a communication line. In order to correspond to the positive logic / negative logic of the count signal transmitted from the game medium counter 30 via the communication line, the positive / negative logic switching means 14 of the gift voucher issuing device 10 switches between positive logic or negative logic. Is performed (positive / negative logic switching processing, step 10). The gift voucher issuing apparatus 10 is provided with (installed) a setting operation program for executing a setting mode (trial operation) in advance.

  Next, when the gift voucher issuing apparatus 10 is turned on (step 11) and set to "setting mode" by the mode setting means 11 (step 12), execution of the setting operation program is started (step 12). Step 13). Here, the gift voucher issuance apparatus 10 waits for input of a count signal from the game medium counter 30 (step 14). In the state of waiting for input of the count signal, the count signal is continuously read at regular intervals (counting of the count signal is performed at regular intervals).

  When it is determined that the counting signal is received (input) by the receiving means 12 (step 15), the ON time or OFF time of the counting pulse of the counting signal is measured by the measuring means 15 (counting signal measurement processing, Step 16). This ON time or OFF time is measured by the number of times of sampling. Only a predetermined number of count pulses (for example, 20 to 50 pulses) are measured and stored.

  When the execution of the count signal measurement process for the predetermined number of pulses is completed (step 17), the average number of sampling times stored in the count signal measurement process (step 16) is calculated (average value calculation process, step 18). The average number is sent as an average time to the calculation storage means 16 and stored therein (data storage process, step 19). Then, the execution of the setting operation program is finished (step 20).

Next, the operation in the operation mode will be described with reference to FIG.
When the setting operation (step 10 to step 20) is completed, the mode setting means 11 of the gift voucher issuing apparatus 10 is set to the operation mode (step 30). As a result, the gift voucher issuing apparatus 10 actually performs processing for issuing a gift voucher during the business hours of the game hall.
In the operation mode, the prize voucher issuing apparatus 10 starts execution of the fraud detection program (step 31) and waits for input of a count signal from the game medium counter 30 (step 32). In the state of waiting for input of the count signal, the count signal is continuously read at regular intervals (counting of the count signal is performed at regular intervals).

If it is determined that the counting signal is received (input) by the receiving means 12 (step 33), the ON time or OFF time of the counting pulse is measured by the measuring means 15 (step 34). The measured ON time or OFF time of the pulse is sent to the comparison determination means 17.
In the comparison determination unit 17, the average value stored from the calculation storage unit 16 is taken out. Then, the average value taken out from the arithmetic storage means 16 is compared with the ON time or OFF time measured by the measuring means 15 (step 35).

As a result of the comparison, if the ON time or OFF time is within a predetermined range, it is determined that no fraud has been performed (normal state) (step 36).
On the other hand, if the ON time or OFF time deviates from the predetermined range, it is determined that an illegal act has been performed (abnormal state) (step 36). In this case, the notification means 20 is operated to notify that an illegal act has been performed (step 37).

The preferred embodiment of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of the present invention has been described above. However, the gift voucher issuing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various kinds of devices can be used within the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that changes can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pulse width of the count signal is the measurement target, but the measurement target is not limited to the pulse width, and may be, for example, the amplitude of the count signal.
In addition, as a notification method at the time of fraud detection, in addition to light emission of an LED and sound output from a speaker, screen display on a management device, notification to an intercom, and the like can also be included.

  Since the present invention is an invention for detecting an act of illegally acquiring a prize by forging a counting signal sent from a game medium counter to a prize voucher issuing apparatus, a game medium counter or a gift voucher issuing apparatus It can be used in a gift exchange system equipped with

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external structure of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the shape of a count signal. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the setting mode of the gift voucher issuing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the operation mode of the prize voucher issuing apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a prize exchange system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Free gift exchange system 10 Free gift voucher issuing device 11 Mode setting means 12 Receiving means 13 Counting means 14 Positive / negative logic switching means 15 Measuring means 16 Calculation storage means 17 Comparison determination means 18 Abnormality processing means 19 Display means 20 Notification means 21 Transmitting means 25 Control means 30 Game media counter 40 POS terminal device 50 Management device

Claims (4)

A game media counter connected to a game media counter via a signal line and having different specifications can be connected. The number of game media counted from the connected game media counter is received as a pulse number signal and received. A gift voucher issuing device that records and issues data relating to the counted value of the number of pulses in a gift voucher,
This gift voucher issuing device has a switching means between a setting mode and an operation mode,
When the mode is switched to the setting mode, the pulse signal indicating the count value of the game medium counted for setting by the connected game medium counter is received a predetermined number of times , and the received pulse number signal of the predetermined number of times is received. Measuring means for measuring the ON time and / or OFF time, and a calculation storage means for storing a plurality of measurement results, calculating an average value from the stored measurement values, and storing the average value of the calculation results,
When switching to the operation mode, for each of the received pulse number signals, the measuring means for measuring the ON time and / or OFF time, the numerical value of the measurement result, and the average value stored in the calculation storage means And a comparison determination means for determining whether or not the predetermined range is set, and an abnormality processing means for generating an abnormal signal and performing an abnormal process when it is determined to be outside the predetermined range. A gift voucher issuing device, characterized in that.   2. The gift voucher issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is a range in which a measured value of ON time and / or OFF time of the pulse number signal is set with respect to the average value. .   The predetermined range is a range in which the ratio of the measured value of the ON time and the measured value of the OFF time of the pulse number signal is set with respect to the ratio of the average value of the ON time and the OFF time. The premium voucher issuing device according to claim 1.   2. The gift voucher issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is a range in which a ratio between a measured value of the ON time and a measured value of the OFF time of the pulse number signal is set.

Images