JP4868441B2 - Game media transaction processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium transaction system which has a game medium deposit function and executes a game medium deposit process when a user is authenticated as a registered member, and more specifically, a game medium deposit process. At the time, even if the user's member authentication fails after the game media is inserted, the game media transaction processing that allows the system to be used by other members to continue the transaction processing by avoiding the system down due to the removal of the inserted game media. About the system.

  As an example of an automatic transaction apparatus that executes processing of the selected transaction based on a user's transaction selection operation, for example, a game medium installed in a game store such as a game center and used for a game on a gaming machine is deposited A game medium depositing / dispensing machine that performs processing such as paying out or paying out is known.

As an example of this type of game medium depositing machine, the following Patent Document 1 discloses the identification of a person's code number and palmprint when depositing and dispensing coins (game center coins) used in a game machine of a game center. A game center coin depositing device that deposits and pays out predetermined coins by using data that optically captures the above characteristics is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-171240

  In a conventional game medium deposit / withdrawal device represented by a coin depositing device described in Patent Document 1, when a coin (= medal) is deposited, a medal is inserted from an insertion slot, and an opening / closing mechanism such as a shutter is provided at the insertion slot. It is not equipped and the slot is always open, allowing medal insertion at any time.

  In a game medium deposit / withdrawal device having such a medal insertion mechanism, a player who is not registered as a member may also insert a medal, but since the member is not registered, an authentication error occurs in member authentication, Medals are not counted.

  Also, even if a member inserts a medal before performing member authentication, and then performs member authentication, member authentication may fail (code number input error or palm print reading error). Etc.).

  In this case as well, when medals are inserted by non-members, medals that have already been inserted are not counted. Therefore, it is necessary to call a store clerk, take out all medals from the hopper, and pay them back by hand.

  For this reason, the clerk is forced to carry out troublesome medal refund work, and until the processing for medal refund is completed, the game medium deposit / withdrawal device becomes unusable and cannot be used by other members. There was a problem of inconvenience.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, avoids a system down due to the inserted game medium removal work even when the user's member authentication fails after the game medium is inserted in the game medium deposit processing, It is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium transaction processing system capable of continuing the use of transaction processing by members and improving the efficiency of store operations.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of game media inserted into the receiving unit is counted by the game media counting means, and the member identification information obtained from the user who has inserted the game media is included in the member identification information. based on if the membership authentication is successful, adds the number of game media that are the regimen number deposit number corresponding to the member identification information of the user, the game media transaction processing system having a game media deposit processing function of updating, the game At the time of using the medium deposit processing, the member authentication means for performing the member authentication by comparing the member authentication information acquired from the user with the member information managed by the member database, and the member authentication by the member authentication means has failed. If the check whether the game medium is present in the receiving portion, when the game medium is present in said receiving unit, said game medium counter hand the recreation medium And counting control means for performing a counting process for counting by the information capable of specifying the results of the counting process by the counting control means, issued counting already recording medium issuing a recording medium printed result indicating that membership authentication fails Means.

The invention according to claim 2 comprises the analyzing means for analyzing the cause of the member authentication failure in the invention according to claim 1, wherein the counted recording medium issuing means is the member analyzed by the analyzing means. The recording medium on which information specifying the cause of the authentication failure is printed is issued.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the counted recording medium issuing means includes means for generating a machine-readable code in which information capable of specifying a count value of the game medium is recorded. And issuing the recording medium on which the machine-readable code is printed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, comprising a communication connection with a management apparatus having the member database for managing member information including the number of deposits, When issuing a recording medium, the information processing apparatus includes a notification unit that notifies the management apparatus of information related to the abnormal transaction for which member authentication has failed.

  According to the present invention, when using the game medium deposit processing, when member authentication fails, if there is a game medium that has been inserted, the game medium is counted, and the count value of the game medium can be specified. Since the counted recording medium is printed, the system side takes out the action based on the information printed on the issued counted recording medium, so that the system side can take out the already-entered game medium. Therefore, even after issuing the counted recording medium, it is possible to continue accepting game medium transaction processing by other members, and efficient store management can be performed.

  In addition, since the information that can specify the game medium count value is printed on the counted recording medium, the store clerk who receives the counted recording medium has a member database based on the game medium count value on the counted recording medium. It becomes possible to easily and quickly respond to update processing and the like.

  Further, in the present invention, in order to issue a counted recording medium on which information specifying the cause of the member authentication failure is printed, the store clerk who has been given the counted recording medium can The cause of the member authentication failure can be easily identified from the information for identifying the cause, and it is possible to quickly cope with error recovery and subsequent member database update processing.

  Further, in the present invention, a machine-readable code in which information capable of specifying the count value of the game medium is recorded is generated, and the counted recording medium is issued to issue the counted recording medium on which the machine-readable code is printed. The store clerk reads the machine-readable code on the counted recording medium with a machine-readable code reader and outputs (displays) the information so that the game medium count value and the like can be easily checked and the subsequent response work can be performed. Become.

  In addition, the present invention has a notification means for notifying the management apparatus of information relating to the abnormal transaction for which the member authentication has failed when issuing the counted recording medium. By accessing the management device based on the information printed on the counted recording medium, it becomes possible to easily confirm the transaction contents of the abnormal transaction related to the authenticated recording medium.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a medal deposit / withdrawal system according to the present invention.

  This system performs transaction processing such as renting, depositing, and paying out game media (medals) used for medal games in gaming machines (medal game machines 70) installed in game stores such as game centers, As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a management device 10 installed in an office of the game store and a medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 installed on a game floor together with a medal game machine 70 and the like are connected to a local area network (LAN). ) And the like via a transmission line 50 such that they can communicate with each other.

  The management device 10 is a controller that controls and controls the entire gaming system including the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 and the medal game machine 70 installed on the gaming floor. For example, as shown in FIG. (Hereinafter referred to as a main control unit), a storage device 12 such as a hard disk, a memory 13 for storing various information such as operation programs, an input device 14 such as a mouse and a keyboard, a display device 15 such as a CRT, a medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 and a medal A personal computer (personal computer) including a communication interface (I / F) unit 16 that communicates with a managed device such as a game machine 70 via the transmission path 50 (various information transmission / reception) and a printing device 17 that prints out various information Computer) and other information processing terminals.

  The main control unit 11 has a control function for executing the transaction processing such as medal lending, depositing and paying out in cooperation with the medal depositing / dispensing apparatus 20.

  In addition, the memory 13 includes a member management table 131 for managing information on players (members) who have previously applied for membership. The data contents of the member management table 131 (see FIG. 9), the operation method, etc. will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 uses a membership card handed over to the player (new member) after the membership registration procedure in the management device 10 to use the medal game machine 70 to play the medal used by the player. This is a device that performs transaction processing such as lending and depositing medals acquired by a player through a game on the medal game machine 70 and paying out medals within the range of the number of medals deposited, and is realized by the configuration shown in FIGS. The

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a front external structure of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 is attached to the front surface of the main body 201 and a main body 201 formed of a hollow box-shaped housing, and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 201. A door body 202 is provided.

  The door body 202 includes a lock mechanism 209, and can be locked in a state where the front opening of the main body 201 is closed using a key that is compatible with the lock mechanism 209. In addition, the door body 202 can be locked using the key from the locked state. The mechanism 209 is unlocked so that the front opening of the main body 201 can be opened.

  On the front surface of the door body 202, an authentication unit 203 serving as an imaging window of the authentication camera 21 described later, a transaction process selection screen 221 for a player (member) to select transaction processes such as medal lending, depositing and paying out ( An operation / display unit 22 having a display function for displaying various operation screens on the panel (liquid crystal panel) and an operation (input) function for inputting various commands by touching the panel, which will be described later. A card insertion / discharge port 204 for inserting and discharging a membership card processed by the card processing unit 23, a money deposit / withdrawal port for depositing / dispensing money processed by the money deposit / withdrawal processing unit 24 (to be described later) when lending a medal. 205, a receipt issuing port 206 for discharging a receipt printed by a journal printer 25, which will be described later, and a medal for the number of lending requests issued when the medal lending process is completed. Medals outlet 207 gaming customers discharged possible taken out, medal slot 208 to inject the medal is provided in deposit medals won in the game in the gaming machine 70.

  In addition, on the back side of the door body 202, corresponding to the authentication unit 203, the card insertion / ejection port 204, the receipt issuing port 206, and the lock mechanism 209 provided on the front surface, respectively, each is constituted by a small CCD camera, The authentication camera 21 that acquires the face image information of the player by capturing the face of the user who uses the device through the authentication unit 203, the member card is received through the card insertion / discharge port 204, and the member number (ID) is read. A card processing unit 23 that performs the card processing, a journal printer 25 that prints a transaction content and a totaling result on a recording medium (roll paper or the like), receives it, and discharges it from the receipt issuing port 206, and a lock mechanism 209 of the door 202. A door open / close detection sensor 26 (see FIG. 5: not shown in FIG. 3) is provided for detecting unlocking.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the internal structure of the main body 201 when the door body 202 is opened in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the main body 201 of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20, the money inserted by the player through the money deposit / withdrawal port 205 shown in FIG. The deposit / withdrawal processing unit 24, a medal depositing unit (hereinafter referred to as deposit hopper) 27 that accepts medals inserted into the medal slot 208 for a player to deposit and counts the number of medals, and stores medals sent from the deposit hopper 27 after counting. The medal storage unit 28 as a lower tank to be stored (reserved), medal cleaning for cleaning the medals sent from the medal storage unit 28 at a predetermined timing (in balance with the number of stored tanks in the lower tank and the upper tank (medal payout unit 31 described later)) Unit 29, a medal transport lift 30 that lifts (lifts) the cleaned medal to a medal payout unit 31 (upper tank) described later, and medal transport riff A medal paying unit (hereinafter referred to as a payout hopper) 31 that receives the medals lifted by 30 and throws the medals into the medal outlet 207 through a predetermined throwing effect (paid to the player), which will be described later. Control which communicates with each apparatus in networks, such as the management apparatus 10, via the transmission line 50 by the communication interface (I / F) part 32 (refer FIG. 5), and performs medal depositing, paying-out whole processing, and staff setting / counting processing A functional circuit section as a personal computer and a control circuit that functions as a central processing unit (CPU) that communicates with the control personal computer and performs communication control with the hopper mechanical drive control and the money deposit / withdrawal processing section 24. A substrate 33 and a power supply device 34 (see FIG. 5) for supplying power to the device are provided.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a connection relationship between the above components in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 includes an authentication camera 21, an operation / display unit 22, a card processing unit 23, a money deposit / withdrawal processing unit 24, a journal printer 25, a door open / close detection sensor 26, a deposit hopper 27, The above-described components such as the medal storage unit 28, the medal cleaning unit 29, the medal transport lift 30, the payout hopper 31, the communication I / F unit 32, the power supply device 34, and the like are controlled by a control unit (corresponding to the control board 33 in FIG. Hereinafter, the reference numeral 330 is attached).

  The control unit 330 controls each control process related to each transaction process such as medal lending, medal deposit, and medal payout selected by driving the corresponding unit based on the transaction process selection operation on the operation / display unit 22. Perform in cooperation with the device 10.

  In particular, the following drive control is performed on the mechanical parts such as the deposit hopper 27, the medal transport lift 30, the payout hopper 31, and the like.

  For example, at the time of depositing medals, the control unit 330 accepts medals inserted for deposit by the player by the depositing hopper 27 and counts the number of the medals by a counting means (not shown), and then stores them in the medal accommodating unit 28. To control.

  Thereafter, the medal is sent from the medal storage unit 28 to the medal washing unit 29 at a predetermined timing in accordance with the number of medals stored in the tank (upper tank) in the payout hopper 31 and the hopper unit, and the medal is washed. Subsequently, the medals after the cleaning are controlled to be transported to the tank of the payout hopper 31 by the medal transport lift 30 and further fed into the hopper portion by a predetermined number and stored.

  Then, at the time of medal payout processing or at the time of medal lending processing, the number of medals paid out from the payout hopper 31 or requested to be lent out are paid out and thrown out to the medal removal port 207. At that time, if the number of medals stored in the upper tank becomes insufficient, the amount is replenished and fed.

  It should be noted that, during the medal payout or medal lending process, the control unit 330 can perform any effect that clearly recognizes that the medal is being thrown out to the user (for example, while rotating the table on which the medal is placed, And the like, and the medal is transported to the medal outlet 207), and the medal is thrown out.

  The control unit 330 is provided with a counted receipt issue control unit 331 and a memory unit 333.

  The counted receipt issuing control unit 331 instructs the journal printer 25 to print a counted receipt 255 (refer to FIG. 16: equivalent to the counted recording medium in the claims), which will be described later, and ejects it from the receipt issuing port 206 ( Issue).

  The memory unit 333 stores various information such as a medal count value printed on the counted receipt 251, a transaction date and time, and an error code.

  In order to use each of the medal lending, medal depositing, and medal paying transaction processing in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 having the above-described configuration, the player needs to perform a procedure for registering as a member of the game store in advance. is there.

  As a procedure for this member registration, first, a player who wishes to register as a member registers in the member application form predetermined items such as the person's name, address, date of birth, gender, telephone number and desired user ID. After filling in, hand over the member application form to the store clerk.

  When the clerk receives the membership application form from the player (applicant), the manager 10 uses the management device 10 to look at the contents of the membership application form and determine the required items (eg, name, address, telephone number) as membership information. , The user ID) is input from the input device 14 and stored in a predetermined card ID (member ID) area of the member management table 131 built in the memory 13 in advance (the user is preliminarily registered as a member) The member card in which the card ID is stored is handed to the player (member).

  The player who has received the membership card then uses his / her medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 to photograph his / her face with the authentication camera 21 using the membership card (or the user ID declared in the membership application form). Is registered in association with the member information on the member management table 131, and the member registration is completed.

  Member registration processing using the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a standby screen in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20, in the standby state, a “medal deposit” button 22a, a “new medal deposit” button 22b, a “medal payout” button 22c, Transactions having each button of the “medal lending” button 22d as an input instruction tool and having a message “Please select a desired transaction process” prompting the user to select a desired transaction process using these buttons A process selection screen 221 is displayed.

  A player (applicant) who has received a member card after submitting a member application form and having registered predetermined information as member information on the member management table 131 is being displayed on the operation / display unit 22 as a standby screen. By pressing (touching) the “new medal deposit” button 22b on the transaction process selection screen 221, the new enrollment process including the association of the face data can be started.

  FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing a sequence of new membership processing in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  In FIG. 7, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 (control unit 330) monitors the process selection status by touching each button 22 (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) on the displayed standby screen (step S101). If it is recognized that the “new medal deposit” button 22b is pressed during the monitoring (the new deposit button is pressed in step S101), a process for prohibiting the deposit is performed (step S102).

  Next, it is checked whether or not there has been payment within the period until the payment prohibition state is finished (step S103). If there is payment (NO in step S103), the process proceeds to a medal lending process described later. To do.

  If it is determined that no payment has been made (YES in step S103), the process shifts to a membership card insertion waiting state, and in this state, it is checked whether a card (member card) has been inserted, a skip operation has been performed, or a cancellation operation has been performed. (Step S104).

  Here, if a cancel operation is performed (cancel in step S104), the effect of cancel is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S111), and then it is checked whether there is a card (step S112). If there is a card (YES in step S112), the card is ejected (step S113), and then the standby screen display state is restored. If there is no card (step S112 NO), the standby screen display state is restored.

  Further, when a skip operation is performed in the card insertion waiting state (skip in step S104), the control unit 330 displays a screen for prompting the user name input on the operation / display unit 22 (step S131). The input waiting state is maintained until the input is completed (step S132).

  During this time, when the user name is input, the control unit 330 makes an inquiry to the management apparatus 10 to perform a search process for the user name corresponding to the input user ID (step S133), and receives the search result. It is checked whether or not the user name is registered in the member management table 131 (step S134). If the user name is not registered (invalid in step S134), the process returns to step S131 and the user name is restored. The acquisition process is continued, and if the user name is registered (valid at step S334), the process proceeds to step S135 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

  In step S135 in FIG. 8, the control unit 330 activates the authentication camera 21 and images the user's face through the authentication unit 203, and cuts out the face portion from the image information output from the authentication camera 21 by the imaging. The face photographing screen including the face data obtained in this way is displayed on the operation / display unit 22.

  Next, a shooting screen confirmation operation is waited (step S136). If there is a confirmation OK instruction (OK in step S136), the cut-out face data is sent to the management apparatus 10 together with the user ID, and the member management table In 131, the face data is registered in the face image area corresponding to the user ID (step S137).

  Thereafter, the management apparatus 10 waits for a notification of the result of the registration process and receives registration OK to confirm normal registration end (normal end in step S138). The member registration certificate is printed by the journal printer 25 and discharged. (Step S139) and a screen for notifying the completion of registration is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (Step S140), and then returns to the standby state through Steps S112 and S113 of FIG. The membership registration certificate issued in step S139 is a certificate indicating that the registration process has been completed normally.

  Also, if registration does not end normally by receiving registration NG from the management apparatus 10 (NG in step S138), the process returns to the standby state via steps S112 and S113 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when a member card is inserted in the card insertion waiting state in step S104 in FIG. 7 (card insertion in step S104), the control unit 330 uses the card ID read from the card inserted by the card processing unit 23 as a key. The management apparatus 10 is inquired to obtain a user name corresponding to the card ID (step S121).

  Here, if the user name cannot be acquired because the user name is not registered in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID (failed in step S122), the screen for notifying that the registration is impossible is operated. / Displayed on the display unit 22 (step S123), the process proceeds to step S112 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when the user name stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID can be acquired (registered in step S122), the process proceeds to step S140 shown in FIG. A registration completion screen to notify that is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S140), and then returns to the standby state through steps S112 and S113 in FIG.

  As described above, in the system of the present invention, after the clerk inputs necessary items in the information described in the member application form submitted by the applicant (player) into the member management table 131, the applicant himself / herself is further provided. However, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 completes member registration by performing a process of registering the face data of the person in association with the member information of the person on the member management table 131.

  FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of information contents of the member management table 131 constructed in the memory 13 of the management apparatus 10 through the new membership process shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 9, in the member management table 131, the member's name, address, telephone number, user ID (user name) input by the attendant based on the membership application form, and the applicant uses the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 to capture images. The face data obtained in this way is associated with each member's member ID (card ID) and registered.

  In the member management table 131, link destination information is stored in the face image column, and actual face data is stored as an image file in the storage area of the link destination.

  Thus, a player who has completed membership registration by associating and registering member information and face data with respect to the membership management table 131 then uses the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 to deposit and pay out medals. Each loan transaction will be available.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the management apparatus 10 uses the member management table 131 to manage the number of medals (remaining number) and points (given according to the loan amount at the time of loan) for each member ID. is doing.

  As for the number of medals on the member management table 131, the management device 10 cooperates with the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 to execute the medal deposit processing and medal payout processing. An addition process is performed corresponding to the ID, and update management is sequentially performed through a process of subtracting the number paid out during the medal payout process in accordance with the member ID.

  In addition, with respect to points, when medals are lent, points are added according to the loan amount (see step S234 in FIG. 10), and when points are used, the amount is subtracted.

  Next, a medal lending process, a medal depositing process, and a medal paying process performed by the medal depositing / dispensing apparatus 20 in cooperation with the management apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of medal lending processing in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  In FIG. 10, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 (control unit 330) monitors the process selection status by touching each button 22 (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) on the displayed standby screen (step S201). When it is recognized that the “medal lending” button 22d is pressed during the monitoring (the medal lending button is pressed in step S201), the operation / display unit 22 displays a message prompting insertion of a card (member card) (step S201). S202), the process proceeds to a card insertion and cash (money) insertion waiting state (step S203).

  Further, when the cash input is started during the monitoring of the process selection status (cash input in step S201), it is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 that the cash input is continuously received (step S202), and the cash input waiting state is displayed. (Step S203).

  When a cancel operation is performed on the operation / display unit 22 in the card insertion / cash insertion wait state or the cash insertion wait state (cancellation in step S203), the control unit 330 notifies the operation / display unit 22 of the cancellation. Display (step S211), then check whether or not the card has been inserted (step S212), and if the card has been inserted (step S212 YES), after ejecting the card (step S213), It is checked whether or not cash has been inserted (step S214).

  If no card is inserted in step S212 (NO in step S212), the process immediately proceeds to step S214.

  If it is determined in step S214 that cash has not been inserted (step S214 NO), the process proceeds to step S216 while maintaining the state in which cash is not allowed to be inserted.

  If it is determined in step S214 that the cash has been inserted (step S214 YES), the inserted cash (money) is discharged (refunded) (step S215), and then the refund process is performed. It is checked whether or not the process is normally completed (step S216).

  Here, when the refund process is normally completed (normally terminated at step S216), the screen is returned to the standby screen display state (step S201). When the refund process is abnormally terminated (abnormally terminated at step S216), an agent call process ( Proceed to step S239).

  Further, when a card is inserted into the card processing unit 23 in the card insertion and cash insertion waiting state or the cash insertion waiting state (in step S203, the card is inserted), the control unit 330 causes the card processing unit 23 to be inserted. The management device 10 is inquired by using the card ID read from the key as a key, and a process of acquiring a user name corresponding to the card ID is performed (step S221).

  Here, when the user name cannot be acquired because the user name is not registered in the member management table 131 in correspondence with the card ID (failed in step S222), the processing (granting points according to the loan amount) is performed. A screen notifying that it cannot be accepted is displayed on the operation / display unit 22, the card is returned (step S223), and the process returns to step S203.

  If the user name stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID can be acquired (successful in step S222), the user name is held, and the process returns to step S203.

  Here, when the card insertion is accepted, the user name is acquired, and the process returns to step S203 (step S221 → successful in S222 → S203), in this step S203, an effective button (for example, accepting the insertion of cash) Monitoring of whether or not a loan amount button, etc.) has been pressed.

  In step S203, if neither the cancellation operation nor the card insertion is performed, monitoring whether or not a valid button (for example, a loan amount button) is pressed is continued while accepting insertion of cash.

  In this state, when the insertion of cash is completed and the loan amount button (valid button) is pressed to confirm the loan amount (valid button in step S203), the control unit 330 prohibits subsequent deposits. In step S231, a process such as recognizing the designated loan amount is performed, and after the completion of the process, the payment prohibition state is terminated (step S232).

  During this time, the control unit 330 monitors whether the payment prohibition state has ended normally or abnormally. If abnormally terminated (abnormal termination in step S232), the control unit 330 proceeds to a staff call process (step S239).

  If the payment prohibition state ends normally (normal end in step S232), then the control unit 330 checks whether or not a card is inserted (step S233), and no card is inserted. If yes (no in step S233), the process proceeds to step S236.

  If a card is inserted (in step S233), store point addition processing is performed (step S234).

  This store point addition process transmits a point addition process request including the loan amount recognized after deposit prohibition in step S231 and the user name acquired in step S222 to the management apparatus 10, and the management apparatus 10 receives the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. In accordance with the point addition processing request received from 20, the number of points corresponding to the loan amount received together with the request is determined, and the number of points corresponds to the user name received together with the request in the member management table 131. This is realized by the procedure of storing in the point column (see FIG. 9).

  When the store point addition process performed in cooperation with the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 is normally completed, the management apparatus 10 transmits to the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 that the point update process has been completed.

  On the other hand, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 transmits the point addition process request to the management apparatus 10 during the store point addition process in step S234, and then updates the points depending on whether or not the point update process completion notification has been received from the management apparatus 10. It is checked whether the process has been completed normally or abnormally (step S235).

  Here, when it is determined that the point update process has ended abnormally (abnormal end in step S235), the process proceeds to the staff call process (step S239).

  On the other hand, when the point update process ends normally (normal end in step S235), the control unit 330 pays the difference between the input amount and the specified amount as a change, and the process of lending medal for the specified amount. The process to perform is performed (step S236).

  At that time, while the medal is paid out (lending), whether or not the medal payout has ended normally is checked while displaying the fact on the operation / display unit 22 (step S237).

  Here, when the medal payout is normally completed (normal end in step S237), the control unit 330 includes the number of medals paid out (rented) by the processing, a message such as “Thank you for using”, and the like. The payout (lending) result information is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S238), and then the process proceeds to step S212 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when the medal payout ends abnormally (abnormal end in step S237), the process proceeds to the staff calling process (step S239).

  In the clerk calling process, any of the abnormal end of the refund process in step S216, the abnormal end related to the prohibition of depositing in step S232, the abnormal end of the point update process in step S235, and the abnormal end of medal payout in step S237. An attendant is called by an appropriate method (step S239), and the trouble handling of the abnormally ended transaction is entrusted to the attendant.

  A player (member) who has received a medal loan by the medal lending process shown in FIG. 10 uses this medal to play a game on the medal game machine 70, and when the medal is won in the game, the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 can be used to deposit the medal into his / her own account (the medal count area corresponding to his / her member ID in the member management table 131).

  In addition, a player (member) who has deposited medals in his / her account will withdraw the medals from his / her account within the range of the number of deposits (receive payment) and use the medals. A game on the medal game machine 70 can be performed.

  The medal deposit and payout process will be described first from the medal payout process for convenience.

  FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts showing a series of flow of medal payout processing in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  In FIG. 11, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 (control unit 330) monitors the process selection status by touching each button 22 (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) on the displayed standby screen (step S301). When it is recognized that the “medal payout” button 22c is pressed during the monitoring (pressing the medal payout button in step S301), processing for prohibiting the deposit is performed (step S302).

  Next, it is checked whether or not there has been a deposit within a period until the termination of the deposit prohibition state (step S303). If there is a deposit (NO in step S303), the process proceeds to a medal lending process described later. To do.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no deposit (YES in step S303), a membership card insertion wait state is set, and in this state, it is checked whether a card has been inserted, a skip operation has been performed, or a cancel operation has been performed (step S304).

  Here, if a cancel operation is performed (cancel in step S304), a message to cancel is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S311), and then it is checked whether there is a card (step S312). If there is a card (YES in step S312), the card is ejected (step S313) and then returned to the standby screen display state. If there is no card (step S312 NO), the standby screen display state is restored.

  Further, when a skip operation is performed in the card insertion waiting state (skip in step S304), the control unit 330 displays a screen for prompting the user name input on the operation / display unit 22 (step S331). The input waiting state is maintained until the input is completed (step S332).

  During this time, when a user name is input, the control unit 330 makes an inquiry to the management apparatus 10 to perform a search process for the user name corresponding to the input user ID (step S333), and receives the search result. It is checked whether or not the user name is registered in the member management table 131 (step S334). If the user name is not registered (invalid in step S334), the process returns to step S331 to restore the user name. The acquisition process is continued, and if the user name is registered (valid at step S334), the process proceeds to step S335 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

  When a card is inserted in the card insertion waiting state at step S304 in FIG. 11 (card insertion at step S304), the control unit 330 uses the card ID read from the card inserted by the card processing unit 23 as a key. A process is performed for making an inquiry to the management apparatus 10 to obtain a user name corresponding to the card ID (step S321).

  Here, when the user name cannot be acquired because the user name is not registered in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID (failed in step S322), the fact that the payout process cannot be accepted is notified. The screen is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S323), and the process proceeds to step S312 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when the user name stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID can be acquired (successful in step S322), the process proceeds to step S335 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

  In step S335 of FIG. 12, the control unit 330 activates the authentication camera 21 in accordance with the user's shooting operation and images the face of the user, and then cuts out image information (face data) of the face portion. (Step S335) An authentication start waiting screen including an instruction button or the like indicating whether or not authentication can be started with the face data obtained by the cutout process and the face data being displayed is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S335). Step S336).

  When an authentication start instruction operation is performed using the authentication waiting screen in the authentication start instruction waiting state (authentication in step S336), the control unit 330 acquires the user name acquired in step S334 and the face data photographed in step S335. The face data is sent to the management device 10 to check whether or not the face data matches the face image information stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the user ID, and in the medal count area corresponding to the user ID. Processing for acquiring the remaining number of medals stored from the management apparatus 10 is performed (step S337).

  Subsequently, it waits for reception of the collation result from the management apparatus 10, and if it is determined that the authentication is NG (the face data photographed in step S335 does not match the registered face data) based on the received collation result ( NG in step S338), until the number of authentication trials reaches a predetermined number (n times), the fact that re-photographing is possible is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S339) and a re-photographing instruction is given If the user performs a cancel operation in this state (cancel at step S340), the process proceeds to step S311 and subsequent steps, and if a re-photographing operation is performed (recapture at step S340). ), The processing after step S335 is repeatedly performed until the number of re-photographing operations expires.

  During this time, if it is determined in step S338 that the authentication is OK based on the collation result received from the management apparatus 10 (the face data captured in step S335 matches the registered face data) (OK in step S338). The control unit 330 displays on the operation / display unit 22 that the authentication is OK, the remaining number of medals acquired in step S337, a payout instruction waiting screen including a payout request number specifying button, a cancel button, and the like ( Step S341).

  In this waiting state for payout number instruction, it is checked whether the player has input the payout request medal number using the payout request number designation button or whether the cancel operation is performed with the cancel button. The process proceeds to step S311 of FIG.

  Further, when the number of payout request medals is input by the player, or when a payout request number greater than the remaining number is designated (the number is insufficient in step S342), re-input is accepted, and the payout request number within the remaining number range is determined. If specified (the number is input in step S342), the input payout request medal number and medal custody data update request are transmitted to the management apparatus 10, and the user name in the member management table 131 is transmitted to the management apparatus 10. A process of subtracting the number of medals corresponding to the requested number of medals from the corresponding number of medals is performed (step S343), and a state of waiting for reception as a result of whether or not the update process of the medal deposit data has been normally completed is entered.

  Here, when the result that the medal deposit data update process has been normally completed is received (normal termination is completed in step S344), the control unit 330 then starts paying out medals by driving the payout hopper 31 and the like (step S344). S345) While the medal is paid out, whether or not the medal payout has ended normally is checked while displaying the fact on the operation / display unit 22 (step S346).

  In the processing so far, when the medal custody data update process ends abnormally (failed in step S344), and when the medal payout ends abnormally (abnormal end in step S346), the clerk uses an appropriate method. Called (step S348), the trouble handling of the abnormally ended transaction is left to the staff.

  On the other hand, when the medal payout has been normally completed after the completion of the medal deposit data update process normally (normal end in step S446), the control unit 330 indicates the number of medals paid out by the process, The payout result information including a message such as “Thank you” is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S347), and then returns to the standby state via steps S312 and S313 in FIG.

  Next, the medal deposit process will be described.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing a series of flow of medal deposit processing in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  In FIG. 13, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20 (control unit 330) monitors the process selection status by touching each button 22 (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) on the displayed standby screen (step S401). If it is recognized that the “medal deposit” button 22a is pressed during the monitoring (the medal deposit button is pressed in step S401), processing for prohibiting the deposit is performed (step S402).

  Next, it is checked whether or not there has been a deposit within the period until the termination of the deposit prohibition state (step S403). If there is a deposit (NO in step S403), the process proceeds to a medal lending process described later. To do.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no payment (YES in step S403), the card is placed in a card (member card) waiting state, and in this state, it is checked whether a card has been inserted, a skip operation has been performed, or a cancel operation has been performed (step). S404).

  Here, when a cancel operation is performed (cancel at step S404), the cancel / indication is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S411), and then it is checked whether there is a card (step S412). If there is a card (YES in step S412), the card is ejected (step S413) and then returned to the standby screen display state. If there is no card (NO in step S412), the standby screen display state is restored.

  Further, when a skip operation is performed in the card insertion waiting state (skip in step S404), the control unit 330 displays a screen for prompting the user name input on the operation / display unit 22 (step S431). The input waiting state is maintained until the input is completed (step S432).

  During this time, when the user name is input, the control unit 330 makes an inquiry to the management apparatus 10 to perform a search process for the user name corresponding to the input user ID (step S433), and receives the search result. It is checked whether or not the user name is registered in the member management table 131 (step S434). If the user name is not registered (invalid in step S434), the process returns to step S431 to return the user name. The acquisition process is continued, and if the user name is registered (valid at step S434), the process proceeds to step S435 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

  When a card is inserted in the card insertion waiting state at step S404 in FIG. 13 (card insertion at step S404), the control unit 330 uses the card ID read from the card inserted by the card processing unit 23 as a key. A process is performed for making an inquiry to the management apparatus 10 and acquiring a user name corresponding to the card ID (step S421).

  Here, if the user name cannot be acquired because the user name is not registered in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID (failed in step S422), a notice that the deposit processing cannot be accepted is notified. The screen is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S423), and then a counted receipt issuing process (step S460), which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 15, is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S312 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when the user name stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the card ID can be acquired (registered in step S422), the process proceeds to step S443 shown in FIG.

  Next, the medal deposit processing operation following FIG. 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S435 of FIG. 14 which shifts from step S434 (user name valid) in FIG. 13, the control unit 330 authenticates according to the photographing operation by the user using the photographing instruction tool displayed on the operation / display unit 22. After the camera 21 is activated and the face of the user is imaged, a process for cutting out image information (face data) of the face portion is performed (step S435).

  At this time, if the face data of the user cannot be acquired due to a failure of the authentication camera 21 or the like (NO in step S436), the process proceeds to the counted receipt issuing process in step S460 via the process impossibility notification in step S423 in FIG. move on.

  If the user's face data can be acquired in step S435 (YES in step S436), the control unit 330 starts authentication with the face data obtained by the cutout process in step S435 and the face data being displayed. An authentication start waiting screen including an instruction button for determining whether or not it is good is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S437).

  When an authentication start instruction operation is performed using the authentication waiting screen in the authentication start instruction waiting state (authentication in step S436), the control unit 330 obtains the user name acquired in step S434 and the image obtained in step S435. The face data is sent to the management apparatus 10 to check whether the face data matches the face image information stored in the member management table 131 corresponding to the user ID, and the medal corresponding to the user ID A process of acquiring the remaining number of medals stored in the number area from the management apparatus 10 is performed (step S438).

  At this time, when data such as user face data cannot be acquired due to a communication network abnormality (transmission path 50 disconnection, management device 10 failure, etc.), etc. (step S439 NO), the process of step S423 in FIG. After the notification of impossibility, the process proceeds to the counted receipt issuing process in step S460.

  On the other hand, if data such as the user's face data can be acquired in step S438 (YES in step S439), the control unit 330 continues to wait for reception of the verification result from the management apparatus 10, and the received verification result. Is determined to be authentication NG (the face data photographed in step S435 does not match the registered face data) (NG in step S440), the number of authentication tries is determined in advance (n times). In the state until it reaches, the fact that re-photographing is possible is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S441) to wait for a re-photographing instruction (step S442). In this state, the user performs a cancel operation. If it has been canceled (cancelled in step S442), the process proceeds to step S411 (FIG. 13) and subsequent steps. The processing of-flops S435 and later, again taking the number of times is repeated until the expiration.

  During this time, if a cancel operation is performed on the authentication start waiting screen in step S437, or if a photographing operation exceeding the number of re-photographing is performed (cancellation in step S437 / after n times), the process of step S423 in FIG. After the notification of impossibility, the process proceeds to the counted receipt issuing process in step S460.

  In step S440, if the number of times of checking whether authentication is OK or not exceeds the specified number (n times) (after n times in step S440), the process is notified in step S423 in FIG. To the counted receipt issue process.

  On the other hand, while the number of re-photographing times and the number of authentication checks are within the range of the specified number (n times), authentication OK based on the collation result received from the management device 10 in step S440 (face data photographed in step S435). Is determined to be coincident with the registered face data (OK in step S440), the control unit 330 indicates that the authentication is OK, the remaining number of medals acquired in step S438, and the counting button. A counting instruction waiting screen including the above is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S443).

  In this counting instruction waiting state, when a player inserts a medal and the count button is pressed (counting starts in step S444), the control unit 330 starts counting the medal inserted by the player with the deposit hopper 27. While the medal is being counted, the fact is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S445), and it is checked whether the counting has ended normally (step S446).

  If the counting ends normally (normal end in step S446), the control unit 330 transmits a medal count value and a medal deposit update request to the management apparatus 10, and sends the medal count value and the medal deposit update request to the management apparatus 10 as a member management table 131. A process of adding the medal count value to the number of medals corresponding to the user name is performed (step S447), and the apparatus enters a reception waiting state as a result of whether or not the medal deposit data update process has been normally completed.

  In the processing so far, when the counting ends abnormally (abnormally ends in step S446) and when the medal deposit data update processing ends abnormally (fails in step S448), an attendant is called by an appropriate method. (Step S452), the trouble handling of the abnormally ended transaction is left to the staff.

  On the other hand, when the result that the medal deposit data update process has been normally completed is received (normal termination is completed in step S448), a screen for confirming the intention of inserting medals and continuing insertion is displayed on the operation / display unit 22. (Step S449), control is made to wait for an instruction confirmation waiting for medal insertion or continuous insertion (Step S450).

  Here, when continuous insertion is instructed (continuation in step S450), the control unit 330 returns to step S444 and subsequent steps to continue the medal continuous insertion, counting, and remaining medal number update processing.

  In addition, when instructed to confirm that the medal deposit has been completed normally in the confirmation waiting state (confirmed in step S450), the control unit 330 determines the number of medal deposits and “Thank you for using”. The deposit information including the message is displayed on the operation / display unit 22 (step S451), and then returns to the standby state through steps S412 and S413 in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the medal deposit process of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20, after the medal deposit process is selected, if the member authentication fails, the process is notified in step S423 in FIG. The process proceeds to the counted receipt issuing process in step S460.

  Here, as a situation where the member authentication fails, for example, when acquisition of the user name fails (failed in step S422), when face data cannot be acquired from the authentication camera 21 (NO in step S436), waiting for an authentication instruction If the canceling operation is performed or the photographing operation exceeding the number of re-photographing is performed (cancellation / n times after step S437), or the face data cannot be acquired from the management apparatus 10 (NO in step S439), the number of authentication checks is A situation such as when the specified number of times is exceeded (after n times in step S440) can be mentioned.

  Next, the counted receipt issuing process (step S460 in FIG. 13) performed in such a situation (member recognition error occurs) will be described in detail.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the counted receipt issuing process in step S460 of FIG.

  The counted receipt issuing process shown in FIG. 15 is performed by the counted receipt issuing control unit 331 (see FIG. 5) of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20.

  In the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 20, the control unit 330 monitors the operation of the entire apparatus, records a transaction log in association with the transaction number, detects various abnormalities, and analyzes (recognizes) abnormal contents. 13 and 14, the acquisition of the user name failed (failed in step S422), face data could not be acquired from the authentication camera 21 (NO in step S436), The cancel operation was performed while waiting for the authentication instruction, the photographing operation exceeding the number of re-photographing was performed (cancellation / after n times in step S437), and face data could not be acquired from the management apparatus 10 (NO in step S439) ), The authentication error of member authentication (member authentication) by detecting that the number of authentication checks exceeds the specified number (after n times in step S440) Failure) recognizes to have occurred (step S511), the authenticated instructs the receipt issuing control unit 331 to start counting completion receipt issuing process shown in FIG. 15.

  Subsequently, the control unit 330 causes the authentication error in step S511 [member unregistered, authentication canceled, shooting error in the authentication camera 21, failure of the authentication camera 21, abnormality in the communication network (transmission line 50 disconnection or , Failure of the management apparatus 10)] is specified, and an abnormality analysis process such as holding the cause (abnormality) of the authentication error in association with the corresponding error code is performed, and subsequent processing (steps S516, S518, etc.) is performed. Prepare.

  On the other hand, the counted receipt issuing control unit 331, which has been instructed to start the counted receipt issuing process in step S511, first determines whether or not there is a inserted medal in the deposit hopper 27. Check (step S512).

  If it is determined that there is no medal (does not exist) (NO in step S512), the subsequent counted receipt issuing process (steps S513 to S517) is canceled, and the counted receipt issuing control unit 331 cancels the medal insertion. Summarize information related to the abnormal transaction that resulted in a member authentication error (transaction number, handling machine number, transaction log up to the point when the member authentication error occurred, abnormality content, error code, etc.) and send the information to the management device 10 ( After step S518), the process proceeds to step S412 and subsequent steps in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a medal already inserted in the deposit hopper 27 (YES in step S513), the counted receipt issue control unit 331 instructs the medal counting means in the deposit hopper 27 to count the medal. (Step S513).

  During this period, while monitoring whether or not the medal counting is completed (step S514), the medal counting is continued while the medal counting is not completed (NO in step S514).

  Thereafter, when the counting of inserted medals is completed (YES in step S514), the counted receipt issuing control unit 331 obtains a medal count value by the medal counting means, and further includes a transaction date and time, an error code, and the like. Information necessary for printing the counted receipt is acquired (step 515).

  Here, the transaction date and time is acquired from a transaction log (not shown) recorded until the control unit 330 results in a member authentication error, and the error code recognizes the authentication error in step S511. Acquired through the abnormality analysis process performed by the control unit 330 according to the above.

  As described above, after obtaining information (medal count value, transaction date and time, error code, etc.) necessary for printing the counted receipt (step S515), the counted receipt issue control unit 331 Image information for printing each information as a counted receipt in a predetermined format (format) to which the receipt name (receipt name 61 in FIG. 16), usage of the receipt (same message 62), and the like are given. Is generated (step S516).

  Next, the counted receipt issuance control unit 331 sends a print command for the image information to the journal printer 25, and the journal printer 25 prints an image based on the image information on a recording medium (roll paper or the like) as a counted receipt. Then, a control for discharging (issuing) the counted receipt from the receipt issuing port 206 is executed (step S517).

  After issuance of the counted receipt, the counted receipt issuance control unit 331 includes information relating to the abnormal transaction in which the member authentication error has occurred after the medal is inserted (transaction number, handling machine number, transaction log up to the point when the member authentication error occurs, The medal count value, abnormality content, error code, etc.) are tabulated and transmitted to the management apparatus 10 (step S518).

  And after transmitting the information regarding the abnormal transaction to the management apparatus 10, the process returns to the standby state of step S401 through the processes of steps S412 and S413 of FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the counted receipt 255 that is printed and issued by the journal printer 25 in step S517 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the counted receipt 255, the receipt name (in this example, “counted receipt”) 61 and the fact that the user could not be authenticated and the receipt are given to the staff. A message stating that it can be used at the same time (same as above, “The customer could not be authenticated. Please contact your local staff with this receipt”) 62, medal count (same as “155 medals”) 63, transaction date and time of the transaction for which the medal count was carried out with the member unauthenticated (the same as above, “December 25, 2005, 13:35” 64, corresponding to the abnormality that caused the member unauthenticated An error code ("E-0011") 65 and a bar code 66 are printed, and if a plurality of medal deposit / withdrawal devices are installed in the store, the medal deposit used It is necessary to print the machine number of the detection device.

  Here, the bar code 66 stores information such as the medal count value 63, the transaction date and time 64, and the error code 65 among the information printed on the counted receipt 255, for example.

  As for the barcode 66, the store clerk who receives the counted receipt 255 from the user later reads the barcode 66 with the barcode reader, and confirms the contents of the abnormal transaction that has not been terminated due to the member authentication error. The above-mentioned information essential for confirming the contents of the transaction is recorded.

  Next, a method of using the counted receipt 255 issued when a member authentication error has occurred will be described.

  When the user who has issued the counted receipt 255 gives the counted receipt 255 to the store clerk, the store clerk can take the following actions by looking at the contents of the received counted receipt 255. .

  The store clerk who has received the counted receipt 255 from the user first confirms whether or not the user is a member. If the user is not a member, it is recommended to register as a member.

  Here, if the user refuses to become a member, the user is asked to submit the user-identifiable documents, etc., and the personal identification work, such as taking a copy, is counted. The medals for the medal count value described in the receipt 255 are returned by hand. In general, game sites do not allow take-out of game media, so the user is required to use up the returned medals during the day.

  On the other hand, if the user consents to become a member and fills out and submits the prescribed items in the membership application form, the store clerk operates the input device 14 in the management device 10 to apply for the membership. A predetermined item in the document is registered in the member management table 131 in association with the new member ID, and a temporary membership registration is performed by issuing a member card in which the new member ID is recorded.

  After the temporary member registration, the store clerk operates the input device 14 to enter the user in the “medal number (see FIG. 9)” column corresponding to the member ID of the temporary registered member in the member management table 131. The number of medals corresponding to the medal count value described in the counted receipt 255 given by the (temporary member registered user) is input, and the manual medal deposit process is executed.

  Thereafter, the temporary registered member can become a newly registered member by registering his / her face data in the member management table 131 through the new membership process shown in FIGS.

  In addition, the newly registered member follows the medal payout process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to the number of medals deposited in his / her account in the member management table 131 (the medal count value described in the counted receipt 255). It is possible to pay out medals within the range of (corresponding) and play a game on the medal game machine 70.

  When the counted receipt 255 is handed over, if the user is a member, the store clerk identifies the cause of the abnormality that was a member but the member could not be authenticated, and removes the cause of the abnormality.

  In this case, the store clerk refers to the error code 65 described in the counted receipt 255 given from the user (member), so that the authentication camera 21 fails, the transmission path 50 fails, the management device 10 Recognize failures.

  In addition, the store clerk performs operations such as correcting the failure of the authentication camera 21, restoring the transmission path 50 to be communicable, and correcting the failure of the management device 10 according to the recognized cause of abnormality.

  Thereafter, the store clerk, for example, hears the member ID from the member who has received the counted receipt 255, searches the member management table 131 using the member ID as a key, calls the face data corresponding to the member ID, After confirming the identity of the member by an appropriate method such as collating with the face of the member at the site, the management device 10 is operated by the same procedure as described above, and the account of the member (“ An input operation is performed to add and update the medal number corresponding to the medal count value described in the counted receipt 255 given by the member in the “medal number” column).

  Thereafter, according to the medal payout process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this member adds the number of medals deposited in his / her account in the member management table 131 (the medal count value described in the counted receipt 255 is added). Medals within a range of (value), and a game on the medal game machine 70 can be performed.

  As described above, the clerk can manually store the newly registered member and the medal count value described in the counted receipt 255 submitted by the member into the member management table 131. Therefore, it is not necessary to open the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 and take out the medals inserted by.

  As a result, the store operation can be continued without making the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 unusable during the manual medal deposit operation.

  In the present invention, the authenticated receipt 255 issued when the member authentication fails after the medal is inserted, as described above, information on the abnormal transaction, for example, the medal count value 63, the transaction date and time 64, the error A bar code 66 on which a code 65 or the like is recorded is also printed.

  On the other hand, during the counted receipt issuing process shown in FIG. 15, the management device 10 receives the information related to the abnormal transaction of the counted receipt issue target sent by the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 in step S518, For example, it is held and managed in an abnormal transaction information management table (not shown) provided in the memory 13.

  Thereby, when the counted receipt 255 is given from the user, the store clerk uses the barcode 66 described in the counted receipt 255 as a barcode reading device (not shown: for example, one of the input devices 14). (Provided in the management device 10) and display it on the display device 15 (or printing it out with the printing device 17), so that the medal count value 63, transaction date and time on the display device 15 (or printing output result) 64, error code 65, etc. can be easily confirmed.

  In addition, by designating some of the output information as search keys (for example, transaction date and time, medal count value, etc.), in the management apparatus 10, the main control unit 11 matches the search key. Is retrieved from the abnormal transaction information management table and displayed on the display device 15.

  Thereby, the clerk looks at the transaction information displayed on the display device 15 as a search result based on the search key, for example, the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 that has performed the issuance processing of the counted receipt 255 due to a member authentication error. It is possible to easily cope with the failure recovery of the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20 by adding the error code 65 and the like, and the member management table 131 after failure recovery (when member authentication fails) (Medal count value addition processing) can be quickly handled.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a barcode 66 in which a medal count value, a transaction date and time, an error code, etc. in the counted receipt 255 are recorded is printed on the counted receipt 255 is described. Instead, general machine-readable codes can be applied.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the member authentication fails after the medal is inserted when the medal is deposited, the inserted medal is counted, and the counted receipt 255 on which information that can specify the medal count value is printed. Therefore, by entrusting the store clerk to take action based on the information described in the issued counted receipt 255, the system side does not bring down the system for work such as taking out inserted medals. Even after the issued receipt 255 is issued, it is possible to continue accepting processing such as deposit or withdrawal by other members, and efficient store management can be performed.

  In addition, since information on which the medal count value can be specified is printed on the counted receipt 255, the clerk who receives the counted receipt 255 receives the member management table 131 based on the medal count value on the counted receipt 255. It becomes possible to easily and quickly respond to the above medal number update processing and the like.

  Further, in the present invention, since the counted receipt 255 on which the information (error code 65) specifying the cause of the member authentication failure is issued, the store clerk who has received the counted receipt 255 It is possible to easily identify the cause of the authentication error from the information indicating the cause of the member authentication failure, and it is possible to quickly cope with the error recovery and the subsequent medal number update processing on the member management table 131.

  In the present invention, a machine-readable code (bar code 66) in which information capable of specifying a medal count value is recorded is generated, and a counted receipt 255 on which the machine-readable code is printed is issued. The store clerk who has been handed out can read the machine-readable code on the counted receipt 255 with a machine-readable code reader and output (display) it, so that the information such as the medal count value can be easily checked and the subsequent work can be easily performed. It becomes like this.

  Further, in the present invention, when the counted receipt 255 is issued, the information regarding the abnormal transaction for which the member authentication has failed is notified to the higher-level device (management device 10). When handed over, the contents of the abnormal transaction related to the authenticated receipt 255 can be easily confirmed by accessing the host device based on the information printed on the counted receipt 255.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented by being appropriately modified within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the member authentication is performed using the face data of the user (member) obtained by imaging with the authentication camera 21. However, the present invention is applicable to the fingerprint, vein, iris of the user (member). It can also be applied when performing member authentication using such information.

  In the above embodiment, an example of application to a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus that performs transaction processing such as lending, depositing, and paying out medals used in a medal game has been given. When a user is authenticated as a member and the game medium is deposited in the corresponding account, and the user requests withdrawal (payout), the user is authenticated as a member and the game medium is stored in the account. The present invention can be applied to all systems having a deposit / withdrawal processing function for paying out a game, and can also be realized with an apparatus having only a game medium depositing / processing function.

  In the above embodiment, an example of issuing a counted receipt printed with information that can specify the count value of the game medium on the roll paper is given, but instead of the counted receipt, a magnetic card, an IC card, etc. The recording medium may be issued. In this case, the medal deposit / withdrawal device needs to have a card issuing function as the counted recording medium issuing means.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the member management table 131 is provided in the management device 10 is disclosed, but the member management table 131 may be provided in the medal deposit / withdrawal device 20. According to this configuration, a stand-alone operation is possible, and the equipment for the management apparatus 10 and the transmission path is unnecessary, so that the capital investment can be reduced.

  The present invention has a game medium deposit function, and can be applied to any game medium transaction system that executes a game medium deposit process when a user is authenticated as a registered member. If the user's member authentication fails after being inserted, the number of gaming media that have been inserted is counted, and the counted receipt is printed by issuing a counted receipt that prints information that can specify the count value of the gaming media. By entrusting the store clerk to handle the information based on the information, it is possible to avoid a system down due to an operation of calling the store clerk and taking out a medal from the inside of the apparatus, and the use of the apparatus by other users can be continued.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the medal deposit / withdrawal system concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the management apparatus in the system of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the front external appearance structure of the medal deposit or withdrawal apparatus in the system of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the main-body part internal structure of a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The functional block diagram which shows the connection relation between each component of a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The conceptual diagram which shows the example of a display of the standby screen in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The flowchart which shows the flow of the new admission process following FIG. 8 in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The flowchart which shows the flow of the new admission process following FIG. 7 in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The table figure which shows an example of the information content of the member management table which a management apparatus has. The flowchart which shows the flow of the medal lending process in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The flowchart which shows the flow of the medal payout process following FIG. 12 in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The flowchart which shows the flow of the medal payout process following FIG. 11 in a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. The flowchart which shows the flow of the medal depositing process following FIG. 14 in a medal depositing / dispensing apparatus. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of medal deposit processing subsequent to FIG. 13 in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus. 14 is a flowchart showing the counted receipt issuing process in step S460 of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the counted receipt issued by the counted receipt issuing process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Management apparatus, 11 ... CPU (main control part), 12 ... Memory | storage device, 13 ... Memory, 131 ... Member management table, 14 ... Input device, 15 ... Display apparatus, 16 ... Communication interface (I / F) part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Printing device, 20 ... Medal deposit / withdrawal device, 21 ... Authentication camera, 22 ... Operation / display part, 221 ... Transaction processing selection screen, 23 ... Card processing part, 24 ... Money deposit / withdrawal processing part, 25 ... Journal printer, 255 ... Counted receipt, 26 ... Door open / close detection sensor, 27 ... Medal depositing part (depositing hopper), 28 ... Medal receiving part, 29 ... Medal washing part, 30 ... Medal transport lift, 31 ... Medal paying part (dispensing hopper) 32 ... Communication interface (I / F) unit 33 ... Control board 330 ... Control unit 331 ... Counted receipt issue control unit 333 ... Memory unit 34 ... Power supply device 50 Transmission line, 70 ... medal game machine

Claims (4)

When the number of game media inserted into the receiving unit is counted by the game media counting means, and the member authentication based on the member identification information acquired from the user who inserted the game media is successful, the number of game media counted the addition to the deposit number corresponding to the member identification information of the user, the game media transaction processing system having a game media deposit processing function of updating,
Member authentication means for performing member authentication by comparing member authentication information acquired from the user with member information managed by a member database when using the game medium deposit processing;
Failure to membership authentication by the member authentication means, wherein it is checked whether or not the game medium is present in the receiving portion, when the game medium is present in the receiving section, by the game medium counter means the recreation medium Counting control means for performing counting processing for counting;
A game medium comprising: information capable of specifying a result of the counting process by the counting control means; and a counted recording medium issuing means for issuing a recording medium on which a result indicating that the member authentication has failed is printed. Transaction processing system. An analysis means for analyzing the cause of the member authentication failure;
The counted recording medium issuing means includes:
The game medium transaction processing system according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium on which information specifying the cause of the member authentication failure analyzed by the analyzing unit is printed is issued. The counted recording medium issuing means includes:
The machine according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a machine-readable code in which information capable of specifying a count value of the game medium is recorded, and issuing the recording medium on which the machine-readable code is printed. Game media transaction processing system. Comprising communication connection with a management apparatus having the member database for managing member information including the number of deposits,
Upon issuance of the recording medium, game media transactions according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for notifying the information about the abnormal transactions member authentication has failed to the management device Processing system.

Images