JP5620064B2 - GAME MEDIUM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND GAME MEDIUM MANAGEMENT METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium management system and a game medium management method having a saving function for saving game media acquired at a game machine in a game store.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a game store management system is known in which a game ball acquired on a game console in the store can be deposited in a game store without exchanging prizes.

  In such a storage ball management system, a game ball acquired by a player at a game stand can be deposited in a game store as a storage ball, and the player can draw a game ball from the storage ball balance and replay it when desired. Moreover, it is also possible to exchange prizes from the balance of stored balls (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3).

  The storage management system is a service that is mainly provided only to members registered as members at the amusement store, manages the storage balance in association with the member ID of the member, and stores the game balls acquired at the game stand. At this time, using a member card for identifying the member ID, the game balls counted through the ball counter arranged at the island edge or the prize manager arranged at the prize counter are managed in association with the member ID.

  However, if the upper limit on the amount of money stored by players is unlimited, the amount of cash that must be prepared at the amusement store will increase as the number of stored balls increases. doing.

  Also, in recent years, a third party other than the two of the player and the amusement store has managed the player's accumulated balls. For example, even if the amusement store goes bankrupt, the third party has a player protection from the viewpoint of consumer protection. Services that compensate for the savings are popular.

  However, even if a third party institution's savings compensation service is adopted, the upper limit of the third party's receivables is suppressed to a certain amount by setting an upper limit on the balance of the savings rather than making the savings compensation limit unlimited. doing.

  In recent years, in game stores, ball lending machines provided between each game stand have a ball counting function from the viewpoint of eliminating the need for ball counting with a ball counter placed on an island edge or the like. There is known a counting system that can count the number of balls acquired by the ball counting function, store and manage the counting result as a ball, and perform replay within the range of the number of balls (for example, see Patent Document 4). ).

  In such a car counting system, in the case of a member registered at an amusement store, the current prepaid balance and the current day's money are recorded on a member card, the member card is returned to the player, and there is no member card. Even if a member does not bring a membership card, the general card with the current prepaid balance and the current day's money is returned to the player.

  Also, in the gaming industry, if a member who plays with a membership card by setting an expiration date on the earned ball, the member himself will be unaware of the closing of the store on the day when the store is closed and the next day At the time of opening the store, the current day's money that is managed in association with the membership card is cumulatively updated to the stored money balance, that is, the current day's money is transferred to the stored money balance. On the other hand, in the case of a member who did not play with a membership card, the regular card will be handled in the same way as the counting receipt. In the case of shifting to, a system is employed in which the user goes to the counter botherfully and passes the stored ball processing by the operator to transfer the current ball to the stored ball balance.

  Even if it is a member, in the case of a general card, the current day's holding ball is limited to that day, so if the operator does not go through the savings processing, it will be invalidated.

JP 2006-129928 A JP 2007-68648 A JP 2008-86432 A JP 2007-229111 A

  However, in the game ball management system in which both the storage management system of Patent Literatures 1 to 3 and the counting system of each vehicle of Patent Literature 4 are introduced, in the case of a member, the storage balance corresponding to the member ID of the member card given to the member And the same-day holding ball will be added to the accumulated ball balance during the closing process on the day, that is, the same-day holding ball will be transferred to the accumulated ball balance. If the storage ball upper limit threshold is exceeded, by disabling the storage of that day's holding ball, for example, various adverse effects such as invalidating the holding ball on that day occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to automatically and cumulatively update the current day's money (number of game media) to the accumulated ball balance (number of game media to be saved). A game media management system and a game media management method capable of avoiding various harmful effects caused by the inability to store balls on the day even if the cumulative addition result of the balls and the balance of the current day exceeds the upper limit threshold of the storage ball at the time of transition to It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the game medium management system of the present invention counts the number of stored game media deposited by a player in a game store and the game media acquired by the player through the game medium counting means for each game table, A game medium management system for managing the number of possessed game media obtained as a result of the counting in association with the member recording medium assigned to the player, wherein the number of possessed game media is determined according to a predetermined timing. Transition means for cumulatively adding to the number of stored game media and transferring the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media; and the cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media by the transition means is a saving upper limit A determination means for determining whether or not a threshold value has been exceeded, and when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination means; Management means for assigning and managing a specific identifier in association with the member recording medium, and the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device has a saving upper limit threshold. Use of this member recording medium when the result of cumulative addition of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the alerting means for informing the alert if exceeded, and the determination means in the determination means possess a recording medium using restriction setting means for limiting, the warning notification unit, the recording in medium use restriction setting means during use limit of the member for the recording medium, the recording medium handling the member for recording medium through apparatus When a handling request is detected, a warning is required.

  Also, the game media management system of the present invention is configured so that, in the configuration of the above invention, when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of game media saved exceeds the saving upper limit threshold value in the determination means. It is a requirement to have recording medium use restriction setting means for restricting the use of the recording medium.

  In the game medium management system of the present invention, in the configuration of the above invention, the use restriction of the member recording medium is required to prohibit the use of the member recording medium.

  In the game media management system of the present invention, in the configuration of the invention described above, a predetermined determination is made as to whether or not the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium has exceeded a predetermined warning level threshold value less than the saving upper limit threshold value. A warning level threshold determination means, wherein the warning notification means is a saving game corresponding to the member recording medium by the predetermined warning level threshold determination means during handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device; When the number of media exceeds the predetermined warning level threshold, it is a requirement that a warning be notified.

  In the game medium management system according to the present invention, in the configuration of the invention described above, a predetermined warning level in which a cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium is less than the saving upper limit threshold value. Predetermined warning level threshold determining means for determining whether or not the threshold has been exceeded, and the warning notification means is configured to use the predetermined warning level threshold determining means during handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling apparatus. When the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording media exceeds the predetermined warning level threshold, a warning is notified.

  In the game medium management system according to the present invention, in the configuration of the above invention, whether or not a cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold value. The storage upper limit threshold determination means corresponds to the member recording medium by the saving upper limit threshold determination means during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device. When the accumulated addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, a warning is notified.

  In the game media management system according to the present invention, in the configuration of the invention described above, the cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording media is determined by the determination means as the saving upper limit threshold value. If it exceeds the limit, it is necessary to have a message notification means for notifying this member of the message through the communication line based on the destination information corresponding to the member of the recording medium for the member.

In order to achieve the above object, the game media management system of the present invention counts the number of stored game media deposited by the game player at the game store and the game media acquired by the game player through the game media counting means for each game machine. And a game medium management system for managing the number of possessed game media obtained as a result of the counting in association with the member recording medium provided to the player, wherein the possessed game media are provided at a predetermined timing. A transition unit that cumulatively adds a number to the number of stored game media and shifts the number of retained game media to the number of stored game media; and a cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media by the transition unit Determining means for determining whether or not the saving upper limit threshold is exceeded, and when the determining means determines that the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceed the saving upper limit threshold, Management means for managing the number of game media that exceed the saving upper limit threshold as the number of game media that can be exchanged in association with the member recording medium, and handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device When the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds a saving upper limit threshold, warning notification means for notifying a warning, and accumulation of the number of possessed game media and the number of saving game media by the determination means If the addition result exceeds the savings upper threshold possess a recording medium using restriction setting means for limiting the use of this member for a recording medium, the warning notification unit, the member in said recording medium using restriction setting means When a use request for the member recording medium is detected through the recording medium handling device while the use of the recording medium for use is restricted, a warning is notified .

In order to achieve the above object, the game media management method of the present invention counts the number of stored game media deposited by a game player in a game store and the game media acquired by the game player through game media counting means for each game machine. A game medium management method for managing the number of possessed game media obtained as a result of the counting in association with the member recording medium assigned to the player, wherein the number of possessed game media is determined at a predetermined timing. A transition step of cumulatively adding to the number of stored game media and shifting the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media, and a cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media in the transition step is a saving upper limit A determination step of determining whether or not a threshold value has been exceeded, and a case where the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step A management step of assigning and managing a specific identifier in association with the member recording medium of the member, and the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device is the upper limit of saving When the threshold value is exceeded, a warning notification step for notifying a warning, and when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step, the member recording medium look including a recording medium using restriction setting step of limiting the use of said warning notification step, during use limit of the recording medium using restriction setting the member for recording medium in step, for the member through the recording medium handling apparatus When a request for handling a recording medium is detected, a warning is required.

  Also, the game medium management method of the present invention is such that, in the above method, when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step, the member recording media It is a requirement to include a recording medium use restriction setting step for restricting use of the recording medium.

In the game medium management system of the present invention configured as described above, the number of held game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media according to a predetermined timing, and the number of held game media is transferred to the number of stored game media. At this time, when the cumulative addition result of the number of owned game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, a specific identifier is assigned and managed in association with the member recording medium of the member. As a result, when the number of stored game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media and the transition of the number of held game media to the number of stored game media is executed, the result of cumulative addition of the number of stored game media and the number of stored game media Even if the storage threshold exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, by allowing the saving of the number of owned game media to the number of saved game media, various harmful effects due to the inability to save the number of owned game media can be avoided, and the number of stored game media can be matched with the member recording media. By assigning and managing the specific identifier, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a situation where the number of game media is continuously saved while exceeding the saving upper limit threshold. In particular, during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device, when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold immediately before the saving upper limit threshold, for example, immediately before the saving upper limit threshold. Since the warning indicating that there is, the member can recognize that the number of the storage game media has reached just before the saving upper limit threshold based on the warning during the handling of the recording medium for the member.

  In addition to the effects of the above invention, the game medium management system of the present invention restricts the use of this member recording medium when the cumulative addition result of the number of saved game media and the number of owned game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold. As a result, the member can recognize that the number of saving game media has exceeded the saving upper limit threshold by restricting the use of the recording medium for the member, and while the amusement store side exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, There is an effect that it is possible to avoid a situation in which the number of game media is continuously stored.

  In addition, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above invention, the use restriction of the member recording medium prohibits the use of the member recording medium. It is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which the number of game media is continuously stored while exceeding.

  In addition, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above invention, when a member recording medium handling request is detected through the recording medium handling device while the member recording medium usage is restricted, for example, a saving upper limit threshold Since the warning to notify that the use of the member recording medium is being restricted due to excess or the upper limit of the savings upper limit threshold has been issued, the member, based on the warning, has exceeded the upper limit of the saving upper limit or The use restriction can be recognized, and an attendant in the game shop can recognize the use of the member recording medium whose use is restricted based on the warning.

  In addition, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above invention, during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device, the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium is, for example, the saving upper limit When the predetermined warning level threshold immediately before the threshold is exceeded, a warning indicating that it is immediately before the saving upper limit threshold is notified, so the member can save the number of saving game media based on the warning while handling the recording medium for members. Has the effect of recognizing that it has reached just before the saving upper limit threshold.

  In addition, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above-described invention, the number of stored game media and the number of possessed game media corresponding to the member recording medium are handled during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device. For example, when the cumulative addition result exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold value immediately before the saving upper limit threshold value, a warning indicating that it is immediately before the saving upper limit threshold value is notified. Based on the warning, it is possible to recognize that the cumulative addition result of the number of saved game media and the number of owned game media has reached just before the saving upper limit threshold.

  In addition, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above-described invention, the number of stored game media and the number of possessed game media corresponding to the member recording medium are handled during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device. When the cumulative addition result exceeds the saving upper limit threshold value, for example, a warning indicating that the saving upper limit threshold value has been reached is notified so that the member can save the game based on the warning while handling the member recording medium. There is an effect that it is possible to recognize that the cumulative addition result of the number of media and the number of possessed game media has reached the saving upper limit threshold.

  Further, in the game medium management system of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above invention, when the cumulative addition result of the number of stored game media and the number of held game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, Based on the destination information corresponding to the member of the recording medium for the recording medium, for example, a message indicating that the saving upper limit threshold has been exceeded is notified through the communication line, so that the member does not use the recording medium for the member in the recording medium handling device. However, there is an effect that the saving upper limit threshold can be recognized based on the message without going to the amusement store.

In the game medium management system of the present invention configured as described above, the number of held game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media according to a predetermined timing, and the number of held game media is set to the number of stored game media. When transitioning, if the cumulative addition result of the number of owned game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, the accumulated upper limit threshold of the accumulated addition results of the number of stored gaming media and the number of owned gaming media is exceeded. The corresponding number of game media is associated with the member recording media and managed as the number of game media that can be exchanged for prizes. As a result, when the number of stored game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media and the transition of the number of stored game media to the number of stored game media is executed, the cumulative addition result of the number of stored game media and the number of stored game media is Even if the saving upper limit threshold is exceeded, by managing the amount exceeding the saving upper limit threshold as the number of game media that can be exchanged for prizes, various harmful effects due to the inability to save the number of owned gaming media can be avoided, and the saving upper limit threshold is exceeded. However, there is an effect that it is possible to sufficiently cope with a situation where the number of game media is continuously stored. In particular, during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device, when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold immediately before the saving upper limit threshold, for example, immediately before the saving upper limit threshold. Since the warning indicating that there is, the member can recognize that the number of the storage game media has reached just before the saving upper limit threshold based on the warning during the handling of the recording medium for the member.

In the game medium management method of the present invention configured as described above, the number of held game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media according to a predetermined timing, and the number of held game media is set to the number of stored game media. When shifting, if the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, a specific identifier is assigned and managed in association with the member recording medium of the member. As a result, when the number of stored game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media and the transition of the number of stored game media to the number of stored game media is executed, the cumulative addition result of the number of stored game media and the number of stored game media is Even if the saving upper limit threshold is exceeded, by allowing savings, various harmful effects due to the inability to save the number of owned game media can be avoided, and by assigning and managing a specific identifier associated with the member recording medium, the saving upper limit threshold It is possible to sufficiently cope with a situation where the number of game media is continuously stored while exceeding the limit. In particular, during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device, when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold immediately before the saving upper limit threshold, for example, immediately before the saving upper limit threshold. Since the warning indicating that there is, the member can recognize that the number of the storage game media has reached just before the saving upper limit threshold based on the warning during the handling of the recording medium for the member.

  In addition to the effects of the above invention, the game medium management method of the present invention restricts the use of this member recording medium when the cumulative addition result of the number of saved game media and the number of owned game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold. As a result, the member can recognize that the number of saving game media has exceeded the saving upper limit threshold by restricting the use of the recording medium for the member, and while the amusement store side exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, There is an effect that it is possible to avoid a situation in which the number of game media is continuously stored.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the entire gaming machine management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the card management apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management contents of the prepaid balance DB inside the card management apparatus. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management content of the holding ball DB inside the card management device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside the member management apparatus, which is a main part of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management content of the member management DB in the member management apparatus. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management contents of the stored balance DB in the member management apparatus. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management content of the use restriction flag DB inside the member management apparatus. FIG. 9 is a front view of a ball lending machine with a built-in counting function. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the operation transition of the gaming machine management system related to the automatic storage ball. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus side related to the storage balance transfer process of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus side related to the member card acceptance process of the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside the member management apparatus, which is a main part of the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management content of the possession management DB inside the member management apparatus. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus side related to the stored balance transfer process of the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus side related to the member card acceptance process of the second embodiment.

  Embodiments relating to a game medium management system and a game medium management method of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the outline of the present embodiment will be explained first. The outline is a member management apparatus for managing the balance of the accumulated money for each member card given to the member, and a card management apparatus for managing the current day's possession for each member card. When the transition to the current day's money storage balance, such as the cumulative addition of the current day's money managed by the card management device to the money balance managed by the member management device, When the cumulative addition result of the ball exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold, the usage limit indicating the storage ball upper limit threshold exceeded and the member card usage limit in association with the member's member card while allowing the transfer to the storage ball balance of the current day The flag is set to ON.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance and the current day's accumulated ball exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, the use of this membership card is restricted.

  As a result, in this embodiment, when the accumulated balance result of the stored ball balance corresponding to the membership card and the current day's possessed ball exceeds the upper limit threshold of the stored ball at the time of the stored ball balance transition process, Since the use limit flag indicating the storage card upper limit threshold exceeded and the member card use limit is set to ON in association with the membership card, even if the storage ball upper limit threshold is exceeded during execution of the storage balance transfer process, By allowing the transfer to balance, you can avoid various harmful effects caused by the inability to store balls on the day, and by setting the use restriction flag ON, you will continue to accumulate balls while exceeding the upper limit threshold of storage balls It can cope with any situation.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance and the current day's accumulated ball exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold, the use of the member card is restricted, so that the member is restricted from using the member card. In this way, it can be recognized that the stored ball balance has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the entire gaming machine management system according to the first embodiment.

  The gaming machine management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a plurality of gaming machines 110 and each gaming machine 110, a ball lending function for lending game balls in accordance with deposit operations and card insertion operations, A ball lending machine 3 having a replay function for drawing out the game, an island controller 120 that manages a relay function for each gaming island in which the game machine 110 and the ball lending machine 3 are arranged, and a prize management machine 130 that performs prize exchange processing and inventory management. And a prize dispenser 140 for paying out special prizes, an island edge counter (not shown), a card processing machine 150 for registering accumulated balls by an operator, and a current prepaid balance such as a membership card or a general card. It has a card settlement machine 160 for settlement, a card management device 4 for managing various information of member cards and general cards, and a member management device 5 for managing various information of members.

  The gaming machine management system 1 connects the island controller 120, the prize management machine 130, the card processing machine 150, the card settlement machine 160, the card management apparatus 4 and the member management apparatus 5 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 6. Data communication among the island controller 120, the prize management machine 130, the card processing machine 150, the card settlement machine 160, the card management apparatus 4 and the member management apparatus 5 is realized.

  In the case of a member, the prize management machine 130 is a prize exchange terminal device arranged at a prize exchange counter in the amusement store. Specifically, when an operator in the prize exchange counter receives, for example, a count receipt or count card (general card or member card) of an acquired ball printed out from an island edge counter (not shown) from the player, On the basis of the counting receipts and the earned balls of the counting card, the general prize corresponding to the number of earned balls is handed over to the player manually by the operator. Note that the counting card includes a counting card for acquired balls recorded by the counting function of each unit described later of the ball lending machine 3.

  When the player wishes to exchange for a special prize, the operator presses a special prize exchange button provided on the prize management machine 130 and instructs the prize dispenser 140 to pay out the special prize for the number of acquired balls. Is.

  In addition, the prize management machine 130 can deposit a part or all of the number of acquired balls read from the counting receipt or the general card into the member's stored balance. For example, when the operator receives a counting receipt and a membership card from a member who wishes to save money, the membership card is inserted into the card reader of the prize management machine 130, and after reading the card ID for identifying the card, the saving operation is performed. This is to instruct the member management device 5 to store balls.

  The card processing machine 150 corresponds to a member terminal device used when storing with a member card, and has a card reader unit (not shown) that reads a card ID recorded on the member card. The card processor 150 instructs the member management apparatus 5 to store a ball in association with the card ID and add and update the count result of the island edge counter to the pool balance.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the card management device 4.

  A card management device 4 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to a card management side communication interface 11 that is connected to the LAN 6 for communication, an input device 12 such as a keyboard or a mouse, and inputs various information, and a liquid crystal panel, for example. It corresponds to a display device such as a display and a display, and outputs a variety of information. For example, it corresponds to a storage device such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory, and manages various information in units of card IDs such as a membership card and a general card. A card management DB 14 for controlling the card management apparatus 4 and a card management control unit 15 for controlling the entire card management apparatus 4.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram simply showing the management content of the prepaid balance DB 16 inside the card management device 4, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram simply showing the management content of the holding ball DB 17 inside the card management device 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the card management DB 14 has a prepaid balance DB 16 for managing the current prepaid balance 16B for each card ID 16A, and a game ball acquired by the player on the gaming table for each card ID 17A as shown in FIG. And a ball holding DB 17 for managing the counting result by the ball counting unit inside the ball lending machine 3 as a ball 17B on the day.

  The card management control unit 15 centrally manages the current prepaid balance 16B for each card ID 16A in the prepaid balance DB 16 and the current day's money 17B for each card ID 17A in the possession DB 17.

  For example, when the card management control unit 15 receives a possession ball addition request (retention ball update request) from the ball lending machine 3, the card management control unit 15 matches the card ID in the possession ball DB 17 based on the card ID of the corresponding card included in the possession ball addition request. The number of balls to be added is updated by adding the number of balls to be added 17B on the day corresponding to the card ID 17A. The number of balls requested for addition corresponds to, for example, a count result of the game balls acquired by the ball counting unit in the ball lending machine 3.

  In addition, when the card management control unit 15 receives, for example, a ball subtraction request (ball renewal request) from the ball lending machine 3, the card management control unit 15 stores the data in the ball management DB 17 based on the card ID of the corresponding card included in the ball subtraction request. The number of subtraction request balls such as the number of unit balls to be returned is subtracted and updated from the possession ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside the member management apparatus 5 which is a main part of the first embodiment.

  The member management apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to a member management side communication interface 21 that communicates with the LAN 6, and corresponds to an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, for example, and an input unit 22 that inputs various information, for example, a liquid crystal panel An output unit 23 that outputs various types of information, and a member management DB 24 that stores and manages various types of information related to members, for example, a storage device such as a hard disk or a non-volatile memory. doing.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management contents of the member management DB 24 inside the member management apparatus 5.

  The member management DB 24 shown in FIG. 6 stores and manages various pieces of information of members for which certain personal information has been registered through the entry on the member application form. For each card ID 24A, the member type 24B, attribute information 24C, and password 24D are stored. It corresponds to the stored database. The attribute information 24C includes a member's telephone number, date of birth, mail address, and the like.

  Further, the member management device 5 shown in FIG. 5 is a storage ball balance DB 25 that manages the storage ball balance for each card ID, a use restriction flag DB 26 that manages a use restriction flag for each card ID, and a card handling device that handles member cards. A warning notification control unit 28 that notifies a prior warning or an error warning, a member card handling control unit 29 that controls the handling of the membership card with respect to the card handling device, and a member management control unit that controls the entire member management device 5 30.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram simply showing the management content of the stored balance DB 25 inside the member management device 5, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram simply showing the management content of the use restriction flag DB 26 inside the member management device 5.

  The stored ball balance DB 25 shown in FIG. 7 manages the stored ball balance 25B for each card ID 25A, and manages the stored ball balance 25B of the membership card corresponding to the card ID 25A.

  The use restriction flag DB 26 shown in FIG. 8 manages the use restriction flag 26B for each card ID 26A, and manages the member card use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A. The use restriction flag 26B is a flag indicating the setting state of the use restriction of the membership card. When the use restriction flag 26B is ON, it is determined that the storage ball balance 25B has exceeded the storage upper limit threshold, and the use of the membership card is determined. In addition to the prohibition, when it is OFF, it is determined that the stored ball balance 25B is within the stored ball upper limit threshold, and the use of the member card is permitted as usual. For example, if the member's storage ball upper limit threshold is set to the number of stored balls equivalent to 1 million yen, for example, it will be 250,000 balls at a conversion rate of 4 yen per ball.

  Further, the member management control unit 30 shown in FIG. 5 has a storage management control unit 31 that manages and controls the storage balance DB 25.

  When the storage management control unit 31 receives a storage ball addition request (reservation update request) through the card processing machine 150 or the prize management machine 130, the storage management control unit 31 applies the corresponding item in the storage balance DB 25 based on the card ID of the corresponding card included in the storage ball addition request. The number of addition request balls is added to the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A and updated. The number of balls requested for addition corresponds to, for example, the same-day possession ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A in the possession ball DB 17 in the card management device 4.

  Further, when the storage ball management control unit 31 receives a storage ball subtraction request (storage ball renewal request) from the ball lending machine 3 or the gift management machine 130, the storage ball management control unit 31 includes the inside of the storage ball balance 25B based on the card ID of the card included in the storage ball subtraction request. The subtraction request ball number is subtracted and updated to the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 25A. The number of balls to be subtracted corresponds to, for example, the number of balls corresponding to a prize in the case of a request for subtraction of a storage ball from the prize management machine 130. For example, in the case of a request for subtraction of a ball from the ball lending machine 3, a replay operation is performed. Accordingly, this corresponds to the number of balls to be drawn from the corresponding member's stored ball balance 25B.

  In addition, when the storage ball management control unit 31 updates the storage ball balance 25B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 25A in the storage ball balance DB 25 by adding and updating the current day holding ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A in the holding ball DB 17 of the card management device 4, The card management control unit 15 in the card management device 4 makes the current day's holding ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A in the holding ball DB 17 zero.

  Further, the storage management control unit 31 acquires, for example, the current-day holding balls 17B from the holding ball DB 17 of the card management device 4 for each card ID 17A during the closing process on the same day, and stores the same-day holding balls 17B for each card ID in the storage balance DB 25. The accumulated ball is added to the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 17A and the current day's money is transferred to the stored ball balance.

  Further, the member management control unit 30 cumulatively adds the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's holding ball 17B for each card ID, and determines whether or not the cumulative addition result exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold. And a member card use restriction setting unit 33 for setting whether or not member card use is restricted.

  Note that the member management control unit 30 determines whether the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID and the accumulated addition result 17B of the current day exceed the stored ball upper limit threshold, for example, 250,000 coins. In the transition process, the ball 17B on the day is stored and updated to the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID through the stored ball management control unit 31 only once.

  The member card use restriction setting unit 33, when the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID and the accumulated addition result 17B of the current day exceed the storage ball upper limit threshold in the storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 32, the corresponding card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB26. The use restriction flag 26B corresponding to is set ON.

  Further, the member card use restriction setting unit 33, when the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID and the accumulated addition result 17B on the day do not exceed the storage upper limit threshold in the storage upper limit threshold determination unit 32, The use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is set to OFF.

  In addition, the member management control unit 30 includes a use restriction flag determination unit 34 that determines whether or not the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is ON during a game shop operation.

  For example, when the use restriction flag determination unit 34 detects a member card through a card handling device during a game shop business, the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB 26 is based on the card ID of the member card. Whether or not is ON is determined.

  In addition to the card handling device 150, the card processing machine 150 provided alongside the island edge counter, and the card settlement machine 160, for example, the card handling device exchanges drinking water, cigarettes, etc. with a replay machine and a storage balance 25B. This corresponds to a vending machine or the like that can be enabled.

  Further, when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON in the use restriction flag determination unit 34, the warning notification control unit 28, for example, prohibits the use of the member card when the storage card upper limit threshold is exceeded. The card handling device is instructed to give an error warning to the effect that the gift exchange is requested. In the card handling device, an error warning is notified by display or voice.

  In addition, when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON in the use restriction flag determination unit 34, the member card handling control unit 29 prohibits the use of the member card, so that the member handling the card handling device Instructs the return of the card. In the card handling device, the member card is returned to the member.

  The member card handling control unit 29 uses the member card when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON, or when the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold during the game shop business. To prohibit, for example, the use of membership cards in card handling devices such as the ball lending machine 3, the card processing machine 150 attached to the island edge counter, the card settlement machine 160, the vending machine, the replay machine, etc. However, the use of the membership card is permitted in the prize management machine 130 that leads to the direction of surely reducing the stored balance 25B.

  In addition, the member management control unit 30 uses the member card when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON, or when the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold during the game shop operation. However, when the stored balance 25B of the card ID is equal to or lower than the stored upper limit threshold value through the prize management device 130, the use prohibition of the membership card is canceled. The member card use restriction setting unit 33 sets the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card to OFF when the use prohibition of the member card is released.

  FIG. 9 is a front view of the ball lending machine 3 incorporating each unit counting function.

  The ball lending machine 3 shown in FIG. 9 includes a bill insertion slot 41 for inserting cash bills, a card insertion slot 42 for inserting or returning a prepaid card such as a membership card or a general card, and an operation unit 43 for inputting various information. A prepaid balance display unit 44 that displays the current prepaid balance, a ball count display unit 45 that counts the number of balls acquired by the game stand 110 through a ball counting unit (not shown), and displays the counting result as a ball on the day; And a state display lamp 46 for displaying the operation state of the ball lending machine 3.

  The operation unit 43 requests to draw a game ball based on a numeric keypad 43A for inputting a personal identification number, a ball lending button 43B for lending a game ball based on a corresponding prepaid balance, and a corresponding stored ball balance. A replay button 43C to be played, and a ball return button 43D for requesting a return of the game ball based on the corresponding possession balance.

  A ball counting unit (not shown) inside the ball lending machine 3 discharges the acquired balls of the game stand 110 provided from the lower plate, counts the acquired balls that have passed through the discharge passage, and outputs the count results to the island controller 120 and the LAN 6. It notifies to the card management apparatus 4 via. The card management control unit 15 in the card management device 4 registers and manages the counting result of the currently acquired number of balls as the current day holding ball 17B in association with the card ID 17A in the holding ball DB 17.

  Next, operation | movement of the game machine management system 1 of Example 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the operation transition of the gaming machine management system 1 related to automatic storage.

  For example, the upper limit threshold for storage balls is 250,000 in terms of 4 yen per ball equivalent to 1 million yen, and the storage balance 25B of the member's card ID “0003” is 240,000.

  For example, a member goes to an amusement store that is open for business, inserts a membership card into the ball lending machine 3 attached to the game stand 110 and plays on the game stand 110, and a ball (not shown) of the ball lending machine 3 attached to the game stand. It is assumed that 35,000 balls have been acquired through the counting unit (step S1). At this time, the card management device 4 acquires the card ID of the member card, and registers and manages “35,000 balls” as the current ball 17B in the ball DB 17 in association with the card ID 17A.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the member leaves the store without visiting the giveaway exchange counter (step S2).

  The member management device 5 of the amusement store starts a savings balance transfer process at the time of the closing operation on the day after the amusement store is closed (step S3), and the current day's possession ball corresponding to the card ID 17A of the member card from the possession DB 17 of the card management device 4 17B is acquired, and the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day's retained ball 17B are cumulatively added for each card ID through the accumulated ball management control unit 31, and the accumulated ball, that is, the current day's retained ball is transferred to the accumulated ball balance (step S4). The member management apparatus 5 updates and registers the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's holding ball 17B as the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25.

  At this time, when the member management control unit 30 in the member management apparatus 5 stores the current day's own holding balls 17B in the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A, the stored ball balance 25B and the same day holding ball 17B are passed through the storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 32. It is determined whether or not the cumulative addition result has exceeded 250,000 balls, which is the storage ball upper limit threshold.

  In the member management control unit 30, for example, if the storage ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID “0001” is 200,000 balls and the same-day holding ball 17B is 15,000 balls, the upper limit of storage balls is 200,000 balls + 15,000 balls. It is judged that it does not exceed the threshold value, that is, 250,000 balls, and automatically stores 15,000 balls through the stored ball management control unit 31 and updates and registers 215,000 balls in the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25. Therefore, the use restriction flag 26B in the use restriction flag DB 26 is set to OFF.

  Further, in the member management control unit 30, for example, if the savings balance 25B corresponding to the card ID “0003” is 240,000 balls and the holding ball 17B on that day is 35,000 balls, it is 240,000 balls + 35,000 balls. Judging that the upper limit threshold of storage balls, that is, 250,000 balls, has been exceeded, through the storage management control unit 31, 35,000 balls are automatically stored and 275,000 balls are updated and registered in the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25 Then, the use restriction flag 26B in the use restriction flag DB 26 is set to ON.

  Next, it is assumed that the member enters the amusement store again after the next day.

  When the member management control unit 30 detects the member card through the card handling device such as the ball lending machine 3, the member management control unit 30 acquires the card ID of the member card, and sets the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB 26. It is determined whether or not the use restriction flag 26B of the card ID 26A is ON through the use restriction flag judgment unit 34.

  In the member management control unit 30, for example, the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID “0001” is acquired from the use restriction flag DB 26, and when the corresponding use restriction flag 26B is not ON, that is, when it is OFF, as usual. Then, the card handling device is instructed to accept the membership card.

  Further, the member management control unit 30 acquires, for example, the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID “0003” from the use restriction flag DB 26, and when the corresponding use restriction flag 26B is ON, the member management control unit 30 notifies the card handling device. The use of the membership card is prohibited and an error warning is notified, and the card handling device is instructed to return the membership card. The card handling device displays and outputs an error warning (step S5). As a result, the member recognizes the current situation based on the error warning from the card handling device, and goes to the prize exchange counter to exchange the prize with the savings balance 25B in order to reduce the savings balance 25B.

  When the member management control unit 30 exchanges the member's stored ball balance for a free gift through the free gift management machine 130 (step S6), the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID 25A in the stored ball balance DB 25 reduces the amount corresponding to the free gift, and the stored ball balance 25B. Is set to OFF, the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB 26 is set to OFF.

  For example, when the member with the card ID “0003” exchanges a prize equivalent to 80,000 coins through the prize management device 130, the member management control unit 30 sets “27” of the savings balance 25B with the card ID “0003” in the savings balance DB25. Cards in the usage restriction flag DB 26 when 80,000 coins equivalent to prizes are reduced from “55,000 coins” and the “195,000 coins” of the balance of the stored balls 25B is less than or equal to the upper limit threshold of the stored balls, that is, 250,000 or less. The use restriction flag 26B with ID “0003” is set to OFF. As a result, the member with the card ID “0003” can use the member card as usual because the use restriction flag 26B is set to OFF (step S7).

  Next, the stored balance transfer process on the member management apparatus 5 side will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of the member management apparatus 5 related to the stored balance transfer process of the first embodiment.

  The savings balance transfer process shown in FIG. 11 is, for example, when a closing operation is executed on the day of closing a game store after closing a game store, and for each card ID 25A in the savings balance DB 25, 17B is an automatic storage ball, that is, a process of shifting the current day's holding ball to the storage ball balance.

  In FIG. 11, the member management control unit 30 in the member management device 5 acquires the current day's own holding ball 17 </ b> B corresponding to the card ID 17 </ b> A of each member's membership card from the holding ball DB 17 in the card management device 4 through the storage ball management control unit 31. To do.

  The member management control unit 30 determines whether or not there is an unprocessed card ID 25A in the stored balance DB 25 (step S11).

  When there is an unprocessed card ID 25A (Yes at Step S11), the member management control unit 30 stores the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the unprocessed card ID 25A in the stored ball balance DB25 and the corresponding card ID 17A acquired from the card management device 4. The accumulated ball 17B of the current day is cumulatively added through the storage ball management control unit 31, and through the stored ball upper limit threshold determination unit 32, it is determined whether the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's retained ball 17B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold value. (Step S12).

  The member management control unit 30 uses the member card use restriction setting unit 33 to restrict the usage corresponding to the card ID 26A when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 17B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold (Yes in step S12). The use restriction flag 26B in the flag DB 26 is set to ON (step S13).

  Further, the member management control unit 30 updates the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID and the current day's holding ball 17B to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25 through the stored ball management control unit 31 (step S14). The process proceeds to step S11 to determine whether or not there is a processing card ID 25A.

  In addition, when there is no unprocessed card ID 25A (No in step S11), the member management control unit 30 ends the processing operation illustrated in FIG.

  In addition, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 25A and the current day's possessed ball 17B does not exceed the upper limit threshold for storage (No in step S12), the member management control unit 30 stores the corresponding ball corresponding to the corresponding card ID 25A. The cumulative addition result of the balance 25B and the current day's possession ball 17B is updated to the storage ball balance 25B in the storage ball balance DB 25 (step S15), and the process proceeds to step S11 to determine whether or not there is an unprocessed card ID 25A.

  In the stored ball balance transfer process shown in FIG. 11, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's holding ball 17B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold for each unprocessed card ID 25A, the use restriction flag 26B is associated with the card ID 26A. Set ON and limited to one time and automatically store the current ball 17B in the stored ball balance 25B. Because the stored ball balance 25B exceeds the upper limit threshold of the stored ball at the time of the stored ball balance transfer processing as before, It is possible to avoid a situation in which the balls 17B cannot be stored.

  The member management control unit 30 determines in step S12 whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's holding ball 17B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold value, and then passes through step S14 or step S15 to the corresponding card ID 25A. The cumulative addition result of the corresponding stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B is updated to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25, but the accumulated additional result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B corresponding to the card ID 25A is displayed. After updating to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25, in step S12, it may be determined whether or not the updated stored ball balance 25B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold. In this case, step S14 and step The process of S15 can be omitted.

  Next, the operation of the member management device 5 that manages the handling of the membership card with respect to the card handling device during the business on and after the next day after the execution of the closing operation on the day including the savings balance transfer processing will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus 5 side related to the member card acceptance process of the first embodiment.

  The membership card acceptance process shown in FIG. 12 is a process for managing and controlling the handling of the membership card with respect to the card handling device in the amusement store during the operation of the amusement store.

  In FIG. 12, the member management control unit 30 determines whether or not a member card has been detected via the LAN 6 in response to the insertion operation of the member card into the card handling device (step S21). As the card handling device, excluding the gift management machine 130 that leads the savings balance 25B in the decreasing direction, for example, the ball lending machine 3, the card processing machine 150 attached to the island edge counter, the card settlement machine 160, the replay machine This corresponds to a vending machine or the like that enables exchange of drinking water, cigarettes, etc. with the stored balance 25B.

  When the member management control unit 30 detects the member card (Yes at Step S21), the member management control unit 30 acquires the card ID of the member card (Step S22), and corresponds to the card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB 26 through the use restriction flag determination unit 34. It is determined whether or not the use restriction flag 26B is ON (step S23).

  When the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is ON (Yes at Step S23), the member management control unit 30 passes the warning notification control unit 28 because the storage card balance 25B exceeds the storage card upper limit threshold and the member card is prohibited. The card handling apparatus is instructed to give an error warning to request the exchange of the prize (step S24). The card handling device displays and outputs the error warning.

  Furthermore, the member management control unit 30 instructs the card handling device to return the member card because the use of the member card is prohibited (step S25), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG. The card handling device returns the member card to the member based on the card return instruction.

  Further, based on the error warning in step S24, the member can recognize that it is necessary to exchange prizes because the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold and the membership card is prohibited from being used. Further, the card handling device may notify the staff in the game store by outputting an error warning.

  The member management control unit 30 cancels the prohibition of use of the member card by changing the stored balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A to a storage threshold upper limit threshold or less by exchanging the stored balance 25B through the prize management device 130, that is, The use restriction flag 26B is set to OFF. As a result, the member can use the member card for the card handling device.

  In addition, when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is not ON, that is, is OFF (No at Step S23), the member management control unit 30 instructs the card handling device to accept the member card as usual. (Step S26), the processing operation shown in FIG.

  In the membership card acceptance process shown in FIG. 12, when the membership card is detected through the card handling device, if the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is ON, the stored balance 25B exceeds the storage upper limit threshold and the membership card is Since the card handling device is instructed to give an error warning to request a prize exchange to prohibit use, the member card is returned from the card handling device. In addition to being able to recognize, the amusement store can avoid further savings by using the membership card by returning the membership card.

  In the membership card acceptance process, when the membership card is detected through the card handling device, if the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is OFF, the membership card is accepted by the card handling device as usual. Can be directed.

  In the first embodiment, when the current day holding ball 17B is cumulatively added to the storage ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball is transferred as the storage ball balance in the closing process on the day, If exceeded, the use restriction flag 26B in the use restriction flag DB 26 corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card of the member is set to ON. As a result, even if the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's retained ball 17B exceeds the upper limit threshold for the accumulated ball, by allowing the stored ball, various troubles caused by the inability to store the current ball 17B can be avoided and the card of the membership card By setting the use restriction flag 26B associated with the ID 26A to ON, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a situation in which balls are continuously stored while exceeding the storage ball upper limit threshold.

  In the first embodiment, when the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold, the use restriction flag 26B of this member card is set to ON to restrict the use of this member card. Therefore, the member can recognize that the storage ball balance 25B has exceeded the upper limit threshold of the storage ball by restricting the use of the membership card, and the game store continuously stores the ball while exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball. Can be avoided.

  In the first embodiment, since the use of the membership card for the card handling device is prohibited as the use restriction of the membership card, the game store side continuously stores the ball while exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball. Can be avoided reliably.

  In the first embodiment, when a membership card handling request is detected through the card handling device while the membership card usage is restricted, if the membership card usage restriction flag 26B is ON, for example, the storage ball upper limit threshold is exceeded or the storage ball upper limit threshold is exceeded. Since the error warning to notify that the use of the membership card is restricted by the member, the member can recognize that the upper limit threshold of the storage ball has been exceeded or the use of the membership card has been restricted due to exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball based on the error warning. Based on the error warning, the staff in the amusement store can recognize the use of the membership card whose use is restricted.

  In the first embodiment, even if the membership card is being restricted in use, if the savings balance 25B corresponding to this membership card is equal to or less than the savings upper limit threshold, the membership card usage restriction is canceled. When the savings balance 25B becomes equal to or less than the savings upper limit threshold due to an act such as a prize exchange for reducing the balance 25B, the use restriction of the membership card can be automatically released.

  In the first embodiment, when a membership card handling request is detected through the card handling device, the membership card usage is restricted when the membership card usage restriction flag 26B is ON. Even when the restriction flag 26B is OFF, when the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the membership card exceeds the storage upper limit threshold during the handling of the membership card through the card handling device, for example, an error warning is notified to notify that the storage upper limit threshold has been exceeded. In this case, the member can recognize that the storage ball upper limit threshold has been exceeded based on the error warning during the handling of the member card, and the amusement store side, for example, It is possible to prompt a prize exchange to reduce 25B.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the member card and the current day's holding ball 17B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, the member card use restriction flag 26B is set to ON. A warning is issued by determining whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card and the current day's possessed ball 17B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold and the stored ball balance 25B is equal to or lower than the stored ball upper limit threshold. In this case, the member can recognize that the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold based on the warning when the accumulated ball 17B is cumulatively added.

  In the first embodiment, when the membership card handling request is detected through the card handling device, the use of the membership card is restricted when the membership card usage restriction flag 26B is ON. Even when the restriction flag 26B is OFF, if the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the membership card exceeds, for example, the storage ball upper limit threshold immediately before the storage ball upper limit threshold during the handling of the membership card through the card handling device, the storage upper limit threshold A prior warning indicating that it is just before may be notified. In this case, during the handling of the membership card, the member can recognize that the accumulated ball balance 25B has reached just before the accumulated ball upper limit threshold based on the prior warning. .

  In the first embodiment, the member management control unit 30 in the member management device 5 acquires the current day's own holding ball 17B from the card management device 4 in the holding ball DB 17 at the time of the stored ball balance transfer processing at the time of closing on the day. For each card ID, the accumulated ball 17B on the day and the accumulated ball balance 25B in the accumulated ball balance DB 25 are cumulatively added, and it is determined whether or not the accumulated addition result exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold. Without limitation, various processes can be performed even when the game shop is operating by making it possible to recognize the cumulative addition result of the same-day holding ball 17B and the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID. Therefore, such an embodiment will be described as Example 2.

  In addition, about the structure same as the game machine management system 1 of Example 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description about the overlapping structure and operation | movement is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside the member management apparatus, which is a main part of the second embodiment.

  The member management apparatus 5A shown in FIG. 13 includes a member management side communication interface 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a member management DB 24, a storage balance DB 25, a use restriction flag DB 26, a warning notification control unit 28, and a member card handling control unit 29. In addition, it has a possession management DB 27 for managing the current day's possession acquired from the card management device 4 for each card ID, and a member management control unit 30A for controlling the member management device 5A.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram briefly showing the management content of the possession management DB 27 inside the member management apparatus 5A.

  The in-game management DB 27 shown in FIG. 14 manages the in-game balls 27B for each card ID 27A and manages the in-game balls of the card with the card ID 27A.

  The member management control unit 30A shown in FIG. 13 manages the own ball management DB 27 in addition to the storage ball management control unit 31, the storage ball upper threshold determination unit 32, the member card use restriction setting unit 33, and the use restriction flag determination unit 34. It has the possession management control part 35 to control.

  When the content management control unit 35 updates the contents of the current day holding ball 17B for each card ID 17A in the holding ball DB 17 managed on the card management device 4 side, the updated card ID 17A and the current day holding ball 17B from the card management device 4 are updated. The acquired card ID 17A and the same-day holding ball 17B are registered and updated in the holding-ball management DB 27 as the card ID 27A and the same-day holding ball 27B. The contents of the possession management DB 27 in the member management apparatus 5A are substantially the same as the contents of the possession DB 17 in the card management apparatus 4.

  When the storage ball management control unit 31 receives a storage ball addition request (storage ball renewal request) through the card processing machine 150 or the prize management machine 130, the stored ball management DB 27 is managing the current day's own money 27B in the storage ball balance DB 25. It is added and updated to the stored ball balance 25B.

  When the storage ball management control unit 31 receives a storage ball subtraction request (storage ball update request) from the ball lending machine 3 or the prize management device 130, the storage ball management DB 31 subtracts and updates the storage ball subtraction number of balls from the storage ball balance 25B being managed. It is. In the case of the prize management machine 130, for example, the prize management machine 130 subtracts the number corresponding to the prize from the savings balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A in the savings balance DB 25. In response to this, it is a request to subtract the number of balls for withdrawal from the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID 25A.

  Further, when the stored ball management control unit 31 updates the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25 for the same day, the stored ball management control unit 31 sets the current ball 27B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 27A in the managed ball management DB 27 to zero. The holding ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A in the holding ball DB 17 is set to zero.

  Furthermore, the member management control unit 30A, through the storage management control unit 31, cumulatively adds the current day 27B in the internal management DB 27 to the storage balance 25B in the storage balance DB 25, and transfers the current internal currency to the storage balance. It is.

  Note that the member management control unit 30A performs once even when the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID and the same-day holding ball 27B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, for example, 250,000 balls, by the stored ball upper limit threshold determination unit 32. In this case, through the storage management control unit 31, the stored ball 27B on the day is stored and updated to the storage balance 25B of the card ID.

  The member card use restriction setting unit 33, when the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID and the accumulated value 27B on the day exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold in the storage ball upper threshold determination unit 32, the card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB26. The use restriction flag 26B corresponding to is set ON.

  In addition, the member card use restriction setting unit 33, when the accumulated ball balance 25B of the card ID and the accumulated money 27B on the day does not exceed the storage upper limit threshold in the storage upper limit threshold determination unit 32, The use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is set to OFF.

  In addition, the coin management control unit 35, upon completion of the storage balance transfer processing to the storage balance DB 25 of the current possession 27B corresponding to the card ID 27A in the possession management DB 27, to the corresponding card ID 27A in the possession management DB 27. The corresponding same-day holding ball 27B is set to zero. Note that the card management device 4 sets the current day's possession ball 17B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 17A in the possession ball DB 17 to zero when the stored ball balance transfer process is completed.

  Further, the member management control unit 30A has a storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 36 that determines whether or not the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID 25A has exceeded a storage ball upper limit threshold that is less than the storage ball upper limit threshold during game shop operation, During the store operation, it has a business storage upper limit threshold determination unit 37 that determines whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A and the current day 27A exceeds the storage upper limit threshold.

  When the threshold value determining unit 36 immediately before the storage ball upper limit is detected at the game store, for example, through a card handling device, the stored ball balance 25B of the card ID 25A of the member card exceeds the threshold immediately before the storage ball upper limit, for example, 240,000 balls. In addition to determining whether or not the membership card is detected through the card handling device, the cumulative addition result of the current ball 27B of the corresponding card ID of the member card and the current ball 27B in the ball management DB 27 is immediately before the accumulated ball upper limit. It is also determined whether or not a threshold value, for example, 230,000 balls has been exceeded. In addition to the card handling device 150, the card processing machine 150 provided alongside the island edge counter, and the card settlement machine 160, for example, the card handling device exchanges drinking water, cigarettes, etc. with a replay machine and a storage balance 25B. This corresponds to a vending machine or the like that can be enabled.

  During operation at a game store, for example, when the business-use stored-ball upper limit threshold determination unit 37 detects a member card through a card handling device, the accumulated addition result of the stored-card balance 25B of the corresponding card ID of the member card and the current-day holding ball 27B is stored. In addition to determining whether or not a threshold, for example, 250,000 coins has been exceeded, it is also determined whether or not the stored ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID of the member card has exceeded a stored ball upper limit threshold.

  Further, when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON in the use restriction flag determination unit 34, for example, the warning notification control unit 28 prohibits the use of the member card due to exceeding the storage upper limit threshold. The card handling apparatus is instructed to give an error warning requesting the member to exchange a free gift. In the card handling device, an error warning is notified by display or voice.

  In addition, when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card is ON in the use restriction flag determination unit 34, the member card handling control unit 29 prohibits the use of the member card, so Instructs the return of the membership card. In the card handling device, the member card is returned to the member.

  In addition, the warning notification control unit 28, for example, when the stored ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A of the member card exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold at the stored ball upper limit threshold determining unit 36, for example, the stored ball balance 25B is close to the stored ball upper limit threshold. A prior warning to this effect is instructed to the card handling device. In the card handling device, a prior warning is notified by display or voice. As a result, the member can recognize that the accumulated ball balance 25B is close to the accumulated ball upper limit threshold based on the prior warning of the card handling device.

  In addition, the membership card handling control unit 29 does not change the membership to the card handling device as usual even when the savings balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A of the membership card exceeds the threshold immediately before the savings upper limit at the threshold immediately before the savings upper limit determination unit 36. It is an instruction to accept a card. For example, in the case of a ball lending machine, the card handling device can be selected based on instructions such as replaying with a balance 25B, return of a ball 27B on the day, or lending with a prepaid balance, etc. The operation is executed. Further, for example, in the case of the card processing machine 150, the card handling device executes various operations based on instructions such as addition and replay of the counting result to the accumulated balance 25B through the island edge counter according to reception of the membership card. Is. Further, for example, in the case of the card settlement machine 160, the card handling device executes various operations based on a prepaid balance settlement instruction in response to acceptance of a membership card. Further, for example, in the case of a vending machine, the card handling device exchanges cigarettes, drinking water, etc. with the stored balance 25B in response to acceptance of a membership card. Further, for example, in the case of a replay machine, the card handling device executes replay with the stored ball balance 25B.

  In addition, the warning notification control unit 28, when the cumulative addition result of the storage card balance 25B of the card ID corresponding to the membership card and the holding ball 27B on the day exceeds the cumulative storage upper limit threshold immediately before the storage upper limit threshold determination unit 36, for example, The card handling apparatus is instructed to give a prior warning to the effect that the cumulative addition result of the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B is close to the accumulated ball upper limit threshold value. In the card handling device, a prior warning is notified by display or voice. As a result, the member can recognize that the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current-day holding ball 27B is close to the stored ball upper limit threshold based on the prior warning of the card handling device.

  In addition, even if the accumulated addition result of the accumulated ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID of the member card and the current day's possessed ball 27B exceeds the accumulated immediately preceding upper limit threshold, As usual, the card handling device is instructed to accept a membership card. In the card handling device, when a member card is received, a processing operation corresponding to the request of the member is executed.

  Further, the warning notification control unit 28, when the accumulated savings balance 25B of the corresponding card ID of the member card and the cumulative addition result of the holding ball 27B on the day exceed the savings upper limit threshold in the operating savings upper limit threshold determination unit 37, the savings balance 25B In addition, since the cumulative addition result of the holding balls 27B on the day exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold value, the card handling device is instructed to warn the member that the premium replacement is requested. In the card handling device, a warning alert is notified by display or voice. As a result, the member can recognize the necessity of the prize exchange based on the warning alert of the card handling device.

  In addition, the member card handling control unit 29 is normal even if the accumulated addition result of the savings balance 25B of the corresponding card ID of the membership card and the holding ball 27B on the day exceeds the savings upper limit threshold in the operating savings upper limit threshold determination unit 37. As shown, the card handling device is instructed to accept a membership card. In the card handling device, when a member card is received, a processing operation corresponding to the request of the member is executed.

  Moreover, when the storage ball balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A of the member card exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold in the operating storage upper limit threshold determination unit 37, the warning notification control unit 28 has exceeded the storage ball upper limit threshold. The card handling device is instructed to alert the member to request a gift exchange. In the card handling device, a warning alert is notified by display or voice. As a result, the member can recognize the necessity of the prize exchange based on the warning alert of the card handling device.

  Further, the member card handling control unit 29 prohibits the use of the member card when the savings balance 25B of the corresponding card ID 25A of the membership card exceeds the savings upper limit threshold in the operating savings upper limit threshold determination unit 37 and prohibits the use of the membership card. It instructs the return of the membership card. In the card handling device, the member card is returned to the member.

  The member card handling control unit 29 prohibits the use of the member card when the member card use restriction flag 26B is ON, or when the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold during amusement store business. , Ball lending machine 3, card processor 150 attached to Shimabata counter, card settlement machine 160, vending machine, and card handling devices such as replay machines are prohibited. The use of the membership card is permitted in the prize management machine 130 that leads to a sure reduction in the balance 25B.

  In addition, the member management control unit 30A prohibits the use of the member card when the member card use restriction flag 26B is ON, or when the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold during the game shop business. In other words, when the stored balance 25B of the card ID is equal to or less than the stored upper limit threshold through the prize management device 130, the prohibition of use of the membership card is canceled. The member card use restriction setting unit 33 sets the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the member card whose use prohibition is canceled to OFF.

  Further, in the case of a member card, the member management control unit 30A manages the same-day holding ball 27B in the holding ball management DB 27 in association with the card ID.

  Next, the operation of the gaming machine management system 1A according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing operation on the member management apparatus 5A side related to the stored balance transfer process of the second embodiment.

  The stored ball balance transfer process shown in FIG. 15 is, for example, when the closing operation is executed on the day of closing a game store after the game store is closed, and for each card ID, the money management DB 27 is added to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25. This is a process for automatically storing the current-day holding ball 27B, that is, shifting the current-day holding ball to the stored ball balance.

  In FIG. 15, the member management control unit 30A in the member management apparatus 5A acquires the current day's own holding ball 17B corresponding to the card ID 17A of each member from the holding ball DB 17 through the card management apparatus 4, and associates it with the card ID 27A on the same day. 27B is registered in the own ball management DB 27.

  The member management control unit 30A determines whether or not there is an unprocessed card ID 25A in the stored ball balance DB 25 (step S31).

  When there is an unprocessed card ID 25A (Yes at Step S31), the member management control unit 30A extracts the stored ball balance 25B and the current day 27B corresponding to the unprocessed card ID from the stored ball balance DB 25 and the own ball management DB 27. Then, through the storage ball upper limit determination unit 32, it is determined whether or not the cumulative addition result of the storage ball balance 25B and the same-day holding ball 27B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold (step S32).

  The member management control unit 30A determines that the use restriction flag corresponding to the card ID 26A through the member card use restriction setting unit 33 when the cumulative addition result of the storage ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold (Yes in Step S32). 26B is set to ON (step S33), and the accumulated addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current-day holding ball 27B corresponding to the card ID is updated as the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25 (step S34). To determine whether or not there is a transition to step S31.

  If there is no unprocessed card ID 25A (No at step S31), the member management control unit 30A ends the processing operation shown in FIG.

  In addition, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID and the same-day holding ball 27B does not exceed the stored ball upper limit threshold value (No in step S32), the member management control unit 30A stores the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID and The cumulative addition result of the money 27B on the day is updated as the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25 (step S35), and the process proceeds to step S31 to determine whether there is an unprocessed card ID 25A.

  In the stored ball balance transfer process shown in FIG. 15, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current ball 27B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold for each card ID, the use limit flag in the use limit flag DB 26 corresponding to the card ID 26A. 26B is set to ON, and limited to one time, so that 27B of the same day is automatically stored in the stored ball balance 25B, so the stored ball balance 25B exceeds the upper limit threshold of the stored ball at the time of the stored ball balance transfer processing as before It is possible to avoid a situation where the balls 27B cannot be stored.

  The member management control unit 30A determines in step S32 whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold value, and then passes the step S34 or step S35 to the corresponding card ID. The cumulative addition result of the corresponding stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B is updated to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25, but the accumulated additional result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B corresponding to the card ID 25A is displayed. After updating to the stored ball balance 25B in the stored ball balance DB 25, in step S32, it may be determined whether or not the updated stored ball balance 25B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold. In this case, step S34 and step The process of S35 can be omitted.

  Next, the operation of the member management apparatus 5A that manages the handling of the membership card with respect to the card handling apparatus during the business after the execution of the closing process on the day including the savings balance transfer process will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation on the member management apparatus 5A side related to the member card acceptance process of the second embodiment.

  The membership card acceptance process shown in FIG. 16 is a process for managing and controlling the handling of the membership card with respect to the card handling device in the amusement store during the operation of the amusement store.

  In FIG. 16, the member management control unit 30A determines whether or not a member card has been detected via the LAN 6 in response to the insertion operation of the member card into the card handling device (step S41). As the card handling device, excluding the gift management machine 130 that leads the savings balance 25B in the decreasing direction, for example, the ball lending machine 3, the card processing machine 150 attached to the island edge counter, the card settlement machine 160, the replay machine This corresponds to a vending machine or the like that enables exchange of drinking water, cigarettes, etc. with the stored balance 25B.

  When the member management control unit 30A detects the member card (Yes at Step S41), the member management control unit 30A acquires the card ID of the member card (Step S42), and corresponds to the card ID 26A in the use restriction flag DB 26 through the use restriction flag determination unit 34. It is determined whether or not the use restriction flag 26B is ON (step S43).

  When the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is ON (Yes at Step S43), the member management control unit 30A passes the warning notification control unit 28 because the stored balance 25B exceeds the storage upper limit threshold and the member card is prohibited from being used. Then, the card handling device is instructed to give an error warning to request a prize exchange (step S44). The card handling device displays and outputs the error warning.

  Further, the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to return the member card to prohibit the use of the member card (step S45), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG. The card handling device returns the member card to the member based on the card return instruction.

  Further, based on the error warning in step S44, the member can recognize that the prize must be exchanged because the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold and the membership card is prohibited. Further, the card handling device may notify the staff in the game store by outputting an error warning.

  The member management control unit 30A cancels the prohibition of use of the member card, that is, uses the stored card balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A by making the stored card balance 25B less than the stored upper limit threshold by exchanging the stored card balance 25B through the gift manager 130. The restriction flag 26B is set to OFF. As a result, the member can use the member card for the card handling device.

  Further, the member management control unit 30A corresponds to the card ID 25A of the member card through the operating storage upper limit threshold determination unit 37 when the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A is not ON, that is, is OFF (No at Step S43). It is determined whether the stored ball balance 25B has exceeded a stored ball upper limit threshold, for example, 250,000 balls (step S46).

  When the storage balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A of the membership card exceeds the storage upper limit threshold (Yes in step S46), the member management control unit 30A passes the warning notification control unit 28 and the storage balance 25B exceeds the storage upper limit threshold. Therefore, the card handling apparatus is instructed to give an error warning to the member to request a prize exchange (step S47). The card handling device displays and outputs the error warning.

  Further, the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to return the member card because the use of the member card is prohibited (step S48), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG. The card handling device returns the member card to the member based on the card return instruction.

  Further, based on the error warning in step S47, the member can recognize that the prize must be exchanged because the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold and the membership card is prohibited. Further, the card handling device may notify the staff in the game store by outputting an error warning.

  The member management control unit 30A cancels the prohibition of use of the member card, that is, uses the stored card balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A by making the stored card balance 25B less than the stored upper limit threshold by exchanging the stored card balance 25B through the gift manager 130. The restriction flag 26B is set to OFF. As a result, the member can use the member card for the card handling device.

  In addition, when the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A of the member card does not exceed the stored ball upper limit threshold value (No in Step S46), the member management control unit 30A determines the card ID of the member card through the operating storage upper limit threshold value determining unit 37. It is determined whether or not the cumulative addition result of the corresponding stored ball balance 25B and the same-day holding ball 27B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold (step S49). In addition, the during-sales storage upper limit threshold determination unit 37 acquires the same-day holding ball 27B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 27A of the member card from the holding ball management DB 27.

  When the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID and the current day's money 27B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold value (Yes in step S49), the member management control unit 30A passes the warning balance control unit 25B and the current day through the warning notification control unit 28. Since the cumulative addition result of the holding balls 27B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold value, a warning alert is issued to the card handling device instructing the member to exchange prizes (step S50). Note that the card handling device displays and outputs the warning alert.

  Furthermore, the member cannot use the membership card on the next day unless the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the same-day holding ball 27B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold and the stored ball balance 25B is reduced based on the warning alert. Can be recognized.

  Furthermore, as usual, the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to accept a member card (step S51), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG.

  Further, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID and the same-day holding ball 27B does not exceed the stored ball upper limit threshold value (No in step S49), the member management control unit 30A uses the threshold value determining unit 36 immediately before the stored ball upper limit. It is determined whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B corresponding to the card ID of the card has exceeded a cumulative storage ball upper limit threshold, for example, 230,000 balls (step S52). In addition, the threshold value determination unit 36 immediately before the upper limit of storage balls acquires the current day's own holding ball 27B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 27A of the member card from the holding ball management DB 27.

  When the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID and the same-day holding ball 27B exceeds the threshold immediately before the cumulative stored ball upper limit (Yes at Step S52), the member management control unit 30A passes the warning balance control unit 25B through the warning notification control unit 28. In addition, the card handling apparatus is instructed in advance to the effect that the cumulative addition result of the holding balls 27B on the day is close to the storage ball upper limit threshold (step S53). The card handling device displays and outputs the prior warning.

  Furthermore, the member can recognize based on the prior warning that the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B is close to the stored ball upper limit threshold.

  Furthermore, as usual, the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to accept the member card (step S54), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG.

  Further, the member management control unit 30A, when the cumulative addition result of the storage ball balance 25B and the current day 27B corresponding to the card ID does not exceed the cumulative storage ball upper limit threshold (No in step S52), the storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 36 It is determined whether or not the accumulated ball balance 25B corresponding to the corresponding card ID 25A of the membership card exceeds a threshold just before the accumulated ball upper limit, for example, 240,000 coins (step S55).

  When the stored ball balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold (Yes at step S55), the member management control unit 30A indicates that the stored ball balance 25B is close to the storage upper limit threshold through the warning notification control unit 28. A prior warning is instructed to the card handling device (step S56). The card handling device displays and outputs the prior warning.

  Furthermore, the member can recognize based on the prior warning that the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B is close to the stored ball upper limit threshold.

  Furthermore, as usual, the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to accept a member card (step S57), and ends the processing operation shown in FIG.

  In addition, when the storage balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A does not exceed the threshold immediately before the storage upper limit (No at Step S55), the member management control unit 30A instructs the card handling device to accept the member card as usual. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S57.

  In the membership card acceptance process shown in FIG. 16, when the membership card is detected through the card handling device, if the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is ON, the membership card balance 25B exceeds the storage ball upper limit threshold and the membership card is exceeded. Instructed the card handling device to issue an error warning requesting the exchange of prizes due to the prohibition of use, and the member card was returned from the card handling device. In addition to recognizing that the upper limit threshold value of the balance 25B has been exceeded, the game store can avoid further savings by using the membership card by returning the membership card.

  Further, in the membership card acceptance process, if a membership card is detected through the card handling device, even if the usage restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is OFF, the membership card is prohibited due to exceeding the storage upper limit threshold. Since the card handling device is instructed to give an error warning to request a prize exchange, and the member card is returned from the card handling device, the member can store the upper limit threshold of the storage balance 25B based on the error warning. In addition to being able to recognize the excess, the amusement store can avoid further savings due to the use of the membership card by returning the membership card.

  In addition, in the membership card acceptance process, when a membership card is detected through the card handling device, even if the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is OFF, the cumulative addition result of the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B When the value exceeds the upper limit threshold, the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B exceeds the upper limit threshold, so the warning card is instructed to the card handling device and the member card is returned from the card handling device. As a result, the member can recognize based on the warning alert that the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the same-day holding ball 27B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold value and the member card cannot be used the next day.

  In addition, in the membership card acceptance process, when a membership card is detected through the card handling device, even if the use restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID 26A of the membership card is OFF, the cumulative addition result of the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B Since the prior warning is instructed to the card handling device when the cumulative storage ball upper limit threshold is exceeded, the member is determined based on the prior warning that the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B is the storage upper threshold threshold. You can recognize that you are close.

  Further, in the membership card acceptance process, when a membership card is detected through the card handling device, even if the usage restriction flag 26B corresponding to the card ID of the membership card is OFF, the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the threshold immediately before the accumulated ball upper limit Since the pre-warning is instructed to the card handling device, the member can recognize based on the pre-warning that the stored balance 25B is close to the storage upper limit threshold.

  In Example 2, when the accumulated ball 27B on the day is cumulatively added to the accumulated ball balance 25B and the accumulated ball on the day is transferred as the accumulated ball balance in the accumulated ball balance transfer process, the accumulated addition result of the accumulated ball balance 25B and the retained ball 27B on the day is the upper limit of the accumulated ball When the threshold value is exceeded, the use restriction flag 26B is set to ON in association with the card ID 26A of the member card. As a result, even if the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current day's retained ball 27B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, by allowing the stored ball, various harmful effects caused by the inability to store the current day's retained ball 27B can be avoided, and the membership card 26A By setting the associated use restriction flag 26B to ON, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a situation where balls are continuously stored while exceeding the storage ball upper limit threshold.

  In the second embodiment, the use of the membership card is restricted because the use of the membership card is restricted when the cumulative addition result of the savings balance 25B and the holding ball 27B on the day exceeds the accumulation upper limit threshold. Thus, it is possible to recognize that the stored ball balance 25B has exceeded the stored ball upper limit threshold value, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the game store side continuously stores balls while exceeding the stored ball upper limit threshold value.

  In Example 2, since the use of the membership card for the card handling device is prohibited as the usage restriction of the membership card, the game store side continuously stores the ball while exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball. Can be avoided reliably.

  In the second embodiment, when a membership card handling request is detected through the card handling device while the membership card usage is restricted, for example, an error warning is notified to notify that the usage limit of the membership card is exceeded due to excess storage threshold limit or excess storage threshold limit. Based on the error warning, the member can recognize that the upper limit threshold of the storage ball has been exceeded or that the membership card is being restricted due to exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball, and the staff in the amusement store can use it based on the error warning. Recognize restricted membership card usage.

  In the second embodiment, when the savings balance 25B corresponding to the membership card exceeds the savings upper limit threshold during handling of the membership card through the card handling device, for example, an error warning notifying that the savings limit upper limit has been exceeded is notified. While handling the membership card, the member can recognize that the upper limit threshold of the storage ball has been exceeded based on the error warning, and the amusement store side may urge the member to exchange prizes, for example, to reduce the storage ball balance 25B. it can.

  In the second embodiment, during handling of a membership card through the card handling device, for example, when the storage balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A of the membership card exceeds a storage cap upper limit threshold immediately before the storage cap upper limit threshold, immediately before the storage cap upper limit threshold. Therefore, the member can recognize that the stored ball balance 25B has arrived just before the storage ball upper limit threshold based on the prior warning during handling of the membership card.

  In the second embodiment, during the handling of the membership card through the card handling device, the cumulative addition result of the savings balance 25B and the holding ball 27B corresponding to the card ID of the membership card is, for example, immediately before the accumulation saving upper limit immediately before the savings upper limit threshold. When the threshold value is exceeded, a prior warning indicating that it is immediately before the upper limit threshold of the storage ball is notified, so the member accumulates the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day's money 27B based on the preliminary warning during the handling of the membership card. It can be recognized that the addition result has arrived just before the storage upper limit threshold.

  In Example 2, during the handling of the membership card through the card handling device, when the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the current holding ball 27B corresponding to the corresponding card ID of the membership card exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, for example, Since the advance warning indicating that the threshold value has been reached is notified, the member reaches the upper limit threshold value of the accumulated ball balance 25B and the current day 27B during the handling of the membership card based on the advance warning. I can recognize that.

  In Example 2, even when the membership card is being restricted, if the balance 25B corresponding to the card ID 25A of the membership card is less than or equal to the savings upper limit threshold, the membership card usage restriction is canceled. For example, when the stored ball balance 25B falls below the stored ball upper limit threshold by an act such as exchanging prizes for reducing the stored ball balance 25B, the use restriction of the membership card can be automatically released.

  In the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the cumulative addition result of the stored ball balance 25B and the same-day holding ball 27B corresponding to the corresponding card ID of the membership card exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold and the stored ball balance 25B is equal to or lower than the stored ball upper limit threshold. Therefore, the member can recognize that the accumulated ball balance 17B is in a situation where the accumulated ball balance 25B exceeds the accumulated ball upper limit threshold, and the member management device 5A side. Then, when the accumulated balls 27B on the day are cumulatively added, it is possible to cope with a situation where the stored ball balance 25B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold.

  In this embodiment, a game ball used in a pachinko game machine is described as an example of a game medium. However, the game ball is not limited to a game ball, and is, for example, a game medal used in a pachislot game machine. However, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, in this embodiment, even when the use of the membership card for the card handling device is prohibited due to exceeding the upper limit threshold of the storage ball, the use of the membership card is used from the viewpoint of reducing the savings balance 25B for the prize management device 130 of the card handling device. However, it is not limited to the prize management machine 130 as long as it is a card handling device that leads in a direction to decrease the stored balance 25B without increasing the stored balance 25B, the same effect can be obtained. Needless to say.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the stored ball balance 25B exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold during the closing process on the day, the use limit flag 26B is set to ON through the member card use limit setting unit 33, and the stored ball balance 25B becomes equal to or lower than the stored ball upper limit threshold. The use restriction flag 26B is set to OFF. However, the use restriction flag 26B is set through the membership card use restriction setting unit 33 only when the use restriction flag 26B is set to the default state and the storage upper limit threshold is exceeded. Needless to say, it may be set to ON, and the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the holding ball and the prepaid value are managed by the card management device 4 and the stored ball balance is managed by the member management device 5, and in the second embodiment, the holding ball and the prepaid value are managed by the card management device 4, The balance management is managed by the member management device 5A. However, for example, the management is managed separately for each holding ball, storage balance and prepaid value, or the single management of the holding ball, storage balance and prepaid value, etc. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained even in such a case.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the holding ball and the prepaid value are managed by the card management device 4 and the stored ball balance is managed by the member management device 5, and in the second embodiment, the holding ball and the prepaid value are managed by the card management device 4, The stored balance is managed by the member management device 5A. When the card management device 4 detects the insertion of a member card into the ball lending machine 3, for example, the card ID being managed by the member management device 5 (5A) May be acquired from the member management apparatus 5A, and the acquired storage balance may be managed on the card management apparatus 4 side. In this case, on the card management control unit 15 side in the card management device 4, the processing of the storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 32, the storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 36, and the operating storage upper limit threshold determination unit 37 is used for the stored ball balance. Since the operation can be realized, the processing load on the member management device 5 (5A) side can be greatly reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the same-day holding ball 17B (27B) is automatically stored during the storage balance transfer process during the closing process on the day. However, for example, the same effect can be obtained by executing the opening process on the next day. It goes without saying that can be obtained.

  Further, in this embodiment, the current day holding ball 17B (27B) is transferred to the stored ball balance 25B during the closing process on the day, but if it is the timing to update the current day holding ball 17B (27B) to the stored ball balance 25B, Needless to say, the closing process is not limited to that day.

  Further, in this embodiment, the error warning, the warning warning and the advance warning are displayed and output from the card handling device, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the notification is output by voice or the like. .

  Further, in this embodiment, when the stored ball balance 25B at the time of the closing operation on the day exceeds the stored ball upper limit threshold, the use restriction flag 26B is set to ON. However, the member's mobile phone or PC mail is stored in the member management DB 24. Since the address is managed, the member management device 5 (5A) may notify an error warning based on the mail address, for example. In this case, the member does not have to visit the amusement store. In addition, it is possible to recognize in advance that the upper limit threshold for storage balls has been exceeded.

  In addition, the error warning may be notified to the member based on the e-mail address, but the error warning may be displayed on a website that can be browsed by the member. In this case, the same effect can be obtained. Needless to say.

  Further, in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the stored ball balance 25B and the current day holding ball 17B (27B) are extracted for each card ID during the closing process on the day, and the current day holding ball 17B (27B) is stored as the stored ball balance 25B for each card ID. Although automatic storage is performed, automatic storage for all members may be executed in a batch process. In this case, the use restriction flag 26B is set only for a card ID whose storage balance 25B exceeds the storage upper limit threshold. It may be set to ON, and it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even in this case.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, the range of the technical idea of this invention is not limited by this Example, Unless it deviates from the range of the technical idea described in the claim, it is various. It goes without saying that various embodiments can be implemented. Moreover, the effect described in the present Example is not limited to this.

  Of course, all or some of the processes described as being automatically performed among the various processes described in this embodiment can be performed manually, and vice versa. It goes without saying that all or part of the processing described as being possible can be performed automatically. Further, it goes without saying that the processing procedure, control procedure, specific name, information including various data and parameters described in the present embodiment can be appropriately changed unless otherwise specified.

  In addition, each component of each device illustrated is described in terms of functional concept and is not necessarily physically configured as illustrated, and the specific mode of each device is illustrated in the drawings. Needless to say, it cannot be limited.

  Further, various processing functions performed in each device are performed on a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (or a micro computer such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or MCU (Micro Controller Unit)) or on the same CPU (or MPU, MCU, etc.). It goes without saying that all or any part of the program may be executed on a program that is analyzed and executed by a microcomputer) or on hardware based on wired logic.

  In the game medium management system and the game medium management method of the present invention, when the number of stored game media is cumulatively added to the number of stored game media and the transition of the number of stored game media to the number of stored game media is executed, the number of stored game media And even if the cumulative addition result of the number of owned game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold, various harmful effects due to the inability to save the number of owned game media can be avoided by allowing saving of the number of owned game media to the number of saved game media By assigning and managing the specific identifier associated with the recording medium for members, it is possible to sufficiently cope with the situation where the number of game media is continuously saved while exceeding the saving upper limit threshold, This is useful for game machine management systems such as pachislot stores.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine management system 1A Game machine management system 4 Card management apparatus 5 Member management apparatus 5A Member management apparatus 17 Mochitama DB
24 Member Management DB
25 Savings balance DB
26 Usage restriction flag DB
27 Mochitama Management DB
28 Warning notification control unit 29 Member card handling control unit 30 Member management control unit 30A Member management control unit 31 Storage management control unit 32 Storage ball upper limit threshold determination unit 33 Member card use restriction setting unit 34 Use restriction flag determination unit 35 Mochitama management control Part 36 threshold value determination part immediately before the storage ball upper limit 37 business-use storage ball upper limit threshold determination part

Claims (9)

The number of stored game media deposited by the player at the game store and the number of game media acquired by the player through the game media counting means for each game machine are obtained, and the number of game media obtained as a result of the counting is calculated as the game. A game medium management system for managing in association with a recording medium for a member given to a customer,
Transition means for cumulatively adding the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media in accordance with a predetermined timing and shifting the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media;
Determining means for determining whether the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media by the transition means exceeds a saving upper limit threshold;
A management unit that assigns and manages a specific identifier in association with the member recording medium of the member when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination unit; ,
Warning notification means for notifying a warning when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold during handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device ;
Recording medium use restriction setting means for restricting the use of the recording medium for the member when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination means; > have a,
The warning notification means notifies a warning when a request for handling the member recording medium is detected through the recording medium handling device while the recording medium use restriction setting means restricts the use of the recording medium for the member. > A game media management system characterized by that. The usage restrictions on the member recording medium are:
Game media management system of claim 1, wherein the prohibiting the use of the member for the recording medium. Predetermined warning level threshold determination means for determining whether or not the number of the storage game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold less than the saving upper limit threshold;
The warning notification means includes
While the member recording medium is being handled through the recording medium handling device, a warning is issued if the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the predetermined warning level threshold by the predetermined warning level threshold determining means. game media management system of claim 1, wherein the informing. Predetermined warning level threshold judging means for judging whether or not a cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium has exceeded a predetermined warning level threshold less than the saving upper limit threshold is provided. And
The warning notification means includes
While the member recording medium is being handled through the recording medium handling device, the cumulative addition result of the number of retained game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium is determined by the predetermined warning level threshold determination means. If it exceeds a predetermined warning level threshold, game media management system of claim 1, wherein the notifying alert. A saving upper limit threshold determining means for determining whether or not a cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold;
The warning notification means includes
During the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling apparatus, the accumulated upper limit threshold value judging means determines the accumulated addition result of the number of stored game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium. If it exceeds the upper threshold, game media management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that gives a warning. If the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination means, the destination information corresponding to the member of the member recording medium The game medium management system according to claim 1 , further comprising a message notification unit that notifies a message to the member through a communication line. The number of stored game media deposited by the player at the game store and the number of game media acquired by the player through the game media counting means for each game machine are obtained, and the number of game media obtained as a result of the counting is calculated as the game. A game medium management system for managing in association with a recording medium for a member given to a customer,
Transition means for cumulatively adding the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media in accordance with a predetermined timing and shifting the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media;
Determining means for determining whether the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media by the transition means exceeds a saving upper limit threshold;
When the number of game media and the number of stored game media exceed the saving upper limit threshold in the determination means, the number of game media that exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the cumulative addition result is recorded for the member Management means for managing the number of prize exchangeable game media in association with the media;
Warning notification means for notifying a warning when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold during handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device ;
Recording medium use restriction setting means for restricting the use of the recording medium for the member when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination means; > have a,
The warning notification means notifies a warning when a request for handling the member recording medium is detected through the recording medium handling device while the recording medium use restriction setting means restricts the use of the recording medium for the member. > A game media management system characterized by that. The number of stored game media deposited by the player at the game store and the number of game media acquired by the player through the game media counting means for each game machine are obtained, and the number of game media obtained as a result of the counting is calculated as the game. A game medium management method for managing in association with a member recording medium given to a customer,
A transition step of cumulatively adding the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media at a predetermined timing and shifting the number of owned game media to the number of stored game media;
A determination step of determining whether or not a cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media by the transition step exceeds a saving upper limit threshold;
A management step of assigning and managing a specific identifier in association with the member's recording medium when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step; ,
A warning notification step of notifying a warning when the number of saving game media corresponding to the member recording medium exceeds the saving upper limit threshold during the handling of the member recording medium through the recording medium handling device ;
A recording medium usage restriction setting step for restricting the use of the recording medium for members when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of saved game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step; > only contains,
The warning notifying step notifies a warning when a request for handling the member recording medium is detected through a recording medium handling device during use restriction of the member recording medium in the recording medium use restriction setting step. <Br / > A game media management method characterized by the above. A recording medium use restriction setting step for restricting the use of the recording medium for members when the cumulative addition result of the number of possessed game media and the number of stored game media exceeds the saving upper limit threshold in the determination step; 9. The game medium management method according to claim 8, wherein

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