JP6290567B2 - GAME SYSTEM AND GAME MANAGEMENT METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a gaming machine, an inter-device provided to be communicable with the gaming machine in association with the gaming machine, an inter-device capable of communicating with the inter-device, and the number of game media acquired by the player The present invention relates to a game system and a game management method having game medium management means for managing in association with identification information of a possessed recording medium.

  Conventionally, game shops such as pachinko parlors provide a service for associating the number of balls acquired by a player with a recording medium such as a card. In this way, the number of balls associated with the card is referred to as a holding ball, which can be used for exchanging prizes and can also be used for games again. The use of Mochitama again in the game is called Mochitama Replay. Mochitama can be used for free gift exchange and replay only on that day.

  Further, a savings ball service is provided to a player who is registered as a member in an amusement store (hereinafter referred to as “member”). The stored ball service manages the number of balls acquired by a member as the number of stored balls, and the stored ball can be used not only for the current day but also for the next day or later for gift exchange or replay (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Reusing a stored ball in a game is called replaying a stored ball. In addition, if it is a member, it is also possible to transfer the possession ball to the storage ball.

  In addition, recently, problems of brought-in balls from other stores and brought-in balls between different loan rates have become apparent, and therefore, enclosed-type gaming machines that do not generate such brought-in balls are attracting attention. For example, Patent Document 2 describes a structure in which a player does not touch a game ball, and when a game ball wins, the number of game balls for the winning game is added to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine, and a game for an out ball that does not win a game. An enclosed game machine that subtracts the number of balls from the number of balls managed by the gaming machine is disclosed.

JP 2007-68648 A JP 2002-233635 A

  However, in the conventional gaming machine technology, there is an individual number of balls managed on the gaming machine side separately from the gaming media managed by the system on the inter-device side, and information necessary for the player is confirmed. There is a problem that the operability is sometimes lowered.

  This point will be specifically described. Both the number of balls managed by the inter-device and the number of balls managed by the gaming machine are the number of balls acquired by the player on the day, but the number of balls on the gaming machine side cannot be grasped by the inter-device. Are treated separately. However, if the number of balls is handled individually as described above, it becomes difficult for the player to grasp how many game media the player has acquired as a whole.

  For these reasons, it has become an important issue how to efficiently notify the player of information managed by the inter-table device and the gaming machine and to improve operability. Such a problem is not limited to the case where a game ball is used as a game medium, but also occurs when a medal is used as a game medium.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and is a gaming system that can efficiently notify information managed by the inter-device and the gaming machine, respectively, and improve operability. And it aims at providing a game management method.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention relates to a gaming machine, a platform device provided in association with the gaming machine so as to be communicable with the gaming machine, and a player registered as a member in the gaming store A game system having a game medium management means for managing the number of game media deposited by the management device, wherein the inter-device device acquires the number of game media associated with the recording medium possessed by the player. Medium number acquisition means, management game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media acquired by the management game medium number acquisition means as the number of management game media, and when a predetermined operation is received, toward the gaming machine Management game medium number transfer operation accepting means for transmitting information that can specify a part or all of the management game medium number stored in the management game medium number storage means, and for performing invalidation processing on the number of management game media sent , A transition game medium number receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of game media to be transferred from the gaming machine, and the management game medium number storage based on the number of game media received by the transition game medium number reception means A game that updates the number of managed game media stored in the means and updates the number of managed game media stored in the managed game medium number storage means based on invalidation processing by the management game medium number transfer operation accepting means Medium number updating means, game medium number specifying information receiving means for receiving game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media managed by the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof, and the number of stored game media corresponding to the player and貯遊technique medium number obtaining means for obtaining from said貯遊Technical medium managing section, and the number of gaming machine game media specified from the game medium number specifying information received by said game medium specific number information receiving means Determining means for determining whether or not an upper limit value set for the number of game media is exceeded when the number of managed game media is added to the number of acquired game media acquired by the number of game media acquisition means; a front number system gaming machine game media, on the basis of the number management game media stored by the management game medium count storage means, performs information output, the information output in accordance with the determination result by the determination unit information Output means.

In addition, the present invention manages a gaming machine, a table device provided so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine in association with the gaming machine, and the number of game media deposited by a player registered as a member in the gaming store A game system having storage medium management means, wherein the gaming machine is a game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media that can be provided to a game by a player; Receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of media, gaming operation accepting means for accepting a game operation of the player using the number of gaming media stored in the gaming media number storage means, and the game operation accepting means according to the gaming operation Use processing means for performing use processing of the number of game media stored in the game medium number storage means, lottery means for performing predetermined lottery determination based on the game operation received by the game operation accepting means, and the player In A prize game medium granting means for granting a predetermined number of game media as a prize, and a predetermined transfer operation, and receiving a part or all of the number of game media stored in the game medium number storage means in the inter-device. The number of game media transferred operation receiving means for invalidating the transmitted number of game media, and the number of game media received by the receiving means or awarded by the award game medium giving means Based on the number of game media, update the number of game media stored in the number of game media storage means, and based on the use processing by the use processing means and invalidation processing by the game medium number transfer operation acceptance means, A game medium number updating means for updating the number of game media stored in the game medium number storage means; and a number of game media stored in the game medium number storage means or an approximate number thereof. Game medium number specifying information transmitting means for transmitting possible game medium number specifying information to the inter-device without updating the number of game media stored in the game medium number storing means, the inter-device A management game medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media associated with the recording medium possessed by the player; and a storage medium for acquiring the number of game media corresponding to the player from the storage medium management means A number acquisition unit, a number of gaming machine game media specified from the game medium number specification information transmitted by the game medium number specification information transmission unit, and a number of managed game media acquired by the management game medium number acquisition unit. when added to the number of acquisition貯遊technique medium acquired by the貯遊technique medium speed obtaining means, a judgment means for judging whether the value exceeds the upper limit defined in the number of the貯遊technique medium, before Symbol gaming machine game medium Number and An information output unit that outputs information based on the number of managed game media acquired by the managed game medium number acquisition unit and outputs information according to a determination result by the determination unit; To do.

Further, in the present invention according to the above invention, the information output means specifies a difference value between a total value of the number of managed game media, the number of game machine game media, and the number of acquired game media and the upper limit value. It is characterized by outputting possible information.
The present invention is also a gaming system having a gaming machine and a platform device provided in association with the gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, wherein the platform device is a recording medium possessed by the player Management game medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media associated with the management game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media acquired by the management game medium number acquisition means as the number of management game media, and a predetermined operation Is received, information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media stored in the managed game media number storage means is invalidated to the gaming machine and the number of managed game media transmitted is invalidated. Management game medium number transfer operation accepting means for processing, transferred game medium number receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of game media for transfer from the gaming machine, and games received by the transferred game medium number receiving means Based on the number of bodies, the number of managed game media stored in the number of managed game media storage means is updated, and the number of managed game media storage means based on the invalidation processing by the management game medium number transfer operation accepting means Game medium number updating means for updating the number of managed game media stored in the game machine, and game medium number specifying information receiving means for receiving game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media managed by the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof. Based on the number of game machines specified from the game medium number specifying information received by the game medium number specifying information receiving means and the number of managed game media stored by the managed game medium number storage means An information output means for specifying a total number of game media obtained by summing up the number of machine game media and the number of management game media, and outputting information relating to the total number of game media. To.

The present invention further comprises a storage medium management means for managing the number of storage mediums deposited by a player registered as a member in the game store in the above invention , wherein the inter-unit device corresponds to the player. A storage medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of stored game media from the storage game medium management means, wherein the information output means corresponds to the number of game machine game media, the number of management game media, and the player; The present invention is characterized in that it has a function of specifying the total number of game media to be stored by summing up the number of game media to be stored and outputting information on the total number of game media to be stored .

In addition, the present invention manages a gaming machine, a table device provided so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine in association with the gaming machine, and the number of game media deposited by a player registered as a member in the gaming store A game management method for a gaming system having a stored game medium management means, wherein the inter-device device acquires the number of game media associated with a recording medium possessed by a player, and When the inter-device receives a predetermined operation, the management game medium number storing step of storing the number of game media acquired in the management game medium number acquisition step in the storage unit as the management game medium number, and the inter-device In addition, the management game medium number transfer operation accepting process for transmitting to the gaming machine information that can specify a part or all of the number of management game media and invalidating the transmitted number of management game media. A game medium number specifying information receiving step for receiving game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media stored in the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof; and a storage corresponding to the player. The number of game media acquired from the stored game medium management means, the number of game media specified from the game medium number specifying information received by the game medium number specifying information receiving step, and the management game A determination step of determining whether or not an upper limit value determined for the number of game media to be stored is added when the number of media is added to the number of game storage media acquired by the game media number acquisition step; during device, a front number system gaming machine game media, on the basis of the number of the management game media, performs information output, output information performs information output in accordance with the determination result by the determination step Characterized in that it includes a step.
The present invention also relates to a game management method for a gaming system comprising a gaming machine and a platform device provided so as to be communicable with the gaming machine in association with the gaming machine, wherein the platform device is a game player's game machine. A management game medium number acquisition step for acquiring the number of game media associated with a recording medium possessed, and a storage unit that stores the number of game media acquired by the inter-device in the management game medium number acquisition step as the number of management game media Storing the number of managed game media to be stored, and when the inter-device device receives a predetermined operation, transmits information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media to the gaming machine And a management game medium number transfer operation receiving step for invalidating the transmitted number of managed game media, and the number of game media in which the inter-device can specify the number of game media stored in the game machine or an approximate number thereof. A game medium number specifying information receiving step for receiving fixed information, a game machine game medium number specified by the inter-device device from the game medium number specifying information received by the game medium number specifying information receiving step, and the management game An information output step of identifying a total number of game media obtained by summing up the number of gaming machine game media and the number of managed game media based on the number of media, and outputting information relating to the total number of game media. Features.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the information necessary gaming customers efficiently and timely manner with respect to Yu Technical medium number.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the concept of storage management of the gaming system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of the gaming system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit of the inter-card card processor. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the storage related information displayed on the display operation unit of the inter-card processing machine. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the screen display of the holding ball related information displayed on the display operation unit of the inter-card processing machine. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card management apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit of the card management apparatus. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the member management apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit of the member management apparatus. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting display screen for setting a storage limit in the member management apparatus. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying and outputting the total number of balls and warning information by the inter-card processing machine.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a game system and a game management method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, the game medium is described as a game ball, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the game medium is a medal other than the game ball.

  In this specification, “mochitama” refers to data indicating the number of game media acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and is used again for the game only during that day (time before closing). Say what you can. The stored ball is data indicating the game media acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and can be used again for the game after the next day (time after closing). Mochidama can be used by both general players and members, and is used when a gaming machine is moved. Usually, only the member can use the stored ball, and it is used when the acquired game medium is used for the game after the next day. A predetermined fee may be imposed on the use of the pool.

  First, the concept of savings management in the gaming system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the concept of the management of the number of balls according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system according to the present embodiment has three devices: an inter-card card processing machine 10, an enclosed gaming machine (hereinafter simply referred to as "gaming machine") 20, and a member management device 50. It is characterized in that each piece of information related to the number of balls being collected is aggregated, and information related to storage and holding balls is provided to members efficiently and in a timely manner.

  Conventionally, there has been a limitation in efficiently providing comprehensive information regarding the number of balls. That is, the inter-card card processing machine cannot grasp the number of balls provided for the game in the gaming machine. In addition, the member management device manages the number of stored balls of the member, and sets a storage ball limit such as a maximum number of stored balls. For this reason, there was a problem that it was difficult for the members to grasp the total number of storage balls and holding balls.

  In particular, with regard to savings balls, members deposit their holding balls as a savings ball at the amusement store and use it after the next day, but when transferring the holding balls to the savings ball, the total number of savings balls including the number of holding balls is set by the amusement store. If the number of stored balls exceeds the upper limit, the member management device rejects the operation of storing balls because it is impossible for members to store balls. For this reason, the member needs to keep the total number of stored balls within the range of the upper limit value, but has not been able to grasp whether or not the total number of balls is within the upper limit range until the operation of storing balls is performed. Therefore, the game has to be interrupted for checking the stored ball, and as a result, the user has to give up the stored ball.

  Therefore, in the gaming system according to the present embodiment, the accumulated balls, holding balls, and accumulated ball restriction information of the members in the game are collected and processed in the inter-card card processing machine 10, and the determination information relating to whether or not the stored balls are available is the inter-card card processing machine. The service can be provided to members in an efficient and timely manner. That is, the inter-card card processing machine 10 is notified and stored with the number of balls B, the member's stored ball balance A and the stored ball number upper limit value X from the member management device 50. As a result, the member can grasp how much money can be stored before the game (X− (A + B)).

  Then, the gaming machine 20 notifies the inter-card card processing machine 10 of the number of possessed balls (hereinafter referred to as “the number of gaming machine balls”) C that is in a state of being used for the game in almost real time. These numbers are also updated when there is a change in the number of stored balls or the number of held balls. Therefore, in addition to the number of balls B in the own device, the inter-card card processing machine 10 collects the latest numbers of four balls, that is, the stored ball balance A, the stored ball upper limit value X, and the gaming machine ball number C of the gaming machine 20. It will be.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 uses the numerical values of the four balls to determine whether or not the holding ball can be transferred to the storage ball. Specifically, the inter-card card processing machine 10 calculates A + B + C. This A + B + C is the total number of balls possessed by the game type being played for the member. Then, the inter-card processing machine 10 compares A + B + C, which is the total value, with X.

  If A + B + C ≦ X, the total number of balls obtained by adding the number of balls to the stored ball balance A is within the upper limit X of the number of balls, and it is possible to transfer all of the balls to the stored balls at the present time. Therefore, the inter-card processing machine 10 informs the member that it is possible to store balls, and if it is less than the upper limit of the number of stored balls, how much more can be stored, that is, the number of balls up to the upper limit of the stored number (X− ( A + B + C)) is displayed on the display unit.

  If A + B + C> X, the total value of the stored ball balance and the number of balls already exceeds the upper limit of the number of balls, and it is impossible to transfer all the numbers of balls. Accordingly, the inter-card card processing machine 10 outputs a warning that the total value has already exceeded the upper limit of the number of balls, and displays the number of balls exceeding the upper limit of the number of balls to notify the member. At this point in time, the member knows that he / she cannot transfer all his / her own balls, and in the future, considering the transition of the game situation, he / she will either exchange the extra coins for free or exchange all his / her balls for free It will be decided whether or not to move to the store.

  As described above, before the processing of the game medium, the member has received information or the like for determining whether or not the storage ball can be confirmed only after processing the game medium such as the storage ball or when trying. It is possible to confirm in almost real time. For this reason, the member does not interrupt the game for checking the stored ball. Moreover, even if the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded, an alarm can be output at an early stage, so that the member can treat the excess of the upper limit value of the stored ball number with a margin.

  Further, if three ball numbers such as the balance A, the number of balls B of the inter-card processing machine 10 and the number of game machines C of the gaming machine 20 are utilized, in addition to the information on whether or not the ball can be stored, various Can be provided. For example, B + C represents the total number of possessed balls acquired by the player on the day, so if B + C is displayed, it is possible to accurately provide the player with the information on the game machine 20 that is currently playing, It can also be expected to have a publicity effect at the amusement store, such as making an appeal to players who want to refer to the information. Further, if there are many players who play with the same gaming machine 20 from beginning to end, only C may be displayed.

  Next, the system configuration of the amusement store will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the amusement store. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gaming machines 20 and an inter-card card processing machine 10 provided corresponding to each gaming machine 20 are installed in the gaming store. The inter-card processing machine 10 is connected to a communication line 80 that is a network in the store via the island controller 30. The island controller 30, the card management device 40, the member management device 50, the gift management device 60, and the checkout machine 70 are connected to the communication line 80. The card management device 40 is connected to an authentication key management center (not shown) via a network outside the game store.

  The gaming machine 20 is a device that plays a game by driving a game ball enclosed in the device into a game board surface. This gaming machine 20 can add balls when the inter-card processing machine 10 performs ball lending processing, and can drive balls into the gaming board surface within the range where there are balls. The game area is provided with a plurality of winning areas (winning openings), and when a game ball passes through the winning area, a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls. Further, a predetermined number of start areas (start ports) are provided in the game area, and a predetermined lottery is performed when a game ball passes through the start area. If the lottery is a big win, an operation that is advantageous in terms of game is performed, such as an increase in the probability of passing the game ball to the winning area or the other starting area by operating a predetermined movable member or the like. There may be an area that doubles as a starting area and a winning area.

  The winning area is provided with a predetermined detection sensor for detecting the passage of a game ball to the winning area, and the sensor detects the passage (winning) of the game ball driven into the winning area. It is like that. In addition, the gaming machine 20 includes a prize memory that stores how many game balls are awarded as prize balls for each winning area, and a possession memory that is a storage unit that stores a possession ball that a player can use in the game. have.

  When the sensor detects that a game ball that has been struck has passed through a specific prize area, the gaming machine 20 determines the number of prize balls to be given from the storage contents of the prize ball memory and the number of game balls that have passed through the prize area. The determined number of prize balls is added to the number of gaming machine balls stored, and the stored content of the holding ball memory is updated. Further, if there is a request for notification of the number of balls based on the card ejection operation from the inter-card processing machine 10, the inter-card card processing machine 10 is notified of the number of gaming machine balls held in the internal memory. Clear the data on the number of game machines stored in the memory. Further, when a notification of the number of balls to be received from the inter-card processing machine 10 to the gaming machine 20 by a ball lending operation is received, the notified number of balls is stored in the number of gaming machines stored in the holding ball memory. The stored contents are updated by addition.

  In addition, the gaming machine 20 notifies the inter-card card processing machine 10 of the number of gaming machines at regular intervals. In this case, the number of gaming machines is not updated (zero clear). The number of gaming machine balls transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10 can be notified of the number of gaming machine balls almost in real time because the signal transmission interval is narrower than the update frequency of the gaming machine 20 driven by game balls. Is possible. Further, the gaming machine 20 can shift a part or all of the gaming machine balls to management of the inter-card card processing machine 10. In this case, the stored contents are updated by subtracting the number of balls transferred to the inter-card processing machine 10 from the number of gaming machine balls stored in the holding ball memory.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 accepts payment, lends balls, communicates with the card management device 40, and communicates with the gaming machine 20. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts a bill inserted by the player, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits a payment notification including the deposit amount to the card management device 40, thereby converting the prepaid value into a prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Let them add. If a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, the ball lending request is transmitted to the card management device 40, the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40 is subtracted, and the number of coins corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value Is notified to the gaming machine 20 in accordance with a predetermined operation, and is added to the number of gaming machine balls in the holding ball memory.

  Further, if the inter-card card processing machine 10 accepts the card insertion, the inter-card card processing machine 10 transmits a card insertion notification to the card management device 40. Further, when the inter-card card processing machine 10 receives the prepaid value, the balance or the balance of the stored ball from the card management device 40, the balance is stored. And when the balance of a possession ball is received and memorize | stored, the balance of the possession ball which the card management apparatus 40 manages is cleared to zero by transmitting a possession ball subtraction request | requirement with respect to the card management apparatus 40.

  In addition, when the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the stored ball replay operation, it transmits a stored ball replay request to the card management device 40, thereby subtracting a predetermined number of stored balls managed by the member management device 50, The gaming machine 20 is notified of the number of balls corresponding to the subtracted number of stored balls, and is added to the holding ball memory.

  Further, when the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, the inter-card processing machine 10 requests the number of gaming machine balls managed by the gaming machine 20 and adds the number of balls including the gaming machine ball number received from the gaming machine 20. After transmitting a request to the card management device 40 and causing the card management device 40 to add a ball, a card ejection notification is transmitted to the card management device 40 to control ejection of the card.

  In addition, the inter-card processing machine 10 has a function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and the authentication key received from the card management device 40. Have. This authentication is performed at the time of the store opening process or the like, and the gaming machine 20 can play a game on the condition that the authentication is successful.

  Further, the inter-card card processing machine 10 detects the replacement of the gaming machine 20 based on the gaming machine ID received from the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the inter-card processing machine 10 stores the gaming machine ID previously received from the gaming machine 20, and the gaming machine ID newly received from the gaming machine 20 previously received and stored. If it is different from the machine ID, it is determined that the gaming machine 20 has been replaced.

  The island controller 30 is a relay device that bundles a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-card card processing machines 10 provided on the gaming island. The card management device 40 is a management device that manages the prepaid value of a card, the number of balls, etc. as card data.

  When the card management device 40 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management apparatus 40 manages the ID of the inserted card and the inter-card card processing machine 10 in association with each other, and prepaid associated with the card ID. The value and the balance of the possession ball are transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10. Further, when the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification is the card ID of the member card, the card insertion notification is transmitted to the member management device 50, and the replay data received from the member management device 50 is used as the interbank card. It transmits to the processor 10.

  In addition, when the card management device 40 receives a possession ball subtraction request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 clears the balance of the possession account to zero and receives an inter-card addition request from the inter-card card processing machine 10. If so, the number of balls indicated in the request for adding balls is added to the ball account.

  Further, when the card management device 40 receives a ball lending request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 subtracts a corresponding prepaid value by a predetermined value, and transmits the ball lending permission to the inter-card card processing machine 10. Then, when the storage ball replay request is received, the storage ball replay request is transmitted to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 outputs the storage ball replay data, Transmit to the card processor 10.

  Further, when the card management device 40 receives the card ID from the premium management device 60, the card management device 40 notifies the premium management device 60 of the number of possessed balls associated with the card ID. Further, when the card ID is received from the settlement machine 70, the prepaid value associated with the card ID is notified to the settlement machine 70.

  Further, the card management device 40 acquires the gaming machine ID from the inter-card card processing machine 10 and manages the gaming machine 20 installed in the own store. Then, an authentication key for authenticating the gaming machine 20 set in the own store is acquired from an authentication key management center (not shown) and distributed to the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The member management device 50 is a management device that manages member management data of members registered as members in the amusement store. Specifically, the number of stored balls, points, password, name, etc. are managed in association with the member card ID issued to the member.

  When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 includes the balance of the storage account corresponding to the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification, the personal identification number, and the maximum number of storage balls. The replay data is transmitted to the inter-card card processor 10. In addition, when the member management device 50 receives the stored ball replay request from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined number of balances of the stored account associated with the card ID indicated in the stored ball replay request. The stored ball replay data including the balance of the later stored ball account is transmitted to the inter-card processing machine 10. Note that communication between the inter-card card processor 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40.

  In addition, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the gift management device 60, the member management device 50 notifies the gift management device 60 of the balance of the stored account corresponding to the designated card ID.

  The prize management device 60 is a terminal device for exchanging prizes provided in the prize exchange counter in the amusement store, and performs a prize exchange process for storing and holding balls. The premium management device 60 is connected to a reader / writer that reads the card ID of the card and a premium dispensing device that dispenses premiums. When the reader / writer accepts the card, the gift management device 60 transmits the card ID of the card read by the reader / writer to the card management device 40, and requests the number of balls held by the card. In addition, when exchanging prizes for the stored balls, the member management device 50 is requested for the number of stored balls.

  When the card associated with the prepaid value is inserted, the checkout machine 70 transmits the card ID of the card to the card management device 40, acquires the prepaid value associated with the card, and adds the prepaid value to the acquired prepaid value. Withdraw cash equivalents.

  Next, the ball lending process when performing the ball lending with the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the player performs a ball lending operation on the inter-card card processing machine 10, the inter-card card processing machine 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination. This electronic message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-card card processing machine 10, an address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and a ball rental request.

  When the card management device 40 receives a message including a ball lending request, the card management device 40 subtracts a prepaid value associated with the card ID in the message by a predetermined value (for example, 100 yen = 5 times when the frequency is 1). The data is updated, and the ball lending permission is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10 of the transmission source. Upon receiving the ball lending permission, the inter-card processing machine 10 converts the subtracted prepaid value into a corresponding number (for example, 125 balls) of gaming machine balls, notifies the gaming machine 20 and adds the number of gaming machines balls. .

  Next, the holding ball replay process in the case of performing the holding ball replay with the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of the general card or the membership card, the inter-card processing machine 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and the rate of the inter-card card processing machine 10 Information for identifying the card and a card insertion notification.

  When the card management device 40 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-card card processing machine 10, among the possession accounts associated with the card ID in the message, the card management device 40 has the rate specified by the message. Is notified to the inter-card card processor 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 stores the balance of the coins received from the card management device 40. And the message containing the information which specifies card ID and a rate, and a possession subtraction request | requirement is transmitted to the card management apparatus 40. FIG. When the card management device 40 receives a coin subtraction request, it clears the balance of the coin account specified by the card ID and rate to zero. The inter-card processing machine 10 notifies the gaming machine 20 of a certain number of balls received from the card management device 40 based on a predetermined ball use operation, and adds them to the number of gaming machines balls.

  When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts a request for shifting the number of gaming machine balls from the gaming machine 20, the fixed number of gaming machine balls that have been transmitted are added to the number of balls and stored in the storage unit. . When the inter-card processing machine 10 accepts a card return operation, the inter-card processing machine 10 obtains the number of balls from the gaming machine 20 to update the number of balls, and requests the card management device 40 to add balls. Send a message containing. This message includes the card ID of the card to be ejected, an address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processor 10 that is the transmission source, information for identifying the rate of the inter-card card processor 10, and possession Includes a balance of balls and a request to add money.

  When the card management device 40 accepts a request for addition of a possession ball, the possession account that has received the balance of the possession account at the rate specified by the message out of the possession accounts associated with the card ID in the message. Update to the number of balls.

  Thereafter, the inter-card card processor 10 transmits a card discharge notification to the card management device 40 and controls the card discharge.

  Next, a stored ball replay process when the replay of the stored ball is performed with the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The inter-card processing machine 10 designates the local address of the card management device 40 as a destination when a membership card is inserted or when identification information corresponding to a card ID is read from a portable terminal that can be used as a membership card. Send a message. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10 (or identification information corresponding to the card ID read from the portable terminal; hereinafter referred to as “card ID”) and the transmission source. It includes an address or arbitrary identification information for specifying the inter-card processor 10, information for specifying the rate of the inter-card processor 10, and a card insertion notification.

  The card management device 40 transmits a card insertion notification message to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification message, the member management device 50 stores the personal identification number associated with the card ID in the message and the balance of the savings account at the rate specified by the message out of the savings account. The stored ball replay data including the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is transmitted to the inter-card processing machine 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 stores the received pool replay data, and the balance of the pool account indicated in the pool replay data is the number of game balls paid out in the pool replay (the number of pool replay units. For example, 125 Ball), it is possible to accept a stored ball replay operation.

  When the storage card replay data is received for the first time after the storage ball replay data is stored, the inter-card processing machine 10 requests the member to input a password, and the input password is used as the stored ball replay data. Check if it matches the PIN number shown.

  The inter-card card processor 10 transmits a message specifying the local address of the card management device 40 as the destination when the passwords match. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-card card processing machine 10, the address or arbitrary identification information for identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, and the rate of the inter-card card processing machine 10 And information for identifying the storage ball replay request.

  The card management device 40 transmits a telegram of a storage ball replay request to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the message of the savings replay request, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of the savings account at the rate specified by the message among the savings accounts associated with the card ID in the message. Then, the stored ball replay data including the balance after the subtraction is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The inter-card processing machine 10 receives the stored ball replay data, updates the balance of the stored ball account, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number of balls of the stored ball replay unit, and adds it to the number of gaming machine balls. Further, it is determined whether the balance of the updated storage account is less than the number of stored ball replay units. If the balance is less than the number of stored ball replay units, the stored ball replay operation is not accepted. If the updated balance of the stored ball account is equal to or greater than the number of stored ball replay units, the stored ball replay operation can be accepted again, and when the stored ball replay operation is received, a stored ball replay request is transmitted. In the second and subsequent replay operations of the stored ball, it is not necessary to confirm the password.

  Next, the transition from the holding ball to the storage ball in the closing process will be described. The card management device 40 checks the balance of the holding account in the card management data during the closing process, and if there is a holding account whose holding balance is greater than “0”, the card management device 40 uses the balance of the holding account as a card. The member management apparatus 50 is notified together with the ID and rate. The member management device 50 adds and updates the notified holding account balance to the balance of the savings account specified by the card ID and the rate. Thereafter, the card management device 40 clears the balance of the possession account to zero.

  Next, management of the total number of balls stored and held in the inter-card processing machine 10 in the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the member management device 50 receives a card insertion notification message from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the member management apparatus 50 transmits information about the stored account balance and the upper limit of the number of stored balls to the inter-card card processing machine 10. The inter-card processing machine 10 stores the received stored account balance and the upper limit number of stored balls in the storage unit. Similarly, the balance of the holding account is acquired from the card management device 40 and stored.

  When a ball lending operation is accepted, the gaming machine 20 is notified of the number of balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value, and in the case of a replay or a replay of stored balls, the number of retained balls or the number of stored balls is subtracted. Update, notify the gaming machine 20 of a predetermined number of balls, and add it to the number of gaming machine balls.

  The gaming machine 20 stores the number of gaming machine balls provided for the game notified from the inter-card card processing machine 10 in the holding memory. When the game operation of the member is accepted, the number of balls to be shot is subtracted, and the number of prize balls given by winning a prize opening is added and stored in the holding ball memory. While the gaming machine 20 accepts a gaming operation, the gaming machine 20 continuously transmits the number of balls to the inter-card card processing machine 10 at a predetermined timing.

  Each time the inter-card processing machine 10 receives the number of gaming machine balls from the gaming machine 20, it calculates the total value of the gaming machine ball number, the balance of accumulated balls, and the number of possessed balls. Compare with the number upper limit.

  If the total value is less than or equal to the upper limit of the number of stored balls, the inter-card processing machine 10 displays on the display unit the total number of stored balls and the number of held balls and the remaining number of balls that can be stored indicating how much can be stored. Then, the member is informed that all the stored balls can be stored. If the total value exceeds the upper limit of the number of balls, the inter-card processing machine 10 displays the total of the number of balls and the number of balls and the excess from the upper limit of the number of balls, Notify as warning information that transfer to the pool is impossible.

  Note that the inter-card card processing machine 10 gives a warning in consideration of information on the consumption speed of the number of balls of the gaming machine 20 (launching speed and gaming state (big hit, changing probability, etc.)). Whether or not is necessary is determined.

  For example, if the gaming machine 20 is in a big hit state, the predicted number of balls to be played (the number of acquired balls minus the number of consumed balls) is calculated and added to the current number of gaming machine balls. This is the predicted value of the number of gaming machines. When the total value of the predicted value, the number of balls in the inter-card processing machine 10 and the balance of the stored balls exceeds the upper limit of the number of stored balls, it is determined that a warning that the upper limit of the stored balls is exceeded is necessary, and the warning To emit. Further, when the gaming state is not a big hit or a probability variation state, an average of the increase / decrease of the number of balls in a certain time interval is taken, and this is added to the current number of balls to obtain a predicted value. If the total value does not reach the upper limit value of the number of balls, it is determined that only the display of the possible number of balls up to the upper limit value of the number of balls is necessary, and no warning is issued.

  Further, the warning information may include a message indicating that the game time extension (exit time extension) service, which is a member service, is not possible. The game time extension service is a service that allows a member to play a game longer than the non-member until the end of business hours. For example, if the non-member ends the game at 22:30, the member can play the game until 22:50. This is a member service where the game time can be extended by the amount of money that can be saved in the case of members, since it is not necessary to exchange gifts near the store close to the store unlike non-members. It is.

  In addition, the warning information informs the player that it is within the upper limit of the number of stored balls at the stage where the condition of exceeding the upper limit of the number of stored balls is not satisfied due to consumption of balls or gaming machine balls, The display may be deleted, or the screen may be automatically switched to display, for example, a default display screen.

  Next, the external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. Although the inter-card card processing machine 10 that accepts only banknotes is shown in the figure, a unit for accepting coins can also be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-card card processing machine 10 includes a card insertion slot 11 a that accepts a card associated with a card ID, prepaid value, accumulated ball data, and possession data, a bill insertion slot 12 a that accepts various banknotes, A display operation unit 13 such as a touch panel display is provided.

  The display operation unit 13 displays a storage ball balance, storage ball restriction information, the number of balls that can be stored, and the like, and buttons for receiving main operations such as a ball lending operation and a card return operation. Although the display operation unit 13 is fixed to the gaming machine 20, it is a constituent part of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and is directly connected to the control unit of the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The gaming machine 20 includes a handle 21 used when driving the enclosed game balls into the game area, a holding ball number display unit 22 for displaying the number of gaming machine balls, and the number of gaming machine balls in the inter-card processing machine 10. And a counting switch 23 for shifting to the holding balls managed by the.

  Next, the internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inter-card processing machine 10 includes an R / W (reader / writer) unit 11, a banknote transport unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a communication unit 14, a gaming machine management board 15, A storage unit 16 and a control unit 17 are included.

  The R / W unit 11 is a reading unit that reads a card ID and prepaid value data from a card inserted into the card insertion slot 11a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 11a is stored in a card storage unit (not shown) via the R / W unit 11.

  The banknote conveyance part 12 is a conveyance part conveyed to the banknote storage part which is not shown in figure, discriminating the money type and authenticity of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion port 12a. The communication unit 14 is an interface unit for performing data communication with the card management device 40 via the communication line 80.

  The gaming machine management board 15 is a board built in the inter-card card processing machine 10. The gaming machine management board 15 performs authentication and activation management of the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the gaming machine 20 is authenticated using the authentication key received from the card management device 40. If the authentication is successful, an operation permission is transmitted to the gaming machine 20, and a result of the authentication success is transmitted to the card management device 40. In addition, the gaming machine management board 15 performs communication between the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the acquisition of the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, the transfer of the ball from the inter-card card processing machine 10 to the gaming machine 20, the number of gaming machine balls from the gaming machine 20 to the inter-card processing machine 10 Returning and receiving game results such as the number of gaming machines in the gaming machine 20. The communication between the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 uses encryption communication using a predetermined encryption method.

  The gaming machine management board 15 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the control unit 17 when the inter-card card processing machine 10 is activated, and checks whether the identification information is appropriate. 10 is permitted, and a state in which communication with the gaming machine 20 is possible is set.

  The gaming machine management board 15 receives a signal transmitted from the gaming machine 20 at regular intervals, and returns a signal indicating that it has been received to the gaming machine 20 based on the reception of the signal. The signal transmitted from the gaming machine 20 includes, for example, data indicating a signal serial number (hereinafter referred to as “signal serial number”) using a certain range of numbers and data indicating the state of the gaming machine. The gaming machine management board 15 has a storage unit that stores the signal sequence number of the signal received from the gaming machine 20 at least once before, and the gaming machine 20 is compared with the signal sequence number received from the gaming machine 20 this time. Control to maintain the consistency of information from. For example, if the signal sequence number of the received signal is different from the sequence number stored in the storage unit plus one (for example, a number greater than 1), the signal reception may be lost. As a result, the game machine 20 is requested to retransmit the previous signal. The reply signal returned to the gaming machine 20 also includes a signal sequence number, and for example, 1 is added to the signal sequence number for each transmission. In addition, data indicating the state of the gaming machine included in the received signal is stored in the gaming machine state storage unit 16e. In addition, the gaming machine management board 15 determines that the state is abnormal when there is no signal transmission from the gaming machine 20 for a certain period longer than the above-mentioned certain interval, and performs abnormality processing (notification output, error Down). The data indicating the state of the gaming machine transmitted from the gaming machine 20 includes the current number of gaming machine balls of the gaming machine, the state of the gaming machine (usually, probability variation, etc.), and the like.

  The above-described encrypted communication will be further described. The gaming machine management board 15 has a security chip. The security chip has its own identification ID and a predetermined encryption / decryption program, and communicates with the security chip of the gaming machine 20.

  The security chip determines whether the data input / output from the gaming machine management board 15 corresponds to a predetermined data type requiring security, and performs data input / output as it is if not. On the other hand, if it falls under a data type that requires security, the data encrypted by the encryption program is output at the time of data input / output, and in the case of input, it waits for data input from the other party, Decode the received data. An encryption / decryption method is determined in advance with the security chip of the gaming machine 20, and data encrypted by the other party can be mutually decrypted. In addition, when the authentication NG is detected, the gaming machine 20 or the inter-card card processing machine 10 that has detected the authentication NG outputs an error to the host device and the display unit of the own device, and then the error is reduced.

  The storage unit 16 is a storage device including a hard disk device, a non-volatile memory, and the like, and stores a card ID 16a, valuable data 16b, game setting data 16c, storage limit data 16d, a device ID 16f, and a gaming machine ID 16g. A part of the storage unit 16 is used as a gaming machine state storage unit 16e.

  The card ID 16 a is a card ID read by the R / W unit 11. When a card is transported from a card storage unit (not shown) to the card insertion slot 11a and the card is ejected, the card ID 16a is updated with the card ID read by the R / W unit 11 during the transport. Also, when a card is transported from the card insertion slot 11a to a card storage unit (not shown), the card ID 16a is updated with the card read by the R / W unit 11 during the transport.

  The valuable value data 16b is data indicating a valuable value that can be used to add the coins. This valuable value data 16b includes prepaid value data 16b1 indicating the balance of the prepaid value that can be used for the ball lending, the number of balls 16b2 indicating the balance of the holding account, the PIN number for replaying the storage ball, and the balance of the storage account. The stored ball number data 16b3 is included.

  The game setting data 16c is data indicating a game type or the like set in the inter-card card processing machine 10. When handling multiple rate balls in the amusement store, “ball 1” for 4 yen game balls, “ball 2” for 2 yen game balls, “ball 3” for 1 yen rate game balls As described above, the game type name is set and managed for each rate. The inter-card processing machine 10 selects a rate used for the game from these game types and stores it as the game setting data 16c. The game setting data 16c may be a game type fixed for each section in which the inter-card card processing machine 10 is installed, or may be changeable by a player's operation.

  The storage limit data 16d is data indicating an upper limit value of the number of storage balls. The storage limit data 16d is set in the member management device 50, receives a member card insertion notification, and is distributed to the inter-card card processor 10 and stored therein.

  The gaming machine state storage unit 16e is data indicating the state of the gaming machine transmitted from the gaming machine 20, and temporarily stores the current number of gaming machine balls of the gaming machine, the state of the gaming machine (usually, probability fluctuation, etc.), and the like. It is a part to memorize.

  The device ID 16f is identification information for uniquely identifying the inter-card card processing machine 10 within the game store. The gaming machine ID 16g is a gaming machine ID received from the gaming machine 20 by the gaming machine management board 15.

  The control unit 17 is a control unit that controls the inter-card processing machine 10 as a whole, and includes a data management unit 17a, a card processing unit 17b, a storage ball restriction information acquisition unit 17c, a gaming machine management unit 17d, a determination processing unit 17e, and a notification process. A unit 17f and a display control unit 17g.

  The data management unit 17 a is a management unit that manages the valuable value data 16 b stored in the storage unit 16. When the card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits a card insertion notification including the card ID 16a and the device ID 16f to the card management device 40. In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives data including a valuable value (at least one of the prepaid value, the number of possessions, and the number of accumulated balls) from the card management device 40, the data management unit 17a responds to the valuable value data 16b with the received valuable value. Update the data.

  Moreover, if a banknote is inserted in the banknote insertion slot 12a, the data management part 17a will transmit the payment notification containing the money amount of the inserted banknote, card ID16a, and apparatus ID16f of the inter-card processing machine 10 to the card management apparatus 40. To do.

  The data management unit 17a transmits a ball lending request including the card ID 16a and the device ID 16f to the card management device 40 when a ball lending operation is performed by the player. If a ball lending permission is received as a response to the ball lending request, the data management unit 17a subtracts a predetermined number from the prepaid value data 16b1 and transmits a predetermined number of balls to the gaming machine 20 to thereby play the gaming machine ball. Let it be added to the number.

  Further, when the data management unit 17a accepts the possession ball replay operation, the possession number data 16b2 of the valuable value data 16b is subtracted and updated by a predetermined number unit, and the number of balls subtracted is the gaming machine 20. To be added to the number of gaming machine balls.

  Further, when the stored ball number data 16b3 of the valuable value data 16b is equal to or larger than the number of stored ball replay units, the data management unit 17a displays a stored ball replay button on the display operation unit 13 and can accept the stored ball replay operation. And The data management unit 17a transmits a stored ball replay request including the card ID 16a and the device ID 16f to the card management device 40 when the player performs a stored ball replay operation. If the stored ball replay data is received as a response to this replay request, the stored ball number data 16b3 of the valuable value data 16b is subtracted and updated, and the number of balls of the stored ball replay unit number is transmitted to the gaming machine 20. And add it to the number of gaming machine balls. In addition, at the time of the first storage replay operation, a password is requested to be input, and a condition for transmitting a storage ball replay request is to match the password indicated in the valuable value data 16b.

  In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives a request for transferring balls from the gaming machine 20 via the gaming machine management unit 17d, the data management unit 17a determines the number of gaming machine balls transferred from the gaming machine 20 in the valuable value data 16b. It is updated by adding to the ball count data 16b2.

  In addition, when the card return operation is performed by the player, the data management unit 17a acquires the number of balls from the gaming machine 20, and adds the number of balls to the ball count data 16b2. Then, the card ID 16a and the number of possessed balls data 16b2 are transmitted to the card management device 40 to make a card data update request, and the card ID 16a and the stored ball count data 16b3 are transmitted to the member management device 50 to make a member data update request.

  When the card processing unit 17b receives a card from the card insertion slot 11a, the card processing unit 17b causes the R / W unit 11 to read the card ID and the prepaid value. Then, the card ID 16a is stored in the storage unit 16, and the prepaid value associated with the card ID 16a is added to the prepaid value data 16b1.

  When the card processing unit 17b accepts a card return operation, the R / W unit 11 reads the card ID of a card stored in a card storage unit (not shown). After the card data of the card management device 40 and the member data of the member management device 50 are updated by the data management unit 17a, the prepaid value data 16b1 is associated with the card and discharged from the card insertion slot 11a.

  The storage restriction information acquisition unit 17c is a processing unit that acquires storage restriction information set in the member management device 50 when a membership card is inserted. The stored-ball restriction information acquisition unit 17c displays the acquired stored-ball restriction information in correspondence with the stored ball balance for each game type.

  The gaming machine management unit 17d is a processing unit that manages the gaming machine 20 and the gaming state. The gaming machine management unit 17d acquires a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 via the gaming machine management board 15, and the gaming machine ID acquired by the gaming machine ID previously, that is, the gaming machine ID 16g is indicated by the gaming machine ID 16g. The replacement of the gaming machine 20 is detected depending on whether or not the same. If the gaming machine ID acquired from the gaming machine 20 does not match the previously acquired gaming machine ID, the gaming machine management unit 17d determines that the gaming machine 20 has been replaced, and uses the acquired gaming machine ID to play the gaming machine. The ID 16g is updated, and the updated gaming machine ID 16g and device ID 16f are transmitted to the card management device 40.

  In addition, the gaming machine management unit 17d acquires a gaming result from the gaming machine 20 via the gaming machine management board 15, and when the gaming result management data is different from the gaming result data managed by the own device by a predetermined value or more, It is determined that fraud has been performed, and a notification process is performed.

  The gaming machine management unit 17d includes a gaming data receiving unit 17d1, and manages the data stored in the gaming machine state storage unit 16e such as the firing speed of the gaming machine 20, the number of balls, and the big hit. Further, the game data receiving unit 17d1 predicts the number of possessed balls from the result of the read game data, and outputs the prediction result to the determination processing unit 17e. Specifically, information on gaming state such as the firing speed, jackpot and probability variation state of the gaming machine 20 is acquired, and the total number of gaming machine balls is predicted. Further, when a request to transfer a part or all of the gaming machine balls to the inter-card card processing machine is received, the received gaming machine balls are passed to the data management unit 17a.

  The determination processing unit 17e determines whether or not the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded from the stored ball balance A, the number B of balls in the inter-card processing unit 10 and the number C of gaming machine balls of the gaming machine 20. It is a processing unit. Specifically, A + B + C−X is calculated, and if it is positive, it is determined that the number of stored balls exceeds the upper limit, and if it is negative or 0, it is determined that it is within the upper limit of stored balls. If the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded, the determination processing unit 17e displays the excess amount on the display operation unit 13 together with the total number of balls (A + B + C).

  In addition, the determination processing unit 17e adds the prediction result of the game state data output from the game data receiving unit 17d1 of the gaming machine management unit 17d to determine whether or not a warning is necessary. When the big hit appears and is surely exceeded, it is determined that the upper limit of the number of stored balls is exceeded, and a warning is issued to the member via the notification processing unit 17f.

  Moreover, even if the determination processing unit 17e once exceeds the upper limit value of the number of balls, if the number of held balls, the number of gaming machine balls, and the balance of the ball is less than the upper limit value of the number of stored balls, warning information is displayed. A notification of cancellation is output to the notification processing unit 17f.

  The notification processing unit 17f is a processing unit that notifies a comparison result between the number of possessed balls, the total value of the stored ball balance, and the upper limit of the number of stored balls. When the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded, the notification processing unit 17f warns the display control unit 17g that the stored ball cannot be transferred and displays the excess amount. Further, when the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded, it may be notified together with a warning that the game time cannot be extended together with the warning of excess. When the notification processing unit 17f receives a notification from the determination processing unit 17e that the warning condition is no longer met, the notification processing unit 17f instructs the display control unit 17g to cancel the warning.

  The display control unit 17 g is a control unit that controls the display of the display operation unit 13. The display control unit 17g performs necessary display on the display operation unit 13 according to the state of the inter-card card processing machine 10 or the like. The display control unit 17g extracts necessary information from the gaming machine state storage unit 16e and displays it on the display operation unit 13. Furthermore, the number of gaming machine balls received from the gaming machine 20 is extracted from the gaming machine state storage unit 16e, and the total number of balls in the inter-card processing machine 10 included in the valuable value data 16b is added to the display operation unit 13. Display output. This display output may be performed every time the stored information in the gaming machine state storage unit 16e is updated, or the number of possessed balls on the gaming machine side or the value obtained by the summing process is a predetermined value that is the same as the previously displayed output value. Display output may be performed only when there is a difference as described above (for example, 10 balls or more).

  In addition, the display control unit 17g performs control to delete the warning output by the notification processing unit 17f when it no longer matches the warning condition.

  The gaming machine 20 includes a number-of-balls display unit 22, a communication control unit 24, an effect control unit 25, a game control unit 26, and a game ball control unit 27. The number-of-balls display section 22 is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine 20 and displays the number of gaming machine balls stored in a ball memory 27a described later.

  The communication control unit 24 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-card card processor 10. The communication control unit 24 has a security chip. The security chip has its own identification ID and a predetermined encryption / decryption program, and communicates with the security chip of the inter-card card processor 10.

  The communication control unit 24 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the game control unit 26 and / or the game ball control unit 27 when the gaming machine 20 is activated, and checks whether the identification information is appropriate. The start of the gaming machine 20 is permitted, and a state in which communication with the inter-card card processing machine is possible is set.

  The communication control unit 24 reads the number of balls stored in the ball memory 27a of the game ball control unit 27 at regular intervals, and the state of the gaming machine stored in the game control unit 26 (normal or during probability variation). Or the like) and the like are transmitted to the inter-card card processor 10 as a signal. This signal includes, for example, data indicating a signal serial number (hereinafter referred to as “signal serial number”) using a certain range of numbers. The communication control unit 24 confirms the signal sequence number included in the reply signal returned from the inter-card card processor 10 for the signal transmitted to the inter-card card processor 10 and compares it with the transmitted signal sequence number. Control to maintain the integrity of information. Further, the communication control unit 24 has a function of managing the signal sequence number, stores the signal sequence number assigned to the previously transmitted signal, and when transmitting a signal, the communication control unit 24 sets a value obtained by incrementing the previously transmitted signal sequence number by 1. Attach to signal and send. When the signal sequence number reaches a certain value, it returns to the initial value and circulates. Moreover, when transmitting the number of gaming machine balls read from the possession ball memory 27a, a configuration in which the value of the number of gaming machine balls is transmitted as it is may be used, or a rough number (approximate number) such as adjustment with a certain digit. May be transmitted.

  Further, the communication control unit 24 receives a signal for adding the ball from the inter-card processing machine 10 (a loan signal based on valuable value, a management transfer signal based on the ball), It participates in the control to add to the ball memory 27a. In addition, the holding ball management request from the gaming ball control unit 27 to the gaming machine 20 is relayed.

  The security chip determines whether the data input / output from the communication control unit 24 corresponds to a predetermined data type that requires security, and if not, inputs / outputs the data as it is. On the other hand, if it corresponds to a data type that requires security, the data encrypted by the encryption program is output when data is input / output. Decrypt data. The encryption / decryption method is determined in advance with the security chip of the inter-card processing machine 10, and the data encrypted by the other party can be mutually decrypted.

  Further, the gaming machine 20 starts control when the power is turned on at the start of business, but does not enter the normal gaming enabled state when the power is turned on, but is in a standby control state. In the standby control state, the mutual authentication with the inter-card card processor 10 is OK in the communication control unit 24, and a game is started when a game control start signal is received from the inter-card card processor 10 through the communication control unit 24. It becomes possible.

  The game control unit 26 is a control unit that controls a game by the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the game control unit 26 controls the launching of the game balls onto the game board surface by detecting the handle operation, the detection of the game balls that have entered the winning opening on the game board surface, and the random number (0 to Acquisition and lottery (special symbols and normal symbols) of big hits, small hits, and off numbers for each predetermined range among 65535 random numbers, movable members (tulips, etc.) provided on the game board ), Display control of a special symbol display device provided on the game board surface, detection of anomaly that may be fraudulent (front frame opened, vibration detected, etc.) and notification to the host device.

  A lot of obstacle nails are planted on the game board surface, and the game balls fired on the game board surface by the handle operation will fall between the obstacle nails and win or win the prize opening, start opening Without being discharged from the game board surface out of the game board surface. A lottery is made when the game ball wins the starting hole, and when a big hit is made, a big hit game is performed in which a predetermined winning port on the game board surface is controlled to be opened multiple times, and the game ball wins at this winning hole. This makes it easy to give a prize to a player.

  In addition, the jackpot includes a bonus jackpot game with a bonus that gives a predetermined bonus game to the player after the jackpot game ends. Bonus games with benefits include probability variation jackpots and hourly jackpots. The probability variation jackpot and the short-time bonus jackpot are those that give a probability-changing game and a time-shortage game as a bonus game after each jackpot. Short-time game is a normal symbol lottery (opening and closing lottery of the movable member described above) and / or special symbol lottery (big hit lottery by winning the above-mentioned game ball) (from the start of the lottery process until the result is displayed) This is a privilege game that increases the number of lotteries per unit time and increases the probability of winning a big hit per unit time by shortening (time). This special game may include a normal symbol probability variation that increases the probability of winning the normal symbol. The time-saving game based on the time-saving jackpot ends when the number of lotteries for the special symbol lottery is a predetermined number of times after the jackpot. The probability variation game will be described later.

  The game control unit 26 has a probability variation function. The probability variation function is a control for changing the jackpot random number range used for the next lottery (generally about 10 times) when the lottery result falls within a predetermined random number range of the jackpot. It is a function. In the probability variation game, a special symbol lottery is performed using the probability after the change. Stochastic games will continue until the next big hit. Further, the probability variation game and the short time game may be given simultaneously. However, in order to prevent unforeseen game store damage, if the player has acquired a certain amount of game media after the start of probability-changing games or short-time games, it will be stopped (the card will be ejected and a prize exchange or a table move will be requested) It is good also as processing. In this case, the number of game media acquired after entering the probability variation gaming state is counted by the gaming machine 20, and when the counted value reaches a predetermined value, the game stop control such as stopping the launch of the game ball is performed. This can be achieved.

  The effect control unit 25 is a control unit that controls the effect during the game, and includes an effect symbol lottery unit 25a and an effect lottery unit 25b. The effect symbol lottery unit 25a draws the effect symbol (the symbol displayed on the effect symbol display device such as a display device in the game board) based on the special symbol lottery in the game control unit 26 (specifically, the final display) To stop at 7, 7, 7 etc.).

  The effect lottery unit 25b performs an effect type lottery (such as when a character comes out and performs a reach effect) until the lottery result based on the effect symbol is displayed. Such effects are set so that the effects selected for the lottery result of the game control unit 26 are different.

  The effect control unit 25 stores effect data of each effect. Further, the effect control unit 25 controls the display of the effect symbol display device, and when the effect is executed, the effect display is performed by superimposing the effect data on the background symbol data. Further, when the probability changes, background color data different from the normal state is set.

  The game ball control unit 27 is a control unit that controls the number of game machine balls. Specifically, the number of gaming machine balls is stored in the possession ball memory 27a, and the number of possession balls is decremented by “1” every time the number of gaming machine balls is fired, and the number of prize balls given by winning is added. When the ball returns without reaching the game board surface, “1” is added. In addition, when a ball is notified from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the notified internal ball is added to the number of gaming machine balls stored in the internal memory 27a, and the inter-card card processing machine 10 is added. A confirmation signal indicating that it has been added to the number of gaming machine balls is transmitted. The game ball control unit 27 can also perform cleaning control of game balls (circulation balls) enclosed in the gaming machine 20.

  Further, the game ball control unit 27 periodically transmits the number of game machine balls of the game machine 20 stored in the holding ball memory 27a to the inter-card card processing machine 10. In this case, the game ball control unit 27 transmits the number of game machine balls to the inter-card processing machine 10 while continuing to update the number of game machine balls according to the game state without clearing the contents of the holding ball memory 27a to zero. I do.

  Further, the gaming machine 20 is provided with a counting switch 23 for performing an operation for the player to transfer the management to the inter-card card processing machine 10 with respect to the number of gaming machine balls of the gaming machine 20, and the counting switch is depressed. A signal indicating that the game has been performed is input to the game ball control unit 27. The game ball control unit 27 detects the pressing operation of the counting switch 23, and if the detection signal rises and falls within a certain period of time, a certain number of game machine balls (for example, 100 balls per operation) are detected. A lot management request is transmitted to the inter-card processing machine 10 together with the number of data. Then, the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-card processing machine 10 is subtracted (invalidated) from the number of gaming machine balls stored in the holding memory 27a. In addition, when the pressing operation of the counting switch 23 is detected and no falling is detected for a predetermined time or more after the detection signal rises, a fixed number (for example, every 5 seconds) every time the detection signal rises for a certain period of time. A game management request is transmitted to the inter-card card processing machine 10 together with data on the number of gaming machines (200 balls). Then, the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-card processing machine 10 is subtracted (invalidated) from the number of gaming machine balls stored in the holding memory 27a. In subtraction from the number of gaming machine balls stored in the holding ball memory 27a, a method of decrementing the value to be subtracted from the value of 1 stored in the memory, or updating the value stored in the memory with the value after subtraction, A method of invalidating the value before subtraction by deleting or logically deleting it can be considered, but there is no particular limitation as long as the value after subtraction can be specified.

  The game control unit 26 and the game ball control unit 27 are each configured on separate boards. The game control board on which the game control unit 26 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control unit 27 is configured each have a unique ID. The gaming machine 20 uses the gaming control board ID and the gaming ball control board ID in combination as a gaming machine ID.

  Next, an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit 16 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a structure of data stored in the storage unit 16 illustrated in FIG. 4.

  The card ID 16a shown in FIG. 5A indicates that the ID of the card inserted into the inter-card card processor 10 is “2002”. Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, the card with the first digit “1” being a general card, and the card with the first digit “2” being a membership card.

  The valuable value data 16b shown in FIG. 5B shows a state where the prepaid value is “20 degrees”. Here, the frequency of the prepaid value is equivalent to 100 yen per frequency. Further, the valuable value data 16b indicates that the balance of the holding account of the ball 1 is “0 ball”, the balance of the holding account of the ball 2 is “1200 balls”, and the balance of the holding account of the ball 3 is “500 balls”. It shows a certain state. The balance of the ball account of the ball 1 is “0 ball”, the balance account balance is notified to the inter-card card processing machine 10, and the inter-card management is performed by the inter-card card processing machine 10. Because it is.

  In addition, the valuable value data 16b has a password for replaying the storage ball of “7777”, the balance of the storage account of the ball 1 is “40,000 balls”, and the balance of the storage account of the ball 2 is “5,000 balls”. ", The balance of the storage account of the ball 3 is" 0 ball ".

  The game setting data 16 c in FIG. 5C indicates that “ball 1” is set as the game type of the inter-card processing machine 10. The stored ball restriction data 16 d shown in FIG. 5D is data in which the upper limit value for the number of stored balls is set, and is data received from the member management device 50. In FIG. 5 (d), the upper limit of the number of balls is set to “50,000 balls” for “ball 1”, “200,000 balls” for “ball 2”, and “250,000 balls” for “ball 3”. It shows that. In addition, “1,000,000 balls” is shown as the upper limit value of the “total number of balls converted to one yen”. The upper limit value of the “1 yen pachis converted total number of balls” is used as a limit on the total amount of stored balls of all game types. Specifically, by multiplying the number of balls of each game type by the rate, the number of balls corresponding to the number of balls of the game type “1 yen pachi” is converted and totaled. FIG. 5E shows a state in which the device ID 16f of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is “5006”. Further, the gaming machine ID 16g shown in FIG. 5 (f) indicates a state of “A0012X4233”.

  Next, an example of the screen display of the member information, the storage limit information, and the warning information displayed on the display operation unit 13 of the inter-card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of the screen display of the storage related information displayed on the display operation unit 13 of the inter-card card processing machine 10. The screen display shown in FIG. 6 is displayed when information display related to a stored ball is selected from a plurality of screen displays except when the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded and a warning is displayed. FIG. 6 (a) is an example of a display of the balance of stored balls at the start of the game in which the membership card is inserted and the limit information of the stored balls. FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c) show the number of balls that can be stored during the game. And display of warning information.

  FIG. 6 (a) displays the upper limit value of the stored ball and the state of the stored ball balance for each game type before the member's game starts. In the example of FIG. 6A, the member's stored balance is “1,772 balls” for “4-yen pachi”, “1,200 balls” for “2-yen pachi”, and “1-yen pachi” Indicates “0 ball”. The total number of balls in the 1-yen-patch equivalent of the member's stored ball balance is “29,648 balls”. Since the stored ball balance is smaller than the upper limit of the number of stored balls, the game time extension which is one of the member services is “permitted”.

  Note that the “4-yen pachi”, “2-yen pachi”, and “1-yen pachi” shown in FIG. 6A are the storage units of the inter-card card processing machine 10 shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. 16 corresponds to the account names “ball 1”, “ball 2”, and “ball 3” in the valuable value data 16b and the storage limit data 16d stored in FIG.

  Also, in FIG. 6B, the member whose balance before the game started was “30,000 balls” played a game with a game type 4-yen pachi, and currently has a ball of “5,000 balls”. The total value with the accumulated ball balance is “35,000 balls”, and there is an indication that “15,000 balls” can be stored before the upper limit of “50,000 balls”. Has been made. Also, in this case, since there is a surplus in the number of balls that can be stored up to the upper limit of the number of balls, a display indicating that the game time can be extended is displayed.

  In FIG. 6 (c), the member whose balance was “40,000 balls” before the game started acquired “12,000 balls” after the game started with a game type 4 yen pachi and added to the balance of the balls. The value is “52,000 balls”, and the display indicates that the upper limit of the number of stored balls is “2,000 balls”. For this reason, a display indicating that the game time extension service cannot be used is also output. This screen display is a screen that is displayed with priority regardless of what display screen is made.

  Next, an example of a screen display of information such as the number of balls displayed on the display operation unit 13 of the inter-card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 7 shows an example of the screen display of the coin related information displayed on the display operation unit 13 of the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the holding card of the inter-card card processing machine 10 is “1000 balls”, the number of gaming machine balls is “500 balls”, and the total of these is “1500 balls”. In this case, when the display screen of the holding ball related information is selected, the display operation unit 13 displays not only the total number of balls “1500 balls” but also the total card number 10 "Balls" and the number of gaming machine balls "500 balls" of the gaming machine 20 are displayed. In addition to the numbers, there may be a display to which an illustration such as a ball box display is added.

  In addition to the above, in the case of a player who has once stored a ball on a mobile terminal and moved the table, add the amount acquired on the day of the player's stored ball, and add up the total number of gaming machine balls, holding balls, and stored balls. The total possession balls of the player may be displayed on the display operation unit 13 with a breakdown.

  Next, the internal configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the card management device 40 is connected to a display unit 41 and an input unit 42, and includes an external network communication unit 43, an amusement store network communication unit 44, a storage unit 45, and a control unit 46.

  The display unit 41 is a liquid crystal panel, a display device, or the like. The input unit 42 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The external network communication unit 43 is an interface unit for communicating with external devices such as a model management center that manages gaming machines and a head office server that integrally manages the installation status of gaming machines in a plurality of gaming stores. The amusement store network communication unit 44 is an interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, the member management device 50, the prize management device 60, and the checkout machine 70 via the communication line 80 in the amusement store.

  The storage unit 45 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a nonvolatile memory, and stores a store ID 45a, card management data 45b, and device management data 45c.

  The store ID 45a is identification information for identifying a game store. The card management data 45b is data in which the balance of the prepaid value and the number of possessed balls are associated with the card ID. The device management data 45c is data relating to a device placed in the amusement store. The device management data 45c includes the inter-card card processor ID, the address of the inter-card card processor 10, the installation location, the gaming machine ID, and the model data of the gaming machine 20.

  The control unit 46 is a control unit that performs overall control of the card management device 40, and includes a card management unit 46a, a device management unit 46b, and an authentication key distribution history management unit 46c. Actually, by loading these programs into a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executing the programs, the card management unit 46a, the device management unit 46b, and the authentication key distribution history management unit 46c execute corresponding processes. Become.

  The card management unit 46a is a processing unit that manages the card management data 45b. The card management unit 46a communicates with the inter-card card processing machine 10, the prize management device 70, and the checkout machine 60, and updates the prepaid value and the number of possessed balls associated with the card ID.

  The device management unit 46b is a processing unit that manages the device management data 45c. The device management unit 46b generates and updates the device management data 45c based on the inter-card card processor ID acquired from the inter-card card processor 10, the address of the inter-card card processor 10, the installation location, and the gaming machine ID. .

  When the device management unit 46b receives the gaming machine ID from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the device management unit 46b inquires of the model management center about the model data and updates the model data of the device management data 45c. Further, when the device management unit 46b updates the gaming machine ID and model data, the device management unit 46b requests the setting change to the inter-card processing unit 10 and the member management device 50, thereby changing the setting related to the replacement of the gaming machine. Is automatically executed. In addition, the device management unit 46b transmits a gaming machine change notification to the head office server. In addition, the authentication key distribution history management unit 46 c distributes the authentication key distribution history for operating the gaming machine 20 distributed to the inter-card card processing machine 10, the distribution date and time, the inter-card card processing machine 10 serving as the distribution destination. Is stored in a form that includes

  Next, an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit 45 illustrated in FIG. 8 will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit 45. The card management data 45b shown in FIG. 9A shows a state in which the prepaid value “25 degrees” and the holding ball are associated with the card ID “2001”. Mochitama can assign individual accounts for multiple rates. In FIG. 9A, the balance of the account name “ball 1” is “3000 balls”, the balance of the account name “ball 2” is “0 ball”, and the balance of the account name “ball 3” is “500”. Ball ". Similarly, the card ID “2002” has a prepaid value of “30 degrees”, ball 1 is “0 ball”, ball 2 is “4000 balls”, ball 3 is “0”, and usage ID is “3001”. This shows a state where the inter-card card processor 10 is used.

  In the device management data 45c shown in FIG. 9B, the network address of the inter-card card processor 10 with ID “3001” is “AB.CD.EF.GH”, and the installation location is “island 1-1. ", The ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is" 5009 ", and the model of the connected gaming machine 20 is" EV01 ".

  Next, the member management apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the member management apparatus 50 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the member management apparatus 50 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52. The display unit 51 is a liquid crystal panel, a display device, or the like, and the input unit 52 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

  In addition, the member management device 50 includes an amusement store network communication unit 53, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56. The amusement store network communication unit 53 is an interface unit for data communication with the prize management device 60 and the card management device 40 via the communication line 80 in the amusement store.

  The storage unit 55 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a nonvolatile memory, and stores member management data 55a and restriction setting data 55b. The member management data 55a is data in which a name, a savings account balance, a mobile ID m, an address, a telephone number, and the like are associated with the card ID of the member card issued to the member. The limit setting data 55b is setting data for the upper limit value of the number of balls.

  The control unit 56 is a control unit that controls the entire member management apparatus 50, and includes a member management unit 56a, a restriction setting processing unit 56b, and a storage management unit 56c. In practice, programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a ROM or a non-volatile memory (not shown), and these programs are loaded into the CPU and executed, whereby the member management unit 56a and the limit setting processing unit 56b. In addition, the process corresponding to each of the storage ball management units 56c is executed.

  The member management unit 56a is a processing unit that manages the member management data 55a. The member management unit 56a communicates with the card management device 40 and the gift management device 60 to update the balance of the savings account associated with the card ID. In addition, when the member management unit 56a receives a member registration request, the member management unit 56a updates the member management data 55a for additional registration of members.

  The limit setting processing unit 56b is a processing unit that sets a limit related to storage balls. The limit setting processing unit 56b sets an upper limit value for the number of balls for each game type, and when notified that the membership card has been inserted from the inter-card card processing machine 10, the limit setting processing unit 56b displays the set storage limit information. The inter-card processing machine 10 is notified.

  The storage management unit 56c is a processing unit that accepts a member's storage operation based on the maximum number of storages set by the limit setting processing unit 56b and transfers the holding ball to the storage. The storage management unit 56c accepts a member's storage operation, and updates the storage account of the member management data 55a if the total value of the storage balls is within the maximum number of storage balls. When the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded, a response indicating that the stored ball operation cannot be accepted because the upper limit value of the number of stored balls is exceeded is returned.

  Next, an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit 55 of the member management apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data stored in the storage unit 55 of the member management apparatus 50.

  The member management data 55a is data in which a name and the number of stored balls are associated with the member card ID. FIG. 11A shows a state in which the card ID “2002” is associated with the name “B_C”, the portable ID m “IDmx1”, the number of balls, and the like. Although not shown, the member management data 55a can associate an address, a telephone number, points, the number of visits, a game history, a personal identification number, and the like with a card ID. The mobile IDm is identification data that can specify a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, and is used when the mobile terminal is used as a membership card.

  In the member management data 55a in FIG. 11A, a member with a member ID “2002” and a name “B_C” has an account name “Tama 1” with a stored balance of “40,000 balls” and an account name “Tama”. This indicates that the stored ball balance of “2” is “5000 balls” and the stored ball balance of the account name “ball 3” is “0 balls”.

  The limit setting data 55b is data in which an upper limit value for the number of stored balls is set for the stored balls. In FIG. 11B, the account name “Tama 1” is “50,000 balls”, the account name “Tama 2” is “200,000 balls”, and the account name “Tama 3” is “250, “000 balls” is set. And "1 yen pachi conversion total number of balls" shows that it is "1,000,000 balls".

  Next, the setting display screen for the storage restriction information by the restriction setting processing unit 56c will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a setting display screen for storage limit information by the limit setting processing unit 56c. FIG. 12 shows the same content as the limit setting data 55b shown in FIG. In addition, the state where the setting of the storage ball upper limit value is effective is “December 1st”.

  Next, a processing procedure for displaying and outputting the total number of balls and warning information by the inter-card card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for displaying and outputting the total number of balls and warning information by the inter-card card processing machine 10.

  The data management unit 17a of the inter-card processing machine 10 receives the member card, reads the card ID, and transmits a card insertion notification including the card ID and the like to the member management apparatus 50 (step S101). The data management unit 17a acquires the member's stored balance information notified from the member management device 50, and the storage limit information acquiring unit 17c acquires the storage limit information, and the display operation unit 13 stores the stored ball for each game type. The balance and the upper limit number of stored balls are displayed (step S102).

  When the data management unit 17a accepts a ball lending operation (step S103; Yes), the data management unit 17a notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number of balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value and adds the number to the gaming machine balls (step S104). . When the ball lending operation is not received (step S103; No), the data management unit 17a determines whether or not the holding ball replay operation is received (step S105).

  If the data management unit 17a accepts the possession ball replay operation (step S105; Yes), the data management unit 17a subtracts the stored possession number data 16b2 and notifies the gaming machine 20 of the predetermined number of balls, thereby playing the gaming machine ball. The number is added to the number (step S106). If the holding ball replay operation has not been received (step S105; No), it is determined whether or not the stored ball replay operation has been received (step S107).

  When the data management unit 17a accepts a stored ball replay operation (step S107; Yes), the data management unit 17a subtracts the stored ball balance, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number of balls corresponding to the number of stored ball replay units, and the number of gaming machine balls. (Step S108). When the operation of the storage ball replay is not accepted (step S107; No), the process proceeds to step S109.

  When the notification of the number of gaming machine balls is received from the gaming machine 20 (step S109; Yes), the determination processing unit 17e of the inter-card card processing machine 10 determines the number of possessions of the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine. The number of gaming machine balls of 20 and the stored ball balance are summed and compared with the upper limit value of the stored ball number (step S110). When there is no notification of the number of gaming machine balls from the gaming machine 20 (step S109; No), the process proceeds to step S114.

  When it is predicted that the total value exceeds the upper limit value of the number of balls or exceeds the upper limit value from the gaming state in the gaming machine 20 (step S111; Yes), the determination processing unit 17e instructs the notification processing unit 17e. , "Not exceeding the upper limit of the number of balls" or "Exceeding the upper limit of the number of balls" will be displayed, and a warning will be given to the member by indicating that the game time cannot be extended. (Step S112). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S114. If it is predicted that the upper limit of the number of stored balls will not be exceeded and it is determined that a warning is not required (step S111; No), the possible number of stored balls is displayed (step S113), and the process proceeds to step S114.

  When the card return operation is accepted (step S114; Yes), the data management unit 17a requests the gaming machine 20 for the number of gaming machine balls. Then, the number of balls is associated with the member card ID, a card discharge notification is transmitted to the card management device 40, the card processing unit 17b discharges the card (step S115), and the process is terminated.

  If no card return operation is accepted (step S114; No), the process returns to step S103, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, prior to the start of the game, the member can check the storage limit and the balance at the start of the game, and the number of balls and whether the storage limit will be applied while playing the game. Information can be confirmed in near real time. For this reason, the member can avoid the situation where the request is rejected beyond the upper limit value at the stage of the saving operation without interrupting the game for checking the savings.

  In addition, since members can check not only the information on whether or not to save money while continuing the game, but also the number of held balls, the willingness to move or move to the stored ball without being bothered by whether or not to move to the stored ball. In addition to making decisions early, it will be possible to carry out systematic ball operation and enjoy the game comfortably.

  As a result, it is also possible for amusement stores to predict the excess of the number of stored balls by members, so that the mental burden caused by complaints to store staff due to sudden storage restrictions is reduced, especially during busy hours near the end of business hours. The effect of avoiding troubles with customers can be expected.

  Further, the warning display timing for the player is automatically displayed regardless of what is displayed on the display operation unit 13 at that time when it exceeds or is predicted to exceed the upper limit value of the number of balls. A warning may be given by notification by the operation unit 13. It should be noted that the display may be automatically performed even when the storage ball number upper limit value is approached.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the display of the number of balls has not been described in detail, but the gaming machine ball number information is transmitted from the gaming machine 20 to the inter-card processing machine 10 at intervals of several hundred ms (milliseconds). In consideration of, for example, the number of gaming machine balls of the gaming machine 20 may be used for calculation as it is at regular intervals (for example, 6 seconds = 10 shots), or prediction using a prediction formula You may calculate a value and display the total number of balls.

  Further, in this embodiment, the explanation has been made mainly on the upper limit value of the number of balls for the storage limit information, but other limit values, for example, limit information such as the number of days allowed for storage and the number of times of storage can be set in the same manner to provide information to the member Is possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made centering on the output of the warning information in consideration of the restriction information called the upper limit value of the number of stored balls for the member, but the display content is not limited thereto. For example, the inter-card card processing machine 10 adds the number of balls, the number of gaming machines from the gaming machine 20, and the number of stored balls for the day by the portable terminal to display on the screen, so that the gaming machine 20 has the current day. It is also possible to provide the game information and ball stacking information to the player. As a result, it is possible for the game store to expect a publicity effect such as an appearance appeal to the player. Further, the total number of balls may be provided by an illustration display such as a ball box display.

  In addition, in this embodiment, whether or not the game time extension service is possible is displayed depending on whether or not the storage limit is applied to the member, but conversely, the number of balls has exceeded a certain number for non-member players. In this case, it may be possible to promote the member registration by displaying that it is not necessary to line up at the counter by the member registration or that the game time extension service is possible.

  Further, in this embodiment, detailed description of the form of the card, which is a medium for associating the number of game media, is omitted, but such a card includes a magnetic card, an IC card, and the like. Further, although the “card” has been described as an example here for convenience of explanation, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a chip, a stick, a portable terminal, or the like is used in addition to such a card. In particular, when a mobile terminal with an IC chip is used as a medium, since the mobile terminal can be uniquely identified using identification information that can be obtained in a non-contact manner from the IC chip of the mobile terminal, the game medium is associated with the identification information. You can manage the number.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the total value of the possession balls managed by the inter-card card processing machine 10 and the number of gaming machine balls managed by the gaming machine 20 is displayed and output on the inter-card card processing machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case where an information display (each display) that displays the gaming information of the gaming machine corresponding to the gaming machine is provided, the total value for each display The total value may be displayed on each display unit by outputting a signal that can identify the

  Also, in this embodiment, a ball type that performs a game in which a prize is given when a game ball that has fired (shot) a spherical game medium (game ball) as a gaming machine enters or passes a predetermined area of the board surface. Although a description has been given using a gaming machine as an example, instead of this, a certain number of game media are set as the number of bets for one game, and a lottery is performed on condition that a predetermined rotation start operation is performed. As a result of rotating the reel (reel) and then stopping the rotation of the reel, the game is performed to give a prize when a predetermined symbol combination corresponding to the lottery result is established on the reel. The present invention can be applied even to a body-type game machine. In the case of a revolving game machine, the number of credits stored electronically as a game medium in the game machine 20 as data corresponding to the number of balls managed by the game machine 20 in the above-described embodiment, and betting The total value of the number of game media stored and set in the betting number storage unit is used as the number.

  Each configuration illustrated in the present embodiment is functionally schematic and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. That is, the distribution / integration of each device is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed / integrated in arbitrary units according to various loads or usage conditions. Can be configured.

  As described above, the gaming system and the gaming management method according to the present invention operate in a gaming store by efficiently and timely informing a player of information managed by the inter-card processing machine and the gaming machine, respectively. Suitable for improving the performance.

10 inter-card processing machine 11 R / W unit 11a card insertion slot 12 banknote transport unit 12a banknote insertion slot 13 display operation unit 14 communication unit 15 gaming machine management board 16, 45, 55 storage unit 16a card ID
16b Valuable value data 16c Game setting data 16d Storage limit data 16e Game machine state storage unit 16f Device ID
16g machine ID
17, 46, 56 Control unit 17a Data management unit 17b Card processing unit 17c Reservation limit information acquisition unit 17d Game machine management unit 17d1 Game data reception unit 17e Determination processing unit 17f Notification processing unit 17g Display control unit 20 Gaming machine 21 Handle 22 Holding Number of balls display unit 23 Count switch 24 Communication control unit 25 Production control unit 25a Production symbol lottery unit 25b Production lottery unit 26 Game control unit 27 Game ball control unit 27a Mochitama memory 30 Island controller 40 Card management device 41, 51 Display unit 42 , 52 Input unit 43 External network communication unit 44, 53 Amusement store network communication unit 45a Store ID
45b Card management data 45c Device management data 46a Card management unit 46b Device management unit 46c Authentication key distribution history management unit 50 Member management device 55a Member management data 55b Restriction setting data 55c Game setting data 56a Member management unit 56b Restriction setting processing unit 56c Management unit 60 Premium management device 70 Settlement machine 80 Communication line

Claims (7)

A gaming machine, a table device provided in correspondence with the gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, and a storage medium management means for managing the number of gaming media deposited by a player registered as a member in the gaming store; A gaming system having
The inter-device is
Management game medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media associated with the recording medium possessed by the player;
Management game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media acquired by the management game medium number acquisition means as the number of management game media;
When a predetermined operation is accepted, information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media stored in the managed game media number storage means is transmitted to the gaming machine, and the number of managed game media transmitted Management game medium number transfer operation accepting means for performing the invalidation processing,
Transfer game medium number receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of game media for transfer from the gaming machine;
Based on the number of game media received by the transfer game medium number receiving means, the management game medium number stored in the management game medium number storage means is updated and invalidated by the management game medium number transfer operation receiving means. Based on the processing, game medium number update means for updating the management game medium number stored in the management game medium number storage means;
A game medium number specifying information receiving means for receiving game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media managed by the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof;
A number of game media acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media corresponding to the player from the game media management means;
The number of gaming machines specified from the number-of-games-specific information received by the number-of-games-specific information receiving means and the number of managed game media are added to the number of acquired reserved game media acquired by the number of stored game media acquisition means. A determination means for determining whether or not an upper limit value determined for the number of game media stored is exceeded,
Before number system gaming machine game media, said management game based on the medium number and the number of management game media stored by the storage means, performs information output, the determination unit according to the determination result to the response information output performed information output A gaming system comprising: means. A gaming machine, a table device provided in correspondence with the gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, and a storage medium management means for managing the number of gaming media deposited by a player registered as a member in the gaming store; A gaming system having
The gaming machine is
Game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media that a player can use for the game;
Receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of game media to be used for games from the inter-device;
A game operation receiving means for receiving a game operation of the player using the number of game media stored in the game medium number storage means;
Use processing means for performing use processing of the number of game media stored in the game media number storage means in response to the game operation;
Lottery means for performing predetermined lottery determination based on the game operation received by the game operation accepting means;
Award game medium giving means for giving a predetermined number of game media to the player as a prize;
Upon accepting a predetermined transition operation, part or all of the number of game media stored in the game media number storage means is transmitted to the inter-device so that it can be specified, and the transmitted number of game media is invalidated. A game medium number transfer operation accepting means;
Based on the number of game media received by the receiving means or the number of game media awarded as prizes by the award game medium giving means, the number of game media stored in the game media number storage means is updated and the use A game medium number updating unit for updating the number of game media stored in the game medium number storage unit based on a use process by the processing unit and an invalidation process by the game medium number transfer operation receiving unit;
The number of game media stored in the game media number storage means or the number of pieces of game medium specifying information that can specify the approximate number is stored in the inter-unit device without updating the number of game media stored in the game media number storage means. A game medium number specifying information transmitting means for transmitting,
The inter-device is
Management game medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media associated with the recording medium possessed by the player;
A number of game media acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media corresponding to the player from the game media management means;
The number of game media specified by the number-of-games-specific information transmitted by the number-of-games-specific information transmitting unit and the number of managed game media acquired by the number of managed game media acquisition unit are the number of stored game media. A determination means for determining whether or not an upper limit value set for the number of game media to be stored is exceeded when added to the number of game storage media acquired by the acquisition means;
Before number system gaming machine game media, the management game on the basis of the number management game media obtained by the speed obtaining means medium, performs information output, the determination unit according to the determination result to the response information output performed information output A gaming system comprising: means.   The information output means outputs information that can specify a difference value between the total value of the number of managed game media, the number of game machine game media, and the number of acquired game media and the upper limit value. The gaming system according to claim 1 or 2. A gaming system having a gaming machine and an inter-device provided to be associated with the gaming machine and capable of communicating with the gaming machine,
The inter-device is
Management game medium number acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media associated with the recording medium possessed by the player;
Management game medium number storage means for storing the number of game media acquired by the management game medium number acquisition means as the number of management game media;
When a predetermined operation is accepted, information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media stored in the managed game media number storage means is transmitted to the gaming machine, and the number of managed game media transmitted Management game medium number transfer operation accepting means for performing the invalidation processing,
Transfer game medium number receiving means for receiving information specifying the number of game media for transfer from the gaming machine;
Based on the number of game media received by the transfer game medium number receiving means, the management game medium number stored in the management game medium number storage means is updated and invalidated by the management game medium number transfer operation receiving means. Based on the processing, game medium number update means for updating the management game medium number stored in the management game medium number storage means;
A game medium number specifying information receiving means for receiving game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media managed by the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof;
Based on the number of gaming machines specified from the gaming medium number specifying information received by the gaming medium number specifying information receiving means, and the number of managed gaming media stored by the managed gaming medium number storage means, the gaming machine A game system comprising: information output means for specifying the total number of game media obtained by summing up the number of game media and the number of managed game media and outputting information relating to the total number of game media. A game media management means for managing the number of game media deposited by a player registered as a member of a game store;
The inter-device is
A number of game media acquisition means for acquiring the number of game media corresponding to the player from the game media management means;
The information output means specifies the total number of game media stored by adding up the number of game machines, the number of managed game media, and the number of game media corresponding to the player, and the total number of games stored The gaming system according to claim 4, further comprising a function of outputting information related to the number of media. A gaming machine, a table device provided in correspondence with the gaming machine so as to be able to communicate with the gaming machine, and a storage medium management means for managing the number of gaming media deposited by a player registered as a member in the gaming store; A game management method for a game system having
A management game medium number acquisition step in which the inter-device device acquires the number of game media associated with a recording medium possessed by the player;
A management game medium number storage step in which the inter-device device stores the number of game media acquired in the management game medium number acquisition step as a management game medium number in a storage unit;
When the inter-device device receives a predetermined operation, it sends information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media to the gaming machine and invalidates the number of managed game media transmitted A management game medium number transfer operation acceptance step for performing processing;
A game medium number specifying information receiving step in which the inter-device device receives game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media stored in the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof;
A number of stored game media that obtains the number of stored game media corresponding to the player from the stored game media management means ;
The number of game machines and the number of management game media specified from the number of game media specification information received in the game media number specification information receiving step is added to the number of acquired game media acquired in the storage media number acquisition step. A determination step for determining whether or not an upper limit value determined for the number of game media to be stored,
Comprise said platform between devices, and front number system gaming machine game media, on the basis of the number of the management game media, performs information output, and an information output step of the information output according to the determination result by the determination step A game management method characterized by that. A game management method for a gaming system, comprising a gaming machine and an inter-table device provided in correspondence with the gaming machine so as to communicate with the gaming machine,
A management game medium number acquisition step in which the inter-device device acquires the number of game media associated with a recording medium possessed by the player;
A management game medium number storage step in which the inter-device device stores the number of game media acquired in the management game medium number acquisition step as a management game medium number in a storage unit;
When the inter-device device receives a predetermined operation, it sends information that can specify a part or all of the number of managed game media to the gaming machine and invalidates the number of managed game media transmitted A management game medium number transfer operation acceptance step for performing processing;
A game medium number specifying information receiving step in which the inter-device device receives game medium number specifying information capable of specifying the number of game media stored in the gaming machine or an approximate number thereof;
Based on the number of gaming machine gaming media identified from the gaming media number identifying information received by the gaming machine number identifying information receiving step and the number of managed gaming media, A game management method comprising: an information output step of specifying a total number of game media obtained by summing up the number of management game media and outputting information related to the total number of game media.

Images