JP4597780B2 - Amusement park management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game hall management system for managing information on a gaming table.

  Conventionally, in a game arcade where game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are installed, a game machine is connected by connecting a plurality of machine terminals that acquire game machine information such as sales amount and number of balls to be played, and host terminals. A game center management system that centrally manages this information at a host terminal is known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 does not connect to a host terminal in a configuration including a plurality of loop lines to which a plurality of terminal terminals are connected and a switching connection unit that sequentially switches the loop lines connected to the host terminal. The terminal connected to the loop line collects and holds emergency information that needs to be transmitted urgently to the host terminal, and transfers the emergency information to the host terminal as soon as it is connected to the host terminal. A configuration that realizes transfer is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in a configuration in which a plurality of island terminals that relay communication between a host terminal and a plurality of base terminals are arranged, two communication lines between the base terminal and the island terminals are provided, so that a communication line failure is provided. The structure which improved the adaptability with respect to is disclosed.
Japanese Patent No. 3455138 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-239653

  However, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not take into account a response to a system failure.

  Further, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, a configuration in which adaptability to a communication line failure is improved by providing two systems of communication lines, but two systems of communication lines are installed, Costs for maintenance and management are required. Further, when a failure occurs simultaneously in two communication lines, this configuration cannot adapt to the failure. Furthermore, depending on this configuration, the failure of the base terminal or the island terminal is not dealt with, and if a failure occurs at the base terminal or the island terminal, the operation of the system is hindered. In addition, when a failure occurs, it takes time to identify the location where the failure occurred.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a low-cost system that is highly adaptable to a system failure.

According to the present invention,
A plurality of terminal devices for obtaining information on the gaming machine from the gaming machine;
A first and a second island terminal that are communicably connected to the plurality of platform terminals and obtain the information;
A host terminal communicably connected to the first and second island terminals;
In a game hall management system equipped with
With the first and second island terminals as both ends, the first and second island terminals and the plurality of base terminals are connected in series by a communication line,
At least one of the first island terminal and the base terminal comprises first token passing means for sending token information to the base terminal connected adjacently,
The plurality of terminal terminals, with the reception of the token information as an opportunity, broadcast information on the gaming table on the communication line, and includes communication means for transferring the token information in the forward direction of the communication line,
A failure determination means for determining the presence or absence of a failure based on the broadcast information ;
The second island terminal includes second token passing means for sending token information to the adjacent terminal connected in response to the failure determination means determining that there is a failure,
The communication means broadcasts the gaming machine information on the communication line upon receiving the token information sent from the second island terminal, and the token information in the reverse direction of the communication line. Forward,
The first and second island terminals transmit the information of the gaming table received by the broadcast to the host terminal,
The host terminal integrates and manages the information on the gaming machine acquired from the first island terminal and the information on the gaming machine acquired from the second island terminal. A game hall management system is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a low-cost system that is highly adaptable to a system failure.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

<< First Embodiment >>
The gaming center management system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of terminal terminals that acquire information on the gaming machine from a gaming machine, and first and second terminals that are communicably connected to the plurality of machine terminals and acquire game machine information. And a host terminal communicably connected to the first and second island terminals. Here, with the first and second island terminals as both ends, the first and second island terminals and the plurality of platform terminals are connected in series by a communication line. In such a system configuration, at least one of the first island terminal and the base terminal transmits token information to the base terminal connected adjacently, and the plurality of base terminals triggers reception of the token information. As well as broadcasting the information on the gaming machine on the communication line, the token information is transferred in the forward direction of the communication line. However, the forward direction is a direction from the first island terminal toward the second island terminal in the communication line. Then, a failure is detected based on the broadcasted game table information. According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a low-cost system that is highly adaptable to a system failure. Details of such a configuration will be described below.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram exemplarily showing a configuration of a game hall management system in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game hall management system includes a host terminal 200 and two island terminals 300a (first island terminals) and 300b (second island terminals) (hereinafter referred to as “second island terminals”) connected to the host terminals, respectively. Collectively referred to as island terminal 300), and a plurality of base terminals 400a to 400f (hereinafter collectively referred to as base terminals 400) connected in series by communication line 100 with island terminals 300a and 300b as both ends. Yes.

  The host terminal 200 is an information processing device that manages the entire game hall management system and performs system control when a failure occurs in the game hall management system and when a failure occurs. The client 101 is realized by, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS). The host terminal 200 includes a user interface such as an instruction input device that receives an instruction input from the user to the game hall management system, or a display device that performs display such as failure detection.

  The island terminal 300 is an information processing apparatus that mediates connection between the base terminal 400 and the host terminal 200. In the game hall management system of the present embodiment, the plurality of terminal terminals 400 are classified into one or more groups, and the terminal terminals 400 are managed for each group. In this embodiment, this group is called an island 500. The island terminal 300 manages the base terminal 400 which comprises an island by a set of two. For example, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the island terminals 300 a and 300 b manage the base terminals 400 a to 400 f configuring the island 500.

  The base terminal 400 is an information processing apparatus that acquires information on a gaming machine from a connected gaming machine and notifies the host terminal 200, the island terminal 300, and the like.

  The communication line 100 is typically a LAN (Local Area Network), but regardless of wired / wireless, a public line (analog line, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), etc.), WAN (Wide Area Network), Any configuration may be used as long as it can transmit and receive data such as a wireless LAN. As a communication protocol on the communication line 100, for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or the like can be adopted.

  Note that the configuration of the game hall management system illustrated in FIG. 1 is fundamental for simply explaining the operation and effect of the embodiment according to the present invention. When the game hall management system is operated in an actual game hall, various configurations can be taken based on restrictions such as usage and purpose or arrangement of devices. FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplarily showing the configuration of the game hall management system of the present embodiment that can be taken in an actual game hall.

  In FIG. 2, each of the island terminals 300 p to 300 s includes one communication unit connected to the host terminal 200 and four communication units connected to the base terminal 400 and the other island terminals 300. The plurality of terminal terminals 400 belonging to the island 500a are connected in series by the communication line 100a with the island terminal 300p and the island terminal 300q as both ends. Similarly, the plurality of terminal terminals 400 belonging to the islands 500b to 500h are also connected in series by the communication lines 100b to 100h, respectively, with the two island terminals 300 as both ends.

  As described above, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 can be regarded as a combination of the configurations in FIG. Actually, when the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 is operated, for each island 500, a plurality of terminal terminals 400 belonging to the island, two island terminals 300 to which the terminal terminals 400 are connected by the communication line 100, and the host terminal 200 are The same processing as that illustrated in FIG. 1 is performed. Therefore, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described below.

(Configuration of host terminal 200)
Next, the configuration of the host terminal 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the host terminal 200.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 210 denotes a CPU that executes an application program, an operating system (OS), a control program, and the like stored in a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HD) 205 to be described later, and is necessary for executing the program in the RAM 202. Control to temporarily store information, files, etc.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a ROM which stores therein programs such as basic I / O programs and various data necessary for managing the game hall management system. A RAM 202 stores various data and functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 210.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes an external storage drive for realizing access to a recording medium, and a program or the like stored in the medium (recording medium) 204 can be loaded into the computer system. Note that the media 204 is arbitrary, for example, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a PC card, a DVD, an IC memory card, an MO, a memory stick, and the like.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes an external storage device. In this embodiment, an HD (hard disk device) that functions as a large-capacity memory is used. The HD 205 stores application programs, OS, control programs, related programs, and the like.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes an instruction input device, which corresponds to a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse), a touch panel, or the like. Using the instruction input device 206, the user instructs the host terminal 200 to input a command or the like for controlling the device.

  A display 207 displays a command input from the instruction input device 206, a response output of the host terminal 200 in response thereto, and the like.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a system bus, which controls the flow of data in the host terminal 200. Reference numeral 208 denotes an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F), which is connected to the communication line 100. The host terminal 200 exchanges data with an external device via the I / F 208.

  In addition, it can also be comprised as an alternative of a hardware apparatus with the software which implement | achieves a function equivalent to the above each apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the program and related data according to the present embodiment are directly loaded from the medium 204 to the RAM 202 and executed. However, every time the program according to the present embodiment is operated, the program is already executed. May be loaded into the RAM 202 from the HD 205 in which is installed. It is also possible to record the program according to the present embodiment in the ROM 201, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 210.

  In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a configuration in which the host terminal 200 is realized by a single device will be described. However, a configuration in which resources are distributed to a plurality of devices may be realized. For example, storage and calculation resources may be distributed in a plurality of devices. Alternatively, resources may be distributed for each component virtually realized on the host terminal 200, and parallel processing may be performed.

(Configuration of island terminal 300)
Next, the configuration of the island terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the island terminal 300.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 310 denotes a CPU that executes an operating system (OS), a control program, and the like stored in a ROM 301 described later, and temporarily stores information, files, and the like necessary for executing the program in a RAM 302. I do.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a ROM, which stores programs such as basic I / O programs and various data necessary for managing the game hall management system. A RAM 302 temporarily stores various data, and functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 310.

  Reference numeral 303 denotes a system bus that controls the flow of data in the island terminal 300.

  Reference numerals 304 and 305 denote a first communication unit and a second communication unit, respectively, as communication interfaces with external devices. In the present embodiment, the first communication unit 304 is a communication interface for connecting to the communication line 100, and the second communication unit 305 is a communication interface for connecting to the host terminal 200.

  Reference numeral 306 denotes an address setting unit for causing an external device to recognize the address of the island terminal 300 on the network.

  Reference numeral 307 denotes a display for displaying the status (situation) of the island terminal 300, diagnosis display, and the like.

  When the game hall management system is configured as shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the island terminal 300 is as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an island terminal 300 to which four communication lines 100 are connected. The configuration of FIG. 5 includes two first communication units connected to the communication line 100, a first communication unit a (304a) and a first communication unit b (304b), and further includes a first communication unit a (304a). ), The first communication unit b (304b) can be connected to two communication lines 100, respectively. With such a configuration, the island terminal 300 having the configuration of FIG. 5 can be connected to the four communication lines 100.

  In addition, it can also be comprised as an alternative of a hardware apparatus with the software which implement | achieves a function equivalent to the above each apparatus.

  In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a configuration in which the island terminal 300 is realized by one device will be described. However, the island terminal 300 may be realized by a configuration in which resources are distributed to a plurality of devices. For example, storage and calculation resources may be distributed in a plurality of devices. Alternatively, resources may be distributed for each component virtually realized on the island terminal 300, and parallel processing may be performed.

(Configuration of the terminal 400)
Next, the configuration of the base terminal 400 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of the base terminal 400.

  In FIG. 6, 401 is a RAM for storing data, and in this embodiment, stores information on the gaming machine 600 such as the sales amount and the number of balls that are obtained from the gaming machine 600.

  Reference numerals 402 and 403 denote a first communication unit and a second communication unit as communication interfaces with external devices, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first communication unit 402 is a communication interface for connecting to the communication line 100. The second communication unit 403 is a communication interface for connecting to the gaming machine 600. When receiving the token information, the second communication unit 403 broadcasts gaming machine information on the communication line 100, and forwards the token in the forward direction of the communication line 100. It functions as a communication means for transferring information.

  Reference numeral 404 denotes an address setting unit for causing an external device to recognize the address of the base terminal 400 on the network.

  Reference numeral 405 denotes a system bus that controls the flow of data in the base terminal 400.

  Reference numeral 600 denotes a game machine, such as a slot machine, a pachinko machine, or a ball lending machine. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, four game machines 600 are connected to the second communication unit 403, but the number of game machines 600 connected to the second communication unit 403 is not limited thereto. An appropriate number of game machines 600 can be connected and configured in accordance with the use and purpose.

  When the second communication unit 403 receives an instruction to update the information on the gaming machine 600 stored in the RAM 401 from the gaming machine 600, the second communication unit 403 updates the information on the gaming machine 600 stored in the RAM 401 based on the information. . And the 1st communication part 402 reads the information of the gaming machine 600 memorize | stored in RAM401 with the reception of token information, and broadcasts the read information on the communication line 100. FIG. Details of this processing (token passing processing) will be described later.

  In addition, it can also be comprised as an alternative of a hardware apparatus with the software which implement | achieves a function equivalent to the above each apparatus.

  In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a configuration in which the base terminal 400 is realized by one device will be described, but it may be realized by a configuration in which resources are distributed to a plurality of devices. For example, storage and calculation resources may be distributed in a plurality of devices. Alternatively, resources may be distributed for each component virtually realized on the base terminal 400 and parallel processing may be performed.

(data structure)
The host terminal 200, the island terminal 300, and the base terminal 400 synchronize and store the information of the gaming base 600 stored in all the base terminals 400 constituting the island 500. However, the island terminal 300 and the base terminal 400 synchronize data by token passing processing described later. Further, as described later, the host terminal 200 synchronizes data by acquiring data from the island terminal 300 at a preset timing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of data that the host terminal 200, the island terminal 300, and the base terminal 400 store in synchronization. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1601 denotes a stand terminal identifier as identification information for identifying the stand terminal 400. Reference numeral 1602 denotes a data update time as a data update time. FIG. 7 exemplarily shows a case where the data update time 1602 is expressed by an elapsed time from a preset reference time. Reference numeral 1603 denotes data stored in the base terminal 400, that is, information on the gaming base 600 connected to the base terminal 400.

  The host terminal 200, the island terminal 300, and the base terminal 400 each store data having the structure illustrated in FIG. 7 in a predetermined storage device. For example, the host terminal 200 can be configured to store data in the HD 205, the island terminal 300 in the RAM 302, and the base terminal 400 in the RAM 401. In addition, even if a failure occurs in a terminal (host terminal 200, island terminal 300, base terminal 400) by configuring a storage device that stores data of information on the gaming table 600 with a nonvolatile memory, the nonvolatile memory The data stored in can be continuously stored. For this reason, for a terminal equipped with a non-volatile memory, data immediately before the occurrence of a failure can be acquired by analyzing the non-volatile memory.

(Token passing process)
Next, a token passing process executed in the game hall management system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the token passing process.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the island terminal 300a transmits token information at a preset timing to the adjacent terminal 400a connected (501). The terminal 400a, when triggered by the reception of the token information, broadcasts data on the information about the gaming machine 600 stored in the storage device of the terminal 400a on the communication line 100 (502), and forward direction of the communication line 100, That is, token information is transferred to the base terminal 400b (503). Here, the information of the game console 600 broadcast by the base terminal 400a is all information (1604) about the base terminals 400a to 400f as shown in FIG. However, in 1604, the information 1605 regarding the base terminal 400a is updated based on the information acquired from the gaming base 600 by the base terminal 400a. In 1604, information other than the information 1605 is updated based on the data received from the corresponding terminal 400.

  When the island terminal 300 and the base terminals 400b to 400f receive the data broadcast from the base terminal 400a, they update the data stored in the storage device with the received data (504).

  Similarly to the base terminal 400a, each base terminal 400 broadcasts the data about the gaming machine 600 stored in the base terminal 400 on the communication line 100 in response to reception of the token information, and forwards the communication line 100. Token information is transferred to. Further, the island terminal 300 and the base terminal 400 update the data stored in the storage device based on the broadcast data.

  For example, the base terminal 400b also broadcasts data including information on the gaming machine 600 connected to the base terminal 400b on the communication line 100 in response to the reception of the token information (505), similarly to the base terminal 400a. The token information is transferred to the forward direction of the communication line 100, that is, to the terminal 400c (506). The island terminal 300 and the base terminals 400a, 400c to f each update the data stored in the storage device based on the data broadcast from the base terminal 400b (507). The stand terminals 400c to 400f sequentially perform such processing. However, after the terminal terminal 400f broadcasts the data about the gaming machine 600, it transfers the token information to the island terminal 300b.

  In the present embodiment, each terminal 400 executes data broadcast and token transfer in synchronization with a predetermined clock. Therefore, during normal operation, after the token is sent by the island terminal 300a, each terminal 400 broadcasts within a certain period of time. The island terminal 300a also sends out tokens at regular intervals in synchronization with a predetermined clock.

  In the above description, the token terminal is initially transmitted by the island terminal 300. However, any one of the terminal terminals 400 connected adjacently based on a preset event is described. Alternatively, the token information may be transmitted to the island terminal 300.

  By performing the processing as described above, the data stored in the storage device of the island terminal 300 and the base terminal 400 during the normal operation of the game hall management system is the game connected to the base terminal 400 that performed the broadcast. The information of the base 600 is updated and is held synchronously in all terminals.

  As described above, the values of the data update time 1602 and the data string 1603 of the information 1605 of the gaming machine 600 connected to a certain one of the terminal terminals 400 (for example, the terminal terminal 400a) are acquired and changed. The terminal terminal 400 (for example, the terminal terminal 400a), the other terminal terminals 400 (for example, the terminal terminals 400b to 400f), and the island terminal 300 are data held by the terminal terminal 400 (for example, the terminal terminal 400a). Just synchronize with. Therefore, when a certain one terminal 400 (for example, the terminal 400a) does not broadcast the data held therein, information (for example, the figure) of the gaming table 600 connected to the terminal 400 (for example, the terminal 400a). No. 1605) is not updated in the other terminal 400 (for example, the terminal 400b to f) and the island terminal 300.

(Basic processing)
Next, basic processing executed between the island terminal 300 and the host terminal 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of basic processing.

  During normal operation, the host terminal 200 sends a data transmission request to the island terminal 300a at a preset timing (601, 603). The data transmission request is a request for transmission of information of the gaming machine 600 connected to the machine terminal 400. In response to the reception of the data transmission request, the island terminal 300a transmits data on the base terminals 400a to 400f stored in the storage device to the host terminal 200 (602, 604). By performing such processing, the host terminal 200 can also hold the same data as the information of the gaming table 600 held by the island terminal 300 and the base terminal 400 in synchronization. For this reason, the user can browse the information of all the gaming machines 600 in the game hall management system via the user interface (the instruction input device 206, the display 207, etc.) provided in the host terminal 200.

  Here, consider a situation where a failure has occurred in the game hall management system. An example of a situation where a failure has occurred will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e is disconnected (1005 indicates a disconnection location).

  In such a situation, the token terminals 400a to 400d can receive the token (token 1) 1001 sent out by the island terminal 300a, but cannot receive the token terminals 400e and 400f. Therefore, the terminal terminals 400a to 400d perform data broadcasting, and the terminal terminals 400e and 400f do not.

  As a failure that may occur in the game hall management system, a failure of the base terminal 400 may be considered. A situation when the stand terminal 400 has failed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the base terminal 400d has failed.

  Here, it is assumed that the failure of the base terminal 400d is such that the base terminal 400d cannot perform the operation at all. In such a situation, the token terminals 400a to 400c can receive the token (token 1) 1101 sent out by the island terminal 300a, but cannot receive the token terminals 400d to 400f. Therefore, the terminal terminals 400a to 400c perform data broadcasting, and the terminal terminals 400d to 400f do not.

  Thus, when some kind of failure occurs in the game hall management system, broadcasting is not normally performed. Further, as described above, during normal operation, each terminal 400 broadcasts within a certain time after the island terminal 300a sends out a token. Accordingly, the island terminal 300a detects that a failure has occurred in the game hall management system by detecting that no broadcasting has been performed from any of the terminal terminals 400 constituting the island 500 within a certain time after the token is transmitted. Can be detected. In addition, the island terminal 300b and the base terminals 400d to f can detect that a failure has occurred in the game hall management system by detecting that the broadcast data from the base terminals 400a to 400c has not been received. it can.

(Failure judgment processing)
Next, a failure determination process (a process executed by the failure determination unit) for determining the presence or absence of a failure based on the broadcast information will be described.

  In step S651 of FIG. 9, the island terminal 300a determines whether or not the broadcast as a response to the token transmission has been performed from all the terminal terminals 400. If no broadcast is made from any of the terminal terminals 400 constituting the island 500 (YES in step S651), a non-response notification 605 indicating that there is no response is sent to the host terminal 200. This process is executed every time a token is sent.

  Furthermore, the island terminal 300a determines whether or not the number of times that the broadcast from any of the terminal terminals 400 has not been reached has reached a preset number of times (for example, 10 times). If the set number of times has been reached (YES in step S652), a failure detection notification 606 indicating that a failure has been detected is sent to the host terminal 200. In the present embodiment, in order to prevent a detection error due to packet loss on the communication line 100, it is determined that a failure has occurred when the number of times that the broadcast has not been made reaches the set number.

  On the other hand, the island terminal 300b and the base terminal 400 cannot receive broadcast data from any of the base terminals 400 constituting the island 500 at a predetermined timing, or cannot receive a token from the island terminal 300a. Detect failure based on. Then, the island terminal 300b sends token information (referred to as token 2) at a preset timing to the adjacent base terminal 400f triggered by the failure detection. Depending on the use and purpose, the host terminal 200 sends instruction information for instructing the island terminal 300b to send a token when the no-response notification 605 or the failure detection notification 606 is received. The island terminal 300b may be configured to start sending the token 2 when receiving the instruction information.

  Each terminal 400 broadcasts the data about the gaming table 600 stored in the terminal 400 on the communication line 100 when the token 2 is received, in the same manner as when receiving the token sent from the island terminal 300a. At the same time, the token information is transferred in the reverse direction of the communication line 100. However, the reverse direction is the direction opposite to the forward direction, that is, the direction from the second island terminal to the first island terminal in the communication line. That is, in the configuration shown in the figure, the direction is from the island terminal 300b to the island terminal 300a in the communication line 100. Further, the island terminal 300 and the base terminal 400 update the data stored in the storage device based on the broadcast data.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a simplified flow of token passing processing when a disconnection occurs in the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the token disappears at the disconnection point between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e, but the island terminal 300a and the base terminal are obtained by token passing processing based on the token sent from the island terminal 300a. 400a to 400d can hold the latest information about the base terminals 400a to 400d in synchronization. Similarly, by the token passing process based on the token transmitted from the island terminal 300b, the island terminal 300b and the base terminals 400e and 400f can synchronously hold the latest information about the base terminals 400e and 400f. .

  In addition, by token passing processing based on a token sent from the island terminal 300b, even when the base terminal 400 fails, the latest information can be acquired for the base terminal 400 that has not failed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the base terminal 400d fails, the island terminal 300a and the base terminals 400a to 400c are connected to the base terminals 400a to 400c by token passing processing based on the token sent from the island terminal 300a. The latest information can be kept synchronized. Similarly, by the token passing process based on the token transmitted from the island terminal 300b, the island terminal 300b and the base terminals 400e and 400f can synchronously hold the latest information about the base terminals 400e and 400f. .

  Upon receiving the failure detection notification 606 from the island terminal 300, the host terminal 200 controls to send a data transmission request not only to the island terminal 300a but also to the island terminal 300b at a preset timing. To do. FIG. 9 shows a case where a disconnection occurs in the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e, and the island terminal 300a receives the data transmission requests 607 and 611 from the host terminal 200 as an opportunity. As described above, the data of the held terminal 400 is sent to the host terminal 200 (608, 612). Similarly, when the island terminal 300b receives the data transmission requests 609 and 613 from the host terminal 200, the island terminal 300b transmits the data of the held terminal 400 to the host terminal 200 (610 and 614). The host terminal 200 updates the data about the base terminal 400 based on the data received from the island terminals 300a and 300b.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing how the host terminal 200 updates the data based on the data of the base terminal 400 received from the island terminals 300a and 300b.

  In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1301 denotes data about the base terminal 400 that the island terminal 300a and the base terminals 400a to 400d hold in synchronization. Reference numeral 1302 denotes data about the base terminal 400 that the island terminal 300b and the base terminals 400e and 400f hold in synchronization. 1303 is data held by the host terminal 200 acquired based on the data 1301 and 1302. In FIG. 13, a disconnection occurs in the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e.

  In this case, the data 1301 is synchronized with the latest information for the terminal terminals 400a to 400d, but the terminal terminals 400e and 400f are not updated from the time of disconnection. On the other hand, the data 1302 is synchronized with the latest information for the terminal terminals 400e and 400f, but the terminal terminals 400a to 400d are not updated from the time of disconnection. Therefore, the host terminal 200 extracts information about the base terminals 400a to 400d synchronized with the latest information from the data 1301 acquired from the island terminal 300a. Further, information about the base terminals 400e and 400f synchronized with the latest information is extracted from the data 1302 acquired from the island terminal 300b. Based on the information extracted from each of the data 1301 and 1302, the data 1303 synchronized with the latest information is acquired and held for the base terminals 400 a to 400 f.

  As described above, the host terminal 200 extracts and acquires a portion synchronized with the latest information from the data acquired from each of the island terminals 300a and 300b, thereby causing a failure in the game hall management system. Even in this case, it is possible to acquire information on the gaming table 600 and continue system management.

(Process of island terminal 300)
Next, a process in which the island terminal 300 transmits a token and detects a failure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the island terminal 300. Normally, the island terminal 300a executes the process of FIG. 14, but when a failure is detected and the island terminal 300b also sends out a token, the island terminal 300b also executes the process of FIG.

  First, in step S1401, the island terminal 300 sends a token to the base terminal 400 connected adjacently. For example, when the island terminal 300a performs processing in the configuration of FIG. 1, a token is sent to the base terminal 400a.

  Next, in step S1402, a process for initializing the identification number of the terminal 400 that is scheduled to receive data is performed. The island terminal 300 holds, in a storage device such as the RAM 302, identification information of one terminal 400 that is scheduled to receive broadcast data next in response to the token transmission.

  For example, when the island terminal 300a transmits a token in the configuration of FIG. 1, the terminal terminal 400a first broadcasts data in response to the token transmission. For this reason, in step S1402, the identification number scheduled to be received is initialized with the identification information of the base terminal 400a. As will be described later, when broadcast data is received from the base terminal 400a, the identification number scheduled to be received is updated to the identification information of the base terminal 400b scheduled to be broadcast next.

  Next, in step S1403, reception of data broadcast from the base terminal 400 corresponding to the identification number scheduled to be received is performed. In the above example, reception of data broadcast from the terminal 400a is waited for.

  Next, in step S1404, an elapsed time since the start of reception standby in step S1403 is acquired using a predetermined timing device. If the acquired elapsed time has passed the preset time (YES in step S1404), the process proceeds to step S1405. If not (NO in step S1404), the process proceeds to step S1409. The set time is stored in advance in a storage device such as the ROM 301 or the RAM 302, for example.

  In step S1409, it is determined whether broadcast data has been received from the terminal 400 corresponding to the identification number scheduled to be received. For example, when the base terminal 400 corresponding to the identification number scheduled to be received is the base terminal 400a, it is determined whether broadcast data has been received from the base terminal 400a. If broadcast data has been received (YES in step S1409), the process proceeds to step S1410. If not received (step S1403), the process returns to data reception standby.

  In step S1410, based on the data received from the base terminal 400 (for example, the base terminal 400a) that is scheduled to receive data, the data about the game table information held in the memory (storage device) is updated.

  Next, in step S1411, the identification number of the base terminal 400 scheduled to receive data is updated based on the array of base terminals 400. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 1, when the base terminal 400 scheduled to receive data is the base terminal 400 a, it is updated to the identification information of the base terminal 400 b connected adjacent to the base terminal 400 a in the token transfer direction. To do. In the configuration of FIG. 1, when the terminal terminal 400 that is scheduled to receive data is the terminal terminal 400f that is the terminal terminal 400 that finally receives the token, the identification information of the terminal terminal 400a that receives the token is updated first.

  Next, in step S <b> 1412, it is determined whether or not the data reception standby process has been executed for all the base terminals 400 constituting the island 500. If it has been executed for all the base terminals 400 (YES in step S1412), the process returns to step S1401, and the token is sent again based on a predetermined timing. If not executed for all the terminal terminals 400 (NO in step S1412), the process returns to step S1403 and waits for reception of broadcast data from the terminal terminal 400 corresponding to the terminal terminal identification number scheduled to be received in step S1411. To do.

  During normal operation in which no failure has occurred, by repeating the above processing, the data on the information on the gaming table 600 can be kept up-to-date. If any failure occurs, broadcast data cannot be received from the base terminal 400, that is, no response is detected. As described above, when no response is detected (YES in step S1404), the processes in and after step S1405 are performed.

  In step S 1405, a non-response notification indicating that broadcast data could not be received from the base terminal 400 is sent to the host terminal 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e is disconnected, it is detected that broadcast data cannot be received from the base terminals 400d and 400e. Notification of no response is sent to the host terminal 200 for the terminals 400d and 400e.

  Next, in step S1406, it is determined whether the number of non-response detections has reached a preset number. If the set number has been reached (YES in step S1406), the process proceeds to step S1407, and if not reached (NO in step S1406), the process proceeds to step S1411. The set number of times is stored in advance in a storage device such as the ROM 301 or the RAM 302, for example.

  In step S1407, since the detection of no response has reached the set number of times, it is determined that a failure has been detected.

  In step S1408, a failure detection notification indicating that a failure has been detected is sent to the host terminal 200.

  By performing the processing as described above, the island terminal 300 and the host terminal 200 can detect a failure that has occurred in the game hall management system.

(Processing of host terminal 200)
Next, processing executed by the host terminal 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the host terminal 200.

  First, in step S1501, the host terminal 200 transmits a data transmission request for requesting data transmission regarding information on the gaming machine 600 to the island terminal 300a. As described above with reference to FIG. 9, the island terminal 300 a that has received the data transmission request from the host terminal 200 transmits data about the information about the gaming table 600 that is held to the host terminal 200.

  Next, in step S1502, data regarding the information about the gaming table 600 is received from the island terminal 300a.

  Next, in step S1503, the data held by the host terminal 200 is updated based on the data received in step S1502. However, as described above, the portion of the data received from the island terminal 300a that is not updated to the latest information is not updated.

  Next, in step S1504, it is determined whether a failure detection notification has been received from the island terminal 300 or not. If it has been received (YES in step S1504), the process advances to step S1505. If not received (NO in step S1504), the process returns to step S1501, and data transmission is transmitted to the island terminal 300a at a predetermined timing.

  In step S1505, the host terminal 200 transmits a data transmission request to the island terminal 300b. As described above with reference to FIG. 9, the island terminal 300 b that has received the data transmission request from the host terminal 200 sends data about the information about the gaming table 600 that is held to the host terminal 200.

  Next, in step S1506, data on information about the gaming table 600 is received from the island terminal 300b.

  Next, in step S1507, the data held by the host terminal 200 is updated based on the data received in step S1506. However, as described above, the portion of the data received from the island terminal 300b that is not updated to the latest information is not updated.

  By performing the processing as described above, the host terminal 200 can acquire the latest data and manage the game hall even when a failure occurs in the game hall management system.

  When the island terminal 300 (for example, the island terminal 300a) breaks down, the other island terminal 300 (for example, the island terminal 300b) and the base terminal 400 are, for example, any one of the base terminals that configure the island 500 at a predetermined timing. A failure is detected based on failure to receive broadcast data from 400, failure to receive a token from a failed island terminal 300 (eg, island terminal 300a), and the like. In this case as well, the other island terminal 300 (for example, the island terminal 300b) starts the token passing process in the same manner as the processing when the occurrence of a failure in the communication line 100 and the base terminal 300 is detected. By sending a data transmission request to one island terminal 300 (island terminal 300b), it is possible to continuously acquire data on the base terminal 400 that constitutes the island 500. Depending on the purpose and purpose, the failure of the island terminal 300 may be detected by the host terminal 200 based on, for example, that a response to the data transmission request has not been received within a certain time. .

(Failure location identification process)
Next, failure location specifying processing for specifying a location where a failure has occurred based on broadcast data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the failure location specifying process. In the present embodiment, the host terminal 200 executes the failure location specifying process. However, the host terminal 200 may be configured to execute the island terminals 300a and 300b in cooperation with each other.

  First, the principle of identifying the location of failure will be described. As described above, when a certain terminal 400 does not broadcast, the information of the gaming table 600 connected to the terminal 400 is not updated in the terminal 400 and the island terminal 300 other than the terminal 400. It will be.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the situation where the communication line 100 between the base terminal 400d and the base terminal 400e is disconnected, the information on the game console 600 connected to the base terminals 400e and 400f is stored in the base terminals 400a to 400f. It is not updated at 400d and island terminal 300a. In this case, when the island terminal 300b sends a token based on the failure detection, the information on the game consoles 600 connected to the base terminals 400a to 400d is not updated in the base terminals 400e and 400f and the island terminal 300b.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, in the situation where the base terminal 400d is out of order, the information on the gaming machines 600 connected to the base terminals 400e and 400f is not updated in the base terminals 400a to 400c and the island terminal 300a. In this case, when the island terminal 300b sends a token based on the failure detection, the information on the game consoles 600 connected to the base terminals 400a to 400c is not updated in the base terminals 400e and 400f and the island terminal 300b. Information on the gaming table 600 connected to the base terminal 400d is not updated in any of the devices because the base terminal 400 is out of order.

  As described above, the failure occurrence location in the game hall management system is reflected in how the information on the gaming table 600 held by the terminal operating normally is updated. Therefore, in the failure location identifying process, the failure location is identified based on how the information on the gaming table 600 has been updated.

  First, in step S1601, the host terminal 200 identifies the set A of the base terminals 400 that did not broadcast corresponding to the token sent by the island terminal 300a. For example, in the case of FIG. 9 described above, the island terminal 300a does not receive broadcast data from the base terminals 400e and 400f, and therefore the set A = {base terminal 400e, base terminal 400f}. In the case of FIG. 10 described above, since the island terminal 300a does not receive broadcast data from the base terminals 400d to 400f, the set A = {base terminal 400d, base terminal 400e, base terminal 400f}.

  Next, in step S1602, the host terminal 200 identifies the set B of the base terminals 400 that did not broadcast corresponding to the token sent by the island terminal 300b. For example, in the case of FIG. 9 described above, since the island terminal 300b does not receive broadcast data from the base terminals 400a to 400d, the set B = {base terminal 400a, base terminal 400b, base terminal 400c, base terminal 400d}. . In the case of FIG. 10 described above, since the island terminal 300b does not receive broadcast data from the base terminals 400a to 400d, the set B = {base terminal 400a, base terminal 400b, base terminal 400c, base terminal 400d}.

  Next, in step S1603, it is determined whether or not a common term exists in the sets A and B specified in steps S1601 and S1602. If it exists (YES in step S1603), the process proceeds to step S1604. If it does not exist (NO in step S1603), the process proceeds to step S1605.

  For example, in the case of FIG. 9 described above, since there is no common term in the sets A and B (NO in step S1603), the process proceeds to step S1605. In the case of FIG. 10 described above, since the common term {base terminal 400d} exists in the sets A and B (YES in step S1603), the process proceeds to step S1604.

  In step S1604, it is determined that the terminal 400 corresponding to the common term of the sets A and B has a failure. For example, in the case of FIG. 10 described above, since the common term {base terminal 400d} exists in the sets A and B, it is determined that the base terminal 400d has a failure. Then, the process ends.

  In step S1605, it is determined that the communication line 100 located at the boundary between the sets A and B has a failure. For example, in the case of FIG. 10 described above, set A = {base terminal 400e, base terminal 400f} and set B = {base terminal 400a, base terminal 400b, base terminal 400c, base terminal 400d}. It is determined that there is a failure in the communication line 100 between the mobile terminal 400e and the terminal 400e. Then, the process ends.

  As described above, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the location where the failure has occurred is specified based on how the information on the gaming table 600 has been updated.

  Note that the host terminal 200 displays information on failure detection, such as the failure detection location and the failure occurrence location specified by the failure occurrence location specifying process, on the display 207, so that the user can play the game hall management system. You can easily know about the occurrence of failure in

<< Other Embodiments >>
As described above, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium. You may apply to the system comprised from an apparatus, and may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  The present invention can also be achieved by supplying a program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. Including the case where it is achieved.

  Therefore, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by a computer, the program code installed in the computer is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, the present invention includes a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer. In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on an instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.

It is the block diagram which showed the composition of the game hall management system in this embodiment exemplarily. It is the figure which showed exemplarily the structure of the game hall management system of this embodiment which can be taken in an actual game hall. It is the block diagram which showed typically the hardware constitutions of the host terminal. It is the block diagram which showed typically the hardware constitutions of the island terminal. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the island terminal to which four communication lines were connected. It is the block diagram which showed the hardware constitutions of the stand terminal typically. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the data which a host terminal, an island terminal, and a base terminal memorize | store in synchronization. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process of a token passing process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the basic process. It is the figure which showed typically a mode that the communication line was disconnected. It is the figure which showed the mode that the stand terminal failed. It is the figure which simplified and showed the flow of the token passing process when a disconnection arises in a communication line. It is the figure which showed typically a mode that a host terminal updates data based on the data of the stand terminal received from the island terminal. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process of an island terminal. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process which a host terminal performs. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the failure location identification process.

Claims (8)

A plurality of terminal devices for obtaining information on the gaming machine from the gaming machine;
A first and a second island terminal that are communicably connected to the plurality of platform terminals and obtain the information;
A host terminal communicably connected to the first and second island terminals;
In a game hall management system equipped with
With the first and second island terminals as both ends, the first and second island terminals and the plurality of base terminals are connected in series by a communication line,
At least one of the first island terminal and the base terminal comprises first token passing means for sending token information to the base terminal connected adjacently,
The plurality of terminal terminals, with the reception of the token information as an opportunity, broadcast information on the gaming table on the communication line, and include communication means for transferring the token information in the forward direction of the communication line,
A failure determination means for determining the presence or absence of a failure based on the broadcast information ;
The second island terminal includes second token passing means for sending token information to the adjacent terminal connected in response to the failure determination means determining that there is a failure,
The communication means broadcasts the information on the gaming machine on the communication line upon reception of the token information sent from the second island terminal, and the token information in the reverse direction of the communication line. Forward,
The first and second island terminals transmit the information of the gaming table received by the broadcast to the host terminal,
The host terminal integrates and manages the information on the gaming machine acquired from the first island terminal and the information on the gaming machine acquired from the second island terminal. A playground management system.   The failure determination unit determines that there is a failure when the information is not broadcast a predetermined number of times from any of the terminal terminals despite the token information being transmitted. The game hall management system described in 1. The failure determination means includes a first set of identification information for which the information has not been broadcast despite the token information being transmitted from the first island terminal, and the token from the second island terminal. If there is no common identification information in the second set of identification information for which the identification information was not broadcast even though the information was sent, any of the identification information included in the first set A combination of the first base terminal identified by the first terminal and the second base terminal identified by any of the identification information included in the second set, for combinations 2 platform terminal are adjacent game arcade according to determined that the failure in the connection between the first and second stage terminal existing in claim 1 or 2, characterized in the the combination manageable Temu. The failure determination means includes a first set of identification information for which the identification information has not been broadcast although the token information is transmitted from the first island terminal, and the second island terminal from the first island terminal. The base terminal identified by the common identification information when there is common identification information in the second set of identification information for which the identification information was not broadcast even though token information was transmitted The game hall management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the game room is determined to have a fault. The first and second island terminals and the plurality of platform terminals each include storage means for storing all the information,
It said first and second island terminal, said plurality of base terminal, any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that updating the information stored in the storage means based on the broadcasted the information The game hall management system according to item 1. 6. The game hall management system according to claim 5 , wherein the storage means provided in the first and second island terminals is a nonvolatile memory. The said host terminal refers to the location updated based on transmission of the said token information among the said information memorize | stored in the said memory | storage means of the said 1st and 2nd island terminal. 5. The game hall management system according to 5 or 6 . The host terminal, game arcade management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 displayed on the display means the information of the failure determination.

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