JP6069640B2 - Payment system for amusement facilities and payment control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a settlement system that allows a user to consume a monetary value in response to billing that occurs at a device installed in an amusement facility.
About.

  As a mechanism for collecting charges from users at business amusement machines installed in amusement facilities, a mechanism for allowing users to consume monetary values expressed in electronic information like virtual currency is becoming widespread. In this type of payment system, in addition to the method in which the billing target device itself is independent or the billing target device and the server communicate to execute the settlement process, a terminal device for settlement is mounted on the billing target device. In addition, a method has been proposed in which payment reference information recorded on a medium possessed by a user is read by a terminal device, and the monetary value related to the user's possession is consumed using the payment reference information (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and 2).

JP 2010-9528 A JP 2012-108746 A

  In the settlement systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user is preset on the system side, and when the determined amount is consumed, the completion of the settlement is performed on the billing target device side. Will be notified. The chargeable device receives a notification from the payment system and provides a predetermined service to the user. That is, the billing target device does not know how much the billing item has been billed and only receives payment completion. However, in chargeable devices such as game machines installed in amusement facilities, charges may be incurred depending on, for example, differences in play modes, differences in starting or continuing play, or the type and quantity of items selected by the user. It may be necessary to differentiate. In this case, according to the above-described method, the user's selection contents in the billing target device cannot be reflected in the settlement processing, and flexible settlement according to the difference in billing contents on the billing target device side cannot be performed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a payment system for an amusement facility that can make payments flexibly according to differences in charge contents in chargeable devices.

  A settlement system according to one aspect of the present invention is a settlement system that consumes a monetary value in response to a billing to a user that occurs at a billing target device including at least one game machine installed in an amusement facility. A payment system for an amusement facility that executes processing and notifies the billing target device of the result of the billing process, provided in the billing target device, for determining billing contents corresponding to the billing A charging management unit that generates and outputs charging information, and is provided in association with the charging target device, and is held in a medium possessed by the user corresponding to the output of the charging information from the charging management unit Information and information reading means for reading payment reference information to be referred to in the payment processing from the medium, and charging contents determined based on the charging information Consumption amount for determining the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user in accordance with the billing information output from the billing management means according to the setting information of the correspondence relationship with the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user A payment execution unit that executes the payment process with reference to the payment reference information so that the user consumes the determined amount of monetary value, and notifies the chargeable device of the result of the payment process Means.

  In addition, the settlement control method according to one aspect of the present invention provides a monetary value to a user in response to a billing to the user that occurs at a billing target device including at least one amusement machine installed in an amusement facility. A settlement control method for an amusement facility that executes a settlement process to be consumed and notifies the billing target device of a result of the settlement process, wherein billing information for determining a billing content corresponding to the billing A medium possessed by the user by an information reading means provided in association with the billing target device in accordance with a procedure for generating and outputting the billing target device and outputting the billing information from the billing target device A procedure for reading payment reference information from the medium that is held in the transaction and should be referred to in the payment process, and charging determined based on the charging information The amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user in accordance with the billing information output from the billing target device is determined according to the setting information of the correspondence relationship between the amount and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user A procedure, a procedure for performing the settlement process with reference to the settlement reference information so that the user consumes the determined monetary value, and notifying a result of the settlement process to the billing target device; It is equipped with.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the payment system which concerns on one form of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of a server system. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of a store system. The flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of making a user consume virtual currency corresponding to the charge which generate | occur | produced with the game machine. The flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of the store operator changing setting information. The flowchart which shows the process sequence when the content of the billing information is changed with respect to the process procedure of FIG. The flowchart which shows a process sequence at the time of changing so that discrimination | determination of consumption may be performed with a reader | leader with respect to the process sequence of FIG. The flowchart which shows a process sequence at the time of changing so that determination of consumption may be performed in a server with respect to the process procedure of FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of changing so that log | history information may be referred to the process sequence of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a payment system according to the present invention will be described. First, the overall configuration of the payment system will be described with reference to FIG. The settlement system 1 according to the present embodiment is charged for a plurality of billing target devices 3A, 3B,..., 3N (hereinafter sometimes represented by reference numeral 3) installed in each of the plurality of stores 2. Correspondingly, it is provided to allow the user to consume an amount of virtual currency corresponding to the billing contents. Virtual currency is an example of a monetary value that a user can acquire in exchange for cash. At least a part of the billing target device 3 is an amusement game machine (typically a game machine), and each store 2 corresponds to an amusement facility. However, in each store 2, it is not necessary for all chargeable devices 3 to be game machines. In each store 2, in addition to at least one game machine, various devices that provide a predetermined service to the user in exchange for payment of a fee may be provided as the chargeable device 3. For example, when a vending machine or the like that sells a product such as juice is installed in the store 2, these devices may be included in the billing target device 3 in the settlement system 1 of this embodiment. The chargeable device 3 may be configured in accordance with various specifications as long as it can communicate with the settlement system of the present embodiment according to a predetermined protocol. The manufacturer and provider of the chargeable device 3 may be different from each other. In addition to the payment method using the payment system 1, the billing target device 3 may be compatible with other payment methods using cash or the like.

  The settlement system 1 includes a store system 10 constructed for each store 2 and a server system 20 provided in common for each store system 10. In FIG. 1, only one store system 10 is shown in detail. The store system 10 discriminates the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user in accordance with the billing contents generated in each billing target device 3, and is unique for each card as settlement reference information from the card 4 possessed by the user. The card ID is read, the card ID and the consumption amount of the virtual currency are designated, and the server system 20 is requested for settlement. The card 4 is a medium given to the user to identify the user, and a unique card ID for each card 4 is recorded as medium identification information. However, the medium possessed by the user is not limited to the card 4 as long as the medium identification number can be held, and an IC chip or the like attached to the mobile phone may be used as the medium. The medium identification information may be identification information uniquely set for each user. In short, it is sufficient that the medium identification information is guaranteed to be unique for each medium.

  The server system 20 manages the amount of virtual currency held by the user in association with the user's card ID, and consumes the virtual currency held in the account corresponding to the card ID in response to a request from the store system 10. The processing result is notified to the store system 10. That is, the settlement system 1 of the present embodiment is a prepaid method in which the user acquires virtual currency in advance in exchange for cash or the like, and the user consumes the virtual currency within the range of the balance to pay the fee of the charging target device 3. It is a payment system. In addition, the balance of the virtual currency held by the user is held on the server system 20 side, and a thin client method (server processing method) settlement system is executed on the server system 20 side to reduce (withdraw) the balance.

  The store system 10 includes a reader 11 as an information reading terminal device attached in association with each of the chargeable devices 3 on a one-to-one basis, a management PC (abbreviation of personal computer, the same applies hereinafter) 12, and a setting terminal PC13. , A vendor terminal PC 14 and a router 15 are included. Each reader 11, management PC 12, setting terminal PC 13 and merchant terminal PC 14 are connected to each other via a store LAN 16 built in the store 2 so as to communicate with each other. Each reader 11 is configured as a device physically different from the billing target device 3 and is billable in a state where it can communicate bidirectionally according to a predetermined protocol with a control unit (not shown) of the corresponding billing target device 3. It is attached to the device 3. The router 15 is connected to the Internet 5. Thereby, each of the reader 11, the management PC 12, and the setting terminal PC 13 connected to the in-store LAN 16 is a computer device that can be connected to the server system 20 via the Internet 5 and functions as a client for the server system 20.

  The reader 11 functions as an information input / output unit that receives billing information from the billing target device 3 and provides the result of the settlement process to the billing target device 3 and an information reading unit that reads the card ID from the card 4 possessed by the user. . The management PC 12 cooperates with the server system 20 to perform a payment process that causes the user to consume a predetermined virtual currency according to the content of the billing that has occurred in the billing target device 3 while referring to the information provided from the reader 11. Run. The setting terminal PC13 functions as means for managing information held by the management PC 12 of the store 2 by the operator of the store 2. These functions will be described in detail later.

  The merchant terminal PC 14 functions as a terminal for an operator of the store 2 to browse information such as a settlement history provided from the server system 20. In the example of FIG. 1, the reader 11 and the setting terminal PC 13 are connected to the management PC 12 via the wireless LAN access point 17, but they may be connected by wire. The merchant terminal PC 14 is not necessarily provided in the store 2. For example, the trader terminal PC 14 may be installed at the head office or sales office of a corporation that is the business entity of the store 2. The sales entity of the store 2 may be a person who operates only a single store 2 or a person who operates a plurality of stores 2.

  The server system 20 includes server units 21 </ b> A, 21 </ b> B (hereinafter, these may be represented by reference numeral 21) as a plurality of computer devices, and a router 22 that connects these server units 21 to the Internet 5. I have. However, the server system 20 may use a single server unit. Alternatively, the server system 20 may be logically constructed using cloud computing.

  Further, the user terminal device 6 can be connected to the server system 20 via the Internet 5. The user terminal device 6 is a computer device that can be connected to a network and is used for a user's personal use. For example, a stationary or book-type PC 6 </ b> A or a mobile terminal device 6 </ b> B such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone) is used as the user terminal device 6. In addition, various computer devices that can be connected to the network and are used for personal use of the user, such as stationary home game machines, portable game machines, and portable tablet terminal devices, are used as the user terminal device 6. It's okay. The user terminal device 6 is used, for example, for a user to access the server system 20 to view his / her settlement history, or for a user to perform a charge operation for purchasing virtual currency and depositing it in his / her account. The payment system 1 may be provided with a further terminal device. For example, in the store 2, a charging machine for the user to purchase virtual currency using cash or a credit card may be further provided and connected to the router 15.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the payment system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the control system of the server system 20 will be described first. As shown in FIG. 2, the server system 20 includes, as its subsystems, a transaction management system 31 that manages transactions related to virtual currency, a currency management system 32 that manages virtual currency, and a virtual currency transaction. There is provided an accounting system 33 for managing payments to the operator of the store 2 that occurs. The transaction management system 31 is provided with a transaction control unit 34 as a logical device realized by a combination of computer hardware and software. The transaction control unit 34 executes various processes necessary for consumption of virtual currency in accordance with the settlement request sent from the store system 10.

  In the payment request, for example, a card read from the user's card 4 as transaction information necessary for specifying how the user is going to consume the virtual currency in which billing target device 3 in which store 2 It is assumed that an ID, a consumption amount of virtual currency, a store code specifying the store 2, and the like are included. The transaction control unit 34 accesses the user information D1 in which the correspondence between the card ID and the account specifying information (for example, user ID) attached to the user's virtual currency account is recorded, and corresponds to the card ID. The user ID is determined. Further, the transaction control unit 34 accesses the balance information data D2 of the currency management system 32, and reduces the consumption amount from the balance of the virtual currency account recorded in association with the user ID in the data D2. Thus, the virtual currency is consumed. Further, the transaction control unit 34 records the transaction information in the transaction information data D3 of the currency management system 32 in association with the user ID. In transaction information data D3, information specifying transaction details such as transaction date and time, store code, and consumption of virtual currency is recorded in association with the user ID. When the user accesses the currency management system 32 from the user terminal device 6, the user confirms his / her account balance from his / her user terminal device 6, and increases the balance of the account by performing a predetermined charging operation. be able to.

  When the transaction control unit 34 causes the currency management system 32 to perform the process of consuming the virtual currency, the transaction control unit 34 notifies the store system 10 of the processing result, that is, whether or not the consumption is successful. Moreover, when the consumption process of the virtual currency corresponding to the single transaction, that is, the payment request from the store system 10, is finished, the transaction control unit 34 records the contents of the current payment process in the data D4 of the consumption information. In the consumption information data D4, information specifying transaction details such as transaction date and time, store code, consumption of virtual currency, and user ID (or card ID) is recorded. Thereby, the consumption information data D4 functions as history information in which the history of settlement processing of the virtual currency is recorded. The consumption information data D4 is aggregated every appropriate aggregation period (one month as an example) and recorded in the aggregation information data D5. The accounting system 33 aggregates consumption information in a predetermined aggregation unit such as each store 2 or each sales entity of the store 2 based on the data D5 of the aggregation information, and the payment amount to the sales entity of the store 2 is calculated according to the aggregation result. The calculation result is recorded in the payment information data D6. The purchase price of the virtual currency is the sales of the business entity of the server system 20, and when the charge of the chargeable device 3 is paid in the virtual currency, the business entity of the store 2 is not charged, so the business of the server system 20 The main body needs to apportion the sales price corresponding to the consumption amount of the virtual currency and pay to the sales main body of the store 2. Therefore, processing such as calculation of the payment amount is required. The accounting system 33 creates a payment notice PD for the business entity of the store 2 based on the payment information data D7 and transmits it to the vendor terminal PC14. It should be noted that the vendor terminal PC14 can appropriately access the total information data D5 to check the consumption history and the like. Furthermore, when the setting information (management PC information) of the management PC 12 is sent from the store system 10, the transaction control unit 34 stores the setting information in the management PC information data D7 in association with the store code.

  Next, the control system of the store system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a relationship between a game machine as an example of a game machine as the billing target device 3 and the reader 11, management PC 12, and setting terminal PC 13 of the store system 10. Hereinafter, the description of the game machine 3 may be used in place of the chargeable device 3. First, in the store system 10, a charge management unit 41 is provided in each charge target device 3. The billing management unit 41 generates billing information corresponding to the billing content generated in the billing target device 3 and outputs the billing information to the reader 11. The game machine 3 as a billing target device is a kind of computer device, and a game control unit 7 is provided as a logical device based on a combination of computer hardware and software. The game control unit 7 advances the game according to a predetermined procedure. Yes. The charge management unit 41 is also a logical device similar to the game control unit 7, and the charge management unit 41 can be realized by adding an appropriate program module to the program for realizing the game control unit 7. .

  In a game provided by the game control unit 7, generally, items such as game start or continuation, game mode, item purchase, and use are prepared as user options. Further, in the game machine 3 for business use, in order to select a mode desired by the user and play it, the user is charged a fee corresponding to the selected content. That is, in the game machine 3, each of the user's options is prepared as an item to be charged (charge item), and a charge is set according to the charge item. The game control unit 7 determines which of the game options has been selected in accordance with a user instruction, and the charge management unit 41 obtains the selection result, that is, which charge item has been selected, from the game control unit 7. If the quantity is a chargeable item (for example, an item for which the purchase quantity can be selected), the charge management unit 41 also acquires the quantity selected by the user. Payment processing by the payment system 1 is started by acquiring a user's selection result in the charge management unit 41. When the payment completion is notified from the charge management unit 41, the game control unit 7 provides the user with a service corresponding to the charge item selected by the user. For example, the game control unit 7 starts playing the game in the game mode selected by the user or gives the user the item selected by the user. Note that the item purchase includes consuming a consideration and obtaining permission to use the item in the game.

  The billing management unit 41 generates billing information according to the billing contents provided from the game control unit 7, that is, the billing item selected by the user or the billing item and quantity selected by the user. Here, it is assumed that the charge to be charged to the user is calculated by multiplying the unit price and quantity of the charge item, and information specifying the charge is generated as the charge information. For chargeable items whose quantity cannot be selected, the charge is calculated with the quantity as 1. The charging management unit 41 transmits the generated charging information (that is, a purchase fee for items such as play fees and items) to the reader 11 according to a predetermined protocol.

  The reader 11 is provided with an information management unit 42 and an ID reading unit 43. The information management unit 42 is a logical device realized by a combination of the computer hardware and software of the reader 11. The ID reading unit 43 is provided as a peripheral device that reads the card ID recorded on the card 4. For example, when a card ID is recorded on the IC chip of the card 4, the ID reading unit 43 is configured to read information from the IC chip. However, the card ID is not limited to the IC chip but may be recorded in a magnetic storage layer or an optical storage layer, or may be recorded in an optically readable manner such as a barcode. The ID reading unit 43 can be appropriately configured according to the card ID recording method for the card 4. The reader 11 is provided with a display for displaying the consumption of virtual currency and the like, but is not shown in FIG.

  In the information management unit 42, a device ID is set as device identification information for identifying the billing target device 3. The device ID may be identification information unique to the reader 11 such as a MAC address assigned to uniquely identify the reader 11 on the network as an example, or the device ID of the store 2 to distinguish the billing target device 3. It may be a game machine number set by an operator or the like. The device ID is held in a storage unit (for example, EEPROM) of the reader 11 as an example. When receiving the charging information from the charging management unit 41 of the game machine 3, the information management unit 42 activates the ID reading unit 43 to start reading the card ID. When the reading is completed, the information management unit 42 specifies the acquired card ID and its own device ID, and transmits the charging information received from the charging management unit 41 to the management PC 12.

  The management PC 12 is provided with a transaction control unit 44 as a logical device. The transaction control unit 44 determines the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user based on the billing information and the device ID received from the reader 11, and the determined virtual currency consumption and the card ID received from the reader 11. The transaction information including the store code uniquely set for each store 2 is provided to the server system 20 to request settlement. The store code is held in the storage unit 45 of the management PC 12 as an example. The storage unit 45 further stores setting information data D10 for each game machine 3. The data D10 is data describing the consumption amount of the virtual currency with respect to the charge notified from the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3. The setting information data D10 is recorded in association with the device ID so that it can be determined which setting information corresponds to which game machine 3. The transaction control unit 44 uses the device ID to identify the setting information data D10 of the game machine 3 for which charging has occurred, and the user responds to the fee notified from the charging management unit 41 according to the data D10. It is possible to determine the consumption amount of the virtual currency to be consumed.

  In the payment system 1 described above, by operating the setting value of the consumption amount in the setting information data D10, the money that the user should consume when paying the fee to be charged by the game machine 3 in virtual currency. The amount of value can be changed accordingly. For example, when it is assumed that 100 points of virtual currency can be normally purchased with 100 yen of cash, if the charge information output from the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3 specifies a charge of 100 yen, 80 points If the consumption amount is described in the setting information data D10, a discount equivalent to 20 yen is realized. The management PC 12 is provided with a setting management unit 46 as a logical device for allowing the operator of the store 2 to appropriately set the setting contents of the setting information data D10. The setting management unit 46 browses the contents of the setting information data D10 to the setting terminal PC13 or presents a management page as a Web page for changing the contents of the setting information data D10. Therefore, the operator of the store 2 accesses the management page provided by the management PC 12 using the Web browsing function of the setting terminal PC13, confirms the setting information data D10, and deals with the charge and the consumption of virtual currency. The relationship can be changed as appropriate. By using this function, it is possible to set a flexible fee such as discounting only a specific game machine 3 or discounting only for a specific period.

  Next, with reference to FIG.4 and FIG.5, the process performed in the payment system 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 4 shows a procedure of processing when the user consumes the virtual currency in response to the billing generated in the game machine 3. In the game machine 3, when the user selects a mode, item, or the like as the charge item, the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3 starts the processing of FIG. Based on the information, a billing item or the like (a quantity may be included) is determined (step S11). Next, the charge management unit 41 calculates a charge to be charged (charge amount) according to the determination result of step S1, and notifies the reader 11 of charge information specifying the charge (step S12). When the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 receives the billing information from the game machine 3, the information management unit 42 starts the processing of FIG. 3, and first notifies the management PC 12 of the device ID and the fee as billing information (step S 21).

  When the transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 receives the device ID and the billing information from the reader 11, the transaction control unit 44 identifies the setting information data D10 corresponding to the device ID, and based on the data D10, the fee specified by the billing information The consumption of virtual currency to be consumed by the user is determined in response to (Step S31). Next, the transaction control unit 44 notifies the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 of the consumption amount of the virtual currency (step S32). Upon receiving this notification, the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 presents the consumption amount of the virtual currency to the user (step S22). Next, the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 activates the ID reading unit 43 to prepare for reading the card ID, and the user causes the card ID to be read accordingly (for example, an operation of touching the reader 4 with the card 4 as an example). ), The card ID of the card 4 is read (step S23). Next, the information management unit 42 notifies the management PC 12 of the read card ID (step S24).

  When the transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 receives the card ID from the reader 11, the store code held in the storage unit 45, the card ID received from the reader 11, and the virtual currency consumption determined in step S <b> 31. The server system 20 is requested to make a settlement with transaction information designating (step S33). If it is not necessary to present the consumption amount of the virtual currency to the user prior to reading the card ID, the processes in steps S21, S22, and S32 are omitted, and the processes in steps S23 and S23 correspond to the notification in step S12. The processing of S24 may be sequentially executed to notify the management PC 12 of the card ID, the device ID, and the billing information all at once, and then the processing of steps S31 and S33 may be sequentially executed by the management PC 12.

  Upon receiving a settlement request from the management PC 12, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 acquires the user ID corresponding to the card ID from the user information data D1, and records it in the balance information data D2 in association with the user ID. The amount of virtual currency corresponding to the billing item is consumed by the user by subtracting the amount of consumption specified in the transaction information from the balance of the account of the virtual currency that has been set (step S41). However, when the balance is less than the consumption, consumption is stopped. Thereafter, the transaction control unit 34 notifies the settlement result to the management PC 12 (step S42). The settlement result is notified as a settlement failure when the consumption is successfully subtracted, and when the settlement is not completed due to the completion of the settlement or the balance shortage. In the settlement, the server system 20 also executes recording of transaction information data D3 and consumption information in data D4, etc., but the description of these processes is omitted.

  The transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 notifies the result notified from the server system 20 to the reader 11 of the game machine 3 that has been charged (step S34), and the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 further transmits the result to the game. The charge management unit 41 of the machine 3 is notified (step S25). Note that when a payment process is performed between the management PC 12 and the server system 20, it is possible to specify which game machine 3 is a process corresponding to the billing generated, for example, a transaction ID for each payment request in step S33. Payment requests are distinguished from each other. However, a card ID can also be used for distinguishing settlement requests. In other words, the card ID is used instead of the transaction ID for the determination of the process, and while the card ID is being processed, the payment process using the same card ID is prohibited so that the payment request is distinguished using the card ID. May be.

  When the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3 receives the settlement result from the reader 11, it notifies the game control unit 7 of the result (step S13). If the payment is completed, the game control unit 7 provides a service according to the user's selection. For example, the game control unit 7 starts the game in the mode selected by the user, continues the game being played by the user, or gives the user an item purchased by the user. In the case of payment failure, the game control unit 7 executes predetermined error processing, for example.

  FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure when the operator of the store 2 operates the setting information data D10 using the setting terminal PC13. When the operator activates the Web browser of the setting terminal PC13 and specifies the URL of the management page of the management PC 12, the setting terminal PC13 requests the management PC 12 to access the management page (step S51). In response to this, the setting management unit 46 of the management PC 12 transmits the data of the management page to the setting terminal PC 13 (step S61). When the operator updates the setting value of the setting information data D10 on the setting terminal PC13, the update information is provided from the setting terminal PC13 to the management PC 12 (step S52). In response to this, the setting management unit 46 of the management PC 12 updates the setting information data D10 according to the update information (step S62). Next, the setting management unit 46 transmits the updated setting information together with the store code to the server system 20 (step S63). In response to this, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 updates the setting information stored in the management PC information data D7 in association with the store code with the new setting information provided from the management PC 12 (step). S71).

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications are possible. Hereinafter, modification examples will be sequentially described. In the above embodiment, the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3 notifies the reader 11 of the charge as charge information, and the management PC 12 determines the consumption corresponding to the charge. Instead, this is shown in FIG. As described above, in step S12, the charge item and quantity are output as charge information from the charge management unit 41 of the game machine 3, and in step S31, the transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 calculates the consumption amount of the virtual currency according to the charge item and quantity. It is good also as what to do. In this case, the setting information stored in the storage unit 45 may describe the correspondence between the billing item and the virtual currency consumption (unit consumption) per item. In addition, when acquiring a charge item from the game machine 3, there exists an advantage which can manage the consumption of virtual currency for every item in the management PC12 or the server system 20. FIG. Accordingly, the consumption amount of the virtual currency can be adjusted more flexibly so that only a specific item is discounted even in one game machine 3. Further, by analyzing the consumption of virtual currency for each billing item, sales analysis and the like can be performed in detail. When managing virtual currency consumption, etc., based on the billing item, if you set a unique item according to the type of game and set the correspondence with the consumption for each item, the same type in the same store Even if a plurality of game machines that provide this game are installed, it is possible to share settings related to those game machines and complete the settings for one game machine.

  It is also possible to cause the reader 11 to determine the consumption amount of the virtual currency by distributing the setting information data D10 to each reader 11 and storing it in the storage unit of the reader 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 receives billing information (a charge or a combination of billing item and quantity) from the billing management unit 41 of the game machine 3, the information management of the reader 11 The unit 42 determines the consumption by referring to the setting information data D10 for the game machine 3 associated with the reader 11 (step S21a), and then the transaction information from the reader 11 to the server system 20 in step S24a. You may request payment directly. In this case, a store code may be recorded in each reader 11. Alternatively, as a modification of FIG. 7, payment may be requested from the reader 11 to the server system 20 via the management PC 12, and at that time, the store code may be added to the transaction information by the management PC 12.

  The consumption amount of the virtual currency can be determined by the server system 20. In this case, since the setting information data D10 of the management PC 12 is recorded in the management PC information data D7 in association with the store code, transaction information for specifying the device ID, billing information, and store code is stored from the store system 10 side. In addition, the server system 20 may be requested for settlement. An example of a procedure for determining the consumption amount of the virtual currency in the server system 20 is shown in FIG. In this example, when the transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 receives billing information (a combination of charge or billing item and quantity) from the reader 11, the device ID, billing information, and store code are used for the transaction control of the server system 20. The transaction control unit 34 accesses the management PC information data D7 to identify the setting information data D10 of the management PC 12 corresponding to the store code, and according to the data D10. The transaction control unit 34 determines the consumption amount of the virtual currency corresponding to the billing information (step S31b). Subsequently, the transaction control unit 34 notifies the management PC 12 of the store 2 of the consumption amount (step S32a), and the management PC 12 notifies the reader 11 of the consumption amount (step S32b). Further, when receiving the card ID from the reader 11, the management PC 12 specifies the card ID, the consumption amount acquired in step S32b, and the store code, and requests settlement from the server system 20 (step S33a). Thereafter, the same processing as in FIG.

  When determining the consumption amount of virtual currency, it is possible to further refer to medium identification information (card ID as an example) and business identification information (store code as an example). For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the card ID is read by the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 in response to the output of the billing information from the billing management unit 41 (step S23). And the accounting information is notified to the management PC 12 (step S24b). The transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 provides the card ID and the store code to the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20, requests the provision of the consumption information data D4 corresponding to the card ID and the store code, and the server Data D4 of consumption information corresponding to the card ID and store code is provided from the transaction control unit 34 of the system 20 to the management PC 12 (steps S31c and S31d).

  Subsequently, the transaction control unit 44 of the management PC 12 determines the consumption amount of the virtual currency corresponding to the billing information (step S32c). In this case, the transaction control unit 44 first determines the consumption amount of the virtual currency corresponding to the billing information as a temporary consumption amount according to the setting information data D10 corresponding to the device ID. Subsequently, with reference to the consumption information data D4 acquired from the server system 20, it is determined whether or not the consumption status of the user's virtual currency in the store 2 satisfies a predetermined discount condition. When the discount condition is satisfied, the transaction control unit 44 reduces the provisional consumption determined from the setting information according to a predetermined discount rate or the discount amount, and the virtual amount to be consumed by the user after the decrease. Determined as the amount of currency. Discount conditions can be set in association with a card ID and a store code. For example, the discount condition can be set so that the discount condition is satisfied when the integrated value of the user's consumption in the store 2 exceeds a predetermined value. In this case, the total value of the consumption corresponding to the user's card ID may be obtained using the consumption information data D4 acquired from the server system 20, and the obtained total value may be compared with a predetermined value. Alternatively, instead of or in addition to the total value of consumption, the number of consumptions can be added to the discount condition. Furthermore, by referring to the transaction date and time included in the consumption information data D4, when the user plays a game at the store 2 for the first time within an appropriate period (for example, one day, one week, or one month) Discount conditions may be satisfied. Alternatively, the discount condition may be satisfied, for example, when the user is playing the game continuously at a certain number of times or more at the store 2. The consumption status includes the total value of consumption, the number of consumptions, whether or not it is the first consumption, the frequency of consumption of virtual currency, the consumption of the user within a predetermined unit period, You may determine by calculating | requiring an average value etc.

  In the above example, the management PC 12 acquires the user's card ID and the store code of the own store 2, that is, the consumption information data D4 associated with both the medium identification information and the business identification information. The management PC 12 may acquire the consumption information data D4 corresponding to one of the identification information or all the consumption information data D4, and determine the consumption status using either one of the identification information as a clue. For example, a discount may be implemented when the consumption status of the same user satisfies a predetermined discount condition regardless of whether the store 2 is different. In this case, all the consumption information data D4 is acquired by the management PC 12, and the consumption information associated with the user's card ID is extracted to determine the user's consumption status, or the user's card ID and The management PC 12 may narrow down to the associated consumption information, acquire the data D4, and determine the user's consumption status from the acquired consumption information. Or you may implement a discount, even if a user is different, when the consumption condition in the own store 2 satisfy | fills a predetermined discount condition. For example, when it is determined based on consumption information whether the total value of consumption of virtual currency within a certain period of all users in the store 2 exceeds a set value, and the total value exceeds the set value The discount may be implemented for a certain period regardless of the user. In this case, all of the consumption information data D4 is acquired by the management PC 12, and the consumption information associated with the store code of the own store 2 is extracted to determine the consumption status in the own store 2, or The management PC 12 obtains the data D4 by narrowing down to the consumption information associated with the store code of the store 2, and the consumption status at the own store 2 may be determined from the acquired consumption information.

  In the above example, the management PC 12 acquires the consumption information data D4 as history information from the server system 20, and the management PC 12 determines the consumption status using the card ID and the store code as clues. As shown in FIG. 8, when determining the consumption amount on the server system 20 side, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 acquires the card ID and the store code from the store system 10 and determines the consumption amount. It may be determined whether the discount condition is satisfied, and the consumption amount may be adjusted according to the determination result. Alternatively, apart from the management of the consumption information data D4 by the server system 20, the management PC 12 can store the history information in the store 2 and refer to the card ID to determine the consumption amount. The management PC 12 substantially functions as an in-store server with respect to each reader 11 in the store 2. However, if the server system 20 is equipped with a function implemented in the management PC 12, the management PC 12 is installed in the store 2. It is possible to realize management in units of stores without providing them.

  In the above embodiment, the reader 11 is directly attached to the billing target device such as the game machine 3, but the billing information is received and settled by being connected to the control unit of the billing target device so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. As long as the notification of the result is possible, the reader 11 may be physically separated from the billing target device. The reader 11 may be attached so as to be integrated with the billing target device 3 when the billing target device 3 is manufactured, or may be attached as a so-called retrofit device after the billing target device 3 is manufactured. In the payment system 1 of this embodiment, it is necessary to install a program for configuring the charge management unit 41 in the charge target device 3, and when the reader 11 is retrofitted, the charge target device 3 needs to be modified. However, the charging information, that is, the charge to be charged, or the charge item or quantity is taken out from the control unit necessary for the original operation control of the chargeable device 3 such as the game control unit 7 and is provided to the reader 11. It is sufficient to add a function for receiving the result of the settlement process from the control unit 11 and notifying the control unit of the billing target device 3 to the billing target device 3, and the burden of the repair is relatively small.

  In the above embodiment, a prepaid and thin client payment system is taken as an example. However, the payment system of the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a postpaid payment system. The settlement system of the present invention can also be applied to a settlement system in which a balance of monetary value is recorded on a medium such as a card and settlement is performed using the balance information. Further, even when balance information is recorded on a medium such as a card, the balance information is read on the information reading terminal device side, and the monetary value from the balance is consumed on the management PC or server system side in the store. The present invention is also applicable to a payment system that writes back balance information after consumption to a medium such as a card. In this case, the payment reference information acquired from the medium acquires not only the medium identification information such as the card ID but also the balance information from the user's medium as the payment reference information. On the other hand, in a payment system in which the balance information is not recorded on the medium but held on the server side, information necessary for specifying the balance information on the server (card ID in the above embodiment) is used as the payment reference information from the medium. As long as you get it. Naturally, the contents of the payment process are appropriately changed according to the method of the payment system.

  In the present invention, an amusement facility is included in the range if at least one amusement machine provided for a user's game is charged as a chargeable device. In addition, as long as at least one game machine exists, a device other than the game machine, such as a vending machine, may be included in the billing target device in the settlement system of the present invention. The game machine is not limited to a configuration in which an input / output function for a user and various arithmetic processing functions necessary for game control are integrated in a computer device as a single physical device. For example, a plurality of computer devices collaborate by executing computation control necessary for the progress of the game on the server side and using the computer device as a client for the server as a remote operation terminal device that should have an input / output function. Even a configuration that functions as a logical game machine can be included in the chargeable device of the present invention. In addition, the game machines include game machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines (including slot machines). Therefore, the amusement facilities include amusement halls where pachinko machines, pachislot machines, etc. are installed.

  Various aspects of the present invention derived from each of the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

  The settlement system (1) according to one aspect of the present invention is for charging a user who has generated a billing target device (3A, 3B,... 3N) including at least one game machine installed in an amusement facility (2). Correspondingly, a payment system for an amusement facility that executes a payment process that causes the user to consume a monetary value and notifies the chargeable device of a result of the payment process, provided in the chargeable device, Billing management means (41, 41) for generating and outputting billing information (for example, information for discriminating a charge, a billing item, or a billing item and its quantity) for determining billing contents corresponding to billing S12) and information held in the medium (4) possessed by the user in correspondence with the output of the billing information from the billing management means provided in association with the billing target device In addition, it is determined based on information reading means (42, 43, S23) for reading payment reference information (for example, a card ID) to be referred to in the payment processing from the medium and the charging information. The monetary value to be consumed by the user corresponding to the billing information output from the billing management means according to the setting information (D10) of the correspondence relationship between the billing contents and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user. Consumption determining means (44, S31; 42, S21a; 34, S31b; 44, S32c) for determining the amount, and referring to the settlement reference information so that the user consumes the monetary value of the determined amount. The payment execution means (44, 34, 42, S24, S33, S41, S42, S34, S25) that executes the payment process and notifies the billing target device of the result of the payment process. It has a, and.

In addition, the settlement control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for charging a user who has generated a billing target device (3A, 3B,... 3N) including at least one amusement machine installed in the amusement facility (2). A payment control method for an amusement facility that executes a payment process that consumes monetary value for the user and notifies the chargeable device of a result of the payment process,
In response to the occurrence of the billing, the billing target device generates billing information for determining the billing content (for example, the fee, billing item, or information for determining the billing item and its quantity), Corresponding to the output procedure (S12) and the output of the billing information from the billing target device, the user possesses the information reading means (42, 43) provided in association with the billing target device. Based on the procedure (S23) for reading settlement reference information (for example, a card ID) that is stored in the medium (4) and should be referred to in the settlement process from the medium, and the billing information In accordance with the setting information (D10) of the correspondence relationship between the determined charging contents and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user, the user corresponding to the charging information output from the charging target device. The procedure for determining the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user (S31; S21a; S31b; S32c) and the payment reference information so that the user consumes the determined monetary value A procedure (S24, S33, S41, S42, S34, S25) for executing a payment process and notifying the billing target device of the result of the payment process;
It is equipped with.

  According to each aspect of the present invention, billing information is generated by the billing management means provided in the billing target device, the settlement reference information is read from the user's medium corresponding to the billing information, and the billing information Based on the setting information describing the correspondence relationship between the monetary value and the consumption, the monetary value consumption corresponding to the billing content is determined, and the amount of monetary value corresponding to the determined consumption is given to the user. Settlement processing is performed so that it is consumed. Therefore, billing information can be generated according to the billing contents such as what kind of billing item the user intends to purchase in the billing target device, and should be consumed by the user based on the situation on the billing target device side The amount of monetary value can be determined. This increases the flexibility of settlement. In addition, because the relationship between the billing details and monetary value consumption is described in the setting information, and the monetary value consumption is determined according to the setting information, the billing target device supports changes in the billing amount such as discounts. Even when there is not, the consumption amount can be adjusted in consideration of various factors by the consumption amount determining means when determining the consumption amount with reference to the setting information. Thereby, the flexible payment according to the convenience etc. of the operator of the amusement facility can be realized.

  In one aspect of the present invention, it further comprises consumption amount setting means (46, S62) for changing the setting information so that the correspondence relationship between the charge contents and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user changes. May be. According to this, by changing the setting information, it is possible to appropriately adjust the amount of monetary value that should be actually consumed for the charge contents.

  The billing target device may be configured to provide a plurality of types of billing items according to a user's selection, and the billing management unit may generate the billing information according to the billing item selected by the user. Even if multiple types of billing items are provided on a single billable device, if the billing information is generated according to the billing item selection result, the difference in the charges for each billing item is monetary value. This makes it possible to realize flexible settlement according to the billing contents in the billing target device.

  The information reading unit is configured as an apparatus physically different from the billing target device, and is provided in an information reading terminal device (11) attached to the billing target device in a state in which the information reading unit is communicable with the billing target device. May be. According to this, the information reading means is configured as a separate device for the billing target device, and not only when the billing target device is manufactured, but also for the existing billing target device already operated, the information reading terminal device Can be attached. Furthermore, if a function for detecting billing contents and generating billing information is added to an existing billing target device, the billing information extracted from the billing target device and the settlement reference information read by the information reading means are used. However, it is possible to execute the settlement process according to the present invention.

  In the settlement system according to one aspect of the present invention, the server (20) and at least one computer device installed in the amusement facility as a client capable of communicating with the server via a predetermined network (5) (11, 12), and the computer device (11) as the client functions as the information reading means, and either the server or the computer device as the client (12 (FIGS. 4, 6 and 6). 9); 11 (FIG. 7); 20 (FIG. 8)) function as the consumption determination means, and the server and the computer device as the client cooperate to function as the settlement execution means. Good. According to this, for a payment system that uses a server / client system and a computer device as a client functioning as an information reading means necessary for acquiring payment reference information, a charge management device is provided in the charge target device, and the server Alternatively, if the computer device as a client is configured to function as a consumption determining means, the settlement system according to the above-described aspect of the present invention can be realized. A settlement system that executes settlement processing using a server has an advantage that the burden of capital investment on the client side is relatively small, and it is possible to realize a highly flexible settlement system by taking advantage of the advantage.

  Furthermore, the information reading means can read, as at least a part of the settlement reference information, medium identification information (card ID as an example) unique to each medium from a medium (4) possessed by the user, The server holds the amount of monetary value possessed by the user in a state where the correspondence relationship with the medium identification information can be determined, and the settlement execution means holds the amount associated with the medium identification information read by the information reading means The settlement process may be executed by reducing the amount of the monetary value that has been determined according to the amount determined by the consumption amount determination means. According to this, since the amount of monetary value related to the possession of the user is held on the server and the amount of monetary value necessary for settlement is consumed from the remaining amount (balance), capital investment on the amusement facility side The settlement system according to one embodiment of the present invention can be introduced at a lower cost.

  The information reading means is capable of reading from the medium (4) possessed by the user the unique medium identification information (card ID as an example) for each medium as at least a part of the settlement reference information, and executing the settlement The means is provided with a history recording means (34) for recording the contents of the settlement process in the history information (D4) in association with the medium identification information, and the consumption amount judging means (44, S32c) It may be possible to determine the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user by further referring to the identification information and the history information. According to this, it is possible to determine the consumption state of the monetary value by the user by searching the history information using the medium identification information as a clue, and to adjust the consumption amount of the monetary value according to the consumption state. Become. For example, an operation such as performing a discount for a user who consumes a relatively large amount is possible.

  Furthermore, the amusement facility is provided with sales information identifying means (44) for outputting business identification information (store code as an example) for determining the amusement facility or the business entity of the facility, and the history recording means includes: The content of the settlement process is further correlated with the business identification information and recorded in the history information (D4), and the consumption amount determining means (44, S32c) includes the medium identification information and the history information, It may be possible to determine the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user by further referring to the business identification information. According to this, by searching history information using the business identification information as a clue in addition to the medium identification information, it is possible to determine the consumption status of each user in units of the amusement facility or the sales entity, and according to the consumption status It is possible to adjust the consumption of monetary value. For example, it is possible to perform an operation such as discounting when a user consumes a certain amount or more of monetary value at the same facility or a facility related to the same sales entity.

  The amusement facility is provided with sales information identifying means (store code as an example) for outputting business identification information for determining the amusement facility or the business entity of the facility, and the payment execution means includes the payment processing Is recorded in the history information (D4) in association with the business identification information, and the consumption determination means further refers to the business identification information and the history information. It may be possible to determine the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user. According to this, by searching history information using sales identification information as a clue, the consumption status of monetary value in units of amusement facilities or sales entities should be determined and consumed by the user according to the consumption status. It becomes possible to adjust the amount of monetary value. For example, it is possible to perform an operation such as performing a discount when the consumption amount in units of the same facility or its sales entity exceeds a certain level.

1 payment system 2 stores (amusement facilities)
3A, 3B Chargeable devices (game machines, game machines)
4 cards (mediums owned by users)
7 Game Control Unit 10 Store System 11 Reader (Information Reading Terminal Device)
12 Management PC
13 Setting terminal PC
14 PC for business
15 router 16 in-store LAN
17 Wireless LAN Access Point 20 Server System 31 Transaction Management System 32 Currency Management System 33 Accounting System 34 Transaction Control Unit (Settlement Execution Unit, Consumption Determination Unit)
41 Billing management section (billing management means)
42 Information Management Unit (Information Reading Unit)
43 ID reading unit (information reading means, settlement execution means)
44 Transaction control unit (consumption determining means, settlement execution means)
46 Setting management section (consumption setting means)

Claims (8)

A billing device including at least one amusement machine installed in an amusement facility, which is configured to provide a plurality of types of billing items according to a user's selection, and a fee is set according to the billing items in response to the billing of the user generated in the charging object apparatus performs the settlement processing to consume the monetary value to the user, the result of the settlement processing with the settlement system of the amusement facility for notifying the charging object apparatus There,
In order to determine the contents of the charge provided in the chargeable device and corresponding to the charge, the information necessary for determining the charge to be charged to the user according to the content selected by the user for the plurality of types of charge items Billing management means for generating and outputting as billing information,
Information that is provided in association with the billing target device and that is held in a medium possessed by the user in correspondence with the output of the billing information from the billing management means, and is referenced in the settlement process Information reading means for reading settlement reference information to be read from the medium;
Consumed to the user corresponding to the billing information output from the billing management means according to the setting information of the correspondence relationship between the billing content determined based on the billing information and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user Consumption discriminating means for discriminating the amount of monetary value
Payment execution means for executing the payment processing with reference to the payment reference information so that the user consumes the determined monetary value and notifying the billing target device of the result of the payment processing; Prepared,
The information reading means is provided in an information reading terminal device that is configured as a device physically different from the billing target device and is attached to the billing target device in a state where it can communicate with the billing target device,
The charging information is output from the charging management means to the information reading terminal device, and the information reading terminal device that has received the charging information reads the payment reference information,
The consumption amount determination means receives the charging information from the information reading terminal device, determines the amount of the monetary value based on the received charging information,
The payment execution unit is a payment system for an amusement facility that notifies the chargeable device of the result of the payment processing via the information reading terminal device.   2. The settlement system according to claim 1, further comprising consumption amount setting means for changing the setting information so that a correspondence relationship between the billing contents and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user changes. A server, and at least one computer device installed in the amusement facility as a client capable of communicating with the server via a predetermined network,
The computer device as the client functions as the information reading unit, and either the server or the computer device as the client functions as the consumption amount determining unit, and the server and the computer device as the client cooperate. The payment system according to claim 1 or 2, which functions as the payment execution unit. The information reading means can read, as at least a part of the payment reference information, a medium that the user has unique medium identification information for each medium,
The server holds the amount of monetary value possessed by the user in a state in which the correspondence relationship with the medium identification information can be determined,
The settlement execution unit performs the settlement process by reducing the amount of monetary value held in association with the medium identification information read by the information reading unit according to the amount determined by the consumption amount determination unit. The payment system according to claim 3 to be executed. The information reading means can read, as at least a part of the payment reference information, a medium that the user has unique medium identification information for each medium,
The payment execution means is provided with history recording means for recording the contents of the payment processing in history information in association with the medium identification information,
The consumption determining means, said set to the medium identification information and further referring to the history information can determine the amount of monetary value to be consumed to the user, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 Payment system. The amusement facility is provided with sales information identifying means for outputting the business identification information for determining the amusement facility or the business entity of the facility,
The history recording means records the contents of the payment process in history information in further association with the business identification information,
The consumption determining means, in addition to the medium identification information and the history information, the amount of monetary value should be the operating identification information further reference to the consumption to the user is possible to identify, to claim 5 The settlement system described. The amusement facility is provided with sales information identifying means for outputting the business identification information for determining the amusement facility or the business entity of the facility,
The payment execution means is provided with a history recording means for recording the contents of the payment processing in history information in association with the business identification information,
The consumption determining means, said was operating identification information and further referring to the history information is possible to identify the amount of monetary value to be consumed to the user, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 Payment system. A billing device including at least one amusement machine installed in an amusement facility, which is configured to provide a plurality of types of billing items according to a user's selection, and a fee is set according to the billing items in response to the billing of the user generated in the charging object apparatus performs the settlement processing to consume the monetary value to the user, the payment processing result amusement settlement control method of the facility for notifying the charging object apparatus Because
In response to the charging, the charging object apparatus as the accounting information for determining the charging contents the information required to determine the fee to be charged to the user according to the selection of the user with respect to the plural kinds of charging material To generate and output to
Corresponding to the output of the billing information from the billing target device, the information is stored in the medium possessed by the user by the information reading means provided in correspondence with the billing target device, and the settlement A procedure for reading settlement reference information to be referred to in processing from the medium;
Consumed to the user corresponding to the billing information output from the billing target device according to the setting information of the correspondence relationship between the billing content determined based on the billing information and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user A procedure for determining the amount of monetary value to be made,
A procedure for executing the payment process with reference to the payment reference information so that the user consumes the determined monetary value, and notifying the billing target device of the result of the payment process.
The device is configured as a device physically different from the billing target device, and causes the information reading terminal device attached to the billing target device to execute the reading procedure in a state in which the billing target device can communicate with the billing target device.
In the outputting step, the billing information is output to the information reading terminal device, and the information reading terminal device that has received the billing information reads the settlement reference information,
In the determining step, the charging information is received from the information reading terminal device, the amount of the monetary value is determined based on the received charging information,
In the notifying procedure, a settlement control method for an amusement facility that notifies the billing target device of the result of the settlement process via the information reading terminal device.

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