JP4628336B2 - GAME SYSTEM AND GAME DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming system and a gaming apparatus. Specifically, a management device that manages the remaining amount used for lending game media in association with recording medium identification information for individually identifying the recording medium, and management in association with the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium A gaming system comprising a lending processing means for performing lending processing for lending gaming media using a management remaining amount managed by the device, and a gaming device provided corresponding to the gaming machine; The present invention relates to a gaming device.

Conventionally, there has been a system in which a management device manages a remaining amount in association with a card ID, and uses the management remaining amount to lend a ball on a gaming device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to such a system, it is possible to prevent an illegal act that increases the remaining amount by falsifying information recorded on the card.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-30515 (paragraphs 0027 and 0076)

  However, in a system that lends a ball using the remaining amount stored in the management device as in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the management device and the gaming device are in an offline state in which communication is not possible, the management remaining amount However, there is a problem that it cannot be used for ball lending, which is inconvenient for the player and also causes a decrease in sales for the game hall.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming system and a gaming apparatus capable of improving the convenience of the player and preventing a decrease in sales at the game hall. It is to be.

Specific examples of means for solving the problems and their effects

(1) Used for lending game media (for example, pachinko balls) in association with recording medium identification information (for example, recording medium ID) for individually identifying recording media (for example, membership card 4, visitor coin 5) Management device (for example, management device 50) that manages the remaining balance (for example, in the remaining amount management DB of hard disk 55) and the management device in association with the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium. Lending processing means (for example, the control unit 21, S121 to S130) that performs lending processing for lending the gaming medium using the remaining management amount (for example, the remaining management amount) has a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko machine) 10) a game apparatus provided corresponding to 10) (for example, a ball rental unit 20) and an issuing means for issuing the recording medium (for example, the ball rental unit 20). A system (for example, a gaming system 1),
The gaming device further includes:
Management balance acquisition means (for example, control unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S201, S202, S221, S241) that acquires a management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device;
A remaining amount storage means (for example, the control unit 21, S222, S242) for storing the management remaining amount acquired by the management remaining amount acquisition means;
Remaining amount updating means (for example, control unit) for updating the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing means to a remaining amount subtracted by a loan usage amount (for example, usage amount + consumption tax amount) used in the lending process by the lending processing unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S121 to S124, S129),
Communication enable / disable detecting means (for example, control unit 21, S300) for detecting whether the communication apparatus can communicate with the management apparatus (for example, online state) or cannot communicate with the management apparatus (for example, offline state); With
The lending processing means, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means is not 0 when the communication impossible state is detected by the communication availability detecting means (for example, YES in S532). Perform the lending process using the remaining amount (for example, the control unit 21, S533, S534),
The gaming device further includes:
Offline consumption information (for example, offline consumption information) that can specify offline consumption (for example, offline consumption) that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state Consumption information specifying means (for example, control unit 21, S535, S946, S956, S966) for specifying offline reference amount-offline consumption amount);
Consumption information recording means (for example, control unit 21, S947, S957, S967) for recording the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying means on the recording medium;
Recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording means (for example, the control unit 21, S552, S571, S586),
The recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording unit is provided on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit is 0 (for example, YES in S523 or YES in S591). Recording medium recovery means (for example, control unit 21, S529, S596) to be recovered;
The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium are received based on the fact that the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Consumption information transmitting means (e.g., control unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S202, S606),
The issuing means includes:
Offline consumption information transmitting means (for example, control unit 21, S193) for transmitting the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collecting means to the management device; Offline consumption information erasure means (for example, the control unit 21, S243) for erasing the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information transmission means transmits the offline consumption information. Issuing the recording medium from which the offline consumption information has been erased by the consumption information erasing means (for example, the control unit 21, S191, S552);
The management device, the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information, the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmission unit or the offline consumption information transmission unit The amount is updated to the amount obtained by subtraction (for example, the control unit 52, S247).

  According to such a configuration, the management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium is acquired from the management device by the gaming device, the acquired management balance is stored, and the stored balance is It is updated to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the loan usage amount used for the loan processing. In addition, the gaming device detects whether the communication device is in a communicable state capable of communicating with the management device or is incapable of communication, and when the incommunicable state is detected, the stored balance is not 0 As a condition, loan processing is performed using the remaining amount.

  Further, the offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount that is the amount used for the lending process from the stored remaining amount is specified by the gaming device in the communication impossible state, and the specified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium The recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded is discharged on condition that the remaining amount recorded and stored is not 0, and the offline consumption information is recorded on condition that the stored remaining amount is 0 The medium is collected. Further, the management device manages the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium based on the fact that the gaming apparatus accepts the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected. Sent to.

  In addition, the issuing means transmits the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium collected by the gaming device to the management device, and the offline recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted The consumption information is erased, and the recording medium from which the offline consumption information is erased is issued. Further, the management remaining amount managed in association with the received recording medium identification information is updated by the management device to an amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information.

  For this reason, even if a communication impossible state occurs, if the management remaining amount is stored as a remaining amount in the gaming device, the remaining amount is used for lending game media. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall. In addition, since the recording medium is received by the gaming device in a communicable state, the amount used for the lending process in the communication impossible state can be subtracted and updated from the management remaining amount, and the management remaining amount can be corrected. Furthermore, when the stored remaining amount becomes 0, the management remaining amount can be reliably corrected by the next issuance of the recording medium without requiring the labor of the store clerk or the player.

(2) The recording medium collecting unit further collects the recording medium having the management balance of 0 when the communication availability state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit (for example, the control unit 21, S131, S132, S134, S136),
The issuing means further includes:
Offline consumption information determination means (for example, control unit 21, S192a) for determining whether or not the offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collection means;
The offline consumption information transmitting means is conditioned on the condition that the offline consumption information determining means determines that the offline consumption information is recorded (for example, NO in S192a). Offline consumption information is transmitted (for example, the control unit 21, S193).

  According to such a configuration, when the communicable state is detected by the gaming device, the recording medium having the management remaining amount of 0 is collected. Further, it is determined whether or not the offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium collected by the gaming device by the issuing means, and the recording medium identification is performed on the condition that it is determined that the offline consumption information is recorded. Information and offline consumption information are transmitted. For this reason, useless communication processing between the issuing means and the management apparatus can be prevented.

(3) In response to the issuance of the recording medium, the issuing unit supplies the next recording medium to the reading unit that reads the recording information of the recording medium (for example, the control unit 21, S192),
When the next recording medium is supplied to the reading unit, the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the supplied recording medium are read and transmitted by the offline consumption information transmitting means (for example, Control unit 21, S193).

  According to such a configuration, in response to the issuance of the recording medium, the issuing unit supplies the next recording medium to the reading unit that reads the recording information of the recording medium, and supplies the next recording medium to the reading unit. Sometimes, the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the supplied recording medium are read and transmitted. For this reason, the recording medium can be issued more quickly than when the offline consumption information is transmitted when the recording medium is issued and the management balance is updated.

(4) The management device and the gaming device may provide an offline loan count (for example, offline consumption count) that is the number of times loan processing has been performed using the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state. ) Or a reference value (for example, offline reference number or offline reference amount) related to the offline consumption amount (for example, offline consumption amount),
The consumption information recording means records, as the offline consumption information, a numerical value obtained by subtracting the offline loan count or the offline consumption amount from the reference value (for example, offline reference count-offline consumption count = offline consumption information). For example, the control unit 21, S946, S947, S956, S957, S966, S967),
The management device is configured to reduce the offline consumption amount based on a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption information received from the consumption information transmission unit from the reference value (for example, offline reference count-offline consumption information = offline consumption count). For example, offline consumption amount = ball lending set amount × offline consumption frequency) is specified (for example, control unit 52, S214 to S219), and the management remaining amount is updated (for example, control unit 52, S247).

  According to such a configuration, the reference value related to the offline loan amount that is the number of times that the management device and the gaming device have performed the loan process using the remaining amount stored in the communication disabled state, or the offline consumption amount Is memorized. In addition, a numerical value obtained by subtracting the number of offline loans or the amount of offline consumption from the reference value is recorded on the recording medium as offline consumption information by the gaming device. Further, the management device identifies the offline consumption amount based on the subtraction value obtained by subtracting the received offline consumption information from the reference value, and updates the management residual amount.

  For this reason, offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, offline consumption information is recorded. The amount cannot be 0. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0, even though the remaining amount is used in a communication impossible state.

(5) The reference value is different for each gaming device (see, for example, the set value DB in FIG. 6A).
The management device stores the reference value in association with gaming device identification information (for example, device ID) for individually identifying the gaming device (see, for example, the setting value DB in FIG. 6A). ),
The offline consumption amount is specified based on the reference value stored in association with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmitting means (for example, Control unit 52, S214 to S219).

  According to such a configuration, the reference value is different for each gaming device. Further, the management device stores the reference value in association with the gaming device identification information for individually identifying gaming devices. Further, the offline consumption amount is specified based on the reference value stored in association with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the received recording medium identification information.

  For this reason, offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, offline consumption information is recorded. The amount cannot be 0. Further, since the reference value differs for each gaming device, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0 even though the remaining amount is used in a communication impossible state.

(6) The management device and the gaming device store different reference values according to each time,
The consumption information recording means records time specifying information capable of specifying a time and the offline consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to the time,
The consumption information transmitting means further transmits the time specifying information recorded in the received recording medium;
The management device specifies an offline consumption amount based on the reference value corresponding to a time specified from the time specifying information received from the consumption information transmitting unit.

  According to such a configuration, different reference values are stored according to each time by the management device and the gaming device. In addition, the game device records time specifying information capable of specifying the time and offline consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to the time on the recording medium. Further, the game device further transmits the time specifying information recorded in the received recording medium to the management device. Further, the offline consumption amount is specified by the management device based on the reference value corresponding to the time specified from the received time specifying information.

  For this reason, offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, offline consumption information is recorded. The amount cannot be 0. Moreover, since the reference value varies depending on the time, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0 even though the remaining amount is used in a communication impossible state.

(7) The management device and the gaming device store different reference values according to each time,
The consumption information recording means records the offline consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to a time when the communication availability detecting means detects that the communication is impossible.
The management device further includes:
A communication inability detecting means for detecting a state in which communication with the gaming apparatus is not possible;
An incommunicable device storage means for storing in correspondence with the time when it is detected that the incommunicable detection means cannot communicate with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device in a state in which communication is impossible.
The management device specifies the time stored in the incommunicable device storage unit in correspondence with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmission unit. The offline consumption amount is specified based on the reference value corresponding to the specified time.

  According to such a configuration, different reference values are stored according to each time by the management device and the gaming device. Further, off-line consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to the time when it is detected by the gaming device that communication is impossible is recorded on the recording medium. Further, the management device detects a state where communication with the gaming device is not possible, and stores the time when it is detected that communication is not possible and the gaming device identification information of the gaming device where communication is not possible in association with each other. The Further, the management device identifies the time stored in correspondence with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the received recording medium identification information, and sets the reference value according to the identified time. Based on this, the offline consumption is identified.

  For this reason, offline consumption information calculated using the reference value is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, even if the offline consumption information is rewritten to 0, offline consumption information is recorded. The amount cannot be 0. Moreover, since the reference value differs depending on the time when it is detected that the gaming device and the management device are in a communication impossible state, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0 even though the remaining amount is used in a communication impossible state.

(8) Used for lending game media (for example, pachinko balls) in association with recording medium identification information (for example, recording medium ID) for individually identifying recording media (for example, membership card 4, visitor coin 5) Management which is managed in association with the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium in a management apparatus (for example, management apparatus 50) that manages the remaining balance (for example, in the remaining amount management DB of the hard disk 55) Corresponding to a gaming machine (for example, pachinko machine 10) having lending processing means (for example, control unit 21, S121 to S130) for performing lending processing for lending the gaming media using the remaining amount (for example, management remaining amount) A gaming device (eg, a ball rental unit 20),
Management balance acquisition means (for example, control unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S201, S202, S221, S241) that acquires a management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device;
A remaining amount storage means (for example, the control unit 21, S222, S242) for storing the management remaining amount acquired by the management remaining amount acquisition means;
Remaining amount updating means (for example, control unit) for updating the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing means to the remaining amount subtracted by the lending usage amount (for example, used amount + consumption tax amount) used for the lending process by the lending processing unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S121 to S124, S129),
Communication enable / disable detecting means (for example, control unit 21, S300) for detecting whether the communication apparatus can communicate with the management apparatus (for example, online state) or cannot communicate with the management apparatus (for example, offline state); With
The lending processing means, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means is not 0 when the communication impossible state is detected by the communication availability detecting means (for example, YES in S532). Perform the lending process using the remaining amount (for example, the control unit 21, S533, S534),
Offline consumption information (for example, offline consumption information) that can specify offline consumption (for example, offline consumption) that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state Consumption information specifying means (for example, control unit 21, S535, S946, S956, S966) for specifying offline reference amount-offline consumption amount);
Consumption information recording means (for example, control unit 21, S947, S957, S967) for recording the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying means on the recording medium;
Recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording means (for example, the control unit 21, S552, S571, S586),
The recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording unit is provided on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit is 0 (for example, YES in S523 or YES in S591). Recording medium recovery means (for example, control unit 21, S529, S596) to be recovered;
The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium are received based on the fact that the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Consumption information transmission means (e.g., control unit 21, external communication unit 21b, S202, S606),
Issuing means (for example, the passage unit 100) for issuing the recording medium;
The issuing means is:
The management remaining amount managed by the management device in association with the recording medium identification information is recorded on the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collecting means. In order to update to the amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the consumption information, offline consumption information transmission means (for example, the control unit 21, S193) that transmits to the management device, and the offline consumption information transmission means Offline consumption information erasure means (for example, control unit 21, S243) for erasing the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted, and the offline consumption information erasure means Issuing the recording medium from which the offline consumption information has been erased (for example, the control unit 1, S191, S552).

  According to such a configuration, the management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium is acquired from the management device by the gaming device, the acquired management balance is stored, and the stored balance is loaned When it is updated to the remaining amount subtracted by the loan usage amount used for processing, it is detected whether it is a communicable state that can communicate with the management device or a communicable state that cannot be communicated, and when a communicable state is detected On the condition that the stored remaining amount is not 0, the lending process is performed using the remaining amount.

  Further, the offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount that is the amount used for the lending process from the stored remaining amount is specified by the gaming device in the communication impossible state, and the specified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium The recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded is discharged on condition that the remaining amount recorded and stored is not 0, and the offline consumption information is recorded on condition that the stored remaining amount is 0 The medium is collected. Further, the management device manages the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium based on the fact that the gaming apparatus accepts the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected. Sent to.

  In addition, the recording medium is issued by the gaming device, and the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded in the collected recording medium are managed by the management device in association with the recording medium identification information. To be updated to the amount subtracted from the offline consumption amount specified from the consumption information, the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium is deleted and offline consumption on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted. A recording medium from which information is erased is issued.

  For this reason, even if a communication impossible state occurs, if the management remaining amount is stored as a remaining amount in the gaming device, the remaining amount is used for lending game media. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall. In addition, since the recording medium is received by the gaming device in a communicable state, the amount used for the lending process in the communication impossible state can be subtracted and updated from the management remaining amount, and the management remaining amount can be corrected. Furthermore, when the stored remaining amount becomes 0, the management remaining amount can be reliably corrected by the next issuance of the recording medium without requiring the labor of the store clerk or the player.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 according to the present invention does not record the remaining amount used for lending gaming media (pachinko balls) on a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). A game that manages a recording medium in association with recording medium identification information (recording medium ID) that can be individually identified (so-called complete ID management), and in particular a game that can communicate with the management device 50 that manages the remaining amount When the lending process for lending a game medium using the management remaining amount managed by the management device 50 is performed in the apparatus (ball lending unit 20), the usage used for the lending process from the management remaining amount When the amount of money and indirect tax (for example, consumption tax) corresponding to the amount used are subtracted and money is received in an incommunicable state (offline state) where communication with the management apparatus 50 is not possible, the tax amount is simply calculated from the received money amount. Amount (e.g. 105 yen) identifies the lending target amount corresponding to an integer multiple of, without depending on the player's operation, is performed 該貸 given target value worth of lending processing (offline one shot rental). The fractional amount generated by the off-line lending is recorded on a recording medium as an off-line fraction and discharged, and the off-line fractional amount can be used and settled.

  Since this gaming system 1 employs complete ID management as described above, the remaining amount used for lending gaming media is not recorded on the recording medium, so there is no possibility that the remaining amount will be tampered with and security is ensured. This can reduce the cost of the recording medium. That is, for example, when the recording medium is an IC card or an IC coin, if the remaining amount is recorded on the recording medium and security is to be ensured, it is necessary to mount the CPU on the recording medium and manage the remaining amount. However, if the remaining amount is not recorded on the recording medium as in the present invention, it is not necessary to mount the CPU on the recording medium, so that the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, when a CPU is mounted on a recording medium, since a control program on the gaming device side is complicated because information is exchanged with the CPU, the system design cost increases. If it is not installed, the control program does not have to be complicated, and the system design cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the gaming system 1 inserts (receives) the recording medium on which the offline fraction is recorded into a gaming device in an offline state, and as a result of lending the gaming medium using the offline fraction, the gaming system 1 Even when the offline fractional value becomes zero, it is possible to reliably return the recording medium with the remaining management amount to the player, while preventing the unnecessary return of the recording medium that does not have the remaining management amount and originally does not need to be returned. It is what.

  In addition, the gaming system 1 updates the serial number recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the specific process performed in the gaming device, and the recording is performed in association with the cooperative process performed in the management device 50 corresponding to the specific process. Since the serial number associated with the recording medium identification information of the medium is updated, the recording medium ejected from the gaming device can be changed to another one without waiting for the gaming device in which the offline state has occurred to return to the online state. By being accepted by the gaming device in the online state, the game is generated by the occurrence of the offline state from the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the serial number managed by the management device in association with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium. That it is possible to identify and cope with the fact that the cooperative process corresponding to the specific process is not performed in the management apparatus even though the specific process has been performed in the management apparatus. It is an butterfly. Here, the serial number is a serial number that starts from an arbitrary number (for example, 0) and is added one by one.

  Furthermore, when the gaming apparatus 1 returns to the online state after accepting money and lending it offline in an offline state where the gaming apparatus 1 cannot communicate with the management device 50, the gaming system 1 accepts the received money regardless of the player's operation. An online return notification including the deposit remaining amount (offline fractional amount) obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the off-line lending from the amount and the recording medium identification information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the remaining deposit amount and the remaining management amount The total amount specifying information (scheduled remaining amount notification) that can specify the total amount is transmitted from the management device 50, and the total amount can be used for the ball lending process.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ball lending unit 20, which is the gaming apparatus, communicates with a coin insertion slot 111, a coin discharge slot 112, and a first holding unit (inserted coin holding unit 120). An input recording medium discharge passage (insert coin discharge passage 160) having a passage 161 and a first guide passage 163, and a storage discharge passage 130 having a storage passage 131 and a second guide passage 133; A part or the whole is shifted relative to the storage / discharge passage 130 in the thickness direction of the disc-shaped recording medium (visitor coin 5), and the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 are overlapped to overlap the coin discharge port. A recording medium processing mechanism characterized by being formed so as to face 112 is provided.

  In the embodiment described below, this recording medium processing mechanism is provided in a ball lending unit 20 that performs a ball lending process as a predetermined special process, and a payment apparatus 60 that performs a payment process as the special process. The ball lending unit 20 and the payment device 60 are communicably connected to the management device 50, and constitute the gaming system 1 as a whole.

  In the following, an example will be described in which the gaming machine corresponding to the gaming apparatus is a pachinko machine 10, the gaming medium is a pachinko ball, and the lending process is a ball lending process. In addition, in the following, an example in which an indirect tax amount corresponding to the used amount used for the ball lending process is collected and the indirect tax is a consumption tax that has already been introduced will be described. It may be a game tax that may be introduced. Here, the consumption tax rate is 5% in this example, which is set by the card company that issues the member card 4 and the visitor coin 5 and is distributed to the management device 50 provided in the amusement hall. On the other hand, it is distributed and stored. Further, in the following, the usage amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the usage amount are abbreviated as “use amount + consumption tax amount”, the reader / writer is “R / W”, the database is “DB”, and step S is “S”. To do.

In the following, first, the gaming system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described, and finally a modified example will be described.
[1. Game system 1 according to the first embodiment]
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the structure of the game system 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10, a management device 50 capable of communicating with the ball lending unit 20, and communication with the management device 50. A checkout device 60 is provided in the game hall, and a center management device 80 capable of communicating with the management device 50 is provided in a card company outside the game hall.

  In this gaming system 1, bills 2, coins 3, membership cards 4, and visitor coins 5 are used. The banknote 2 is an example of money, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), here, four kinds of 1000 yen banknote, 2000 yen banknote, 5000 yen banknote, and 10000 yen banknote are used. The coin 3 is also an example of money, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), two types of coins, 500 yen coins and 100 yen coins, are used here.

  The membership card 4 is an example of a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 6C, a card ID is recorded as a recording medium ID that is recording medium identification information that can individually identify the recording medium. The membership card 4 is also an example of a card-like recording medium, on which information for performing the special processing (ball lending processing and settlement processing) is recorded. Here, the card ID which is the recording medium ID is recorded. It corresponds to this information. Here, the recording medium ID of the member card 4 is a four-digit number beginning with M indicating a member player (member), for example, as shown in FIG. Since this game system 1 employs complete ID management, the membership card 4 has a remaining amount used for lending a pachinko ball (a consumption tax amount corresponding to a unit usage amount of 100 yen described later). The sum of 5 yen plus 105 yen or more) is not recorded, but the fractional amount generated by one off-line lending (100 yen, the unit usage amount described later, plus 5 yen, the corresponding consumption tax), is 105 yen Less than) is recorded as an offline fraction.

  Further, the serial number is recorded on the member card 4. This serial number is obtained by the serial number updating means (the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20), which will be described later, and the specific processing (acquisition of received currency, ball lending processing for used amount + consumption tax, and fractional amount, offline consumption). The information is updated in the first serial number update process along with the information and the off-line settlement information deletion process. The serial number is updated by the third serial number update process by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 in accordance with the settlement process described later. The off-line settlement information is information that can specify the settlement amount settled by the settlement apparatus 60 in the offline state, and in the present embodiment, as will be described later, the amount itself is recorded in the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 or the like. The payment amount can be specified by the management device 50 without being recorded on the medium. For this reason, as offline settlement information, a flag indicating whether settlement has been performed in the offline state is recorded on the recording medium. When the offline settlement information is “1”, it indicates that the settlement is performed in the offline state, and when it is “0”, it indicates that the settlement is not performed in the offline state.

  The membership card 4 has a recording area (not shown) in which a recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, offline fractional amount, serial number, and the like are recorded in a predetermined portion of a rectangular thin plastic plate. In this case, the IC card is a non-contact type integrated circuit equipped with a non-volatile EEPROM as the recording area. Here, the recording medium ID, off-line consumption information, off-line settlement information, off-line fractional amount, and serial number are recorded in a storage area corresponding to each information. This membership card 4 is issued to a player who has registered as a member.

  By inserting the membership card 4 issued in this way into the ball lending unit 20 in which the player is online, the management balance of the membership card 4 can be used for lending game media, and the player is in an offline state. By inserting into the ball lending unit 20, the off-line fractional amount recorded on the member card 4 can be used for lending game media, and when the player inserts it into the checkout device 60, The management balance can be settled.

  In the following, “visitor” means a player who does not have the membership card 4 or a player who does not use the membership card 4 even if it has the membership card 4. Therefore, even a member player who has been issued a membership card 4 does not use it even if he does not have the membership card 4 (for example, he has forgotten the membership card 4) or possesses the membership card 4. In that case, it becomes a visitor.

  The visitor coin 5 is an example of a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 6C, a coin ID is recorded as a recording medium ID which is recording medium identification information capable of individually identifying the recording medium. The visitor coin 5 is also an example of a disk-shaped recording medium, on which information for performing the special processing (ball lending processing, settlement processing, and recording medium issuing processing) is recorded. Here, the recording medium ID is used. A certain coin ID corresponds to the information. Here, the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 is a four-digit number starting with V indicating the visitor, for example, as shown in FIG. Since this game system 1 employs complete ID management, the visitor coin 5 also has a remaining amount used for lending pachinko balls (a consumption tax amount corresponding to 100 yen as a unit usage amount described later). (Amount of 105 yen or more with the addition of yen) is not recorded, but is less than 105 yen, which is a fractional amount generated by offline lending (100 yen, the unit usage amount described later, plus 5 yen, the corresponding consumption tax) Are recorded as offline fractional amounts.

  The serial number is also recorded in the visitor coin 5. This serial number is also processed by the serial number updating means (the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20), which will be described later. The information is updated in the first serial number update process along with the information and the off-line settlement information deletion process. The serial number is updated by the third serial number update process by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 in accordance with the settlement process described later.

  In addition, an online balance flag is also recorded in the visitor coin 5 as management residual amount information indicating that the management residual amount, which is the residual amount managed by the management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5, is not zero. . Specifically, although not shown, when the management balance of the visitor coin 5 is zero, 0 is recorded as an online balanceless flag, and when the management balance of the visitor coin 5 is not zero, 1 is recorded as an online balance remaining flag. Is done.

  This visitor coin 5 is a recording area (recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, offline fractional amount, serial number, online residual amount flag, etc. are recorded in a predetermined part of a plastic coin having a disk shape ( This is an IC coin on which a non-contact type integrated circuit having a nonvolatile EEPROM is mounted as the recording area. Here, the recording medium ID, the offline consumption information, the offline fractional amount, the serial number, and the online remaining amount flag are recorded in the storage areas corresponding to the respective information. This visitor coin 5 is delivered from the card company to the amusement hall in a state where the recording medium ID is recorded in advance but the offline consumption information, offline settlement information, offline fractional amount, serial number, and online remaining amount flag are not recorded. Then, it is stored in a storage passage 131 (to be described later) of the ball lending unit 20.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, in the ball lending unit 20 that is in a state communicable with the management device 50 (online state), after accepting money without accepting the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5, as shown in FIG. In addition, based on having received a discharge operation (operation of a return button 16 described later) from the player, the remaining amount (stored amount described later) of the received monetary amount that is not used for the ball lending process is not zero. As a condition, a visitor coin 5 in which an online balance flag is recorded is issued (discharged).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, in the ball lending unit 20 which is in a state incapable of communicating with the management apparatus 50 (offline state), after accepting money without accepting the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5, it is shown in FIG. Thus, based on having received the discharge operation (operation of the return button 16 to be described later) from the player, the remaining amount (stored fraction amount to be described later) of the received monetary amount that is not used for the ball lending process is not zero. On this condition, the visitor coin 5 in which the off-line fractional amount is recorded is issued (discharged).

  When the player places the issued visitor coin 5 in the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, the management remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 can be used for lending game media, and the player enters the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state. By inserting, the off-line fractional amount recorded in the visitor coin 5 can be used for lending game media, and when the player inserts it into the settlement apparatus 60, the management remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 can be settled.

  Further, the membership card 4 and visitor coin 5 of the present embodiment are composed of reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data as management balance specifying information capable of specifying the management balance as shown in FIG. 6C. An area in which the original data and the calculation method flag can be recorded is provided, and data corresponding to the management remaining amount is recorded in each area when it is returned from the ball lending unit 20, and details thereof will be described later.

  The pachinko machine 10 provided corresponding to the ball lending unit 20 is an example of a gaming machine, and plays a game by driving a pachinko ball that is a game medium into the game area. Here, the corresponding ball lending unit 20 Is a so-called CR-type pachinko machine in which pachinko balls are paid out from the pachinko machine 10 by exchanging signals related to lending of pachinko balls and performing ball lending processing. The pachinko machine 10 is installed according to the model of the pachinko machine 10 and the like on a game island (not shown) arranged in the game hall.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a game area, an upper plate, a lower plate, a launching handle, and the like on the front surface thereof, a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, and a return button. 16, and as shown in FIG. 1, a game control board 11, a payout control board 12, a ball payout device 13, etc. are provided therein, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. 1. Yes.

  The game control board 11 controls the gaming state in the pachinko machine 10. The payout control board 12 is communicably connected to a ball lending communication unit 21a described later of the ball lending unit 20, and when a ball lending process described later is performed, a pachinko ball between the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending unit 20 is used. Signal exchanges related to lending are performed. The payout control board 12 is connected to the ball payout device 13 and controls the ball payout device 13. Further, the payout control board 12 is also connected to a remaining frequency indicator 14, a ball lending button 15, and a return button 16. The ball payout device 13 pays out a pachinko ball lent to a player through ball lending processing and a pachinko ball (so-called prize ball) given to the player as a result of the game. Here, the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 are arranged on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10, but can communicate with the ball lending unit 20 via the payout control board 12. Since it is connected, it belongs to the ball lending unit 20.

  The remaining number display 14 is a display for displaying the integer part of the quotient obtained by dividing the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 by the unit amount including tax as the remaining number. 7 digit display of digit. Here, the tax-included unit amount is a sum of a unit usage amount that is a predetermined unit when the remaining amount is used for lending pachinko balls and a consumption tax amount corresponding to the unit usage amount. For example, when the unit usage amount is 100 yen and the consumption tax rate is 5%, the tax-included unit amount is 105 yen, and the 105 yen is one time.

  The ball lending button 15 is a button for accepting a ball lending operation for performing a ball lending process using the management remaining amount of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) from the player. The return button 16 is a member card 4 held by a card holding unit 191 described later, a visitor coin 5 held by an inserted coin holding unit 120 described later, or a visitor coin 5 held by a storage coin holding unit 140 described later. This is a button for accepting a return operation for returning the game from the player.

  The ball lending unit 20 is an example of a gaming device, is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10, accepts a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), and associates it with the recording medium ID of the accepted recording medium. Various lending processing means including lending processing means for performing a first lending process for lending a game medium within the range of the management remaining amount which is the remaining amount managed by the management device 50, and including the first lending processing Is performed in cooperation with the management device 60. The control unit 21 functioning as the lending processing means performs a first lending process (usage amount + consumption tax amount for the lending process) shown in S122 of FIG. 8 as a lending process (ball lending process) for lending pachinko balls. ) And the second lending process (offline lending) shown in S522 of FIG.

  The ball lending unit 20 is also an example of a transaction apparatus, and lends game media using a management balance that is a balance managed by the management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. A transaction processing means for performing the first lending processing as transaction processing.

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 receives the visitor coin 5 and performs special processing using the amount of special processing value (remaining amount in this case) specified from the recorded information (here, the recording medium ID) of the received visitor coin 5. (In this case, the ball lending process), the money is received, and the value of the value for special processing corresponding to the remaining amount not used for the special processing in the amount of the received money is recorded in the record information of the visitor coin 5 (In this case, a deposit request including a received monetary amount is received when accepting a money of a predetermined amount or more, and a subtraction request including a used amount + consumption tax amount is received at the managing device 50 when accepting a ball lending operation. The visitor coin 5 is discharged).

  The ball lending unit 20 has a vertically long box shape. As shown in FIG. 2A, a multi-function lamp 24, a bill insertion slot 22a, a coin insertion slot 23a, and a coin return button are provided on the front surface thereof. 23e, a remaining amount indicator 25, a coin return port 23f, a coin insertion port 111, a coin discharge port 112, a card insertion port 190, and the like, and as shown in FIG. A unit 21, a ball lending communication unit 21a, an external communication unit 21b, a coin discriminator 23, a passage unit 100, and the like, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. The ball lending unit 20 can identify each ball lending unit 20 individually by the device ID.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, and the like, and each processing element stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby each component included in the ball lending unit 20 is provided. The various operations are performed by controlling the operation. The device ID is stored in the ROM of the control unit 21.

  The RAM of the control unit 21 is an example of a management remaining amount presence / absence management unit, and is a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) received when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Whether or not the remaining management amount is not zero is managed at least during reception of the recording medium. Specifically, when a recording medium is received in the online state with the management apparatus 50, a scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7, S241 in FIG. 10) including the sum of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount or the above Based on the fact that the remaining amount notification (S221) including the management remaining amount has been transmitted, the total amount or the remaining management amount is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21, and based on the first lending process described later, the control unit By subtracting the used amount + consumption tax amount from the management balance stored in the RAM 21 (S129 in FIG. 8), it is managed whether or not the management balance of the visitor coin 5 is zero. Hereinafter, the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is referred to as “stored remaining amount”.

  That is, the control unit 21 is an example of a management remaining amount acquisition unit, and is managed in association with the recording medium ID by transmitting an insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the received recording medium to the management device 50. The remaining management balance is acquired from the management device 50, and the acquired management balance is stored in a RAM as a remaining storage unit. Further, the control unit 21 is an example of a remaining amount update unit, and each time the first lending process is performed, the sum of the loan usage amount and the consumption tax amount used for the first lending process is calculated from the remaining amount stored in the RAM. Subtract update. That is, the remaining amount stored in the RAM is updated to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the total amount.

  The RAM of the control unit 21 is an example of a fractional amount storage unit, and stores the fractional amount specified by the specifying unit (control unit 21) described later. Note that the RAM of the control unit 21 also stores the loan target amount specified by the specifying means. Hereinafter, the fraction stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is referred to as “storage fraction”. Here, the remaining storage amount and the stored fractional amount are stored in separate areas.

  Further, the RAM of the control unit 21 stores the processing state of the ball lending unit 20. Specifically, when money is accepted, the processing state is memorized as “money accepted”, and when the ball lending operation is accepted, the processing state is memorized as “ball lending operation accepted” and returned. When the operation is accepted, the fact that the processing state is “return operation acceptance” is stored, and when the recording medium is accepted, the fact that the processing state is “recording medium acceptance” is stored. Other functions of the control unit 21 will be described later.

  The control unit 21 is provided with a ball lending communication unit 21a and an external communication unit 21b. As described above, the ball lending communication unit 21a is communicably connected to the payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10. The external communication unit 21 b is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 51 of the management device 50 and manages communication between the ball lending unit 20 and the management device 50.

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a deposit request transmission unit, and accepts money of a predetermined amount (for example, 1000 yen) or more when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. On the basis of this, a payment request for identifying the received money amount, which is the amount of the received money, and the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is transmitted to the management device 50. Yes, here, a deposit request including the accepted monetary amount and the recording medium ID is transmitted (S103 in FIG. 7).

  Specifically, when money is received without receiving a recording medium, a deposit request including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140 and the received money amount is transmitted, and the membership card 4 When the money is accepted in the state where the insertion of the money is accepted, a deposit request including the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the accepted money amount is transmitted, and the insertion of the visitor coin 5 is accepted. When money is received in the state of being, the deposit request including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 and the received money amount is transmitted. That is, for the deposit request, the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140, the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120. One of the five coin IDs is included as the recording medium ID.

  The management apparatus 50 that has received this deposit request records the received monetary amount specified from the deposit request (here, the received monetary amount included in the deposit request) from the recording medium ID identified from the deposit request (here, the deposit). The storage amount associated with the recording medium ID included in the request is stored (S105 in FIG. 7), and the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the accepted monetary amount can be specified Notification of the remaining balance (here, the scheduled remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S106).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a subtraction request transmission unit, and uses the used amount used for the first lending process (usage amount + ball lending process for the consumption tax amount) and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount. A first subtraction request for subtracting from the management remaining amount is transmitted to the management device 50, and here, a subtraction request including the recording medium ID, the used amount + the consumption tax amount is transmitted (S124 in FIG. 8). . Here, the used amount + consumption tax amount included in the first subtraction request is a management remaining amount (that is, a stored remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) and a ball lending which is a predetermined reference lending amount as will be described later. If it is determined by comparison with a set amount (for example, 525 yen, which is a unit number of 5 times including tax), and if the remaining amount of memory is equal to or more than the set amount of the ball loan, the set amount of the ball loan is the use amount + consumption tax amount and stored. If the remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, the loan target amount that is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the stored remaining amount is the used amount + consumption tax amount. That is, the first subtraction request is a request for subtracting the reference loan amount (ball lending set amount) used for the first loan processing from the management remaining amount, or the loan target amount used for the first loan processing. This is a request to subtract from the management balance.

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a reception notification transmission unit, and has received a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Based on this, a recording medium reception notification (here, an insertion notification) including the recording medium ID and serial number recorded on the received recording medium is transmitted to the management device 50 (S202 in FIG. 9). ). Here, when the off-line fractional amount, off-line consumption information or off-line settlement information is recorded on the received recording medium, an insertion notification including the off-line fractional amount, off-line consumption information or off-line settlement information is transmitted.

  Specifically, when the insertion of the membership card 4 is accepted, the card ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, offline fractional amount, serial number, and device ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 are entered. When the insertion notice including the visitor coin 5 is received, the coin ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, offline fractional amount, serial number, and device ID of the visitor coin 5 held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 are received. Send an insert notification containing. That is, the insertion notification includes either the card ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 as the recording medium ID.

  Receiving this insertion notification, the management apparatus 50 performs determination by a serial number determination unit (control unit 52) described later (S203 in FIG. 9). Then, it is determined that the serial numbers are the same, the offline fraction included in the insertion notification is zero, and there is no offline consumption information and offline settlement information, so that it is associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. The remaining amount notification including the managed remaining amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221 in FIG. 10).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the serial numbers match and the offline fractional amount included in the insertion notification is not zero, the insertion is made with respect to the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. A fraction addition update process for adding and updating the offline fraction included in the notification (here, the process of storing the offline fraction in association with the recording medium ID) is performed (S212 in FIG. 9), and the offline fraction A fraction erasure request (in this case, a planned remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the off-line fractional amount) instructing the amount erasing to the ball lending unit 20 Transmit (S241 in FIG. 10).

  On the other hand, on the condition that the serial numbers match and there is offline consumption information included in the insertion notification, the insertion notification is made for the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. Offline consumption amount subtraction update processing (here, processing for storing the offline consumption amount in association with the recording medium ID) for subtracting and updating the offline consumption amount specified by the offline consumption information included in the file is performed (FIG. 9). S214 to S219), an offline consumption information erasure request for instructing erasure of the offline consumption information (here, a schedule including a total amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from a management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID) (Remaining amount notification) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 10).

  On the other hand, on the condition that the serial numbers match and there is offline settlement information included in the insertion notification, the insertion notification is made for the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. The off-line settlement amount subtraction update process for subtracting and updating the off-line settlement amount specified by the off-line settlement information included in the file (here, processing for storing the off-line settlement amount in association with the recording medium ID) is performed (FIG. 9). S233, S236, S237), an off-line settlement information erasure request for instructing erasure of the off-line settlement information (here, a total amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount from a management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID) (Scheduled remaining amount notification) is transmitted to the ball rental unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 10).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a return notification transmission unit, and based on the detection of the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later to the online state, Manages the online return notification including the deposit amount after subtracting the amount used for off-line lending from the received monetary amount, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, and the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) In this case, a start request is transmitted from the management device 50 that detects the return to the online state (S601 in FIG. 22), and a start response corresponding to the start request is transmitted to the management device. After replying to 50 (S605), the recording medium ID recorded on the recording medium, the off-line fractional amount that is the deposit balance, Offline consumption information, offline payment information, and transmits the online return notification including serial number to the management apparatus 50 (the S606). The online return notification is equivalent to the insertion notification, and the management device 50 that has received the online return notification performs the same processing as when the insertion notification is received.

  The external communication unit 21 b is an example of a cooperation process request transmission unit, and transmits a cooperation process request for requesting a cooperation process corresponding to the specific process to the management apparatus 50.

  Specifically, the ball lending unit 20 that has received the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7) performs a loanable process (in this case, taking in accepted currency) as a specific process by the loanable processing means described later (S108). ), The serial number recorded on the recording medium is updated by the serial number updating means (to be described later) with the specific process (S109), and the loanable information (in this case, taking in money) indicating that the loanable process has been performed. Notification) is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 as a cooperation processing request (S110). The management device 50 that has received the money take-in notification adds a received money amount stored in association with a recording medium ID of the recording medium to a management remaining amount of the recording medium; An added update process (in this case, erasure of the received monetary amount) for updating the received monetary amount to an identifiable state is performed as a linkage process (S113, S114), and along with the linkage process The serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium is updated (S115).

  In addition, the ball lending unit 20 that has performed the first lending process (the amount of use + the ball lending process for the consumption tax) as the specific process (S122 in FIG. 8) is recorded by the serial number updating means described later along with the specific process. Is updated (S123), and the first subtraction request is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 as a cooperation processing request (S124). Upon receiving this subtraction request, the management device 50 performs the first subtraction process for subtracting the used amount + consumption tax amount from the management residual amount as the cooperation process (S125), and the recording medium ID of the recording medium is associated with the cooperation process. The serial number associated with is updated (S126), and a subtraction completion notification indicating that the first subtraction process has been completed is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S126). The ball lending unit 20 can perform the next lending process on condition that the subtraction completion notification is received.

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 that has received the notice of the planned remaining amount (S241 in FIG. 10) performs a fractional amount erasing process (payment remaining amount erasing process) or an offline consumption information erasing process for erasing the offline consumption information by a fractional amount erasing process described later The offline settlement information erasing process for erasing the offline settlement information is performed as a specific process (S244, S243, S243a), and the serial number recorded on the recording medium is updated by the serial number updating means (to be described later) along with the specific process ( (S245), a fractional erasure notification (notification of erasure of the remaining balance) indicating that the fractional erasure processing has been performed is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 as a cooperation processing request (S246). The management device 50 that has received this fraction deletion notification adds the offline fraction (payment balance) stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium to the management balance of the recording medium. The addition process (payment balance addition process) and the added update process (in this case, the deletion of the offline fractional amount) for updating the offline fractional amount to a state where it can be specified are performed as linked processes (S248). ), The offline consumption amount subtracting process for subtracting the offline consumption amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium from the management residual amount of the recording medium, and specifying that the offline consumption amount has been subtracted The offline consumption amount subtracted update process (in this case, the deletion of the offline consumption amount) for updating to the correct state is performed as a linkage process (S247), and the recording medium Offline settlement amount subtraction processing for subtracting the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID from the management balance of the recording medium, and offline for updating the offline settlement amount to a state where it can be specified that the offline settlement amount has been subtracted The settlement amount subtracted update process (here, deletion of the offline settlement amount) is performed as a linkage process (S247a in the same), and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium is updated along with these linkage processes ( (S227).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 10) updates the serial number recorded on the recording medium by the serial number updating means described later (S223), and sends the remaining amount reception notification to the management device 50. (S224). The management device 50 that has received the remaining amount reception notification updates the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (S227).

  The external communication unit 21b is an example of a return notification transmission unit, and has received a return operation (operation of the return button 16) when an online state is detected by a communication availability detection unit (control unit 21) described later. Based on the above, a return notification including the recording medium ID is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S184 in FIG. 12). Specifically, when a return operation is received without receiving a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), a return notification including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is transmitted. When the return operation is accepted while the insertion of the membership card 4 is accepted, a return notification including the card ID of the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is transmitted, and the insertion of the visitor coin 5 is accepted. When the return operation is accepted in the state of being present, a return notification including the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is transmitted. That is, the return notice includes the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140, the card ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120. One of the five coin IDs is included as the recording medium ID. The management device 50 that has received this return notification transmits a return permission notification to the ball lending unit 20 (S185).

  Since the information (request or notification) transmitted from the external communication unit 21b includes the device ID, the management device 50 is based on the device ID received together with the information. The unit 20 can be specified.

  The bill validator 22 is an example of money accepting means (money accepting and identifying means), and accepts money. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the four types of bills 2 from the bill insertion slot 22a. It is a discriminator that accepts the insertion and identifies the authenticity and denomination of the accepted bill 2. The banknote 2 received by the banknote discriminator 22 is discharged from the back of the ball lending unit 20 through the banknote passage 22b by the accepted currency taking-in process, and is provided on a game island (not shown). And is collected in a safe (not shown). Moreover, the banknote 2 received by the banknote identification machine 22 is discharged | emitted from the banknote insertion port 22a by the return process of a received money, and is returned to a player.

  The coin discriminator 23 is also an example of a currency accepting unit, and accepts money. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), accepts the insertion of the two types of coins 3 from the coin insertion slot 23a, It is an identification machine which identifies the authenticity and denomination of the coin 3 which has fallen through the coin passage 23b. The coin 3 received by the coin discriminator 23 is also discharged from the back of the ball lending unit 20 to the outside through the coin passage 23c by the received coin taking-in process, and a coin transport mechanism (not shown) provided on the amusement island. And is collected in a safe (not shown). The coin return button 23e is a button for accepting a return operation for the coin 3 jammed in the coin discriminator 23 or the coin passage 23b. When the player presses the coin return button 23e, the coin 3 is coined. It returns to the coin return port 23f through the passage 23d. Moreover, the coin 3 received by the coin discriminator 23 is discharged to the coin return port 23f and returned to the player by the return processing of the received money.

  In these money accepting means, all kinds of money can be accepted in the online state with the management device 50. When money of a predetermined amount (for example, 1000 yen) or more is accepted, the accepted money amount and the recording medium ID A payment request including (S103 in FIG. 7) is transmitted to the management apparatus 50. Further, in the offline state with the management apparatus 50, only money of 1000 yen or less can be accepted, and when the money is accepted, offline one-off loan (S522 in FIG. 15) described later is performed.

  The multi-function lamp 24 is a lamp that notifies the state of the ball lending unit 20 by lighting or blinking in any one of a plurality of predetermined colors. For example, when the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 are not received, the multi-function lamp 24 is lit in blue to notify the fact, and when the membership card 4 is accepted, the multifunction lamp 24 is lit in green to notify the fact. When 5 is received, it is lit in yellow to notify that, and when an abnormality has occurred, it is flashed in red to notify that.

  The remaining amount indicator 25 is a display for displaying the remaining amount or fractional amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, and here is a 5-digit 7-segment indicator, The fractional amount is displayed in units of 1 yen. In the remaining amount indicator 25, the stored remaining amount is displayed in the online state, and the combined amount of the stored remaining amount and the stored fractional amount is displayed in the offline state.

  The passage unit 100 constitutes a part of the recording medium processing mechanism, and the inserted coin holding portion 120, the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the storage discharge passage 130 are integrally formed. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 3, the passage unit 100 includes a control unit 101, a recording medium R / W 102, an upper antenna inside a unit main body 100 a having a vertically long box shape. 103, the lower antenna 104, the inserted coin guide passage 113, the supply passage 114, the inserted coin holding portion 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121, the second inserted coin stopper 122, the storage passage 131, and the second guide passage 133. A storage / discharge passage 130, a storage coin holding portion 140, a first storage coin stopper 141, a second storage coin stopper 142, an inserted coin discharge passage 160 having a communication passage 161 and a first guide passage 163, and a card holding portion 191. Etc. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inclined portion 162 is provided in the communication passage 161 which is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the thickness of the visitor coin 5 is set to the insertion coin discharge passage 160 with respect to the storage discharge passage 130. By shifting in the direction, the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 are formed so as to overlap each other and face the coin discharge port 112 in parallel with each other in parallel to the left and right. Here, each passage is a passage that rolls or falls due to the weight of the visitor coin 5 in a state where the visitor coin 5 stands.

  The control unit 101 is communicably connected to the control unit 21, and based on a command from the control unit 21, the recording medium R / W 102, the first connected as shown in FIG. The operation of the inserted coin stopper 121, the second inserted coin stopper 122, the first stored coin stopper 141, and the second stored coin stopper 142 is controlled. The control unit 101 stores that the passage unit 100 is provided in the ball lending unit 20, and performs control based on the storage. Specifically, when a return operation is received while the visitor coin 5 is held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121 that is normally closed is opened to connect the visitor coin 5 to the communication path 161. Then, the first insertion coin stopper 121 is controlled to be closed. Further, when the remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 becomes zero, the normally closed second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is stored in the storage passage 131. Control to close the second inserted coin stopper 122 is performed. Further, when the return operation is accepted while the storage coin holding unit 140 holds the visitor coin 5, the normally closed first storage coin stopper 141 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is discharged from the coin discharge port 112. The first storage coin stopper 141 is closed, the normally closed second storage coin stopper 142 is opened, and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage coin holding part 140. Control to close the second storage coin stopper 142 is performed.

  The recording medium R / W 102 reads the recording information of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) and writes information to the recording medium. The recording medium R / W 102 is an IC reader / writer corresponding to the membership card 4 that is the IC card and the visitor coin 5 that is the IC coin. The recording medium R / W 102 corresponds to the inserted coin holding unit 120 and reads the recorded information of the visitor coin 5. An upper antenna 103 that is a first reading unit, and a lower antenna 104 that is a second reading unit that corresponds to the stored coin holding unit 140 and the card holding unit 191 and reads recorded information of both the visitor coin 5 and the member card 4 are provided. ing. As a result, information is read from and written to the visitor coin 5 inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 and held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 via the upper antenna 103. In addition, information is read from and written to the visitor coin 5 that is discharged from the storage passage 131 and held by the storage coin holding unit 140 via the lower antenna 104. Further, information is read from and written to the member card 4 inserted through the card insertion slot 190 and held by the card holding unit 191 via the lower antenna 104.

  The coin insertion slot 111 is a part into which the visitor coin 5 is inserted. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the coin insertion slot 111 is formed on the front surface of the ball lending unit 20, and the visitor coin 5 is inserted in a standing state. Possible vertical hole. The coin insertion slot 111 is provided with a shutter (not shown) that is opened and closed under the control of the control unit 101. The coin insertion slot 111 is operated by the shutter except in a state of waiting for a recording medium reception described later (for example, S193 in FIG. 12). 111 is shielded so that the visitor coin 5 cannot be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passage unit 100 includes an inserted coin guiding passage 113 for guiding the visitor coin 5 inserted into the coin insertion slot 111 to the inserted coin holding unit 120. The passage 113 is a passage that is inclined toward the rear from the coin insertion slot 111. The passage unit 100 includes a supply passage 114 that communicates with the inserted coin holding portion 120 and supplies the visitor coin 5 to the inserted coin holding portion 120, and the supply passage 114 here is an upper surface of the passage unit 100. It is a passage formed vertically from the bottom to the bottom. Note that the supply passage 114 is not used in the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20.

  The coin discharge port 112 is provided below the coin insertion port 111 and is a portion from which the visitor coin 5 is discharged. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c), the front surface of the ball lending unit 20 is provided. The first guide passage 163 formed on the end side of the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the second guide passage 133 formed on the end side of the storage discharge passage 130 face each other, and both guide passages face each other. This is a container-like part that receives the visitor coin 5 discharged from the container.

  The card insertion port 190 is provided on the side of the coin discharge port 112 and is a part into which the membership card 4 is inserted. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c), the ball lending unit 20 Is a vertically long hole that can be inserted in a state where the membership card 4 is erected. The card holding part 191 is a part for holding the membership card 4 inserted from the card insertion slot 190, and is located behind the card insertion slot 190 as shown in FIG.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the lower antenna 104 is disposed between the stored coin holding unit 140 and the card holding unit 191, thereby recording information on both the visitor coin 5 and the member card 4. Is configured to read. According to this, compared with the case where the reading part corresponding to the card holding part 191 is provided separately from the lower antenna 104, space can be saved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  The inserted coin holding unit 120 is an example of a first holding unit, and a first reading unit (upper antenna 103) that reads recorded information of the visitor coin 5 is provided correspondingly, and visitor coins 5 ( (Hereinafter also referred to as “inserted coins”). Here, the end portion of the inserted coin guide passage 113 is a portion defined by the first inserted coin stopper 121 and the second inserted coin stopper 122. . In the inserted coin holding unit 120, the visitor coins 5 that have been inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 and rolled in the inserted coin guide passage 113 by their own weight are the first inserted coin stopper 121 and the second inserted coin stopper that are in the closed state. 122 is held and held.

  The first inserted coin stopper 121 is a stopper formed between the inserted coin holding part 120 and the inserted coin discharge passage 160.

  The second inserted coin stopper 122 is a stopper formed between the inserted coin holding part 120 and the storage passage 131.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the storage / discharge passage 130 stores the collected visitor coins 5 (here, the visitor coins 5 having no balance) out of the visitor coins 5 held by the inserted coin holder 120. This is a passage for discharging the visitor coin 5 to the coin discharge port 112, and has a storage passage 131 and a second guide passage 133.

  The storage passage 131 is a passage that is connected to the inserted coin holding portion 120 and stores the visitor coin 5. Here, the storage passage 131 is inclined rearward from the inserted coin holding portion 120 and bent vertically downward along the way. In the middle, it is bent in a semicircular arc shape toward the rear, and a first storage coin stopper 141 is provided at the end. In this storage passage 131, the visitor coin 5 previously inserted from the coin insertion slot 111 before the game hall business is started, and the second coin stopper 122 is opened during the game hall business and the inserted coin holding part 120 is opened. The visitor coins 5 that have been released from the holding are blocked by the first storage coin stopper 141 in the closed state and stored in a line. Here, “aligned in a line” means that the surfaces of the visitor coins 5 are aligned so that the circumferences are in contact with each other. The storage passage 131 here can store seven visitor coins 5.

  The first storage coin stopper 141 is a stopper formed between the storage passage 131 and the second guide passage 133.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passage unit 100 includes a discharge passage 132 that is continuously provided from the middle of the storage passage 131 and discharges the visitor coin 5 from the storage passage 131. This is a passage that is vertically formed downward from an opening formed in the lower half of the semicircular arc-shaped portion of the storage passage 131 and opens on the lower surface of the passage unit 100. In the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20, the discharge passage 132 is shielded by the discharge passage shielding plate 153 at the branching portion between the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 by mounting a first cover member 150 described later. Therefore, the discharge passage 132 is not used.

  The second guide passage 133 is a passage that is formed with the stored coin holding portion 140 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. Here, the second guide passage 133 is inclined forward from the end of the storage passage 131 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. Then, a second stored coin stopper 142 is provided in the vicinity of the terminal end to form a stored coin holding portion 140.

  The storage coin holding unit 140 is an example of a second holding unit, and a second reading unit (lower antenna 104) that reads recorded information of the visitor coin 5 is provided correspondingly, and the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131. (Hereinafter also referred to as “storage coins”). Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the vicinity of the terminal end of the second guide passage 133 is a portion partitioned by the second storage coin stopper 142. In the storage coin holding unit 140, the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131 with the first storage coin stopper 141 opened is blocked by the second storage coin stopper 142 in the closed state. Always kept.

  Here, the second storage coin stopper 142 is a shutter that opens and closes under the control of the control unit 101, and is normally in a closed state and holds the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131. When the second storage coin stopper 142 receives a return operation in a state where the inserted coin holding unit 120 does not hold the visitor coin 5 and the card holding unit 191 does not hold the member card 4, the control unit 101 receives the return operation. In this way, the opened visitor coin 5 rolls in the second guide passage 133 by its own weight and is discharged to the coin discharge port 112. Then, the second storage coin stopper 142 is again closed by the control of the control unit 101 at a predetermined timing, and again holds the visitor coin 5 supplied from the end of the storage passage 131.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inserted coin discharge path 160, which is an input recording medium discharge path, is a path for discharging the visitor coin 5 to be returned to the coin discharge port 112, and is connected to the communication path 161 and the first path. And a guide passage 163. The communication passage 161 is a passage connected to the inserted coin holding unit 120 and is formed vertically downward from the inserted coin holding unit 120 here. The first guide passage 163 is a passage that is connected to the communication passage 161 and communicates with the coin discharge port 112. Here, the first guide passage 163 is inclined forward from the lower end of the communication passage 161 so as to communicate with the coin discharge port 112. Is formed.

  Here, in the middle of the communication passage 161 that is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, as shown in FIG. 4, an inclined portion 162 that is inclined to the left in front view is provided, and the lower end of the communication passage 161 is at the bottom. It is shifted in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the upper end of the communication passage 161. As a result, the first guide passage 163 connected to the lower end of the communication passage 161 is shifted in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the second guide passage 133, and the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 is formed so as to overlap with the coin discharge port 112.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the control unit 21 is an example of a communication availability detection unit, and indicates whether the communication unit can communicate with the management device 50 (online state) or cannot communicate (offline state). It is something to detect. Specifically, the communication confirmation request is received based on a communication confirmation request periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) transmitted from the communication unit 51 described later of the management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20. While it is regularly detected, it is determined that it is in an online state (that is, a communicable state in which communication with the management apparatus 50 is possible), and an offline state ( In other words, it is determined that the communication device cannot communicate with the management apparatus 50.

  The control unit 21 is an example of a management balance acquisition means, and acquires the management balance of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). Specifically, the insertion notification is transmitted to the management device 50 based on the reception of the recording medium when the online state is detected by the communication availability detection unit, and the management is performed according to the insertion notification. The control unit 21 receives the remaining amount notification (S224 in FIG. 10) or the planned remaining amount notification (S241) transmitted from the device 50 and determines the management remaining amount included in the remaining amount notification or the total amount included in the scheduled remaining amount notification. The remaining amount of management of the recording medium is obtained by storing in the RAM.

  In addition, the control unit 21 firstly performs a deposit process when accepting money of a predetermined amount or more in the online state with the management device 50, and secondly performs a ball lending operation in the online state with the management device 50. A function of performing a ball lending process for the amount of consumption + consumption tax when accepted, a third function of performing off-line lending when accepting money in the off-line state with the management device 50, and fourth, A function of returning the recording medium having a management balance when the offline fraction recorded on the recording medium in the off-line lending becomes zero, and fifth, a recording medium on which the offline fraction is recorded A function of erasing the offline fraction when accepted, and sixth, a function of erasing the offline fraction recorded on the recording medium when returning from the offline state to the online state. To. Hereinafter, each function of the control unit 21 will be described.

  First of all, the control unit 21 functions as a lending possible processing unit and a serial number updating unit in order to perform a depositing process when money of a predetermined amount or more is received in an online state with the management device 50. In other words, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts a predetermined amount or more of money in the online state with the management device 50 (S101 in FIG. 7), as described above, a payment request including the recording medium ID and the received money amount is sent to the management device 50. In response to the deposit request, the management apparatus 50 receives a scheduled remaining amount notification (S106).

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending possible processing unit, in response to receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, lends a pachinko ball to allow lending the pachinko ball within the range of the total amount specified from the scheduled remaining amount notification. Is performed as a specific process, and here, as the lendable process, a process of taking received money is performed (S108 in FIG. 7). In addition, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number update unit performs a first serial number update process for updating the serial number of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in accordance with the loanable process that is the specific process (S 109). ). Here, the first serial number update process is the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, or the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191. Is a process for instructing the recording medium R / W 102 to update by adding 1 to the serial number recorded in the recording medium. It should be noted that the external communication unit 21b functioning as the cooperation process request transmitting unit, as described above, provides loanable information (here, the recording medium ID) indicating that the loanable process has been performed along with the loanable process that is the specific process. (Notice of money taking-in) including the request is transmitted to the management device 50 as the cooperation processing request (S110).

  Second, in order to perform a ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount when a ball lending operation is accepted in the online state with the management apparatus 50, the control unit 21 provides a lending processing unit, a serial number updating unit, and a record. It functions as a medium discharge processing means.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing means associates with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in the management device 50 by the player's operation (operation of the ball lending button 15). A first lending process for lending a pachinko ball within the range of the managed balance (that is, the stored balance stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) is managed. This is to be performed (S122 in FIG. 8). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number updating unit performs a first serial number updating process for updating the serial number of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in accordance with the first lending process as the specific process ( (S123). In addition, as described above, the external communication unit 21b functioning as the cooperation process request transmission unit transmits the first subtraction request to the management apparatus 50 as the cooperation process request in association with the first lending process as the specific process. (S124).

  The control unit 21 functioning as the lending processing means has the management remaining amount (that is, the storage remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) and a predetermined reference lending amount (for example, 525 corresponding to 5 times of the tax-included unit amount). Yen), when the management remaining amount is equal to or larger than the reference loan amount, the first loan processing for lending the pachinko ball for the reference loan amount is performed, and the management remaining amount is less than the reference loan amount. In some cases, a first lending process is performed to lend a pachinko ball corresponding to a loan target amount corresponding to an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount (105 yen in this case) of the management remaining amount. The reference loan amount here is a ball lending set amount shown below in this example, for example, set for each ball lending unit 20 by being distributed from the management device 50 and stored in the control unit 21. The set amount is managed by a set value DB of the management apparatus 50 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, if the remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the set amount of ball lending, the payout control board 12 is instructed to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the set amount of ball lending as the used amount + consumption tax amount. If the remaining amount to be processed (for example, 300 yen) <the amount set for ball lending is used, the loan target amount (210 yen in this case) is the maximum amount that is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the remaining amount to be stored As the + consumption tax amount, processing for instructing the payout control board 12 to pay out the pachinko balls corresponding to the loan target amount is performed. If the remaining amount of memory is less than 105 yen (that is, a fractional amount) including the tax-included unit amount, the payout control board 12 is not instructed to pay out the pachinko balls. On the side of the pachinko machine 10 that has received the instruction, 25 pachinko balls are paid out for every 100 yen that is a unit usage amount (in other words, 105 yen that is a tax-included unit amount).

  Then, when the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount is performed, if the memory remaining amount ≧ the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount (here, 525 yen) is included as the used amount + consumption tax amount, (For example, 300 yen) <If the ball lending set amount is included, the loan object amount (210 yen here) that is the integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the remaining memory amount is included as the amount used + consumption tax The first subtraction request is transmitted to the management device 50 (S124 in FIG. 8). When the subtraction completion notification is transmitted from the management device 50 that has received the first subtraction request (S128), the used amount + consumption tax amount is subtracted and updated from the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. (S129) In accordance with the subtraction update, the display of the remaining frequency on the remaining frequency display 14 and the remaining amount on the remaining amount display 25 are updated (S111 in FIG. 7), and the ball lending operation can be accepted again. (S112).

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the recording medium discharge processing means has a management remaining amount of the visitor coin 5 in the recording medium subjected to the first lending process (that is, a storage remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21). On the condition that is not zero, the processing is performed to discharge the visitor coin 5 in which the online residual amount flag, which is information indicating that the management residual amount is not zero, is recorded (S190, S191, S195 in FIG. 12). , S196), based on the receipt of the discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) from the player, the online coin remaining amount flag is recorded on the visitor coin 5 and discharged. Specifically, in the online state with the management device 50, the money is received in the state where the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is not received, and the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount is performed based on the reception of the ball lending operation. If a discharge operation is received from the player after the completion (even if a discharge operation is received without receiving a ball lending operation after receiving money), the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 If the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is discharged (S191 in FIG. 12), an online remaining amount flag is recorded on the visitor coin 5 (S190). If a discharge operation is received from the player in the state where the game is received, the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is not zero. Discharging said Bijitakoin 5 held in the inserted coin holding portion 120 (S195 in FIG. 12) before recording the online balance state flag in the Bijitakoin 5 (the S195).

  The control unit 21 functioning as a recording medium discharge processing unit detects the offline state by the communication availability detection unit after receiving the visitor coin 5, and the management remaining amount presence / absence management unit (RAM of the control unit 21) controls the visitor coin 5. On condition that the management balance is not zero, the processing is performed to discharge the visitor coin 5 in which the online balance flag is recorded (S545 and S552 in FIG. 17). Here, on receipt of a discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) from the player, an online remaining amount flag is recorded on the visitor coin 5 and discharged.

  Note that since the membership card 4 should always be discharged (returned) regardless of whether or not there is a management balance, no online balance flag is recorded on the membership card 4.

  Thirdly, in order to lend off-line when accepting money in the off-line state with the management apparatus 50, the control unit 21 is configured to process the remaining payment amount available processing means, the fractional amount available processing means, the specifying means, It functions as amount judgment means, lending processing means, and recording medium discharge processing means.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as the deposit remaining amount usable processing unit and the fractional amount usable processing unit accepts the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) when the offline state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Based on the above, the deposit remaining amount available processing (here, the fractional amount used) is made to be able to use the deposit amount (here, the fractional amount offline) recorded in the received recording medium, which will be described later, for the lending of the game medium. The processing by the specifying means described below corresponds to the fractional amount usable processing. Note that an insertion notification including the offline fractional amount is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 based on the reception of the recording medium on which the offline fractional amount is recorded when the online availability is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. The process also corresponds to a process for enabling the use of the remaining deposit amount (process for using the fractional amount). This is because when the insertion notification is transmitted to the management device 50, the offline fractional amount included in the insertion notification is added to the management remaining amount and can be used for lending game media.

  The control unit 21 functioning as the specifying unit is configured to accept the corresponding consumption tax (for example, the remaining amount stored in the RAM corresponds to the received monetary amount based on the receipt of the currency when the communication availability detection unit detects the offline state. On the condition that the received monetary amount is less than 50 yen), the loan object amount corresponding to an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount from the received monetary amount and the fractional amount less than the loan object amount Are identified (S520 in FIG. 15). Specifically, if 1000 yen is accepted and the remaining amount of memory is less than 50 yen, 945 yen corresponding to 9 times the 105 yen tax-included unit amount from the received money amount of 1000 yen is lent. And 55 yen as a fractional amount. On the other hand, on the condition that the RAM remaining amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount, the loan object amount is specified from the memory remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount. For example, when 1000 yen is received and the remaining memory amount is 100 yen, the remaining memory amount in the RAM is used as 50 yen, 1050 yen is specified as the loan target amount, and the remaining memory amount in the RAM is set as 50 yen.

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the specifying unit receives the money after performing the second lending process (offline lending) (after specifying the fractional amount), and the fractional amount corresponds to the above-mentioned correspondence. On the condition that it is equal to or more than the consumption tax amount, from the sum of the fractional amount specified based on the previous currency acceptance (that is, the stored fractional amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) and the current accepted currency amount, The loan target amount is specified, and a process for newly specifying the fractional amount is performed (S513 in FIG. 15). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the specifying unit receives the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) when the offline state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit, and the fractional amount is the corresponding consumption. On the condition that it is equal to or more than the tax amount, the sum of the offline fraction amount recorded in the accepted recording medium (that is, the fractional amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) and the current accepted monetary amount, A process of specifying the loan target amount and newly specifying the fractional amount is performed as the fractional amount usable process (S513 in FIG. 15).

  Specifically, if another 1,000 yen is received in a state where the memory fraction is 55 yen, the sum of the memory fraction and the accepted monetary amount is 1055 yen, and the tax-included unit amount is 105 yen. 1050 yen corresponding to 10 times is specified as a loan target amount, and 5 yen is newly specified as a fractional amount. That is, the stored fractional amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 includes the fractional amount specified based on money acceptance and the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium.

  Further, when the control unit 21 functioning as the specifying unit accepts money in a state where both the remaining balance and the fractional amount exist, the sum of the residual amount and the fractional amount of storage is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount. As a condition, the loan target amount is specified from the remaining storage amount, the stored fractional amount, and the current accepted currency amount. For example, when 1000 yen is received, the remaining memory amount is 30 yen, and the stored fractional amount is 30 yen, the remaining memory amount is used 20 yen, the stored fractional amount is used 30 yen, and the amount to be loaned is 1050. The yen is specified, and the RAM remaining amount is 10 yen, and the memory fraction is 0 yen. In this embodiment, since the memory fraction is used in preference to the memory balance, it is as described above. However, the memory balance is used first, the memory balance is 30 yen, and the memory fraction is used. It is possible to specify 1050 yen as a loan target amount using 20 yen, set the remaining RAM storage amount to 0 yen, and set the memory fractional amount to 10 yen.

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the total amount determining unit is configured to accept the money when the offline state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit, and based on receiving the money, the fractional amount specified based on the previous money reception or the It is determined whether or not the offline fraction amount (that is, the stored fraction amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) recorded on the received recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount ( S512) in FIG. 15 determines whether or not the sum of the stored fractional amount and the current accepted monetary amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount, and the sum of the stored fractional amount and the remaining storage amount corresponds to the corresponding consumption tax amount. It is also determined whether or not the total amount of the stored fractional amount, the remaining storage amount, and the current accepted monetary amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount by determining whether or not the amount is above (S515 in FIG. 15). It is.

  Here, the received money is collected and specified by the specifying means on the condition that the sum is determined to be equal to or more than the tax-included unit by the sum determining means, while the specifying means is used, while the sum is determined by the sum determining means. Specifically, on the condition that it is determined that the received money amount is less than the tax-included unit amount (NO in S519 of FIG. 15), the received money is returned, No identification by identification means is performed. For example, when 100 yen is received in a state where the fractional amount, the remaining memory amount, or the sum of the fractional amount and the remaining memory amount is 4 yen, the received 100 yen is returned, and the fractional amount, the remaining memory amount, or the fractional amount is returned. When the sum of the stored amount and the stored balance is 5 yen, 100 yen is received, the received 100 yen is collected, and the loan target amount 105 yen (fractional amount 0 yen) is specified.

  Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a lending processing unit lends a pachinko ball within a range of the accepted monetary amount based on accepting money when the communication availability detecting unit detects an offline state. The second lending process is performed. Here, based on the fact that the loan target amount is specified by the specifying means, the game medium for the specified loan target amount is obtained without operation by the player. A second lending process for lending (offline lending) is performed (S522 in FIG. 15). The fractional amount specified by the specifying means is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S514, S517, S521).

  In addition, the control unit 21 functioning as a recording medium discharge processing unit records the remaining payment amount on the condition that the remaining payment amount obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the second lending process from the received monetary amount is not zero. A process of discharging the medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is performed. Here, the fractional amount specified by the specifying means (that is, the stored fraction stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) is the offline fractional amount. The recording medium recorded as is discharged. Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a recording medium discharge processing unit stores the amount in the fraction storage unit (RAM of the control unit 21) based on the reception of the discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) from the player. The processing is performed by recording the recorded fractional amount as an offline fractional amount on a recording medium and discharging it (S550 and S552 in FIG. 17).

  Fourthly, in order to return the recording medium having a management remaining amount when the offline fraction recorded in the recording medium in the one-off-line lending becomes zero, the control unit 21 provides information on the management remaining amount. It functions as a recording determination unit and a recording medium discharge processing unit.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as a management residual amount information recording determination unit determines whether or not an online residual amount flag that is management residual amount information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S547 in FIG. 17). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as the recording medium discharge processing unit sets the offline fractional amount on the condition that the online residual amount flag is determined to be recorded by the management residual amount information recording determination unit (that is, the flag is 1). The process of discharging the visitor coin 5 with zero is performed (S552 in FIG. 17).

  Fifth, when a recording medium on which an offline fractional amount is recorded is received, the control unit 21 functions as a fractional amount erasure processing unit and a serial number updating unit in order to erase the offline fractional amount. That is, when the ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium while the online availability is detected by the communication availability detecting means (S201 in FIG. 9), as described above, the recording medium ID, the offline consumption information, the offline fractional amount, An insertion notification including a serial number and a device ID is transmitted to the management device 50 (S202), and a fractional amount erasure request and a planned remaining amount notification, which is total amount specifying information, are received from the management device 50 in response to the insertion notification ( S241 in FIG.

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as the fractional amount erasure processing means erases the offline fractional amount of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) based on reception of the scheduled residual amount notification that is the fractional amount erasure request. The amount erasure process is performed as a specific process (S244 in FIG. 10). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number updating unit performs a first serial number updating process for updating the serial number of the recording medium in accordance with the fractional amount erasing process that is the specific process (S245). Further, based on the request for the elimination of the fractional amount and the reception of the scheduled remaining amount notification that is the combined amount specifying information, the first amount within the range of the management remaining amount after adding the offline fractional amount (that is, the total amount included in the scheduled remaining amount notification). Loan processing is possible. In addition, as described above, the external communication unit 21b functioning as a cooperation processing request transmission unit transmits the fraction erasure notification to the management apparatus 50 as the cooperation processing request along with the fraction erasure processing that is the specific processing. (S246).

  Sixthly, when the offline state is restored to the online state, the control unit 21 functions as a fractional amount erasure processing unit and a serial number updating unit in order to erase the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium. . That is, when the start request is transmitted from the management device 50 that has detected the return to the online state (S601 in FIG. 22) (S602 in FIG. 22), the ball lending unit 20 stores the stored fraction as an offline fraction on the recording medium. In addition to recording (S603), the storage fraction is deleted (S604), and a start response corresponding to the start request is returned to the management device 50 (S605). And an online return notification including the off-line fractional amount (payment balance) and serial number to the management device 50 (S606), and the management device 50 notifies the planned remaining amount as total amount specifying information in response to the online return notification Is received (S241 in FIG. 10).

  Here, the control unit 21 functioning as the fractional amount erasure processing means, based on the reception of the scheduled residual amount notification that is the total amount specifying information, the offline fractional amount (the remaining amount of deposit) of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). Is performed as a specific process (S244 in FIG. 10). Further, the control unit 21 functioning as a serial number updating unit performs a first serial number updating process for updating the serial number of the recording medium in accordance with the fractional amount erasing process that is the specific process (S245). Further, based on the reception of the scheduled remaining amount notification that is the combined amount specifying information, the first lending process can be performed within the range of the management remaining amount after adding the offline fractional amount (that is, the combined amount included in the scheduled remaining amount notification). Is done. In addition, as described above, the external communication unit 21b functioning as a cooperation processing request transmission unit manages the fraction erasure notification (payment balance erasure notification) as the cooperation processing request along with the fraction erasure processing that is the specific processing. The data is transmitted to the device 50 (S246).

  The control unit 21 updates the serial number of the recording medium to the initial value when the serial number of the recording medium has reached an upper limit value (for example, 255), and the visitor coin 5 or card of the storage coin holding unit 140 is updated. In updating the serial number recorded on the member card 4 held by the holding unit 191 or the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, it is determined whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value. , The serial number is updated to an initial value (for example, 0). Thereby, the storage area of the serial number can be made as small as possible, and the recording medium can be continuously used even after the serial number reaches the upper limit value, and the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the serial number has reached the upper limit by repeatedly updating the serial number in the storage area of the serial number defined in the program executed by the control unit 21 (for example, 0 to 255 if the storage area is 8 bits) Prevents program stoppages and errors.

  Furthermore, the ball lending unit 20 of the present embodiment has already received a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) when the occurrence of an offline state is detected, and acquires and controls the corresponding management balance from the management device. Lending processing is performed using the stored remaining amount on condition that the stored amount is stored in the RAM of the unit 21 and the stored remaining amount is not 0. The control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is an example of the consumption information specifying unit, the consumption information recording unit, and the recording medium discharging unit, and after performing the lending process using the remaining amount in the offline state, When returning the medium, the offline consumption information that can specify the offline consumption amount, which is the amount used for the lending process, is identified from the remaining storage amount, the identified offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium, and the recording Return (discharge) the media.

  Specifically, each time the ball lending unit 20 performs the lending process using the stored remaining amount, the ball lending unit 20 adds up the amount used for the lending process from the stored remaining amount as an offline consumption amount. Further, the ball lending unit 20 stores a reference value (reference value related to offline consumption) unique to the ball lending unit 20 distributed from the management device 50, and the aggregated offline consumption amount is calculated from the reference value. The subtracted and updated value is specified as offline consumption information and recorded on the recording medium.

  Then, when the recording medium on which such offline consumption information is recorded is received by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, the recording medium ID of the recording medium is transmitted via the external communication unit 21b which is an example of the offline consumption information transmitting unit. An insertion notification including offline consumption information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management balance is corrected.

  Then, in the settlement apparatus 60 to be described later, when the recording medium on which the offline settlement information is recorded is received by the online ball lending unit 20, the recording is performed via the external communication unit 21b which is an example of the offline settlement information transmitting unit. An insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the medium and the off-line settlement information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management balance is corrected.

  Further, the control unit 21 and the recording medium R / W 102 of the ball lending unit 20 of the present embodiment are examples of management remaining amount specifying information recording means and transaction apparatus recording medium discharging means (regardless of whether they are online or offline). ) When the recording medium is returned (discharged), management residual amount specifying information capable of specifying the management residual amount of the recording medium (that is, the storage residual amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21) is recorded on the recording medium and returned ( Discharge. Specifically, the calculation method flag that can specify the calculation method and the original data (reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data) for calculating the management balance by the calculation of the calculation method are recorded. Here, a method for specifying the management remaining amount specifying information will be described based on a specific example.

  Specifically, the storage balance is calculated by a predetermined mathematical formula a = y + x × z ÷ w, where a is a storage balance, x is reference data, y is addition data, z is multiplication data, and w is division data. At this time, the ball lending unit 20 of this embodiment selects an addition priority calculation method when priority is given to addition and a multiplication / division priority method when priority is given to multiplication / division. That is, the mathematical expression of the addition priority calculation method is a = (y + x) × z ÷ w, and the mathematical expression of the multiplication / division priority calculation method is a = y + (x × z ÷ w).

  Here, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are distributed and stored from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20. In this case, different multiplication data, division data and addition data may be distributed for each ball lending unit 20, or the same data may be distributed. The ball lending unit 20 calculates reference data based on the pre-stored multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and the storage balance (management balance) stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data are recorded on the recording medium as original data.

  Here, it is assumed that multiplication data z = 100, division data w = 2, and addition data y = 90 are preset in the ball lending unit 20. If the calculation method is the addition priority calculation method and a = 5000 yen, the reference data x = 10 is calculated from 5000 = (90 + x) × 100/2.

  Further, it is assumed that multiplication data z = 90, division data w = 1, and addition data y = 500 are preset in the ball lending unit 20. If the calculation method is a multiplication / division priority calculation method and a = 5000 yen, the reference data x = 50 is calculated from 5000 = 500 + (x × 90 ÷ 1).

  Then, as shown in (Example 1) and (Example 2) of FIG. 6C, the original data including the reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data and the calculation method flag are recorded on the recording medium. For example, the calculation method flag is recorded as “0” for the addition priority calculation method and “1” for the multiplication / division priority method. In this way, the remaining amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the calculation method and the original data for calculating the remaining amount are recorded, so that illegal acts such as reading or altering the remaining amount from the recording medium are prevented. be able to.

  The management device 50 manages the remaining number used for lending serial numbers and pachinko balls by associating the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 with the individually identifiable recording medium ID. The management device 50 is provided at a predetermined location (for example, a management office) in the game hall, and is connected as shown in FIG. 1 to a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a display 53, an input device 54, a hard disk. 55, an out-of-field communication unit 56, and the like.

  The hard disk 55 as storage means is provided with an area for storing the remaining amount management DB and setting value DB shown in FIG. In the remaining amount management DB, the remaining amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), and the remaining amount is updated and managed by the control of the control unit 52. In the remaining amount management DB, serial numbers that are updated by a second serial number update process described later are managed in association with the recording medium ID.

  Further, the remaining amount management DB is an example of a game device specifying information storage unit, and is a ball lending unit 20 that has associated with each recording medium ID and has received at least the recording medium ID of the recording medium ID last time. 50, an apparatus ID that can identify the ball lending unit 20 that has entered an offline state that cannot communicate with the management apparatus 50 after receiving the recording medium in an online state that can communicate with the apparatus 50 is stored. Here, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the recording medium with the recording medium ID in the previous online state is stored.

  A method for storing the device ID will be described. First, when the ball lending unit 20 in the online state with the management device 50 receives a predetermined amount or more of money, a deposit request including the received money amount is transmitted to the management device 50 (S103 in FIG. 7). Since the information transmitted at this time includes the recording medium ID and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the management device 50 that has received the information associates it with the received recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. The received device ID is stored.

  When the ball lending unit 20 in the online state with the management device 50 receives the recording medium, an insertion notification is transmitted to the management device 50 (S202 in FIG. 9). Since the information transmitted at this time also includes the recording medium ID and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the management device 50 that has received the information, in the remaining amount management DB, transmits the planned remaining amount notification or the remaining amount notification. The received device ID is stored in association with the received recording medium ID (S220 and S240 in FIG. 10). Here, the reason why the device ID is stored at the time of transmission of the scheduled remaining amount notification or the remaining amount notification is as follows. That is, in the processing for when the serial numbers do not match, which will be described later, when subtracting the ball lending set amount (S272 in FIG. 11), it is necessary to identify the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that received the previous recording medium (S269). If the device ID included in the insertion notification is stored when the insertion notification is received, the device ID received this time is overwritten on the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that received the previous recording medium, Since there is a problem that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the previous recording medium cannot be specified, in order to avoid such a situation, the timing of storing the device ID included in the insertion notification is set as the planned remaining amount. This is the time when the notification or the remaining amount notification is transmitted (in other words, after the sequence number mismatch processing shown in FIG. 11 is completed).

  Here, even when the management device 50 receives a return notification (S184 in FIG. 12) associated with the return operation, the management device 50 does not delete the device ID managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the return notification. Keep memorized. Therefore, the remaining amount management DB stores the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the recording medium with the recording medium ID in the previous online state. That is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has received at least the recording medium of the recording medium ID last time and has entered the offline state after receiving the recording medium in the online state is also managed. When storing the device ID in the balance management DB, if the device ID has already been stored, a so-called overwriting process is performed in which the stored device ID is deleted and a new device ID is stored. .

  Here, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state accepts the recording medium and then returns to the online state in the state of accepting the recording medium, as in the case of accepting the recording medium in the online state, An online return notification corresponding to the insertion notification is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S606 in FIG. 22), and the recording medium ID and the apparatus ID are associated with each other and stored in the remaining amount management DB.

  Further, in this example, when the settlement apparatus 60 that is online with the management apparatus 50 receives the recording medium, a settlement request is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S702 in FIG. 24). Since the information transmitted at this time includes the recording medium ID of the received recording medium and the device ID of the settlement device 60, the management device 50 that has received the information has the same amount as described above in the balance management DB. For this reason, the received device ID is stored in association with the received recording medium ID at the time of transmission of the payment permission information described later (S220 and S240 in FIG. 25).

  In the remaining amount management DB, a status that is a processing state relating to the recording medium is stored in association with the recording medium ID. A method for storing the status will be described. First, when receiving a deposit request from the ball lending unit 20 (S103 in FIG. 7), the management device 50 stores that the deposit processing is in progress as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the deposit request (S104), On condition that the money take-in notification is received from the unit 20 (S110), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the money take-in notice is updated to the deposit process (S116). Here, “payment processing is in progress” is a status indicating that the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state. It is a status indicating.

  In addition, when receiving the subtraction request from the ball lending unit 20 (S124 in FIG. 8), the management device 50 stores “subtraction processing completed” as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the subtraction request (S127).

  When the management device 50 receives the insertion notification, online return notification or supply notification from the ball lending unit 20 (S202 in FIG. 9, S606 in FIG. 22, S193 in FIG. 12), the insertion notification, online return notification or supply notification Is stored as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the recording medium ID (S209 in FIG. 9, S274 in FIG. 11), and the remaining amount reception notification, fractional amount erasure notification or consumption information erasure notification is received from the ball lending unit 20. As a condition (S224, S246 in FIG. 10, S246b in FIG. 13, S246 in FIG. 23), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the remaining amount reception notification or fractional amount erasure notification is updated to the insertion processing completed ( (S228 in FIG. 10, S229 in FIG. 13, S228 in FIG. 23).

  Further, when receiving the settlement request from the settlement apparatus 60 (S702 in FIG. 24), the management apparatus 50 is performing an insertion process as a status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, similarly to the case where the insertion notification is received. (S209 in FIG. 9, S273 in FIG. 11), and on receipt of the settlement permission information reception notification or the fractional erasure notification from the settlement apparatus 60 (S224a and S246a in FIG. 25), the settlement permission information is received. The status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the notification or the fractional erasure notification is updated to the insertion processing completed (S228). Here, the status after the insertion processing is managed as the status, and the device ID of the settlement device 60 is managed as the device ID used, and the settlement request is received in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request. This corresponds to managing the settlement request reception information indicating that the transaction has been completed. Further, updating the status after the insertion processing to the status after the settlement processing corresponds to the settlement request erasure processing for erasing the settlement request reception information managed in association with the recording medium ID.

  Furthermore, in the remaining amount management DB, in correspondence with the recording medium ID, the received money amount included in the deposit request, the offline fraction amount specified from the insertion notification, the online return notification, or the supply notification, the offline consumption amount, and Offline payment amount is stored. That is, in response to the receipt of the deposit request, the management device 50 determines the received monetary amount specified from the deposit request (here, the received monetary amount included in the deposit request) as the recording medium ID ( Here, a process of storing in association with the recording medium ID included in the deposit request is performed. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits to the ball lending unit 20 a remaining amount notification that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the received monetary amount. A notice of the planned remaining amount including the amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S106 in FIG. 7).

  Further, in response to the reception of the insertion notification, the management device 50 records the offline fraction amount, the offline consumption amount, and the offline settlement amount specified from the insertion notification by the recording medium ID (here, the insertion notification) specified from the insertion notification. Is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the recording medium ID). Then, the communication unit 51 notifies the remaining amount that can specify the total amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the offline fractional amount. Is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20, and a notice of the remaining balance including the total amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 10).

  Further, in response to receiving the online return notification, the management device 50 associates the offline fraction amount, the offline consumption amount, and the offline payment amount specified from the online return notification with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification. The process to memorize is performed. Then, the communication unit 51 can specify the total amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the offline fractional amount. The specific information is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20, and a notice of the remaining balance including the total amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 here (S241 in FIG. 10).

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the set value DB manages a reference loan amount. Here, each ball lending unit 20 is associated with a device ID that can be individually identified, and the ball lending unit is associated with it. A ball lending set amount that is a lending reference amount set for 20 is managed for each ball lending unit 20. The loan reference amount in this example is an amount including the consumption tax amount and is an integer multiple of the tax-included reference amount, for example, 525 yen which is a tax-included reference amount for 5 times, or 315 yen which is a tax-included reference amount for 3 times. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the set value DB manages a reference value related to offline consumption information. Here, each ball rental unit 20 is associated with a device ID that can be individually identified. The off-line reference amount, which is the reference value set for the ball lending unit 20, is managed for each ball lending unit 20. In this example, the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount. Note that the offline reference amount is distributed from the center management device 80 to the management device 50 and stored in the set value DB shown in FIG. In addition, an off-line reference amount corresponding to the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted from the management device 50.

  The display 53 is a display device for displaying various types of information, and the input device 54 is an input device for receiving various types of input. The control unit 52 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the hard disk 55 is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, the operation of each component included in the management device 50 is performed. Is used to perform various processes.

  Here, the control unit 52 is an example of a communication availability detection unit, and is in a communicable state (online state) capable of communicating with the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60 or in an incommunicable state (offline state) unable to communicate. It is to detect whether it exists. Specifically, a communication confirmation request is transmitted periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) from the communication unit 51 to each ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60, and according to the communication confirmation request, the ball lending unit 20, Based on the communication confirmation notification returned from the settlement apparatus 60 to the communication unit 51, the online confirmation state (that is, the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus) is periodically detected while detecting the reply of the communication confirmation notification. If the communication confirmation notification is not detected for a certain period of time (for example, 1 minute), the communication status cannot be communicated with the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60. Is determined to be possible). The hard disk 55 stores the fact that the offline state has occurred.

  The control unit 52 is an example of a subtraction processing unit, and subtracts the used amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount from the management remaining amount based on the reception of the first subtraction request (S124 in FIG. 8). The first subtraction process is performed (S125).

  The control unit 52 is an example of a reception notification processing unit, and manages the recording medium in association with the recording medium ID included in the recording medium reception notification (here, the insertion notification) transmitted from the reception notification transmission unit of the ball lending unit 20. In addition to performing the fractional addition process for adding and updating the offline fractional amount included in the recording medium reception notification to the management remaining amount being recorded, it is recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). The communication unit 51 transmits a fractional erasure request instructing erasure of the offline fractional amount to the ball lending unit 20. Here, the fractional amount addition update processing is processing for storing the offline fractional amount included in the insertion notification in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification (S212 in FIG. 9 and S277 in FIG. 11). The fractional amount erasure request is total amount specifying information that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount and the off-line fractional amount, and here is a notice of the planned remaining amount including the total amount (S241 in FIG. 10).

  In addition, the control unit 52 functioning as an acceptance notification processing unit has an offline fraction included in the settlement request for the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60. A fraction addition update process for adding and updating the amount is performed, and a fractional erasure request for instructing erasure of the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is settled by the communication unit 51. This is transmitted to the device 60. Here, the fractional amount addition update processing is processing for storing the offline fractional amount included in the settlement request in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request (S212 in FIG. 9 and S277 in FIG. 11). The fractional amount erasure request is reimbursement permission information including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the reimbursement request and the offline fractional amount (S241a in FIG. 25).

  Further, the control unit 52 is an example of a return notification processing unit, and with respect to the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification transmitted from the return notification transmission unit of the ball lending unit 20 In addition, a fraction addition update process (additional balance addition update process) for adding and updating the offline fractional amount (payment balance) included in the online return notification is performed and recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). A fractional amount erasure request for instructing erasure of the off-line fractional amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 by the communication unit 51. Here, the fractional amount addition update processing is processing for storing the offline fractional amount included in the online return notification in association with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification (S212 in FIG. 9 and S277 in FIG. 11). The fractional amount erasure request is total amount specifying information that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount and the offline fractional amount, and here is a notification of the planned remaining amount including the total amount (S241 in FIG. 23).

  The control unit 52 is an example of a cooperation processing unit, and performs the cooperation processing in response to the reception of the cooperation processing request, and the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) accompanying the cooperation processing. The second serial number update process for updating the serial number associated with is performed. Here, the second serial number update process is a process of updating by adding 1 to the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB.

  The control unit 52 functioning as the cooperation processing means receives the loanable information (here, the money pickup notification) that is the cooperation processing request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 (S110 in FIG. 7), and It is possible to specify that the received monetary amount addition process for adding the received monetary amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium to the management remaining amount of the recording medium and that the received monetary amount has been added. The addition update process for updating to the state is performed as a linkage process (S113, S114), and the second serial number update process is performed (S115). The added update process here is a process of deleting the accepted money amount.

  Further, the control unit 52 functioning as a cooperation processing means receives the first subtraction request, which is the cooperation processing request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 (S124 in FIG. 8), and determines the reference loan amount as the management remaining amount. The first subtraction process for subtracting from is performed as a linkage process (S125), and the second serial number update process is performed (S126). The first subtraction process here is a process of subtracting the reference loan amount and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the reference loan amount from the management residual amount because the consumption tax is collected. This is a process of subtracting the included usage amount + consumption tax amount from the management balance. That is, if the management remaining amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending setting amount of the ball lending unit 20, the [used amount + consumption tax amount] to be subtracted is the ball lending setting amount, and the management remaining amount is the ball lending setting of the ball lending unit 20. If it is less than the amount, the subtracted [use amount + consumption tax amount] is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and is the maximum amount not exceeding the management balance. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits a subtraction completion notification indicating that the subtraction process has been performed to the ball lending unit 20 (S128).

  Further, the control unit 52 responds to the reception of the remaining amount reception notification (S224 in FIG. 10) transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement permission information reception notification (S224a in FIG. 25) transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60. Then, the second serial number update process is performed (S227 in FIG. 10 or FIG. 25).

  Further, the control unit 52 functioning as the cooperation processing means stores the deposit amount stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium in response to reception of the fractional erasure notification (S246 in FIG. 10 or S246a in FIG. 25). The remaining payment amount addition processing (offline fraction amount addition processing) for adding (offline fractional amount here) to the management remaining amount of the recording medium, and updating to a state in which it is possible to specify that the offline fractional amount has been added. The addition update process is performed as a linkage process (S248 in FIG. 10 or FIG. 25), and the second serial number update process is performed (S227). The added update process here is a process of deleting the off-line fractional amount.

  Further, the control unit 52 receives the serial number associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in response to the payment completion notification (S 783 in FIG. 26) which is a payment execution notification described later. A fourth serial number update process for updating is performed (S785), a management remaining amount zero updating process (S784) for updating the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID to zero, and the recording medium ID The settlement request erasure process (S786) for erasing the settlement request reception information managed in association with the process is performed. The fourth serial number update process here is a process for updating by adding 1 to the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. Further, the management remaining amount zero update process is a process of deleting the management remaining amount. Further, the settlement request erasure process is a process for updating the status from the insertion process to the settlement process. Then, the communication unit 51 transmits a remaining amount erasure completion notification indicating that these processes have been performed to the settlement apparatus 60 (S787).

  In addition, when the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID reaches an upper limit value (for example, 255), the control unit 52 sets the serial number managed in association with the recording medium ID as an initial value. In this case, when updating the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the received information, it is determined whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value. Sometimes, the serial number is updated to an initial value (for example, 0). Thereby, the storage area of the serial number can be made as small as possible, and the recording medium can be continuously used even after the serial number reaches the upper limit value, and the cost of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the serial number has reached the upper limit by repeatedly updating the serial number in the storage area of the serial number defined in the program executed by the control unit 52 (for example, 0 to 255 if the storage area is 8 bits) Prevents program stoppages and errors.

  The control unit 52 is an example of a serial number determination unit, which receives a recording medium ID and a serial number of a recording medium from the ball lending unit 20, and the received serial number is a serial number associated with the received recording medium ID. Specifically, it is determined whether or not they match. Specifically, the recording medium reception notification (in this case, the insertion notification) transmitted from the reception notification transmission means of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60. In response to the payment request, the online return notification transmitted from the return notification transmission means of the ball lending unit 20, or the supply notification transmitted from the ball loan unit 20, the insertion notification, the payment request, the online return notification, Alternatively, it is determined whether the serial number included in the supply notification matches the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification, checkout request, or online return notification (FIG. 9). The S203 of FIG. 24). Then, the control unit 52 performs a predetermined sequence number mismatch process on the condition that the sequence number determination unit determines that the sequence numbers do not match, and the sequence number determination unit determines that the sequence numbers match. As a condition, predetermined serial number matching processing is performed.

  More specifically, processing is performed when the serial numbers do not match, provided that the serial numbers are determined not to match by the serial number determination means, and that the received money amount is stored in an unadded state (that is, deposit processing is in progress). Then, the received money amount addition process and the added update process are performed (S262 in FIG. 11). That is, when the serial numbers do not match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the management device 50 receives the monetary amount after the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7). This is a case where an offline state has occurred before receiving the payment notification (S110). In this case, since the accepted money is taken in by the ball lending unit 20, the received money amount is managed by the management device 50. A process of adding the remaining amount and erasing the received money amount is performed.

  On the other hand, if the serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers match and the received money amount is stored in an unadded state (that is, the deposit process is in progress), the reception process is performed as a serial number match process. The added update process is performed without performing the money amount addition process (S205 in FIG. 9). That is, when the serial numbers match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the ball lending unit 20 notifies the scheduled remaining amount (S103 in FIG. 7) after the management device 50 receives the deposit request (S103 in FIG. 7). In this case, the received money is returned in the ball lending unit 20, and therefore the management device 50 also determines the received money amount with respect to the management remaining amount. The process of erasing the received money amount is not performed.

  In addition, if it is determined that the serial numbers match and the balance of the deposit included in the insertion notification or online return notification (here, the offline fractional amount) is zero or does not include the balance of the deposit, the notification of insertion or online The remaining amount notification including the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the return notification is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S221 in FIG. 10). On the other hand, if it is determined that the serial numbers match and the deposit remaining amount (here, the offline fractional amount) included in the insertion notification or online return notification is not zero, the offline fractional amount is stored and the insertion notification or online A planned remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the return notification and the offline fractional amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241).

  Also, it corresponds to the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, provided that the serial number is matched and the deposit remaining amount (here, offline fractional amount) included in the settlement request is zero or does not include the deposit balance. The settlement permission information including the management remaining amount that is attached and managed is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S221a in FIG. 25). On the other hand, if it is determined that the serial numbers match, and the deposit remaining amount (here, offline fractional amount) included in the settlement request is not zero, the offline fraction amount is stored and corresponds to the recording medium ID included in the settlement request. The settlement permission information including the sum of the management remaining amount managed and the offline fractional amount is sent to the settlement apparatus 60 (S241a).

  The serial numbers do not match on condition that the serial numbers do not match by the serial number determination means, and that the remaining deposit amount (here, the off-line fractional amount) is stored in an unadded state (that is, during the insertion process). As the time process, the deposit remaining amount addition process (here, the fractional amount addition process) and the added update process are performed (S265 in FIG. 11). That is, when the serial numbers do not match and the offline fraction is stored in an unadded state, the management device 50 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S241 in FIG. 10) after the ball lending unit 20 receives the fractional amount. An off-line state occurs before the management device 50 receives the settlement completion notification (S246a) after the erasure notification (S246a) is received or after the settlement device 60 receives the settlement permission information (S241a in FIG. 25). In this case, since the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium has been erased, the offline fractional amount is erased by adding the offline fractional amount to the management residual amount in the management device 50. The process which performs is performed.

  On the other hand, on the condition that the serial number is determined to be the same by the serial number determination means, and the deposit amount (here, the off-line fractional amount) is stored in an unadded state (that is, the insertion process is in progress), the serial number matches. As the time processing, the added update processing is performed without performing the deposit remaining amount addition processing (here, fractional amount addition processing) (S208 in FIG. 9). That is, when the serial numbers match and the offline fraction is stored in an unadded state, the ball lending unit 20 notifies the expected remaining amount (S202 in FIG. 9) after the management device 50 receives the insertion notification (S202 in FIG. 9). An offline state occurs before S241 in FIG. 10 is received or before the settlement apparatus 60 receives settlement settlement information (S241a in FIG. 25) after the management apparatus 50 receives the settlement request (S702 in FIG. 24). In this case, since the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium has not been deleted, the offline fractional amount is not added to the management remaining amount even in the management apparatus 50, and the offline fractional amount is determined. Is performed.

  The serial number determination means determines that the serial numbers do not match and manages the payment request reception information in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) (that is, the status is in the process of depositing). Alternatively, on the condition that the use device ID is not the insertion processing and the device ID of the settlement device 60 is used), the management remaining amount zero update processing and the settlement request elimination processing are performed as the serial number mismatch processing (FIG. 11). S267). That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60, the management apparatus 50 sends a settlement completion notice (S783 in FIG. 26). This is a case where an offline state has occurred before reception. In this case, since the payment device 60 has paid out money, the management device 50 deletes the management balance and updates the status to the payment processing completed. Is what you do.

  Further, it is determined by the serial number determination means that the serial numbers do not match, and the added update process is performed for the received monetary amount (that is, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use device ID is the ball lending unit 20 The first subtraction process is performed as a serial number mismatch process. That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use device ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the management device 50 receives the subtraction request (S124 in FIG. 8). In this case, the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount, so that the management device 50 performs the first subtraction process. It is.

  Specifically, if the management balance is equal to or more than the set amount of the ball loan, a process of subtracting the ball loan set amount from the management balance that is managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or the settlement request ( S272 in FIG. 11) If the management remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, it is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the management remaining amount (for example, if the management remaining amount is 475 yen, it is 4 times the tax-included unit amount). (420 yen) is subtracted from the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request (S273 in FIG. 11).

  Here, in this example, the ball lending set amount to be subtracted in S272 of FIG. 11 is set for each ball lending unit 20, and is not necessarily a fixed amount. Therefore, the present invention has the following functions in order to specify the ball lending set amount and correct the remaining amount accurately.

  First, the control unit 52 is an example of a gaming device specifying unit, and it is determined by the serial number determination unit that the serial numbers do not match, and the added update processing is performed on the received monetary amount (that is, the received monetary amount). Is deleted = the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use device ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20), the gaming device is associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. The game device in which the recording medium ID of the recording medium ID has been received last time is identified from the information stored in the identification information storage means (remaining amount management DB), and is included in the insertion notification or settlement request here. The device ID managed in association with the recording medium ID is specified as the device ID of the gaming device that received the recording medium in the previous online state (S2 in FIG. 11). 9).

  The control unit 52 is an example of a reference loan amount determination unit, and the serial number determination unit determines that the serial numbers do not match, and an added update process is performed on the received monetary amount (that is, the received monetary amount). Is deleted = the status is not during the deposit process or the insert process, and the use device ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20), the management is performed in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. It is determined whether or not the management remaining amount is less than the reference loan amount. Here, the remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request is specified as the gaming device. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or more than the ball lending set amount managed in the set value DB of FIG. 6A in association with the device ID specified by the means (S271 in FIG. 11). Then, as described above, when it is determined that the amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount, the control unit 52 determines the ball lending set amount from the remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or the settlement request. (S272), if it is determined that the amount is less than the ball lending set amount, an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification or settlement request The loan target amount which is (the maximum amount not exceeding the management remaining amount) is subtracted (S273).

  That is, the recording medium discharged from the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state before the management device 50 receives the subtraction request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 after performing the ball lending processing for the used amount + consumption tax amount. Therefore, the usage amount is not subtracted from the management balance. Therefore, the usage amount + consumption tax amount (the above-mentioned ball lending set amount or the maximum amount that is a multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the management remaining amount) is specified, and the specified usage amount + consumption tax amount is subtracted. ing.

  The communication unit 51 is communicably connected to the external communication unit 21b of the ball lending unit 20 as described above, and manages communication between the management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20. The communication unit 51 is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 61 of the payment apparatus 60 and manages communication between the management apparatus 50 and the payment apparatus 60.

  The communication unit 51 requests the ball lending unit 20 to start the operation when detecting the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection unit (control unit 52) to the online state. A start request is transmitted (S602 in FIG. 22). Further, the communication unit 51 receives a start response transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 in response to the start request (S605).

  The communication unit 51 is an example of a payment permission information transmission unit, and is included in the payment request in response to the reception of a payment request transmitted from a payment request transmission unit (communication unit 61 of the payment device 60) described later. Payment authorization information including a management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID is transmitted to the payment apparatus 60. Here, the management balance or the management balance and the offline recorded in the recording medium The total amount settlement permission information capable of specifying the total amount with the fractional amount is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60. In other words, when the off-line fractional amount is not included in the settlement request, settlement settlement information including the management balance is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S221a in FIG. 25). On the other hand, when the off-line fractional amount is included in the settlement request, settlement settlement information including the planned remaining amount that is the sum of the management remaining amount and the off-line fractional amount is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S241a). In addition, the communication unit 51 receives a settlement permission information reception notification (S224a) or a fractional erasure notification (S246a) transmitted from the settlement apparatus 60 in accordance with the settlement permission information.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the out-of-field communication unit 56 is communicably connected to a later-described communication unit 81 of the center management device 80 via the Internet, and performs communication between the management device 50 and the center management device 80. It governs.

  The settlement apparatus 60 receives the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) and manages the management balance managed by the management apparatus in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium and / or the received A settlement process for paying out money corresponding to the off-line fractional amount recorded on the recording medium is performed. This checkout device 60 is provided at a predetermined location in the amusement hall (for example, near the end of the game island or near the prize exchange counter), and exhibits a kiosk terminal type shape as shown in FIG. 5 (a). 1 includes a display 63, a bill payout port 64a, a coin payout port 65a, the coin insertion port 111, the coin discharge port 112, the card insertion port 190, and the like, as shown in FIG. A unit 61, a control unit 62, a bill dispenser 64, a coin dispenser 65, a coin collection unit 66, the passage unit 100, and the like, and these components are connected as shown in FIG. The settlement apparatus 60 can be individually identified by the apparatus ID, and the apparatus ID is stored in the ROM of the control unit 62.

  The communication unit 61 is communicably connected to the communication unit 51 of the management device 50 and manages communication between the settlement device 60 and the management device 50. When information is transmitted from the communication unit 61, the device ID stored in the ROM of the control unit 62 is transmitted together with the information. The communication unit 61 is an example of a payment request transmitting unit, and based on the reception of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), the payment includes at least the recording medium ID recorded on the received recording medium. The request is transmitted to the management apparatus 50, and here, as with the insertion notification, the settlement including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, offline fractional amount, serial number, and the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus. The request is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S702 in FIG. 24).

  The communication unit 61 is an example of a settlement execution notification transmission unit, and transmits a settlement execution notification indicating that the settlement process is performed to the management device 50. Here, the settlement is completed as a settlement execution notification. A notification is transmitted (S783 in FIG. 26). Note that “indicating that the settlement process is performed” means that the process is a transmission process associated with the settlement process, before or after the settlement process. , The payment completion notice is sent along with the payment completion. In addition, the communication unit 61 receives the remaining amount erasure completion notification (S787) transmitted from the management device 50 in response to the settlement completion notification.

  The control unit 62 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, the operation of each component included in the settlement apparatus 60 is performed. Various processes are performed under control. The function of the control unit 62 will be described later.

  The RAM of the control unit 62 is provided with an area for storing the settlement DB shown in FIG. In this settlement DB, each time the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement in the offline state, the settlement balance (that is, the management balance specified from the card management balance specifying information) and the off-line fractional amount are adjusted respectively. The remaining amount and the settlement offline fractional amount are stored in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). In addition, the RAM of the control unit 62 stores the accountable time distributed from the center management device 80 via the management device 50 as a time during which the account settlement device 60 can perform offline payment processing.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the touch panel display 63 is a display device for displaying various types of information and an input device for receiving various types of input. On the display 63, when the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 can be received, a message prompting the user to insert the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is displayed as shown in D1. Here, when the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is inserted and the settlement permission information corresponding to the settlement request is transmitted from the management device 50, as shown in D2, the remaining management amount or the total amount included in the settlement permission information Is displayed as the remaining amount, and a “settlement” button for accepting the settlement operation and a “cancel” button for canceling the settlement process are displayed. When the “settlement” button is operated in D2, the money corresponding to the remaining amount is paid out, and as shown in D3, an instruction to return the remaining amount and an instruction to withdraw the membership card 4 or visitor coin 5 A message to collect is displayed. When the “cancel” button is operated in D2, as shown in D4, the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is returned and a message to that effect is displayed. When there is an abnormality in the membership card 4 or visitor coin 5 accepted at D1, as shown at D5, that effect is displayed.

  The banknote dispenser 64 and the coin dispenser 65 are for dispensing money. Specifically, a predetermined type and a predetermined number of banknotes 2 are taken out from a banknote storage unit 64b provided behind the banknote dispenser 64. Then, while paying out from the bill payout outlet 64a, a predetermined type and a predetermined number of coins 3 are taken out from the coin storage portion 65b provided at the upper part of the coin payout machine 65, and are discharged from the coin payout outlet 65a. In the settlement apparatus 60, it is possible to pay out money in units of one yen. The coin collecting unit 66 is a part for collecting the visitor coin 5 discharged from the discharge passage 132 of the passage unit 100 described below, and is provided below the discharge passage 132.

  Compared with the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20, the passage unit 100 provided in the payment apparatus 60 is provided with a second cover member 150 ′ instead of the first cover member 150, and the second guide passage 133 is provided. Since the discharge passage 132 is used without being used, and only the control of each stopper by the control unit 101 is different and the other points are the same, only the different points will be described below, and the same points Description of is omitted.

  First, in the passage unit 100 provided in the settlement apparatus 60, a second cover member 150 'is mounted instead of the first cover member 150. That is, either the first cover member 150 that shields the discharge passage 132 or the second cover member 150 ′ that opens the discharge passage 132 can be attached to the storage passage 131 of the passage unit 100. The second cover member 150 ′ is housed in a branching portion between the housing groove covering portion 151, the second guiding groove covering portion 152 covering the portion of the second guiding groove 133a, and the housing groove 131a and the discharge groove 132a. The storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ that shields the groove 131a side, and a discharge groove covering portion 154 ′ that covers the discharge groove 132a. Since the second cover member 150 ′ does not include the discharge passage shielding plate 153 like the first cover member 150, the discharge passage 132 is opened without being shielded even when the second cover member 150 ′ is attached. The The second cover member 150 ′ is formed of a transparent member, and has a plurality of long holes 150 a formed at appropriate locations, and is fitted and attached to the unit main body 100 a. The second guide groove covering portion 152 is formed with a first guide groove through which the visitor coin 5 can pass in an upright state. A lower cover member 170 and an upper cover member 180 are mounted on the unit main body 100a to which the second cover member 150 'is mounted in the same manner as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the second cover member 150 ′, the lower cover member 170, and the upper cover member 180 (hereinafter referred to as “each cover member”) are attached to the unit main body 100a, so that the passage unit provided in the settlement apparatus 60 is provided. 100 is formed, and spaces through which the visitor coin 5 can pass are formed between the grooves covered by the cover members, and the spaces constitute the passages. Specifically, the storage passage 131 is configured between the storage groove 131a and the upper cover member 180 and the second cover member 150 ′, and the second guide is formed between the second guide groove 133a and the second cover member 150 ′. A passage 133 is formed, and the storage discharge passage 130 is formed by the storage passage 131 and the second guide passage 133.

  However, in the passage unit 100 provided in the settlement apparatus 60, the storage passage 131 side at the branching portion between the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 is shielded by the storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ by mounting the second cover member 150 ′. Therefore, the second guide passage 133 connected to the storage passage 131 is not used. On the other hand, a discharge passage 132 is configured and used between the discharge groove 132a and the second cover member 150 '. In other words, both the first cover member 150 that shields the discharge passage 132 and the second cover member 150 ′ that opens the discharge passage 132 can be attached to the storage passage 131, and by attaching the first cover member 150, The visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage coin holding part 140, and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the discharge passage 132 by attaching the second cover member 150 ′. According to this, since the inserted visitor coin 5 can be collected through the discharge passage 132 by mounting the second cover member 150 ′, for example, the checkout apparatus 60 that needs to collect a large amount of visitor coins 5 is also concerned. Since the passage unit 100 can be used, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  Further, a communication passage 161 having an inclined passage 162 is formed between the communication groove 161a and the upper cover member 180 and the lower cover member 170, and the first guide groove (second guide groove covering portion 152) and the lower cover member 170 are formed. The first guide passage 163 is formed between the communication path 161 and the first guide passage 163, and the inserted coin discharge passage 160 is formed in the same manner as the passage unit 100 provided in the ball lending unit 20. is there.

  The control unit 101 stores that the passage unit 100 is provided in the settlement apparatus 60, and performs control based on the storage. Specifically, when a return operation is received while the visitor coin 5 is held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, the first inserted coin stopper 121 that is normally closed is opened to connect the visitor coin 5 to the communication path 161. Then, the first insertion coin stopper 121 is controlled to be closed. When the settlement process for the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is completed, the normally closed second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened and the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage passage 131. Control to close the second inserted coin stopper 122 is performed. Here, the visitor coin 5 supplied to the storage passage 131 passes through the discharge passage 132 and is recovered by the coin recovery unit 66. Since the storage passage 131 located in front of the storage passage shielding plate 153 ′ is not used, the first storage coin stopper 141 provided in the storage passage 131 is not controlled, and the second guide passage 133 is used. Therefore, the second storage coin stopper 142 provided in the second guide passage 133 is not controlled.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the control unit 62 is an example of a communication availability detection unit, and indicates whether the communication unit can communicate with the management device 50 (online state) or cannot communicate (offline state). It is something to detect. Specifically, based on a communication confirmation request transmitted periodically (for example, every 10 seconds) from the communication unit 51 of the management apparatus 50 to the settlement apparatus 60, reception of the communication confirmation request is periodically detected. If the communication confirmation request is not detected for a certain period of time (for example, 1 minute), it is determined that it is online (that is, a communicable state in which communication with the management device 50 is possible). It is determined that the communication is not possible.

  The control unit 62 is an example of a settlement unit (a settlement processing unit). When an online state is detected, the control unit 62 manages the management unit 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. Based on the balance, perform online settlement processing to settle, and when an offline state is detected, identify the management balance from the management balance identification information recorded on the received recording medium, and settle the specified management balance Perform offline checkout processing. In the off-line settlement process, the calculation method is specified from the calculation method flag recorded on the received recording medium, and the reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data recorded on the recording medium are calculated by the specified calculation method. The remaining management amount is calculated and specified. In the online settlement process, when a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in which the off-line fractional amount is not received is received, a settlement process for paying out money corresponding to the management balance of the received recording medium is performed. When a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) in which an offline fractional amount is recorded is received, a settlement process for paying out money corresponding to the offline fractional amount recorded in the received recording medium is performed. Here, the settlement process is a process for instructing the banknote dispenser 64 and / or the coin dispenser 65 to dispense money. Then, money corresponding to the instruction is paid out from the banknote dispenser 64 and / or the coin dispenser 65.

  Specifically, the control unit 62 functioning as a settlement processing means responds to the settlement permission information (S221a, S241a in FIG. 25) transmitted from the management device 50 in response to acceptance of the settlement operation (S780 in FIG. 26). A settlement process for paying out money corresponding to the included management balance is performed (S781 in FIG. 26), and here, the management balance specified from the summation settlement information transmitted from the settlement permission information transmitting means. And a settlement process for paying out money corresponding to the sum of the off-line fractional amount. That is, when only the balance of management is included in the settlement permission information transmitted from the management device 50, a process for instructing the payout of money corresponding to the balance of management is performed, and the sum of the balance of management and the offline fractional amount is included. If only a fractional amount of offline money is included, a process of instructing the payment of money corresponding to the offline fractional amount is performed. Then, money corresponding to the instruction is paid out from the banknote dispenser 64 and / or the coin dispenser 65.

  Further, the control unit 62 performs a third serial number update process for updating the serial number recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the settlement process (S782 in FIG. 26). Here, the third serial number update process means that the serial number recorded in the received recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is updated by adding 1 to the recording medium R via the control unit 101. / W102 is an instruction to instruct.

  Further, the control unit 62 is an example of a fractional amount determination unit, and whether or not the offline fractional amount recorded in the membership card 4 or the visitor coin 5 received by the settlement apparatus 60 is less than a predetermined amount. Here, it is determined whether or not the offline fractional amount is less than the tax-included unit amount (Sa701 in FIG. 24). Then, the settlement apparatus 60 pays out money corresponding to the offline fractional amount on the condition that the fractional amount determining means determines that the offline fractional amount is less than a predetermined amount (here, the unit price including tax). Specifically, on the condition that the offline fractional amount is determined to be less than the tax-included unit amount, a settlement request is transmitted to the management device 50, and has been transmitted from the management device 50 in response to the settlement request. Based on the receipt of the settlement permission information and accepting the settlement operation, the control unit 62 functioning as a settlement processing unit, as described above, dispenses the money corresponding to the total amount or the offline fractional amount as the banknote dispensing machine 64 and Processing to instruct the coin dispenser 65 is performed.

  Further, the RAM of the control unit 62 stores the processing state of the settlement apparatus 60. Specifically, when a recording medium is received, it is stored that the processing state is “recording medium reception”, and when a settlement operation is received, it is stored that the processing state is “accounting operation acceptance” and returned. When the operation is received, the fact that the processing state is “return operation reception” is stored.

  The control unit 82 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. When the processing program stored in the hard disk 83 is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, each component included in the center management device 80 is controlled. Various processes are performed by controlling the operation.

  The communication unit 81 is communicably connected to the external communication unit 56 of the management device 50 as described above, and manages communication between the center management device 80 and the management device 50.

  Next, the operation of the gaming system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the member card 4 is “card”, the visitor coin 5 is “coin”, the remaining amount managed by the management device 50 is “managed balance”, and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. The remaining balance is referred to as “stored balance”, and the fraction stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is referred to as “stored fraction”. In the following, the serial number recorded in the visitor coin 5 of the stored coin holding unit 140 of the ball lending unit 20, or held by the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the inserted coin holding unit 120. The serial number recorded in the visitor coin 5 is also called “recording serial number”. The serial number managed by the management apparatus 50 in association with the recording medium ID is also referred to as “management serial number”.

  First, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the ball lending unit 20 in an online state with the management device 50. The ball lending unit 20 receives money in a state waiting for money reception (S101), and transmits a deposit request including the recording medium ID and the received money amount to the management device 50 (S103).

  Upon receiving the deposit request in S103, the management device 50 stores, in the remaining amount management DB, as deposit processing in progress as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the deposit request (S104), and the accepted money included in the deposit request. The amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S105), and a scheduled remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the received monetary amount is sent to the ball lending unit 20 (S106).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the scheduled remaining amount notification in S106 stores the sum included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S107), and takes in the accepted currency accepted in S101 (S108). The recording medium (that is, when the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is not received, the storage coin holding unit 140 holds the visitor coin 5 and when the member card 4 is received, the card is held by the card holding unit 191. When the member card 4 and the visitor coin 5 are received, the addition number is updated by adding 1 to the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 (S109), and the currency pickup notification including the recording medium ID is added. Is transmitted to the management device 50 (S110), and the remaining amount is displayed on the remaining amount indicator 25, and the remaining frequency based on the remaining amount is stored. Is displayed on the remaining power indicator 14 (S 111), the ball lending operations, a state of waiting for a money reception, or return operation (S112).

  The management device 50 that has received the money take-in notification in S110 uses the received money amount stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID included in the money take-in notification as the management remaining amount of the recording medium. The received money amount is deleted (S114), 1 is added to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID and updated (S115), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated. It is updated to the payment processing completed (S116).

  Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 that is online with the management device 50. When the ball lending unit 15 receives the ball lending operation by pressing the ball lending button 15 while waiting for the ball lending operation (S121), the ball lending unit 20 starts the ball lending processing for the used amount + consumption tax amount (S122). ), A recording medium (that is, when the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is not received, the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is held by the card holding unit 191 when the member card 4 is received. If a member card 4 or a visitor coin 5 is received, 1 is added to the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 and updated (S123), and the recording medium ID and the used amount + consumption A subtraction request including the tax amount is transmitted to the management device 50 (S124).

  The management device 50 that has received the subtraction request in S124 uses the remaining balance management DB to manage the usage amount included in the subtraction request + consumption tax amount in association with the recording medium ID included in the subtraction request. Subtraction is performed (S125), 1 is added to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID to be updated (S126), subtraction processing is completed as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID (S127), and subtraction completion notification Is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S128).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the subtraction completion notification in S128 subtracts the used amount + consumption tax amount from the remaining storage amount (S129), and waits for the end of the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount started in S122. (S130). If the ball lending process does not end even after a predetermined time has passed in S130, the fact is notified to the store clerk by turning on the multi-function lamp 24 or the like. On the other hand, if it is determined in S130 that the ball lending process is completed (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of storage is zero (S131). If it is determined in S131 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process returns to S111, and if the stored balance is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount, the process proceeds to S112. It will be in the state of waiting for reception or return operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S131 that the remaining amount of storage is zero (YES), it is determined whether a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) is being accepted (S132). If it is determined in S132 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), it is in a state of waiting for money or recording medium reception (S133). On the other hand, if it is determined in S132 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S134). If it is determined in S134 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the online remaining amount flag recorded in the visitor coin 5 held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 is deleted (S135). When the inserted coin stopper 122 is opened, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is stored in the storage passage 131 (S136), and a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception is made. (S133). On the other hand, if it is determined in S134 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the member card 4 is being accepted, a state of waiting for a currency acceptance or return operation is entered (S137). That is, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is an example of a recording medium collection unit, and collects a recording medium with a management balance of 0 when an online state is detected. Specifically, when the remaining amount of RAM in the RAM becomes 0, the visitor coin 5 is collected and stored in the storage passage 131 based on the fact that the visitor coin 5 is received.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the ball lending unit 20 that is online with the management apparatus 50. The ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) while waiting for recording medium reception (S201), reads the recording information of the received recording medium, and reads the read recording medium An insertion notification including the ID, offline consumption information, offline fractional amount, offline payment information, serial number, and device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted to the management device 50 (S202).

  The management device 50 that has received the insertion notification in S202 determines whether or not the serial number included in the insertion notification matches the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification (S203). If it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers do not match (NO), the process proceeds to a process for when the serial numbers do not match in S260 and later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers match (YES), it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is in deposit processing (S204). If it is determined in S204 that the deposit process is in progress (YES), the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The added management balance is deleted without adding (S205), and the process proceeds to S209.

  That is, when the serial numbers match and the status is the deposit process (the received money amount is stored in an unadded state), the management device 50 receives the deposit request (S103 in FIG. 7). The ball lending unit 20 is in an offline state before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106), and in this case, the ball lending unit 20 returns the accepted currency, If the received monetary amount remains in the non-added state and is left in the non-added state, the game facility will be damaged if the received monetary amount is added to the remaining management amount. The process of erasing the received monetary amount without adding the received monetary amount to the management remaining amount is performed.

  Thus, since it is determined that the serial numbers match and the received monetary amount is stored in an unadded state, the added currency update process is performed without performing the received monetary amount adding process. Even when the management unit 50 receives the deposit request and the ball lending unit 20 enters an offline state before receiving the remaining amount notification (planned remaining amount notification), the accurate remaining amount can be determined. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  If it is determined in S204 that the deposit process is not in progress (NO), it is determined whether the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is in the insert process (S206). If it is determined in S206 that the insertion process is in progress (YES), the offline consumption amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The stored management balance is deleted without subtraction (S207), and the offline fraction stored in association with the recording medium ID is added to the management balance managed in association with the recording medium ID. (S208), and the off-line settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is erased without subtracting from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. (S208a), the process proceeds to S209.

  That is, when the serial numbers are the same, the status is being inserted, and the offline consumption amount or the offline settlement amount is not subtracted or the offline fraction is not stored, the management device 50 After receiving the insertion notification, online return notification or supply notification (S202 in FIG. 9, S606 in FIG. 22, S193 in FIG. 12) and before the ball lending unit 20 receives the notification of the planned remaining amount (S241 in FIG. 10), Or it is a case where an offline state occurs before the settlement apparatus 60 receives the settlement permission information (S241a in FIG. 25) after the management apparatus 50 receives the settlement request (S702 in FIG. 24). The offline consumption amount, the offline settlement amount and / or the offline fraction amount stored in the device 50 remain in the remaining state without being erased. When the line consumption or offline payment is subtracted from the management balance and / or the offline fraction is added to the management balance, the player (if offline consumption or offline payment is stored) or the game hall (offline fraction) If the amount is stored), the management device 50 will subtract the offline consumption amount or the offline settlement amount from the management balance and / or add the offline fraction to the management balance. A process of erasing the offline consumption amount, the offline settlement amount and / or the offline fractional amount is performed.

  In this way, on the condition that it is determined that the serial numbers match and that the remaining payment amount (offline fractional amount) is stored in an unadded state, the added amount update process is performed without performing the remaining payment amount addition process. Since the erasure is performed without subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount, the ball lending unit 20 notifies the remaining amount (planned remaining amount notification) after the management device 50 receives the recording medium reception notification (insertion notification). The correct remaining amount can also be determined before receiving, or when the management device 50 goes offline after the payment request is received and before the payment device 60 receives the payment permission information. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  If it is determined in S206 that the insertion process is not in progress (NO), or if the process of S205 or S208 is performed, the management apparatus 50 displays a status corresponding to the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. It is stored that the insertion process is in progress (S209), and it is determined whether or not the offline fractional value included in the insertion notification is zero (S210). If it is determined in S210 that the offline fractional value is zero (YES), it is determined whether there is any offline consumption information included in the insertion notification (S211). If it is determined in S211 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S231). If it is determined in S231 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S220.

  In other words, when the serial numbers are the same, the offline consumption amount of the recording medium and the offline settlement amount are not present, and the offline fractional amount is zero, first, when no offline state has occurred, second, the offline consumption amount, After the management device 50 receives the insertion notification from the ball lending unit 20 that has received the recording medium in which the offline settlement amount and the offline fractional amount are not recorded, the ball lending unit 20 receives the remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 10). When the management apparatus 50 receives a settlement request from the settlement apparatus 60 that has received a recording medium in which the offline consumption amount, the offline settlement amount, and the off-line fractional amount are not recorded. Any of the cases where an offline state occurs before the settlement apparatus 60 receives the settlement permission information (S221a in FIG. 25); Offline consumption amount to be erased even in the case of deviation, the off-line settlement amounts and offline fractional value is not recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to S220 to be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that the offline fractional amount is not zero (NO), the offline fractional amount is stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID (S212), and the insertion is performed. It is determined whether there is offline consumption information included in the notification (S213). If it is determined in S213 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S234). If it is determined in S234 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  That is, the case where the off-line fraction is not zero is a case where off-line lending is performed by the off-line ball lending unit 20 and the off-line fraction is recorded. In this case, the off-line fraction to be deleted is recorded. Since it is recorded on the medium, the process proceeds to S240 described later.

  If it is determined in S213 that offline consumption information is present (NO), or if it is determined in S211 that offline consumption information is present (NO), it corresponds to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. The use device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB of 6 (a) is specified (S214), and the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB of FIG. 6 (a) corresponding to the specified device ID is determined. The offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption information included in the insertion notification from the specified offline reference amount (S217), and the calculated offline consumption amount is recorded in the remaining amount management DB. The information is stored in association with the medium ID (S219), and it is determined whether there is any offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S232). If it is determined in S232 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  Here, the used device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 (or the payment device 60) that received the recording medium last time. Therefore, when the ball lending unit 20 received last time is in an offline state and the offline consumption information is recorded and discharged on the recording medium, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored. That is, in S214, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification (including offline consumption information) is specified.

  If it is determined in S232 that there is offline settlement information (NO), the offline settlement amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount stored in S219 from the management balance (S233). If it is determined in S234 that offline settlement information is present (NO), or if it is determined in S231 that offline settlement information is present (NO), the management balance is set as an offline settlement amount (S236). In the remaining amount management DB, the calculated off-line settlement amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S237), and the process proceeds to S240. Here, in the present embodiment, a flag indicating whether or not offline settlement processing has been performed is transmitted as offline settlement information. Since the entire amount is settled without performing partial settlement of the management balance specified from the specific information, the offline settlement amount can be identified by the operations of S233 and S236.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a diagram following FIG. The management device 50 determines that the offline fractional value is zero (YES) in S210, determines that there is no offline consumption information (YES) in S211 and determines that there is no offline payment information (YES) in S231. If so, the device ID included in the insertion notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S220), and the remaining amount notification including the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID is loaned. It transmits with respect to the unit 20 (S221).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the remaining amount notification in S221 stores the management remaining amount included in the remaining amount notification in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S222), and holds the recording medium (that is, the card if the member card 4 is accepted) When the member card 4 and visitor coin 5 held in the section 191 are received, the serial number of the visitor coin 5) held in the inserted coin holding section 120 is updated by adding 1 (S223), and the recording medium The remaining amount reception notification including the ID is transmitted to the management device 50 (S224), and the stored remaining amount is displayed on the remaining amount display 25, and the remaining number based on the stored remaining amount is displayed on the remaining number display 14 (S225). ), Waiting for a ball lending operation, a currency acceptance, or a return operation (S226). The management apparatus 50 that has received the remaining amount reception notification in S224 updates the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the remaining amount reception notification by adding 1 in the remaining amount management DB (S227), and updates the recording medium. The status corresponding to the ID is updated to have been processed for insertion (S228).

  Further, the management device 50 determines that the offline fractional amount is not zero (NO) in S210, that is, when the offline fractional amount is recorded on the recording medium, or there is no offline consumption information in S211 (YES). ), And when it is determined in S231 that offline settlement information is present (NO), the device ID included in the insertion notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S240), and the recording medium is stored. A scheduled remaining amount notification including a sum of the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount subtracted from the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the ID and the offline fractional amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20. (S241). In addition, when there is an offline settlement amount, in this embodiment, it is a full settlement, not a partial settlement. Therefore, at the time of offline settlement, the amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management balance is settled. Since the amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount from 0 is 0, the total amount of S241 is only the offline fractional amount.

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the scheduled remaining amount notification in S241 stores the sum included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S242), and accepts the recording medium (that is, the member card 4) In addition, when the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 are accepted, the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is deleted ( S243), the off-line settlement information recorded on the recording medium is erased (S243a), the off-line fractional amount recorded on the recording medium is erased (S244), and 1 is added to the serial number of the recording medium. Update (S245), send a fractional erasure notification including the recording medium ID to the management apparatus 50 (S246), and proceed to S225.

  The management device 50 that has received the fractional erasure notification in S246 manages the offline balance stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The offline consumption amount is deleted (S247), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID, The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S247a), and the process proceeds to S248.

  The management apparatus 50 that has performed the processing of S247a corresponds to the management remaining amount that is managed by associating the offline fraction amount stored in association with the recording medium ID with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. Then, the off-line fractional amount is deleted (S248), and the process proceeds to S227. Accordingly, when the ball lending unit 20 in the online state receives a recording medium discharged from another ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, the recording medium ID recorded in the recording medium and the offline fractional amount Is sent to the management apparatus 50, a scheduled remaining amount notice that can specify the sum of the offline fractional amount and the remaining management amount is transmitted from the management device 50, and the total amount is processed as a ball lending process. Therefore, it is not necessary to settle the deposit balance and the convenience of the player is improved.

  Further, in the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, when a recording medium discharged by performing a lending process using the remaining storage amount in another ball lending unit 20 in the offline state is accepted, the recording medium ID and the offline An insertion notification including consumption information is transmitted to the management device 50. In the management device 50, offline consumption is performed based on the offline reference information and the offline consumption information corresponding to the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium. The amount is specified, and the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount is notified to the ball lending unit 20, thereby enabling the lending process with the management remaining amount obtained by subtracting and correcting the offline consumption amount, and the management device 50 The management remaining amount managed in (1) is also updated to the value corrected by the subtraction.

  In addition, when the ball lending unit 20 in the online state accepts a recording medium that has been subjected to offline settlement processing, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID and offline settlement information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management device 50, the off-line settlement amount is specified from the off-line settlement information, and the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount from the management remaining amount is notified to the ball lending unit 20, and the management remaining amount managed by the management device 50 is also equal to the off-line settlement amount. It is updated to the value corrected by subtraction.

  Next, FIG. 11 is a diagram subsequent to FIG. If it is determined in S203 that the serial numbers do not match (NO), the management device 50 adds 1 to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification in the remaining amount management DB. Update (S260). That is, recording serial number = management serial number. Then, it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is a deposit process (S261). If it is determined in S261 that the deposit process is in progress (YES), the received money amount stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The added money is added to the management remaining amount, the received money amount is deleted (S262), and the process proceeds to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match and the status is in the process of depositing (stored with the received monetary amount not added), the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S106 in FIG. 7) This is a case where the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the money take-in notification (S110). In this case, the ball lending unit 20 is taking in the accepted money. First, the received monetary amount remains in an unadded state, and if left in the unadded state, the player suffers damage. Therefore, the management device 50 adds the received monetary amount to the management remaining amount and The process of erasing the received money amount is performed.

  As described above, the received money amount addition process and the added update process are performed on the condition that the serial numbers are determined not to match and the received money amount is stored in an unadded state. Even when the management device 50 is in an offline state before receiving the serial number update notification (money capture notification) after the 20 has received the remaining amount notification (scheduled remaining amount notification), the accurate remaining amount can be determined. . In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  Here, the effect that occurs when a serial number is recorded on a recording medium as in the present invention will be described with an example. As in this example, in the management device 50 that has received the deposit request, the received monetary amount is temporarily stored, the planned remaining amount notification is returned to the ball lending unit 20, and the ball lending unit 20 that has received the planned remaining amount notification. Then, after the accepted money is taken in, the money take-in notification is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management device 50 that has received the money take-in notice adds the accepted money amount to the management balance. When the offline state occurs after the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted, when the offline state occurs before the ball lending unit 20 receives the planned remaining amount notification, the offline state occurs after the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted. Even if (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-148683) is used, the ball lending unit 20 has received the scheduled remaining amount notice until the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred returns to the online state. Whether, i.e. whether uptake of accepted coins is performed, it is impossible identified by the management apparatus 50 side.

  Therefore, when the recording medium discharged from the off-line ball lending unit 20 is received by another on-line ball lending unit 20 and an insertion notice is transmitted, whether or not the accepted money has been taken in. Cannot be specified on the management device 50 side. At this time, if the received money amount is uniformly added to the management remaining amount, if the ball lending unit 20 has not received the scheduled remaining amount notification and the received money has been returned, the game hall suffers damage. On the other hand, if the deposit expected amount is uniformly erased, the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification, and the player suffers damage when the accepted money has been taken in. Also, the use of the remaining amount of the recording medium is not permitted until the off-line ball lending unit 20 returns to the on-line state (for example, the return of the recording medium is prohibited or can be returned, but the off-line ball lending unit 20 If information (for example, an off-line discharge flag) that can be identified is recorded and the other ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 performs processing that cannot be used), the player is inconvenienced. Take it.

  Therefore, as in the present invention, the serial number is recorded on the recording medium, the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is managed by the management device 50, and the accepted money is taken in by the ball lending unit 20. Sometimes the recorded serial number is updated, and the management serial number is updated when the received money amount is added / erased by the management device 50. When the serial numbers match, the receipt currency has not been taken in. Specify and erase the received monetary amount without adding it, and if the serial numbers do not match, specify that the accepted currency has been taken in, add the received monetary amount and delete it, and the remaining amount Can be confirmed. Therefore, the player or the game hall does not suffer damage, and the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state does not have to wait for the ball lending unit 20 to return to the online state. Can be settled in, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  If it is determined in S261 that the deposit process is not in progress (NO), it is determined whether or not the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is in the insert process (S263). If it is determined in S263 that the insertion process is in progress (YES), the offline consumption stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID is managed in association with the recording medium ID. The offline management amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount that has been stored to delete the offline consumption amount (S264), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is managed in association with the recording medium ID Subtract from the remaining amount, delete the off-line settlement amount (S264a), and store the offline fraction stored in association with the recording medium ID with respect to the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID The off-line fractional amount is deleted (S265), and the process proceeds to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is being inserted, the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount is not subtracted and / or the offline fraction is not added, Before the management device 50 receives the fractional erasure notification (S246 of the same) after the 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S241 of FIG. 10), or the settlement device 60 receives the settlement permission information (S241a of FIG. 25). In this case, the offline state occurs before the management apparatus 50 receives the fractional erasure notification (S246a). In this case, the offline consumption amount, the offline settlement amount, and the offline fractional amount recorded in the recording medium. Despite being deleted, the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount is not subtracted and the offline fraction is not added. In other words, if it is left in the non-subtracted state, the game hall will be damaged, and if left in the non-added state, the player will be damaged. The amount and the off-line settlement amount are subtracted, and the off-line fractional amount is added to the management balance and deleted.

  In this way, on the condition that the serial numbers do not match and the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount is not subtracted, the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount is subtracted from the management balance, and the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount is subtracted. Since the process of deleting the amount is performed and the remaining payment amount (offline fractional amount) is stored in an unadded state, the remaining payment amount addition process and the added update process are performed. Even when the management device 50 is in an offline state before receiving the serial number update notification (fractional amount deletion notification) after the unit 20 receives the remaining amount notification (planned remaining amount notification), the accurate remaining amount can be determined. it can. In addition, by inserting the recording medium into another ball lending unit 20 in an online state, it is possible to play a game using the remaining management amount of the recording medium, so as not to inconvenience the player as much as possible. can do.

  If it is determined in S263 that the insertion processing is not in progress (NO), whether or not the used device ID stored in the balance management DB in association with the recording medium ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is determined. Is determined (S266). When it is determined in S266 that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is not (NO), that is, when it is determined that it is the device ID of the settlement device 60, it is associated with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB. The stored management balance is deleted and the status is updated to the settlement process (S267), and the process proceeds to S274.

  In other words, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the use apparatus ID is the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60, the settlement apparatus 60 performs the settlement permission information (S221a or S241a in FIG. 25). Is received (S780 in FIG. 26), and the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the settlement completion notification (S783). In this case, the settlement device 60 Despite the payment of money for the licensed amount, the remaining management amount is not erased and remains in the remaining state. Therefore, the management device 50 performs a process of erasing the management balance.

  In this way, it is determined that the serial numbers do not match, and the settlement request reception information is managed (that is, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the device ID used is the device ID of the settlement device 60). As a result, the management remaining amount zero update process and the settlement request elimination process are performed. Therefore, after the settlement apparatus 60 receives the settlement permission information, the settlement operation is accepted and before the management apparatus 50 receives the settlement completion notification. Even if the player is in an offline state, that is, even if money has been paid out to the player, the management balance has not been updated to zero. It is possible to update the game room and prevent damage to the playground.

  If it is determined in S266 that the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is (YES), the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A is referred to correspond to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. Is used as the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that was last used while the recording medium was online (S269), and the setting value DB shown in FIG. Then, the ball lending set amount corresponding to the specified device ID is specified (S270), and the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification is equal to or more than the specified ball lending set amount. It is determined whether or not there is (S271).

  If it is determined in S271 that the management remaining amount is equal to or larger than the ball lending set amount (YES), the ball lending set amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount in the remaining amount management DB (S272), and the process proceeds to S274. On the other hand, if it is determined in S271 that the remaining management amount is less than the ball lending set amount (NO), it is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the remaining management amount (for example, the remaining management amount is 475 yen). If it exists, 420 yen that is four times the tax-included unit amount) is subtracted from the management remaining amount (S273), and the process proceeds to S274.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, the status is not during the deposit process and the insert process, and the use device ID is the device ID of the ball lending unit 20, the management device 50 receives the subtraction request (S124 in FIG. 8). In this case, the management device 50 uses the remaining amount from the management remaining amount even though the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending processing for the amount used + consumption tax. + Because the consumption tax amount is not subtracted, and the game hall is damaged if left in that state, the ball lending unit 20 that was last used while the recording medium was online In addition to specifying the ball lending set amount, if the management remaining amount is equal to or greater than the ball lending set amount, the ball lending set amount, and if the management remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, it is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount. There The maximum amount not exceeding physical balance, identified as such amounts + consumption tax, and performs subtraction processing in the management apparatus 50.

  As described above, the management device 50 performs subtraction processing of the management remaining amount due to the occurrence of the offline state in spite of the fact that the first lending processing (usage amount + ball consumption processing for consumption tax amount) is performed in the ball lending unit 20. If the recording medium is not received, the recording medium is accepted by another on-line ball lending unit 20, so that the management device 50 corresponds to the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the recording medium ID of the recording medium. In addition, it is determined that the serial number managed by the management device 50 does not match, and it is determined that the subtraction process has not been performed on the condition that the added update process has been performed on the received money amount, Since the remaining amount is determined by performing the subtraction process, the remaining amount of management is transferred to another ball lending unit without waiting for the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state to return to the online state. It is possible to use at 20, without the trouble it takes to the player, also a game arcade that there is no also to the loss. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation where the subtraction process is not performed and to prevent damage to the game hall.

  Here, even when a different ball lending set amount is set for each ball lending unit 20, the ball lending unit 20 in which the recording medium with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification was received last time is identified and the corresponding ball lending unit 20 is set. Since the lending amount is subtracted from the management balance, the correct balance can be determined. In addition, even if the management balance is less than the ball lending set amount, the maximum balance that is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the management balance is subtracted from the management balance, so the correct balance can be determined. .

  According to the gaming system 1 described above, since the serial number updated in accordance with the specific processing in the ball lending unit 20 is recorded on the recording medium, the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred returns to the online state. The recording medium ejected from the ball lending unit 20 is received by another online ball lending unit 20 without waiting for the recording, and the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the recording medium of the recording medium Although the specific processing is performed in the ball lending unit 20 due to the occurrence of an offline state from the serial number managed by the management device 50 in association with the ID, the management device 50 performs the cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing. You can identify and deal with things that are not

  Here, the effect that occurs when a serial number is recorded on a recording medium as in the present invention will be described with an example. As in the present example, when the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending processing for the used amount + consumption tax amount, a subtraction request including the used amount + consumption tax amount is transmitted to the management device 50, and the subtraction request When the management device 50 that receives the subtraction request subtracts the used amount + consumption tax amount included in the subtraction request from the management residual amount, if the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the subtraction request, Even if the technology (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-148683) is used, whether or not the usage amount + consumption tax amount has been subtracted on the management device 50 side until the ball lending unit 20 in which the offline state has occurred returns to the online state. I can't specify.

  Therefore, when the recording medium discharged from the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state is accepted by another ball lending unit 20 in the online state and an insertion notification is transmitted, the usage amount + consumption tax amount is subtracted. It cannot be specified on the management device 50 side. At this time, if the management remaining amount of the recording medium can be uniformly used, if the usage amount + consumption tax amount is not subtracted from the management remaining amount, the management remaining amount before the subtraction is used in the online ball lending unit 20 When the remaining management amount is used up, even if the ball lending unit 20 in the off-line state returns to the on-line state, the used amount + consumption tax cannot be subtracted. . On the other hand, when the ball lending unit 20 that has been subjected to the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount goes offline, the remaining amount of the recording medium is uniform until the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state returns to the online state. (For example, prohibition of return of the recording medium, or return is possible but information that can be identified as being discharged from the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state (for example, an offline discharge flag) is recorded. If the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 is used, the player is inconvenienced.

  Therefore, as in the present invention, the serial number is recorded on the recording medium, and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is managed by the management device 50, and the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process. The recorded serial number is updated, and the management serial number is updated when the management device 50 subtracts the used amount + consumption tax amount. When the serial numbers do not match, it is specified that no subtraction has been performed, When the + consumption tax amount is subtracted from the management balance and the serial numbers match, it is determined that the subtraction has been completed and the management balance is left as it is, so that the balance can be determined. Therefore, the player or the game hall does not suffer damage, and the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state does not have to wait for the ball lending unit 20 to return to the online state. Can be settled in, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  After the processing of S262, after the processing of S265, after the processing of S267, after the processing of S272, and after the processing of S273, the remaining amount management DB is performing the insertion processing as the status corresponding to the recording medium ID. Is stored (S274), and it is determined whether the offline fractional value included in the insertion notification is zero (S275). If it is determined in S275 that the offline fractional value is zero (YES), it is determined whether there is any offline consumption information included in the insertion notification (S276). If it is determined in S276 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether or not there is offline payment information included in the insertion notification (S291). If it is determined in S291 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S220.

  That is, when the serial numbers do not match, there is no offline consumption information and offline settlement information of the recording medium, and the offline fraction is zero, the ball lending unit 20 first notifies the planned remaining amount during the deposit process (S106 in FIG. 7). ), And when the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the money pickup notification (S110), secondly, the management device 50 performs the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount. If the offline state occurs before receiving the subtraction request (S124 in FIG. 8), the ball lending unit 20 thirdly issues a remaining amount notification (S221 in FIG. 10) or a scheduled remaining amount notification (S241) during the insertion process. If an offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the remaining amount reception notification (S224) or the fractional amount erasure notification (S246) after receiving, fourthly, during the insertion process After the calculation device 60 receives the payment permission information (S221a or S241a in FIG. 25), the management device 50 enters the offline state before receiving the payment permission information reception notification (the same S224a) or the fractional amount deletion notification (the same S246a). If it occurs, it is one of the cases where the offline state occurs before the management apparatus 50 receives the payment completion notice (S783 in FIG. 26) fifthly, and is deleted in either case. Since the off-line consumption information, off-line settlement information, and off-line fractional value to be recorded are not recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to S220.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S275 that the offline fractional amount is not zero (NO), the offline fractional amount is stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID (S277), and the insertion is performed. It is determined whether or not there is offline consumption information included in the notification (S278). If it is determined in S278 that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether or not there is offline adjustment information included in the insertion notification (S294). If it is determined in S294 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  That is, the ball lending unit 20 in the online state performs the ball lending processing for the used amount + consumption tax amount, and the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the subtraction request (S124 in FIG. 8). When the off-line lending is performed by the ball lending unit 20 in FIG. 1, the serial numbers do not match and the recording medium on which the off-line fractional amount is recorded is discharged. Next, when the recording medium is received by another ball lending unit 20 in the online state, it is determined as NO in S203 and the processing of S260 is performed (the serial numbers match here), NO in S261, NO in S263, In S266, it is determined as YES, the processing of S269 to S272 or S269 to S273 is performed, the processing of S274, S275, and S277 is performed, the offline fractional amount is stored, and the status that the insertion processing is being performed is stored as the status. However, if an off-line state occurs before the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification (S241 in FIG. 10), the recording medium in which the serial numbers match and the off-line fractional amount is recorded is discharged. Further, when another ball lending unit 20 in the online state accepts the recording medium, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, YES is determined in S206, and the stored offline fractional amount is deleted in S208. The offline fractional amount included in the insertion notification is stored again.

  If it is determined in S278 that offline consumption information is present (NO), or if it is determined in S276 that offline consumption information is present (NO), it corresponds to the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. The used device ID stored in the remaining amount management DB of 6 (a) is specified (S279), and the offline reference amount stored in the setting value DB of FIG. 6 (a) corresponding to the specified device ID is determined. The offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption information included in the insertion notification from the specified offline reference amount (S280), and the calculated offline consumption amount is recorded in the remaining amount management DB. The information is stored in association with the medium ID (S284), and it is determined whether or not there is offline settlement information included in the insertion notification (S292). If it is determined in S292 that there is no offline settlement information (YES), the process proceeds to S240.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S292 that there is offline settlement information (NO), the offline settlement amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the remaining management amount (S293), and the process proceeds to S297.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S291 or S294 that there is offline settlement information (NO), the management balance is set as the offline settlement amount (S296), and the process proceeds to S297. In S297, the calculated off-line settlement amount is stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID, and the process proceeds to S240. About the process after S220 and S240, the process similar to the process at the time of the serial number matching demonstrated in FIG. 10 is performed.

  9 to 11 related to the insertion notification (FIGS. 12 and 13 related to the supply notification, FIGS. 22 and 23 related to the online return notification, and FIGS. 24 and 25 related to the checkout request also. In the same manner), it has been explained that the insertion notification includes the offline fractional amount, offline consumption information, and offline settlement information. This is the case of the offline fraction amount, offline consumption information, and offline settlement information. This means that what is recorded on the received recording medium is included, and does not mean that all three pieces of information are always included. Similarly, not all processing is necessarily performed for S207, S208, S208a, S247, S247a, S248, S264, S264a, and S265 on the management device side, but the offline fraction, offline consumption, and offline settlement amount Among these, if there is something stored in the remaining amount management DB of the management device, this means that the stored information is processed. Also, not all processing is necessarily performed for S243, S243a, and S244 on the ball lending unit 20 side, but what is recorded on the recording medium among the offline fractional amount, offline consumption information, and offline settlement information This means that an erasing process is performed.

  Next, FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in an online state with the management device 50. When the return button 16 is pressed and the return operation is received while waiting for the return operation (S181), the ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5). Is determined (S182).

  If it is determined in S182 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), the recording medium ID of the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 or the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 5 is sent to the management apparatus 50 (S184). The management device 50 that has received the return notification in S184 transmits a return permission notification to the ball rental unit 20 (S185).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the return permission notice in S185 determines whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S194). If it is determined in S194 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the calculation method is determined (S194a), and the stored data (that is, the management balance) is calculated by the determined calculation method. Is calculated by the method described above (S194b). In S 194 c, original data consisting of reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data and a calculation method flag are recorded in the visitor coin 5 held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 and held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. An online remaining amount flag is recorded on the visitor coin 5 (S195), the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is erased (S195a), and the first inserted coin stopper 121 is opened to release the inserted coin. The visitor coin 5 held by the holding unit 120 is discharged and returned to the coin discharge port 112 via the inserted coin discharge passage 160 (S196), and a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception is entered.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S194 that no visitor coin 5 is being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the membership card 4 is being accepted, the calculation method is determined (S197a), and the remaining amount of storage is calculated using the determined calculation method. Such original data is calculated by the method described above (S197b). In S197c, original data consisting of reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data and a calculation method flag are recorded on the membership card 4 held in the card holding unit 191, and in S197d, stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The stored remaining amount is erased, the member card 4 is returned (S197), and it enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception.

  If it is determined in S182 that the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is zero (S183). If it is determined in S183 that the remaining amount of storage is zero (YES), the return operation is invalidated and a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception is entered. On the other hand, if it is determined in S183 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), a return notification including the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is transmitted to the management device 50 ( S184). The management device 50 that has received the return notification in S184 transmits a return permission notification to the ball rental unit 20 (S185).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the return permission notice in S185 determines the calculation method (S187). The calculation method is determined, for example, by alternately selecting the above-described addition priority calculation method or multiplication / division priority calculation method for each ejection (return) of the recording medium. In the determined calculation method, the original data for calculating the storage balance, that is, the management balance is calculated by the method described above (S188). In S189, the original data including the reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data and the calculation method flag are recorded on the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140.

  In S189a, the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is erased. In S190, an online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5, and the second storage coin stopper 142 is opened. The visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holder 140 is discharged from the coin discharge port 112 (S191), the second storage coin stopper 142 is closed, and the first storage coin stopper 141 is opened. Accordingly, the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131 is discharged from the storage passage 131 and supplied to the storage coin holder 140 (S192).

  Then, the recording information of the visitor coin 5 supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 is read (S192c), and it is determined whether there is no offline consumption information in the recording information (S192a). If it is determined in S192a that there is no offline consumption information (YES), it is determined whether there is no offline payment information in the recorded information (S192b). If it is determined in S192a that offline consumption information is present (NO), or if it is determined in S192b that offline settlement information is present (NO), the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5, offline consumption information, offline A supply notification including the adjustment information, serial number, and device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is transmitted to the management device 50 (S193).

  As described above, the ball lending unit 20 is received and managed by the visitor coin 5 (recording medium) or the ball lending unit that is collected by the settlement apparatus 60 and then replenished to the ball lending unit and stored in the storage passage 131. The remaining amount (stored remaining amount) becomes 0 and constitutes an issuing means for issuing the visitor coin 5 collected and stored in the storage passage 131. Specifically, when a deposit is made without receiving a recording medium, the deposit amount is stored as a remaining amount in association with the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 of the stored coin holding unit 140, and the management remaining amount (stored) The visitor coin 5 is issued (discharged) by performing a return operation before the (remaining amount) becomes zero.

  Further, the ball lending unit 20 supplies the next visitor coin 5 (the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131) to the storage coin holding unit 140 in accordance with the issuance (discharge) of the visitor coin 5, and records it. The information is read, and the supply notification including the read visitor coin ID, offline consumption information, offline payment information, serial number, and device ID is sent via the external communication unit 21b constituting the offline consumption information transmitting means and the offline payment information transmitting means. To the management device 50. At that time, the ball lending unit 20 determines whether the offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 by the control unit 21 constituting the offline consumption information determination means, and it is determined that the offline consumption information is recorded. A supply notification is transmitted on the condition. More specifically, it is also determined whether offline payment information is recorded, and a supply notification is transmitted on the condition that it is determined that at least one of offline consumption information and offline payment information is recorded.

  The management device 50 that has received the supply notification in S193 treats the supply notification in the same manner as the insertion notification, and performs the same processing as S203 and subsequent steps described with reference to FIGS. However, the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 10 is replaced with the processing after S240 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, FIG. 13 will be described.

  In S240, the device ID included in the supply notification, that is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the supply notification, and the remaining management amount managed in association with the recording medium ID A supply balance notification including an amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount (which is always 0 in this case) is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241b).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the supply balance notification in S241b erases the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 (S243), and the offline settlement recorded in the visitor coin 5 The information is deleted (S243a), 1 is added to the serial number of the visitor coin 5 to be updated (S245), and the consumption information deletion notification including the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 is transmitted to the management device 50 (S246b). .

  In this way, the ball lending unit 20 receives the supply balance notification transmitted from the management device in response to the supply notification, on condition that the supply notification including offline consumption information or offline payment information is transmitted. Based on this, the offline consumption information and the offline payment information recorded in the visitor coin 5 are deleted by the control unit 21 constituting the offline consumption information deletion means and the offline payment information deletion means. Then, after the deposit and return operations are performed, the visitor coin 5 from which the offline consumption information and the offline settlement information are erased is issued (discharged).

  The management apparatus 50 that has received the consumption information erasure notification in S246b manages the remaining amount of offline management stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The offline consumption amount is deleted (S247), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID, The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S247a). Then, the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is updated by adding 1 (S227a), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to have been inserted (S229).

  As described above, the management device 50 subtracts the management remaining amount corresponding to the recording medium ID included in the supply notification received from the ball lending unit 20 by the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information included in the supply notification. The amount is updated to the amount subtracted by the offline adjustment amount specified from the offline adjustment information, but in this processing performed in response to the supply notification, the management balance is updated to 0 in any case It will be.

  Next, FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the ball lending unit 20. When the ball lending unit 20 detects the occurrence of the offline state by the communication availability detecting means (S300), it is specifically controlled whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the receipt of the currency in S101. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the unit 21 is “money acceptance” (S301).

  If it is determined in S301 that money has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the scheduled remaining amount notification in S106 has been received (S303).

  If it is determined in S303 that the planned remaining amount notification has not been received (NO), the currency accepted in S101 is returned in S306, and a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) is being accepted in S307. If the recording medium is being accepted (YES), the process proceeds to S393. If the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S308. In S308, it is determined whether or not the stored balance is zero. If the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process proceeds to S393. If the stored balance is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S383.

  In S393, it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount. If it is determined that the remaining memory amount is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount (YES), the process proceeds to S373. When it is determined that the amount is less than the tax-included unit amount (NO), the multi-function lamp 24 notifies that the offline state has been detected (S394), and the remaining amount is displayed by adding the remaining storage amount and the stored fractional amount. It is displayed on the container 25 (S395), and enters a state of waiting for money acceptance or return operation in the offline state (S396).

  In S383, the multi-function lamp 24 informs that the offline state has been detected, and enters a state of waiting for the receipt of money or the recording medium in the offline state (S384).

  In addition, when the notification of the scheduled remaining amount has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the deposit request and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the deposit request are included. . In this case, if the offline state occurs after receiving the deposit request, the serial numbers match, and the received monetary amount is stored in the management device 50 with no addition (ie, deposit processing is in progress). In the ball lending unit 20, the accepted currency is not taken in. Accordingly, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, YES is determined in S204, and the processing from S205 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S303 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined in S304 whether or not the processes in S107 to S109 have been performed, and any of the processes has been performed. If not (NO), the unexecuted process is executed in S305, and the process proceeds to S373. If all processes have been performed (YES), the process proceeds to S373.

  When the notification of the scheduled remaining amount has been received, the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the money take-in notification (S110 in FIG. 7), and the offline state after receiving the money take-in notification. And when a condition occurs. Here, when an offline state occurs before receiving the money pick-up notification of the former, the serial numbers do not match, and the received money amount is stored in the management device 50 in an unadded state (that is, the deposit processing) In the ball lending unit 20, the accepted currency is being taken in. Accordingly, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, YES is determined in S261, and the processing from S262 onward is performed.

  In S373, the multi-function lamp 24 informs that the offline state has been detected, and displays the sum obtained by adding the remaining storage amount and the stored fractional amount on the remaining amount display 25 (S374). It enters a state of waiting for money reception or return operation (S375).

  If it is determined in S301 that the money has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the ball lending operation is received in S121. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM is “acceptance of ball lending operation” (S321). If it is determined in S321 that the ball lending operation has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the subtraction completion notification in S128 has been received (S322).

  If it is determined in S322 that the subtraction completion notification has been received (YES), it is determined in S325 whether or not the storage remaining amount has been subtracted in S129. If the storage remaining amount has not been subtracted (NO). In step S326, the process of step S129 is executed and the process proceeds to step S327. If the stored balance has been subtracted (YES), the process proceeds to step S327. In S327, it is determined whether or not the stored balance is zero. If the stored balance is not zero (NO), the process proceeds to S393. If the stored balance is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S328. In S328, it is determined whether or not the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) is being accepted. If the recording medium is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S383, and if the recording medium is being accepted (YES) ), Go to S329. In S329, it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted. If the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S394. By deleting the online residual amount flag recorded in the visitor coin 5 held at 120 and opening the second inserted coin stopper 122 at S331, the visitor coin held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is opened. 5 is stored in the storage passage 131, and the process proceeds to S383.

  If it is determined in S322 that the subtraction completion notification has not been received (NO), it is determined in S323 whether or not each process of S122 to S123 has been executed, and any of the processes has been executed. If not (NO), the unexecuted process is executed in S324, the process of S129 is executed (S326a), the process proceeds to S327, and if all the processes have been executed (YES), the process of S129 is executed. Is executed (S326a), and the process proceeds to S327.

  The case where the subtraction completion notification has not been received includes the case where the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the subtraction request and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the subtraction request. Here, if an offline state occurs before receiving the former subtraction request, the serial numbers do not match and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored, not during the deposit process or the insert process. It will be in the state. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, NO is determined in S263, and YES is determined in S266. In the latter case, when the offline state occurs after receiving the subtraction request, the serial numbers match and the subtraction process is completed. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, NO is determined in S206, and YES is determined in S210.

  If it is determined in S321 that the ball lending operation has not been received (NO), whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected is after the recording medium reception in S201 or after the recording medium supply in S192. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is “recording medium reception” or “recording medium supply” (S341). If it is determined in S341 that the recording medium has been received or supplied (YES), it is determined whether the remaining amount notification in S221, the scheduled remaining amount notification in S241, or the remaining supply notification in S241b has been received. (S342).

  If it is determined in S342 that the remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S222 to S223 in FIG. 10 have been performed (S343), and any of the processes Is not executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S393. If all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S393. If it is determined in S342 that the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes in S242 to S245 in FIG. 10 have been performed (S343). If the process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S393. If all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S393. If it is determined in S342 that the supply balance notification has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the processes of S243 to S245 in FIG. 13 have been performed (S343). If the process has not been executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed (S344), and the process proceeds to S393. If all the processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S393.

  When the scheduled remaining amount notification has been received, an offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the fractional erasure notification, and an offline state occurs after receiving the fractional erasure notification. Is included. If an offline state occurs before receiving the former, the fractional amount deletion notification, the serial numbers do not match and the offline fractional amount is stored in the management device 50 without being added (ie, the insertion process). And the off-line fractional amount of the recording medium is erased. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, and YES is determined in S263, and the processing from S264 is performed.

  If it is determined in S342 that the remaining amount notification, scheduled remaining amount notification, or supply remaining amount notification has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S383.

  In the case where the scheduled remaining amount notification has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the insertion notification and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the insertion notification are included. In this case, if the offline state occurs after receiving the insertion notification, the serial numbers match, and the offline fraction is stored in the management device 50 without being added (that is, the insertion processing is in progress). The off-line fractional amount is recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, when the recording medium is received by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, and YES is determined in S206, and the processing from S208 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S341 that the recording medium has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S383, and the apparatus enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception in an offline state.

  Next, FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state accept a recording medium and when money is accepted. The ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) while waiting for the recording medium reception in the offline state (S501), and reads the recording information of the received recording medium. It is then determined whether or not the recorded information includes an offline fractional amount (S502). If it is determined in S502 that the offline fractional amount is included (YES), that is, it is determined that the offline fractional amount is recorded, the offline fractional amount is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S503). An amount obtained by adding the stored fractional amount is displayed on the remaining amount display 25 (in this case, since there is no stored remaining amount, an off-line fractional amount is displayed) (S504). Or it will be in the state which waits for return operation (S505). On the other hand, if it is determined in S502 that the offline fractional amount is not included (NO), that is, the offline fractional amount is not recorded, the process proceeds to S505.

  Further, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts money in the offline state waiting for money reception (S510), it determines whether or not the amount of money received is 1000 yen or less that can be used for offline lending. (S511). If it is determined in S511 that the accepted currency amount exceeds 1000 yen (NO), the received currency is returned (S511a), and the sum of the remaining memory amount and the stored fractional amount is displayed ( S504), a state of waiting for money reception, and a state of waiting for recording medium reception when no recording medium is received, and a state of waiting for return operation when receiving a recording medium (S505). . On the other hand, if it is determined in S511 that the accepted monetary amount is 1000 yen or less (YES), it is determined whether or not the stored fractional amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount (S512). Here, the stored fractional amount is the fractional amount recorded on the recording medium accepted in S501 or the fractional amount specified in S513 or S520, which will be described later based on the previous receipt of money, and the corresponding consumption tax amount. Is a consumption tax amount corresponding to the amount of money received.

  If it is determined in S512 that the stored fractional amount is less than the corresponding consumption tax amount (NO), it is determined whether or not the sum of the stored fractional amount and the remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount (S515). ). If it is determined in S515 that the sum of the stored fractional amount and the remaining storage amount is less than the corresponding consumption tax amount (NO), whether or not the accepted monetary amount is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount (105 yen in this case) Is determined (S513). If it is determined in S513 that the accepted currency amount is less than the unit price including tax (NO), the process proceeds to S511a, where the accepted currency is returned (S511a), and the sum of the remaining memory amount and the stored fractional amount is added. After the display (S504), the machine enters a state of waiting for money reception, a state of waiting for recording medium reception when no recording medium is received, and a state of waiting for return operation when receiving a recording medium. (S505).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S512 that the stored fractional amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount (YES), the sum of the received monetary amount (1000 yen here) and the stored fractional amount (for example, 55 yen) (1055) The loan target amount (1050 yen) and the new fractional amount (5 yen) are identified from the yen) (S513), the stored fractional amount is updated to the identified fractional amount (S514), and the process proceeds to S522. Also, if it is determined in S515 that the sum of the stored fractional amount and the remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount (YES), the received monetary amount (1000 yen here) and the stored fractional amount (for example, 45 yen) ) And the memory remaining amount (for example, 5 yen) are added to the loan target amount (1050 yen) and a new memory remaining amount (0 yen) from the sum (1050 yen) (S516), and the memory remaining amount is specified. The remaining amount is updated and the stored fractional amount is updated to 0 (S517), the used amount of the stored remaining amount (45 yen in this case) is added to the offline consumption amount (S518), and the process proceeds to S522. If it is determined in S513 that the accepted monetary amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount (YES), the loan amount (945 yen) is changed from the accepted monetary amount (1000 yen here) by the first specific process described above. ) And the fractional amount (55 yen) are specified (S520), the specified fractional amount is added to the stored fractional amount (S521), and the process proceeds to S522.

  Here, when it is determined YES in S515, there are a case where the stored fractional amount is 0 and a case where it is not 0 (less than the corresponding consumption tax amount). Therefore, in S517, only the process of subtracting and updating the corresponding consumption tax amount from the remaining storage amount is performed. On the other hand, if the stored fractional amount is not 0, as described above, the stored fractional amount is used in preference to the remaining stored amount in this embodiment, so that the stored fractional amount is always updated to 0 in S517. The difference between the consumption tax amount and the stored fractional amount is subtracted and updated from the remaining storage amount. In S517, the same amount as the amount subtracted and updated from the remaining storage amount is added and updated to the offline consumption amount.

  Then, the off-line lending, which is a ball lending process for the specified loan object amount, is performed without being operated by the player (S522). Next, it is determined whether or not both the remaining balance and the stored fractional value have become 0 (S523). If it is determined that at least one of the remaining storage amount and the stored fractional amount is not 0 (NO in S523), the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if it is determined that both the remaining memory amount and the stored fractional amount have become 0 (YES in S523), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S524). If it is determined that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO in S524), the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if it is determined that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES in S524), it is determined whether or not an online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S524a). If it is determined that the online balance flag is recorded (YES in S524a), the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if it is determined that the online remaining amount flag is not recorded (NO in S524a), it is determined whether the offline consumption amount is 0 (S525).

  Here, as a result of the ball lending that accepts money in the offline state, the remaining memory amount and the stored fractional amount are 0 (YES in S523), and the visitor coin 5 is being accepted into the inserted coin holding unit 120 (YES in S524). As a result, after receiving the visitor coin 5 in the online state, an offline state occurs, and the management remaining amount (stored amount) of the visitor coin 5 stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is used for ball lending, and is subtracted and updated in S517. As a result, when it becomes 0 (first case), the result is that the visitor coin 5 is accepted after the occurrence of offline, the fractional amount (stored fractional amount) of the visitor coin 5 is used for ball lending, and the result is subtracted and updated in S514 or S517 , 0 (second case).

  In the first case, since the stored balance, that is, the management balance of the accepted visitor coin 5 is 0, the online balance flag of the visitor coin 5 is deleted, but this is omitted, so in S524a Since it is determined that the online remaining amount flag is not recorded (NO), and the offline consumption amount is not 0 (NO in S525), after the offline consumption information is recorded, the visitor coin 5 is collected in the storage passage 131. It is stored (S529).

  In the second case, one or both of the online balance flag and the offline fractional amount may be recorded in the received visitor coin 5, and if the visitor coin 5 in which only the offline fractional amount is recorded is accepted If the offline fractional value becomes 0 as a result of the ball lending, it is determined in S524a that the online remaining amount flag is not recorded (NO), and the visitor coin 5 is collected and stored in the storage passage 131 (S529). On the other hand, when the visitor coin 5 in which only the online remaining amount flag or both the online remaining amount flag and the offline fractional amount are recorded is received, the visitor coin 5 has a management remaining amount, and therefore the online remaining amount flag is set in S524a. It is determined that it is recorded (YES), and it is returned according to the subsequent return operation without being collected in the storage passage 131.

  If it is determined that the offline consumption amount is not 0 (NO in S525), the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S526), and the visitor coin held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 is calculated. 5, the calculated offline consumption information is recorded (S527), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S528), and the process proceeds to S529. If it is determined that the offline consumption amount is 0 (YES in S525), the process proceeds to S529. Then, by opening the second inserted coin stopper 122, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding portion 120 is stored in the storage passage 131 (S529), and the process proceeds to S504. That is, the ball lending unit 20 configures the consumption information recording means on the condition that the remaining amount stored in the RAM is 0, specifically, on the condition that both the remaining amount and the stored fractional amount are 0. The visitor coin 5 in which the offline consumption information is recorded by the control unit 21 and the recording medium B / W 102 is collected and stored in the storage passage 131 by the control unit 21 constituting the recording medium collection unit. As described above, the ball lending unit 20 stores the fractional amount generated by the off-line lending, and when the discharging operation is accepted from the player in S541 described later, the stored fractional amount is recorded as the offline fractional amount. Since the recording medium is discharged, the life of the recording medium can be extended as compared with the case where the fractional amount is recorded on the recording medium every time lending is performed.

  As described above, when further money is accepted after the off-line lending, the loan target amount and the fractional amount are specified from the sum of the fractional amount and the accepted monetary amount in S513, and a return operation is accepted from the player in S541 described later. In addition, since the recording medium with the fractional amount recorded as the offline fractional amount is discharged, the recording medium is saved as compared with the case where the recording medium is discharged every time offline lending is performed, and also for the player. There is no need to handle a plurality of recording media with fractional amounts, and convenience is improved.

  Next, FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is received in the ball lending unit in an offline state with the management device in the first embodiment. When the ball lending unit 20 receives the ball lending operation while waiting for the ball lending operation in the offline state (S531), the ball lending unit 20 determines whether or not the remaining storage amount is equal to or more than the tax-included unit amount (S532). If it is determined in S532 that the remaining storage amount is not more than the tax-included unit amount (NO), the process proceeds to S504. .

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S532 that the remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the tax-included unit amount (YES), the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount is started (S533). Note that the used amount + consumption tax amount is a ball lending set amount that is a predetermined reference lending amount (for example, 525 yen, which is a portion of 5 times of tax-included unit amount) if the remaining memory is equal to or more than the ball lending set amount. Alternatively, if the remaining storage amount is less than the ball lending set amount, it is a loan target amount that is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and does not exceed the stored remaining amount.

  Next, the usage amount + consumption tax amount is subtracted from the remaining storage amount (S534), and the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is added by the usage amount + consumption tax amount (S535), which was started in S533. It waits for the end of the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount (S536). If it is determined in S536 that the ball lending process is completed (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is 0 (S591). If it is determined in S591 that the remaining storage amount is not 0 (NO), the process proceeds to S504.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S591 that the remaining storage amount is 0 (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S592). If it is determined in S592 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if it is determined in S592 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S593), and held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S594), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S595), and the second inserted coin stopper 122 is opened. As a result, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holder 120 is stored in the storage passage 131 (S596), and the process proceeds to S504. Here, in this embodiment, since the stored fractional amount is used in preference to the stored balance, the stored balance 0 after the ball lending process using the stored balance in accordance with the ball lending operation in the offline state is performed. In this case, since the stored fractional amount is always 0 and the offline consumption amount is not 0, it is not determined in S523 or S525 in FIG. 15 but in S591, whether or not the remaining storage amount is 0 Only doing.

  Next, FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are diagrams subsequent to FIG. The ball lending unit 20 is accepting the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) when the return button 16 is pressed and the return operation is accepted in the offline state waiting for the return operation (S541). It is determined whether or not (S542). If it is determined in S542 that a recording medium has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the remaining storage amount is zero (S543). If it is determined in S543 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the calculation method is determined (S941), and the original data for calculating the stored balance using the determined calculation method is calculated by the method described above. (S942). Then, the original data including the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data and the calculation method flag are recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 (S943), and the control unit 21 RAM is used. The stored remaining amount is erased (S544), an online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the stored coin holding unit 140 (S545), and the process proceeds to S945. On the other hand, also when it is determined in S543 that the remaining amount of storage is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S945. The remaining storage amount in this case is an amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount.

  In S945, it is determined whether or not the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is zero. If it is determined in S945 that the offline consumption is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S546. On the other hand, if it is determined in S945 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S946) and held in the storage coin holding unit 140. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S947), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S948), and the process proceeds to S546.

  In S546, it is determined whether or not the stored fractional amount is zero. If it is determined in S546 that the stored fractional amount is zero (YES), it is determined whether or not an online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S547). If it is determined in S547 that the online balance flag is recorded (YES), the process proceeds to S552. On the other hand, if it is determined in S547 that the online remaining amount flag is not recorded (NO), the return operation is invalidated (S549), and the system enters a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception in the offline state. (S554).

  If the remaining balance and the stored fractional amount are both zero (S543 and S546 are both YES), even if offline consumption information is recorded in S947, the return operation is invalidated in S549 and the visitor coin 5 is not returned. . In this case, when the ball lending unit 20 returns to the online state, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the visitor coin 5 and the offline consumption information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management balance is corrected. Further, as a result of accepting money in the offline state, a fractional amount is generated, the fractional amount is recorded, the visitor coin 5 is discharged, and the visitor coin 5 is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20 to record. An insertion notification including the medium ID, the offline consumption amount, and the offline fractional amount is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management remaining amount is corrected.

  If it is determined in S546 that the stored fraction is not zero (NO), the stored fraction is recorded as an offline fraction in the visitor coin 5 held in the stored coin holder 140 (S550), and the control unit The stored fraction stored in the RAM 21 is deleted (S551), and the process proceeds to S552.

  In S552, by opening the second storage coin stopper 142, the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holder 140 is discharged and returned. That is, the visitor coin 5 is returned when there is a stored fractional amount and when an online remaining amount flag is recorded. In this way, the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state generates a fractional amount as a result of accepting money and lending offline, and as a result of performing a ball lending process using the fractional amount. When the fractional amount becomes zero, the visitor coin 5 is discharged on the condition that the online residual amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5, so that the player coin 5 with the management remaining amount is surely given to the player. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent wasteful return of the visitor coin 5 that has no management balance and does not need to be returned. Then, by closing the second storage coin stopper 142 and opening the first storage coin stopper 141, the lowest-order visitor coin 5 held in the storage passage 131 is discharged from the storage passage 131. The stored coin holding unit 140 is supplied (S553), and in the offline state, it is in a state of waiting for money reception or recording medium reception (S554).

  If it is determined in S542 that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S560). If it is determined in S560 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of storage is zero (S561). If it is determined in S561 that the stored balance is not zero (NO), the calculation method is determined (S951), and the original data is calculated by the above-described method so that the stored balance is calculated by the determined calculation method. (S952). Then, the original data including the calculated reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data and the calculation method flag are recorded on the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 (S953), and is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The stored remaining amount is erased (S562), an online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 (S563), and the process proceeds to S955. On the other hand, if it is determined in S561 that the remaining storage amount is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S955.

  In S955, it is determined whether the offline consumption amount is zero. If it is determined in S955 that the offline consumption is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S564. On the other hand, if it is determined in S955 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption information is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S956), and held in the inserted coin holding unit 120. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S957), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S958), and the process proceeds to S564.

  In S564, it is determined whether or not the stored fractional amount is zero. If it is determined in S564 that the stored fraction is zero (YES), the offline fraction recorded in the visitor coin 5 is deleted (S565), and the process proceeds to S571.

  If it is determined in S564 that the stored fraction is not zero (NO), the stored fraction is recorded as an offline fraction in the visitor coin 5 held in the inserted coin holder 120 (S569), and the control unit The stored fraction stored in the RAM 21 is deleted (S570), and the process proceeds to S571.

  In S571, by opening the first inserted coin stopper 121, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is discharged and returned, and the process proceeds to S554. That is, the visitor coin 5 is returned when there is a stored fractional amount, when an online balance flag is recorded, and when is recorded.

  Here, as for the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, as a result of accepting money and lending the ball in an offline state, both the remaining amount and the stored fractional value become 0 (YES in S523 in FIG. 15), When the online remaining flag is not recorded, or when the remaining balance becomes 0 as a result of ball lending in response to the ball lending operation in the offline state (in this case, the remaining balance is 0 because the remaining balance = managed balance = 0) The presence flag is not recorded) and is collected in the storage passage 131. Therefore, if the visitor coin 5 is held in the inserted coin holder 120 at the time when the return operation is accepted, the online remaining flag is always recorded even if the remaining memory amount or the stored fractional amount is 0. In 16, the visitor coin 5 is always discharged without determining whether the online remaining flag is recorded.

  In this way, the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state generates a fractional amount as a result of accepting money and lending offline, and as a result of performing a ball lending process using the fractional amount. When the fractional amount becomes zero, the visitor coin 5 is discharged on the condition that the online residual amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5, so that the player coin 5 with the management remaining amount is surely given to the player. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent wasteful return of the visitor coin 5 that has no management balance and does not need to be returned.

  As described above, the ball lending unit 20 accepts the stored coin holding unit 140 or the insertion when the stored balance is not 0 when the return operation is accepted (NO in S542 in FIG. 17 and NO in S561 in FIG. 18). The visitor coin 5 on which offline consumption information is recorded, which is held by the coin holding unit 120, is discharged by the control unit 21 constituting the recording medium discharge means.

  If it is determined in S560 that the visitor coin 5 is not being received (NO), that is, it is determined that the membership card 4 is being received, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is 0 (S960). If the remaining storage amount is 0 (YES), the process proceeds to S965. On the other hand, when the storage balance is not 0 (NO), the calculation method is determined (S961), and the original data for calculating the storage balance with the determined calculation method is calculated by the method described above (S962). Then, the original data and the calculation method flag composed of the calculated reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data are recorded on the member card 4 held in the card holding unit 191 (S963), and the RAM of the control unit 21 stores them. The stored remaining amount is erased (S581).

  In S965, it is determined whether the offline consumption amount is zero. If it is determined in S965 that the offline consumption is zero (YES), the process proceeds to S582. On the other hand, if it is determined in S965 that the offline consumption amount is not zero (NO), the offline consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount (S966), and the card holding unit 191 holds it. The calculated offline consumption information is recorded on the membership card 4 (S967), the offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is deleted (S968), and the process proceeds to S582.

  In S582, it is determined whether or not the stored fractional amount is zero. If it is determined in S582 that the stored fractional value is zero (YES), the offline fractional value recorded in the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is deleted (S583). The membership card 4 is returned (S586). On the other hand, if it is determined in S584 that the stored fraction is not zero (NO), the stored fraction is recorded as an offline fraction on the member card 4 (S584) and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The stored fractional amount is deleted (S585), the membership card 4 is returned (S586), and the process proceeds to S554. That is, the membership card 4 is always returned when a return operation is accepted.

  According to the gaming system 1 described above, when the consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount used for the lending process is collected, when the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state accepts money, , Specifying a loan target amount corresponding to an integral multiple of a tax-included unit amount that is a sum of a predetermined unit use amount and an indirect tax amount corresponding to the unit use amount, and game media for the specified loan target amount Even if money lending processing (so-called off-line lending) for lending is performed, the fractional amount generated by the money lending processing is recorded on the recording medium and discharged (S550, S552, S584, S586). . As shown in FIG. 9, when the recording medium is received by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, the management device 50 adds the fractional amount of the recording medium to the management remaining amount and can be used for lending game media. As a result, it is not necessary to provide the ball lending unit 20 with a change payout function or an additional deposit function for processing the fractional amount, so the cost of the ball lending unit 20 does not increase. Moreover, since it can be used for a game without paying off the off-line fractional amount, the convenience of the player is improved.

  Next, FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where money is received in the ball lending unit 20 that has been in an offline state before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification. When the ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium on which the off-line fractional amount (55 yen in this case) is recorded (S201), as described above, the management apparatus 50 performs the processing from S202 onward. The offline fractional amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S212 or S277), and the planned remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the offline fractional amount Is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241).

  If the offline status occurs before the ball loan unit 20 receives this scheduled balance notification, the serial numbers match, the offline fraction is recorded on the recording medium, and the offline fraction is not added in the management device 50. The stored state (that is, the insertion process is in progress) is entered.

  When the ball lending unit 20 accepts money (1000 yen here) in this state, the loan object amount is calculated from the stored fraction amount (55 yen) + received money amount (1000 yen) by the second loan object amount specifying process described above. (1050 yen) and the fractional amount (5 yen) are specified, and the off-line lending, which is the ball lending process for the specified loan object amount, is performed without being operated by the player, and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 The stored fractional amount is updated to the specified fractional amount. That is, 50 yen is consumed from the off-line fractional value recorded on the recording medium, and the off-line fractional value is 5 yen, which is different from the off-line fractional value 55 yen stored in the management device 50.

  In this case, if the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, it is determined YES in S203, NO in S204, YES in S206, and the stored offline fraction (55 yen) in S208. ) Is deleted, and the off-line fractional amount (5 yen) included in the insertion notification is stored in S212. The stored offline fractional amount (5 yen) is added to the remaining management amount in S248. Therefore, even if the game is continued after entering the offline state, the remaining amount is determined by inserting the recording medium into the online ball lending unit 20.

  In this way, even if the ball lending unit 20 is in an offline state before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state can continue to play games thereafter. In addition, since it is possible to play a game by inserting the recording medium into the online ball lending unit 20, it is possible to avoid inconvenience to the player as much as possible.

  Next, FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 that has been in an offline state after transmission of the fractional amount erasure notification. When the ball lending unit 20 receives the recording medium on which the off-line fractional amount (55 yen in this case) is recorded (S201), as described above, the management apparatus 50 performs the processing from S202 onward. The offline fractional amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID (S212 or S277), and the planned remaining amount notification including the sum of the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID and the offline fractional amount Is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the notice of the scheduled remaining amount deletes the off-line fractional amount recorded on the recording medium (S244), adds 1 to the serial number of the recording medium and updates it (S245), and the fractional amount. An erasure notification is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S246). If an offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives this fractional erasure notification and the management device 50 receives it, the serial numbers do not match and the management device 50 stores the offline fractional amount in an unadded state. (In other words, during the insertion process), the offline fractional amount of the recording medium is erased.

  When the ball lending unit 20 accepts money (500 yen here) in this state, the loan amount (420 yen) and the fractional amount (from the accepted money amount (500 yen) to the loan amount (500 yen) are determined by the first loan object amount specifying process described above. 80 yen) is specified, and off-line lending, which is a ball lending process for the specified loan target amount, is performed without the player's operation, and the specified fractional amount is stored in the RAM of the control unit 21. The offline fraction stored here should be further added after the offline fraction stored in the management apparatus 50 is added to the management balance.

  In this case, if the recording medium is accepted in the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, YES is determined in S263, and the stored offline fraction (55 yen) is determined in S265. ) Is added to the management balance and deleted, and the offline fractional amount (80 yen) included in the insertion notification is stored in S277. The stored offline fraction (80 yen) is added to the management balance in S248. Therefore, even if the game is continued after entering the offline state, the remaining amount is determined by inserting the recording medium into the online ball lending unit 20.

  In this way, even after the ball lending unit 20 has transmitted the fraction erasure notification, even if the management device 50 is in an offline state before receiving the fraction erasure notification, the ball lending unit 20 has subsequently entered an offline state. It is possible to continue playing the game with the ball rental unit 20, and further, it is possible to play the game by inserting the recording medium into the online ball rental unit 20. You can avoid it.

  Here, the effect that occurs when a serial number is recorded on a recording medium as in the present invention will be described with an example. As in this example, the management device 50 that has received the insertion notification including the offline fractional amount temporarily stores the offline fractional amount, returns the planned remaining amount notification to the ball rental unit 20, and receives the planned remaining amount notification. The ball lending unit 20 deletes the off-line fractional amount recorded on the recording medium, and then transmits the fractional amount erasure notification to the management device 50. The management device 50 that has received the fractional amount erasure notification offline In the case where the fractional amount is added to the management remaining amount, if an offline state occurs after the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted, the ball lending unit in which the offline state has occurred even if the conventional technology (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-148683) is used. Until 20 returns to the online state, whether or not the ball lending unit 20 has received the scheduled remaining amount notification, that is, the consumption of the off-line fractional amount recorded on the recording medium. Whether carried out is not possible identified by the management apparatus 50 side.

  Therefore, when the recording medium discharged from the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state is received by another ball lending unit 20 in the online state, and an insertion notification including the offline fractional amount recorded in the recording medium is transmitted In addition, the off-line fractional amount that has been deleted once in response to the previous notice of the remaining balance, or that has been newly generated by off-line lending, or that has remained without being deleted (or the remaining fractional amount) It is not possible on the management device 50 side to specify whether a part of the value is used after the ball lending unit 20 is offline. In other words, whether the current offline fractional amount should be added to the management balance in addition to the stored offline fractional amount, or whether the stored offline fractional amount should be deleted and only the current offline fractional amount should be added to the management balance It cannot be specified. At this time, if the offline fractional amount is uniformly erased or added to the management balance, the player or the playground will be damaged, and the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state returns to the online state. Information that can specify that the recording medium has been discharged from the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state (for example, an offline discharge flag). ) Is recorded and the processing for making it unusable by another ball lending unit 20 or the payment apparatus 60 is performed), the player is inconvenienced.

  Therefore, as in the present invention, the serial number is recorded on the recording medium, and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is managed by the management device 50, and the off-line fractional amount is erased by the ball lending unit 20. When the serial number does not match by updating the serial number at the time, and updating the management serial number when the management apparatus 50 adds or deletes the off-line fractional amount, as shown in FIG. When it is determined that the off-line fractional amount has been deleted, the stored off-line fractional amount is added to the management remaining amount, and when the serial numbers match, as shown in FIG. It is possible to determine the remaining amount by specifying that the off-line fractional amount has not been deleted and deleting the stored off-line fractional amount. Therefore, the player or the game hall does not suffer damage, and the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state does not have to wait for the ball lending unit 20 to return to the online state. Can be settled in, and the player is not inconvenienced.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 20, even when the ball lending unit 20 goes offline before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, the offline lending is performed and the offline fractional amount is consumed. Therefore, it is determined that the offline fraction recorded on the recording medium has not been erased, the stored offline fraction is erased, and the offline fraction after consumption is newly stored. Therefore, even if the ball lending unit 20 is in an offline state before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, even if an off-line lending is performed, the remaining amount is determined by inserting the recording medium into the online ball lending unit 20 Is done.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 21, even when the ball lending unit 20 has gone offline after receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, when the off-line lending is performed and the offline fraction is generated, the serial numbers do not match. Therefore, it is specified that the offline fraction recorded in the recording medium has been deleted, the stored offline fraction is added to the management balance, and the new offline fraction is stored. Even when the ball lending unit 20 receives the scheduled remaining amount notification and enters the offline state, and the off-line lending is performed, the remaining amount is determined by inserting the recording medium into the on-line ball lending unit 20. The effects as described above are not limited to the offline fractional amount, but also the offline consumption subtraction correction based on the offline consumption information included in the insertion notification and the offline adjustment subtraction correction based on the offline payment information included in the insertion notification. Is the same.

  Next, FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the return to the online state with the ball lending unit 20 is detected. When the management device 50 detects the return to the online state by the communication availability detection means (S601), the management device 50 transmits a start request to the ball lending unit 20 (S602). The ball lending unit 20 that has received the start request stores the visitor coins 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 when the storage fraction is not accepted and the recording medium (that is, the member card 4 or the visitor coin 5 is not accepted). When the member card 4 is received, the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191, and when the visitor coin 5 is received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120) is recorded ( S603), the stored fractional amount is deleted (S604), the offline consumption amount is subtracted from the offline reference amount to calculate offline consumption information (S611), and the calculated offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium (S612). ), The offline consumption amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 is erased, and the start response is sent to the management device 50 To reply to (S605). Then, an online return notification including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline fractional amount, offline settlement information, serial number, and apparatus ID of the recording medium is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S606). Since the online return notification is equivalent to the insertion notification, the management device 50 that has received the online return notification is the same as the case in which the insertion notification is received in S203 and subsequent steps described with reference to FIGS. Process. However, the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 10 is replaced with the processing after S240 shown in FIG. Further, the online return notification is handled in the same manner as the insertion notification, and the insertion notification is replaced with the online return notification in the description of FIGS. Hereinafter, FIG. 22 will be described.

  In S240, the device ID included in the online return notification, that is, the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the online return notification, and managed in association with the recording medium ID. A scheduled remaining amount notification including the sum of the offline consumption amount and the off-line settlement amount subtracted from the sum of the management remaining amount and the off-line fractional amount is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 (S241).

  The ball lending unit 20 that has received the planned remaining amount notification in S241 stores the sum included in the scheduled remaining amount notification as the remaining amount in the RAM of the control unit 21 (S242), and accepts the recording medium (that is, the member card 4) In the case where the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 and the visitor coin 5 are received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120, the case where neither the member card 4 nor the visitor coin 5 is received The offline consumption information recorded on the visitor coin 5) held in the storage coin holding unit 140 is erased (S243), and the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is erased (S243a). Is deleted (S244), and 1 is added to the serial number of the recording medium for updating (S245). Sends a fractional value erasure notification including the recording medium ID to the management device 50 (S246), the process proceeds to S249.

  The management device 50 that has received the fraction erasure notification in S246, manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The offline consumption amount is deleted (S247), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S247a).

  In the remaining amount management DB, the off-line fractional amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is added to the remaining management amount managed in association with the recording medium ID, and the off-line fractional amount is deleted. Then, in the remaining amount management DB, 1 is added to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the fractional amount erasure notification and updated (S227), and the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated. The insertion processing is updated (S228). As a result, when the ball lending unit 20 that has been in the offline state is brought into the online state, the recording medium ID recorded in the accepted recording medium, the offline fraction amount in the offline state, offline consumption information, and offline settlement information (storage) Insertion notification including the case of the visitor coin 5 of the coin holding unit 140) is transmitted to the management device 50, and a planned remaining amount notification capable of specifying the sum of the offline fractional amount and the management remaining amount is transmitted from the management device 50. Since the total amount can be used for the ball lending process, the balance of the deposit does not need to be settled, and the convenience of the player is improved.

  In addition, the ball lending unit 20 that has transmitted the fraction erasure notification in S246 determines whether or not the ball lending process is being performed (S249). If it is determined that the ball lending process is in progress (YES), it is determined whether or not the ball lending process is completed (S249a). If not completed, the process of S249a is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S249 that the ball lending process is not in progress (NO), or if it is determined in S249a that the ball lending process has been completed (YES), the remaining balance is displayed on the remaining amount indicator 25, and the stored remaining amount is also displayed. The remaining number based on the number is displayed on the remaining number display 14 (S225), and a ball lending operation, money acceptance, or a return operation is waited (S226). In other words, even if the ball lending process is in progress at the time of online return, processing such as sending an online return notification is performed, and after the ball lending process is completed, the remaining amount of memory and the remaining frequency are displayed, and the ball lending operation can be accepted. Is done.

  According to this, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts money in the offline state where communication with the management device 50 is not possible and returns to the online state after lending the ball with the off-line lending or the remaining amount of memory, regardless of the operation of the player In addition, an online return notification including the offline fractional amount, offline consumption information, offline settlement information, and recording medium ID is transmitted to the management device 50, and the offline consumption amount is calculated from the sum of the offline fractional amount and the management residual amount. A scheduled remaining amount notification (S241 in FIG. 10) that can specify the total amount obtained by subtracting the offline settlement amount is transmitted from the management device 50, and the total amount can be used for the ball lending process (S226 in the same). The management balance can be used without any effort on the player. In addition, since the supply notification is performed even during the offline ball lending process, the management balance can be used immediately after the offline ball lending is completed, and the player is not kept waiting.

  Further, based on the reception of the online return notification in the management device 50, the offline fractional amount, the offline consumption amount, and the offline payment amount included in the online return notification are stored (S212, S219, S237 in FIG. 9, S277 in FIG. 11, S284, S297), based on reception of the scheduled remaining amount notification in the ball lending unit 20 (S241 in FIG. 22), the serial number recorded in the recording medium is updated (S245 in the same), and the fractional amount is deleted in the management device 50 Based on the reception of the notification (S246), the serial number associated with the recording medium ID is updated (S227). The serial number of the recording medium included in the online return notification and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID are updated. If they do not match, the off-line fractional amount is added to the remaining management amount (S265 in FIG. 11). The offline consumption amount is subtracted from the amount (S264 in FIG. 11), and the offline settlement amount is subtracted from the management balance (S264a in FIG. 11), so that the offline state occurs again during the process accompanying the return to the online state. In addition, the correct balance can be determined.

  Next, FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing performed when the payment apparatus 60 receives a recording medium in the online state. When the settlement apparatus 60 receives the recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) (S701), the settlement apparatus 60 reads the recording information of the received recording medium, and the offline fraction included in the read recording information is less than the unit price including tax. It is determined whether or not there is (Sa701). If it is determined that this Sa 701 is not less than the tax-included unit amount (NO), the screen shown at D5 in FIG. As described above, the offline fractional amount recorded on the recording medium is less than a predetermined amount (here, the unit price including tax), and the offline fractional amount is settled, so that the recorded information is recorded. Even if the payment is performed illegally using a falsified recording medium, only the money less than the predetermined amount is paid out, so that damage caused by the fraud can be minimized. On the other hand, if it is determined in Sa 701 that the offline fraction is less than the tax-included unit amount (YES), the read recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline fraction, offline settlement information, serial number, and the settlement apparatus A settlement request including 60 device IDs is transmitted to the management device 50 (S702).

  The management apparatus 50 that has received the settlement request in S702 treats the settlement request in the same manner as the insertion notification, and performs the same processing as S203 and subsequent steps described with reference to FIGS. However, the processing after S220 and the processing after S240 shown in FIG. 10 are respectively replaced with the processing after S220 and the processing after S240 shown in FIG. Further, in the description of FIGS. 9 to 11, the ball lending unit 20 is replaced with the settlement device 60, and the insertion notification is replaced with the settlement request. Hereinafter, FIG. 25 will be described.

  In S220, the device ID included in the settlement request, that is, the device ID of the settlement device 60, is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, and the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID is stored. The settlement permission information that is included is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60 (S221a).

  The payment apparatus 60 that has received the payment permission information in S221a displays the screen indicated by D2 in FIG. 5B on the display 63 and waits for the payment or return operation (222a). Then, 1 is added to the serial number of the received recording medium to update (S223), and a payment permission information reception notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S224a).

  The management device 50 that has received the settlement permission information reception notification in S224a updates the remaining amount management DB by adding 1 to the serial number associated with the recording medium ID included in the settlement permission information reception notification (S227). Then, the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to the insertion process completed (S228).

  In S240, the device ID included in the settlement request, that is, the device ID of the settlement device 60 is stored in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement request, and the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. And payment amount information including the total amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline adjustment amount from the sum of the offline fractional amount and the offline fraction amount is transmitted to the adjustment device 60 (S241a).

  The payment apparatus 60 that has received the payment permission information in S241a displays the screen indicated by D2 in FIG. 5B on the display 63, and enters a state of waiting for the payment or return operation (242a). Then, the offline consumption information recorded on the received recording medium is deleted (S243), the offline settlement information recorded on the recording medium is deleted (S243a), and the offline fraction recorded on the recording medium is deleted. The amount is deleted (S244), 1 is added to the serial number of the recording medium and updated (S245), and a fractional deletion notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium is transmitted to the management device 50 (S246a). .

  The management device 50 that has received the fraction erasure notification in S246a manages the offline consumption stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID. The offline consumption amount is deleted (S247), and the offline settlement amount stored in association with the recording medium ID is subtracted from the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID. The off-line settlement amount is deleted (S247a), and the process proceeds to S248.

  The management apparatus 50 that has performed the processing of S247 performs the management of the offline balance stored in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB and managed in association with the recording medium ID. Then, the off-line fractional amount is deleted (S248), and the process proceeds to S227. Thereby, the offline fraction generated in the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state, the offline consumption information, and the offline payment information are inserted into the payment apparatus 60 in the online state, thereby the offline fraction. The amount is added to the management balance, the offline consumption amount based on the offline consumption information and the offline settlement amount based on the offline settlement information are subtracted from the management balance, and the offline consumption amount is calculated by adding the offline fractional amount and the management balance. Also, since the combined value obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount can be settled once, the convenience of the player is improved.

  Next, FIG. 26 illustrates the settlement operation (“settlement”) in the settlement apparatus 60 in the standby state of the settlement operation or the return operation (the state in which D5 in FIG. 5B is displayed in S222a or S242a in FIG. 25). It is a figure showing an example of a process at the time of receiving operation (button operation) or return operation (operation of a "cancel" button).

  When the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation (S780), the money corresponding to the licensed amount (the management remaining amount or the total amount) included in the received settlement license information is paid out (S781), and 1 is added to the serial number of the recording medium. Then, it updates (S782) and transmits a settlement completion notice including the recording medium ID of the accepted recording medium to the management apparatus 50 (S783).

  Upon receiving the settlement completion notification in S783, the management device 50 deletes the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium ID included in the settlement completion notification in the remaining amount management DB (S784). Is updated by adding 1 to the serial number associated with (S785), the status corresponding to the recording medium ID is updated to the settlement processing completion (S786), and the balance erasure completion notification is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 60. (S787).

  The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the remaining amount erasure completion notification in S787 determines whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (S789). If it is determined in S789 that the visitor coin 5 is not being accepted (NO), that is, it is determined that the membership card 4 is being accepted, the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned to the recording medium. (S792). On the other hand, if it is determined in S789 that the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES), the online remaining amount flag recorded in the visitor coin 5 held in the inserted coin holding unit 120 is deleted (S790), By opening the second inserted coin stopper 122, the visitor coin 5 is recovered to the coin recovery unit 66 via the storage passage 131 and the discharge passage 132 (S791), and the recording medium is waited for reception (S792). ).

  When the checkout device 60 accepts the return operation (S795), if the member card 4 is accepted, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S796), and the recording medium is accepted. (S792) and when the visitor coin 5 is received, the first inserted coin stopper 121 is opened, thereby inserting the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding portion 120 into the inserted coin discharge path. It is discharged and returned to the coin outlet 112 via 160 (S796), and the reception of the recording medium is waited (S792).

  Next, FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the settlement apparatus 60. When the settlement apparatus 60 detects the occurrence of the offline state by the communication availability detecting means (S800), it is specifically controlled whether or not the occurrence of the offline state is detected after the recording medium is received in S701. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM of the unit 62 is “recording medium reception” (S841). If it is determined in S841 that the recording medium has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the payment permission information in S221a or S241a has been received (S842).

  If it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information in S221a has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S871. If it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information in S241a has been received (YES), it is determined in S843 whether or not the processes in S242a to S245 have been performed, and any of the processes is performed. If not executed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed in S844 and the process proceeds to S871, and if all processes have been executed (YES), the process proceeds to S871. In S871, the received recording medium is returned, and the off-line detection is notified to the game shop clerk by flashing the multi-function lamp 24 in red or the like (S872). Determine. If it is determined that an offline transfer operation has been performed (YES), the process enters a state of waiting for reception of a recording medium in S874.

  The offline transfer operation is, for example, an operation in which the front door of the checkout device 60 is opened with a key, and a personal identification number is input on an operation panel on the back side of the door. In this case, it is possible to settle in an offline state (the offline settlement process is allowed).

  In addition, when the settlement permission information of S241a has been received, an offline state has occurred before the management device 50 receives the fractional erasure notification, and an offline state has occurred after receiving the fractional erasure notification. Includes cases. Here, if the offline state occurs before receiving the fractional amount deletion notification, the serial numbers do not match, the offline fractional amount is not added in the management device 50, and the offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount are not subtracted. In other words, the offline fraction of the recording medium, the offline consumption information, and the offline settlement information are erased. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, and YES is determined in S263, and the processing from S264 onward is performed.

  If it is determined in S842 that the payment permission information has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S871.

  If it is determined in S841 that the recording medium has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the settlement operation has been received in S780. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM is “accounting operation acceptance” (S851). If it is determined in S851 that the settlement operation has been received (YES), it is determined whether or not the remaining amount erasure completion notification in S787 has been received (S852).

  If it is determined in S852 that the remaining amount erasure completion notification has been received (YES), it is determined in S856 whether or not each of the processes of S789 to S791 has been performed, and one of the processes is executed. If not completed (NO), the unexecuted process is executed in S857 and the process proceeds to S872, and if all processes have been performed (YES), the process proceeds to S872.

  If it is determined in S852 that the remaining amount erasure completion notification has not been received (NO), it is determined in S853 whether or not each of the processes in S781 to S782 has been executed, and any of the processes has been executed. If not (NO), the unexecuted process is executed in S854, and the process proceeds to S871. If all the processes have been performed (YES), the process proceeds to S871.

  In the case where the balance erasure completion notification has not been received, the case where the offline state occurs before the management device 50 receives the payment completion notification and the case where the offline state occurs after receiving the payment completion notification are included. It is. If an offline state occurs before receiving the settlement completion notification of the former, the serial numbers do not match and the apparatus ID of the settlement apparatus 60 is stored, not during the deposit process or the insert process. It will be in the state. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 in the online state, NO is determined in S203, NO is determined in S261, NO is determined in S263, and NO is determined in S266. . In the latter case, when the offline state occurs after receiving the remaining amount erasure completion notification, the serial numbers match and the settlement process is completed. Therefore, when the recording medium is accepted by the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout device 60 in the online state, YES is determined in S203, NO is determined in S204, NO is determined in S206, and YES is determined in S210. .

  If it is determined in S851 that the settlement operation has not been received (NO), it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the offline state has been detected after the return operation is received in S795. It is determined whether or not the processing state stored in the RAM is “return operation acceptance” (S861). If it is determined in S861 that the return operation has been received (YES), the process proceeds to S871, and if it is determined that the return operation has not been received (NO), the process proceeds to S872.

  Next, FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received by the management device 50 and the payment device 60 in an offline state, when a payment operation is received, and when a return operation is received. When the settlement apparatus 60 accepts a recording medium (member card 4 or visitor coin 5) while waiting for recording medium reception in an offline state (S901), it reads the recording information of the accepted recording medium and reads the read information. It is determined whether or not the recording medium ID is recorded in the settlement DB of FIG. 6B (S902). That is, it is determined whether or not the received recording medium is an offline adjusted recording medium. When it is determined that the recording medium has been paid offline (YES), error processing is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the received recording medium is not an offline adjusted recording medium (NO), it is determined in S903 whether the offline fractional amount is less than the tax-included unit amount. If it is determined that the offline fractional amount is not less than the tax-included unit amount (NO), error processing is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the offline fractional amount is less than the tax-included unit amount (YES), it is determined in S904 whether or not the current time is included in the payable time zone. It is to be noted that the payable time is set in the center management device 80 (for example, set in a time zone of 9: 00 to 24:00 including the business hours of the game hall) and passes through the management device 50. The control unit 62 of the payment apparatus 60 receives the setting of the distributed payment available time zone and stores the payment available time zone in the RAM. If it is determined that the current time is not included in the payable time zone (NO), error processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current time is included in the payable time zone (YES), the calculation method is specified from the calculation method flag recorded on the received recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) (S905). In accordance with the specified calculation method, the management remaining amount is calculated from the reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data recorded on the recording medium (S906).

  Specifically, if x, y, z, w are recorded as reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data, and “0” is recorded as the calculation method flag, the calculation method is an addition priority calculation method. Therefore, the management remaining amount a is calculated by a = (y + x) × z ÷ w, and if “1” is recorded as the calculation method flag, the calculation method is the multiplication / division priority calculation method, so the management remaining amount a is , A = y + (x × z ÷ w).

  For example, if x = 10, y = 90, z = 100, and w = 2 are recorded and the calculation method is the addition priority calculation method, the calculation is calculated as management remainder a = (90 + 10) × 100 ÷ 2 = 5000 yen. Is done. If x = 50, y = 500, z = 90, and w = 1 are recorded and the calculation method is a multiplication / division priority calculation method, the management remaining amount a = 500 + (50 × 90 ÷ 1) = 5000 yen. Is calculated.

  Then, an amount obtained by adding the off-line fraction recorded on the recording medium to the calculated management balance is displayed (S907), and a settlement operation or a return operation is waited (S908).

  Further, when the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation while waiting for the settlement operation reception in the offline state (S911), the offline fraction amount recorded on the recording medium is added to the calculated management balance. The amount of money is paid out (S914), and the recording medium ID, the settled management balance, and the settled offline fractional amount are associated with each other as an off-line settled recording medium that has been settled in the offline state. It is stored in the settlement DB shown in FIG. 6 (b) (S915), and the off-line fractional amount is deleted (S916). Then, offline settlement information is recorded on the recording medium (S916a). Specifically, the off-line checkout information is a flag indicating whether or not off-line checkout has been performed, and is set to “1” when off-line checkout is performed, and is set to “0” when off-line checkout is not performed. . When the recording medium on which the offline payment information is recorded is received by the ball lending unit 20 in the online state, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID of the recording medium and the offline payment information is transmitted to the management device 50, and the management remaining amount Correction is performed.

  Next, in S917, it is determined whether or not the visitor coin 5 is being accepted. If it is determined that the visitor coin 5 is not being received (NO), that is, it is determined that the member card 4 is being received, the member card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S917a), and the recording medium (S919). On the other hand, if it is determined that the visitor coin 5 is being received (YES), the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is collected (S918), and the reception of the recording medium is awaited (S919). .

  When the checkout device 60 accepts the return operation (S921), if the membership card 4 is accepted, the membership card 4 held by the card holding unit 191 is returned (S922), and the recording medium Waiting for reception (S919), if the visitor coin 5 is received, the visitor coin 5 held by the inserted coin holding unit 120 is discharged and returned (S922), and the reception of the recording medium is waited (S919). ).

  As described above, the settlement apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment performs the offline settlement process on the condition that the offline transfer operation is accepted from the staff as the offline allowance operation for permitting the offline settlement process. Further, the recording medium ID of the recording medium subjected to the offline settlement process is stored in the settlement DB constituting the settlement information storage means as the settlement recording medium ID, and the recording medium ID of the received recording medium is stored in the settlement recording medium. Whether or not the ID matches the ID is determined by the control unit 62 constituting the recording medium determining means, and the off-line settlement process is performed on the condition that the ID does not match. Furthermore, the setting part of the accountable time zone that allows offline account settlement processing is received by the communication unit 61 that constitutes the account allowance time zone accepting means, and the offline account settlement process is performed on condition that the current time belongs to the accountable time zone. Do.

  The settlement apparatus 60 can identify the offline settlement amount settled by the offline settlement process (specifically, the management balance identified from the management balance identification information excluding the offline fraction of the amount settled offline). As offline settlement information, a flag indicating that offline settlement processing has been performed is given to the member card 4 or visitor coin 5 used for offline settlement processing by the control unit 62 and the recording medium R / W 102 constituting the offline settlement information recording means. Record.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the offline settlement process, the entire amount of the management remaining amount specified from the management remaining amount identification information of the received recording medium is settled. Therefore, the flag is recorded as the offline settlement information. ing. That is, when the management device 50 receives an insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification from the ball lending unit 20, or a payment request from the payment device 60, the management device 50 performs S233 or S236 shown in FIG. 9, S293 shown in FIG. In S296, the off-line settlement amount can be specified based on the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management DB and the off-line consumption amount specified from the off-line consumption information. Specifically, if offline payment information and offline consumption information are included in each notification or request, the offline adjustment amount is specified by the management remaining amount-offline consumption amount, and if only offline payment information is included, management is performed. The remaining amount is identified as the off-line settlement amount. Note that the fractional value provided for off-line settlement processing is recorded on the recording medium without being managed by the management device, and is used for off-line settlement processing as it is, so it is processed independently without affecting the off-line settlement amount. Is done.

  Further, in this embodiment, when offline settlement processing is performed on a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded, the recording medium is collected and discharged without erasing the offline consumption information on the recording medium. Not limited to this, the offline consumption information may be deleted. In this case, when offline settlement information is recorded on the recording medium, offline consumption information is not recorded, so the management device receives the insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and settlement request. In such a case, the remaining management amount is specified as offline settlement amount. In other words, both the management balance (memory balance) used for ball lending in the offline ball lending unit and the management balance used for offline settlement are treated as offline settlement, and are subtracted from the management balance. (As a result, the management balance becomes 0).

  Further, the offline payment information itself may be recorded as the offline payment information, and in this case, the management device 50 is included in the insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification, and payment request. The offline settlement information itself is specified as the offline settlement amount. Further, as in the case of offline consumption information, the amount obtained by subtracting the offline adjustment amount from the reference value is set as offline adjustment information, and the offline adjustment information is subtracted from the reference value in the management device to specify the offline adjustment amount. Good. In particular, in the case where the settlement apparatus 60 allows a part of the management balance specified from the management balance specification information to be settled, it is necessary to record the offline settlement information based on the offline settlement amount as described above. In this case, the offline consumption information including the offline consumption information corresponding to the offline consumption information may be used as the off-line payment amount, and the offline consumption information on the recording medium may be deleted.

  Further, the settlement apparatus 60 ejects the member card 4 on which offline settlement information is recorded by the control unit 62 constituting the settlement apparatus recording medium ejecting means, and the visitor coin 5 on which offline settlement information is recorded on the recording medium. It is collected and stored by the control unit 62 constituting the collecting means.

  Next, FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return to an online state with the settlement apparatus is detected. When the management apparatus 50 detects the return to the online state with the settlement apparatus 60 (S931), the management apparatus 50 transmits a start request to the settlement apparatus 60 (S932). The settlement apparatus 60 that has received the start request returns a start response to the management apparatus 50 (S933). Then, an off-line settlement notice including the recording medium ID of the recording medium settled off-line stored in the settlement DB of FIG. 6B, the settlement management balance, and the settlement offline fractional amount is transmitted to the management apparatus 50. (S934).

  The management device 50 that has received the off-line settlement payment notification corresponds to the balance management DB included in the off-line settlement notification and the recording medium ID included in the off-line settlement notification corresponding to the settlement management balance. It is determined whether or not the stored management balance is equal (S936). If it is determined that the settlement management balance and the management balance are not equal (NO), a mismatch and a recording medium ID are transmitted to the center management device 80 (S937), and the mismatched recording medium ID cannot be used. Unusable registration is performed as an ID (S937a).

  That is, the management device 50 notifies the center management device 80 that the settlement management remaining amount does not match the management remaining amount. In addition, in addition to transmitting to the center management apparatus 80, in addition to transmitting, it may be notified on the display screen of the management apparatus 50 by displaying that they do not match.

  Further, the settlement apparatus 60 determines whether or not the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is being accepted after transmitting the offline settlement settlement notification (S938). If it is determined that the recording medium is being accepted (YES), an online return notification including the recording medium ID, offline consumption information, offline fractional amount, offline settlement information, and serial number is transmitted to the management device 50 (S939). ). Since the online return notification is the same as the payment request, the management apparatus 50 that has received the online return notification performs the same processing as when the payment request is received in S203 and subsequent steps.

Next, main effects obtained by the embodiment described above will be described.
(1-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes the management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20. 6A, S113 in FIG. 7, S125 in FIG. 8, S247, S247a, S248 in FIG. 10, S262, S264, S264a, S265, S273 in FIG. 11, S247, S247a in FIG. As described in S247, S247a, S248 of FIG. 23, S247, S247a, S248 of FIG. 25, and S784 of FIG. 26, the management device 50 supports the recording medium ID of the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). In addition, the remaining amount used for ball lending is managed in the remaining amount management DB of the hard disk 55 of the management device 50.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the ball lending unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10. As described in S121 to S130 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 uses the management remaining amount managed by the management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. Processing is performed.

  As described in S101 of FIG. 7 and S510 of FIG. 15, the bill validator 22, the coin discriminator 23, and the control unit 21 accept money and identify the amount of money. As described in S201, S202 of FIG. 9 and S221, S241 of FIG. 10, the control balance corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium received by the control unit 21 and the external communication unit 21b of the ball lending unit 20 is Obtained from the management device 50. As described in S222 and S242 of FIG. 10, the acquired management balance is stored as a storage balance by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S121 to S124 and S129 of FIG. 8, the stored storage amount is subtracted by the used amount + consumption tax amount used for the ball lending process by the control unit 21 and the external communication unit 21b of the ball lending unit 20. Updated to the remaining memory. As described in S300 of FIG. 14, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 detects whether the online state where communication with the management device 50 is possible or the offline state where communication is not possible.

  As described in S532 to S534 of FIG. 16, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, storage is performed on condition that the stored balance is not 0 (YES in S532). A ball lending process is performed using the remaining amount.

  As described in S510, S515, S516, S520, and S522 in FIG. 15, when the offline state is detected and money is received by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the remaining amount is received and identified. On the condition that it is less than the corresponding consumption tax amount corresponding to the received monetary amount, the loan amount that is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and the fractional amount that is less than the tax-included unit amount are identified and identified from the received monetary amount While loan processing is performed within the range of the loan object amount, the loan object amount is identified from the remaining memory amount and the accepted monetary amount on condition that the remaining memory amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount. The ball lending process is performed within the amount.

  For this reason, even if an offline state occurs, if the management remaining amount is already stored in the ball lending unit 20 as the storage remaining amount, the stored remaining amount is used for the ball lending process. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall. Moreover, since the opportunity which the fraction amount which cannot be used for the ball lending process is generated can be reduced, the convenience of the player can be further improved.

  (1-2) As described in S510, S512, and S513 of FIG. 15, when the money is accepted after the fractional amount is specified by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the fractional amount is The loan object amount is specified from the fractional amount and the accepted monetary amount on condition that the amount is equal to or greater than the corresponding consumption tax amount.

  For this reason, each time a fractional amount is generated, the ball lending process is performed with the fractional amount being used as part of the loanable amount, compared with the case where the fractional amount is recorded and returned. Further improvement can be achieved.

  (1-3) As described in S510, S515, and S516 of FIG. 15, when money is accepted after the fractional amount is specified by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the fractional amount The loan target amount is specified from the stored remaining amount, the fractional amount, and the received monetary amount on condition that the sum of the stored remaining amount and the corresponding consumption tax amount is equal to or greater.

  For this reason, since the opportunity that the fraction amount which cannot be used for the ball lending process is generated is further reduced, the convenience of the player can be further improved.

  (1-4) As described in S535 of FIG. 16, S946 of FIG. 17, S956 of FIG. 18, and S966 of FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 makes the ball lending from the remaining amount in the offline state. Offline consumption information that can specify an offline consumption amount that is an amount used for processing is specified. As described in S947 in FIG. 17, S957 in FIG. 18, and S967 in FIG. 19, the offline consumption information specified by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is stored in the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5). To be recorded. As described in S552 in FIG. 17, S571 in FIG. 18, and S586 in FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded.

  As described in S202 of FIG. 9 and S606 of FIG. 22, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 has accepted the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the online state is detected. Based on the above, the recording medium ID of the recording medium and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the management device 50.

  As described in S202, S214 to S219 in FIG. 9 and S247 in FIG. 10, the management remaining amount managed in association with the received recording medium ID by the control unit 52 and the communication unit 51 of the management device 50 is determined. The management residual amount is updated by subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the received offline consumption information.

  For this reason, when the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20, the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process in the offline state can be subtracted from the management balance and updated.

  (1-5) As described in S215 of FIG. 9 and FIG. 6A, the management device 50 stores the offline reference amount, which is a reference value related to the offline consumption amount, in the setting value DB. Further, the ball lending unit 20 stores the offline reference amount corresponding to the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 transmitted from the management device 50.

  As described in S946 and S947 in FIG. 17, S956 and S957 in FIG. 18, and S966 and S967 in FIG. 19, the offline control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 subtracts the offline consumption amount from the offline reference amount. Consumption information is recorded on the recording medium.

  As described in S214 to S219 in FIG. 9 and S247 in FIG. 10, based on the subtraction value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption information received from the ball lending unit 20 from the offline reference amount by the control unit 52 of the management device 50. Thus, the offline consumption amount is specified, and the management remaining amount is updated.

  For this reason, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, the offline consumption amount calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to 0. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state.

  (1-6) As shown in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A, the offline reference amount is set to a different value for each ball lending unit 20. As described in S215 of FIG. 9 and FIG. 6A, the management device 50 stores the offline reference amount in the setting value DB in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20.

  As described in S214 to S219 of FIG. 9, the reference amount for offline time stored by the control unit 52 of the management device 50 in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that has ejected the recording medium with the received recording medium ID. The amount of offline consumption is identified based on

  For this reason, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium instead of directly recording the offline consumption amount on the recording medium. Therefore, the offline consumption amount calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to 0. Further, since the offline reference amount differs for each ball lending unit 20, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state.

  (2-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 as an issuing unit that issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium, in addition to the configuration described in (1-1). . As described in S571 of FIG. 18, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the visitor coin 5, which is a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded, on condition that the remaining storage amount is not zero. As described in S523 and S529 in FIG. 15 and S591 and S596 in FIG. 16, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 is a recording medium on which offline consumption information is recorded on condition that the storage balance is zero. A visitor coin 5 is collected.

  As described in S193 of FIG. 12, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5 that is the collected recording medium to the management device 50. As described in S243 in FIG. 13, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 erases the offline consumption information recorded on the visitor coin 5 as a recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted. As described in S191 of FIG. 12 and S552 of FIG. 17, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium from which offline consumption information has been deleted. As described in S247 of FIGS. 10, 13, 23, and 25, the management remaining amount managed by the control unit 52 of the management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20 is: Updated to the amount obtained by subtracting the amount of offline consumption specified from the offline consumption information.

  For this reason, even if an offline state occurs, if the remaining management amount is already stored in the ball lending unit 20 as the remaining storage amount, the remaining storage amount is used for lending pachinko balls. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the player and to prevent a decrease in sales at the game hall. Further, when the recording medium is received by the online ball lending unit 20, the amount used for lending pachinko balls in the offline state can be subtracted and updated from the management remaining amount, and the management remaining amount can be corrected. Furthermore, when the remaining amount of storage becomes 0, the management remaining amount can be reliably corrected before the next issuance of the recording medium without requiring labor of a store clerk or a player.

  In this way, the offline consumption information is not recorded in the visitor coin 5 and the management remaining amount is corrected, but the consumption log (for example, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption amount) in the offline state is stored in the ball lending unit 20. When the ball lending unit 20 returns to the online state and the consumption log is transmitted to the management device to correct the management balance, the consumption log cannot be transmitted to the management device due to a failure of the ball lending unit 20 or the like. Then, the handling of the visitor coin 5 stored in the ball lending unit 20 becomes inconvenient. For example, if the visitor coin 5 is issued from the ball lending unit 20 without being transmitted to the player's hand and the management balance that should be corrected is not corrected, the game hall Will suffer damage.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, even if the ball lending unit 20 breaks down without returning to the online state, the visitor coin 5 stored in the ball lending unit 20 is (When the visitor coin 5 is stored and issued in another online ball rental unit) or after it reaches the player's hand (the player places the visitor coin 5 in an online ball rental unit) In such a case, the management balance is corrected based on the offline consumption information recorded in the visitor coin 5, so that the above-described inconvenience can be prevented.

  (2-2) As described in S131, S132, S134, and S136 of FIG. 8, when the online state is detected by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, a recording medium with a management balance of 0 is collected. Is done. As described in S192a of FIG. 12, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 determines whether or not offline consumption information is recorded on the collected recording medium. As described in S193 of FIG. 12, the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the management device 50 on condition that the offline consumption information is determined to be recorded by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20. Is done.

  For this reason, useless communication processing between the ball lending unit 20 and the management device 50 can be prevented.

  (2-3) As described in S192 of FIG. 12, the passage unit 100 and the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 read the recording information of the visitor coin 5 in response to the issuance of the visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium. The next visitor coin 5 is supplied to the lower antenna 104 of the stored coin holder 140 of the unit 100. As described in S193 of FIG. 12, when the next visitor coin 5 is supplied to the lower antenna 104 by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20, the recording medium ID and offline consumption recorded in the supplied visitor coin 5 are displayed. Information is read and transmitted to the management device 50.

  For this reason, the visitor coin 5 can be issued more quickly than when the offline consumption information is transmitted when the visitor coin 5 is issued and the management balance is updated.

  (3-1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes the management device 50, the ball lending unit 20, and the payment device 60. The management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 are as described in (1-1). As described in S780 to S787 in FIG. 26, the balance of the management corresponding to the recording medium ID of the recording medium is settled by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus.

  As described in S941 to S943 in FIG. 17, S951 to S953 in FIG. 18, and S961 to S963 in FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 corresponds to the recording medium ID of the recording medium received. The original data and the calculation method flag that can specify the management remaining amount are recorded on the recording medium. As described in S552 of FIG. 17, S571 of FIG. 18, and S586 of FIG. 19, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 discharges the recording medium on which the original data and the calculation method flag are recorded.

  As described in S800 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 detects whether it is an online state where communication with the management apparatus 50 is possible or an offline state where communication is not possible. As described in S221a and S241a in FIG. 25 and S781 in FIG. 26, when the online state is detected by the control unit 62 of the checkout apparatus 60, it is associated with the recording medium ID of the accepted recording medium. Then, settlement is performed based on the remaining management amount managed by the management device 50. As described in S905, S906, and S914 in FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the original data and the calculation method flag recorded on the received recording medium are used. The management remaining amount is specified, and the specified management remaining amount is settled.

  As described in S916a of FIG. 28, the off-line settlement information capable of specifying the off-line settlement amount settled in S914 is recorded on the accepted recording medium by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60. As described in S917a of FIG. 28, the membership card 4 which is a recording medium on which offline settlement information is recorded is discharged by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60.

  As described in S <b> 202 of FIG. 9, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and the off-line settlement information recorded on the accepted recording medium to the management device 50. As described in S247a of FIG. 10, the offline balance payment received from the ball lending unit 20 is managed by the control unit 52 of the management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20. It is updated to the amount subtracted by the offline settlement amount specified by the information.

  For this reason, since the management balance can be settled even in the offline state, the convenience of the player can be improved. Further, when it is necessary to discharge the recording medium after payment, for example, as with the membership card 4, the management balance is settled offline by receiving the discharged membership card 4 with the ball lending unit 20 in the online state. Since the amount is updated to the amount subtracted, the member card 4 can be used without waiting for the settlement apparatus 60 to return to the online state.

  (3-2) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 includes a ball lending unit 20 as an issuing unit that issues a visitor coin 5 as a recording medium, in addition to the configuration described in (3-1). . As described in S918 in FIG. 28, the visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium on which the off-line settlement information is recorded is collected by the passage unit 100 and the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60.

  As described in S193 of FIG. 12, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 transmits the recording medium ID and offline settlement information recorded in the visitor coin 5 that is the recording medium collected by the settlement apparatus 60 to the management apparatus 50. Is done. As described in S243a of FIG. 13, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 deletes the off-line settlement information recorded on the recording medium on condition that the off-line settlement information is transmitted. As described in S191 of FIG. 12 and S552 of FIG. 17, the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 issues a visitor coin 5 that is a recording medium from which the off-line payment information is deleted. As described in S247a of FIG. 10, the offline balance payment received from the ball lending unit 20 is managed by the control unit 52 of the management device 50 in association with the recording medium ID received from the ball lending unit 20. It is updated to the amount subtracted by the offline settlement amount specified by the information.

  For this reason, since the management balance can be settled even in the offline state, the convenience of the player can be improved. Furthermore, even when the recording medium is collected after settlement, for example, as in the visitor coin 5, the management balance is updated to the amount subtracted by the offline settlement amount before the collected visitor coin 5 is issued. The visitor coin 5 can be used without waiting for the settlement apparatus 60 to return to the online state.

  (3-3) As explained in S873 of FIG. 27, the control unit 62 of the checkout apparatus 60 receives an off-line transfer operation for allowing the checkout in the off-line state from the store clerk in the amusement hall, and detects the off-line state. If an off-line transfer operation is accepted, the settlement in the off-line state is performed.

  For this reason, since the clerk at the game hall can check the situation and allow the settlement in the offline state, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the offline state is intentionally generated and the settlement by the unauthorized recording medium is performed. .

  (3-4) As described in the adjustment DB in FIG. 6A, the control unit 62 of the adjustment apparatus 60 stores the recording medium ID of the adjusted recording medium used for the adjustment in the offline state. As described in S902 of FIG. 28, when the offline state is detected by the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60, the received recording medium ID matches the identification information ID of the settled recording medium. It is determined whether or not to do so. As described in S902 of FIG. 28, the settlement in the offline state is performed on condition that the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 determines that they do not match.

  For this reason, when the received recording medium is not an already settled recording medium in the offline state, the settlement in the offline state can be performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent settlement in an offline state with a recording medium that may be fraudulent. That is, if the visitor coin 5 is collected by the post-payment settlement apparatus 60 but is received again by the settlement apparatus 60 after the settlement, there is a suspicion of fraud, and the membership card 4 is removed from the post-payment settlement apparatus 60. Although it will be returned, usually when it is settled at the end of the game, but there is a remaining amount after the settlement, there is a suspicion of fraud, so there is a visitor coin 5 or membership card 4 with such suspicion of fraud Checkout can be prevented.

  (3-5) As described in S904 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 accepts a setting input of a settlement possible time which is a time zone in which the settlement in the offline state is allowed. As described in S904 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement in the offline state on condition that the current time is included in the settlement possible time.

  For this reason, it is possible to limit the time zone in which the settlement in the offline state is performed to the time zone in which the settlement should be performed (for example, during business hours). As a result, the possibility of fraud can be reduced.

  (3-6) As described in S915 of FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the settlement apparatus 60 associates the recording medium ID of the recording medium used for settlement in the offline state with the settled management balance. Remembered. As described in S934 of FIG. 29, the information is stored based on the detection of the return from the state in which the offline state is detected to the online state by the control unit 62 and the communication unit 61 of the settlement apparatus 60. The recording medium ID and the settlement management balance are transmitted to the management device 50.

  As described in S936 of FIG. 29, the control unit 52 of the management device 50 manages the balance remaining managed by the management device 50 corresponding to the received recording medium ID, and the settlement received from the settlement device 60. It is determined whether or not the management balance matches. As described in S937 in FIG. 29, the control unit 52 of the management device 50 notifies that the management remaining amount and the settlement management remaining amount do not match on condition that it is determined that they do not match.

  For this reason, when fraud is performed in the settlement in the offline state, the fact can be quickly grasped and dealt with after returning to the online state.

  (3-7) As described in S941 to S943 in FIG. 17, S951 to S953 in FIG. 18, and S961 to S963 in FIG. 19, the calculation that can specify the calculation method by the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 The method flag and the original data for calculating the management balance by calculation using the calculation method are recorded on the recording medium as information for specifying the management balance. As described in S905 and S906 in FIG. 28, the control unit 62 of the checkout apparatus 60 specifies the calculation method from the calculation method flag recorded in the received recording medium, and accepts the calculation by the specified calculation method. The original data recorded on the recorded recording medium is calculated, and the management balance is specified.

For this reason, compared with the case where the management remaining amount is recorded as it is on the recording medium, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraud such as tampering with the recording medium.
[2. Modified example]
Finally, a modification of the present invention will be described.

  (1-1) In the above embodiment, in the ball lending unit 20, the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending from the remaining storage amount in the offline state, and the offline time reference transmitted from the management device 50 for each ball lending unit 20. Based on the amount of money, offline consumption information is calculated and recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5), and the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20 and recorded on the recording medium. The recording medium ID and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the management device 50, and the management device 50 identifies the device ID stored in association with the received recording medium ID, and stores the device ID in association with the device ID. Offline reference amount is identified and based on the identified offline reference amount and the received offline consumption information Offline expenditure is identified, offline expenditure from the management balance corresponding to the recording medium ID is to be subtracted corrected.

  In the following, when the loan processing using the stored balance is performed in the ball loan unit 20 in the offline state, the offline consumption amount, which is the ball loan amount in the offline state, is subtracted from the management balance, and the management balance is corrected. A technique for this will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the processing for updating the serial number of the recording medium, the serial number of the management device, the processing related to serial number determination, etc. in the ball lending process or the processing at the time of inserting the recording medium is omitted, and the offline consumption amount is subtracted from the management residual amount. Only the configuration for doing so will be described in detail. Further, in the recording medium insertion process (supply process, online return process) of the embodiment, the management device 50 does not issue an insertion notification (supply notification, online return notification, payment request), but a remaining amount reception notification or a fractional erasure notification. On the basis of the received information, the offline consumption amount is subtracted from the management remaining amount. However, for the sake of simplicity, the offline consumption amount is based on the fact that the management device 50 has received the insertion notification. An example of subtracting from the remaining management amount will be described. In addition, in the modification shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, the processing performed in the embodiment such as the serial number update processing and the serial number determination processing may be performed together, or not the insertion notification but the remaining amount reception notification or the fractional amount erasure notification. It goes without saying that the subtraction of the offline consumption amount from the management remaining amount may be performed based on the reception of. First, the method adopted in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a first method for the management device 50 to specify an offline usage amount used for ball lending when an offline state with the management device 50 occurs in the ball lending unit 20. First, the management device 50 stores the reference amount for offline use in the setting value DB shown in FIG. 6A in association with the device ID of each ball lending unit 20. This off-line reference amount is transmitted to each ball rental unit 20 at a fixed time (for example, before the game hall starts business). Here, since it is the ball lending unit 20 with the device ID “U0001”, the offline reference amount “15000” yen is transmitted. The transmitted offline reference amount is stored in the ball lending unit 20.

  Then, as described in FIG. 9, the visitor coin 5 whose recording medium ID is “V0004” is received by the ball lending unit 20 (S201). Then, an insertion notification including the recording medium ID “V0004” of the visitor coin 5 and the device ID “U0001” of the ball lending unit 20 that has received the visitor coin 5 is transmitted to the management device 50 (S202). In the management device 50, the device ID “U0001” included in the received insertion notification is stored in the remaining amount management DB shown in FIG. 6A (S220), and the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification is stored. The remaining amount notification including the management remaining amount “1525” yen stored in association with “” is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 that has transmitted the insertion notification (S221). In the ball lending unit 20, the management remaining amount “1525” yen included in the remaining amount notification is stored in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” as the remaining storage amount (S222).

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the ball lending unit 20 receives the ball lending operation (S121), and the ball lending process is performed (S122), thereby subtracting the remaining memory (S129) and the management device 50. In step S125, the remaining management amount is subtracted. For example, when the ball lending is performed once, the ball lending set amount is 525 yen, so 525 × 1 = 525 yen is subtracted from 1525 yen, and the management remaining amount and the remaining storage amount become 1000 yen.

  At this point, an offline state between the ball lending unit 20 and the management device 50 occurs. As described with reference to FIG. 16, the ball lending unit 20 accepts a ball lending operation after the offline state has occurred (S531), and the remaining amount of memory is subtracted 525 × 1 = 525 yen from 1000 yen, and 475 yen. (S534). Further, in association with the recording medium ID “V0004”, the offline consumption amount, which is the amount of ball lending after the occurrence of the offline state, is stored as 525 yen (S535). In addition, since it is an off-line state, the management remaining amount memorize | stored in the management apparatus 50 is not subtracted, but remains 1000 yen. Next, a ball lending operation is accepted (S531), and since the stored remaining amount is less than the ball lending set amount, it is an integral multiple of the tax-included unit amount and is the maximum amount not exceeding the stored remaining amount (105 × 4 =) 420 yen. Is subtracted from the stored balance to 55 yen. Further, the offline consumption amount is stored as (525 + 420 =) 945 yen (S535).

  Here, a deposit of money of 1000 yen is accepted (S510), the stored fractional amount is 0 yen, less than 50 yen (NO in S512), which is the corresponding consumption tax amount of 1000 yen of the accepted currency amount, and the stored fractional amount. + The remaining amount of memory is (0 + 55 =) 55 yen, and is the corresponding consumption tax amount of 50 yen or more (YES in S515), so the loan amount from the received money amount + the memory fractional amount + the memory remaining amount (1000 + 0 + 55 =) 1055 yen An amount of 1050 yen and a new memory remaining amount of 5 yen are specified (S516), the memory remaining amount is updated to 5 yen (S517), and the offline consumption amount is added (945+ (55-5) =) 995 yen (S518) ) A ball lending process for a loan target amount of 1050 yen is performed (S522). Note that the memory fraction is not changed.

  Next, a deposit of money of 1000 yen is accepted (S510), the memory fraction is 0 yen, and the corresponding consumption tax is less than 50 yen (NO in S512), and the memory fraction + memory balance is (0 + 5 =) Since it is 5 yen and the corresponding consumption tax amount is less than 50 yen (NO in S515) and the received currency amount of 1000 yen is 105 yen or more including tax (YES in S519), the loan object amount is 945 from the received currency amount of 1000 yen. A yen and a fractional amount of 55 yen are specified (S520), the stored fractional amount is updated to 55 yen (S521), and a ball lending process for a loan target amount of 945 yen is performed (S522). Note that the remaining memory amount and the offline consumption amount are not changed.

  Next, the deposit of money of 1000 yen is accepted (S510), and the stored fractional amount is 55 yen, which is 50 yen or more of the corresponding consumption tax amount (YES in S512), so the received currency amount + the stored fractional amount ( The loan target amount of 1050 yen and the new fractional amount of 5 yen are specified from 1000 + 55 =) 1055 yen (S513), the stored fractional amount is updated to 5 yen (S514), and the loan processing for the loan target amount of 1050 yen is performed. Performed (S522). Note that the remaining memory amount and the offline consumption amount are not changed.

  Then, when the remaining memory amount is 5 yen, the offline consumption amount is 995 yen, and the offline fractional amount is 45 yen, as described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the offline consumption information “14005” is calculated from the stored offline reference amount “15000” yen and the offline consumption amount “995” times (S956). The information “14005” is recorded on the visitor coin 5 together with the recording medium ID “V0004” (S957) and discharged (S571).

  In addition, when the remaining memory amount is 5 yen, the offline consumption amount is 995 yen, and the offline fractional amount is 45 yen, the return operation is not accepted as described above, but a deposit of 1000 yen money is accepted. (S510), the memory fraction is 45 yen, which is less than 50 yen of the corresponding consumption tax (NO in S512), the memory fraction + memory balance is (45 + 5 =) 50 yen, and the corresponding consumption tax is 50 yen or more (S515) Therefore, a loan target amount of 1050 yen and a new stored balance of 0 yen are identified from 1050 yen (1000 + 45 + 5 =) which is the received monetary amount + stored fractional amount + stored remaining amount (S516), and the stored remaining amount is 0 It is updated to Yen, the stored fractional value is updated to 0 Yen (S517), and the offline consumption is added (995+ (5-0) =) 1000 Yen (S518) Ball loan processing of 1050 yen is carried out (S522). Then, both the stored balance and the stored fractional amount are 0 (YES in S523), the visitor coin 5 is being accepted (YES in S524), the online remaining amount flag is not recorded (NO in S524a), and the offline consumption amount is Since it is 1000 yen and not 0 (NO in S525), offline consumption information (15000−1000 =) 14000 is calculated (S526), and the calculated offline consumption information is recorded in the visitor coin 5 (S527). 20 (S529).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the visitor coin 5 is received by the management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20 (S201), and the recording medium ID “V0004” recorded in the visitor coin 5 and the offline consumption information “ An insertion notification including “14005” and the offline fraction “45” yen is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 (S202). In the management device 50, the received offline fractional amount “45” yen is stored (S212), and is associated with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification in the remaining amount management DB of FIG. The stored device ID “U0001” is identified (S214), and the offline reference amount “15000” yen stored in the setting value DB of FIG. 6A in association with the identified device ID “U0001”. Is specified (S215), and the offline consumption amount “995” yen is calculated from the specified offline reference amount “15000” yen and the received offline consumption information “14005” (S217) and stored (S219).

  Finally, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the stored offline consumption amount “995” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1000” yen to make the management remaining amount “5” yen, and the stored offline consumption amount “995”. "Yen is deleted (S247), the stored offline fractional amount" 45 "yen is added to the management residual amount" 5 "yen to make the management residual amount" 50 "yen, and the stored offline fractional amount" 45 "yen Is erased (S248).

  (1-2) However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the ball lending unit 20, the number of times of offline consumption, which is the number of times the ball lending has been performed using the storage remaining amount in the offline state, and the ball lending unit 20 from the management device 50 Offline consumption information is calculated and recorded on a recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) based on the offline reference count transmitted every time, and the recording medium is accepted by the online ball lending unit 20. Then, the recording medium ID recorded on the recording medium and the offline consumption information are transmitted to the management apparatus 50, and the management apparatus 50 identifies the apparatus ID stored in association with the received recording medium ID. The offline reference number and ball lending set amount stored in association with the ID are specified, and the specified offline reference number and ball lending are specified. May be offline consumption amount is specified based on the off-line consumption information received a constant amount.

  This case will be described with reference to the drawings. In this case, the stored balance cannot be used when money is accepted in the offline state. Further, in the offline state, the ball lending process for the ball lending set amount is performed, and the ball lending process is not performed when the remaining memory amount is less than the ball lending set amount. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a second method for the management device 50 to specify the offline usage amount used for the ball lending when an offline state with the management device 50 occurs in the ball lending unit 20. The main difference from FIG. 30 is that the offline reference number is used instead of the offline reference amount, and the offline consumption number is used instead of the offline consumption amount.

  Specifically, the management device 50 stores the ball lending set amount and the offline reference number in association with the device ID of each ball lending unit 20 instead of the above-described offline reference amount. In addition, the ball rental unit 20 manages the offline reference number corresponding to each unit (in the case of the ball rental unit 20 with the device ID “U0001”, “30” times) instead of the aforementioned offline reference amount. It is transmitted from the device 50 and stored. In the second method, when the loan process is performed using the remaining storage amount in the offline state, the number of offline consumptions is accumulated instead of S535 in FIG. 16 described above, that is, the offline consumption amount. Remembered. That is, when an offline state occurs and the ball lending process is performed twice thereafter, the number of offline consumptions stored in the ball lending unit 20 is accumulated twice.

  Then, in the ball lending unit 20, as shown in S541 of FIG. 17, the return operation is accepted in the offline state, and the stored offline reference count “30” is opened instead of S956 of FIG. The offline consumption information “28” is calculated from the offline consumption count “2” and the offline consumption information “2” is recorded in the visitor coin 5 together with the recording medium ID “V0004” instead of S957, and S571 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the visitor coin 5 is discharged.

  Next, as shown in S201 of FIG. 9, the visitor coin 5 is received in the management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20, and the recording medium recorded in the visitor coin 5 is replaced with S202 of FIG. 9 described above. An insertion notification including ID “V0004” and offline consumption information “28” is transmitted to the management apparatus 50. In the management device 50, as shown in S214 of FIG. 9, the device ID “U0001” stored in the remaining amount management DB in association with the recording medium ID “V0004” included in the received insertion notification is specified. . Further, instead of S215, the offline reference number “30” and the ball lending set amount “525” yen stored in association with the specified device ID “U0001” are specified. Also, instead of S217, the offline consumption count “2” is calculated from the specified offline reference count “30” yen and the received offline consumption information “28”, and the ball lending setting is set to “2” offline consumption count. The offline consumption amount “1050” yen is calculated by multiplying the amount “525” yen. Then, as shown in S219 of FIG. 9, the calculated offline consumption amount “1050” yen is stored.

  Finally, in the management device 50, as shown in S247 of FIG. 10, the stored offline consumption amount “1050” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “7900” yen, so that the management remaining amount becomes “6850” yen and stored. The offline consumption amount “1050” yen is deleted.

  (1-3) Further, in the management device 50, the time when the offline state with the ball rental unit 20 occurs is stored in association with the device ID of the ball rental unit 20, and the ball rental unit 20 has a ball in the offline state. Offline consumption information is calculated and recorded on the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) based on the offline consumption amount used for lending and the reference amount for offline time that varies from time to time (different depending on each time). The recorded recording medium is received by the online ball lending unit 20, and the recording medium ID and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium are transmitted to the management device 50 and received by the management device 50. Off-line occurrence in which the device ID stored in association with the recording medium ID is specified and stored in association with the device ID Offline time reference amount specified from time, may be off-line consumption amount is specified based on the off-line consumption information received as specified offline reference amount.

  This case will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a third method for the management device 50 to specify the offline usage amount used for ball lending when an offline state with the management device 50 occurs in the ball lending unit 20. A difference from FIG. 30 is that an offline reference amount corresponding to a time zone in which offline occurs is used instead of the offline reference amount corresponding to the device ID.

  Specifically, in the management device 50, instead of storing the offline reference amount in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 as described above, the offline reference amount is stored in the time zone when the offline state occurs. Store in association with each other. Further, the ball lending unit 20 stores the offline reference amount for each time zone transmitted from the management device 50 in place of the offline reference amount described above.

  Then, in the ball lending unit 20, as shown in S541 of FIG. 17, the return operation is accepted in the offline state, and the time “11:22” when the offline state occurs is replaced with S956 of FIG. 18 described above. The offline consumption information “15505” is calculated from the offline reference amount “16500” yen and the offline consumption amount “995” yen corresponding to the included time zone “11-12”, and as shown in S957, the offline consumption information “15505” is calculated. “15505” circle is recorded on the visitor coin 5 together with the recording medium ID “V0004”, and the visitor coin 5 is ejected as indicated by S571 in FIG. Further, in the management device 50, the time “11:22” when the offline state occurs is stored in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that is in the offline state.

  Next, as shown in S201 of FIG. 9, the visitor coin 5 is received by the management apparatus 50 and the online ball lending unit 20, and the record recorded in the visitor coin 5 as shown in S202 of FIG. 9 described above. An insertion notification including the medium ID “V0004”, the offline consumption information “15505”, and the offline fractional amount “45” is transmitted to the management apparatus 50. In the management device 50, the received offline fractional amount “45” yen is stored as shown in S212 of FIG. 9, and the recording medium ID included in the received insertion notification is shown in S214 of FIG. The device ID “U0001” stored in the balance management DB in association with “V0004” is specified. Also, in place of S215, the time “11:22” when the offline state occurs stored in association with the specified device ID “U0001” is specified, and corresponds to the time zone including the time when the offline state occurred The off-line reference amount “16500” yen stored together is specified. Further, as shown in S217, the offline consumption amount “995” is calculated from the specified offline reference amount “16500” and the received offline consumption information “15505”. Then, as shown in S219 of FIG. 9, the calculated offline consumption amount “995” yen is stored.

  Finally, in the management device 50, as shown in S247 of FIG. 10, the stored offline consumption amount “995” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1000” yen to make the management remaining amount “5” yen, and stored. The offline consumption amount “995” yen is deleted, and as shown in S248, the stored offline fractional amount “45” yen is added to the management remaining amount “5” yen, and the management remaining amount is set to “50” yen. The stored offline fractional amount “45” yen is deleted.

  That is, in (1-5) of the “main effects obtained by the embodiment” described above, the management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store and manage different offline reference amounts according to each time. The device ID of the ball lending unit 20 that receives the recording medium with the recording medium ID is stored in association with the recording medium ID corresponding to the remaining management balance. The ball lending unit 20 records offline consumption information on the recording medium based on the offline reference amount according to the time when it is detected as being offline.

  The management device 50 detects the offline state with the ball lending unit 20 and stores the time when the offline state is detected and the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 in the offline state in association with each other. The device ID stored in correspondence with the recording medium ID received from is identified, and the offline consumption amount is identified based on the offline reference amount corresponding to the identified time.

  As a result, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to 0. Further, since the offline reference amount varies depending on the time when the offline state is detected, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting the offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state. It should be noted that the offline consumption count and offline reference count may be used instead of the offline consumption amount and offline reference count.

  (1-4) Further, in the management device 50, the time when the offline state with the ball rental unit 20 occurs is stored in association with the device ID of the ball rental unit 20, and the ball rental unit 20 has a ball in the offline state. Based on the offline consumption amount used for lending and the offline reference amount transmitted from the management device 50 for each time period, the offline consumption information is calculated and the recording medium (member card 4 , The visitor coin 5), the recording medium is received by the on-line ball lending unit 20, and the recording medium ID, the offline consumption information, and the offline occurrence time recorded on the recording medium are transmitted to the management device 50. In the management device 50, the offline reference amount is specified from the received offline occurrence time. , May be off-line consumption amount is specified based on the off-line consumption information received as specified offline reference amount.

  This case will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a fourth method for the management device 50 to specify the offline usage amount used for the ball lending when an offline state with the management device 50 occurs in the ball lending unit 20. A difference from FIG. 30 is that an offline reference amount corresponding to a time zone in which offline occurs is used instead of the offline reference amount corresponding to the device ID.

  Specifically, in the management device 50, instead of storing the offline reference amount in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 as described above, the offline reference amount is stored in the time zone when the offline state occurs. Store in association with each other. Further, in the ball lending unit 20, instead of the above-described offline reference amount, the offline reference amount for each time zone is transmitted from the management device 50 and stored.

  Then, in the ball lending unit 20, as shown in S541 of FIG. 17, the return operation is accepted in the offline state, and the time “11:22” when the offline state occurs is replaced with S956 of FIG. 18 described above. The offline consumption information “15505” yen is calculated from the offline reference amount “16500” yen and the offline consumption amount “995” yen corresponding to the included time zone “11-12”, and instead of S957, the offline consumption information “15505” yen is calculated. “15505” yen and information “1122” indicating the time when the offline state occurred are recorded on the visitor coin 5 together with the recording medium ID “V0004”, and the visitor coin 5 is ejected as shown in S571 of FIG.

  Next, as shown in S201 of FIG. 9, the visitor coin 5 is received in the management device 50 and the online ball lending unit 20, and the recording medium recorded in the visitor coin 5 is replaced with S202 of FIG. 9 described above. An insertion notification including ID “V0004”, offline consumption information “15505”, offline fractional amount “45”, and information “1122” indicating the time when the offline state occurred is transmitted to the management apparatus 50. In the management device 50, instead of S214 and S215, the offline reference amount “16500” stored in association with the time zone including the time “11:22” indicated by the information indicating the time when the received offline state has occurred. "A circle is identified. Further, as shown in S217, the offline consumption amount “995” is calculated from the specified offline reference amount “16500” and the received offline consumption information “15005”. Then, as shown in S219 of FIG. 9, the calculated offline consumption amount “995” yen is stored.

  Finally, in the management device 50, as shown in S247 of FIG. 10, the stored offline consumption amount “995” yen is subtracted from the management remaining amount “1000” yen to make the management remaining amount “5” yen, and stored. The offline consumption amount “995” yen is deleted, and as shown in S248, the stored offline fractional amount “45” yen is added to the management remaining amount “5” yen, and the management remaining amount is set to “50” yen. The stored offline fractional amount “45” yen is deleted.

  Note that the information indicating the time to be recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the time when the offline state occurs or information indicating the time, and may be the time zone when the offline state occurs, or a number indicating the time zone. It may be. Further, the time is not limited to the time when the offline state occurs, and may be any time from when the offline state occurs until the recording medium is ejected. For example, the discharge time of the recording medium may be recorded on the recording medium.

  That is, in (1-5) of “Main effects obtained by the embodiment” described above, the following may be performed. The management device 50 and the ball lending unit 20 store different offline reference amounts according to each time. The ball lending unit 20 records time specifying information capable of specifying the time and offline consumption information based on the offline reference amount according to the time on the recording medium.

  The ball lending unit 20 further transmits the time specifying information recorded on the received recording medium to the management device 50. The management device 50 specifies the offline consumption amount based on the offline reference amount according to the time specified from the received time specifying information.

  As a result, the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is not recorded directly on the recording medium, but the offline consumption information calculated using the offline reference amount is recorded on the recording medium. Even if the consumption information is rewritten to 0, the offline consumption cannot be reduced to 0. Further, since the offline reference amount varies depending on the time, it cannot be easily known. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult to perform fraud such as rewriting offline consumption information so that the offline consumption amount becomes 0, even though the remaining storage amount is used in the offline state. It should be noted that the offline consumption count and offline reference count may be used instead of the offline consumption amount and offline reference count.

  (2) In the above embodiment, as described in S129, the amount used for ball lending + the amount of consumption tax is subtracted from the remaining amount of memory. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In S128, the management balance is received from the management device 50 together with the subtraction completion notification, and the stored balance after the ball lending is updated to the same amount as the management balance acquired from the management device 50. You may do it.

  (3) In the above embodiment, as described in S701, S221a, S241a, and S781, the settlement apparatus 60 acquires the management balance from the management apparatus 50 when receiving a card or coin, and manages the balance. Was settled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the remaining balance is recorded on the card or the coin, the settlement apparatus 60 reads the remaining amount recorded on the card or the coin when receiving the card or the coin, and calculates the remaining amount. If the information is transmitted to the management device 50 and matched by the management device 50, the read balance may be settled.

  (4) Although the recording medium ID is recorded on the member card 4 and the visitor coin 5 of the embodiment and the remaining amount is not recorded, the remaining amount may be recorded in addition to the recording medium ID.

  (5) In the embodiment, the consumption tax is collected on the ball lending amount, but the consumption tax may not be collected. In other words, the loan usage used for the lending process is the ball lending amount + consumption tax amount when the consumption tax is collected, and the ball loan amount itself when the consumption tax amount is not collected. Become.

  (6) The ball lending unit 20 according to the embodiment, when accepting money in an offline state, specifies a loan target amount without performing a player's operation and performs a ball loan process for the loan target amount. However, the amount of money received in the offline state may be temporarily stored, and the ball lending for the ball lending set amount may be performed based on the ball lending operation from the player. In this case, the remaining amount that is not used for the ball lending out of the received money amount may be recorded on the recording medium as the remaining balance (corresponding to the fractional amount in the embodiment).

  (7) In the embodiment, as a transaction device, game media (balls) are used by using the remaining amount (managed balance) managed in the management device in association with the recording medium ID of the received recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device may be used as long as it performs transaction processing using the management balance. For example, not only at amusement halls, but also at vending machines that are installed at each store and process the process of paying out goods using the management balance of the received recording medium, or by entering the purchase price of the goods and entering the purchase It may be a POS terminal that performs processing for settlement by subtracting the price from the management balance.

  (8) In the modification of FIG. 31, a value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption count from the offline reference count is used as the offline consumption information. However, the offline consumption count itself may be the offline consumption information. The management device 50 identifies the offline consumption amount by multiplying the offline consumption information included in the received insertion notification (supply notification, online return notification, settlement request) by the ball lending set amount, and manages the offline consumption amount Subtract from the correction.

  Further, each time the ball lending process using the remaining amount in the offline state is performed in the ball lending unit 20, the offline consumption amount used for the ball lending process is totaled, and the total offline consumption amount itself is consumed offline. In this case, the management device 50 identifies the offline consumption information included in the received insertion notification (supply notification, online return notification, payment request) as the offline consumption amount, and manages the offline consumption amount Subtract from the remaining amount.

  (9) In the embodiment, the calculation method and the reference data, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are recorded as the management balance specifying information capable of specifying the management balance, and the original data. It may be fixed to one type, and the calculation method may not be recorded, or any one or a plurality of the reference data, multiplication data, division data, and addition data may be used. In the embodiment, the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are preset in the ball lending unit 20, and the reference data is calculated based on each of these data and the management remaining amount (storage remaining amount). However, as the reference data, for example, a numerical value of a specific digit of the recording medium ID (for example, the last two digits) is used, and the multiplication data, the division data, and the addition data are calculated as the original data based on the reference data and the management balance. And may be recorded.

  Further, as the management balance specifying information, the management balance itself, that is, the storage balance itself may be recorded. In addition, an area for recording the total deposit amount and an area for recording the total consumption amount are provided on the recording medium, and each time the deposit process is performed on the recording medium, the deposit amount is added to the total deposit area, and the ball lending process Is added to the total consumption area. That is, as the management residual amount specifying information, the total deposit amount and the total consumption amount for the recording medium may be recorded, and the management residual amount may be specified by subtracting the total consumption amount from the total deposit amount.

  In this case, the total deposit amount and the total consumption amount may be recorded after the recording medium is delivered to the amusement hall, or may be reset for each settlement in the settlement apparatus 60, and after the settlement. Items may be aggregated and recorded, or reset every time the remaining balance becomes 0 by the ball lending process in the ball lending unit 20, and the subsequent items after the remaining amount becomes 0 are totalized and recorded. You may do it.

  (10) In the embodiment, the offline consumption information and the management remaining amount specifying information are calculated and recorded at the timing when the recording medium is ejected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The amount and management remaining amount specifying information may be calculated and recorded on the recording medium.

  (11) In the embodiment, when the recording medium is inserted, the management apparatus 50 stores the device ID in association with the recording medium ID, thereby recording the offline consumption information and ejecting the recording medium. Although the device ID of the rental unit 20 is specified, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the offline consumption information is recorded and returned, the device ID of the ball rental unit 20 that performs the return is recorded on the recording medium. The device ID recorded on the recording medium may be included in the insertion notification and transmitted to the management device 50 so that the management device 50 may identify the device ID of the ball lending unit that has ejected the recording medium. In this case, the offline occurrence time may be specified directly from the device ID in the method shown in FIG.

  (12) In the embodiment, when the settlement apparatus 60 returns from the offline state to the online state, the contents of the settlement DB shown in FIG. 6B are transmitted to the management apparatus 50 as an off-line settlement notification. When the payment apparatus 60 closes without returning online, repairs are performed after the power is turned off, and the power is turned on at the start of business on the next business day, the contents of the payment DB are managed at that time. Should be sent to.

  (13) In the above embodiment, the settlement apparatus 60 performs settlement with money. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and settlement may be performed by adding electronic money to a mobile phone or card that can store and use electronic money.

  (14) In the above embodiment, the processing when the serial number does not match is management such as addition or deletion of the stored received monetary amount, addition or deletion of the stored offline fractional amount, and subtraction of the used amount + consumption tax amount. Although an example of processing for the remaining amount has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the processing when the serial numbers do not match is the ball lending unit 20 that is the transmission source of the insertion notification or the transmission source of the settlement request in the management device 50. It may be a process of displaying (notifying) the settlement apparatus 60 in an identifiable manner. According to this, for example, a store clerk at a game hall temporarily collects a card or coin from the notified ball rental unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60, specifies the remaining amount of the card, etc., and guarantees the player. Is possible. Further, the serial number mismatch processing may be processing for transmitting a notification instruction from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20 that is the transmission source of the insertion notification or the payment device 60 that is the transmission source of the payment request. According to this, since the notification is performed in the ball lending unit 20 and the settlement apparatus 60, the same measures as described above can be performed. As described above, the process when the serial numbers do not match is not limited to the process for the management remaining amount.

  (15) In the above embodiment, the reference loan amount (ball lending set amount) is set by being distributed from the management device 50 to each ball lending unit 20, and the set amount is managed by the set value DB. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reference loan amount may be set in each ball lending unit 20. For example, the ball lending amount may be set by operating a ball lending setting amount setting button provided in each ball lending unit 20. By setting the ball lending set amount of the unit 20, the set amount is transmitted to the management device 50 and managed in association with the device ID of the ball lending unit 20 in the setting value DB. good.

  (16) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the management device 50 first stores the status (S104) in response to the receipt of the deposit request, and then stores the received monetary amount (S105). In the above example, the scheduled remaining amount notification is transmitted (S106). However, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. In addition, in the ball lending unit 20, in response to the receipt of the scheduled remaining amount notification, first of all, the accepted currency is taken in (S108) as a specific process, and then the first serial number update process (S109) is performed. Although the example in which the money acquisition notification that is the cooperation processing request is transmitted (S110) has been described, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. Further, in response to the receipt of the money capture notification as the cooperation processing request, the management device 50 first adds the received money amount (S113), and then deletes the received money amount (S114). In the above example, the second serial number update process (S115) is performed and the status update (S106) is finally performed. However, the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  (17) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ball lending unit 20 accepts the ball lending operation, first the ball lending processing for the used amount + consumption tax amount is started (S122). Although the example in which the serial number update process 1 (S123) is performed and the transmission of the subtraction request is finally performed (S124) has been described, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. Further, in response to the reception of the subtraction request, the management device 50 first subtracts the used amount + consumption tax amount (S125), then performs the second serial number update process (S126), and then stores the status ( Although the example in which S127) is performed and the transmission of the subtraction completion notification (S128) is performed last has been described, the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  (18) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the ball lending unit 20 first deletes offline consumption information (S243), deletes offline payment information (S243a) in response to receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification, Further, the example in which the elimination of the fractional amount (S244) is performed, the first serial number update process (S245) is performed, and the transmission of the fractional amount erasure notification is finally performed (S246) has been described. The order in which the two processes are performed is not limited. Further, in response to the reception of the fractional erasure notification, the management device 50 first subtracts / erases the offline consumption amount (S247), subtracts / erases the offline settlement amount (S247a), and adds / erases the fractional amount (S248). Next, the second serial number update process (S227) is performed, and the status update (S228) is finally performed. However, the order in which these five processes are performed is not limited.

  (19) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, in the settlement apparatus 60, in response to the receipt of the settlement permission information, first, the offline consumption information is erased (S243), the offline settlement information is erased (S243a), and the fraction The example in which the amount is deleted (S244), the first serial number update processing (S245) is performed, and the fractional amount deletion notification is transmitted (S246a) is finally described. The order in which they are performed is not limited. Further, in response to the reception of the fractional erasure notification, the management device 50 first subtracts / erases the offline consumption amount (S247), subtracts / erases the offline settlement amount (S247a), and adds / erases the fractional amount (S248). Next, the second serial number update process (S227) is performed, and the status update (S228) is finally performed. However, the order in which these five processes are performed is not limited.

  (20) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26, when the settlement apparatus 60 accepts the settlement operation, the money for the permitted amount is first paid out (S781), and then the third serial number update process is performed. Although the example in which (S782) is performed and the payment completion notification is transmitted (S783) is described last, the order in which these three processes are performed is not limited. In response to the receipt of the settlement completion notice, the management device 50 first deletes the management balance (S784), then performs the fourth serial number update process (S785), and then updates the status (S786). In the above example, the remaining amount erasure completion notification is transmitted (S787). However, the order in which these four processes are performed is not limited.

  (21) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 19, the example in which the offline fractional amount is recorded when the recording medium is ejected has been described. Each time the fraction is specified by the means, the fraction is recorded as an offline fraction on the recording medium, and when the recording medium is ejected, the recording medium on which the offline fraction is recorded is ejected as it is. May be. That is, the timing for recording the off-line fractional amount on the recording medium is not particularly limited.

  (22) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 25, when the planned remaining amount notification (S241) and the settlement permission information (S241a) as the fractional amount elimination request are received, the fractional amount elimination processing (S244) However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a recording medium is received, the fractional amount erasure process is performed, the erased fractional amount is stored, and the fact that the fractional amount erasure request has been received is received. It is memorized and it is determined whether or not the fact that the request for deleting the fractional amount has been received when the recording medium is ejected. If it is determined that it is stored, the fractional amount is erased. If it is determined that the stored recording medium is discharged and not stored, the stored fractional amount may be recorded on the recording medium and then discharged. That is, the fractional amount erasing process may be performed before the recording medium is ejected based on the reception of the fractional amount erasing request.

  (23) In the above embodiment, in the ball lending unit 20, it is determined whether or not the serial number of the recording medium has reached the upper limit value (255 in this case), and the serial number managed by the management device 50 is also the upper limit. Although an example of determining whether or not the value (here 255) has been described has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and only the ball lending unit 20 may determine whether or not the serial number has reached the upper limit value. good. For example, when the ball lending unit 20 determines that the serial number of the recording medium has reached the upper limit value, the serial number of the recording medium is updated to the initial value, and the recording medium ID and serial number of the recording medium are updated to the initial value. Information including this may be transmitted to the management apparatus 50, and the serial number associated with the recording medium ID received by the management apparatus 50 may be updated to the initial value.

  (24) In the above embodiment, the management device 50 is managed in association with the recording medium ID in the remaining amount management DB even when a return notification (for example, S184 in FIG. 12) accompanying the return operation is received. Although an example in which an ID is stored without being erased has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and when a return notification is received, the device ID associated with the received recording medium ID is erased. Also good. In this case, a payment request, an insertion notification, or a settlement request is transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 or the settlement apparatus 60 to the management apparatus 50, and the management apparatus 50 that has received the information stores the apparatus ID and then is offline. Even if the recording medium is returned, the management device 50 does not receive the return notification, so the device ID is not erased. Therefore, in the offline state, it is possible to specify the ball lending unit 20 in which the recording medium with the recording medium ID has been accepted in the previous online state.

  (25) In the above embodiment, an example in which the predetermined amount is 1000 yen has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined amount can be arbitrarily changed. In the above modification, an example in which the loan reference amount is 500 yen has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reference loan amount can be arbitrarily changed.

  (26) In the above embodiment, the example in which the serial number is added and updated one by one according to the ball lending process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the serial number may be updated by two, and the update range is arbitrary. is there. That is, the update width may be a common update width determined in advance between the gaming device and the management device, and may be a negative value, for example. In this case, when the serial number is updated by the ball lending unit 20 and the serial number is not updated by the management device 50, [the serial number recorded on the recording medium (that is, the serial number received by the management device 50) <the management device. Serial number managed at 50]. Further, the serial number is not limited to an integer, and may be a character or the like whose order can be specified, such as alphabets or 50 sounds. The “sequential number matching” is not necessarily limited to the same value, but the recording medium serial number (recording serial number) and the management device 50 serial number (management serial number) are identified as having a predetermined relationship. Is also included. For example, if the relationship between the recording sequence number and the management sequence number is shifted by 2, this corresponds to the case where (recording sequence number) = (management sequence number + 2), the sequence numbers match.

  (27) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the valid period, that is, both the payable period and the usable period is indefinite has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and only one of the payable period and the usable period is used. May be indefinite.

  (28) In the above embodiment, the example in which the consumption tax rate is 5% has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the consumption tax rate can be changed. In the above embodiment, the example in which the consumption tax rate is set by the card company has been described. However, in the amusement hall, the consumption tax rate may be set by the management device 50 and distributed to each ball rental unit 20 to be stored. Alternatively, each ball lending unit 20 may be set and stored.

  (29) In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the example has been described in which the ball rental unit 20 and the management device 50 are connected so as to be directly communicable. It is also possible to interpose a terminal terminal and a relay computer so that both are indirectly communicable. Moreover, both are not restricted to what can be communicated by wire, You may communicate by radio | wireless.

  (30) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 are provided in the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10), and the ball lending unit 20 However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a part or all of the remaining frequency indicator 14, the ball lending button 15, and the return button 16 may be provided in the ball lending unit 20.

  (31) In the above embodiment, in the remaining frequency indicator 14, the integer part of the quotient obtained by dividing the remaining amount stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 by the tax-included unit amount (105 yen) is the remaining frequency. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the integer part of the quotient obtained by dividing the remaining amount by the unit usage amount (100 yen) may be displayed as the remaining frequency.

  (32) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the types of banknotes 2 that can be received by the banknote discriminator 22 are 1000 yen banknotes, 2000 yen banknotes, 5000 yen banknotes, and 10000 yen banknotes. Although the example which is four types was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, The type of the banknote 2 which can be received may be arbitrary one type or two types or more of these four types. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the types of coins 3 that can be received by the coin discriminator 23 are two types of 100-yen coins and 500-yen coins has been described. The type of coin 3 may be any one of the two types. In addition, it is not restricted to what accepts both the banknote 2 and the coin 3 as money, You may accept only either the banknote 2 or the coin 3.

  (33) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the currency (banknote 2, coin 3) received and collected by the currency receiving means (banknote identification machine 22, coin identification machine 23) is a ball. Although the example which is discharged | emitted outside the lending unit 20 and conveyed by a banknote conveyance mechanism and a coin conveyance mechanism was demonstrated, not only this but the money collect | acquired received and collected is stored in the inside of the ball lending unit 20 You may be made to do.

  (34) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), in the money accepting means (banknote discriminator 22, coin discriminator 23), an example of accepting tangible money (banknote 2, coin 3). As explained, but not limited to this, intangible currency (for example, money data equivalent to money such as electronic money, credit amount specified from a credit card, deposit amount specified from a debit card, etc.) You may make it accept in contact or non-contact, In this case, collection | recovery of money corresponds to execution of a payment process, and return of money is equivalent to cancellation of a payment process.

  (35) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), an example in which the coin discharge port 112 is formed so as to protrude from the front surface of the gaming device (ball lending unit 20) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coin outlet may be formed to be depressed from the front surface of the gaming device.

  (36) In the above embodiment, for example, as shown in S103 of FIG. 7, an example in which the deposit request transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 includes the accepted monetary amount and the recording medium ID has been described. First, the management device 50 that has transmitted the insertion notification transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 including the recording medium ID and the device ID and received the insertion notification is associated with the recording medium ID included in the insertion notification. When the device ID included in the insertion notification is managed, the receipt request includes the received monetary amount and the device ID, and the management device 50 that receives the receipt request receives the receipt request. A recording medium ID managed in association with the included device ID may be specified, and the received money amount included in the deposit request may be managed in association with the specified recording medium ID. That is, the deposit request only needs to be information that can identify the received money amount and the recording medium ID. In this case, the device ID is information that can identify the recording medium ID. In addition, when there is only one denomination of money that can be deposited, the amount of money accepted may not be included in the deposit request.

  (37) In the above embodiment, as shown in S106 of FIG. 7, as the remaining amount notification that can specify the total amount of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount, the planned remaining amount notification including the planned remaining amount that is the combined amount is managed. Although the example transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 from the device 50 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball lending unit 20 grasps the management remaining amount as the storage remaining amount and grasps the received money amount. Therefore, based on the fact that the remaining amount confirmation notification not including the total amount is transmitted as the remaining amount notification from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20, the ball lending unit 20 receives the remaining amount confirmation notification. It is also possible to calculate the total amount of the managed remaining amount and the accepted money amount and store the calculated total amount in the RAM of the control unit 21. In addition, a remaining amount confirmation notification including only one of the management remaining amount and the accepted monetary amount is transmitted from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20 as the remaining amount notification, and the remaining amount confirmation notification is received in the ball lending unit 20 On the basis of the remaining amount confirmation notification, the total amount of the managed remaining amount or the received monetary amount and the grasped received monetary amount or the managed remaining amount is calculated, and the calculated total amount is calculated by the RAM of the control unit 21. You may make it memorize.

  (38) In the above embodiment, as shown in S241 of FIG. 10, the remaining amount that can specify the total amount obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount from the sum of the management residual amount and the fractional amount (offline fractional amount) As the notification, an example in which a scheduled remaining amount notification including the planned remaining amount as the total amount is transmitted from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20 has been described. Since the recorded off-line fractional amount, off-line consumption amount and off-line settlement amount are grasped, a remaining amount notification including only the management remaining amount is transmitted from the management device 50 to the ball lending unit 20, and the ball lending unit 20 Based on the receipt of the remaining amount notification, whether the managed offline amount included in the received remaining amount notification is added to the grasped offline fractional amount Offline consumption amount and the off-line settlement amount calculating a sum value obtained by subtracting, may be stored a summed amount thus calculated in the RAM of the control unit 21.

  (39) In the above embodiment, as shown in S241a of FIG. 25, a sum that can specify the sum of amounts obtained by subtracting the offline consumption amount and the off-line settlement amount from the sum of the management residual amount and the off-line consumption amount Although the example in which the settlement permission information including the planned remaining amount that is the total amount is transmitted from the management device 50 to the settlement device 60 as the amount settlement permission information has been described. Since the offline fraction amount, the offline consumption amount, and the offline payment amount recorded in the table are grasped, the payment permission information including only the management balance is transmitted from the management device 50 to the payment device 60, and the payment device 60 Based on the receipt of the settlement permission information, the offline fractional amount that has been grasped is added to the management balance included in the received settlement permission information. Calculating a summed value obtained by subtracting the off-line expenditures and offline payment amount from things, it may be to allow payout of money equivalent to the sum amount thus calculated.

  (40) In the above embodiment, as shown in S241 of FIG. 10, an example in which the planned residual amount notification that serves as both the fractional amount erasure request and the total amount specifying information is transmitted has been described. The amount erasure request and the total amount specifying information may be transmitted separately.

  (41) In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the example has been described in which the remaining amount is simply stored and managed in association with the recording medium ID in the management device 50, but is not limited thereto. For example, a deposit amount, a use amount, a settlement amount, etc. may be stored and managed together.

  (42) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the recording medium ID is the card ID of the membership card 4 (four-digit number starting with M) and the coin ID of the visitor coin 5 (starting with V Although an example in which the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 are distinguished from each other has been described, an example in which the membership card 4 and the visitor coin 5 are distinguished from each other is described.

  (43) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the recording medium ID is included in the deposit request in S103, and the remaining amount is managed in association with the recording medium ID from the time of deposit. Not limited to this, the apparatus ID is included in the deposit request in S103, the remaining amount is managed in association with the apparatus ID when depositing, and the apparatus ID and the recording medium ID are included in the return notification in S184, The remaining amount corresponding to the ID may be managed in association with the recording medium ID from the time of return. In this case, the management device 50 manages the amount obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the first lending process and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount from the received money amount in association with the recording medium ID of the recording medium. Device ID and accepted monetary amount when money is received in the online state with the management device 50 as processing for performing the operation (that is, remaining amount identifying processing for enabling identification from the recording medium ID read from the recording medium R / W102) And the subtraction request including the device ID and the used amount + consumption tax amount when the processing for transmitting the deposit request including the device amount to the management device 50 and the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount are performed. To the management device 50 and processing to send the return notification including the device ID and the recording medium ID to the management device 50 when a discharge operation (operation of the return button 16) is accepted. It is carried out.

  (44) In the above embodiment, in the ball lending unit 20, when money is received in an online state with the management device 50, a payment request is transmitted to the management device 50 and a payment process is performed. Although it demonstrated, in the ball lending unit 20, even if money is received with the management apparatus 50 in an online state, without transmitting a payment request to the management apparatus 50, the received money amount is set as the remaining amount. When the recording medium (member card 4, visitor coin 5) is discharged and stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 and used for the ball lending process, the recording medium ID and the remaining amount are transmitted to the management device 50. The management device 50 may manage the remaining amount in association with the recording medium ID. In this case, the remaining amount specifying means subtracts the used amount used for the first lending process and the consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount from the received money amount (that is, stored in the RAM of the control unit 21). The remaining amount not used for the ball lending process is associated with the recording medium ID of the recording medium and managed by the management device 50 (that is, can be specified from the recording medium ID read from the recording medium R / W102). As the remaining amount specifying process), when the discharge operation (the operation of the return button 16) is accepted, the recording medium ID and the remaining amount that is not used for the ball lending process stored in the RAM of the control unit 21 are used. The process which transmits the notification which contains to the management apparatus 50 is performed.

  (45) In the above embodiment, an example in which the membership card 4 is a non-contact type IC card and the visitor coin 5 is a non-contact type IC coin has been described. Information may be recorded by an integrated circuit of a type, magnetism, a two-dimensional code (for example, a barcode), a three-dimensional code, or optical interference (for example, a hologram). The shape of the membership card 4 is not limited to a card type, and may be a coin type. Furthermore, the shape of the visitor coin 5 is not limited to a coin type, and may be a card type.

  (46) In the above embodiment, the example in which the member card 4 is used as a member recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a mobile phone terminal on which an IC chip recording a recording medium ID is mounted is used. The member may be used as a recording medium for the member. In this case, the ball lending unit 20 or the checkout apparatus 60 is provided with a recording medium receiving means for receiving the mobile phone terminal close to it. In the above embodiment, the membership card 4 may not be used.

  (47) In the above embodiment, the membership card 4 that is an IC card and the visitor coin 5 that is an IC coin do not necessarily have a CPU, but may have a CPU.

  (48) In the above embodiment, an example in which the management remaining amount information (online remaining amount flag) is recorded only for the visitor coin 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first lending process is performed. On the condition that the management remaining amount of the member card 4 is not zero, the management card remaining amount information is recorded on the member card 4, and the first discharge processing for discharging without recording the management remaining amount is performed as a recording medium discharge processing means (control unit). 21).

  (49) In the above embodiment, the example in which the gaming machine is the pachinko machine 10 has been described. However, the gaming machine is not limited thereto, and the gaming machine uses, for example, a slot machine that uses medals as a gaming medium, and a pachinko ball as a gaming medium. Parot (registered trademark), which is a slot machine to be used, an enclosed pachinko machine in which pachinko balls (game media) are inaccessible, pachinko that can be played using score data without using pachinko balls or medals It may be a machine, a slot machine, an image-type pachinko machine in which game areas and pachinko balls are displayed as images, an image-type slot machine in which reels are displayed as images, and the like.

  (50) In the above embodiment, an example in which the lending process is the ball lending process has been described. In a pachinko machine or slot machine, the remaining amount may be converted into a score as a game medium and used for a game.

  (51) In the above embodiment, when the ball lending process is performed, the ball lending unit 20 and the pachinko machine 10 exchange signals related to the lending of the pachinko balls, and the pachinko machine 10 is provided with Although an example in which a pachinko ball is paid out and loaned from the given ball paying device 13 has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a ball paying device is provided in the ball lending unit 20 so that the pachinko ball is paid out and loaned. Also good.

  (52) In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the example in which the subtraction request includes the usage amount and the consumption tax amount and is transmitted to the management device 50 has been described. The consumption tax amount corresponding to the used amount may be calculated by the managing device 50, and in this case, the management device 50 may provide a ball rental unit. It is no longer necessary to distribute the consumption tax rate to 20. Further, when the management device 50 manages the unit usage amount in each ball rental unit 20 (for example, when the unit usage amount transmitted from each ball rental unit 20 is managed for each ball rental unit 20, When the unit usage amount is the same for all the ball lending units 20 and the unit usage amount is managed, the unit usage amount is set and managed by the management device 50, and the set unit usage amount is set for each ball rental unit. For example, in the case of distribution to 20, etc., it is only necessary to transmit to the management device 50 including only that the ball lending operation has been performed in the subtraction request.

  (53) In the above embodiment, for example, in the subtraction process shown in S125 of FIG. 8, the example in which the sum of the used amount + consumption tax amount is subtracted from the management residual amount has been described. The tax amount may be divided and subtracted from the management balance.

  (54) In the above embodiment, when the ball lending unit 20 performs the ball lending process for the used amount + consumption tax amount, the used amount + consumption tax amount (for example, 525 yen) is subtracted from the stored amount at a time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each time a ball lending process for several times is performed, 105 yen, which is a tax-included unit amount, is subtracted from the remaining amount of memory, and the subtraction is used amount + consumption tax amount (for example, (5 times) may be repeated. In this case, the display of the remaining amount on the remaining amount display 25 is also subtracted and updated by 105 yen, and the display of the remaining frequency on the remaining frequency display 14 is also subtracted and updated one by one. Is done.

  (55) In the above embodiment, for example, as shown in S191 to S192 of FIG. 12, the lowest position stored in the storage passage 131 immediately after the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holding unit 140 is discharged. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after the visitor coin 5 held by the storage coin holder 140 is discharged, money is accepted. Sometimes, the lowest-order visitor coin 5 stored in the storage passage 131 may be discharged and held in the storage coin holder 140.

  (56) In the above embodiment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 19, an example in which a recording medium on which an off-line fraction is recorded is discharged based on accepting a return operation has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a recording medium on which an off-line fractional amount is recorded may be discharged every time one lending is performed, without receiving a return operation.

  (57) In the above embodiment, as illustrated in Sa701 in FIG. 24, the example in which it is determined whether or not the offline fractional amount is less than the tax-included unit amount has been described. It may be determined whether or not is less than a predetermined amount (for example, 500 yen). The determination may be performed by the management device 50 instead of the settlement device 60. In this case, it is determined whether or not the offline fractional amount included in the settlement request is less than a predetermined amount. The management device 50 is provided with a fractional amount determining means for determining.

  (58) In the above embodiment, the example has been described in which the full amount of the amount for which payment is permitted is settled in the settlement device 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and accepts input of the settlement amount desired by the player. The desired settlement amount may be settled within the range of the amount permitted for settlement.

  (59) In the above embodiment, the example in which the added update process shown in S114 of FIG. 7 is a process of erasing the accepted monetary amount has been described. Processing to make the amount zero is also possible. When the received monetary amount is stored cumulatively without being erased or zeroed, the added update process may be a process of setting an added flag for the received monetary amount. Further, the example in which the added update process shown in S248 of FIG. 10 is a process of deleting the offline fractional amount has been described. . Further, when the offline fractional amount is accumulated or stored without being erased or zeroed, the added update process may be a process of setting an added flag for the offline fractional amount. The same applies to the deletion processing of the offline consumption amount and the offline payment amount in S247 and S247a of FIG.

  (60) In the above embodiment, for example, the subtraction completion notification illustrated in FIG. 8 does not include the management remaining amount, and the example in which the remaining amount is subtracted in the ball lending unit 20 has been described. The management balance may be included in the notification, and the management balance may be stored as a storage balance. In this case, when an offline state occurs, the ball lending unit 20 subtracts the remaining storage amount.

  (61) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, a start request is transmitted to the ball lending unit 20 from the management device 50 that has detected the return to the online state, and a start response according to the start request is sent. After being transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 to the management device 50, an online return notification is transmitted from the ball lending unit 20 to the management device 50 (that is, the ball lending unit 20 responds to a request from the management device 50). An example of transmitting an online return notification) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the online return from the ball lending unit 20 that has detected the return to the online state to the management device 50 without the exchange of the start request and the start response. Notification is transmitted (that is, the ball lending unit 20 voluntarily transmits an online return notification regardless of a request from the management device 50). Good. That is, if an online return notification is transmitted from the ball rental unit 20 to the management device 50 based on the return from the state in which the offline state is detected by the communication availability detection means (control unit 21) to the online state. good.

  (62) In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the ball lending unit 20 has described the example in which the processing of S603 and S604 is performed after receiving the start request. After the transmission, the processing of S603 and S604 may be performed.

  (63) In the above embodiment, the processing of S603 and S604 is performed as shown in FIG. 22 in order to handle the case where the recording medium is received and the case where the recording medium is returned to the online state (that is, in FIG. 22). The example of temporarily recording the storage fraction as an offline fraction on the recording medium has been described, but the processing of S603 and S604 may not be performed. In this case, the storage fraction is included in the online return notification of S606. The amount is included as an offline fractional amount, and the stored fractional amount is deleted in S244 of FIG.

  (64) In the above embodiment, an example in which the recording medium processing mechanism is provided in the ball lending unit 20 that performs the ball lending process using the remaining amount as a special process has been described, but the apparatus provided with the recording medium processing mechanism The type of is not limited to this.

  For example, a disc-shaped recording medium on which information capable of specifying the value of special processing value (remaining amount, remaining frequency, etc.) is used as information for performing special processing is used, and along with payment for purchase of goods and services Thus, the recording medium processing mechanism may be provided in a device that performs the processing for subtracting the value for the specific processing as a special processing. In this case, as in the above embodiment, if the remaining amount and the remaining frequency after the subtraction are not zero, the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. If the remaining amount or the remaining frequency becomes zero after the subtraction, the disc-shaped recording medium is collected and stored. When money is received, a new remaining amount or remaining frequency is given to the stored disk-shaped recording medium and discharged.

  In addition, a disc-shaped recording medium on which information that can specify the valid period is recorded is used as information for performing the special process, and a process for inquiring the valid period (for example, whether or not a one-day train ticket is valid) The recording medium processing mechanism may be provided in a device (for example, an automatic ticket checker) that performs the processing for inquiring of the information as a special processing. In this case, if it is determined that the query is within the valid period as a result of the inquiry, the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. If it is determined that the valid period has expired as a result of the inquiry, the disc-shaped recording medium is collected and stored. When money is received, a new effective period is given to the stored disk-shaped recording medium and discharged.

  In addition, a disc-shaped recording medium in which information for extracting predetermined data (for example, medical data, resident data, bank account deposit amount, etc.) is used as information for performing special processing is used, and processing for extracting the data is performed. An apparatus for performing special processing may be provided with the recording medium processing mechanism. In this case, when the data is processed, the input of the personal identification number is accepted, and it is determined whether or not the inputted personal identification number matches the personal identification number registered in association with the data. When the determination is made, the data is pulled out, and the disc-shaped recording medium is ejected and returned. On the other hand, if it is determined that they do not coincide with each other for a predetermined number of times, the data is not extracted and the disk-shaped recording medium is collected and stored. When new data is registered, information for extracting the data is recorded on the stored disk-shaped recording medium and discharged.

  (65) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the example in which the control unit 21 of the ball lending unit 20 and the control unit 101 of the passage unit 100 are separately provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one control unit having both the function of the control unit 21 and the function of the control unit 101 may be provided. The same applies to the settlement apparatus 60.

  (66) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the card insertion slot 190 is provided on the side of the coin discharge port 112, and the lower antenna 104 (second reading unit). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the card insertion slot 190 is provided on the side of the coin insertion slot 111. The upper antenna 103 (first reading unit) may be disposed between the inserted coin holding unit 120 (first holding unit) and the card holding unit 191. That is, the first reading unit or the second reading unit is disposed between the first holding unit or the second holding unit and the card holding unit 191, so that the disc-shaped recording medium (visitor coin 5) and the card-shaped recording medium are arranged. (Member card 4) may be used as long as it can read both recorded information. According to this, the first reading unit or the second reading unit is located between the first holding unit or the second holding unit and the card holding unit. Since the recording information of both the disk-shaped recording medium and the card-shaped recording medium is read, the reading unit corresponding to the card holding unit is compared with the case where the reading unit is provided separately from the first reading unit or the second reading unit. The space can be saved and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  (67) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the inclined portion 162 is provided in the communication passage 161 that is a part of the inserted coin discharge passage 160, and the inserted coin discharge passage 160 is connected to the storage discharge passage 130. Although the example of shifting in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and an inclined portion is provided in the storage / discharge passage 130 so that the storage / discharge passage 130 extends in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5 with respect to the inserted coin discharge passage 160. Alternatively, both the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the storage / discharge passage 130 may be provided with inclined portions so that both the inserted coin discharge passage 160 and the storage / discharge passage 130 are shifted from the center (for example, half each). Anyway. That is, by shifting a part or all of the inserted coin discharge passage 160 relative to the storage discharge passage 130 in the thickness direction of the visitor coin 5, the first guide passage 163 and the second guide passage 133 are overlapped to form a coin. What is necessary is just to be formed so that the discharge port 112 may be faced.

  (68) In the above embodiment, the off-line settlement information is a flag indicating whether or not settlement processing has been performed in the off-line state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the off-line settlement information may be the off-line settlement amount itself, or may be an amount obtained by subtracting the off-line settlement amount from a predetermined reference amount like the off-line consumption information.

  (69) In the above embodiment, as described in S192 to S193 in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, when the visitor coin 5 is supplied to the storage coin holding unit 140, the offline consumption recorded in the supplied visitor coin 5 is recorded. The information and the off-line settlement information are read out, included in the supply notification, transmitted to the management apparatus, and the management balance managed by the management apparatus 50 is subtracted and corrected. However, the timing of transmitting the offline consumption information and offline payment information to the management device and correcting the management balance is not limited to this, and the ball rental is performed after the visitor coin 5 is collected in the ball rental unit 20 or the payment device 60. Any timing may be used as long as the unit 20 is replenished and discharged (issued) according to the return operation. For example, it may be when the money is supplied to the stored coin holding unit 140 and then the money is received or when the discharging operation is received, or when the stored information is stored in the storage passage 131, the recorded information is read out. Also good. Further, in the embodiment, the ball lending unit 20 constitutes the issuing means for issuing the visitor coin 5, but is not limited to this, and is provided separately from the ball lending unit 20 and accepts money. Based on that, a deposit request including the coin ID of the stored visitor coin and the received monetary amount is transmitted to the management device, and the two are associated and stored in the remaining amount management DB of the management device. An issuing device for discharging (issuing) the visitor coin 5 may be used.

  (70) In the above embodiment, in the offline state, when money (1000 yen) is received in S510 of FIG. 15, the ball lending for the loan target amount specified according to the remaining memory amount and the stored fractional amount in S512 to S521. Processing (offline lending) is performed in S522. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when accepting money in the offline state, the accepted money amount is accumulated and added once as an offline deposit amount, and when a ball lending operation is accepted as shown in S531, S512 to S521. As shown in Fig. 4, the loan target amount, the new memory fraction amount and the remaining memory amount are identified from the offline deposit amount, the stored fractional amount and the remaining memory amount, and the ball lending process for the specified loaned amount is performed. May be. Moreover, you may make it use only a part instead of using the whole amount of the specified loan object amount for ball lending processing at once.

  (71) In the embodiment, the consumption tax rate is set in the center management device of the card company, the consumption tax rate is distributed to the management device 50 and the ball rental unit 20 of the game hall, and the ball rental unit 20 is set to the consumption tax rate. Based on this, the consumption tax amount corresponding to the loan usage amount is calculated (for example, if the loan usage amount is 500 yen, the calculation formula is 100 yen × 5% × 5 = 25 yen or 500 yen × 5% = 25 yen) As a result of calculation, the loan usage amount + consumption tax amount (for example, 500 yen + 25 yen = 525 yen) was subtracted from the storage remaining amount and the management remaining amount of the management apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A consumption tax amount corresponding to each loan usage amount is calculated in advance, and a table (for example, one count (100) that is to be subtracted according to each loan usage amount) is associated. Yen) → 105 Yen, 2 degrees → 210 Yen, 3 degrees → 315 Yen, 4 degrees → 420 Yen, 5 degrees → 525 Yen)) is created and stored, and this table is used. For example, if the loan usage amount is 400 yen, 420 yen may be specified and the subtraction may be performed. In this case, such a table may be created by the ball lending unit, or may be created by the center management device or the management device 50 and distributed to the ball lending unit 20. Also, instead of the tax rate, a tax-included unit amount (105 yen), which is the sum of the unit consumption amount (100 yen) and the corresponding consumption tax amount (5 yen), is set by the center management device or the management device 50, In this case, the tax-included unit amount is multiplied by an integer corresponding to the loan usage amount (for example, if the loan usage amount is 400 yen (four times), 105 yen x 4 = 420 yen) The amount may be specified to be subtracted from the remaining storage amount or the remaining management amount.

  (72) Moreover, in the management apparatus 50 of an Example, as shown to FIGS. 9-13, 22-25, when receiving the insertion notification, the supply notification, and the online return notification from the ball lending unit 20, or from the settlement apparatus 60 When a settlement request is received (hereinafter referred to as insertion notification, supply notification, online return notification and settlement request collectively as insertion notification, etc.), the offline fractional amount included in the insertion notification etc. is added to the management balance or offline consumption Without subtracting the offline consumption amount specified from the information and the offline adjustment amount specified from the offline settlement information from the management balance (hereinafter, the offline fraction amount, offline consumption amount and offline settlement amount are combined into the offline fraction amount, etc.) Temporarily stored in association with the recording medium ID, and then a fractional amount erasure notification, consumption information erasure notification, and Addition / subtraction to management balances such as off-line fractional amounts based on receipt of settlement settlement information reception notifications (hereinafter referred to as fractional deletion elimination notification, consumption information elimination notification and settlement authorization information reception notification together) In addition, the offline fractional amount once stored and the like are to be deleted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When an insertion notification is received, addition / subtraction is performed on the management balance such as the offline fractional amount, and the offline fractional amount is stored in association with the recording medium ID, and then the fractional number. Based on the receipt of the amount deletion notification or the like, only the stored offline fractional amount or the like may be deleted. In this case, in the sequence number matching process in S207, 208 and 208a of FIG. 9, in addition to the process of deleting the stored offline fraction etc., the process of adding the offline consumption amount and the offline settlement amount to the management balance And a process of subtracting the off-line fractional amount. In addition, in the serial number mismatch processing in S264, S264a, and S265 of FIG. 11, the offline storage is stored without performing the offline consumption amount or offline settlement amount subtraction processing from the management balance and the offline fractional amount addition processing. Only erasure of fractional amounts is performed.

  Finally, “prior art”, “problems to be solved by the invention”, and “effects of the invention” corresponding to the invention described in the above embodiment will be described.

  First, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-190577, the card ID and the remaining amount are recorded on the card, and when the offline state is detected, the remaining amount recorded for the card that has already been accepted is recorded. Use it to lend a ball, the card is discharged, the online gaming device accepts the discharged card, and the remaining amount recorded on the received card is less than the management remaining amount managed by the management device If the recorded balance is equal to or less than the management balance, the use of the card is permitted and the management balance of the management device is updated.

  However, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-190577, it is necessary to provide the management device with a function for comparing and collating the remaining amount in order to allow ball lending in an offline state. Therefore, in the invention described in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to compare and collate the remaining amount, and the function of subtracting the management remaining amount originally provided is used offline from the management remaining amount as described in S247. By subtracting the offline consumption amount, it is possible to deal with ball lending in the offline state.

  In the system shown in Patent Document 3, when the card unit (corresponding to the game device of the present application) accepts money while the membership card (corresponding to the recording medium of the present application) is inserted, the received money amount is less than the remaining amount. The game medium is then lent by the player's ball lending operation.

  However, in the system as shown in Patent Document 3 described above, even when the gaming device accepts a money less than a predetermined amount during insertion of the recording medium (for example, a low money such as a 500 yen coin or a 100 yen coin) The received monetary amount is added to the remaining amount, and then the game media for the standard loan amount (for example, 525 yen if indirect tax is included, 500 yen if indirect tax is not included) is loaned by the player's ball lending operation Will be. As a result, it takes time from the receipt of money to the lending of game media, which hinders a smooth game, which is inconvenient for the player, and causes a problem of a decrease in operation for the game hall.

  Therefore, in the invention described in the above embodiment, when money with an amount less than a predetermined amount (1000 yen) is received, if the management balance is equal to or greater than the consumption tax amount corresponding to the received money amount, Without a player's operation, if a pachinko ball equivalent to the received money amount + the corresponding consumption tax amount is loaned, or if the sum of the received money amount and the management remaining amount is equal to or greater than the reference loan amount, the player's operation will not The game media for the reference loan amount is loaned. This eliminates the need for player operation, which can reduce the time from receipt of money to lending of pachinko balls, facilitating smooth games and improving the convenience of the player, Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the operation of the gaming machine.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-325953 (FIGS. 9 and 10, paragraphs 0135 and 0174) is shown as a first prior art. As shown in the first prior art, the card unit management device (corresponding to the management device of the present application) and the card unit (corresponding to the communication impossible state of the present application) in the offline state (corresponding to the gaming device of the present application). Even if it accepts the insertion of a membership card (corresponding to the recording medium of the present application) and accepts the insertion of money, the amount of money is added and updated to the balance of the membership card, and the balance is used to lend balls (this application) A system in which the second lending process is performed) is also known.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-34815 (FIG. 1, paragraphs 0028 and 0039) is shown as a second prior art. As shown in the second prior art, a card storage unit is provided between the gaming machine tables and stores cards (corresponding to the recording medium of the present application). And a card issuing device for storing the card in a card storage unit when the remaining amount of the card received from the outside becomes zero and is not used continuously.

  However, in the complete ID management system as shown in Patent Document 1 above, in order to ensure the operation of the gaming machine, as shown in the first prior art, money is received by a gaming device that is in a communication impossible state. The lending process (one-time lending) is possible, and only in the state where the communication is impossible, the remaining payment amount (offline fractional amount) obtained by subtracting the used amount used for the lending process from the received money amount is recorded on the recording medium. When the deposit amount is discharged, the recording medium in which the deposit amount is recorded is inserted (accepted) into a gaming device in a state where communication is impossible and the loan processing is performed, so that the deposit amount becomes zero. If the recording medium is uniformly collected as shown in the second prior art, the player will lose if there is a management balance that is managed by the management device. Uniform recording media When you exit, there is a problem that supposed to be useless return to do not need a recording medium to return the original there is no management balance.

  Therefore, in the invention described in the above embodiment, as a result of accepting money and performing a lending process (one-time lending) in the ball lending unit 20 in an offline state, a deposit balance (offline fractional amount) occurs. When the deposit remaining amount becomes zero as a result of performing the lending process using the deposit remaining amount, the visitor coin 5 is discharged on condition that the online remaining amount flag is recorded in the visitor coin 5. I am doing so. According to this, while the visitor coin 5 with the management remaining amount can be surely returned to the player, it is possible to prevent wasteful return of the visitor coin 5 that does not have the management remaining amount and does not need to be returned.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-148683 (FIG. 5, paragraphs 0045 and 0046) is shown as a third prior art. As shown in the third prior art, in a system for transferring data between a plurality of computers, when transmitting a processing request from a transmitting computer, 1 is added to the serial number of the information storage area, and the serial number is Is transmitted to the receiving computer, the receiving computer executes the processing according to the processing request, registers the serial number included in the processing request, and returns the processing result to the transmitting computer. ing. Here, if the processing result is not received due to a communication error or the like, the transmitting computer transmits a confirmation request including a serial number to the receiving computer, and the serial number included in the confirmation request is registered in the receiving computer. If it is greater than the serial number, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred before the completion of processing.

  However, in the system shown in Patent Document 1, a cooperation process request (for example, subtraction of the remaining frequency) that requests a cooperation process (for example, subtraction of the remaining frequency) corresponding to a specific process (for example, a ball lending process) on the gaming apparatus side. If the gaming device and the management device go offline before the management device receives the subtraction request), the management device side performs the cooperation process even though the specific processing is performed on the gaming device side. Inconsistency occurs due to the fact that no processing is performed. Here, when the technique of the third prior art is applied to the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the gaming device and the management device return to the online state, an information storage area is sent from the gaming device to the management device. If the confirmation request including the serial number is transmitted and it is determined that the serial number included in the confirmation request is smaller than the registered serial number, the management device side specifies that the cooperation processing is not performed and takes action However, until the gaming device and the management device return to the online state, when the offline state has occurred, the management device has not performed the specific process on the gaming device. Regardless, because the management device could not identify that the linkage processing was not performed, there was a problem that it was impossible to deal with the fact that the linkage processing was not performed until the management device returned to the online state. .

  Therefore, in the invention described in the above embodiment, a serial number updated in accordance with the specific process in the gaming device is recorded on the recording medium. According to this, without waiting for the gaming device in which the offline state has occurred to return to the online state, the recording medium ejected from the gaming device can be received by other gaming devices in the online state, Although the serial number recorded on the recording medium and the serial number managed by the management device in association with the recording medium identification information of the recording medium, the specific processing is performed in the gaming device due to the occurrence of an offline state. First, it is possible to identify and cope with the fact that the cooperative processing corresponding to the specific processing is not performed in the management apparatus.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a gaming system according to the present invention. 2A is a front view showing an example of a ball lending unit and a pachinko machine, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional left side view of the ball lending unit, and FIG. 2C is an XX line enlarged view. FIG. 2D is a sectional plan view, and FIG. 2D is a functional block diagram of the passage unit. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional left side view schematically showing a passage unit provided in the ball lending unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a passage unit provided in the ball lending unit. FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating an example of a settlement apparatus, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents of a display provided in the settlement apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a DB stored in each device in the gaming system according to the first embodiment. (A) is a remaining amount management DB and setting value DB of the management device, and (b) is a settlement device. (B) is a member card or IC coin recording area. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when money is received in the ball lending unit that is online with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is accepted in the ball lending unit that is online with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the ball rental unit that is online with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram following FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a diagram subsequent to FIG. 9, illustrating an example of processing when the serial numbers do not match. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is accepted in the ball rental unit that is online with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the ball rental unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the ball lending unit that is offline with the management device in the first embodiment, and when money is received. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a ball lending operation is received in the ball lending unit in an offline state with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a process when a return operation is accepted in the ball rental unit that is offline with the management device in the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a second diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is received in the management device and the ball lending unit in an offline state according to the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a third diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return operation is received in the management device and the ball lending unit that is offline with the first embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where money is received in the ball lending unit that is in an offline state before receiving the scheduled remaining amount notification in the first embodiment. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in the case where money is received in a ball lending unit that has been in an offline state after transmission of a fractional amount erasure notification in the first embodiment. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a return to an online state with a ball rental unit is detected in the first embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing performed when a recording medium is received in the payment apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 25 is a diagram following FIG. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a settlement operation is accepted and a return operation is accepted in the settlement apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the occurrence of an offline state is detected in the settlement apparatus in the first embodiment. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a recording medium is received in the payment apparatus that is online with the management apparatus in the first embodiment, when a payment operation is received, and when a return operation is received. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when the return to the online state with the settlement apparatus is detected in the first embodiment. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a first method for specifying the offline usage amount used for the ball lending by the management device when an offline state with the management device occurs in the ball lending unit. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a second method for specifying the offline usage amount used for the ball lending by the management device when an offline state with the management device occurs in the ball lending unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a third method for specifying the offline usage amount used for the ball lending by the management device when an offline state with the management device occurs in the ball lending unit. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a fourth method for specifying the offline usage amount used for ball lending by the management device when an offline state with the management device occurs in the ball lending unit.

Explanation of symbols

  1 gaming system, 2 banknotes, 3 coins, 4 membership cards, 5 visitor coins, 10 pachinko machines, 20 ball lending units, 21 control units, 21b external communication units, 22 banknote identification machines, 23 coin identification machines, 50 management devices, 51 Communication Unit, 52 Control Unit, 53 Display, 54 Input Device, 55 Hard Disk, 60 Settlement Device, 62 Control Unit, 80 Center Management Device, 100 Passage Unit, 102 Recording Medium R / W, 103 Upper Antenna, 104 Lower Antenna, 111 Coin Insertion Port, 112 Coin Discharge Port, 114 Supply Passage, 120 Insertion Coin Holding Portion, 130 Storage Discharge Passage, 131 Storage Passage, 132 Discharge Passage, 133 Second Guidance Passage, 140 Storage Coin Holding Portion, 150 First Cover Member , 150 'second cover member, 160 inserted coins Passage 161 communicating passage, 163 the first induction passage, 190 the card insertion slot, 191 card holder.

Claims (8)

A management apparatus that manages the remaining amount used for lending game media in association with recording medium identification information for individually identifying the recording medium, and a management apparatus that associates the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium with the management apparatus A gaming apparatus provided corresponding to a gaming machine having a lending processing means for lending the gaming medium using a management remaining amount, which is a remaining amount managed in a manner, and issuing the recording medium A game system comprising issuing means,
The gaming device further includes:
A management balance acquisition means for acquiring a management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device;
A balance storage means for storing the management balance acquired by the management balance acquisition means;
A remaining amount updating means for updating the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing means to a remaining amount obtained by subtracting a loan usage amount used for the lending processing by the lending processing unit;
Comprising communication enable / disable detecting means for detecting whether the management apparatus can communicate with or cannot communicate with the management apparatus;
The lending processing unit performs the lending process using the remaining amount on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing unit is not 0 when the communication impossible state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Do,
The gaming device further includes:
Consumption information specifying means for specifying offline consumption information that can specify offline consumption amount that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state;
Consumption information recording means for recording the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying means on the recording medium;
Recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording means, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means is not 0;
A recording medium collecting unit for collecting the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording unit, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit is 0;
The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium are received based on the fact that the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. And consumption information transmitting means for transmitting to the management device,
The issuing means includes an offline consumption information transmitting means for transmitting the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collecting means to the management device, and the offline consumption information transmission. Offline consumption information erasure means for erasing the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium on condition that the offline consumption information is transmitted by means, and the offline consumption information erasure means erases the offline consumption information Issuing the recording medium;
The management device, the offline consumption amount specified from the offline consumption information, the management remaining amount managed in association with the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmission unit or the offline consumption information transmission unit A game system characterized by updating to a subtracted amount. The recording medium collecting means further collects a recording medium having a management balance of 0 when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detecting means,
The issuing means further includes:
Comprising offline consumption information determination means for determining whether or not the offline consumption information is recorded on the recording medium recovered by the recording medium recovery means;
The offline consumption information transmitting means transmits the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information on condition that the offline consumption information determination means determines that the offline consumption information is recorded. The game system according to claim 1. The issuing means supplies the next recording medium to the reading unit for reading the recording information of the recording medium in response to the issuance of the recording medium,
When the next recording medium is supplied to the reading unit, the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the supplied recording medium are read and transmitted by the offline consumption information transmitting means. The gaming system according to claim 1 or 2. The management device and the game device may be offline lending times, which is the number of times lending processing is performed using the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication impossible state, or a criterion relating to the offline consumption amount Remember the value,
The consumption information recording means records a numerical value obtained by subtracting the offline loan count or the offline consumption amount from the reference value as the offline consumption information,
The management device specifies the offline consumption amount based on a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the offline consumption information received from the consumption information transmission unit from the reference value, and updates the management remaining amount. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The reference value is different for each gaming device,
The management device stores the reference value in association with gaming device identification information for individually identifying the gaming device,
The off-line consumption amount is specified based on the reference value stored in association with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmitting means. The gaming system according to claim 4. The management device and the gaming device store different reference values according to each time,
The consumption information recording means records time specifying information capable of specifying a time and the offline consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to the time,
The consumption information transmitting means further transmits the time specifying information recorded in the received recording medium;
The game according to claim 4, wherein the management device specifies an offline consumption amount based on the reference value corresponding to a time specified from the time specifying information received from the consumption information transmitting unit. System. The management device and the gaming device store different reference values according to each time,
The consumption information recording means records the offline consumption information based on a reference value corresponding to a time when the communication availability detecting means detects that the communication is impossible.
The management device further includes:
A communication inability detecting means for detecting a state in which communication with the gaming apparatus is not possible;
An incommunicable device storage means for storing in correspondence with the time when it is detected that the incommunicable detection means cannot communicate with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device in a state in which communication is impossible.
The management device specifies the time stored in the incommunicable device storage unit in correspondence with the gaming device identification information of the gaming device that has ejected the recording medium of the recording medium identification information received from the consumption information transmission unit. 5. The gaming system according to claim 4, wherein an offline consumption amount is specified based on the reference value corresponding to the specified time. It is managed in association with the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium by a management device that manages the remaining amount used for lending game media in association with the recording medium identification information for individually identifying the recording medium A gaming device provided with a lending processing means for performing lending processing for lending the gaming medium using a management remaining amount that is a remaining amount,
A management balance acquisition means for acquiring a management balance corresponding to the recording medium identification information of the received recording medium from the management device;
A balance storage means for storing the management balance acquired by the management balance acquisition means;
A remaining amount updating means for updating the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing means to a remaining amount obtained by subtracting a loan usage amount used for the lending process by the lending processing unit;
Comprising communication enable / disable detecting means for detecting whether the management apparatus can communicate with or cannot communicate with the management apparatus;
The lending processing unit performs the lending process using the remaining amount on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storing unit is not 0 when the communication impossible state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Do,
Consumption information specifying means for specifying offline consumption information that can specify offline consumption amount that is used for the lending process from the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means in the communication disabled state;
Consumption information recording means for recording the offline consumption information specified by the consumption information specifying means on the recording medium;
Recording medium discharging means for discharging the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording means, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage means is not 0;
A recording medium collecting unit for collecting the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded by the consumption information recording unit, on condition that the remaining amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit is 0;
The recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information of the recording medium are received based on the fact that the recording medium on which the offline consumption information is recorded when the communicable state is detected by the communication availability detecting unit. Consumption information transmitting means for transmitting to the management device;
Issuing means for issuing the recording medium;
The issuing means manages the recording medium identification information and the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium collected by the recording medium collecting means in association with the recording medium identification information by the management device. In order to update the management remaining amount to an amount obtained by subtracting the amount of offline consumption specified from the offline consumption information, offline consumption information transmitting means for transmitting to the management device, and the offline consumption information by the offline consumption information transmitting means An offline consumption information erasing unit for erasing the offline consumption information recorded on the recording medium on the condition that the offline consumption information is erased by the offline consumption information erasing unit A gaming device characterized by that.

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