JP5275097B2 - Game medium lending device and game medium lending system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To divide a part of a game value stored by electronic data and distribute the same to other people. <P>SOLUTION: When a storage medium where a game value is written is charged, loan of game medium can be received according to the game value. When the game medium is acquired in a game, the game media are counted and reflected on the game value. When a request to the effect that some of the game value is divided is given, a designated amount of game value is written to the storage medium charged by a game customer and returned. The remaining game value is distributed to the game value of the storage medium previously stored inside to continue the game. Thus, the storage medium where some of the game value is divided and written can be distributed to other people. At this time, the game value is written not to the stored storage medium, but written to the storage medium charged by the game customer, which is dispensed to thereby simplify the structure and control of the game medium loaning apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for lending game media used for playing games in a game hall such as a so-called game hall or game center.

  In a game hall in which a plurality of game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are set, a dedicated game medium (such as a game ball or game medal) is borrowed to play a game. When borrowing game media, it is necessary to pay a fee to the game hall, but the game media acquired by the game can be used again for the game. Therefore, the game can be continued as long as the game medium is not used up. In addition, when it is desired to change the game table during the game, the game medium remaining at hand can be moved to another game table. When the game is ended with the game medium left, the game medium is not allowed to be taken home for later use, but the remaining game medium can be exchanged for a prize.

  Here, when the amount of game media acquired by the player becomes large, it is difficult to move with the game media to change the game table or to move with the game media to exchange for the prize. Become. Further, unless the acquired game medium is exchanged for a prize, it will be stacked around the acquired player, so that it will get in the way of other players, such as by protruding into the hall of the game hall.

  Thus, it has been proposed to store game media acquired by the player in the form of electronic data (for example, Patent Document 1). Since it is not bulky if it is in the form of electronic data, even if a large amount of game media is acquired, there is no need to pile up around the player. Further, when moving the game table, electronic data obtained by counting the game media is written in a recording medium such as a card or a coin, and the recording medium is paid out to the player. If it carries out like this, it can move to another game stand with the paid-out storage medium, and a game can be started by throwing the storage medium into a new game stand. Since a recording medium in which electronic data is written can be easily carried around, it is possible to easily move the game stand or exchange it for a prize.

  Alternatively, a technique has been proposed in which, when a game is terminated with electronic data remaining, the remaining electronic data can be deposited in a game hall (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Publication No.51-17106 JP 2002-273022 A

  However, with these proposed technologies, the game medium stored in the form of electronic data is written to the storage medium for the first time when the game on the game table is terminated, and is thus acquired. There is a problem that a part of the game media cannot be shared with other people. For example, when visiting a game hall with a friend, it is extremely rare for each person to use the rented game media almost at the same time, and those who have acquired a large amount of game media have used up the game media. It is normal for a person to occur. In such a case, when a part of the acquired game medium is shared so that a friend can continue the game, the game is temporarily ended in order to write the game medium stored in the form of electronic data to the storage medium. Must. Furthermore, since the electronic data is written in one storage medium, the storage medium is brought into, for example, a game hall counter, and the stored electronic data is exchanged for an actual game medium. It is necessary to share a part of As described above, the proposed technique has a problem that it is difficult to share a part of the acquired game medium with another person.

  In addition, these problems are not limited to playing games on pachinko machines or slot machines such as pachinko machines in the game hall, but games using game machines such as game centers and casinos can be used to play games. It can occur in the same way when done.

  The present invention has been made in response to the above-described problems in the prior art, and it is possible to easily divide and give a part of a game medium acquired in a game and stored in the form of electronic data. The aim is to provide possible technology.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the game medium lending apparatus of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
When a storage medium that is provided for each gaming device that uses a gaming medium and is written with a gaming value for receiving the gaming medium is inserted, the gaming medium is lent according to the gaming value. A gaming medium lending device that pays out to the gaming device,
Game value storage means for reading the game value associated with the input storage medium from the input storage medium, which is the input storage medium, and storing it as the game value of the input storage medium;
Game value subtracting means for subtracting the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium from the game value of the input storage medium each time the game medium to be lent is paid out;
A game value adding means for adding the game value corresponding to the state of acquisition of the game medium to the game value of the input storage medium when the game medium is acquired by a game on the game table;
Storage medium storage means for storing a plurality of the storage media for each gaming device;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting a specified amount of game value from among the game values of the input storage medium, the specified value of game value is written to the input storage medium, the input storage medium is returned, and the remaining And a game value distribution and granting means for storing the game value as a game value associated with the stored storage medium.

  In such a game medium lending device of the present invention, when a storage medium in which a game value is written is inserted, the game value is read from the input storage medium and stored as the game value of the input storage medium. Here, the game value written in the storage medium is not limited to the game value itself, but may be information that can be indirectly converted into the game value. When the game medium is lent, the game value of the stored input storage medium is reduced by the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium, and the game medium is acquired by the game. Counts the game value corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium, and increases the game value of the input storage medium by the counted game value. Thus, every time there is a payout of the lent game media or a count of the acquired game media, it is reflected in the game value of the input storage medium, and at the end of the game, the game value is stored in the input storage medium input by the player. Write and return. In addition, the game medium lending apparatus of the present invention stores a plurality of storage media in advance, and requests (divided) to divide a specified amount of game value from the stored game values of the input storage medium. Request), the specified amount of game value is written and returned to the input storage medium input by the player, and the remaining game value is stored as the game value of the stored storage medium. Yes. That is, when there is a request for dividing the game value, the input storage medium (original storage medium) having the game value is ejected as a divided storage medium having a specified amount of game value to be divided. Then, the remaining game value is taken over by the stored storage medium, and the storage medium becomes the original storage medium. The size of game value to be divided (specified amount) may be explicitly specified, but a standard specified amount is set in advance, and if there is no explicit specification, standard specification The game value may be divided assuming that the amount is specified.

  In this way, the game media acquired by the game can be converted into game value, and the game value can be borrowed using the game value as necessary, so even if a large amount of game media is acquired , You only need to leave a few game media at hand. Further, if necessary, a part of the game value can be divided and written to the input storage medium and returned to another person. Furthermore, at this time, the divided game value is written and returned not to the storage medium stored in advance but to the input storage medium input by the player. Although the detailed reason will be described later, this makes it possible to simplify the structure and control of the game medium lending device.

  The “game value” can be not only a value for receiving a loan of a game medium but also a privilege given to a player in connection with a game on a game device. For example, the contents and number of game media acquired by a game (the number of balls in the case of a pachinko machine), and if the acquired game media can be deposited at a game hall, the content and number of game media deposited (In the case of a pachinko machine, the number of stored balls), the content and number of points, the content and characteristics of avatars and characters, the number, etc., various benefits can be provided depending on the type of gaming device. The “gaming medium” is a medium used for playing a game on a gaming device, and various media can be considered according to the type of gaming device, such as balls, medals, and the like. In addition, the division of the game value is not limited to two divisions, and three or more divisions can be handled. Furthermore, the “game device” may be a pachinko machine, a slot machine, a casino machine, various game devices for arcade or home use, and the like.

Also, in today's game halls such as game halls, a terminal device that is provided for each gaming device and lends gaming media and a control device constitute one gaming media lending system via a communication line. It is normal. And this invention can also be grasped | ascertained also with the aspect of such a game media rental system. That is, the gaming medium lending system of the present invention grasped in such a manner,
A game device for receiving a loan of the game medium is provided, including a terminal device provided for each game device that uses a game medium and a control device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. When the stored storage medium is inserted into the terminal device, a gaming medium lending system for paying out the gaming medium to the gaming apparatus in order to lend the gaming medium according to the gaming value,
The terminal device
A storage medium holding unit for holding the input storage medium that is the input storage medium;
The game value written in the input storage medium and the unique identification code given to the input storage medium are read from the input storage medium held in the storage medium holding unit, Medium information output means for outputting;
The game medium lent to the player is paid out, and the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium is output to the control device in order to reflect the payout of the game medium in the game value of the input storage medium. A game medium payout means;
When the game medium is acquired by a game on the game device, the control is performed by counting the game value corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in order to reflect the result on the game value of the input storage medium. Game medium counting means for outputting to the device;
When receiving the discharge request for the input storage medium, the control device is requested to output the game value associated with the input storage medium, and the game value received from the control device is stored in the storage medium. A storage medium discharge means for discharging to the outside of the terminal device after writing to the input storage medium held in the unit,
The controller is
A management table storage means for storing in advance a management table in which the identification codes for a plurality of the storage media are associated with the game values written in the storage media;
When the identification code and the game value are received from the terminal device, it is determined whether or not the identification code and the game value stored in the management table are matched. Game value association means for associating the terminal device with the game value of the management table;
A game value subtracting means for subtracting the received game value from the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table when receiving the game value corresponding to the game medium payout state from the terminal device When,
When the game value counted by the terminal device is received corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in the game device, the received game value is converted to the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table. Game value addition means for adding to
In response to a request from the terminal device, game value output means for outputting the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table to the terminal device, and
In the terminal device,
A storage medium storage unit that stores a plurality of the storage media and receives the request to supply the storage media when the storage medium is supplied to the storage medium holding unit;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting the specified value of the game value, the fact and the specified amount are output to the control device, and the specified amount is stored in the input storage for the storage medium ejecting means. A discharge request for writing to the medium and discharging is output, and further, a supply request for supplying the stored storage medium to the storage medium holding unit is output to the storage medium storage means. And a dividing operation executing means for executing the gaming value dividing operation is provided,
In the control device,
When receiving the split request and the specified amount from the terminal device, the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table is rewritten to the specified amount, and then received from the terminal device. Also provided is a game value distribution granting means for rewriting the game value stored in the management table in association with the identification code to the remaining game value obtained by subtracting the designated amount from the game value before rewriting. This is the gist.

  In such a game medium lending system of the present invention, similarly to the conventional game medium lending system, a terminal device provided for each game device and a control device connected to the terminal device via a communication line are provided. It has been. In the terminal device, when the storage medium is inserted, the storage medium is held in the storage medium holding unit, the game value and the identification code are read, and the read game value and the identification code are output to the control device. In the game medium lending system, the game value written to the storage medium is not limited to the game value itself, but may be information that can be indirectly converted into the game value. The control device stores in advance a management table in which identification codes for a plurality of storage media are associated with game values written on the storage media. When the game value and the identification code are received from the terminal device, it is determined whether or not they match the contents stored in the management table. If they match, the terminal device and the management table Correspond with game value. Thus, after the terminal device is associated with the game value of the management table, the game value corresponding to the payout state of the game medium is controlled every time the game device lent to the player is paid out by the terminal device. It is output to the device and reflected in the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table. Further, when a game medium is acquired by a game, the game value corresponding to the state of acquisition of the game medium is counted, the counted game value is output to the control device, and is associated with the terminal device in the management table. It is reflected in the game value. When the input storage medium is discharged, the terminal device requests the control device to output the game value associated with the input storage medium, and receives the game value of the input storage medium from the control device. In the terminal device, the received game value is written in and discharged from the input storage medium held in the storage medium holding unit.

  Here, in the game medium lending system of the present invention, it is possible to specify to the terminal device that the game value of the input storage medium is to be divided. When the game value is specified to be divided, the terminal device and the control device perform the following processing. First, when the terminal device receives a request to divide the game value, the terminal device outputs the fact and the designated amount of the game medium to be divided to the control device. Then, after a specified amount of game value is written on the input storage medium input by the player and discharged from the storage medium holding unit, the storage medium stored in advance is used instead of the discharged input storage medium. To supply. Thus, when the game value dividing operation is performed and a new storage medium is supplied to the storage medium holding unit, the game value and the identification code of the storage medium are read and output to the control device. Further, when the control device receives a request for dividing the game value from the terminal device, the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table is changed to the game value amount (specified amount) designated to be divided. rewrite. Then, the remaining divided game value is stored in the management table in association with the identification code received from the terminal device, so that the game value is distributed and assigned to other storage media.

  Also in such a game medium lending system of the present invention, the game medium acquired by the game can be converted into the game value, and the game value can be lent using the game value as necessary. Further, by comparing the identification code and game value of the inserted storage medium with the management table, when an unauthorized storage medium is inserted, this can be immediately detected. Further, if necessary, a part of the game value can be divided, written to the input storage medium and discharged, and a part of the game value can be given to others. At this time, the divided game value is not written and given to the storage medium stored in advance, but is written and given to the input storage medium so that the structure and control of the terminal device are simplified. Can do. In addition, when a part of the game value is divided and given to another person, the control device uses the game value associated with the identification code of the input storage medium in the management table as the identification of another storage medium. The code is also distributed. For this reason, even if the thrown-in storage medium is given to another person, the correspondence between the identification code of the storage medium and the game value can be correctly reflected in the management table. As a result, when the storage medium is inserted into the terminal device while the game value is divided, the input storage medium is checked by checking the identification code and game value of the storage medium against the management table. It is possible to immediately detect whether or not it is appropriate.

The above-described game medium lending apparatus of the present invention can be grasped in the following manner. That is,
When a storage medium that is provided for each gaming device that uses a gaming medium and is written with a gaming value for receiving the gaming medium is inserted, the gaming medium is lent according to the gaming value. A gaming medium lending device that pays out to the gaming device,
Game value storage means for reading the game value associated with the input storage medium from the input storage medium, which is the input storage medium, and storing it as the game value of the input storage medium;
Game value subtracting means for subtracting the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium from the game value of the input storage medium each time the game medium to be lent is paid out;
A game value adding means for adding the game value corresponding to the state of acquisition of the game medium to the game value of the input storage medium when the game medium is acquired by a game on the game table;
Storage medium storage means for storing a plurality of the storage media for each gaming device;
When a split request for dividing a specified amount of game value from the game value of the input storage medium is received, the game value of the input storage medium at the time of the split request is stored with the input storage medium. In order to distribute to the storage medium, for the input storage medium and the stored storage medium, respectively, the specified value of the game value and the specified value of game from the game value of the input storage medium at the time of the division request. As a game medium lending device that gives the remaining game value after deducting the value, and replaces the information specifying the input storage medium given to the input storage medium with the storage medium assigned the remaining game value It is also possible to grasp.

Alternatively, the game medium lending device of the present invention described above can be grasped in the following manner. That is,
When a storage medium that is provided for each gaming device that uses a gaming medium and is written with a gaming value for receiving the gaming medium is inserted, the gaming medium is lent according to the gaming value. A gaming medium lending device that pays out to the gaming device,
The game value associated with the input storage medium and the player information that is information relating to the player having the game value are read from the input storage medium that is the input storage medium, and the game of the input storage medium Game value storage means for storing value and player information;
Game value subtracting means for subtracting the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium from the game value of the input storage medium each time the game medium to be lent is paid out;
A game value adding means for adding the game value corresponding to the state of acquisition of the game medium to the game value of the input storage medium when the game medium is acquired by a game on the game table;
Storage medium storage means for storing a plurality of the storage media for each gaming device;
When a split request for dividing a specified amount of game value from the game value of the input storage medium is received, the game value of the input storage medium at the time of the split request is stored with the input storage medium. In order to distribute to the storage medium, for the input storage medium and the stored storage medium, respectively, the specified value of the game value and the specified value of game from the game value of the input storage medium at the time of the division request. It is also possible to grasp the game information lending apparatus that gives the remaining game value after deducting the value and replaces the player information of the input storage medium with the storage medium to which the remaining game value is given.

  It should be noted that the player information used in the game medium lending apparatus of this aspect is sufficient as long as it is information relating to a player having a game value. For example, a nickname, initials, numbers, and alphabets set by the player himself / herself are sufficient. Etc. can be used. Alternatively, a membership number issued by the game hall can be used. Furthermore, this member number may be a member number that requires registration of personally identifiable information (personal information, etc.) such as name and date of birth. However, it may be a simple membership number that can be issued by registering information (for example, telephone number, initial of name, etc.) that can roughly identify the person.

Furthermore, the above-described game medium lending system of the present invention can be grasped in the following manner. That is,
A game device for receiving a loan of the game medium is provided, including a terminal device provided for each game device that uses a game medium and a control device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. When the stored storage medium is inserted into the terminal device, a gaming medium lending system for paying out the gaming medium to the gaming apparatus in order to lend the gaming medium according to the gaming value,
The terminal device
A storage medium holding unit for holding the input storage medium that is the input storage medium;
The control unit reads out the game value written in the input storage medium and player information that is information about the player having the game value from the input storage medium held in the storage medium holding unit, and performs the control Medium information output means for outputting to the apparatus;
The game medium lent to the player is paid out, and the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium is output to the control device in order to reflect the payout of the game medium in the game value of the input storage medium. A game medium payout means;
When the game medium is acquired by a game on the game device, the control is performed by counting the game value corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in order to reflect the result on the game value of the input storage medium. Game medium counting means for outputting to the device;
When receiving the discharge request for the input storage medium, the control device is requested to output the game value associated with the input storage medium, and the game value received from the control device is stored in the storage medium. A storage medium discharge means for discharging to the outside of the terminal device after writing to the input storage medium held in the unit,
The controller is
Management table storage means for storing in advance a management table in which the player information written in the storage medium and the game value associated with the player information are associated with each other for a plurality of the game media When,
When the player information and the game value are received from the terminal device, it is determined whether or not the player information and the game value stored in the management table are matched. A game value association means for associating the terminal device with the game value of the management table;
A game value subtracting means for subtracting the received game value from the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table when receiving the game value corresponding to the game medium payout state from the terminal device When,
When the game value counted by the terminal device is received corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in the game device, the received game value is converted to the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table. Game value addition means for adding to
In response to a request from the terminal device, game value output means for outputting the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table to the terminal device, and
In the terminal device,
A storage medium storage unit that stores a plurality of the storage media and receives the request to supply the storage media when the storage medium is supplied to the storage medium holding unit;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting the specified value of the game value, the fact and the specified amount are output to the control device, and the specified amount is stored in the input storage for the storage medium ejecting means. A discharge request for writing to the medium and discharging is output, and further, a supply request for supplying the stored storage medium to the storage medium holding unit is output to the storage medium storage means. And a dividing operation executing means for executing the gaming value dividing operation is provided,
In the control device,
When receiving the split request and the specified amount from the terminal device, the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table is rewritten to the specified amount, and then received from the terminal device. There is provided game value distribution giving means for rewriting the game value stored in the management table in association with the player information to the remaining game value obtained by subtracting the designated amount from the game value before rewriting. It can also be understood as a game media lending system.

It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that the game stand 10 and the ball lending machine 20 were installed adjacently. It is explanatory drawing which showed the internal structure seeing the ball lending machine 20 from the side surface side. It is a flowchart of the ball management process using the coin which the ball lending machine 20 of 1st Example performs. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal structure of a coin unit 120 mounted on a ball lending machine 20. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the motion of the coin inserted into the coin unit 120 from the coin insertion slot. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that the coin in which the number-of-balls data was written by the adjustment process is discharged | emitted from the coin return port. It is a flowchart of the possession ball division | segmentation process performed with the ball lending machine 20 of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the screen for holding ball division displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that the distribution provision of the correspondence of a coin and the number-of-balls data generate | occur | produces by carrying out a ball division. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the coin unit 130 which does not require the change of the correspondence of a coin and the number-of-balls data. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the some ball lending machine 20 was connected with the network and comprised the ball lending system 200. FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the outline | summary of the ball management which the ball lending system 200 of 2nd Example performs using a coin. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a management table stored in a server 210. FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the process which the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210 perform in order to divide the possession in the ball lending system 200 of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that distribution | distribution provision of the number-of-ball number data occurred within a management table, when performing the ball division | segmentation with the ball rental system of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the internal structure of the coin unit 160 which has a different channel | path structure.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. First embodiment:
A-1. Device configuration:
A-2. The coin management process using coins in the first embodiment:
A-3. Mochitama division processing of the first embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
B-1. System configuration:
B-2. The coin management process using coins in the second embodiment:
B-3. Mochitama division processing of the second embodiment:

A. First Example:
A-1. Device configuration :
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a gaming machine 10 installed in a gaming hall and a ball lending machine 20 installed next to the gaming machine 10. In the first embodiment described below, the ball lending machine 20 corresponds to a game medium lending device. As is well known, the game table 10 is provided with a large game board 12 in the center, and a game is played by firing a game ball on the game board 12. In order to fire the game ball, the game ball is thrown into the upper plate 14 protruding from the lower part of the game board 12 toward the front side, and the launch handle 16 provided on the lower right side is rotated clockwise. Then, the game ball is automatically launched toward the game board 12 with the strength corresponding to the rotation angle of the launch handle 16. In addition, the game balls (balls) acquired by the game are paid out to a lower plate 18 provided below the upper plate 14.

  Next to the game machines 10, one ball lending machine 20 is installed in each game machine 10. As shown, on the front side of the ball lending machine 20 (the side facing the player), there are a liquid crystal monitor 22, a card insertion slot 24, operation buttons 25, a ball dispensing nozzle 40, a coin insertion slot 26, A coin return port 28, a ball counting port 50, and the like are provided. The liquid crystal monitor 22 is a so-called touch panel type monitor. When the player operates the panel, various game data is displayed, the ball lending machine 20 is instructed to operate, or the ball lending machine 20 is operated. Can be connected to the Internet to display various information. The card insertion slot 24 can insert various cards such as a prepaid card and a membership card. When a player inserts these cards, the data recorded on the card is automatically transmitted by the ball lending machine 20. Can be read. The operation buttons 25 perform basic operations of the ball lending machine 20 such as paying out a game ball (rental ball) to be lent, returning the inserted card, and further, adjusting the number of balls when the game ends. It is provided for. The balls lent by operating the operation buttons 25 are paid out from the ball dispensing nozzle 40 to the upper plate 14 of the game table 10.

  A game is played using the balls lent in this way, and the game balls (out balls) acquired as a result are paid out to the lower plate 18. Although the number of game balls stored in the lower plate 18 is limited, when a lever (not shown) provided on the lower plate 18 is operated, the game balls stored in the lower plate 18 are thrown into the ball counting port 50. Thus, the counting is performed by each unit counting unit mounted on the ball lending machine 20. The number of balls of the game ball thus counted is stored as electronic data of the possession balls (hereinafter referred to as possession number data), and if the possession balls remain, the operation buttons 25 described above are used. By operating, it becomes possible to receive a payout of a ball. In addition, when the user wants to end the game and move to another game table 10, the user can pay out one coin from the coin return slot 28 by operating the above-described operation buttons 25 to designate the settlement of the holding ball. It has become. This coin contains an IC chip, and the number of possession balls acquired by the player is written therein. For this reason, when a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 of the ball lending machine 20 provided adjacent to the gaming machine 10 after moving to another gaming machine 10 with the paid-out coins, the coin IC The number-of-balls data written on the chip is read, and the game can be started on the new game table 10.

  In the present specification, in order to avoid complicated explanation, the number-of-balls data is described as data on the number of game balls. However, in actuality, it is sufficient for the number-of-balls data to be data that can be indirectly converted into the number of game balls, and it is not always necessary to be data of the number of game balls. The following advantages can be obtained if the number-of-handed-ball data is set as data representing such an abstract value. In other words, today, not only game halls in which the number of game balls to be rented at the same fee are set differently depending on the game table, and game tables where games are played using game balls, but also game medals are used. There are an increasing number of game halls where game machines are also installed. In such a game hall, if the number-of-balls data is used as data representing abstract value, for example, the number-of-balls data of a game stand that plays with a game ball is written in coins, and a game with a game medal is played. It is possible to start a game by moving to a table, or to start a game by moving to a game table with a different number of game balls lent at the same fee.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the ball lending machine 20 when the ball lending machine 20 is viewed from the side. As shown in the drawing, in the ball lending machine 20, a ball supply mechanism 140 for supplying game balls to the ball dispensing nozzle 40, a coin unit 120 for receiving and returning inserted coins, A ball counting unit 150 for counting the number of balls of the game balls thrown into the ball counting port 50, a control unit 100 for controlling the entire ball lending machine 20, and the like are mounted. Among these, the ball supply mechanism 140 is configured around a game ball supply passage 142 that supplies game balls taken from the ball take-in opening opened on the upper surface of the ball lending machine 20 to the ball dispensing nozzle 40. In the middle of the supply passage 142, a ball cutting device 144 that supplies a predetermined number of game balls, a ball presence detection sensor 146 that detects the presence or absence of a game ball supplied to the ball cutting device 144, and a downstream side of the ball cutting device 144. A clogging detection sensor 148 for detecting whether or not a game ball is clogged is provided. The control unit 100 is mounted with various LSI chips such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM. Further, a coin passage for guiding coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 to the coin return slot 28 is formed inside the coin unit 120, and a plurality of coins may be stocked in advance. It is possible. The internal structure of the coin unit 120 will be described in detail later.

  As described above, the ball lending machine 20 pays out the balls obtained by playing the coins as coin count data, and pays out the balls by reading the coin count data from the inserted coins. Can do. In the ball lending machine 20 of the first embodiment, it is possible to execute the process of managing the balls using such coins by the ball lending machine 20 alone. Below, in order to implement | achieve such a thing, the process (ball management process) currently performed inside the ball lending machine 20 of 1st Example is demonstrated.

A-2. The coin management process using coins in the first embodiment:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the ball management process performed inside the ball lending machine 20 of the first embodiment for managing the ball with coins. This process is a process executed centering on the control unit 100 mounted in the ball lending machine 20. In the following, according to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the contents of the coin management process using coins in the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in the figure, in the possession management process of the first embodiment, first, it is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 (step S100). A sensor (not shown) is provided inside the coin insertion slot 26 so that it can be detected immediately when a coin is inserted. If it is determined that no coin has been inserted (S100: no), it is determined whether or not a game ball (out) has been inserted into the ball counter 50 mounted on the ball lending machine 20 ( Step S102). The game ball thrown into the ball counting port 50 is guided to the ball counting unit 150 through the passage, and a sensor (not shown) is provided in the middle of the passage, and the game ball is placed in the ball counting port 50. Can be immediately detected. As a result, when it is determined that no game ball is inserted into the ball counting slot 50 (step S102: no), the process returns to the beginning again to determine whether or not a coin has been inserted (step S100).

  In the ball management process using coins in the first embodiment, such a determination is repeated until a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 26 or a game ball is inserted into the ball counting slot 50. If it is determined that a coin has been inserted (step S100: yes), processing is performed for reading the number-of-balls data written on the IC chip of the coin (step S104). Here, the internal structure of the coin unit 120 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the coin unit 120 mounted on the ball lending machine 20 of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, a coin passage 124 is formed inside the coin unit 120 to largely bypass and connect the coin insertion slot 26 and the coin return slot 28 in a “reverse U shape”. A short coin passage 122 branches off from a position where the coin passage 124 slightly enters from the coin insertion slot 26, and this coin passage 122 joins the coin passage 124 at a position slightly before the coin return opening 28. It is supposed to be. At locations where the two coin passages 122 and 124 are branched, shutters 126A and 126B are provided at the entrances to the respective coin passages 124. A shutter 126C is provided only on the side of the coin path 124 that has largely detoured at a location where the two coin paths 122 and 124 meet. Further, a shutter 126D is also provided between the junction and the coin return port 28.

  The shutter 126C is normally closed. For this reason, the upstream portion of the coin passage 124 from the shutter 126C has a function of stocking coins. That is, of the two shutters 126A and 126B provided at the place where the two coin passages 122 and 124 are branched, the shutter 126A on the short coin passage 122 side is closed and the shutter 126B on the coin passage 124 side that largely bypasses is opened. In this state, a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 26. Then, the inserted coins are guided to the coin passage 124 and stocked on the upstream side of the shutter 126C. A round figure indicated by a thin broken line in FIG. 4 represents a state in which a plurality of coins are stocked upstream of the shutter 126C.

  In addition, a recording head 128 capable of reading and writing data in a non-contact manner with respect to the IC chip of the coin is mounted at a junction (between the shutter 126C and the shutter 126D) of the two coin passages 122 and 124. Yes.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of coins inserted into the coin unit 120 from the coin insertion slot 26. In a normal state, the shutter 126A is in an open state, and the shutter 126B is in a closed state. For this reason, the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 are guided from the shutter 126A through the coin passage 122 to the junction with the coin passage 124. An arrow indicated by a thick broken line in FIG. 5 represents the movement of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 26. Further, as described above, since the recording head 128 is provided at the confluence of the coin passages 122 and 124, the number-of-balls data can be read from the IC chip of the inserted coin. The number-of-balls data read from the coin in this way is stored at a predetermined address in the RAM mounted on the control unit 100. In the coin unit 120, the place where the two coin passages 122 and 124 join is a place where the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 is held. May be called.

  In the coin management process shown in FIG. 3, as described above, the number data of coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 is read (step S104), or a game ball (outlet) is displayed in the ball counting slot 50. If it is determined that a ball has been inserted (step S102: yes), a ball counting process (step S106) or a ball lending payout process (step S108) is started.

  Here, the ball counting process is a process in which the ball counting unit 150 counts game balls (balls) thrown into the ball counting port 50. In the exit ball counting process (step S106), first, the presence or absence of a game ball thrown into the ball counting port 50 is detected. If no game ball is detected, there is no game ball to be counted. Thus, the ball counting process (step S106) is terminated as it is, and the process proceeds to the next ball lending payout process (step S108). On the other hand, when a game ball (out ball) thrown into the ball counting port 50 is detected, a process of adding the count value obtained by the ball counting unit 150 to the value of the number of possessed balls data is performed. Do.

  For example, when a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 and the coin count data of the coin is read out and stored in the RAM, the count obtained by the ball count unit 150 is added to the count data. The numerical value is added and stored in the RAM as new number-of-balls data. Alternatively, when the number of balls is already counted and the result is stored in the RAM as the number of balls, the newly obtained count value is added and the obtained value is newly stored. It is stored in the RAM as the number of balls data. Of course, in the case where such ball count data is not yet stored in the RAM, the count value obtained by the ball count unit 150 is stored as new ball count data. In the exit ball counting process in step S106, as described above, it is determined whether or not a game ball (out ball) has been inserted into the ball counting port 50, and if a game ball has been inserted, the ball counting unit. A process of accumulating the count value obtained in 150 as the number of possessed balls is performed. If no game ball is inserted in the ball counting port 50, the ball counting process is immediately terminated, and a ball lending payout process (step S108) described below is started.

  In the ball rental payout process (step S108), a process of paying out a ball from the ball payout nozzle 40 is performed in accordance with the operation of the operation buttons 25 performed by the player. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the operation buttons 25 have been operated to request the payout of the ball. As a result, if the operation for requesting the payout of the ball is not performed, it is not necessary to pay out the ball, and the ball payout processing is immediately terminated. On the other hand, when an operation for requesting payout of a ball is performed by the player, the control unit 100 of the ball lending machine 20 stores the number of payable balls requested and the RAM. Compare the number of possessed balls. If the number of balls rented is less than the number of balls in possession, a process of subtracting the number-of-balls data according to the number of balls dispensed while paying out the requested number of game balls from the ball dispensing nozzle 40 as rented balls. Do. On the other hand, if the number of lent balls requested to be paid out is larger than the number of held balls data stored in the RAM, the rented ball payout processing ( Step S108) is terminated.

  As described above, when the payout ball counting process (step S106) and the ball lending payout process (step S108) are completed, it is determined whether or not the ball split is performed (step S110). Here, “division of the ball” means that a part of the ball that is stored in the RAM of the control unit 100 as the ball number data is taken out, and the coin in which the ball number data corresponding to the taken number of balls is written. The operation of discharging from the coin return slot 28. When a game is played on the gaming table 10, the number-of-balls data can be increased or decreased by the above-described ball counting process (step S106) or the ball lending payout process (step S108). Even if it is, it is one data. Further, even when the game is finished and the number-of-balls data is written on the coin and paid out, it is written on one coin. However, in the ball lending machine 20 of the present embodiment, by carrying out the ball splitting, a part of the number of possession balls data is written on the coin and discharged from the coin return slot 28 while the game is continued on the gaming table 10. It is possible. Further, a part of the operation buttons 25 provided on the ball lending machine 20 is assigned to a button (a ball split button) for designating a ball split, and the player presses the ball split button. Thus, the ball lending machine 20 can start processing for splitting the ball. The processing performed to perform the holding ball division will be described in detail later using another drawing.

  When the player has instructed the ball lending machine 20 to perform the ball splitting by pressing the ball splitting button, the ball counting process and the ball paying process (steps S106 and S108) After the end, it is determined that the holding ball split is to be performed (step S110: yes), and a holding ball splitting process (step S150) to be described later is started. (Step S110: no), the ball splitting process (Step S150) is skipped.

  Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not to settle (Step S112). The operation buttons 25 are also provided with a button (payment button) for adjusting the holding ball. If the adjustment button is not pressed, it is determined that no payment is made (step S112: no). Then, after returning to step S116 again and performing the various processes described above, it is determined whether or not payment is to be made (step S112). In this way, until the checkout button is pressed by the player, the ball counting process (step S116), the ball lending payout process (step S118), or the process related to the ball splitting (steps S110 and S150) is repeatedly executed. To do. Then, when the settlement button is pressed by the player, it is determined that the settlement is to be performed (step S112: yes), and the settlement process is started (step S114).

  In the settlement process (step S114), the stored number-of-balls data is written on the IC chip of the coin and discharged from the coin return slot 28. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which coins in which the number-of-balls data has been written by the settlement process are discharged from the coin return slot 28. When a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 at the start of the coin management process using coins shown in FIG. 3, as described above with reference to FIG. , 124 are held at the junction (inserted coin holder). In addition, a recording head 128 capable of reading and writing data in a non-contact manner with respect to the coin IC chip is also mounted at the junction. Therefore, when the inserted coin is held in the inserted coin holding unit, the number of held balls read from the RAM is written into the IC chip of the coin using the recording head 128 and the number of held balls in the RAM is also recorded. Is set to “0”. Thereafter, by opening the shutter 126D, the coins in the inserted coin holder are discharged to the coin return slot 28. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the number of possessed balls is written into the coin that has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 and held in the inserted coin holding unit, and then discharged to the coin return slot 28. .

  On the other hand, if no coin has been inserted at the start of the coin management process using coins shown in FIG. 3, there is no coin held in the inserted coin holder. Therefore, in such a case, the number-of-balls data is written in the coins stocked in the coin unit 120 and discharged from the coin return slot 28. That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the shutter 126C provided in the inserted coin holding portion is normally closed, and a plurality of coins are preliminarily placed in the coin passage 124 upstream of the shutter 126C. It has been stocked. Therefore, if no coin has been inserted at the start of the possession management process of FIG. 3, the stocked coin is supplied to the inserted coin holder by opening the shutter 126C. Since the inserted coin holding portion has a space for only one coin, as long as the shutter 126D is closed, a plurality of coins will not be supplied even if the shutter 126C is opened. Thus, when only one stocked coin is supplied to the inserted coin holder, the number of balls is written using the recording head 128, and then the shutter 126D is opened to eject the coin to the coin return slot 28. The shutter 126C is closed again when only one coin is supplied to the inserted coin holder. FIG. 6B shows a state in which coins stocked in the coin passage 124 are supplied to the inserted coin holding part and written with the number-of-balls data and then discharged from the coin return slot 28. .

  When the settlement process (step S114) is performed in the coin management process shown in FIG. 3 as described above, the coin count data read from the RAM is written in the coin as described above and then discharged from the coin return port 28. Process. Then, when the coin in which the number-of-balls data is written is discharged, the ball management process in FIG. 3 is terminated.

  As described above, in the ball lending machine 20 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to electronically manage the balls as the number data of balls instead of the actual game balls by performing the ball management process with coins. Is possible. That is, the ball that has been acquired by the game is converted into the number-of-balls data by the ball counting unit 150 (step S106 in FIG. 3), and when there are not enough game balls on the upper plate 14, a part of the number-of-balls data Is dispensed from the ball dispensing nozzle 40 as a game ball (step S108 in FIG. 3). In this way, it is sufficient to leave only a few game balls to be put on the upper plate 14 at hand. Further, when moving the game table 10, payout processing is performed to pay out the coin in which the number-of-balls data is written (step S <b> 114 in FIG. 3). It is possible to move to another gaming table 10 while holding In this way, even if a large number of balls are acquired, it is very convenient because the game table 10 can be moved only with coins in which the number-of-balls data is written.

  However, when the settlement process is performed, all the number-of-balls data is written on one coin. For this reason, for example, if you visit a game hall with a friend, even if you try to share a part of the number of possession data for a friend who has used up his possession, Cannot be written and discharged. Therefore, in such a case, a ball splitting process (step S150 in FIG. 3) described below is performed.

A-3. Mochitama division processing of the first embodiment:
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the ball splitting process performed by the ball lending machine 20 of the first embodiment. This process is a process that is started by the control unit 100 of the ball lending machine 20 when the ball splitting button in the operation buttons 25 is pressed during execution of the coin management process with coins shown in FIG. is there.

  As shown in the figure, when the ball splitting process is started, the control unit 100 first displays a screen for splitting the ball on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 22 (step S152). FIG. 8 is an explanatory view exemplifying a screen for splitting the holding balls displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 22. The screen illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a field for displaying the current number of balls, a field for setting the number of balls to be divided and taken out, and the like. Further, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 22 is a touch panel type monitor screen, and various operation buttons for setting the number of balls to be taken out are displayed. When the control unit 100 starts the ball splitting process, the control unit 100 displays such a screen on the liquid crystal monitor 22 and reads the ball count data stored in the RAM and displays it in the column indicating “current ball count”. In addition, a process of displaying “0” as an initial value in a field where “the number of balls taken out” is displayed (step S152).

  The player operates the “+” button or the “−” button displayed next to the “number of balls to be taken out” while viewing the display of the screen illustrated in FIG. Change the value of. When the number of balls to be taken out has been set, the “OK” button displayed at the bottom of the screen is pressed. Then, the control unit 100 reads the numerical value set in the “number of balls to be taken out” column and acquires it as the number of balls data of the number of balls to be divided (step S154). In the middle of setting the number of balls to be extracted, if the player wants to stop the ball splitting, it will be displayed next to the “Confirm” button before pressing the “Confirm” button. By pushing the “Cancel” button, the operation of splitting the ball that has been performed can be canceled, and the screen display can be returned to the screen before the splitting of the ball is started. When the “main menu” button displayed in the lower left corner of the screen is pressed, the main menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22, and by specifying from the screen, for example, a TV screen is displayed or the Internet is displayed. It is also possible to cause the ball lending machine 20 to perform various operations such as connection.

  When the number data of the possessed balls to be divided and taken out is acquired in this way, the acquired number-of-balls data is written to the IC chip of the inserted coin (step S156). That is, when the possession management process described above with reference to FIG. 3 is started by inserting a coin from the coin insertion slot 26, the inserted coin is held in the inserted coin holding unit in the coin unit 120. Therefore (see FIG. 5), the number-of-balls data is written on the IC chip of the coin using the recording head 128 provided in the inserted coin holder. If no coin is held in the inserted coin holder, the coin stocked in the coin path 124 may be supplied to the inserted coin holder by opening the shutter 126C.

  As described above, when the number of possessed balls to be divided and taken out is written in the coin, the shutter 126D is opened, the coin is discharged to the coin return slot 28, and then the shutter 126C is opened and stocked. The stored coins are supplied to the inserted coin holder (step S158). When supplying stocked coins, the shutter 126D on the coin return slot 28 side is closed. As described above, since the inserted coin holding part has a space for only one coin, if the shutter 126C is opened with the shutter 126D closed, only one coin in the coin passage 124 is held. Parts can be supplied.

  In this way, when the coins in which the number data of the number of possessed balls to be divided are discharged and the stocked coins are supplied to the inserted coin holding unit (step S158), the number of retained balls stored in the RAM of the control unit 100. The data is changed to the remaining number data of the remaining balls (step S160), the ball splitting process shown in FIG. 7 is terminated, and the coin management process with coins shown in FIG. 3 is returned. As described above, in the coin management process using coins of FIG. 3, the ball management process (step S106) and the lending payout process (step S108) are performed until the liquidation process (step S114) is performed, and the result thereof. However, the number-of-balls data stored in the RAM is changed. When the clearing process (step S114) is performed by the player pressing the clearing button of the operation buttons 25, the number of balls in the RAM is written in the coin held in the inserted coin holding unit. It is discharged from the coin return slot 28.

  Here, when the player inserts a coin from the coin insertion slot 26, the game is started, and when the above-mentioned ball splitting is performed in the middle of the game, between the coin and the ball count data Thus, the correspondence is changed (that is, an operation for distributing and giving the number of possession balls to other coins). This point will be described in detail with reference to another drawing.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the correspondence between the coin and the number-of-balls data is changed by performing the ball division. For example, it is assumed that a player inserts coin A and starts a game. Then, as described above, the number-of-balls data written in the coin A is read (S104 in FIG. 3), and the subsequent ball counting process (step S106) and the ball lending payout process (step S108) are performed. This result is reflected in the number-of-balls data of coin A.

  However, when the ball splitting process (step S150) is performed in the middle of the game, the number data of the ball to be divided and taken out is written and discharged to the coin A held in the inserted coin holding unit. As a result, although the remaining number data of the remaining balls is the number data of coins A until then, the stock coins newly supplied to the inserted coin holding unit ( The result of the ball counting process (step S106) and the ball lending payout process (step S108) performed after the coin B) will be reflected in the coin ball B data. become. Then, when the clearing process is performed, the coin number actually inserted by the player is coin A, but the coin count data is written in another stocked coin B, and the coin return slot 28 Returned from. FIG. 9 conceptually shows how the number-of-balls data for coin A is replaced with the number-of-balls data for coin B, with the ball splitting as a boundary.

  As described above, if the correspondence between coins and the number of possessed balls data is not changed (the operation of distributing and giving the number of possessed balls to other coins), the structure of the coin unit 120 becomes complicated. In other words, in the ball lending machine 20 of the present embodiment, when a player inserts a coin and starts a game and then splits the ball in the middle, the correspondence relationship between the coin and the ball number data By making this change, the structure of the coin unit 120 can be simplified. This point will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the coin unit 120 that does not require a change in the correspondence between coins and the number-of-balls data even when the ball splitting occurs. Inside the illustrated coin unit 130, similarly to the coin unit 120 of the present embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 4, a coin path 134 that largely detours in a “reverse U shape” and a short coin that is short-circuited in the middle. A passage 132 is provided, and shutters 136A and 136B are provided at locations where the coin passage 132 branches from the coin passage 134. In addition, a shutter 136C is provided on the coin path 134 side even at a location where the two coin paths 132 and 134 merge. However, in the coin unit 120 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 4, no shutter is provided on the coin passage 122 side, whereas in the coin unit 130 in FIG. 10, the coin passage 132 side corresponding to the coin passage 122 is provided. Also, a shutter 136E is provided.

  In the coin unit 130 of FIG. 10 having such a configuration, normally, the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 are held at the upstream position of the shutter 136E by closing the shutter 136E. be able to. Further, if the recording head 138 is mounted at this position (position upstream of the shutter 136E), the number-of-balls data can be read from the inserted coins. After that, when splitting the ball, if the shutter 136C is opened and the stocked coins are discharged, it is not necessary to discharge the coins inserted by the player. There is no change in the correspondence with the number of balls data (an operation for distributing and giving the number of balls data to other coins).

  However, in this case, a recording head 138 for writing the number-of-balls data to the stocked coin is newly required. That is, in order to read out the number-of-balls data of coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26, one recording head 138 is already mounted, but this recording head 138 is blocked by coins inserted by the player. As a result, it is not possible to write the ball count data to another coin. Accordingly, a new recording head 138 is required to write the ball count data to the stocked coin. In the example shown in FIG. 10, another recording head 138 is provided at a position upstream of the shutter 136C.

  As described above, if the correspondence between coins and the number of possession data is not changed at the time of splitting the ball, it is necessary to mount the recording heads 138 at least at two locations. Becomes complicated. Further, when the recording head 138 is mounted at a plurality of locations, it is necessary to determine which recording head 138 is used when writing the number-of-balls data. This also complicates the control. On the other hand, in the ball lending machine 20 of the present embodiment, when the player inserts coins and the game is started, and the ball splitting is performed on the way, the coin and the possession as shown in FIG. Since the correspondence relationship with the number of balls data is changed (operation for distributing and giving the number of balls data to other coins), the number of recording heads 128 mounted on the coin unit 120 can be reduced to one. It has become. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the complicated control of the ball lending machine 20 while keeping the structure of the coin unit 120 simple.

  In the first embodiment described above, the ball lending machine 20 has been described as performing the ball management with coins alone. However, the ball management may not be performed completely alone, but the ball management may be performed while appropriately communicating with the server. That is, the ball lending machine 20 can be connected to the server via a communication line. Then, the ball lending machine 20 executes the ball management process shown in FIG. 3 without communicating with the server (in an offline state). Further, when a coin is inserted (step S100 in FIG. 3: yes), the number-of-balls data stored in the coin is read and stored in the RAM of the ball lending machine 20. At this time, if the number of balls is not data directly representing the number of balls of the ball, but data that can be converted into the number of balls indirectly, it is converted into data representing the number of balls and stored in the RAM. Remember. Each coin is given a unique coin ID.

  Then, processing such as a ball counting process (step S106), a ball lending payout process (step S108), and a ball splitting process (step S150) are executed by reading and writing data stored in the RAM. Thereafter, when the settlement process (step S114) is performed, the data stored in the RAM is written into the coin. At this time, if the number of balls in which coins are written is not data that directly represents the number of balls but data that can be indirectly converted into the number of balls, the data of the number of balls stored in the RAM is used. Then, after converting it into data that can be converted into the number of balls indirectly, it can be written on the coin.

  After performing the checkout process (step S114), the ball lending machine 20 is connected to the server via a communication line (becomes online), and the coin count of the coin and the coin ID of the coin are paired. , It may be transmitted to the server.

B. Second embodiment:
In the first embodiment described above, a case has been described in which individual ball lending machines 20 installed next to the gaming table 10 independently carry out the coin management with coins. However, in most game halls, the ball lending machine 20 is connected to a server (mochitama server) via a network, and a plurality of ball lending machines 20 and servers (mochitama server) constitute one ball lending system. It is composed. In the second embodiment described below, the ball splitting performed in such a case will be described.

B-1. System configuration :
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view conceptually showing a state where a plurality of ball lending machines 20 provided in the game hall are connected by a network to constitute a ball lending system 200. In the second embodiment, a network card is mounted on each ball lending machine 20 and is connected to the server 210 via a communication line. Then, when coins are inserted into the ball lending machine 20, the coins are managed while exchanging data with the server 210 via the communication line. In the following, a description will be given of a process for managing a ball (a coin management process using coins) performed by the ball lending system 200 when a coin is inserted into the ball lending machine 20 of the second embodiment.

B-2. The coin management process using coins in the second embodiment:
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the ball management performed by the ball lending system 200 of the second embodiment using coins. As described above, in the second embodiment, the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210 perform ball management while exchanging data. Correspondingly, the process performed by the ball lending machine 20 is shown in the left part of FIG. 12, and the process performed by the server 210 is shown in the right part of FIG. . Further, in the center part of FIG. 12, the state in which data is exchanged between the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210 is indicated by arrows. Below, the outline of the ball management which the ball lending system 200 performs using a coin is demonstrated, referring the block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the coin management using coins is started by detecting a coin inserted by the player into the coin insertion slot 26 of the ball lending machine 20. Actually, even when a ball is supplied to the ball counting slot 50, coin management using coins is started. However, as in the first embodiment, in this case, the player Even if the ball splitting is performed, there is no change in the correspondence between the coin and the ball count data (an operation for distributing and giving the ball count data to other coins). Therefore, in order to avoid complicated explanation, in FIG. 12, only the case where the player inserts a coin is displayed.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 are supplied to the inserted coin holder through the coin passage 122, and the data stored in the IC chip of the coin is stored in the recording head 128. Read by. In the ball lending machine 20 of the first embodiment described above, the number-of-balls data written on the IC chip of the coin is read, but as shown in FIG. 12, in the ball lending machine 20 of the second embodiment, The coin ID is read out in addition to the number of possessed balls data. Here, the coin ID is an identification number assigned to each coin in order to identify each coin, and is stored in advance in the IC chip of the coin. Then, the coin ID and the number-of-balls data read from the inserted coins are transmitted to the server 210 via the communication line.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the server 210 receives the coin ID and the number of possession balls data from the ball lending machine 20, the server 210 checks the inserted coins appropriately by checking with a management table stored in advance. Authenticate whether or not to accept as a coin.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a management table stored in the server 210. As shown in the figure, the coin ID and the number-of-balls data are stored in the management table in association with all coins used in the ball lending system 200. Further, as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 13, a member ID may be set in the management table in addition to the coin ID and the number-of-balls data. How the member ID is set will be described later. When the server 210 receives the coin ID and the number of possessed balls data from the ball lending machine 20, first, the server 210 determines whether or not the coin ID is registered in the management table. If the received coin ID is not registered in the management table, the coin inserted into the ball lending machine 20 is a coin that is not managed by the game hall (for example, a coin obtained at another store). Judgment is made and returned to the ball lending machine 20 that the coin cannot be verified.

  On the other hand, when the coin ID received from the ball lending machine 20 is registered in the management table, this time, the management table is associated with the coin count data received from the ball lending machine 20 and the coin ID. It is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls data stored in the table matches. As will be described in detail later, the server 210 grasps the value of the number of possessed balls data written in the coin with respect to all the coins managed by the game hall using the management table. Accordingly, when the coin ID and the number of possession data are received from the ball lending machine 20, the number of possession data is different from the number of possession balls stored in association with the coin ID in the management table. Since it is judged that the number-of-balls data has been tampered with in some way, a reply to the ball lending machine 20 is also sent in this case that the coins cannot be verified.

  As a result, the server 210 can verify the coin only when the coin ID and the number of possession data received from the ball lending machine 20 match the coin ID and the number of possession data stored in the management table. A message is sent back to the ball lending machine 20. When data related to paying out of balls or counting the number of balls is transmitted from the ball lending machine 20, these data are accepted and the contents of the management table are set to a changeable state. On the other hand, when a reply indicating that coin verification cannot be obtained is returned to the ball lending machine 20, even if the ball lending machine 20 has transmitted data related to paying out the balls and counting the number of balls issued. Even in this case, these data are not accepted, and therefore the contents of the management table are not changed. Further, when the ball lending machine 20 also receives a reply from the server 210 regarding the verification result, the player is notified of this.

  If a member ID is set in the management table, the member ID may be used in addition to the coin ID and the number-of-balls data to collate with the management table. That is, when a member ID is set in the management table by a method described later, data for specifying the member ID (hereinafter referred to as “member specifying data”) is written in the coin. The member identification data may be the member ID itself, or may be some data uniquely associated with the member ID in order to avoid the risk of skimming. Then, when the coin in which the member specific data is written is inserted into the ball lending machine 20, not only the coin ID and the number of possession balls data but also the member specific data written in the coin is read, and the read member specific data is It may be determined whether or not it matches the member ID set in the management table. Although it has been described that the member identification data is written in the coin instead of the member ID, for simplicity, the member ID may be written instead of the member identification data.

  As described above, when the coin inserted into the ball lending machine 20 is authenticated by the server 210 as an appropriate coin, the player can start the game by operating the ball lending machine 20. It becomes possible. In other words, when the player intends to receive a payout of coins using the coin possession number data, by operating the operation buttons 25 of the ball lending machine 20, the game ball is placed in the ball lending machine 20. Request a payout. Then, in the ball lending machine 20, processing associated with the ball payout request is started, and the payout request is output to the server 210. On the server 210 side, when a payout request from the ball lending machine 20 is received, the management table is referred to, and the number of held balls data stored in association with the coin ID of the coin inserted into the ball lending machine 20 is stored. Check the value. When there are remaining ball count data that can be paid out in the ball count data in the management table, a response indicating that the payout request has been accepted is returned to the ball lending machine 20 and stored in the management table. The value of the number of held balls is decreased by a value corresponding to the number of held balls requested to be paid out. On the other hand, when the ball lending machine 20 receives from the server 210 that the payout request has been received, the ball lending machine 20 pays out a predetermined number of game balls from the ball payout nozzle 40 as balls.

  In addition, when the player throws out the balls obtained during the game into the ball counting slot 50, the balls that have been thrown in are counted by the ball counting unit 150, and the number of balls obtained as a result is the ball lending machine 20. To the server 210. When the server 210 receives the counted number of balls from the ball lending machine 20, the server 210 adds the received number of counted balls to the number-of-balls data stored in association with the coin ID of the coin inserted into the ball lending machine 20. To do. When the coins inserted into the ball lending machine 20 are authenticated by the server 210, each time a player makes a request for paying out a ball, or whenever a coin is inserted into the ball counter 50, as described above, The result is reflected in the number-of-balls data in the management table stored in the server 210. In FIG. 12, every time the ball lending machine 20 performs a ball payout request or counts the number of balls in the game, data on the payout request and the number of balls is output to the server 210, and the result is the server 210. The state reflected in the management table is conceptually shown.

  In this way, since the payout request and the number of balls to be issued made in the ball lending machine 20 are reflected in the management table, the server 210 has a corresponding number of balls for all coins managed in the game hall. You can see how the data changes from moment to moment. For this reason, when a new coin is inserted into the ball lending machine 20, the coin inserted is an appropriate coin by comparing the coin ID and the number of possession data read from the coin with the management table. It is possible to immediately determine whether or not.

  Also in the ball rental system 200 of the second embodiment, a part of the possession balls stored as the number of possession balls by the player operating the operation buttons 25 of the ball rental machine 20 during the game. Can be divided. In the processing shown in FIG. 12, a portion surrounded by a broken-line rectangle is processing performed by the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210 in order to perform the ball splitting. The processing for performing the ball splitting in the ball lending system 200 of the second embodiment will be described in detail later, but the following processing is roughly performed in the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210. First, as shown in the drawing, the ball lending machine 20 performs a process for splitting a ball (a process performed to split a specified number of balls from the ball count data), and subsequently. Then, a process for discharging the divided coins (coins in which the designated number of possession data is written) from the coin return slot 28 is performed. On the other hand, the server 210 performs a process of distributing and giving the number-of-balls data associated with the coin ID so far as the number-of-balls data of other coin IDs. The process of distributing and giving the number of possession balls will be described later. In addition, during the ball splitting, along with these processes, various information such as the ball count data is exchanged between the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210.

  In addition, when the user wants to receive a service in accordance with the member, such as keeping a lot of game balls in the game hall by acquiring a lot of game balls during the game, the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 22 illustrated in FIG. The member ID can also be issued by pressing the “main menu” button displayed on the menu and selecting “temporary member registration” from the main menu. That is, when the player operates the liquid crystal monitor 22 and selects “temporary member registration” on the screen, the ball lending machine 20 performs a temporary member registration process and outputs a registration request to the server 210. To do. Receiving the registration request, the server 210 issues a member ID and sets the member ID in the management table. The member ID stored in the management table illustrated in FIG. 13 is a member ID set in association with the coin ID in this way.

  The member ID illustrated in FIG. 13 is composed of an upper 4 digit portion and a lower 5 digit portion. Of these, the upper four digits are composed of a two-digit alphabet representing the initial of the member's name and a two-digit number corresponding to the year in which the member ID was issued (the last two digits of the year). The lower five digits are 34-digit serial numbers using the numbers 0 to 9 and alphabets A to Z. Many players feel resistance when inputting personal information that is not allowed to be arbitrarily changed by the principal, such as name, address, and date of birth, from the LCD monitor 22 of the ball lending machine 20 during the game. On the screen of the LCD monitor 22, it is not necessary to input such personal information (however, in order to specify the person who holds the ball in the game hall, personal information having a high possibility of arbitrary change by the principal such as a telephone number) Correspondingly, the most significant two digits in the member ID (the part representing the initial of the name) are “XX”. In other words, the member ID starting with “XX” represents the member ID issued in response to the temporary member registration request from the liquid crystal monitor 22. When the player who has received the temporary membership registration goes to the counter of the gaming hall with the returned coins and performs the official membership registration, the “XX” part of the member ID shows the initial of the member's name. It replaces the alphabet that represents it. Also, as will be described later, when the player pays out the possession balls, the number of possession balls data is written in the returned coins. The data on the number of possessed balls has been automatically transferred as a member's accumulated balls.

  As described above, in the ball lending machine 20 in the game, processing such as a ball payout request, a ball count, and a ball split request is repeatedly performed according to the player's operation. Registration processing is also performed. Then, when the player presses the settlement button in the operation buttons 25 to request settlement of the possession ball, the ball lending machine 20 starts processing associated with the settlement request, and as a result, the server 210 receives the possession ball. A request to output number data (a request for number of balls data) is transmitted. In response to this, the server 210 reads the number-of-balls data stored in the corresponding coin ID in the management table and returns it to the ball lending machine 20. When the ball lending machine 20 receives the number of possessed balls from the server 210, the number of retained balls is stored in the IC chip of the coin held in the inserted coin holding unit in the coin unit 120 described above with reference to FIG. After the writing, the coin in which the number-of-balls data is written is discharged from the coin return slot 28.

  When the member ID is stored in association with the coin ID, the member specifying data for specifying the member ID is output to the ball lending machine 20 at the time of payment, and the member specifying data is stored in the IC chip of the coin. You may make it write. Alternatively, when the member ID is issued and set in the management table, the member specifying data may be transmitted to the ball lending machine 20 and written on the IC chip of the coin. In this way, when the player attempts to register officially with the coin returned from the ball lending machine 20, the member ID can be specified using the member specifying data read from the coin. For this reason, it is possible to omit the trouble of acquiring the member ID by referring to the management table from the coin ID of the coin, so that member registration can be performed quickly.

  As described above, also in the ball rental system 200 of the second embodiment, the game balls (out balls) acquired by the player through the game are electronically managed not as actual game balls but as number-of-balls data. It is possible to keep it. As a result, the player needs to keep only a few game balls to be put into the upper plate 14 at hand. In addition, when moving the game table 10, by adjusting the number of balls and writing the number of balls in the coin and discharging it, the number of balls is written even if there are many earned balls. It is possible to move the gaming table 10 with only the coins obtained. However, in the adjustment of the number of balls, all the number of balls data is written on one coin, and only a part of the number of balls data cannot be written on the coin and discharged. Therefore, also in the ball lending system 200 of the second embodiment, it is possible to divide a part of the number-of-balls data during the game, write it on coins and discharge it. Further, as described above, in the ball lending system 200, the number-of-balls data of all coins to be managed is managed by the management table. For this reason, when the ball is divided, it is stored in the management table. A unique process of distributing and assigning the number of possessed balls data is performed. In the following, the ball splitting process performed for splitting the ball in the ball rental system 200 of the second embodiment will be described in detail.

B-3. Mochitama split processing of the second embodiment:
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating processing performed by the ball lending machine 20 and the server 210 in order to perform the ball splitting in the ball lending system 200 of the second embodiment. These processes are processes performed as part of the coin management with the coin described above with reference to FIG.

  The processing for splitting the ball is started when a player who has started playing a game by inserting coins performs an operation for splitting the ball as in the first embodiment described above. That is, when a player performs a ball splitting operation by pressing a ball splitting button in the operation buttons 25 of the ball lending machine 20, the ball lending machine 20 detects this and 8 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 22 and the screen for splitting the ball illustrated in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  When the server 210 receives the ball splitting request from the ball lending machine 20, the server 210 reads the number-of-balls data of the coin (coin to be split) inserted in the ball lending machine 20 by referring to the management table. Then, reply to the ball lending machine 20. When the ball lending machine 20 receives the number of coins to be split from the server 210, the ball lending machine 20 displays the value in the “current number of balls” column of the screen for splitting the coins illustrated in FIG. As described above, the player sets the number of balls to be taken out (the number of balls to be taken out) by operating the touch panel type liquid crystal monitor 22 while watching the display on the screen. When the player presses the “OK” button displayed on the screen of the LCD monitor 22, the value of the number of possessed balls set by the player is acquired, and the number of possessed balls data of the number of possessed balls is acquired. Output to the server 210.

  As described above, when the number of balls to be divided and taken out (the number of balls to be taken out) is determined, the ball lending machine 20 performs the following processing. First, the number-of-balls data corresponding to the number of taken-out balls is written in the IC chip of the coin inserted by the player. As described above, since it is assumed here that the game is started by the player inserting coins into the ball lending machine 20, the inserted coin holding unit in the coin unit 120 of the ball lending machine 20 As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the coins inserted by the player are held. Therefore, the number-of-balls data is written in the IC chip of the coin using the recording head 128 provided in the inserted coin holding unit.

  Subsequently, the coin (divided coin) in which the number-of-balls data of the number of balls to be divided and taken out is written to the coin return slot 28. As described above with reference to FIG. 6A, the coins held in the inserted coin holder can be discharged to the coin return slot 28 by opening the shutter 126D. After the shutter 126D is opened and coins are discharged to the coin return slot 28, the shutter 126D is closed. Thereafter, the shutter 126C is opened, and the coins stored in the coin passage 124 are supplied to the inserted coin holder. As a result, the coin held in the inserted coin holding unit is switched from the coin inserted by the player to the stocked coin. Therefore, after reading the coin ID and the number-of-balls data of the coin from the coin newly held in the inserted coin holding unit by using the recording head 128, they are output to the server 210.

  In the above, the process performed by the ball lending machine 20 after the number of balls to be divided and taken out (the number of balls to take out) has been described. In contrast, the server 210 performs the following processing. First, upon receiving from the ball lending machine 20 the number of possessed balls set by the player, the number of possessed balls stored in association with the coin to be divided is referred to by referring to the management table. , Rewrite the number of possessed balls to the number of possessed balls. The coins to be divided are coins that the player has inserted into the ball lending machine 20 at the start of the game, and as described above, these coins are discharged from the coin return slot 28 as divided coins. Accordingly, when the server 210 receives the number of possessed balls from the ball lending machine 20, the server 210 rewrites the number of possessed balls of the coin to be divided in the management table, thereby storing the possessed number stored in the management table. The number of balls data is made to coincide with the number of balls data written on the actual coin.

  In addition, since the temporary member registration mentioned above was performed by the player, the member ID may be set to the coin ID of the coin to be divided. As described above, when the holding ball split is performed, the split target coins thrown by the player are returned and given to other people. In such a case, the split target coins are set. The member ID in the management table is deleted. Among the processes performed by the server 210 shown in FIG. 14, there is a process indicated by a one-dot chain line rectangle in which the member ID is set in the coin ID of the coin to be divided. It represents that the process is performed in the case.

  When the member ID is not only stored in the management table but also the member specifying data for specifying the member ID is written on the IC chip of the coin, the server 210 side sets the member ID in the management table. Along with the erasure, the member specifying data written on the coin IC chip is also erased on the ball lending machine 20 side. In other words, the member identification data may be deleted when writing the number-of-balls data of the number of balls to be divided and taken out to the IC chip of the coin.

  As described above, the coin lending machine 20 outputs the coin ID and the number-of-balls data for the coin newly supplied to the inserted coin holding unit. Accordingly, when the server 210 receives the coin ID and the number-of-balls data, it collates them with the management table to determine whether or not the coin is an appropriate coin. The method for determining whether or not a coin is an appropriate coin by collating with the management table is the same as the method described above with reference to FIG. As a result, if it is determined that the coin is proper, the remaining number-of-balls data obtained by dividing the ball is stored in the management table as the number-of-balls data of the coin newly supplied to the inserted coin holding unit. At this time, in the management table, distribution of the number of possessed balls data is generated. Further, when the member ID is set, the member ID is changed at the same time as the distribution of the number of possession data is given.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the distribution of the number of possessed balls data is generated in the management table when the ball splitting is performed in the ball lending system of the second embodiment. Moreover, the dashed-dotted line in a figure represents the case where member ID is set. For example, assume that the coin ID of the coin inserted by the player is “A0000003”, and the number-of-balls data “200” is divided and extracted when the number-of-balls data is “53000”. In this case, the possession number division is performed, so that the possession number data corresponding to the coin ID “A0000003” in the management table is rewritten from “53000” to “200”. The number-of-balls data “52800” corresponding to the difference is distributed and given as the number-of-balls data corresponding to another coin ID designated from the ball lending machine 20. In FIG. 15, the coin ID of the stock coin supplied to the inserted coin holder in the ball lending machine 20 is “A0000012”, and the remaining remaining ball count data “52800” is distributed and given. A state is shown in which the number-of-balls data of the coin ID designated from the lending machine 20 is rewritten from “0” to “A0000012”.

  Further, when the member ID “XX08-A371G” is set for the coin ID “A0000003” of the coin inserted by the player, the number of possession data for this coin ID is changed from “53000” to “200”. The member ID is deleted when it is rewritten. Then, the erased member ID is replaced as a member ID for the coin ID of the stock coin newly supplied to the inserted coin holding unit. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the member ID is changed in accordance with the distribution of the number of possessed balls data.

  As described above, in the ball lending system 200 according to the second embodiment, even after the player inserts a coin and starts the game, by performing the above-described splitting of the balls, a part of the ball count data is obtained. , And the coin in which the divided number-of-balls data is written can be discharged from the coin return slot 28. For this reason, for example, when visiting a game hall with a friend, it is possible to easily give a part of the number of possession balls data to a friend who has used up his possession balls.

  Also, at this time, the number of possession balls to be distributed is written to the coin inserted by itself and given to a friend. After that, when ending the game, not the coin inserted by itself but the ball lending machine 20 The remaining number-of-hands data is written and discharged to another coin stocked inside. For this reason, when the ball splitting is performed in the ball lending system 200 of the second embodiment, in the management table stored in the server 210, the allocation of the number of balls is generated. As in the first embodiment, the structure of the coin unit 120 and the control content of the ball lending machine 20 can be simplified. That is, if the coin unit mounted on the ball lending machine 20 is the coin unit 130 having the structure shown in FIG. 10, even when the ball is divided, it is not the coin that the player himself has inserted, It is possible to write the number of possession balls data to be divided into the coins stocked and to eject them from the coin return slot 28. However, as is apparent from comparison with the coin unit 120 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in the coin unit 130 shown in FIG. Becomes complicated. Furthermore, when the recording head 138 is mounted at a plurality of locations, it is necessary to determine which recording head 138 is used when writing the number-of-balls data. Control is also complicated.

  In other words, in the ball rental system 200 according to the second embodiment, when a ball split occurs, the ball number data is distributed and given as shown in FIG. It is possible to keep the structure and control of the rental machine 20 simple.

  In addition, by issuing a member ID to a player who plays a game using coins, it becomes possible to provide a service in accordance with the member, such as depositing the coins written in the coin in the game hall. ing. For this reason, when a player who plays a game using a coin issued with a member ID performs an official member registration, it is possible to transfer the number-of-balls data written on the coin as it is to a stored ball. is there. Further, even when the ball splitting is performed on the coin count data of the coin for which the member ID has been issued, the coin count data associated with the coin can be allocated by distributing the coin count data and changing the member ID. It is possible to appropriately manage the number of balls and the member ID.

  While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is not limited to the wording of each claim unless it departs from the scope described in each claim. Improvements based on the knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can also be added as appropriate to the extent that those skilled in the art can easily replace them.

  For example, in the various embodiments described above, a function of supplying a game ball as a rented ball, a function of receiving inserted coins, reading and managing data stored in coins, and returning coins However, it demonstrated as what is mounted in one ball lending machine 20. FIG. However, the function of supplying a game ball as a rented ball and various functions related to coins may be mounted on different machines.

In addition, as a coin unit to be mounted on the ball lending machine 20, a coin unit having a different structure may be mounted instead of the coin unit 120 having the structure shown in FIG. For example, in the coin unit 120 shown in FIG. 4, two coin passages 122 and a coin passage 124 are branched downstream of the coin insertion slot 26, and both of these coin passages are connected to the coin return opening 28. However, although one branched passage is connected to the coin return port 28, the other passage may have a dead end structure. FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the coin unit 160 having such different passage configurations. The coin unit 160 shown in the figure also branches into two coin passages downstream of the coin insertion slot 26 as in the coin unit 120 described above with reference to FIG. One coin path 162 is connected to the coin return port 28 as in the coin path 122 of the coin unit 120 in FIG. 4, but the other coin path 164 is a dead end. As in the coin unit 120 in FIG. 4, the shutter 166A is provided at a location where these two coin passages 162 and 164 branch.
, 166B are provided. Further, a rotary slider 166R is provided in the back of the coin passage 164. Furthermore, only one recording head 168 is mounted at a position where the two coin passages 162 and 164 branch.

  In such a coin unit 160, in a normal state, both the shutter 166A and the shutter 166B are closed. Accordingly, the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 is held at a position where the two coin passages 162 and 164 branch, and the coin data is read using the recording head 168 or the IC chip of the coin. You can write data to it. When coins are discharged, the coins are discharged to the coin return port 28 through the coin passage 162 when the shutter 166A is opened.

  Further, if coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot 26 with the shutter 166A closed and 166B opened, the inserted coins can be stocked in the coin passage 164. The rotary slider 166R can stock more coins if it is moved backward (or from the beginning) as coins are stocked. In order to supply stocked coins, the slider 166R may be advanced and the coins pushed up with the shutter 166B open. Further, when the player starts the game by inserting coins, but uses up all the possession balls, the shutter 166B is opened while the shutter 166A is closed. In this way, it is possible to replenish the stock of coins during the game by guiding the coins inserted by the player to the coin passage 164.

  Further, in the coin unit 160 shown in FIG. 16, only one recording head 168 needs to be mounted as in the coin unit 120 shown in FIG. In addition, the coin unit 120 of FIG. 4 does not require the two shutters 126C and 126D provided on the front side of the coin return slot 28, so that the structure of the coin unit can be further simplified. It becomes.

10 ... game table, 12 ... game board, 14 ... top plate,
16 ... Launch handle, 18 ... Lower plate, 20 ... Ball lending machine,
22 ... LCD monitor, 24 ... Card slot, 25 ... Operation buttons,
26 ... coin insertion slot, 28 ... coin return slot, 40 ... ball dispensing nozzle,
50 ... ball counting port, 100 ... control unit, 120 ... coin unit,
122 ... Coin passage 124 ... Coin passage,
126A, 126B, 126C, 126D, 126E ... Shutter 128 ... Recording head, 130 ... Coin unit, 140 ... Ball supply mechanism,
142 ... game ball supply passage, 144 ... device, 146 ... detection sensor,
148 ... detection sensor, 150 ... ball counting unit, 200 ... ball rental system,
210 ... Server

Claims (3)

When a storage medium that is provided for each gaming device that uses a gaming medium and is written with a gaming value for receiving the gaming medium is inserted, the gaming medium is lent according to the gaming value. A gaming medium lending device that pays out to the gaming device,
Game value storage means for reading the game value associated with the input storage medium from the input storage medium, which is the input storage medium, and storing it as the game value of the input storage medium;
Game value subtracting means for subtracting the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium from the game value of the input storage medium each time the game medium to be lent is paid out;
A game value adding means for adding the game value corresponding to the state of acquisition of the game medium to the game value of the input storage medium when the game medium is acquired by a game on the game table;
Storage medium storage means for storing a plurality of the storage media for each gaming device;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting a specified amount of game value from among the game values of the input storage medium, the specified value of game value is written to the input storage medium, the input storage medium is returned, and the remaining A game medium lending apparatus comprising: game value distribution and granting means for storing the game value as a game value associated with the stored storage medium. A game device for receiving a loan of the game medium is provided, including a terminal device provided for each game device that uses a game medium and a control device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. When the stored storage medium is inserted into the terminal device, a gaming medium lending system for paying out the gaming medium to the gaming apparatus in order to lend the gaming medium according to the gaming value,
The terminal device
A storage medium holding unit for holding the input storage medium that is the input storage medium;
The game value written in the input storage medium and the unique identification code given to the input storage medium are read from the input storage medium held in the storage medium holding unit, Medium information output means for outputting;
The game medium lent to the player is paid out, and the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium is output to the control device in order to reflect the payout of the game medium in the game value of the input storage medium. A game medium payout means;
When the game medium is acquired by a game on the game device, the control is performed by counting the game value corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in order to reflect the result on the game value of the input storage medium. Game medium counting means for outputting to the device;
When receiving the discharge request for the input storage medium, the control device is requested to output the game value associated with the input storage medium, and the game value received from the control device is stored in the storage medium. A storage medium discharge means for discharging to the outside of the terminal device after writing to the input storage medium held in the unit,
The controller is
A management table storage means for storing in advance a management table in which the identification codes for a plurality of the storage media are associated with the game values written in the storage media;
When the identification code and the game value are received from the terminal device, it is determined whether or not the identification code and the game value stored in the management table are matched. Game value association means for associating the terminal device with the game value of the management table;
A game value subtracting means for subtracting the received game value from the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table when receiving the game value corresponding to the game medium payout state from the terminal device When,
When the game value counted by the terminal device is received corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in the game device, the received game value is converted to the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table. Game value addition means for adding to
In response to a request from the terminal device, game value output means for outputting the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table to the terminal device, and
In the terminal device,
A storage medium storage unit that stores a plurality of the storage media and receives the request to supply the storage media when the storage medium is supplied to the storage medium holding unit;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting the specified value of the game value, the fact and the specified amount are output to the control device, and the specified amount is stored in the input storage for the storage medium ejecting means. A discharge request for writing to the medium and discharging is output, and further, a supply request for supplying the stored storage medium to the storage medium holding unit is output to the storage medium storage means. And a dividing operation executing means for executing the gaming value dividing operation is provided,
In the control device,
When receiving the split request and the specified amount from the terminal device, the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table is rewritten to the specified amount, and then received from the terminal device. Also provided is a game value distribution granting means for rewriting the game value stored in the management table in association with the identification code to the remaining game value obtained by subtracting the designated amount from the game value before rewriting. Game media lending system. A game device for receiving a loan of the game medium is provided, including a terminal device provided for each game device that uses a game medium and a control device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. When the stored storage medium is inserted into the terminal device, a gaming medium lending system for paying out the gaming medium to the gaming apparatus in order to lend the gaming medium according to the gaming value,
The terminal device
A storage medium holding unit for holding the input storage medium that is the input storage medium;
The control unit reads out the game value written in the input storage medium and player information that is information about the player having the game value from the input storage medium held in the storage medium holding unit, and performs the control Medium information output means for outputting to the apparatus;
The game medium lent to the player is paid out, and the game value corresponding to the state of payout of the game medium is output to the control device in order to reflect the payout of the game medium in the game value of the input storage medium. A game medium payout means;
When the game medium is acquired by a game on the game device, the control is performed by counting the game value corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in order to reflect the result on the game value of the input storage medium. Game medium counting means for outputting to the device;
When receiving the discharge request for the input storage medium, the control device is requested to output the game value associated with the input storage medium, and the game value received from the control device is stored in the storage medium. A storage medium discharge means for discharging to the outside of the terminal device after writing to the input storage medium held in the unit,
The controller is
Management table storage means for storing in advance a management table in which the player information written in the storage medium and the game value associated with the player information are associated with each other for a plurality of the game media When,
When the player information and the game value are received from the terminal device, it is determined whether or not the player information and the game value stored in the management table are matched. A game value association means for associating the terminal device with the game value of the management table;
A game value subtracting means for subtracting the received game value from the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table when receiving the game value corresponding to the game medium payout state from the terminal device When,
When the game value counted by the terminal device is received corresponding to the acquired state of the game medium in the game device, the received game value is converted to the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table. Game value addition means for adding to
In response to a request from the terminal device, game value output means for outputting the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table to the terminal device, and
In the terminal device,
A storage medium storage unit that stores a plurality of the storage media and receives the request to supply the storage media when the storage medium is supplied to the storage medium holding unit;
Upon receiving a split request for splitting the specified value of the game value, the fact and the specified amount are output to the control device, and the specified amount is stored in the input storage for the storage medium ejecting means. A discharge request for writing to the medium and discharging is output, and further, a supply request for supplying the stored storage medium to the storage medium holding unit is output to the storage medium storage means. And a dividing operation executing means for executing the gaming value dividing operation is provided,
In the control device,
When receiving the split request and the specified amount from the terminal device, the game value associated with the terminal device in the management table is rewritten to the specified amount, and then received from the terminal device. There is provided game value distribution giving means for rewriting the game value stored in the management table in association with the player information to the remaining game value obtained by subtracting the designated amount from the game value before rewriting. A game media lending system.

Images