JP5961793B2 - Value carrier management system and game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention manages the amount of value carriers such as game balls, medals, coins, and cash used in games as data in place of these actual products, and lends or collects at least a part of the data to players. In particular, the present invention relates to a value carrier management system that is a technology to be used, and a gaming machine used in the system.

  In the case of a ball game machine, a type in which a game ball is enclosed in a game machine and the game ball is circulated in the game machine has been proposed (enclosed type game machine, or simply enclosed type). (For example, Patent Document 1). In the enclosed game machine, the prize ball is not paid out to the player as an actual game ball, but is given to the player as a numerical value called “ball data” or the like. The launch of a game ball is made possible when there is a ball data. Since the game balls are circulated in the game machine as described above and the actual game balls are not paid out, the required number of game balls is much smaller than that of non-enclosed game machines. Since the actual supply and discharge of game balls to and from the gaming machine is basically not performed, it is possible to illegally bring in a large number of game balls from the outside, or to play special illegal game balls (for example, games with different diameters). A game ball with a ball, a thread, etc.), or theft of a game ball for the purpose of fraud, etc. can be prevented. The possession data acquired by the player through the game is recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card, and is exchanged for a prize by submitting the recording medium to a prize counter, or the player is at home without being exchanged. Take it home and reuse it later in the game.

  In the case where there is no data on the recording medium, cash or the like is inserted into the inter-unit unit or the like (hereinafter, this mode, that is, “introducing cash into the inter-unit unit”). A ball data corresponding to the amount of the price is created, and a game is played using the ball data. In other words, “creating data for holding balls” corresponds to the act of “borrowing a game ball” in a game using a non-encapsulated gaming machine. When the ball data becomes 0, launching is prohibited. At this point, the game is terminated, or cash is newly inserted into the inter-unit unit to create the ball data.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-63083

However, in the enclosed game machine, the ball data may be forged. For example, in spite of the fact that there are 1000 pieces of possession data for a game ball in practice, there may be fraud such as tampering with such data as 5000 pieces or 10,000 pieces. The same problem is not limited to enclosed ball game machines, but in game facilities that manage the amount of value carriers such as game balls, medals, coins, and cash as data in place of the actual products, the reason for using that data It occurs in the same way regardless of (for example, prevention of illegal games, small amount of value carriers).
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent cheating performed by forging data in a game facility where a game is played using data such as possession data.

  The present invention according to claim 1, which has been made in order to solve the above problem, is a value for managing the value carrier in a gaming facility equipped with a gaming machine that uses a value carrier lent to a player to play a game. A carrier management system comprising a unique number storage means for storing the unique number corresponding to each value carrier, and whether the unique number stored in the unique number storage means is being loaned to the player. A lending flag is stored for each unique number, value carrier storage means for storing the same number of unique numbers as the number of value carriers lent to the player, and lending to the player In the game, when the value carrier is lent to a player, a loan flag of the same number as the lent number is set to “unread”. “Lending” to “Lending” In the game, when the player uses the value carrier in the game, the loan flag of the same number as the number used is changed from “Lending” to “Not loaned”. The second unique number control means for switching, and the unique number switched to “lending” by the first unique number control means are stored in the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan, and the second unique number control means And a value carrier update means for erasing the unique number switched to “unrented” by the number control means from the value carrier storage means of the player who has received the loan for use.

  Here, the “unique number” is different from, for example, an ID given to the game ball. This difference is significant in enclosed game machines. That is, if 100 gaming balls are circulated in one enclosing type, the number of IDs in the gaming machine is 100. This number does not change even if 1000 award balls (in-game data) are generated by the jackpot in the gaming machine. On the other hand, in the present invention, when 1000 prize balls are generated in the enclosing type, 1000 unique numbers are given (lent) to the player, and the number of unique numbers in the gaming machine is far more than 100. Become more. Further, “value carrier storage means for storing the same number of unique numbers as the number of value carriers lent to the player” means “the number of value carriers lent to the player and value carrier storage”. It does not mean that the number of unique numbers stored in the means always matches. For example, even if the two match before or after the start of the game, they do not need to match in other cases (for example, during the game). Specifically, a part of the unique number stored in the value carrier storage means is stored in the unique number holding means of claim 3 and the part is erased from the value carrier storage means, or the player during the game A large number of unique numbers assigned to the ID number can be temporarily held in a configuration like a unique number holding means, and then recorded in the value carrier storage means. In any case, the total number of unique numbers assigned to the player is temporarily larger than the number of unique numbers stored in the value carrier storage means.

  “Lending” means that a value carrier (a game ball in the case of a non-enclosed ball game machine, a medal in the case of a revolving game machine, or a ball data in an enclosed game machine) is given to a player. It does not just mean lending in exchange for money. An act that is considered to be exchanged for a prize in the future and that can be regarded as substantially “given” to the player is also called a loan. Accordingly, “payment of prize balls” in the ball game machine is also referred to as lending here. In addition, “increased data for holding balls” in enclosed game machines is also lending value carriers. Further, the first unique number control means “when the value carrier is lent to a player, the loan flag of the same number as the lent number is changed from“ not lent ”to“ under loan ”. Means “search for a unique number whose loan flag is“ unrented ”from the unique number storage means and switch the loan flag of the unique number to“ under loan ””. The second unique number control means searches for a unique number whose loan flag is “under loan”, and switches the loan flag of the unique number to “not loaned”.

And it said value carrier storage means in the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is a recording medium that is applied to each of the player, provided corresponding to said game machine performs the game at the recreation machine a recording medium writer capable reading and writing of data to the recording medium is mounted in the recording medium to the time, when the said value carrier storage means in a recording medium writer is mounted, the value carrier storage reading the unique number recorded in the unit, the unique number to query the storage means, if the read-out the unique ID does not exist in it has or the unique number storage means become "not lend" a warning operation and a warning means for.

The present invention according to claim 1, wherein when said value carrier storage means in a recording medium writer is mounted, at least partially reading and storing of the unique number recorded in該価value carrier storage means A unique number holding means; and a unique number erasing means for erasing the unique number stored in the unique number holding means from the value carrier storage means. The unique number switched to “lending” is stored in the unique number holding unit, the unique number switched to “unrented” by the second unique number control unit is deleted from the unique number holding unit, and when leaving the value carrier storage means from said recording medium reader writer, a configured to store a unique number stored in the ID number holding means in said value carrier storage means There.

The present invention is defined in claim 2, the value carrier management system according to claim 1, which the gaming facility is provided with at least a plurality of ball-shooting game machine as the game machine, the inherent number storage means, Each of the ball balls includes a value carrier management device that includes the first unique number control unit and the second unique number control unit, and manages a value carrier lent to a player in the plurality of ball game machines. The gaming machine includes a winning port where a value carrier is lent to the player when a game ball enters, a main control device that controls whether the game is successful, and a rent of the value carrier to the player when the gaming ball enters the winning port And a lending control device that executes a loan according to an instruction from the main control device, accepting cash or a prepaid card as a price for the value carrier, and lending the value carrier corresponding to the price control unit A value carrier lending device for instructing, and when the game ball enters the winning opening, the number of prize balls, which is the number of value carriers set to be loaned to the player corresponding to the winning opening, The lending control device transmits to the value carrier lending device, the value carrier lending device transmits the number of prize balls to the value carrier management device, and the value carrier management device has the same number of the unique balls as the number of prize balls. The value carrier lending device transmits the number to the value carrier lending device, and the lending flag of the transmitted unique number is switched from “not loaned” to “lending”, and the value carrier lending device that has received the unique number Is transmitted to the lending control device.

The present invention according to claim 3 is a value carrier management system for managing the value carrier in a gaming facility equipped with a gaming machine that performs a game using a value carrier lent to a player, A unique number storage means for storing the unique number corresponding to the value carrier is provided, and the unique number stored in the unique number storage means is provided with a loan flag indicating whether or not the player is lent. Each of which is stored for each value carrier storage means for storing the same number as the number of the value carriers lent to the player, and the number of the value carriers lent to the player. In the game, when the value carrier is lent to a player, the loan flag of the same number as the number lent is switched from “not loaned” to “lending”. First unique number control means In the game, when the player uses the value carrier for the game, the second unique number control means for switching the loan flag of the same number as the number used for the loan from “lending” to “unrented” The unique number switched to “lending” by the first unique number control means is stored in the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan, and “unrented” by the second unique number control means. And a value carrier update unit that deletes the unique number switched to the value carrier storage unit of the player who received the loan for use, and the value carrier storage unit is assigned to each player A recording medium provided corresponding to the gaming machine and capable of reading and writing data to and from the recording medium when the gaming machine performs the game When the value carrier storage means is attached to the body reader / writer and the recording medium reader / writer, the unique number recorded in the value carrier storage means is read out, and the unique number storage means is referred to and read out. Warning means for performing a warning operation when the unique number is "unrented" or not present in the unique number storage means, and the gaming facility is at least a plurality of ball game machines as the gaming machines A value carrier to be lent to a player by the plurality of ball game machines, comprising the unique number storage means, the first unique number control means, and the second unique number control means. Each of the ball game machines has a value carrier management device for managing, a winning slot where a value carrier is lent to the player when a game ball enters, a main control device that controls whether the game is successful, Game ball And a lending control device that executes lending of a value carrier to a player in accordance with an instruction from the main control device, and accepts cash or a prepaid card as a price for the value carrier, A value carrier lending device for instructing the lending control device to lend the value carrier corresponding to, and setting the lending to the player corresponding to the winning port when the game ball enters the winning port The lending control device transmits the number of prize balls, which is the number of value carriers, to the value carrier lending device, and the value carrier lending device transmits the number of prize balls to the value carrier management device. The carrier management device transmits the same number of unique numbers as the number of prize balls to the value carrier lending device, and switches the lending flag of the transmitted unique number from “not lending” to “lending” Receive the number The value carrier leasing device is characterized in that for transmitting the peculiar number to the lending controller.
The gist of a fourth aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine that is used as the gaming machine in the value carrier management system according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the value carrier (a game ball in the case of a non-encapsulated ball game machine, a medal in the case of a spinning game machine, or a ball data in the case of an encapsulated game machine). There is a corresponding unique number, and this unique number is stored in the value carrier storage means by the number of value carriers lent. Therefore, for example, a state in which there are 1000 pieces of possession data in the value carrier storage means is represented by storing 1000 unique numbers in the value carrier storage means. For example, in order to falsify the possession data of the value carrier storage means to 5000, it is necessary to additionally record 4000 unique numbers in the value carrier storage means. In addition, the same unique number is stored in the unique number storage means, and the loan flag of the unique number needs to be “Lending”. Therefore, according to the value carrier management system of the first aspect, it is very difficult to tamper with the possession data, and it is possible to prevent fraud based on such tampering.

And of value carrier storage means Te value carrier management system smell of claim 1, recording medium (e.g., magnetic cards, IC cards, flash memory, etc.) which is given to each player has a, which gaming machine Is attached to the recording medium reader / writer provided in correspondence with the above, the warning means reads the unique number recorded in the value carrier storage means, inquires the unique number storage means, and the read unique number is "unrented" Or is not present in the unique number storage means, a warning operation is performed. Examples of the warning operation may include an alarm sound, turning on or blinking a lamp, sending a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred to a computer (so-called hall computer) that manages the game facility, and the like. . It is effective to provide a speaker that emits an alarm sound for a warning operation or a lamp to be lit in the vicinity of the recording medium reader / writer or game machine.
Therefore, according to the value carrier management system of the first aspect , it is possible to quickly detect that the possession data has been tampered with.

Furthermore, in the value carrier management system according to claim 1 , the unique number stored in the value carrier storage means is temporarily stored in the unique number holding means, and the unique number stored in the unique number holding means is stored. The value carrier updating means updates. Therefore, according to the value carrier management system described in claim 1 , since the value carrier storage means (recording medium) is not accessed every time the value carrier is lent or used, the processing is speedily performed. Can be done. In particular, when a large amount of possession data is lent to a player in a short time, such as a big hit of a pachinko machine in a gaming machine, the same number of unique numbers is required. ) Need not be memorized.

In the value carrier management system according to claims 2 and 3 , the gaming facility includes at least a plurality of ball game machines as gaming machines, and further includes a value carrier management device. The value carrier management device includes a unique number storage means, a first unique number control means, and a second unique number control means, and manages value carriers lent to a player using a plurality of ball game machines. The value carrier management device may be realized as a function of a so-called hall computer, or a dedicated computer device that performs these functions may be installed separately from the hall computer.

Each ball game machine has a winning port where a value carrier is lent to the player when a game ball enters, a main control device that controls whether the game is successful, and a value to the player when the gaming ball enters the winning port. And a lending control device that executes lending of the carrier in accordance with an instruction from the main control device. However, the lending control device also lends the value carrier based on the instruction from the value carrier lending device. The value carrier lending device accepts cash or a prepaid card as a value carrier value and instructs the lending control device to lend a value carrier corresponding to the price. As an existing apparatus, it corresponds to what is called a CR unit or an inter-unit.

When a game ball enters the winning opening, the lending control device transmits the number of prize balls, which is the number of value carriers set to be loaned to the player corresponding to the winning opening, to the value carrier lending device. In general, the main control device instructs the lending control device about the number of winning balls. The value carrier lending device transmits the number of prize balls to the value carrier management device, and the value carrier management device transmits the same number of unique numbers as the number of prize balls to the value carrier lending device, and also sends a loan flag of the transmitted unique number. , Switch from “not loaned” to “lending”. This switching is performed by the first unique number control means provided in the value carrier management device. The value carrier lending apparatus that has received the unique number transmits the unique number to the lending control apparatus.
According to the present invention as set forth in claims 2 and 3 , the command or data that the lending control device pays out a prize ball from a device other than a specific external device (for example, a value carrier lending device) (for example, Even in a mode in which the unique number) cannot be received, the unique number can be received from the value carrier management apparatus via the value carrier lending apparatus.

  Note that the lending control device that has received the unique number from the value carrier lending device may record the unique number in the value carrier storage means or send it to the main control device. When the value carrier lending device has a function as a recording medium reader / writer, the value carrier lending device may record the unique number in the value carrier storage means. In this case, the lending control device may display the possession data using the number of received unique numbers, or transmit the received unique number to the main control device or the like. When the main controller receives a unique number from the loan control device, it checks whether the number of unique numbers matches the number of prize balls instructed to the loan control device earlier. It may be possible to notify the occurrence of an error. Note that this check may be performed by the lending control device.

The present invention according to claim 4 is a gaming machine used in the above-described value carrier management system. That is, the gaming machine according to claim 4 plays a game using the value carrier corresponding to the number of unique numbers stored in the value carrier storage means, and when the value carrier is given to the player, the unique number is given. The number of unique numbers decreases when the player uses the value carrier for the game but cannot receive the value carrier. In accordance with this increase / decrease, the loan flag of the unique number stored in the unique number storage means is switched from “not lent” to “being lent” or vice versa.
Therefore, the gaming machine configured as described above is a gaming machine that is extremely difficult to play an illegal game based on counterfeiting of the possession data.

Front view of the pachinko machine 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Front view of game board 1 of pachinko machine 50 Electrical configuration diagram of pachinko machine 50 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the IC card confirmation process performed with CR unit 56 Flowchart showing an outline of the unique number matching process executed by the hall computer 87 (A) is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a specific number etc. are stored in IC card, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a specific number and a loan flag are stored in the database of the hall computer 87 (A) is a flowchart showing an outline of a winning confirmation process executed by the main controller 80, and (b) is a flowchart showing an outline of a payout command process executed by the payout controller 81. A flowchart showing an outline of a prize ball generation process executed by the CR unit 56 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the winning ball number confirmation process performed with the payout control apparatus 81 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the loan flag switching process performed with the hall computer 87 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the discharge process performed with the discharge control apparatus 84 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the possession data notification process performed by CR unit 56 The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the possession data use processing performed with CR unit 56

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms belonging to the technical scope of the present invention, and the contents described in the respective examples are appropriately combined. It goes without saying that it is possible.

[Example]
As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 50, which is a kind of ball game machine, has a structure in which each part of the configuration is held by an outer frame 51 that forms a vertically long fixed outer frame. A hinge 53 is provided on the upper left and upper sides of the outer frame 51, and an inner frame is attached to the other side of the hinge 53. The inner frame can be opened and closed with respect to the outer frame 51. . A plate glass 61 is detachably provided on the front frame 52, and the game board 1 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the inner frame at the back of the plate glass 61.

  Speakers 66 are provided on the upper left and right sides of the front frame 52, and the game sound generated from the pachinko machine 50 is output to improve the player's preference. In addition, in order to improve the player's preference, a plurality of frame side decorative lamps 65 that emit light according to the gaming state are provided in the front frame 52. A launching handle 64 is attached to the right of the lower part of the front frame 52, and the launching device (not shown) is moved by rotating the launching handle 64 in the clockwise direction so that the game ball is played on the game board 1. Fired towards the. The game ball is circulated in the pachinko machine 50, and is configured as an enclosed game machine in which it is impossible to take out the game ball from the outside of the pachinko machine 50 or bring the game ball from the outside in principle. When a game ball enters a winning opening (described later) of the pachinko machine 50, the number of gaming balls corresponding to the winning hole is not supplied to the pachinko machine 50 or paid out to the player. , It is given to the player as numerical data called “mochitama data”. In the following description, giving the ball data is also referred to as “game ball is paid out”, and a control device in charge of giving the ball data is called a payout control device.

  An effect button 67 that can be operated by the player is provided in front of the glass sheet 61, and this effect button 67 has a jog dial 68 around it. When the player operates the effect button 67 or the jog dial 68 during a predetermined period, the contents displayed on the effect symbol display device 6 described later change, or the game sound output from the speaker 66 changes. . The pachinko machine 50 also includes a CR unit 56 for reading and writing an IC card, which is a membership card of the amusement facility where the pachinko machine 50 is installed, and the IC card is inserted from the insertion slot 20.・ I will be withdrawn. The pachinko machine 50 includes a ball lending button 57 for borrowing a ball below the ball data recorded on the IC card, a payment button 58 for taking out the IC card, and ball data recorded on the IC card. A settlement display device 59 is displayed. The checkout display device 59 is provided with a display device for displaying the balance of the prepaid card inserted by the player in addition to the display device for displaying the ball data. A player who does not have possession data inserts a prepaid card into the insertion slot 20 instead of the IC card, and generates possession data corresponding to the price.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board 1 of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment. In addition, since the whole structure of this pachinko machine is based on a well-known technique, illustration and description are abbreviate | omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 1 is provided with a substantially circular game area 3 surrounded by known guide rails 2a and 2b. A large number of game nails 4 are nailed in the game area 3.

  A center case 5 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the game area 3. The center case 5 is provided with a warp entrance, a warp passage, a stage, a window for directing the screen of the effect symbol display device 6 (which is a liquid crystal display device and displays a pseudo symbol), and the like, as in the known case.

  A first start port 11 is disposed below the center case 5, and a second start port 12 is disposed below the first start port 11. The second starting port 12 includes a normal electric accessory provided with a wing piece that can be opened and closed. The game ball cannot enter the second starting port 12 unless the wing piece is opened. A gate 17 is arranged on the left side of the center case 5. When a game ball passes through the gate 17, the normal symbol changes, and when the normal symbol hits and stops at the symbol, the wing piece is released. In the lower right part of the game area, a normal symbol display device 7 composed of a plurality of LEDs, a normal symbol reservation number display device 8, a special symbol reservation number display device 18, and a special symbol display device 9 consisting of a 7-segment display device. And are arranged.

  An attacker type big winning opening 14 is arranged below the second start opening 12. Further, on the left side of the first start port 11, a first left winning port 31, a second left winning port 32, a third left winning port 33, and a fourth left winning port 34 are provided. Note that the first left winning port 31, the second left winning port 32, the third left winning port 33, and the fourth left winning port 34 are normal winning ports in which the winning rate does not always change.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 50 is configured around the main controller 80. In this block diagram, the hall computer 87 and the CR unit 56 that do not belong to the pachinko machine 50 are also shown. Although not shown in detail, the main control device 80, the payout control device 81, the production symbol control device 82, the sub-integrated control device 83, and the launch control device 84 are all CPU, ROM, RAM, input port, output port. Etc.

  The main controller 80 includes a first start port switch 11a that detects a game ball that has entered the first start port 11, a second start port switch 12a that detects a game ball that has entered the second start port 12, and a normal A normal symbol operation switch 17a for detecting a game ball that has entered the gate 17 that activates the symbol, a count switch 14a for counting the game balls that have entered the big winning port 14, a first left winning port 31, a second left winning game Detection signals such as a left winning port switch 31a for detecting a game ball that has entered the mouth 32, the third left winning port 33, and the fourth left winning port 34 are input.

The main control device 80 operates in accordance with the installed program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above-described detection signals and outputs them to the payout control device 81 and the sub integrated control device 83.
The main controller 80 also displays the first special symbol display device 9, the second special symbol display device 10, and the normal symbol display device 7 connected via the symbol display device relay terminal board 90, and the first special symbol hold. The number display device 18, the second special symbol hold number display device 19, the normal symbol hold number display device 8, and the hit state notification lamp 98 are controlled to be turned on.

Further, the main control device 80 controls the opening / closing of the special winning opening 14 by controlling the special winning opening solenoid 14b, and controls the ordinary electric accessory solenoid (denoted as a general electric accessory solenoid in FIG. 3) 12b. Thus, the opening and closing of the second start port 12 is controlled.
The output signal from the main controller 80 is also output to the test signal terminal, and management signals such as symbol fluctuations and jackpots (also referred to as special games) are output to the external connection terminal board 78 to be used as a hall computer (both with a computer). Say) 87. The main control device 80 and the payout control device 81 can perform bidirectional communication.

  The payout control device 81 causes the CR unit 56 to generate prize ball data in response to a command sent from the main control device 80 (details will be described later). The CR unit 56 includes an IC card reader / writer 23 (indicated as an IC card R / W in FIG. 3) for writing and reading data on the IC card. The CR unit 56 is also connected to the settlement display device 59 via the CR unit terminal plate 24 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. The settlement display device 59 is connected with a ball rental button 57 and a settlement button 58.

  Also, the payout control device 81 transmits information relating to the prize ball, information indicating the open / closed state of the frame (inner frame, front frame), etc. to the hall computer 87 via the external connection terminal board 78, and also to the launch control device 84. In response to this, a fire stop signal is transmitted.

The launch control device 84 controls the ball feed solenoid 22 to send a game ball to a launch pad (not shown), and controls the launch solenoid 30 to launch the game ball into the game area 3. In addition to the payout control device 81, the launch control device 84 detects a rotation amount signal from the launch handle 64, a touch signal from the touch switch 28, a launch stop signal from the launch stop switch 29, and that a game ball has been launched. A fire detection signal from the fire switch 21 is input.
The rotation amount signal is output when the player operates the launch handle 64, the touch signal is output when the player touches the launch handle 64, and the launch stop switch signal is output by the player pressing the launch stop switch 29. Is output. If the touch signal is not input to the firing control device 84, the game ball cannot be fired. If the fire stop switch signal is input, the game ball cannot be fired even if the player touches the launch handle 64. It is like that. Also, the game ball cannot be fired even when the holding ball data is zero (described later).

  The sub-integrated control device 83 corresponds to the sub-control device, receives data and commands transmitted from the main control device 80, distributes them to data for effect display control, sound control and lamp control, The display control command and the like are transmitted to the effect design control device 82, and the sound control and lamp control are distributed to each control part (function unit as a sound control device and a lamp control device) included in the display control command 82. Then, the function unit as the sound control device controls the sound output from the speaker by operating the sound LSI based on the data for sound control, and the function unit as the lamp control device is based on the data for lamp control. The various LED and lamp 26 are controlled by operating the lamp driver. In addition, an effect button 67 and a jog dial 68 are connected to the sub integrated control device 83, and when the player operates them, a signal is input to the sub integrated control device 83.

Bi-directional communication is possible between the sub integrated control device 83 and the production symbol control device 82.
The effect symbol control device 82 displays the effect symbol display based on the data and commands received from the sub integrated control device 83 (both those transmitted from the main control device 80 and those generated by the sub integrated control device 83). The device 6 is controlled to display an effect image such as a pseudo symbol on the screen 6 a of the effect symbol display device 6.

  FIG. 4 shows an IC card confirmation process executed by the CR unit 56. This process starts when an IC card is inserted into the insertion slot 20 of the CR unit 56. When this process is activated, it is first determined whether or not the inserted card is a regular IC card (S100). If the inserted IC card is not a legitimate IC card, such as a membership card of the gaming facility (S100), the process ends (return. In FIG. 4, it is represented as RET. The same applies to other figures) To do. When the inserted card is a regular IC card (S100: yes), all the unique numbers recorded on the IC card are transmitted to the hall computer 87. Note that the exchange regarding the unique number between the CR unit 56 and the hall computer 87 is performed via the CR unit terminal plate 24 and the unique number connection terminal plate 79 (see FIG. 3). This exchange is set so that two-way communication is possible, and the CR unit 56 can transmit a unique number to the hall computer 87, and conversely, can receive a unique number from the hall computer 87. Yes. On the other hand, the payout control device 81 is also connected to the hall computer 87 via the back wiring relay terminal board 75 and the external connection terminal board 78. This is a one-way communication from the external connection terminal board 78 to the hall computer 87. Therefore, it is impossible for the payout control device 81 to receive from the hall computer 87 a unique number or a command to pay out.

  Here, FIG. 6A shows an outline of the recorded contents of the IC card. As shown in this figure, a regular IC card has a member name 70 (here, “Satotaro”) indicating the owner of the IC card, a member number 71 (here, 1234567) of the member, and a unique number 73. And are recorded. The unique number represents the holding data, and consists of a 3-digit alphabet, a 6-digit number, and a 2-digit alphabet. One unique number (for example, “ABC012345DE”) corresponds to one game ball. FIG. 6A shows three unique numbers, which correspond to “three game balls”. If the ball data corresponding to 1000 game balls is recorded on the IC card, 1000 unique numbers are recorded. Of course, these 1000 unique numbers are different numbers because they are unique numbers.

  On the other hand, in the hall computer 87, all the unique numbers used in the game facility are recorded in the database. FIG. 6B shows an example. About 100 million unique numbers 76 are recorded in the database of the hall computer 87, and a loan flag 77 is set for each unique number. The loan flag indicates whether or not the unique number is being loaned to a member. “0” represents “not loaned” and “1” represents “lending”. The unique number is not a serial number. For example, “AAA000001AB” shown in FIG. 6B is “AAA000003AC” instead of “AAA000001AC”. Also, “AAA000003AC” is followed by “AAA000004AE” instead of “AAA000003AD”.

  In the hall computer 87 that has received the unique number in the IC card, the unique number matching process shown in FIG. 5 is executed. That is, when a unique number is sent from the CR unit 56 (S200: yes), all received unique numbers are checked against the unique numbers recorded in its own database (see FIG. 6B) (S210). ). If all the received unique numbers exist in the database (S220: yes), and all the loan flags of the unique numbers are “Lending”, that is, “1” (S230: yes), the normal code is changed to CR. The data is transmitted to the unit (S240), and the process is terminated (returned). At least one of the received unique numbers does not exist in the database (S220: no), or if the loan flag of the unique number is “not loaned”, that is, “0” (S230: no), the abnormal code is transmitted to the CR unit (S250), and the process is terminated.

Returning to FIG. In S120, it is determined whether or not a normal code or an abnormal code has been received from the hall computer 87. If not received (S120: no), the process returns to S120 and waits until one is received. When a code is received from the hall computer 87 (S120: yes), it is determined whether or not the code is a normal code (S130). If a negative determination is made (S130: no), a warning operation is performed (S140). This process is terminated (returned). Here, the warning operation is for notifying that there is a possibility that an illegal unique number is recorded on the inserted IC card, and the sub integrated control is performed via the payout control device 81 and the main control device 80. A warning sound is generated by causing the device 83 to sound a speaker. The lamp 26 may be blinked instead of (or in addition to) this warning sound. In addition, when S250 is executed in the hall computer 87, some warning action may be performed in the hall computer 87 (for example, a game facility manager is notified using sound or e-mail).
If the code received from the hall computer 87 is a normal code (S130: yes), the process is terminated as it is.

  FIG. 7A shows a winning confirmation process executed by the main control device 80 of the pachinko machine 50. The winning confirmation process is executed as a subroutine of a main routine that is periodically executed by the main interrupt at about 2 ms in the main controller 80. When this process is started, based on the detection results of the first start port switch 11a, the second start port switch 12a, the left winning port switch 31a, and the count switch 14a, whether a game ball has entered the corresponding winning port It is determined whether or not (S300). If the determination is affirmative (S300: yes), a payout signal indicating the number of winning balls corresponding to these winning holes is transmitted to the payout control device 81 (S310), and the process is terminated (returned). The number of winning balls is three each for the first start port 11 and the second start port 12, 13 for the large winning port 14, and 10 for each other winning port. If the determination is negative (S300: no), the process is terminated as it is.

  The payout control device 81 that has received the payout signal (S310) executes a payout command process shown in FIG. When the payout signal is received (S400: yes), the winning ball number data corresponding to the number of winning balls indicated by the payout signal is transmitted to the CR unit 56 (S410), and the process is terminated (returned). If the generated winning is for the first starting port 11, the winning ball number data requests to pay out three winning balls. In addition, since the pachinko machine 50 which is an enclosing type does not pay out the game ball, instead, it is required to increase the ball data by three.

  The CR unit 56 that has received the winning ball number data executes a winning ball generation process shown in FIG. When the winning ball data is received from the payout control device 81 (S500: yes), the hall computer 87 is requested to issue the same number as the number of winning balls indicated by the winning ball data (S510). The requested hall computer 87 sends an unlending unique number (to be exact, when it is determined to be transmitted, the lending flag of the unique number is changed from “not lending” to “lending”) to the CR unit 56. Send. If the generated winning is for the first starting port 11, three unique numbers are transmitted from the hall computer 87 (the processing of these hall computers 87 will be described later). When this unique number is received (S520), the unique number is written in the IC card (S530). As a result, the player's possession data increases by three game balls, which corresponds to the award of the prize ball. Then, a signal indicating that the payout is completed (payout completion signal) is transmitted to the payout control device 81 (S540). The payout completion signal includes the number of unique numbers issued from the hall computer 87. When the payout completion signal is transmitted to the payout control device 81 in this way, the possessed ball data updated in S530 is output to the settlement display device 59 (S550), and this processing is ended (returned).

  Upon receiving the payout completion signal, the payout control device 81 executes a prize ball number confirmation process shown in FIG. When a payout completion signal is received from the CR unit 56 (S600: yes), it is determined whether or not the content matches the number of prize balls indicated by the prize ball number data (S610). The prize ball number data is transmitted to the CR unit 56 in S410. These two should originally match, but if they do not match (S610: no), the prize ball error process (S620) is executed and the process is terminated (returned). Here, the prize ball error processing means that the sub integrated control device 83 sounds a speaker through the main control device 80 to generate a warning sound, and also emits a signal to the firing control device 84 to stop the game ball firing. Is. If the payout completion signal matches the prize ball data (S610: yes), the process is terminated as it is.

  An overview of the loan flag switching process executed by the hall computer 87 is shown in FIG. When there is a request for issuing a unique number from the CR unit 56 (to be performed in S510) (S700: yes), the requested number of unique numbers is retrieved from the database (see FIG. 6B). Here, the search target is the one whose loan flag is “unused”. For example, if the number of unique numbers requested from the CR unit 56 is 3, three unique numbers whose loan flag is “unrented”, that is, “0” are searched. Then, the lending flag of the retrieved unique number is switched to “Lending” (S720). Then, the retrieved unique number (the lending flag is switched in S720) is transmitted to the CR unit 56 (S730), and the process is terminated (returned). If the CR unit 56 does not issue a unique number (S700: no) and if there is a return request (S740: yes), the loan flag of the received unique number (that is, the unique number for which the return request has been made) is set. Switching (S750). Here, the return request of the unique number means that the possession ball data is used for the game, that is, the game ball is fired. Therefore, in S750, the loan flag of the unique number that has been charged is switched from “Lending” to “Not Lending”. There were three types of issuance requests, three, ten, and thirteen according to the winning opening where the game balls won, but the pachinko machine 50 fires one game ball at a time, just like the old game machines. Therefore, the CR unit 56 basically requests one return of the unique number. When the loan flag is switched in S750 in this way, the process is terminated.

  Processing when a game ball is launched will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 11 is an outline of the launch process executed by the launch control device 84, and this process is started when the launch handle 64 is rotated. When this process is activated, the CR unit 56 is charged for the presence or absence of possession data. Upon receipt of this request, the CR unit 56 performs the ball data notification process shown in FIG. That is, when a request for holding ball data is received from the launch control device 84 (S900: yes), the contents of the IC card are read by the IC card reader / writer 23 and the presence or absence of holding ball data is confirmed (S910). As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the presence / absence of holding data corresponds to the presence / absence of a unique number in the IC card. If there is possession data (S910: yes), a signal indicating that there is possession data is transmitted to the launch control device 84 (S920), and this process is ended (return). If there is no possession data (S910: no), a signal indicating that there is no possession data is transmitted to the launch control device 84 (S920), and this process is terminated. Note that when the launch handle 64 is rotated even though the IC card is not inserted into the CR unit 56, a signal indicating that there is no ball data is transmitted to the launch control device 84.

  When the firing control device 84 receives the signal related to the ball data from the CR unit 56 in this way, it is determined whether there is a ball based on the signal (S810), and if it is a positive determination (S810: yes), The firing solenoid 30 and the ball feed solenoid 22 are driven to perform a firing operation (S820). It is determined based on the fire detection signal of the fire switch 21 whether or not the fire has actually been made by this fire operation (S830). If the determination is affirmative (S830: yes), a signal indicating that the launch has been performed is transmitted to the CR unit 56 (S840), and the process ends (returns). When a game ball is fired but does not reach the game area 3 due to lack of momentum (so-called foul), the occurrence of this foul is detected, and this fact is transmitted to the CR unit 56 and held. The ball data is recovered, but in this embodiment, the illustration and description of the processing when the foul is generated, including the processing on the CR unit 56 side, are omitted.

  If it is determined that the firing operation has not been performed according to the firing detection signal of the launch switch 21 in spite of the launch operation (S830: no), a predetermined time from the launch operation (here, the predetermined time is 2). It is determined whether or not (seconds) has elapsed (S850), and if not, the process returns to S830 and waits for a predetermined time to elapse. The predetermined time need not be limited to 2 seconds, and may be set as appropriate according to the specifications of the gaming machine. If the fire detection signal cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed (S850: yes), fire error processing (S860) is performed and the process is terminated. In the firing error process (S860), a command is issued from the sub integrated control device 83 to the effect symbol control device 82 via the payout control device 81 and the main control device 80, and the effect symbol display device 6 displays that a firing error has occurred. To do.

  The CR unit 56 that has received the signal (launch signal) transmitted by the launch control device 84 in S840 and indicating that the launch has been performed executes the holding ball data use processing shown in FIG. That is, when a firing signal is received from the firing control device 84 (S1000: yes), the IC card reader / writer 23 is controlled to delete any unique number in the IC card (S1010), and the unique number is returned to the hall computer 87. A signal (return signal) for applying to be transmitted is transmitted (S1020). Upon receiving this signal, the hall computer 87 executes the processing of S750 in FIG. When the return signal of the unique number is transmitted in this way, the updated ball data is output to the settlement display device 59, and the process is terminated (returned). Since the game balls are fired one by one, the new ball data displayed on the checkout display device 59 in S1030 is one less than the ball data displayed so far.

  According to the value carrier management system configured as described above, it is very difficult to falsify the holding data. For example, if there are 1000 pieces of ball data on the IC card, it is necessary to additionally record 4000 unique numbers on the IC card in order to alter the ball data to 5000 pieces. Moreover, all of these 4000 unique numbers need to be stored in the database of the hall computer 87, and the loan flag of the unique number needs to be “1”, that is, “lending”. That is, in order to falsify the possession data, the unique number having the loan flag “0” among the unique numbers stored in the hall computer 87 is equal to the number of possession data to be increased (4000). If you want to increase the number, select 4000), and after selection, the lending flag is changed to “1”. Moreover, since the unique numbers in the database are not serial numbers, even if the unique numbers are stored in the dark clouds, the unique numbers are not always stored in the hall computer 87. Therefore, it is very difficult to falsify the holding data.

  If a unique number that is not stored in the hall computer 87 is found in the IC card, or the loan flag that is stored in the hall computer 87 is “0”, that is, an unrented unique number is found in the IC card. If it is found, a warning operation (S140) is performed, so that it can be detected quickly.

Here, the correspondence between the configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration requirements of the present invention is shown. The pachinko machine 50 corresponds to the “game machine” of the present invention, the game ball and the ball data enclosed in the pachinko machine 50 correspond to the “value carrier” of the present invention, and the hall computer 87 corresponds to the “value carrier” of the present invention. The payout control device 81 corresponds to the “lending control device” of the present invention, the CR unit 56 corresponds to the “value carrier lending device” of the present invention, and the IC card corresponds to the “value carrier” of the present invention. The database of the hall computer 87 corresponds to “unique number storage means” of the present invention, the settlement display device 59 corresponds to “value carrier number display means” of the present invention, and the IC card reader / writer 23. Corresponds to the “recording medium reader / writer” of the present invention, the process from S220 or S230 to S250 corresponds to the “warning means” of the present invention, and the process of S720 is the “first unique number control” of the present invention. Corresponds to stage ", the processing of S750 corresponds to the" second unique number control means "of the present invention, the processing of S530 and S1010 correspond to the" value carrier updating means "of the present invention.
[Other embodiments]

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an enclosed game machine and a game facility in which the enclosed game machine is installed. However, the present invention may be applied to a non-enclosed game machine. The present invention can be similarly applied to a gaming machine that lends the number of value carriers such as holding balls to a player as data. Therefore, the gaming machine does not need to be a pachinko machine, and may be a revolving gaming machine. In this case, the number of medals is managed as the number of unique numbers. In addition, it is not necessary for the gaming facility to be applied to be used by all the gaming machines installed in the facility. The present invention may be applied to a gaming facility in which a gaming machine that uses the possession ball data and the like and a gaming machine that pays out actual gaming balls and medals are mixed. In this case, the present invention may be applied to all gaming machines using the possession data, or the present invention may be applied to a part of the gaming machines using the possession data. Further, although the hall number 87 manages the unique number and its loan data, these may be carried out by a computer system other than the hall computer 87.

  In S530 and S1010, the unique number stored in the IC card is directly updated, but it may be performed indirectly. For example, when an IC card is inserted into the CR unit 56, the unique number stored in the IC card is temporarily stored in a storage device such as a RAM provided in the CR unit 56, and stored in the RAM. It is conceivable to perform an update operation on the unique number. This storage device corresponds to the “unique number holding means” of the present invention. When the unique number is taken out from the IC card in this way, it is not preferable that the same unique number exists in two places (the RAM as the unique number holding means and the IC card itself). It is desirable to delete the number. This deletion corresponds to the “unique number deleting means” of the present invention. In addition, if the hit ball data increases significantly in a short time, such as when a big hit occurs, the hit ball data generated by the big hit is temporarily stored in the RAM of the CR unit 56, etc. Recording on an IC card is also conceivable.

  As the information regarding the unique number, the lending flag is recorded in the hall computer 87, but other information may be recorded. For example, if the loan flag for the unique number is “Lending”, record the number of the machine that has been paid out to the player, or the member number of the player who has been paid out Or may be recorded. In particular, the machine number is also recorded on the IC card, and when the IC card is inserted into the insertion slot 20, not only the unique number and the lending flag but also the machine number is consistent with the recorded contents of the hall computer 87. It may be checked whether or not. If constituted in this way, it becomes more difficult to forge the possession data. Even if it is not the machine number itself, information that can identify the game machine that has been paid out is recorded in both the hall computer 87 and the IC card so that it can be associated with the unique number, and the same effect can be obtained if collation is performed. Is clear.

  In the pachinko machine 50, the CR unit 56 records and reads the unique number on the IC card. However, the pachinko machine 50 is reconfigured so that these processes are performed by a configuration other than the CR unit 56 (for example, the payout control device 81). May be. If possible, the payout control device 81 receives the unique number transmitted by the hall computer 87 without passing through the CR unit terminal board 24, and performs the above-described processing on the IC card by itself or the CR unit 56 or the like. It is good also as a structure to let it be. In addition, the game ball is launched using the launch solenoid 30 as power, but the game ball may be launched using an actuator other than the solenoid (the same applies to ball feeding). It should be noted that, in a gaming facility where a ball game machine and a revolving game machine are provided, both game ball data and medal data may be recorded on an IC card. In addition, in a gaming facility where gaming machines having different cash rates are installed, information on the cash rate may be recorded together with the unique number.

21: Launch switch 56: CR unit 73, 76: Unique number 77: Lending flag 80: Main controller 81: Discharge controller 84: Launch controller 87: Hall computer

Claims (4)

A value carrier management system that manages the value carrier at a gaming facility equipped with a gaming machine that uses a value carrier lent to a player,
A unique number storage means for storing the unique number corresponding to each value carrier is provided, and the unique number stored in the unique number storage means has a loan flag indicating whether or not the player is lent. It is stored for each unique number,
Value carrier storage means for storing the same number of unique numbers as the number of value carriers lent to the player;
Value carrier number display means for displaying the number of value carriers lent to the player;
In the game, when the value carrier is lent to a player, a first unique number control means for switching a loan flag of the same number as the number that has been lent from "not loaned" to "lending",
In the game, when the player uses the value carrier for the game, the second unique number control means for switching the loan flag of the same number as the number used, from “on loan” to “not loaned”;
The unique number switched to “lending” by the first unique number control means is stored in the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan, and is made “unrented” by the second unique number control means. A value carrier update means for erasing the switched unique number from the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan for use, and
The value carrier storage means is a recording medium given to each player,
A recording medium reader / writer that is provided corresponding to the gaming machine and is capable of reading and writing data to and from the recording medium when the gaming machine performs the game;
When the value carrier storage means is attached to the recording medium reader / writer, the unique number recorded in the value carrier storage means is read out, and the unique number storage means is inquired. If it is "unrented" or does not exist in the unique number storage means, warning means for performing a warning action;
When the value carrier storage means is attached to the recording medium reader / writer, a unique number holding means for reading and storing at least a part of the unique number recorded in the value carrier storage means;
Unique number erasing means for erasing the unique number stored in the unique number holding means from the value carrier storing means;
With
The value carrier updating means stores the unique number switched to “lending” by the first unique number control means in the unique number holding means, and switches to “unrented” by the second unique number control means. When deleting the unique number from the unique number holding means and detaching the value carrier storage means from the recording medium reader / writer, the unique number stored in the unique number holding means is used as the value carrier storage means. A value carrier management system characterized by being stored in In the value carrier management system according to claim 1,
The gaming facility is provided with at least a plurality of ball game machines as the gaming machine,
A value carrier management device comprising the unique number storage means, the first unique number control means, and the second unique number control means, and managing a value carrier lent to a player by the plurality of ball game machines. Prepared,
Each of the ball game machines includes a winning port where a value carrier is lent to the player when a game ball enters, a main control device that controls whether the game is successful, and a game ball that is passed to the player when the gaming ball enters the winning port A lending control device that executes lending of value carriers in accordance with instructions from the main control device,
A value carrier lending device that accepts cash or a prepaid card as a price for the value carrier and instructs the lending control device to lend the value carrier corresponding to the price;
With
When the game ball enters the winning opening, the lending control device gives the value carrier lending device the number of winning balls that is set to be loaned to the player corresponding to the winning opening. And the value carrier lending apparatus transmits the number of prize balls to the value carrier management apparatus, and the value carrier management apparatus transmits the same number as the number of prize balls to the value carrier lending apparatus. At the same time, the loan flag of the transmitted unique number is switched from “not loaned” to “lending”, and the value carrier lending device that has received the unique number transmits the unique number to the lending control device. Feature value carrier management system. A value carrier management system that manages the value carrier at a gaming facility equipped with a gaming machine that uses a value carrier lent to a player,
A unique number storage means for storing the unique number corresponding to each value carrier is provided, and the unique number stored in the unique number storage means has a loan flag indicating whether or not the player is lent. It is stored for each unique number,
Value carrier storage means for storing the same number of unique numbers as the number of value carriers lent to the player;
Value carrier number display means for displaying the number of value carriers lent to the player;
In the game, when the value carrier is lent to a player, a first unique number control means for switching a loan flag of the same number as the number that has been lent from "not loaned" to "lending",
In the game, when the player uses the value carrier for the game, the second unique number control means for switching the loan flag of the same number as the number used, from “on loan” to “not loaned”;
The unique number switched to “lending” by the first unique number control means is stored in the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan, and is made “unrented” by the second unique number control means. Value carrier update means for erasing the switched unique number from the value carrier storage means of the player who received the loan for use;
With
The value carrier storage means is a recording medium given to each player,
A recording medium reader / writer that is provided corresponding to the gaming machine and is capable of reading and writing data to and from the recording medium when the gaming machine performs the game;
When the value carrier storage means is attached to the recording medium reader / writer, the unique number recorded in the value carrier storage means is read out, and the unique number storage means is inquired. Warning means for performing a warning operation when it is “unrented” or does not exist in the unique number storage means
With
The gaming facility is provided with at least a plurality of ball game machines as the gaming machine,
A value carrier management device comprising the unique number storage means, the first unique number control means, and the second unique number control means, and managing a value carrier lent to a player by the plurality of ball game machines. Prepared,
Each of the ball game machines includes a winning port where a value carrier is lent to the player when a game ball enters, a main control device that controls whether the game is successful, and a game ball that is passed to the player when the gaming ball enters the winning port A lending control device that executes lending of value carriers in accordance with instructions from the main control device,
A value carrier lending device that accepts cash or a prepaid card as a price for the value carrier and instructs the lending control device to lend the value carrier corresponding to the price;
With
When the game ball enters the winning opening, the lending control device gives the value carrier lending device the number of winning balls that is set to be loaned to the player corresponding to the winning opening. And the value carrier lending apparatus transmits the number of prize balls to the value carrier management apparatus, and the value carrier management apparatus transmits the same number as the number of prize balls to the value carrier lending apparatus. At the same time, the loan flag of the transmitted unique number is switched from “not loaned” to “lending”, and the value carrier lending device that has received the unique number transmits the unique number to the lending control device. Feature value carrier management system. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is used as the gaming machine. 5.

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