JP5158638B2 - Information recording medium management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording medium management system in which an information recording medium can be rented out to be used in a gaming machine installed in a game arcade.

  Conventionally, in game halls where game machines capable of playing using game media such as pachinko balls and medals (pachinko machines, slot machines, etc.) have been introduced, information recording media (value equivalent to the purchase price is stored) An information recording medium management system for managing the recording information of the information recording medium is used so that a game medium can be lent using a magnetic card or an IC card.

  In such an information recording medium management system, an information recording medium is inserted into a gaming medium lending device provided corresponding to each gaming machine, and the valuable medium is consumed to borrow the gaming medium, or a banknote is inserted to be valuable. Although it is possible to charge value, introducing a game medium lending device corresponding to all gaming machines requires a reasonable cost, so the functions related to game medium lending control can be shared by multiple game medium lending devices. A system has been proposed in which costs are reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-14996 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of game medium lending devices are collectively used to share their control units, and information recording media handled by different game medium lending devices are not provided. The recorded information cannot be shared in a lump. That is, if a plurality of information recording media can be handled as a collective group, the total information of game results within the group can be presented to players belonging to the group, or the total information for each group can be displayed as a plurality of groups. However, the management of the information recording medium cannot be performed by the invention described in Patent Document 1.

  In the first place, since the gaming machines installed in the amusement hall are games that progress for each machine, even if a large number of people go to the amusement hall, each person chooses a gaming machine apart. A record that bundles multiple players in units of groups in the existing information recording medium management system because there is no element to enjoy as a group, just because you can enjoy the game, you can not communicate with other players who accompanied you There is no motivation to adopt technical means to add information handling control, and individual players can enjoy games individually with each gaming machine, but by competing for game results within a group or for each group, There was no information recording medium management system that could add elements enjoyed by organizations.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium management system that allows an individual player to enjoy a game individually with each gaming machine while adding elements enjoyed by a group. To do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an information recording medium management system in which an information recording medium is used and a game medium used in a gaming machine installed in a game hall can be lent out. Based on group specifying information that can arbitrarily set a management target information group associated with a regular information recording medium in which an identifier capable of specifying an individual information recording medium that can be used in the game hall is recorded. The group information management apparatus that manages in units of groups, the group specifying information is recorded on the information recording medium that has received a group check-in request, and the group information is associated with the identifier of the information recording medium and the group specifying information Group check-in device for transmitting to management device, and information recording medium on which group identification information is recorded by the group check-in device Based on the acceptance, the game medium lending device that sends the group identification information together with the transaction information related to the game medium lending, and the group identification information of the information recording medium that has received the group checkout request are sent to the group information management device. And a group checkout device that receives a totaling result obtained by totaling management target information groups of all information recording media belonging to the group from the group information management device and presents the totaling result.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the information recording medium management system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming medium lending device accepts an information recording medium on which a valuable value used for lending gaming media is recorded, and at least , Lending control of gaming media that consumes valuable value and charge control that adds valuable value according to the money that has been thrown in are possible, and transaction information includes consumption information associated with lending control and payment information associated with charge control The information is sent together with the group identification information recorded on the information recording medium being input.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information recording medium management system according to the first or second aspect, the game medium lending device is an information recording medium on which a valuable value used for lending a game medium is recorded. At least, gaming media lending control that consumes valuable value and charge control that adds valuable value according to the money that has been thrown in are possible. Consumption information associated with lending control and payment information associated with charge control As transaction information together with the group identification information recorded on the information recording medium being input.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording medium management system according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, for each team bound by the group specifying information recorded on the information recording medium. Entry information including group identification information given by the team competition management device by requesting group registration in advance to the team competition management device that collectively manages the counting results and the team competition management device Entry information mediating means to obtain, the group check-in device groups the group specifying information based on the fact that there is group specifying information input via the entry information mediating means at the time of the group check-in request. The information is recorded on each target information recording medium, and the identifier of each information recording medium is associated with the group specifying information. Characterized by being adapted to transmit to the serial group information management device.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the information recording medium management system according to claim 4, wherein the group checkout device sends the total result of the group that has received the checkout request to the team competition management device. It is characterized by presenting information so that it can be provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording medium management system according to the fourth aspect, the group checkout device prints and presents a tabulated result of the group that has received the checkout request on paper. Means and a totaling result transmission means for transmitting the totaling result of the group together with the group identification information to the team competition management device, and the paper for printing the totaling result is supplied by the team competition management device. The team competition result reference information is printed together.

  According to the information recording medium management system according to claim 1, the management target information group associated with the regular information recording medium in which the identifier that can identify each information recording medium that can be used in the game hall is recorded. A group information management apparatus that manages each group based on group setting information that can be arbitrarily set, and records the group specifying information on an information recording medium that has received a group check-in request. Based on a group check-in device that associates an identifier with group-specific information and transmits it to the group information management device, and accepts an information recording medium on which the group-specific information is recorded by the group check-in device. Game media lending device that sends group specific information along with transaction information, and group check By sending the group identification information of the information recording medium that has received the request to the group information management apparatus, a totaling result obtained by totaling the management target information groups of all information recording media belonging to the group is received from the group information management apparatus, And a group checkout device that presents the totaling result, so that it is possible to enjoy a game as a group of players having an information recording medium on which the same group identification information is recorded. Therefore, there is a possibility that a new customer group called a group customer, which has not been heretofore, will be developed and attracted to the amusement hall.

  According to the information recording medium management system of claim 2, the game medium lending device accepts an information recording medium on which a valuable value used for renting a gaming medium is recorded, and at least consumes the valuable value. Lending control of game media and charge control that adds valuable value according to the money that has been thrown in are possible, and consumption information associated with lending control and deposit information associated with charge control are used as transaction information on the information recording medium being thrown in. Since the information is transmitted together with the recorded group identification information, the group information management apparatus can generate a total result reflecting consumption information and charge information.

  Also, according to the information recording medium management system according to claim 3, the group checkout device is a parent attribute information recording medium that is given to only one information recording medium as a representative in a group bound by group specifying information. The group checkout request is accepted on the condition that it is inserted, so that it is possible to prevent troubles that an unauthorized person does not check out without permission, and only the information recording medium of the parent attribute is inserted. Since it is possible to check out only by this, there is no trouble of putting all the information recording media belonging to the group, and the convenience for the user is high.

  In addition, according to the information recording medium management system according to claim 4, a team competition management device that collectively manages a total result for each team bound by the group specifying information recorded on the information recording medium, and the team Entry information mediating means for obtaining entry information including group specifying information given by the team competition management device by requesting group registration in advance from the competition management device, the group check-in device In response to the group check-in request, based on the fact that there is group specifying information input via the entry information mediating means, the group specifying information is recorded on each information recording medium to be grouped, and each information recording medium Since the identifier and the group identification information are associated with each other and transmitted to the group information management device, Without being limited to a single playground, multiple teams that have entered the team battle management device and given group IDs can check in at multiple playgrounds to play games, and can compete against large teams. A war can be realized.

  Further, according to the information recording medium management system according to claim 5, the group checkout device presents the aggregate result of the group that has received the checkout request so that the information can be provided to the team competition management device. Therefore, even when a game is played in a game hall where the total result cannot be directly transmitted from the group checkout device to the team battle management device, it is possible to participate in the team battle.

  Further, according to the information recording medium management system according to claim 6, the group checkout device includes a printing unit that prints and displays the tabulation result of the group that has received the checkout request, and the tabulation result of the group. Is sent to the team competition management device together with the group identification information, and the team competition result reference information supplied by the team competition management device is combined on the paper for printing the aggregation result. Therefore, the team competition result provided by the team competition management device can be easily referred to from the team competition result reference information.

  Next, an embodiment of an information recording medium management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an information recording medium management system based on various facilities in a game arcade. For example, a CR unit 10 which is a CR type game medium lending device, a CR type CR gaming machine 20 connected to each CR unit 10, a hall computer 30, a customer management system server 40, a prepaid system management computer 50, A prepaid medium settlement / sale machine 60, a group check-in device 70, a group check-out device 80, and the like are connected via a communication line 90 in the game hall. In addition, communication with the outside of a game arcade is also possible via the network relay 100 outside a shop.

  In this embodiment, as a game information recording medium used for renting a game ball or coin-shaped game medal as a game medium, a value recording medium C (a prepaid card or a chargeable card) that stores a value according to the amount in a storage area. Can be operated as a membership card that can be used as an additional function of a system that makes it possible to use IC coins, etc.) in amusement halls as a function for depositing game media acquired in a game at a game store (so-called saving function) Although the configuration is shown, this function as a membership card is not essential. However, each of the valuable value recording media C that can be used in the game hall uses at least a card ID (identifier that can identify each medium) that is unique in the game hall, and uses the valuable value recording medium C. And manage various types of information.

  The prepaid card settlement / sale machine 60 sells a prepaid medium having a valuable value corresponding to the amount of money to be charged, or settles an unused valuable value.

  The hall computer 30 collects and manages sales information for the entire amusement hall. Information on the amount of money sold and settled the valuable value recording medium C by the prepaid medium settlement / sales machine 60, and rental of game balls by the CR unit 10 Various sales signals such as valuable value information of the valuable value recording medium C consumed and the amount information of the newly issued valuable value recording medium C are received.

  When a valuable value recording medium C (member card) having a prepaid function and a storage function is inserted into the CR unit 10, the customer management system server 40 transmits customer data and the like regarding the member card to the CR unit 10. Is.

  The prepaid system management computer 50 issues the issuance information of the valuable value recording medium C newly issued by the prepaid medium settlement / sale machine 60 and the CR unit 10, and the valuable value consumption information associated with the settlement of the valuable value recording medium C and the rental of the game medium. The collected information is managed by a prepaid system management company.

  Furthermore, the prepaid system management computer 50 becomes a group information management apparatus by realizing a function as a group information management server in software. The group information management device manages the management target information group associated with the card ID of each valuable value recording medium C on a group basis based on a group ID (group identification information) that can be arbitrarily set. The group ID may be arbitrarily allocated and managed by the group information management server, or the group ID issued in a regular procedure by a team competition management server (explained later) that exists outside the amusement hall. You may make it manage using ID.

  When the group check-in device 70 receives a group check-in request by the operation of the owner of the valuable value recording medium C, the group check-in device 70 records the group ID on the valuable value recording medium C and the card of the valuable value recording medium C. The ID and the group ID are associated and transmitted to the group information management apparatus (prepaid system management computer 50).

  Further, when the group check-in device 70 records the group ID, the parent attribute is given to only one valuable value recording medium C as a representative in the group bound by the group ID, and the group ID is handled as a parent card. In order to allow the value recording medium C to be given a child attribute and be handled as a child card, for example, the group information management device records the parent attribute for the valuable value recording medium C input at the beginning of the group registration, All other valuable value recording media C belonging to the same group are recorded and managed with child attributes. For each valuable value recording medium C, the parent attribute and child attribute may be recorded together with the group ID.

  When the valuable value recording medium C (whether parent card or child card) in which the group ID is recorded by the group check-in device 70 as described above is inserted into the CR unit 10, the CR unit 10 operates in the group game mode. The group ID is sent together with the transaction information related to the game medium lending. Thereby, the transaction information from the CR unit 10 can be managed in units of groups. Further, game information associated with the progress of the game in the CR gaming machine 20 provided corresponding to the CR unit 10 operating in the group game mode can also be managed in association with the group ID.

  When the group checkout device 80 receives a group checkout request by an operation of the owner of the valuable value recording medium C having the parent attribute, the group checkout device 80 sends the card ID and group ID recorded on the valuable value recording medium C to the group information management device. By sending, the totaling result obtained by totaling the management target information groups of all the valuable value recording media C belonging to the group is received from the group information management apparatus, and the totaling result is presented (visible display on the display and / or printing by the printing press) Out).

  If it is essential that the parent check card (information recording medium with a parent attribute) be inserted as a condition for the group check-out device 80 to accept the group check-out request, the child card can be used when the group check-out request is accepted. Is inserted (when an instruction is received from the group information management device that the inserted card is not the parent card), the inserted valuable value recording medium C is ejected and the group checkout process is performed. By not having it, it is possible to prevent a trouble that a person who does not have the authority of the entire group arbitrarily checks out the group. In addition, since it is possible to check out only by inserting the parent card, there is no need to insert all the child cards into the group checkout device 80 one by one, and there is an advantage that convenience for the user can be improved.

  As described above, in the information recording medium management system according to the present embodiment, a game can be enjoyed as a group of players possessing the valuable value information recording medium C in which the group ID that is the same group specifying information is recorded. . Therefore, there is a possibility that a new customer group called a group customer, which has not been heretofore, will be developed and attracted to the amusement hall.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the group check-in device 70 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The group check-in device 70 includes a main control circuit 72 that performs overall group ID writing control and the like on the valuable value recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 71, and displays information about group games to the user. Group game information display unit 73, display / operation unit 74 including a display panel and operation buttons, and registration by group ID for storing registration card information (such as card ID) for each group ID handled by the group check-in device 70 A card information storage unit 75, a recording medium holding unit 76 for holding the valuable recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 71 (reading the card ID recorded on the valuable recording medium C and writing the group ID) Medium R / W unit 76a) and the like to receive various information and send control signals. The power supply unit 77 receives power from the outside and supplies required power to the main control circuit 72 and the like.

  A group check-in request to the group check-in device 70 is made via the display / operation unit 74, and the group ID recording control means 72 a realized by the main control circuit 72 performs information exchange with the group information management server 51. Then, write control of the group ID for the input valuable value recording medium C is performed. In addition, when the group ID is managed only by the group information management server 51 and the system does not write the group ID in the valuable value recording medium C, an existing prepaid card or the like having no group ID writing area is used. It can be used to realize group games.

  Further, the group check-in device 70 is connected to the prepaid system management computer 50 (device functioning as the group information management server 51) via the external device connection relay board 78, and the card ID and the group ID as group game check-in information. Send and receive. The group information management server 51 receives customer attribute information corresponding to the card ID from the customer management system server 40, and totals group games.

  In addition, when a person who performs group check-in performs advance check-in at the team battle management server 110 existing outside the amusement hall, the group ID issued by the team battle management server 110 is stored in advance check-in information ( For example, a QR code reader 79 is provided in the group check-in device 70 so that the pre-check-in information can be taken in when the mobile phone 120 is stored and visited. After the applicant performs a predetermined group check-in operation, when the QR code displayed on the mobile phone 120 is held over the QR code reader 79, the QR code is read and decoded, and the group ID is decoded by the group management device 51. Check-in with this group ID becomes possible by sending to Unishi and may be. When the group check-in is performed with the group ID assigned by the team battle management server 110, the team battle check-in information is transmitted to the team battle management server 110 via the out-of-store network repeater 100. Anyway.

  Here, a specific example of the check-in process by the group check-in device 70 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the group check-in button provided on the display / operation unit 74 has been pressed (step S101). If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the recording medium holding unit 76 holds the valuable value recording medium C. (Step S102). Note that the valuable value information recording medium C handled in this system is a common medium that can be used for both the parent card and the child card, and was first inserted in the group check-in device 70 of this configuration example from the start of the check-in process. Although the valuable value recording medium C is registered as the parent card, the parent card may be specified regardless of the order of insertion.

  When it is confirmed in step S102 that the valuable value recording medium C serving as a parent card has been inserted, the card ID of the valuable value recording medium is inquired to the group information management server 51 (step S103). If it can be registered as a card, the group ID to be registered in the subsequent check-in process is transmitted from the group information management server 51. Therefore, this group ID is received (step S104), and the valuable value recording medium being thrown in The group ID is written in C and discharged (step S105).

  At the time of check-in by inserting the valuable value recording medium C as a parent card, the biometric information of the legitimate holder of this parent card is registered, and when this parent card is used (for example, when checking out a group game) Alternatively, biometric authentication may be required. The biometric information includes finger veins, palm veins, face information, etc. that can be collected in a non-contact manner with relatively little burden on the subject, as well as fingerprints, palm prints, voice prints, irises, lip prints, etc. You may use the information of the collection method accompanied by the person's active action. Also, when registering biometric information, it is possible to read biometric information a plurality of times so that biometric information can be registered reliably, so that erroneous determination does not occur during biometric authentication performed later.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the valuable recording medium C to be registered as a child card has been inserted (step S106). If the valuable recording medium C has been inserted, an issuing operation for issuing the valuable recording medium C as a child card is performed. (Step S107), and if there is an issuing operation, the group ID is written and ejected to the valuable value recording medium C being inserted (step S108), and the value registered as the child card of this group The card ID of the value recording medium C is notified to the group information management server 51 (step S109).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is an ending operation (step S110). If there is no ending operation yet, the child cards are continuously registered in steps S106 to S109, and all the valuable value recording media C constituting the group are registered. When the end operation is accepted, the group check-in process is terminated. At the start of the group check-in process, the total number of people in the group may be input, and the child card registration process corresponding to the number may be performed.

  Next, the CR unit 10 that can handle the valuable recording medium C in which the group check-in process is performed by the group check-in device 70 described above and the group ID is written, and the game medium borrowed by the CR unit 10 The CR gaming machine 20 capable of playing a game will be described. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the CR unit 10 and the CR gaming machine 20 (connected to the CR unit 10 on a one-to-one basis).

  The CR gaming machine 20 has various functions for performing a ball game using a game ball as a game medium, and a rental button operated by the player for requesting the rental of the game ball is provided at an appropriate position. 20a and a lendable lamp 20b that is turned on when the lending button is operable are provided. On the back side of the CR gaming machine 20, there is a main control device that performs the main control of the ball game, a sub-control device that controls the operation of the rendering surface such as display control and sound control, and a launch that controls the launch operation of the game ball. There are provided a control device, a game ball discharge device for discharging game balls as a prize and a game ball for lending, a discharge control device for controlling the discharge of game balls with respect to the game ball discharge device, and the like.

  The CR unit 10 is installed on one side of the CR gaming machine 20. On the front side of the CR unit 10, a money introduction port 11 a for inserting bills and coins, and a valuable value recording medium C such as a prepaid coin or a membership card are provided. A medium insertion / extraction port 11b to be inserted, a usable lamp 11c for displaying the state of the CR unit 10 itself (for example, its own usable state, abnormally stopped state, etc.) are provided.

  A main control circuit 12 that performs overall lending control of game balls is provided in the casing of the CR unit 10, and this main control circuit 12 responds to the amount of money inserted when a bill is inserted from the money insertion slot 11a. A predetermined amount set within the range of the remaining value of the valuable value recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 11b (by operating the lending button 20a of the CR gaming machine 20). A gaming medium lending signal corresponding to the lending request) is transmitted to the CR gaming machine 20, or a member service based on the card ID of the valuable value recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 11b (game balls are temporarily deposited) Various controls such as providing a storage service that can be withdrawn). When the CR unit 10 is in a state where it can receive a game medium lending request, the lendable lamp 20b provided in the CR gaming machine 20 is turned on to inform the player of that fact.

  Furthermore, the CR unit 10 has various functions for performing group games. A schematic configuration of the CR unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The CR unit 10 uses the function of the main control circuit 12 to issue a valuable value recording medium C corresponding to the amount of money M inserted from the money insertion slot 11a, or to record a valuable value input from the medium insertion / extraction port 11b. Based on the valuable value remaining in the medium C, the game ball lending control is performed.

  Further, the CR unit 10 is a group game in which a currency identification unit 13 for identifying the authenticity and amount of the inserted money M, a display / operation unit 14 including a display panel and an operation button, and a valuable value recording medium C are used as a group game. When the group ID is written in the group game entry display unit 15 indicating that the value is recorded, the group ID storage unit 16 that stores the group ID, and the medium insertion / extraction port 11b. It is connected to a recording medium holding unit 17 (including a medium R / W unit 17a for reading / rewriting recorded information recorded on the valuable value recording medium C) and the like for holding the input valuable value recording medium C. And receiving a control signal. The power supply unit 18 receives power supply from the outside and supplies required power to the main control circuit 12 and the like. In addition, in the case where the CR unit 10 performs voice notification, an audio signal generation unit and a speaker may be mounted.

  Further, the CR unit 10 is connected to the CR gaming machine 20, the hall computer 30, the customer management system server 40, the prepaid system management computer 50, etc. via the external device connection relay board 19.

  The CR unit 10 accepts the valuable value recording medium C and, according to the function of the main control circuit 12, at least controls the lending of the gaming medium that consumes the valuable value and adds the valuable value according to the money that has been input. Control is possible, and the consumption information accompanying the lending control and the payment information accompanying the charge control are transmitted as transaction information to the prepaid system management computer 50 (group information management server 51). At this time, if the group ID is recorded in the valuable value recording medium C being put in, the transaction information transmission unit 12b is operated so as to send the group information together with the transaction information by the function of the group game mode control unit 12a. In this way, the group information management apparatus 51 can generate a counting result reflecting consumption information and charge information.

  The CR gaming machine 20 connected to the CR unit 10 also has a function of operating in the group game mode during the group game. If the group game is being played, a group ID is added to the game information accompanying the game progress. In this system, the group information management server 51 receives game information or the like specified by the card ID in the group game from the hall computer 30 so that the group information management server 51 can transmit the group information. The game information during the game (from check-in to check-out) can be collected without omission.

  In addition, in group games, players in the same group compete with each other for game results (for example, the number of start times, the time until the first big hit, the investment amount up to the first big hit, the maximum number of consecutive big hits, etc.) It is also possible to compare the winning and losing criteria and determine the winning or losing in the group), or it can be a team competition game in which a plurality of groups enter. In the case of team competition, since the final game results of each group are compared with each other, it is possible to adopt a game progression form that allows mutual assistance within the group, for example, within the same group. It is also possible to share a certain amount of valuable value so that a gaming medium can be lent, or to share a ball so that someone's ball can be transferred to someone else within the group. Even if such a shared service in the group can be used while continuing to play games on the CR gaming machine 20, the CR units 10 used by players in the same group can communicate with each other. good.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the group checkout device 80 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The group checkout device 80 includes a main control circuit 82 that performs overall control of group games based on the group ID to the valuable value recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 81, and the group game total results Group game total result display unit 83 for displaying to the user, a display / operation unit 84 including a display panel and operation buttons, a group game total result print unit 85 for printing the group game total result on paper, and the group checkout device 80 Game result storage unit 86 for storing game results for each group ID handled in, and a recording medium holding unit 86 for holding the valuable recording medium C inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 81 (valuable recording medium C). Read out the card ID / group ID recorded on the medium R / E and erase the group ID upon completion of the group game R / Having parts 86a.) Is connected to a like, and sends a control signal which receives various information. The power supply unit 87 receives power supply from the outside and supplies necessary power to the main control circuit 82 and the like.

  The group checkout request to the group checkout device 80 is made by inserting the valuable attribute value recording medium C, and the group game end processing means 82a realized by the main control circuit 82 is an external device connection relay board. 78. The total number of group games collected and managed by the group ID to which the valuable value recording medium C of the parent attribute is transferred is exchanged with the prepaid system management computer 50 (group information management server 51) via 78. The result is received from the group information management server 51 and displayed on the group game total result display unit 83 or printed out from the group game total result print unit 85.

  The group information management server 51 receives game information (such as the number of jackpots and the number of exchanged balls) corresponding to all card IDs belonging to the group ID from the hall computer 40, and the collected information as the prepaid system management computer 50 By referring to the transaction information corresponding to all the card IDs belonging to the group ID, it is possible to appropriately count the game results of the group game.

  In addition, when a person who performs group check-out has received a group ID from the team battle management server 110 in order to enter the team battle game in the team battle management server 110 existing outside the amusement hall Displays the group game result as a QR code on the group game total result display unit 83, captures it with the mobile phone 120 with a camera, and transmits it from the mobile phone 120 to the team battle management server 110. You may be able to enter the battle. When a group game performed with the group ID assigned by the team competition management server 110 is checked out, the team competition checkout information is sent to the team competition management server 110 via the network relay 100 outside the store. You may make it transmit.

  Alternatively, the group checkout device 80 is configured to directly transmit the counting result to the team battle management site 110, and the team battle management site access information for referring to the tabulated result of the transmitted group ID is used as the team battle management site 110. The team competition management site access information display is displayed as a QR code on the group game total result display unit 83, and the QR code is captured by the mobile phone with camera 120, so that the total result of the team competition is displayed as a team competition. You may make it referable from the management site 110.

  Here, a specific example of the check-out process by the group check-out device 80 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the valuable value recording medium C has been inserted from the medium insertion / extraction port 81 (step S202). If the valuable value recording medium C has not yet been inserted, the process waits until the valuable value recording medium C is inserted. In the group checkout device 80 of the present configuration example, it is shown that the parent attribute value recording medium C (parent card) is inserted into the checkout, but the child attribute value recording medium C (child card) ) Has been inserted, the child card is ejected and the checkout process is terminated, so that the checkout by the child card is not executed.

  When it is confirmed in step S201 that the valuable value recording medium C is inserted, the card ID of the valuable value recording medium C is read (step S202), and the read card ID is inquired to the group information management server 51 (step S203). Information about the group ID to which this valuable value recording medium C belongs is received from the group information management server 51 (step S204). If the biometric information of the parent card holder is collected at the time of check-in, the biometric information registered as the owner of the input valuable value recording medium C is also received from the group information management server 51, and the biometric information is received. It may be possible to prevent group checkout by determining whether or not a parent card holder is appropriate by authentication and inserting a parent card by a person who is not a regular holder.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the group ID of the group to be checked out is valid (step S205). If it is determined that the group ID is valid, whether or not a cancel operation has been performed via the display / operation unit 84. If the cancel operation has not been received, it is determined whether or not a checkout operation has been performed (step S207). When there is a check-out operation, a group dissolution request is notified to the group information management server 51 (step S208), and the group game total result of this group is received from the group information management server 51 (step S209). A group game total result is presented (step S210). An example of a total result generated by the group information management server 51 is shown in FIG. The presentation of the group game total result may be only a screen display by the group game total result display unit 83 or a printout by the group game total result printing unit 85.

  After presenting the group game result as described above, the group ID recorded on the valuable value recording medium C by the check-out operation is erased (step S211), and the valuable value recording medium C is discharged ( Step S212), the checkout process is terminated. In the check-out process by the check-out device 80, only the group ID is deleted from the parent attribute information recording medium C, so that the group ID remains recorded in the child attribute information recording medium C. When the CR unit 10 that has entered the group game mode by inserting the valuable value recording medium C with the group ID recorded therein transmits the group ID to the group information management server 51, the group ID is invalid (checkout) Since the CR unit 10 erases the group ID recorded on the valuable value recording medium C having the child attribute and ends the group game mode, the group game is erroneously continued. There is no such thing.

  Next, a second embodiment of the information recording medium management system will be described with reference to FIG. The information recording medium management system according to the present embodiment enables a group game with a team battle management server 110 or the like as a team battle management device placed outside the game hall as an essential component. A group game is performed by making a preliminary check-in from the home PC 130 of a desired player to the team competition management server 110 via a public communication network (for example, the Internet) and going to a game store with the information of this preliminary check-in. Can be performed.

  The player uses the valuable value recording medium C possessed by himself to access the team battle site provided by the team battle management server 110 from the home PC 130 via the Internet and apply for group check-in. (Indicated in FIG. 9 by a solid line with circle 1). The team competition management device 110 centrally manages the total result of each team that is bundled by the group ID issued by the group check-in application, and the result of the group game actually performed at the amusement store is the team competition. Collected and totaled in the battle management server 110.

  Next, the group ID generated and issued by the team competition management server 110 is provided as, for example, entry information (QR code), and the entry information is downloaded by the mobile phone 120 (shown by a solid line in circle 2 in FIG. 9). ). That is, in the present embodiment, the home PC 130 and the mobile phone 120 connected to the team competition management server 110 via the public communication network cooperate with each other so that “group registration is requested to the team competition management apparatus in advance. By doing so, it functions as an “entry information mediating means for obtaining entry information including group identification information given by the team competition management device”. It is also possible to apply for group check-in using the mobile phone 120 possessed by the player and download the entry information using the mobile phone 120.

  After the entry information is obtained as described above, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 (terminal equipped with the functions of the group check-in device 70 and the group check-out device 80) of the game hall is carried by the QR code reader. The QR code displayed on the telephone 120 is read to convey entry information, and each valuable recording medium C of the group members is sequentially inserted and subjected to a check-in process (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9). . Upon receiving this, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 notifies the check-in information (group ID and each card ID) to the prepaid system management computer 50 (including the group information management server 51) (circle 4 in FIG. 9). (Indicated by a solid line).

  In this way, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 having the function of the group check-in device is configured to read “This is based on the fact that there is group specifying information input via the entry information mediating means at the time of the group check-in request. Since the group identification information is recorded on each information recording medium to be grouped and the identifier of each information recording medium and the group identification information are associated with each other and transmitted to the group information management apparatus ”, it is limited to one game arcade. Accordingly, a plurality of teams that have entered the team battle management server 110 and have been assigned group IDs can check in at a plurality of game halls and play a game, thereby realizing a large-scale team battle. .

  When the check-in of the group game is completed, each player puts the valuable value recording medium C into the CR unit 10 in order to play the game with his / her favorite game machine 20 (indicated by a solid line in circle 5 in FIG. 9). The transaction information and game information associated with the card ID and group ID of the valuable value recording medium C are collected and managed by the group information management server 51.

  At the end of the group game, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 receives the group check-out request by inserting the valuable attribute value recording medium C into the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 and making a group check-out request. The group game result corresponding to the requested group ID is received from the group information management server 51 (indicated by a solid line with a circle 6 in FIG. 9).

  In the present embodiment, group check-out is possible using the parent attribute value recording medium C. Therefore, the child attribute value recording medium C is inserted into the CR unit 10 when the group check-out process is performed. There may be a case where the game is continued on the CR gaming machine 20 as it is. In such a case, how to summarize the aggregation results is an arbitrary design matter, but for example, the update of game information etc. will be closed when a checkout request is received, and subsequent transactions and games will be grouped The total result may be generated without entering, or the machine number in the game may be displayed, and the checkout process may be suspended until the valuable value recording medium C is discharged. When the gaming state at the game machine number satisfies the condition for forcible termination, the valuable value recording medium C is forcibly ejected to terminate the game, and the checkout process is performed. Also good.

  The tabulation result to be presented upon completion of the checkout process is provided as a QR code by screen display or printing (indicated by a solid line in circle 7 in FIG. 9), and this QR code is photographed by the mobile phone 120 with a camera. As a result, the total number of group games can be taken into the mobile phone 120 and uploaded to the team competition management server 110 (shown by a solid line in FIG. 9).

  In this way, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 having the function of the group check-out device “presents the total result of the group that has received the check-out request so as to be able to provide information to the team competition management device. Therefore, even when a game is played in a game arcade where it is not possible to directly transmit the total result from the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 to the team battle management server 110, it is possible to participate in the team battle.

  As described above, after the group game count result is transmitted to the team competition management server 110, the team competition ranking or the like can be confirmed by accessing the team competition management server 130 from the home PC 130. FIG. 10 shows an example of a team competition battle ranking display provided by the team competition battle management server 110. It should be noted that it is convenient if the ranking display mode can be arbitrarily designated from the player's home PC 130.

  Next, a third embodiment of the information recording medium management system will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the information recording medium management system according to the second embodiment described above, the information recording medium management system according to this embodiment also requires the team battle management server 110 as a team battle management device placed outside the game hall. As a configuration, a group game is enabled, but the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ can access the team battle management server 110 via the public communication network.

  Since the player does not need to register in advance in the team competition management server 110, he or she goes directly to the amusement hall and uses the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 'to represent the representative of the players making up the team. Group registration is performed so as to be an attribute (indicated by a solid line with a circle 1 in FIG. 11). As in the second embodiment described above, advance check-in is performed from the home PC 130 of the player who desires group games to the team competition management server 110 via a public communication network (for example, the Internet) (FIG. 11). Middle, indicated by a broken line with a circle 1 '), it is possible to go to the game hall with the entry information and check it in.

  Upon receipt of the group check-in request, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ transmits the card ID of the valuable attribute value recording medium C as group game check-in information to the group information management server 51 (in FIG. 11, The group information management server 51 generates a group ID and transmits it to the group check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ (indicated by a solid line in circle 3 in FIG. 11). In addition, when the group ID is generated and used for each amusement store without centrally managing the group ID in the team competition management server 110, for example, the group ID may be generated so as to include the ID of each amusement store. For example, the group ID can be avoided from overlapping.

  When the check-in of the group game is completed, each player puts the valuable value recording medium C into the CR unit 10 in order to play the game with his / her favorite game machine 20 (indicated by a solid line with a circle 4 in FIG. 11). The transaction information and game information associated with the card ID and group ID of the valuable value recording medium C are collected and managed by the group information management server 51.

  At the end of the group game, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ becomes a group check-out request by putting the valuable attribute value recording medium C into the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ and making a group check-out request. A group game result corresponding to the group ID requested to be checked out is received from the group information management server 51 (indicated by a solid line with a circle 5 in FIG. 11).

  The total results of group games presented by the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 'upon completion of the check-out process are provided as a QR code by screen display or printing, or printed out in a readable table format, etc. (Omitted in FIG. 11). In addition to this, in this embodiment, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 'presents the team competition site access code (QR code) on the screen display or paper printing (indicated by the solid line 6 in FIG. 11). In addition, the group game count result is transmitted to the team competition management server 110 (indicated by a solid line 7 in FIG. 11). When the QR code presented on the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ is photographed by the mobile phone 120 with a camera, the team battle site access code (site URL, group ID, etc.) is taken into the mobile phone 120. The team battle management server 110 can be accessed (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 11), and it can be confirmed that the team battle battle has been entered.

  In this way, the check-in / check-out shared terminal 140 ′ having the function of the group check-out device “printing means for printing and displaying the total result of the group that has received the check-out request on paper” and “ It has a function of “total result transmission means for transmitting the total results to the team competition management device together with the group identification information”, and “the team competition result supplied by the team competition management device on the paper for printing the total results” Since the reference information is printed together, the team competition result provided by the team competition management device can be easily referred to from the team competition result reference information. In addition, since the total result printed on the paper and the team competition result reference information can be obtained at the game hall, even if the team competition site access code is inadvertently deleted from the cellular phone 120, the cellular phone 12 It is safe because it can be input again.

  As described above, after the group game count result is transmitted to the team competition management server 110, the ranking of the team competition can be confirmed by accessing the team competition management server 130 from the home PC 130 (see FIG. 11 is indicated by a solid line with a circle 9). Of course, the ranking may be referred to from the mobile phone 120.

  As described above, the embodiments of the information recording medium management system according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the inclusion scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and a well-known existing technique is appropriately converted. It may be realized by doing.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an information recording medium management system capable of realizing a group game. It is a schematic block diagram of a group check-in apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the group check-in process by a group check-in apparatus. It is an external appearance perspective view of CR unit and CR gaming machine. It is a schematic block diagram of CR unit. It is a schematic block diagram of a group checkout apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the group checkout process by a group checkout apparatus. It is an example of a display of the total result by a group information management device. It is an outline explanatory view of an information recording medium management system concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is an example of a display of the ranking result which a team competition management server provides. It is an outline explanatory view of an information recording medium management system concerning a 3rd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 CR unit (game media lending device)
20 CR gaming machine 30 Hall computer 40 Customer management system server 50 Prepaid system management computer 51 Group information management server 70 Group check-in device 80 Group check-out device C Value recording medium

Claims (6)

In an information recording medium management system that uses an information recording medium, the game medium used in a gaming machine installed in a game hall can be lent.
A group of management target information associated with a regular information recording medium in which an identifier capable of specifying an individual information recording medium that can be used in the game hall is recorded based on group setting information that can be arbitrarily set A group information management device managed in units,
A group check-in device that records the group identification information on an information recording medium that has received a group check-in request and associates the identifier of the information recording medium with the group identification information and transmits the group identification information to the group information management device;
Based on accepting an information recording medium in which group specific information is recorded by the group check-in device, a game medium lending device for sending group specific information together with transaction information related to game medium lending,
By sending the group identification information of the information recording medium that has received the group checkout request to the group information management apparatus, the total result of totaling the management target information groups of all information recording media belonging to the group is received from the group information management apparatus. A group checkout device for presenting the counting results;
An information recording medium management system comprising:   The gaming medium lending device accepts an information recording medium on which a valuable value used for renting a gaming medium is recorded, and at least controls the lending of the gaming medium performed by consuming the valuable value, and the valuable value corresponding to the money that has been input. It is possible to charge control to add, and consumption information accompanying lending control and deposit information accompanying charge control are sent as transaction information together with group identification information recorded on the information recording medium being put in. The information recording medium management system according to claim 1.   The group check-out device accepts a group check-out request on condition that a parent attribute information recording medium given only to one information recording medium is inserted as a representative in a group bound by group specifying information. The information recording medium management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A team battle management device that collectively manages the counting results for each team bound by the group identification information recorded in the information recording medium;
Entry information mediating means for obtaining entry information including group identification information given from the team competition management device by requesting group registration in advance to the team competition management device;
Including
The group check-in device records the group specifying information on each information recording medium to be grouped based on the fact that there is group specifying information input via the entry information mediating means at the time of the group check-in request. 4. The information recording medium management according to claim 1, wherein an identifier of each information recording medium and group identification information are associated with each other and transmitted to the group information management apparatus. system.   5. The information recording medium management according to claim 4, wherein the group check-out device presents a total result of the groups that have received the check-out request so that information can be provided to the team competition management device. system. The group checkout device includes a printing unit that prints and presents a tabulation result of a group that has received a checkout request, and a tabulation that transmits the tabulation result of the group together with group identification information to the team competition management device. A result transmission means;
5. The information recording medium management according to claim 4, wherein the team competition result reference information supplied by the team competition management device is printed together on a sheet of paper on which the counting results are printed. system.

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