JP5511100B2 - Sand equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sand apparatus installed adjacent to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a technique for acquiring a face image of an unauthorized player.

  For example, various systems for detecting fraudulent players are constructed in a game hall where game machines such as pachinko and pachislot machines are installed. As an example, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the position of a player who moves in a game hall, acquires a face image of the player based on the detected position, and the player plays a game. By identifying the gaming machines that have been used, fraudulent acts are detected and prevented.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-312510

  By the way, in the system as described above, it is necessary to install a plurality of cameras on the ceiling of the game hall for detecting the position of the player and acquiring the face image. There is a certain limit to the cost reduction. In addition, a player who moves in the game hall does not always move at a constant speed, and the moving speed changes irregularly. In imaging under such circumstances, it is difficult to always keep in focus on an unauthorized player who is a subject. As a result, it may be impossible to capture a fraudulent player's face with high definition, and in that case, it becomes difficult to obtain highly reliable fraud information. Furthermore, since it takes time and effort to check which gaming machine the player of the captured face image has played, it is difficult to efficiently detect fraud.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to efficiently acquire highly reliable fraudulent information by imaging the fraudulent player's face with high definition. The object is to provide a low-cost sand apparatus capable of achieving the above.

In order to achieve such an object, the first invention is a sand device installed adjacent to a gaming machine, which is obtained by imaging a player who is playing a game on the gaming machine. Imaging means for outputting face image data for specifying the player's face, acquisition means for acquiring information about a game when the player plays a game on the gaming machine, and the acquisition means acquired by the acquisition means Based on information relating to the game, it comprises a judging means for judging whether or not an illegal condition is met, and a setting means for setting whether or not to operate the imaging means based on a judgment result of the judging means. The discriminating means is capable of calculating a reference rotation time obtained by multiplying a time required for one lottery of a specific gaming state executed in the gaming machine by the number of gaming media lent out in the sand device, and the illegal condition Conform to Rutowa, actual rotation time in the game machine is that exceeds the reference rotation time.
According to the first invention, it is possible to efficiently acquire highly reliable fraud information.

In the second invention, the imaging means images the face of the player a plurality of times.
According to the second aspect, the face of the unauthorized player can be specified in more detail. Furthermore, when an illegal player repeats fraud many times, the fraudulent player H's fraud history can be managed by acquiring the face image data at that time and creating a database. It is possible to detect the action quickly and accurately and prevent it.

In the third invention, the imaging direction of the imaging means of the sand device on the left side and the imaging means of the sand device on the right side as viewed from the player who is playing the game is adjusted, and the left and right imaging means By setting the imaging areas so as to coincide with each other, the face of the unauthorized player is three-dimensionally represented based on the face image data captured by the left and right imaging units.
According to the third aspect of the invention, since it is possible to realistically represent features such as facial irregularities and contours that are difficult to confirm from planar face image data, more reliable fraud information is acquired. can do.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the low-cost sand apparatus which can acquire highly reliable fraud information efficiently can be implement | achieved by imaging a fraudulent player's face with high definition.

The figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the game hall where the sand apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention was attached to the game machine. The perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the sand apparatus attached to the game machine. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the sand apparatus attached to the game machine. (a) is a diagram showing a state in which a frame is set in accordance with the face of the subject within the imaging area of the imaging means, and (b) follows this when the position of the subject's face changes. The figure which shows the state which the flame | frame moved. The figure which shows the state in which the player is playing a game with the game machine with which the sand apparatus was attached. (a) is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow of a comparison determination process, (b) is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow of a face authentication process.

Hereinafter, a sand apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a game arcade in which the sand apparatus of the present embodiment is disposed, and a plurality of types (models) of game machines are installed in the game arcade. In this case, as the gaming machine, a ball-type gaming machine (for example, a pachinko machine) or a spinning-type gaming machine (for example, a pachislot machine, a slot machine) or the like can be applied, but here as an example of the gaming machine A pachislot machine 2 and a pachinko machine 4 are assumed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachislot machine 2 and the pachinko machine 4 are each provided with a predetermined sand device (a pachislot machine sand device 6 and a pachinko machine sand device 8) adjacent to each other. Each of the sand devices 6 and 8 is communicably connected to, for example, a unit controller 10 that performs system management and sales management of the sand devices 6 and 8. The unit controller 10 is installed for each game arcade, and has a predetermined network N (for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, etc.) with respect to the server 12 of the management company that manages the sand devices 6 and 8. It is connected to be communicable via communication (for example, notification of sales is possible).

  Each of the sand devices 6 and 8 includes, for example, a prepaid card issued by a game machine card issuing machine (not shown) or a membership card issued to a person who wishes to join at a game hall registration counter (not shown). Are provided, such as a card insertion slot (for example, 6a, 8a) and a banknote insertion slot (for example, 6b, 8b) into which a banknote can be inserted. Players can rent out game media (medals, game balls) necessary for games by inserting a membership card (prepaid card) or a predetermined amount of banknotes into the card insertion slots 6a, 8a and banknote insertion slots 6b, 8b. Can receive.

  In this case, in the pachislot machine sand device 6, a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the medal tank to the tray 6c by driving the hopper with a hopper drive motor (not shown). On the other hand, the pachinko machine sand device 8 drives a payout device (solenoid) (not shown) to pay out a predetermined number of game balls to the upper plate 4 a of the pachinko machine 4. Thereafter, the player plays a game using the paid-out game media (medals, game balls). At that time, information related to the game output from the gaming machines 2 and 4 (for example, the rotation time of the gaming machine, the amount of money used, the gaming time, the number of jackpots and big bonuses, etc.) is sent to each gaming machine by the hall computer HP. Managed every 2 or 4.

Here, a specific configuration in which a gaming machine and a sanding device are provided will be described by taking the pachinko machine sanding device 8 and the pachinko machine 4 as an example.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sanding device 8 is provided with a coin insertion slot 8c in addition to the card insertion slot 8a and the bill insertion slot 8b described above, and the player can use a prepaid card in the card insertion slot 8a, for example. By inserting a (member card) or by inserting a predetermined amount of money (banknotes, coins) into the bill insertion slot 8b or coin insertion slot 8c, You can rent and play games.

  The sand device 8 includes a card insertion lamp 8d that emits light in a state where a prepaid card (member card) is inserted into the card insertion slot 8a, and a card R / that reads various information recorded on the prepaid card (member card). Money (banknotes, coins) is inserted from W14, the currency discriminator 16 for identifying the authenticity of the money (banknotes, coins) inserted into the banknote slot 8b and the coin slot 8c, and the banknote slot 8b and the coin slot 8c. A currency insertion detection sensor 18 for detecting this and a state display lamp 20 for displaying the operating state of the sanding device 8 are provided, and these are all controlled by the CPU 22. For example, the control program stored in the ROM 24 is executed by the CPU 22 using the RAM 26 as a work area. At this time, when the money discriminating machine 16 recognizes that the money (banknote, coin) is a basket, the banknote is returned from the banknote slot 8b. Further, the freight coins are selected by a selector (not shown) and returned from the coin return port 8e.

  The sand device 8 is connected to the pachinko machine 4 via a cable (not shown), and various communications are performed via the cable. For example, when the ball lending operation panel 4b of the pachinko machine 4 is operated, signals relating to ball lending processing (BRDY, BRQ, PRDY, EXS) are communicated between the CPU 22 of the sanding device 8 and the payout / launch control board 28 of the pachinko machine 4. Is done. At this time, the CPU 30 of the payout / launch control board 28 drives and controls the payout device 32, whereby a predetermined number of game balls are paid out from the payout device 32 to the upper plate 4 a of the pachinko machine 4.

  In the pachinko machine 4, when the handle lever 34 is operated, a solenoid (not shown) is activated, and a game ball is launched into a game area along a guide rail (not shown) to play a game (normal game state). In a normal gaming state, for example, when a game ball wins a general winning opening (not shown), a predetermined command is transmitted from the main board 36 to the payout / launch control board 28, and the CPU 30 of the payout / fire control board 28 is based on the command. However, by driving and controlling the payout device 32, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out from the payout device 32 to the upper plate 4a. Also, for example, when a game ball is won at a start winning opening (not shown) and a predetermined pattern is prepared, a specific game state advantageous to the player (for example, a special game state that has been a big hit, a probability change game that has become probable) A predetermined number of game balls are paid out through the same payout control.

  In such a gaming state, information on the game output from the pachinko machine 4 (main board 36) (for example, the rotation time of the gaming machine, the amount of money used, the gaming time, or the variable number of symbols, the number of big hits (special prizes), the probability variation The number of times is transmitted to the hall computer HP (FIG. 1), and is managed for each pachinko machine 4 here. Further, the information related to the game is also transmitted to the sand device 8 and used as fraud analysis data described later. Note that the pachinko machine 4 is provided with a lamp 38 and a speaker 40, and for example, an effect by light from the lamp 38 or an effect by sound from the speaker 40 is performed according to the gaming state.

  By the way, when an illegal game is played in the above-described gaming state, a player who has played an illegal game (unauthorized player) is identified from among a large number of players in the game hall, and illegal act information is acquired. There is a need. For that purpose, it is only necessary to discriminate an unauthorized player from a large number of players in the game hall and to capture the unauthorized player's face with high definition. Thereby, since it is possible to efficiently acquire highly reliable fraud information, it is possible to quickly and accurately detect fraud and prevent it.

  For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the sand apparatus of this Embodiment images and obtains the player who is playing a game with a game machine (the pachislot machine 2, the pachinko machine 4). Imaging means for outputting face image data for specifying a player's face, acquisition means for acquiring information about a game when the player played a game on the gaming machines 2 and 4, and information about the game acquired by the acquisition means And determining means for determining whether or not the illegal condition is met, and setting means for setting whether to operate the imaging means based on the determination result of the determining means.

  The imaging means is provided in the sand devices 6 and 8, and can image a player who is playing a game with the gaming machines 2 and 4 provided in the sand devices 6 and 8. The pachinko machine 4 is connected to the sand device 8 on the left side by a cable (not shown) as viewed from the player who is playing the game with the pachinko machine 4, and can communicate with each other. Accordingly, a player who is playing a game with the pachinko machine 4 is imaged by the imaging means provided in the left sand device 8 as viewed from the player. On the other hand, since the positional relationship between the pachislot machine 2 and the pachislot machine sanding device 6 is reversed left and right (FIG. 1), a player playing a game with the pachislot machine 2 is viewed from the player. The image is picked up by the image pickup means provided in the sand device 6 on the right side.

  Also, as the imaging means, for example, various cameras incorporating an imaging element (photoelectric conversion element) such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) can be applied. Assume a camera 42. In this case, the CCD camera 42 can be positioned on the sand devices 6 and 8 in a state in which the imaging direction is fixed toward the player playing the game with the gaming machines 2 and 4. In this case, the imaging area of the CCD camera 42 is adjusted in advance to an area including at least the face of the player who is playing with the gaming machines 2 and 4. The position of the player's face can be defined within a certain range in front of the gaming machines 2 and 4 although there are some differences depending on the height. Therefore, by adjusting in advance the imaging area of the CCD camera 42 so as to cover such a range, it is possible to reliably image the face of the player who is playing with the gaming machines 2 and 4.

  Further, as the spec of the CCD camera 42, for example, by setting the depth of field to be shallow (small), the background of the player can be blurred, so that the face of the player can be clearly imaged. In this case, in order to reduce (decrease) the depth of field, for example, a long-focus lens may be used and the aperture may be set to open (bright). Further, for example, by setting the resolution of the CCD camera 42 high, the player's face can be imaged with high definition, so that high-quality and highly reliable face image data can be output from the CCD camera 42. . Thus, the player's face can be definitely specified based on the face image data. The depth of field and the resolution are not particularly limited here, for example, since they are arbitrarily set according to, for example, the usage purpose and usage environment of the CCD camera 42.

  By the way, a different machine number is assigned to each of the gaming machines 2 and 4 attached to the sand devices 6 and 8, and the face image data output from the CCD camera 42 includes a gaming machine. It is also possible to superimpose machine number data that can specify a machine number every 2 or 4 and imaging date and time data such as imaging date and time. This makes it possible to grasp (specify) the gaming machines 2 and 4 on which the player imaged by the CCD camera 42 is playing in real time, and to play the gaming machines 2 and 4 on which the player has played in the past. Can accurately grasp (identify) the history of Note that the face image data on which the table number data and the imaging date / time data are superimposed is information with a large capacity, so that the storage capacity of the storage location needs to be increased to some extent. In this case, as the storage location, for example, a sand device 6, 8 or a hard disk (not shown) of the hall computer HP may be applied, or a storage database (not shown) is separately constructed in the game hall. Also good.

  The CCD camera 42 is preferably equipped with a face recognition function already developed by various camera companies. Here, the face recognition function is a function for recognizing a person's face from the subject, automatically focusing on the face, and adjusting the exposure. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the subject H enters the imaging area 42f of the CCD camera 42, a frame F that matches the size of the face of the subject H is automatically set. The face in F is in focus. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, even when the subject H moves and the face position changes, the frame F automatically moves following this, so that the face of the subject H is always moved. The in-focus state is maintained. Thereby, even when imaging is performed at an arbitrary timing, the face of the unauthorized player (subject) can be captured with high definition.

  Assuming that the pachinko machine 4 is assumed as the gaming machine, the acquisition means is information relating to the game output from the main board 36 when the player plays the game with the pachinko machine 4 (for example, the rotation time of the gaming machine, the amount of money used, The game time, the variable number of symbols, the number of big hits (special prizes), the probability variation number, etc.) are acquired. Here, for example, when the CPU 22 of the pachinko machine sand device 8 is applied as the acquisition means, information relating to the game output from the main board 36 is taken into the CPU 22 of the sand device 8. At this time, the information regarding the game taken in by the CPU 22 is stored in, for example, a memory (not shown) of the CPU 22.

  Assuming that the pachinko machine 4 is assumed as the gaming machine, the determining means determines whether or not a predetermined illegal condition is met based on the information regarding the game taken into the CPU 22 of the sand device 8. In this case, as a discriminating means, a discriminating circuit (not shown) may be separately constructed in the sand device 8, or the CPU 22 may be applied. When the CPU 22 is applied as an example, a determination program stored in the ROM 24 is executed by the CPU 22 using the RAM 26 as a work area, for example, to determine whether or not the illegal condition is met.

  Here, the illegal condition can be arbitrarily set based on information relating to the game, such as the rotation time of the gaming machine, the amount of money to be used, the game time, the variable number of symbols, the number of jackpots (the number of special prizes), the number of probability changes, and the like. For example, assuming that the “use amount” at the time of playing a game by receiving a ball loan from the operation panel 4b is set as an illegal condition, the determination means determines whether the deposit amount and the number of balls lent, for example, are the same. Is determined. In this case, for example, the number of balls lent out with a deposit amount of “100 yen” is 25 balls when it is 4 yen per ball. However, when the number of balls actually used is 30, the deposit amount and the number of balls lent do not match. At this time, it is determined by the determining means that the number of balls equal to or greater than the deposit amount has been used, and thereby, it can be determined that the illegal condition is met.

  Further, for example, assuming that a “game time” in which a player is playing a game with the pachinko machine 4 is set as an illegal condition, the discrimination means, for example, the number of balls lent to the operation time of a solenoid when a ball is shot one time. Count the time multiplied by. In this case, if the operation time S of the solenoid for launching one ball is assumed to be constant, if the number of lent balls is 25 shots, for example, the maximum reference game time required for firing 25 balls is “25 × S "is calculated. However, if the actual number of balls used is, for example, 30 without any further ball lending operation after the first ball lending (25 shots), the actual game time is “30 × S”, and the standard game time Will be exceeded. At this time, since the number of balls that are equal to or greater than the number of balls lent out is determined, it is determined by the determining means that “30S> 25S”, and thereby, it can be determined that the illegal condition is met.

  Further, for example, assuming that the “rotation time of the gaming machine” is set as an illegal condition, the determination unit counts the number of times that the big hit lottery is performed, for example. In this case, assuming that the rotation time T during which the big hit lottery is performed when one winning is made at the start chucker (start winning prize opening) is constant, for example, if the number of balls lent is 25, all the balls start. The reference rotation time during which the big hit lottery is performed when winning the chucker is calculated as “25 × T” at the maximum. However, if the number of balls actually won is, for example, 30 without any further ball lending operation after the first ball lending (25 shots), the actual rotation time becomes “30 × T”, which is the reference rotation It will be over time. At this time, when the number of balls equal to or greater than the number of balls lent is awarded, it is determined by the determining means that “30T> 25T”, and thereby, it can be determined that the illegal condition is met.

  If the pachinko machine 4 is assumed as a gaming machine, the setting means sets whether or not to operate the imaging means (CCD camera 42) based on the determination result of the determination means (CPU 22). Here, as the setting means, a setting circuit (not shown) may be separately constructed in the sand device 8, or the CPU 22 may be applied. When the CPU 22 is applied as an example, for setting whether or not the image pickup means (CCD camera 42) is to be operated, for example, a setting program stored in the ROM 24 is executed by the CPU 22 using the RAM 26 as a work area. In this case, the setting means (CPU 22) sets that the image pickup means (CCD camera 42) is to be operated when the illegal condition determined by the determination means (CPU 22) is met.

  Next, the operation of the above-described sand apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. Here, as an example, a pachinko machine sand device 8 provided together with the pachinko machine 4 is assumed. In addition, regarding the illegal condition, it is assumed that the “use amount” when the player plays a game with 25 balls loaned by the operation panel 4b is set as an illegal condition. In this case, the discrimination means (CPU 22) discriminates whether, for example, the deposit amount and the number of lent balls are the same.

  When the player operates the handle lever 34 (FIG. 2) of the pachinko machine 4, a solenoid (not shown) is actuated by the payout / launch control board 28 (FIG. 3), and a game ball is launched into the game area one by one. At this time, solenoid operation signals (information relating to the game) are sequentially output from the payout / launch control board 28 and input to the acquisition means (CPU 22) of the sand device 8. Here, if the number of lent balls is 25 balls, a solenoid operation signal is input 25 times to the acquisition means (CPU 22).

  During this time, the determination means (CPU 22) determines whether or not the deposit amount and the number of lent balls match based on the input solenoid operation signal. In actuality, for example, when 30 solenoid operation signals are input to the acquisition means (CPU 22), the determination means (CPU 22) determines that the deposit amount does not match the number of balls lent. That is, it is determined by the determining means (CPU 22) that the number of balls equal to or greater than the deposit amount has been used, and thereby it is determined that the illegal condition is met. In this case, it is determined that there has been any fraud in the ball lending operation by the sand device 8, and as a result, the player who is playing the game with the pachinko machine 4 provided in the sand device 8 is the unauthorized player H (FIG. 5).

  At this time, the setting means (CPU 22) sets that the image pickup means (CCD camera 42) is to be actuated by using as a trigger that the illegal condition determined by the determination means (CPU 22) is met. In synchronization with this, the CCD camera 42 images the unauthorized player H (FIG. 5) playing a game with the pachinko machine 4. In this case, the imaging area 42 (FIG. 4A) of the CCD camera 42 on the left side when viewed from the unauthorized player H is an area including at least the face of the unauthorized player H playing a game on the gaming machine 4. Even if the position of the face changes due to the movement of the unauthorized player H, the face in the frame F is in focus (FIG. 4B).

  Thereby, even when imaged at an arbitrary timing, the face of the unauthorized player H can be imaged with high definition without blurring. At this time, the CCD camera 42 outputs high-quality and highly reliable face image data capable of specifying the player's face as fraudulent information. In this case, the fraudulent act information can include face number data and imaging date / time data superimposed on the face image data as well as face image data specifying the face of the fraudulent player H. Accordingly, by acquiring such highly reliable fraudulent information, the face of the fraudulent player H, the pachinko machine 4 on which the fraudulent player H played, the date and time when the fraudulent game was played, etc. are arranged in real time. It is possible to grasp (identify) the history accurately and efficiently.

  Various means (CPU 22) such as an image pickup means (CCD camera 42), an acquisition means, a determination means, and a setting means can be integrated in the sand device 8. In this case, it is not necessary to install a plurality of cameras on the ceiling of the game hall as in the conventional case, and the manufacturing cost of the device can be greatly reduced. Even when maintenance is performed on the imaging means (CCD camera 42) and various means (CPU 22), it can be performed individually for each sanding device 8, and it does not take time and effort, and thus maintenance costs can be reduced. Can do.

  Furthermore, since the fraud analysis capability can be improved by setting “use amount” as the fraud condition, the reliability of the fraud information to be acquired can be increased. In this case, the fraud analysis capability is further improved by adding other conditions such as “game time” and “rotation time of the gaming machine” as a fraud condition, or by arbitrarily combining them. It is possible to further increase the reliability of fraudulent information to be performed. It is needless to say that the illegal condition is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be arbitrarily set according to the content and type of the game, for example.

  By the way, it is preferable to notify the gaming hall side of the fraud information acquired as described above (for example, face image data, machine number data, imaging date / time data, etc.) in order to detect and prevent fraud. Therefore, the sand devices 6 and 8 of the present embodiment are provided with fraud notification means for notifying information to that effect when the fraud conditions determined by the determination means are met. FIG. 3 shows an example of fraud notification means constructed in the pachinko machine sand device 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sand device 8 is provided with a fraud notification output circuit 44 as a fraud notification means, and fraud information (for example, face image data, machine number data, imaging date / time data, etc.) from the CCD camera 42. ) Is output from the fraud notification output circuit 44, information indicating that the fraud conditions have been met is notified to the game hall side. In this case, the information indicating that the illegal condition is met is, for example, converted into character information, audio information, video / still image information, and the like so as to be suitable for the system environment and usage purpose of the game arcade. Can do.

  For example, text information such as “Monthly, Sunday, Hours, Hours, Minutes, Pachinko Machine with Game Table Number XX” and the still image information of the fraudulent player ’s face are reported to the monitor on the game hall side. In addition, information indicating the same content can be notified by voice to an income (calling device) carried by an employee of the game hall. It is also possible to notify the video game monitor of the video information of the illegal player currently playing. Furthermore, information indicating that such an illegal condition is met may be collectively notified to the hall computer HP for management.

  Thus, the illegal act of the unauthorized player can be remotely monitored in real time without the employee directly going to the gaming table where the unauthorized operation is performed. As a result, fraudulent acts can be detected and prevented quickly and accurately while reducing the burden on the game hall side. Instead of adding a fraud notification output circuit 44 to the sand apparatus 8 as a fraud notification means, for example, when a fraud notification output program is stored in the ROM 24 and fraud information is output from the CCD camera 42, the RAM 26 is stored in the work area. The unauthorized notification output program may be executed by the CPU 22.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the image pickup means (CCD camera 42) is provided in the sand devices 6 and 8 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any image can be taken as long as an unauthorized player can be imaged. Imaging means (CCD camera 42) can be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an imaging means (CCD camera 42) may be provided in each of the counter 46 and the POS terminal 48 installed in the game hall so as to capture the face of the corresponding unauthorized player.

  Here, the counting machine 46 is provided with a prize ball receiving port 46a and a counting display 46b, for example, a card insertion port 46c for receiving a member card, a visitor card and the like. In this case, for example, with the membership card (visitor card) inserted into the card insertion slot 46c, the obtained prize balls are poured into the prize ball reception slot 46a, thereby displaying the total number of prize balls on the counting display 46b. And a receipt (not shown) on which the number of acquired balls is printed is issued.

  At this time, if the information indicating that the illegal condition as described above is informed to the hall computer HP from the sand devices 6 and 8 and managed collectively, the information recorded on the membership card (visitor card) is stored in the hall computer. By inquiring to the HP, it can be verified whether or not the player corresponds to an unauthorized player. If the collation matches, for example, an operation signal is output from the hall computer HP to the counter 46, and the imaging means (CCD camera 42) is operated, so that the face of the unauthorized player can be imaged. As a result, it is possible to acquire highly reliable fraud information as evidence of fraud at the time of counting.

  The POS terminal 48 also includes a prize exchange processing device 48a for reading receipts issued by the counter 46, and a display device 48b for displaying the result of the prize exchange processing to the player. Are provided with a display 48c for displaying the contents of the prize exchange and a card insertion slot 48d for receiving a membership card (visitor card). In this case, the employee who has received the receipt from the player who brought the receipt can read the receipt into the POS terminal 48 and exchange it for a prize desired by the player.

  At this time, if the information indicating that the illegal condition as described above is informed to the hall computer HP from the sand devices 6 and 8 and managed collectively, the information recorded on the membership card (visitor card) is stored in the hall computer. By inquiring to the HP, it can be verified whether or not the player corresponds to an unauthorized player. If the verification matches, for example, an operation signal is output from the hall computer HP to the POS terminal 48, and the imaging means (CCD camera 42) is operated, so that the unauthorized player's face can be imaged. Thereby, highly reliable fraud information can be acquired as evidence of fraud at the time of prize exchange.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the imaging direction of the imaging means (CCD camera 42) is fixed toward the player who is playing with the gaming machines 2 and 4, but the imaging direction can be adjusted. You may comprise. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when an unauthorized player H is playing an illegal game with the pachinko machine 4, in the above-described embodiment, the image pickup means of the sand device 8 on the left side as viewed from the unauthorized player H ( Imaging is performed by a CCD camera 42). In this case, the imaging direction of the imaging means (CCD camera 42a) of the sand device 8 on the right side as viewed from the unauthorized player H is adjusted and positioned toward the unauthorized player H.

  Here, as a method of adjusting the imaging direction of the CCD camera 42a, for example, a lens (not shown) built in the CCD camera 42a may be moved by an actuator (not shown) and positioned in the direction of the unauthorized player H. As the actuator, a commercially available voice coil motor, piezo motor, DC motor, or the like can be applied. As a method of operating the actuator, the actuator incorporated in each sand device 8 may be remotely operated by a management system (not shown) installed in the game hall, or the actuator of the hall computer HP may be used. An actuator incorporated in each sanding device 8 may be operated by key input from the terminal.

  Further, the movement amount (angle) of the lens is set so that the imaging area of the CCD camera 42a defined by the lens after movement substantially coincides with the imaging area 42f of the CCD camera 42 shown in FIG. 4A, for example. Just do it. When the left and right CCD cameras 42 and 42a capture images in such a state, a face image that can represent the face of the unauthorized player H in a three-dimensional manner based on the face image data output from the CCD cameras 42 and 42a. Data can be acquired. In this case, it is possible to realistically represent features such as facial irregularities and contours that are difficult to confirm from planar face image data. Thereby, it is possible to acquire fraud information with higher reliability.

  By the way, in embodiment mentioned above, although it did not mention in particular about the frequency | count of imaging the face of the fraudulent player H, you may make it image the same fraudulent player H face in multiple times. By doing so, the face of the unauthorized player H can be specified in more detail. Further, when the illegal player H repeats the illegal act many times, the fraud history of the illegal player H can be managed by acquiring the face image data at that time and creating a database. As a result, fraudulent acts can be detected quickly and accurately, and prevention thereof can be achieved.

  In addition, when the same unauthorized player H's face is imaged multiple times, it is more efficient to manage each face image data collectively as a history for each identical unauthorized player than to manage each face image data separately. Is. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine that the plurality of face image data are face images of the same person. For example, when an unauthorized player who has played an illegal game in the past in the game hall visits the game hall again and performs an unauthorized game, the determination as to whether or not the same person is the same This is performed by comparing the face image data with the newly acquired face image data. In this case, if the clothes at the time of visit are different even if they are the same person, it is determined whether or not they are the same person by comparing the differences in facial features. At that time, an existing known face recognition processing method may be applied as the comparison determination processing.

  Here, an example of the comparison determination process in the pachinko machine sand apparatus 8 (FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). In this comparison and determination process, face image data of an unauthorized player acquired in the past is stored in a hard disk (not shown) of the hall computer HP (FIG. 1) and managed in association with each unauthorized player. Shall. In the series of operations of the comparison determination process, for example, a comparison determination program stored in the ROM 24 of the sand device 8 is executed by the CPU 22 using the RAM 26 as a work area.

  Similar to the above-described embodiment, when the illegal condition is met (T1), the CCD camera 42 is operated to image the illegal player H (FIG. 5) (T2). At this time, when new face image data of the unauthorized player H is acquired (T3), for example, the CPU 22 of the sand apparatus 8 inquires of the hall computer HP for face image data and executes face authentication processing (T4, T5). ). Here, the face image data of a number of fraudulent players stored in the hall computer HP and the newly acquired face image data are collated to determine whether or not they match (T6). As a work area for collation, for example, the RAM 26 of the sand device 8 may be used, or the RAM (not shown) of the hall computer HP may be used.

  When it is determined that there is a lot of face image data already stored in the hall computer HP that matches the newly acquired face image data, an unauthorized player corresponding to the face image data is Identified. At this time, the newly acquired face image data is stored in the hard disk (not shown) of the hall computer HP as the illegal game information corresponding to the specified illegal player (T7). This makes it possible to collectively manage the history of fraudulent games performed by the same fraudulent player, and as a result, it is possible to detect fraudulent acts quickly and accurately and prevent them.

  Note that various known methods can be applied as the face authentication processing method in the comparison determination process described above. Here, as an example, as shown in FIG. A binarization processing method that separates into a dark region is adopted.

  In the face authentication process, threshold values are set for newly acquired face image data (new data) and face image data (old data) stored in the hall computer HP, and each of the data is classified into a bright area and a dark area. Are separated (binarization processing) (P1). Here, the bright region includes a portion corresponding to the skin of the face, and the dark region includes other facial portions (hair, eyebrows, wrinkles, etc.). As the threshold setting process, for example, a mode method, a p-tile method, a discriminant analysis binarization method, or the like may be applied.

  Subsequently, after applying a separability filter to each pixel in the dark region and calculating the separability (P2), a local maximum point of the separability is extracted as a feature point candidate (P3). Here, the feature point candidates include, for example, a pupil, a nostril, a nasal apex, a mouth end, an eye head, an eye corner, and an eyebrow end. Then, the feature points of the new data and the old data are narrowed down based on the position and shape of each feature point candidate by pattern matching using the subspace method (P4).

  Next, the face image included in the new data and the old data is recognized by executing two-dimensional affine transformation based on the feature points (P5). Then, based on the face images of both data, after collating whether or not the feature points match each other (P6), the collation result is output (P7).

  Such a comparison determination process can be configured to be performed by, for example, the counter 46 and the POS terminal 48 in addition to the sand device.

2 Pachislot machine 4 Pachinko machine 6 Sanding machine for pachislot machine 8 Sanding machine for pachinko machine 42 CCD camera (imaging means)

Claims (3)

A sanding device installed adjacent to a gaming machine,
Imaging means for imaging a player playing a game on the gaming machine and outputting face image data for identifying the player's face obtained by imaging;
Obtaining means for obtaining information relating to a game when the player has played a game on the gaming machine;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the illegal condition is met based on the information on the game acquired by the acquiring unit;
And setting means for setting whether or not to operate the imaging means based on the discrimination result of the discrimination means,
The determination means can calculate a reference rotation time obtained by multiplying the time required for one lottery of a specific gaming state executed in the gaming machine by the number of game media lent out in the sand device,
Satisfying the illegal condition means that the actual rotation time of the gaming machine exceeds a reference rotation time.   The sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit images the face of the player a plurality of times.   Adjusting the imaging direction of the imaging means of the sand device on the left side and the imaging means of the sand device on the right side as viewed from the player who is playing the game, the imaging areas of the left and right imaging means are matched. 3. The sanding device according to claim 1, wherein the sanding device is represented in a three-dimensional manner based on face image data captured by the left and right imaging units.

Images