JP6308450B2 - Gaming device and imaging disturbance detection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus and an imaging interference detection method for a possible determination gaming that imaging surveillance camera provided in the game arcade has been hampered.

In game halls where game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are installed, illegally stealing balls using equipment such as wires, or illegally using game media brought in from other stores Cheating may occur.
For this reason, in many game halls, surveillance cameras for monitoring the behavior of gaming machines and players are attached in order to detect such illegal acts.

However, there is a case where an imaging disturbance is made by covering the lens of the surveillance camera with a light shielding member such as a black cloth. When an illegal act is performed together with such an imaging disturbance, the entire captured image becomes black and no longer illegal. The act cannot be found.
Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a gaming machine monitoring system capable of detecting and notifying such an imaging disturbance of the monitoring camera.
According to this gaming machine monitoring system, the luminance value of the image captured by the monitoring camera is obtained, and the notification process is performed when it is detected that the luminance value has fallen below a predetermined threshold value.
That is, with this type of surveillance camera, image data including a luminance value corresponding to the amount of light incident through the lens is output to a monitor or the like, and on the monitor or the like, the smaller the luminance value, the blacker the image becomes. Therefore, it is possible to detect such an imaging disturbance by detecting image data having extremely small luminance values.

JP 2011-218150 A

However, there is room for improvement in the conventional technology described above.

In order to achieve the above object, the gaming device of the present invention is a game capable of determining that imaging by the imaging device is obstructed based on image information obtained by imaging by an imaging device provided in a game hall. An imaging device that is capable of paying out game media and image information indicating information obtained by quantifying the amount of light incident on the imaging device An imaging disturbance determination unit that determines that the imaging is performed, and the imaging disturbance determination unit includes a possibility of the imaging disturbance when the numerical information indicated in the image information is included within a specific threshold range. determining a first state indicating the first state determines that the second condition is likely interference of the imaging than the first state to continue a predetermined time, the game medium The payout means Based on where it is determined that the second state by interference determining means limits the payout of game media, the a possibility of interference degree corresponding to the level of disturbance of the imaging, of the first state An interference level that increases in accordance with the duration is provided in association with a predetermined reference time, and the imaging interference determination means, when the duration has passed the reference time, determines the interference level corresponding to the reference time. When the determination is performed and the numerical information is included in the range of the specific threshold and is further included in the range of the second threshold corresponding to the possibility of the imaging interference being further increased, Reference time varying means for setting the reference time to a time shorter than the currently set time is provided .

Further, the imaging disturbance detection method of the present invention is an imaging disturbance detection method capable of determining that imaging by the imaging device is disturbed based on image information obtained by imaging by an imaging device provided in a game hall. Then, based on the first step of paying out the game medium and image information indicating information obtained by quantifying the amount of light incident on the imaging device, it is determined that imaging by the imaging device is obstructed. A second state, wherein the second step indicates a possibility of disturbance of the imaging when the numerical information indicated in the image information is included within a specific threshold range. And a step of determining the second state having a higher possibility of disturbance of the imaging than the first state because the first state continues for a predetermined time, and The first step is performed before the second step. Based on the determination of the second state, the payout of the game medium is restricted, and the degree of disturbance corresponding to the level of the possibility of disturbance of the imaging, depending on the duration of the first state A higher interference level is provided in association with a predetermined reference time, and the second step performs determination to determine the interference level corresponding to the reference time after the reference time has elapsed. , If the numerical information is included in the range of the specific threshold, and further included in the range of the second threshold corresponding to the possibility of the interference of the imaging is further increased, the reference time is A time shorter than the set time is set .

It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the surveillance camera system provided with the imaging disturbance detection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows typically the relationship between the game machine in a game arcade to which the surveillance camera system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied, a surveillance camera, etc. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging disturbance detection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the signal transmitted / received between each apparatus. It is a data table used for the density determination and monochrome occupation rate determination which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a data table used for alerting | reporting control and operation | movement control which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a data table used for operation control of a peripheral camera concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole procedure of the imaging disturbance detection method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image determination process based on light / dark determination. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image determination process based on black-and-white occupation rate determination. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image determination process based on game state determination. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an initial value comparison process. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the calling lamp corresponded to other embodiment of the imaging disturbance detection apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the surveillance camera system which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an imaging disturbance detection apparatus according to a gaming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the surveillance camera system 30 a according to the present embodiment is a surveillance system provided in a game hall 1 in which a large number of gaming machines 20 a such as pachinko machines and slot machines are installed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the surveillance camera system 30a according to the present embodiment can capture a wide range of the base camera 31 that captures a specific area for each of the gaming machine 20a and the inter-table machine 20b, and the game hall 1. The peripheral camera 35, the computer 32 installed for each gaming machine 20a, the hall computer 10 for summing up game information, etc., and the imaging disturbance for detecting the imaging interference of the camera 31 by acquiring information from each device And a detection device 33.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, so-called Katashima is installed in two rows (Katashima 1a and Katashima 1b), and 12 sets of gaming machines 20a and inter-table machines 20b are installed in each Katashima.

The gaming machine 20a is a variety of gaming machines that play games using game media such as game balls and medals, such as pachinko machines and slot machines.
The inter-machine 20b is provided for each gaming machine 20a, and includes, for example, a game medium lending unit that lends game media, each counter counting unit that counts game media, and a inter-display unit that performs predetermined display. It is a game media lending device.

As shown in FIG. 4, various game signals are output from the gaming machine 20a and the inter-table machine 20b.
The gaming signal output from the gaming machine 20a includes an out signal indicating the number of gaming media inserted into the gaming machine 20a, a safe signal indicating the number of gaming media paid out from the gaming machine 20a, and a jackpot indicating the jackpot state of the gaming machine 20a. There are a signal, a start signal output for each game, and the game signal output from the inter-table machine 20b includes a sales signal indicating the number of game media lent out. The data is transmitted to the hall computer 10 via a relay information processing device such as the computer 32 and the island computer 50, and the hall computer 10 collects and manages game data for each gaming machine 20a.

The calling lamp 34 is installed above the gaming machine 20a, and lights up or blinks lamps such as a light bulb and an LED to notify the surroundings of the occurrence of a big hit, the probability change, the calling of a clerk, and the like.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, a corner lamp 36 is installed at the island end of Katashima 1b. In this embodiment, call lamps 34 (34-13 to 34- belonging to Katashima 1b are controlled by the hall computer 10 to be described later. The corner lamp 36 is turned on in conjunction with the lighting operation 24).

The stand computer 32 is an information processing apparatus electrically connected to the stand camera 31, and transmits imaging data (image information) captured by the stand camera 31 to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 via the communication cable 333. It has become.
The stand computer 32 can also compress the image data captured by the stand camera 31 into a JPEG format or the like and send it to the image pickup disturbance detection device 33.
The stand computer 32 also outputs a game signal received from the gaming machine or the like via the call lamp 34 to the island computer 50.

The stand camera 31 is a monitoring camera (imaging device) that captures a specific area as an imaging range for each gaming machine 20a.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, a base camera 31 is installed for each gaming machine 20a, and an area where a player playing a game on the gaming machine 20a is located (such as the upper area of the gaming chair 2), and the operating area of the player (A region where the movement of the player's hand can be understood), a peripheral region of the gaming machine 20a and the inter-table machine 20b (hereinafter collectively referred to as the gaming machine 20 unless otherwise specified), and the like are imaged as a specific region. It is like that.
The base camera 31 is installed with a lens portion fixed in advance so that the imaging direction faces a specific area for each gaming machine 20.
The table camera 31 is set so as to capture a moving image of a specific region or a continuous still image obtained by capturing the specific region at regular intervals. Is input to the imaging disturbance detection device 33.
The base camera 31 outputs image information having R, G, and B luminance values for each pixel constituting the image as color imaging data, and a gray scale having black and white grayscale values as monochrome imaging data. Image information can be output.

The peripheral camera 35 is a surveillance camera provided to capture a wide area of a predetermined area of the game hall 1.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, three peripheral cameras 35 are installed on the ceiling of a passage (so-called “river”) between Katashima 1a and Katashima 1b. Each peripheral camera 35 (peripheral cameras 35a to 35c) is installed on an electric pan head (not shown), and is operated by pan (left and right) and tilt (up and down), and four gaming machines 20a on Katashima 1a and Katashima facing these. A total of eight monitoring objects of four gaming machines 20a of 1b are provided and monitored. In addition, by mounting an electronic zoom lens (not shown), zoom / focus operation is also possible.
In addition, the peripheral camera 35 of the present embodiment monitors the imaging disturbance with respect to the pedestal camera 31 by setting the imaging area of the pedestal camera 31 included in the monitoring area as a monitoring target. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the peripheral camera 35 a is installed so that the base cameras 31-1 to 31-4 and 31-13 to 31-16 can be imaged as monitoring targets.
Each peripheral camera 35 is communicably connected to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 via the communication cable 331, and imaging data captured by the peripheral camera 35 is transmitted to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 via the communication cable 331. It has become so.

The hall computer 10 is composed of an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation, and has functions such as data management of the gaming machine 20, detection of failure or abnormality, and detection of fraud based on various game signals.
The hall computer 10 is communicably connected to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 via the communication cable 332 so that a game signal input via each device such as the island computer 50 can be transmitted to the imaging disturbance detection device 33. It has become.

(Imaging interference detection device)
The imaging disturbance detection device 33 is an information processing device that detects that imaging of the imaging device is disturbed based on image information of a captured image captured by the imaging device provided in the game hall.
As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging disturbance detection device 33 is composed of a computer including a control unit 33a including a ROM, a RAM, a CPU, and the like in which a program for detecting an imaging disturbance of the table camera 31 is recorded. However, by executing the program recorded in the ROM, the imaging disturbance detection device 33 is caused to function as the following means.

The control unit 33a transmits and receives predetermined information to and from each computer 32 by operating as the computer terminal device communication unit 33b-1. Specifically, the image information for each gaming machine 20 captured by each camera 31 is received from the computer 32 via the communication cable 333, and the notification by the calling lamp 34 or the inter-machine is based on a predetermined imaging disturbance determination. A control signal relating to the operation control 20b is transmitted to the computer 32 (see FIG. 4).
In addition, the control unit 33a operates as the peripheral camera communication unit 33b-2 to transmit / receive predetermined information to / from each peripheral camera 35. Specifically, a control signal related to operation control of the peripheral camera 35 is transmitted via the communication cable 331 (see FIG. 4), and image information captured by each peripheral camera 35 is received.
In addition, the control unit 33a operates as the gaming machine management device communication unit 33b-3, thereby transmitting and receiving predetermined information to and from the hall computer 10. Specifically, in addition to operating as signal acquisition means for acquiring a signal indicating whether or not the gaming machine 20 is operating from the hall computer 10 via the communication cable 332, a control signal related to notification is transmitted to the hall computer 10. To do.
Note that a signal indicating the operation of the gaming machine 20 can be received not only from the hall computer 10 but also via the base computer 32 (see FIG. 4).

The control unit 33a operates the storage unit 33c formed of a storage medium such as a hard disk as a moving image storage unit or a still image storage unit, so that a color or gray scale moving image or a still image captured by the table camera 31 or the peripheral camera 35 is obtained. Store image information of an image.
The storage medium can store the image information of the specific area captured for each gaming machine 20 together with the time when the image was captured and the information of the captured camera 31.

The control unit 33a operates as the imaging disturbance determination unit 33d, so that the table is based on image information indicating information obtained by digitizing the amount of light incident on the table camera 31 during imaging (hereinafter referred to as numerical information). Processing for determining that the imaging of the camera 31 is obstructed is performed.
For this reason, the control unit 33a obtains the numerical information indicated by the extracted target image information while taking out the image information stored in the storage unit 33c by the imaging of the table camera 31 in the order of the imaging time. Yes.

  As “numerical information”, for example, an average value in a predetermined region of an image related to the image information is obtained based on image information indicating a gray value or luminance value obtained by digitizing the amount of light incident on the base camera 31 at the time of imaging. Average gray value or average luminance value. Further, based on the image information indicating the gray value or the luminance value, it is determined whether or not each pixel constituting the image related to the image information has a predetermined single color, and the pixel determined as the single color occupies the image There is a black and white occupancy rate for which the ratio was calculated.

The “average gray value” is numerical information used for imaging disturbance determination in the case where the target image is a grayscale image represented by a grayscale value representing black and white grayscale, and the grayscale value of each pixel forming the grayscale image is This is numerical information obtained as an average value in a predetermined region of the image (the entire image or a divided image divided into a predetermined number).
“Pixel” is the minimum element of an image constituting an image, and includes both “dot” expressed by a display, a printer, and the like and “pixel” as image information.
The range of the gray value is “0 to 255”, “0” is white, “255” is the darkest black, and “0 to 255” indicates darker black as the numerical value is higher.

The “average luminance value” is numerical information used for imaging disturbance determination when the target image is an RGB color image, and the R, G, and B luminance values (R value, G value, and B value) of each pixel are black and white. Is a numerical value information obtained by converting the luminance value of each pixel after conversion into an average value in a predetermined area of the image.
The conversion from the R, G, and B luminance values to the black and white luminance values uses, for example, an average value of the R value, the G value, and the B value, or a value calculated by a predetermined conversion equation (YUV equation or the like). be able to.
The range of each of the R value, G value, and B value is “0 to 255”, “0” is white, “255” is the darkest color, and “0 to 255” is a darker red as the numerical value is higher. , Green and blue. However, according to the color mixture of the R value, the G value, and the B value, it is white when each luminance value is the maximum value, and is black when each luminance value is the minimum value. For this reason, the black and white luminance values obtained by converting the R value, the G value, and the B value are “255” is white, “0” is the darkest black, and “0 to 255” indicating light and shade are The lower the value, the darker the black.

“Monochrome occupancy” is numerical information used for imaging disturbance determination when the target image is a grayscale image. For the gray value of each pixel, the black and white values are used for pixels whose gray value is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value. Pixels less than this are numerical information obtained by binarizing to determine a white value and obtaining a ratio of pixels determined to be a black value (or white value). The “predetermined reference value” in binarization is preferably a value (for example, 250 and 5) close to the maximum value (255) or the minimum value (0) of the gray value. In this way, it is possible to extract the black value and white value excluding the gray portion.
The “monochrome occupancy ratio” can also be used for imaging disturbance determination when the target image is an RGB color image. In this case, the R, G, B luminance values (R value, G value, B value) is converted into black and white luminance values, and binarization is performed to determine that pixels whose black and white luminance values are greater than or equal to the reference value (threshold value) are white values, and pixels that are less than the reference value are black values. The ratio of pixels determined as “black and white occupancy ratio” is assumed.

When the numerical information obtained in this way is included in the range of “specific threshold value”, the control unit 33a determines the “first state” indicating the possibility of image pickup interference.
As the “specific threshold value” used for determining the “first state”, an arbitrary value or range can be set.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the “specific threshold” in the imaging disturbance determination (black and white occupancy determination) based on the black and white occupation ratio is set to “less than 5%” or “95% or higher”, and the average gray value is set. Alternatively, the “specific threshold” in the imaging disturbance determination (darkness determination) based on the average luminance value is “10% or less (0 to 25; 26/256 = 10%)” or “90% or more (230 to 255; 230 / 256 = 90%) ”.

The reason why the threshold value of the average gray value is set to “230 to 255 (90%)” is that the average gray value has such a characteristic that the image is generally displayed black as the gray value of each pixel increases. This is to determine a state where the entire image is black.
In addition, the threshold value of the average luminance value is set to “0 to 25 (10%)” because the average luminance value has a characteristic that the image is generally displayed black as the luminance value of each pixel decreases. This is for determining such a state that the entire image is black.
Further, the reason why the black and white occupancy threshold is set to “95 to 100%” is that the black and white occupancy has such a characteristic that the image is generally displayed black as the gray value of each pixel increases. This is to determine a state where the whole is black.
That is, when most of the lens of the table camera 31 is covered with the light shielding member and the captured image is displayed black as a whole, the average gray value becomes extremely high and the average luminance value becomes extremely low. Or, since the black-and-white occupancy rate becomes extremely high, it is possible that a large part of the lens of the base camera 31 is covered, that is, imaging disturbance is performed by setting the specific threshold value in the numerical range as described above. Sex will be detected.

The reason why the threshold value of the average gray value is set to “0 to 25 (10%)” is that the average gray value has such a characteristic that the image is displayed as white as the gray value of each pixel becomes lower. This is to determine a state where the entire image is white.
The threshold value of the average luminance value is set to “230 to 255 (90%)” because the average luminance value has a characteristic that the image is generally displayed as white as the luminance value of each pixel increases. This is for determining such a state that the entire image is displayed in white.
The black and white occupancy threshold is set to “0 to 5%” because the black and white occupancy has such a characteristic that the image becomes white as the gray value of each pixel becomes lower. This is for determining a state in which the whole is white.
That is, when the captured image is displayed as white as a whole when light emitting means such as an LED is attached to the base camera 31 and is incident on almost the entire surface of the lens, the average gray value becomes extremely low. Since the average luminance value becomes extremely high and the black and white occupancy rate becomes extremely low, the light emitting means is attached to the base camera 31 by setting the specific threshold value within the above-described numerical range, and almost the entire surface of the lens. Therefore, it is detected that there is a state where the light is incident from the light source, that is, the possibility that the imaging interference has been performed.

In addition, the numerical information that is the determination target of the “first state” is not limited to the numerical information shown in the entire image of the captured image, but the numerical information shown in the divided image obtained by dividing the entire image, It can also be determined.
In this way, it is possible to detect the possibility of imaging disturbance such that a part of the lens of the base camera 31 (for example, the lower half or the center) is covered with the light shielding member or the light emitting means.

  Although the first state indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance is determined with the threshold as described above, if it is determined that imaging disturbance is immediately performed by this determination, for example, a non-malicious player or store clerk Even when a part of the body temporarily covers the lens of the table camera 31 during a game or work, each numerical information increases / decreases extremely, so this is erroneously determined as an imaging disturbance. That could be a problem.

Therefore, the control unit 33a determines that the “second state” is more likely to interfere with the imaging than the “first state” because the “first state” continues for a predetermined time. .
In other words, it is possible to determine that the probability of the imaging disturbance is increased when the state where the possibility of the imaging disturbance is continued.
In this case, since the response is made after the probability of the imaging disturbance is increased, the above-mentioned erroneous determination factor is eliminated, and the imaging disturbance can be appropriately dealt with.

In the “second state”, “interference level” corresponding to the state according to the level of the possibility of disturbance of imaging is set. Based on this interference level, the degree of interference in the “second state” The state according to can be determined.
Specifically, the “interference level” is an index indicating that the probability of imaging interference increases according to the duration of the “first state”. In the present embodiment, three levels of “interference level” including “caution”, “warning”, and “warning (critical)” are set.
By using such a degree of interference, it is possible to easily identify the degree of possibility of imaging disturbance and to control the processing necessary for the degree of interference.

FIG. 5 is a data table used for density determination and monochrome occupation rate determination.
“Determination of density” is a method of determining imaging disturbance using an average gray value or average luminance value, and “Determination of monochrome occupancy” is a method of determining imaging disturbance using a monochrome occupancy.
In either method, the degree of disturbance in the “second state” is determined in accordance with the passage of the duration of the “first state”.
As shown in FIG. 5, although there is a difference in the degree of interference depending on the level described later, for example, when determining the degree of interference by density determination, the average density value or the average luminance value is 6 to 10% or 90 to 94%. If this state continues for 10 seconds, the degree of disturbance is determined as “attention” (in the case of level A). In addition, if the average gray value or average luminance value is less than 5% or 95% or more continues for 1 second, the interference level is determined to be “caution”, and if it continues for 5 seconds or more, the interference level is determined to be “warning”. Further, if it continues for 10 seconds or more, the degree of disturbance is determined as “warning (critical)” (in the case of level S). Such a determination is performed in the controller 33a as follows.

The control unit 33a makes a determination that the degree of interference increases according to the duration of the “first state”. Specifically, according to the duration of the “first state”, the “caution” "→" Warning "→" Warning (critical) "is determined so that the degree of interference gradually increases (see FIG. 5).
That is, the degree of disturbance is set so as to increase according to the duration of the “first state”, and is set corresponding to the “reference time” provided according to the duration, When the “first state” passes this reference time, the degree of interference corresponding to the reference time is determined.

In this way, while determining an increase in the possibility of imaging disturbance according to the passage of the reference time, the degree of disturbance associated with this by a plurality of reference times corresponding to the passage of time and different time lengths is uniquely determined. Therefore, the possibility of imaging disturbance can be detected in stages.
The reference time can be set to an arbitrary time and is set in association with the degree of disturbance.
For this reason, by simply changing the reference time, the determination time of the interference level can be easily changed, and the content of the interference level for each reference time can be changed.
Therefore, it is possible to easily set and execute appropriate processing according to the level of the possibility of imaging disturbance, including notification control and operation restriction described below.

The control unit 33a operates as a notification control unit and an operation control unit, thereby performing notification control and operation control on a predetermined game hall device according to the elapsed time.
FIG. 6 is a data table that stores each camera 31 and each gaming machine 20a in association with the call lamp 34 that is a notification means and the machine 20b that is the operation restriction target.
Specifically, the control unit 33a determines a control operation corresponding to the degree of disturbance based on the imaging disturbance determination based on the data table shown in FIG. 5, and based on the determined control operation based on the data table shown in FIG. The game room device to be identified is identified.

  For example, when the “first state” continues for 1 second in the density determination of the image information captured by the base camera 31-12, the control unit 33a notifies the “caution” (see FIG. 5). Information of “caution” regarding the camera 31-12 is displayed on the touch panel P.

  When the “first state” continues for 5 seconds, a “warning” is notified by the corner lamp 36 and the calling lamp 34 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, the control unit 33a identifies the calling lamp 34-1 corresponding to the base camera 31-12 (see FIG. 6) and displays the lamp. At this time, the corner lamp 36 is also turned on (see FIG. 5). For this reason, a signal for requesting lighting of the corner lamp 36 is transmitted to the hall computer 10 together with information of the table camera 31-12. The hall computer 10 has a data table in which the base camera 31 and the corresponding corner lamp 36 are associated with each other, and the hall computer 10 causes the corner lamp 36 specified based on this data table to perform lamp display.

  If the “first state” continues for another 10 seconds, while the “warning” notification is continued, the control signal related to the operation control is transmitted to the interstage machine 20b-12 to count the game media and pay out the game media To cancel. For this reason, the control unit 33a identifies the corresponding intermediary machine 20b (see FIG. 6), and stops the counting of game media and the payout of game media in the identified intermediary machine 20b.

As described above, in “CAUTION”, only the store clerk is notified through the touch panel P, and in “WARNING”, the store clerk and the player are notified through the calling lamp 34 and the like, and “Warning (critical)” is performed. In addition, the operation of the inter-machine 20b is further restricted so that the process of gradually becoming stricter is performed.
In other words, only the possibility of imaging disturbance (first state) was determined, and instead of immediately performing notification processing or the like, it became a state (second state) in which there was a high risk of imaging disturbance. Or necessary measures are taken according to the degree of the possibility of the disturbance of the imaging.

Further, when determining the “first state”, the peripheral camera 35 does not wait for the progress of the state, and the peripheral camera 35 detects and records the periphery of the base camera 31 in which the imaging disturbance is detected (the maximum in FIG. 5). See below).
For this operation, the control unit 33a operates the storage unit 33c, which is a storage medium such as a hard disk, as an imaging device position storage unit, thereby obtaining information that can specify the position of the base camera 31 in the game hall 1. It is memorized in advance.
For example, since the peripheral camera 35a monitors the base cameras 31-1 to 31-4 and 31-13 to 31-16 (see FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 7, the peripheral camera 35 and the base camera 31 and a data table in which “relative angle” is associated with each other.
“Relative angle” means that the imaging direction of the peripheral camera 35a with respect to the base camera 31-1 is “0 ° (reference)”, and relative to the other base cameras 31-2 to 31-4 and 31-13 to 31-16. In this case, a relative angle based on the reference direction is determined.
The peripheral camera 35a is set to face the imaging area of the base camera 31-1 in the initial state.

The control unit 33a operates as the imaging control unit 33f, so that the imaging region of the table camera 31 in which the “first state” is determined and the possibility of the imaging disturbance is indicated is the position of the table camera 31. Is controlled by the peripheral camera 35 based on information that can identify the
For example, when the “first state” is determined for the base camera 31-2, the control unit 33a provides information on the relative angle “−30 °” corresponding to the base camera 31-2 with respect to the corresponding peripheral camera 35a. A control signal including is transmitted.
The peripheral camera 35a that has received this control signal is set at a position turned in the direction of “−30 °” from the direction of the camera 31-1 by the operation of an electric head (not shown). Accordingly, the peripheral camera 35a can capture and record the periphery of the base camera 31-2.
In addition, regarding the up / down operation and zoom / focus of the peripheral camera 35, it is possible to capture a clear and detailed image of a necessary portion by setting appropriate values for each camera 31.

In this way, when the “first state” is entered, the surroundings of the base camera 31 that may cause the imaging disturbance without interfering with the player's game from the early stage when the imaging disturbance is suspected. Can be imaged and recorded.
For this reason, even if imaging disturbance is not confirmed, it does not bother the player, and if there is imaging disturbance, it can be detected early.
For this reason, fraud can be prevented in advance, and the fact of imaging disturbance and fraud can be recorded as evidence images.

The control unit 33a operates as the reference time varying unit 33e, so that numerical information extracted from the image information is included within a specific threshold range (first state), and the state where the possibility of imaging interference is further increased In the case of being included in the “second threshold value” corresponding to, the reference time is set to a time shorter than the currently set time.
“Second threshold” is based on the premise that numerical information is included in a “specific threshold”, and whether it is in a state where the possibility of interference with imaging is further increased by being included in a specific threshold range. The range of numerical information that can be distinguished.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the “specific threshold” in the light / dark judgment is set to a level S (less than 5% or 95% or more) corresponding to the “second threshold” and other levels A ( 6 to 10% or 90 to 94%), and the reference time corresponding to each level is associated with the corresponding disturbance level.
Therefore, for example, if the average gray value extracted from the image information is “235 (92% = 235/256)”, the “first state” continues for 10 seconds, and then the “caution” is notified. On the other hand (level A), if the average gray value is “245 (96% = 245/256)”, after “first state” continues for 1 second (ie, immediately), “caution” Is notified (level S).
As the case of level S, for example, a case where the entire surface of the lens of the base camera 31 is almost completely covered with a light-shielding member is assumed. In such a case, there is a high possibility that imaging disturbance is intentionally performed. .
On the other hand, in the case of level A, for example, although the lens surface of the base camera 31 may be covered by some method, it is not obstructed by being maliciously covered by a player's hand or part of the body that is not a light shielding member. There is a high possibility that acts and sabotage are mixed, and such non-jamming behavior is often temporary.
Therefore, according to the value of the numerical information shown in the image information, if the probability of imaging disturbance is high, the reference time can be shortened to enable early response, while non-interfering actions can be mixed If the characteristics are high, the non-interfering action is eliminated by increasing the reference time to improve the accuracy of the interference determination.

In addition, the control unit 33a operates as the reference time variable means 33e, so that the reference time is set during the operation of the game hall before or after the operation of the game hall is started (that is, outside the business hours). A process of setting a time longer than the time set in is performed.
This is because there are no players outside of business hours, so it is difficult to assume that fraudulent acts will be performed. This is because, outside the time, there are operations such as cleaning by a store clerk and adjustment of a gaming machine, etc., so that it is necessary to set a comparatively long reference time as a determination criterion in order to prevent erroneous detection of imaging disturbance.

For example, the black-and-white occupation ratio determination shown in FIG. 5 represents the association between the reference time and the interference level during business hours. Specifically, the interference level “caution” and the reference time “1 second”. , The interference level “warning” corresponds to the reference time “5 seconds”, and the interference level “warning (critical)” corresponds to the reference time “10 seconds”.
On the other hand, when the control unit 33a recognizes that it is out of business hours, for example, the control unit 33a changes the setting of the reference time corresponding to the interference level “caution” from “1 second” to “2 seconds”, and the interference level “warning”. The reference time corresponding to is changed from “5 seconds” to “10 seconds”, and the reference time corresponding to the interference level “warning (critical)” is changed from “10 seconds” to “20 seconds”. The operation of the means 33e is performed.

  In this way, it is possible to detect imaging disturbances regardless of the business hours of the amusement hall, but it is possible to suppress unnecessary false detections outside of business hours, and relatively within business hours. It is possible to suppress damage caused by fraud by stricter time criteria for detecting imaging disturbances.

In addition, the control unit 33a operates as the reference time varying unit 33e so that when the “first state” is determined during the operation of the gaming machine 20, or after the “first state” is determined. When the operation of the gaming machine 20 is started, a process for setting the reference time to a time shorter than the currently set time is performed.
This is because, when the timing at which a game is played in a certain gaming machine 20 and the timing of the imaging disturbance of the base camera 31 that monitors the gaming machine 20 overlap, This is because there is a high possibility of progress and it is necessary to stop the progress immediately.
For this reason, when such a state is recognized, for example, the reference time for the interference determination “warning (serious)” is changed from “10 seconds” to “1 second”, and the standard used for the interference determination is changed. I try to be more strict.
For example, after the “first state” continues for 1 second, along with the notification of “warning”, if the operation of a predetermined game hall device is restricted (see FIG. 11), fraud is stopped early, It is possible to prevent the spread of damage due to fraud.

For example, when the control unit 33a acquires an out signal as a signal indicating that the gaming machine 20a is in operation, the control unit 33a temporarily stores the identification information of the gaming machine 20a extracted from the signal in the memory. After that, when the “first state” in the base camera 31 is determined, the correspondence between the base camera 31 and the gaming machine 20a is collated by the association in FIG. 6 and the identification information stored in the memory is related. When the gaming machine 20a is the gaming machine 20a corresponding to the camera 31 that has determined the “first state”, the reference time for determining the imaging disturbance for the camera 31 is shortened.
In addition, when the “first state” of the camera 31 is determined, the control unit 33a temporarily holds the identification information of the camera 31 in the memory. Thereafter, when an out signal is acquired as a signal indicating that the operation of the gaming machine 20a has started, the correspondence between the identification information of the gaming machine 20a extracted from the signal and the base camera 31 is shown in FIG. When the gaming machine 20a corresponding to the table camera 31 related to the identification information stored in the memory is the gaming machine 20a that has started operation, the reference time for determining the imaging disturbance for the table camera 31 is shortened. .
In this way, it is possible to detect at an early stage the situation where fraudulent activities are in progress along with imaging disturbances, and it is possible to process fraudulent acts at an early stage, thereby preventing the spread of damage due to fraudulent acts. .

Next, a configuration for detecting imaging disturbance in which the direction of the lens of the surveillance camera is changed will be described.
First, the control unit 33a operates the storage unit 33c formed of a storage medium such as a hard disk as a reference numerical information storage unit, so that numerical information indicated in the image information captured by the table camera 31 with a fixed imaging range is obtained. It is stored in advance as reference numerical information for each time zone associated with the time zone during which the image was taken.
In addition, the control unit 33a operates as the imaging disturbance determination unit 33d, so that the numerical information indicated in the image information captured by the table camera 31 at a predetermined time and the time zone belonging to the time when the imaging is performed. Is compared with the reference numerical information for each time zone, and when the numerical information is different, a process of determining the “first state” is performed.

“Time-based reference numerical information” is numerical information (average grayscale value, average luminance) indicated by image information when the base camera 31 installed in a mode in which the imaging range is fixed captures images at different time zones. Value, black-and-white occupation ratio, etc.) and information stored in association with the time zone.
For example, in the case where the time zone is stored in two parts, “11: 0 to 23:00 (within business hours)” and “23:00 to 11:00 (out of business hours)”, the predetermined time within the business hours is stored. The numerical information shown in the image information of the imaging range captured at the time and the numerical information shown in the image information of the imaging range captured outside business hours are distinguished and stored in association with each other so that the corresponding time zone can be specified. .
At this time, during business hours, it is assumed that the player is included in the imaging range because there are players in the game hall. For this reason, the average value or statistical value of the numerical information shown in a plurality of captured images captured while changing the time within the time zone while fixing the imaging range is used as the reference numerical information by time zone during business hours. .
In addition, it is assumed that there are no players in the game hall outside the business hours. For example, the panel of the gaming machine 20 is fixed as the imaging range, and numerical information obtained from the imaging range is classified by time zone outside the business hours. Reference numerical information.

In the imaging disturbance determination, the reference numerical information by time zone stored in this way is compared with the numerical information shown in the image information captured by the camera 31 that should have a fixed imaging range.
Specifically, numerical information is extracted from the captured image captured by the base camera 31 and compared with the reference numerical information for each time zone specified from the imaging time captured by the base camera 31.
For example, when the base camera 31 captures an imaging range at “12:00”, numerical information is taken out from the captured image, and this is used as a reference by time zone “within business hours” corresponding to “12:00”. Compare with numerical information. If the numerical information does not match as a result of the comparison, a “first state” indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance is determined for the camera 31.

In this way, from the numerical information extracted from the image information captured by the camera 31 installed so as to fix the imaging range, and the image information captured after the orientation of the camera 31 is changed. Since the numerical information to be extracted differs depending on the change of the imaging target, it is possible to detect imaging disturbances that are intended to avoid imaging of fraudulent actions by improperly changing the direction of the table camera 31.
Further, reference numerical information is stored in association with the time zone, and the numerical information acquired at the time of imaging is compared with the reference numerical information corresponding to the time zone at the time of imaging to determine the possibility of imaging disturbance. To do. For example, the time zone is divided into business hours and non-business hours, and the numerical information with the assumption that there is a player is compared within the business hours, and the numerical information with the assumption that there is no player outside the business hours To compare.
For this reason, it becomes possible to detect an imaging disturbance accurately by a method corresponding to each time zone regardless of inside and outside business hours.

As described above, according to the characteristic configuration of the imaging disturbance detection device 33 according to the embodiment of the present invention, light is incident on the table camera 31 at the time of imaging from the image information captured by the table camera 31 provided in the game hall. Based on numerical information such as an average gray value, an average luminance value, and a black and white occupancy ratio obtained by digitizing the amount of light, an imaging disturbance of the base camera 31 is detected.
Further, the determination of the imaging disturbance is performed by determining a “first state” indicating the possibility of the imaging disturbance when the numerical information indicated in the image information is included within a specific threshold range. "Is continued for a predetermined time, so that the" second state "having a higher possibility of disturbance of imaging is determined.
For this reason, for example, an imaging disturbance that covers the table camera 31 with a light shielding member or the like is detected, and a non-malicious player or a store clerk temporarily detects the non-interfering action that temporarily covers the table camera 31 as an imaging disturbance. It is supposed not to.
Further, it is possible to determine the possibility that the imaging is disturbed and the probability of the probability, and based on this determination, it is possible to take appropriate measures against the imaging interference.
On the other hand, the conventional game hall monitoring system has the following problems.
For example, in the case of a monitoring system that monitors a player, a monitoring camera may be installed in a place (for example, a pedestrian or the like) close to the player or the gaming machine.
In this case, a player who is playing a game or a store clerk who is working for cleaning may unintentionally temporarily cover the lens part of the surveillance camera with his / her hand. In the above-described technique, it is assumed that the image pickup is uniformly disturbed (notified erroneously).
Such a false notification is unwilling from a player who is playing the game correctly, and there is also annoying for the store clerk to deal with every false notification.
In addition, if the direction of the surveillance camera lens is unfairly changed, the amount of incident light may not change significantly. Therefore, the conventional technique for detecting an imaging disturbance based only on the luminance value is used for such imaging. It was difficult to find the disturbance .
According to the gaming apparatus and the imaging disturbance detection method of the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the possibility that the imaging by the imaging apparatus provided in the game hall is interrupted, and to perform appropriate processing according to the determination. It is possible to solve all or a part of such problems that should be improved by the monitoring system in the game hall of the present.

(Imaging interference detection method)
Next, an imaging disturbance detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the entire procedure of the imaging disturbance detection method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, the imaging disturbance detection method according to the present embodiment is based on whether it is within business hours (S1), and if it is within business hours (S1-Yes), the images shown in FIGS. A determination process is performed (S2), and if it is outside business hours (S1-No), an initial value comparison process shown in FIG. 12 is performed (S3).
The image determination process and the initial value comparison process are performed on the image information of an image obtained by capturing the specific area corresponding to each gaming machine 20 by each camera 31, and based on predetermined numerical information obtained from the image information. This is a process for detecting that the imaging of the camera 31 is obstructed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image determination processing based on density determination.
The density determination is an image determination process for determining the possibility of imaging disturbance and the degree of imaging disturbance of the base camera 31 based on the average density value and average luminance value of the image information.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the image determination process based on the density determination, first, an image division process is performed (S11). For example, 16 divided images are obtained by dividing the target image into 16 equal parts.
Note that the processing after S12 may be performed individually for all the divided images, or may be performed for a designated divided image (for example, the lower half of the image). In the former case, the density determination can be performed with high accuracy, and in the latter case, the density determination can be performed pinpoint on the target region while suppressing the processing load. It is also possible to perform shading determination for the entire image.

Next, the average shading for each divided image is obtained, and the respective shading levels are determined (S13). Specifically, based on the gray value and luminance value of each pixel of the divided image, the average gray value and average luminance value in the divided image are calculated to determine the gray level (level S or level A) (see FIG. 5). .
When the light / dark level is determined to be “level S” (S13—Yes), the “first state” indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance of the base camera 31 is determined, and the duration of the state is measured by a timer. .
When the duration of the “first state” has passed 1 second by the timer measurement (S14-Yes), the “second state” having a higher possibility of imaging disturbance than the “first state” is determined. At the same time, the degree of disturbance indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance is determined as “caution”, and “caution” is notified (S15). For example, predetermined notification information is displayed on the touch panel P.

When the duration of the “first state” has elapsed for 5 seconds by the timer measurement (S16—Yes), it is determined as a “warning” in which the degree of interference has been increased by one rank, and a warning is notified (S17). For example, the call lamp 34 and the corner lamp 36 are lit.
If the duration of the “first state” has exceeded 10 seconds by timer measurement (S18—Yes), it is determined as “warning (serious)” by further increasing the interference level by one rank, and a warning is notified. While continuing, the process which stops operation | movement of a predetermined | prescribed game room apparatus is performed (S19). For example, the counting and payout of game media in the inter-machine 20b is stopped.
In addition, the corresponding peripheral camera 35 performs imaging and recording processing around the base camera 31 (S20).

  In S14, when the “first state” does not continue for one second (S14-No), S15 to S19 are skipped and the recording process of S20 is performed. In S16, when the “first state” does not continue for 5 seconds (S16-No), S17 to S19 are skipped and the recording process of S20 is performed. In S18, when the “first state” does not continue for 10 seconds (S18-No), S19 is skipped and the recording process of S20 is performed.

On the other hand, in S13, when the gray level is not “level S” (S13-No) and is determined to be “level A” (S21-Yes), the “first” indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance of the base camera 31 is indicated. The state is determined, and the time during which the state continues is measured by a timer.
If the duration of the “first state” has exceeded 10 seconds due to the timer measurement (S22—Yes), it is determined that the degree of interference is “caution” and alerts the user (S23).
Then, the corresponding peripheral camera 35 performs imaging and recording processing around the base camera 31 (S20).
If the light / dark level is neither “level S” nor “level A” (S21-No), S22 to S23 are skipped, and in S22, “first state” is measured by timer measurement. Is not continued for 10 seconds (S22-No), S23 is skipped.

According to such image determination based on light / dark determination, there is a possibility of image capturing disturbance when the average light / dark value and the average luminance value based on the amount of light incident upon imaging by the base camera 31 are within a specific threshold range. By determining the “first state” and continuing the state, the “second state” having a higher possibility of imaging disturbance is determined.
In this “second state”, the degree of interference according to the level of the possibility of imaging disturbance is set corresponding to the reference time so as to increase according to the duration of the “first state”. The duration of the “first state” determines the corresponding disturbance degree every time the reference time elapses.
Also, the length of the reference time is changed and set according to the light and shade level corresponding to the probability of imaging disturbance.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to determine that there is a possibility of imaging disturbance and that the possibility increases with the passage of time, so appropriate notification / operation control is performed in a timely manner. be able to.
Further, the accuracy of the determination is improved by performing the image processing determination for each divided image.
For this reason, not only the entire lens surface of the base camera 31 but also, for example, when imaging disturbance is performed such that the lower half of the lens surface is covered with a light shielding member, based on a part of the image area. The possibility of imaging disturbance can be determined, and the detection accuracy of imaging disturbance can be increased.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image determination process based on the monochrome occupation ratio determination.
Here, first, the ratio of black and white is calculated (S31). Specifically, binarization processing is performed for each pixel of the target image to determine whether it is a white value or a black value, and the ratio of the black value (or white value) to all the pixels is obtained.
Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated monochrome ratio is an abnormal value (S32). For example, when the ratio of black and white (monochrome occupancy ratio) is less than 5% or 95% or more, since the entire image is almost white or black, it is determined that an abnormal value has been detected.

When it is determined that the ratio of black and white was an abnormal value (S32-Yes), the control unit 33a determines the “first state” indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance and sets the duration of the state. The measurement is performed by the timer, and the process proceeds to S33.
S33 to S39 are steps of interference degree, notification processing, and operation control according to the passage of time in the “first state”, and are the same as S14 to S20 in the above-described density determination (see FIG. 9).
For this reason, about S33-S39, description of S14-S20 is quoted and abbreviate | omitted.
If it is not determined that the black and white ratio is an abnormal value (S32-No), S33 to S39 are skipped.

According to such an image determination process based on the monochrome occupation ratio determination, each pixel is binarized based on the gray value or luminance value for each pixel based on the amount of light incident upon the imaging by the base camera 31, and the black value (white value) is determined. ) If the ratio of all pixels in the pixel is within a certain threshold range, the “first state” indicating the possibility of imaging disturbance is determined, and the state continues to enable more imaging disturbance. The “second state” having high characteristics is determined.
In addition, the “second state” is set corresponding to the reference time so that the degree of disturbance according to the level of the possibility of imaging disturbance is increased according to the duration of the “first state”. The duration of the “first state” determines the corresponding degree of disturbance every time the reference time elapses.
For this reason, the same effect as the case of the above-mentioned density determination can be exhibited.
Further, since the monochrome occupancy rate determination is based on the binarized data, the storage capacity in the storage unit 33c can be made smaller than a gray value or a luminance value having 256 gradation values.
In addition, when the monochrome occupation ratio is determined, the reading process from the storage unit 33c can be performed at high speed.
Further, since the monochrome occupancy rate determination is performed on the entire image, the calculation load related to the determination can be reduced as compared with the above-described density determination.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image determination processing based on the gaming state determination.
First, it is assumed that the imaging disturbance detection device 33 continuously receives game signals from the hall computer 10 (S51).
Then, based on the received game signal, the control unit 33a of the imaging disturbance detection device 33 monitors whether or not each gaming machine 20 has changed from non-operating (operating off) to operating (operating on) (S52). Specifically, by receiving an out signal that can identify that the game has started, the gaming machine 20 that has output the signal can be determined to be “in operation”.
Subsequently, the base camera 31 corresponding to the gaming machine 20 determined to be “in operation” is specified, and it is monitored whether or not the specified base camera 31 is determined to be the “first state” (S53). . Specifically, when the numerical information such as the average gray value, average luminance value, black and white occupancy shown in the captured image of the camera 31 is included within a specific threshold range, the “first state” is set. judge.

When the “first state” is determined for the base camera 31 corresponding to the gaming machine 20 determined to be “in operation” (S53—Yes), the reference time to be referred is changed from the level A to the level S. While setting, the duration of the “first state” is measured by a timer.
When the duration of the “first state” has elapsed by 1 second due to the timer measurement (S54—Yes), it is determined that the degree of interference is “warning”, the “warning” notification, and the predetermined game room device Processing for stopping the operation is performed (S55).
Further, the corresponding peripheral camera 35 performs imaging and recording processing around the base camera 31 (S56).
In S52, when it is not detected that the operation is changed from the operation OFF to the operation ON (S52-No), S53 to S56 are skipped. In S53, when it is not determined as the “first state” (S53-Yes), S54 to S56 are skipped. In S54, when the “first state” does not continue for one second (S54-No), S55 is skipped and the recording process of S56 is performed.

According to the image determination processing based on such gaming state determination, when the possibility of imaging disturbance is indicated for the base camera 31 corresponding to the gaming machine 20 during operation of the gaming machine 20, the reference time varying means The reference time for determining the degree of disturbance is shortened by the function 33e.
For this reason, the fraudulent act which is advancing in the aspect which is not imaged can be discovered at an early stage.
Therefore, it is possible to take measures at an early stage of fraud and prevent the damage caused by fraud.
Here, the gaming state determination method for shortening the reference time when the “first state” is determined while the gaming machine 20 is playing has been described, but after the “first state” is determined, There is also a gaming state determination method in which the reference time is shortened when the gaming machine 20 starts to operate.

Next, the procedure of initial value comparison processing outside business hours will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the initial value comparison process.
As shown in FIG. 12, an initial value is registered in advance here (S61).
Specifically, it is numerical information such as an average gray value, an average luminance value, and a black and white occupancy ratio shown in image information captured by the base camera 31 to which the imaging target is fixed, and is a time zone associated with the corresponding time zone. Register different reference numerical information as the initial value.
Then, a comparison process is performed between the numerical information indicated in the image information captured by the table camera 31 and the reference numerical information by time zone specified based on the time zone belonging to the time when the imaging was performed (S62). .

As a result of the comparison process, when both pieces of numerical information do not match and it is determined to be abnormal (S63-Yes), the “first state” is determined and the duration of the state is measured by a timer.
When the duration of the “first state” has passed 2 seconds by the timer measurement (S64—Yes), it is determined that the degree of interference is “caution”, and “caution” is notified (S65).
If the duration of the “first state” has exceeded 10 seconds by the timer measurement (S66—Yes), it is determined that the degree of interference is “warning”, and “warning” is notified (S67).

Furthermore, when the duration of the “first state” has exceeded 20 seconds by the timer measurement (S68—Yes), it is determined that the degree of interference is “warning (critical)”, and the “warning” notification is continued. In addition, a process for stopping the operation of the predetermined game hall device is performed (S69).
Further, the corresponding peripheral camera 35 performs imaging / recording processing around the base camera 31 (S70).
In S63, when it is not determined to be abnormal (S63-No), S64 to S70 are skipped. In S64, when the “first state” does not continue for 2 seconds (S64-No), S65 to S69 are skipped and the recording process of S70 is performed. If the “first state” is not continued for 10 seconds in S66 (S66-No), the recording process of S70 is performed by skipping S67 to S69. In S68, when the “first state” has not continued for 20 seconds (S68-No), S69 is skipped and the recording process of S70 is performed.

According to such initial value determination processing, the reference numerical value information for each time zone extracted from the image information captured by the table camera 31 installed so as to fix the imaging target in advance is registered, and after the registration, Since the comparison is made with the numerical information extracted from the image information captured by the camera 31, if the orientation of the camera 31 is changed after registration of the time-based reference numerical information, the imaging target Since the numerical information to be compared is different due to the change in the image, it is possible to detect an imaging disturbance that unduly changes the orientation of the table camera 31.
In particular, outside of business hours when there are no players, numerical information based on captured images that do not inherently change is compared, and if they do not match, an abnormality due to a change can be found.
For this reason, for example, by making a specific area of the gaming machine 20 an imaging target, it is possible to find a mischief with respect to the gaming machine 20 or a malfunction of the equipment outside the business hours of the game hall.
In addition, when it is outside business hours, the reference time for determining the degree of interference is set longer than the time set during business hours.
For this reason, in operations such as cleaning by a store clerk and adjustment of a game machine, etc., it is possible to suppress erroneous detection that determines that an act that is not obstructing is an obstructing act, such as a store clerk's hand or body temporarily covering the lens of the table camera 31. it can.

  As described above, according to the imaging disturbance detection device and the imaging disturbance detection method according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the imaging of the imaging device provided in the game hall is disturbed and the probability is high. Appropriate measures can be taken.

(Other embodiments)
Next, a call lamp which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Figure 13 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the call lamp corresponding to the onset Ming another embodiment.
The call lamp 34 shown in FIG. 13 is installed for each gaming machine 20 and records a program or the like for causing each component to function while being a call device that lights or blinks the lamp 34f according to the player's operation. A computer having a control unit 34a including a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU (all not shown) is configured, and the CPU executes a program recorded in the ROM so that the call lamp 34 is stored in the camera 34b. Each function in the unit 34c, the determination unit 34d, the communication unit 34e, and the image processing unit 34g is operated.

The storage unit 34c corresponds to a storage unit 33c that stores imaging data captured by the camera 34b corresponding to the base camera 31, and the image processing unit 34g uses an average density based on the amount of light at the time of imaging from the image data captured by the camera 34b. By obtaining numerical information such as a value, an average luminance value, and a monochrome occupancy rate, a part of the function of the imaging disturbance determination unit 33d is provided.
The communication unit 34e corresponds to various communication means that are communicably connected between the gaming machine 20 and the base computer 32, and can implement signal acquisition means for acquiring a signal indicating whether or not the gaming machine 20 is operating.
When the numerical information calculated by the image processing unit 34g is included within a specific threshold range, the determination unit 34d determines the “first state” indicating the possibility of image capturing disturbance of the camera 34b. When the “state” continues, the “second state” having a higher possibility of the imaging disturbance is determined, thereby having a partial function of the imaging disturbance determination unit 33d.

According to such a call lamp 34, it has substantially the function of each means with which the imaging disturbance detection apparatus 33 in the above-mentioned embodiment is provided, and further includes a camera 34b corresponding to the base camera 31.
For this reason, the gaming apparatus of the present invention can be constituted by such a call lamp 34, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.
In addition, such a structure can also be given to the machine 20b.

Next, a surveillance camera system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a surveillance camera system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 14, a surveillance camera system 30b according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an HDR (NVR) (hard disk recorder (network video recorder) 61, image recorded on HDR (NVR) 61, which is a recording device. The above-described network camera system includes a monitor 63 for displaying the image, a camera control unit 62 capable of controlling the operation of the base camera 31 and the peripheral camera 35, and a control terminal 64 in which a control application of each device is installed. Different from the embodiment.

According to such a configuration, while the image information captured by the stand camera 31 or the like is recorded by the HDR (NVR) 61, the imaging disturbance detection device 33 sequentially captures image information from the recorded video. Interference determination can be made.
The network camera system is provided in a package, and the monitoring camera system 30b of the present embodiment can be configured simply by connecting to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 via the hub 60.
In particular, when a network camera system is provided in a game hall as an existing system, the surveillance camera system 30b is simply connected to the imaging disturbance detection device 33 by an IP cable without wiring many other communication cables. Can be realized.

Although the gaming apparatus and an imaging tampering detection method of the present invention, there is shown and described preferred embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited only to the embodiments described above, various modifications within the scope of the present invention It goes without saying that implementation is possible.

For example, the game hall device whose operation is restricted by the imaging disturbance detection device 33 may be a member management device, a replay machine, a prize exchange device, etc. (not shown) in addition to the inter-table machine 20b.
In the operation control of the peripheral camera 35, for example, the floor of the game hall 1 is regarded as a predetermined coordinate space, and the coordinate position of the imaging area of the base camera 31 and the coordinate position of the peripheral camera 35 are stored in advance in association with each other. The relative direction / distance is calculated based on the coordinate value of the imaging region of the base camera 31 to be imaged and the coordinate value of the corresponding peripheral camera 35, and the peripheral camera 35 is determined based on the calculated direction / distance. It may be a mode in which control is performed so that the left and right operations are performed.
In addition, although the peripheral camera 35 captures the imaging area of the target pedestal camera 31, another imaging camera 31 may capture the imaging area of the target pedestal camera 31.
Further, when the image to be subjected to imaging disturbance determination is RGB image data, the average luminance value or monochromatic occupancy of each of the R value, G value, and B value is obtained, and the average value of R, G, and B is determined as numerical information. It can also be used.

1 amusement hall 10 hall computer 20 (20a gaming machine, 20b machine between machines)
30 surveillance camera system 31 cameras 32 computers 33 imaging disturbance detection device 33a control unit 33b-1 unit terminal device communication unit 33b-2 peripheral camera communication unit 33b-3 gaming machine management device communication unit 33c storage unit (reference numerical information storage) Means, imaging device position storage means)
33d Imaging disturbance determination means 33e Reference time variable means 33f Imaging control means 331, 332, 333 Communication cable 34 Call lamp 35 Peripheral camera 36 Corner lamp

Claims (2)

A gaming device capable of determining that imaging by the imaging device is obstructed based on image information obtained by imaging by an imaging device provided in a game hall,
A game medium payout means capable of paying out game media;
Imaging disturbance determination means for determining that imaging by the imaging device is disturbed based on image information indicating information obtained by quantifying the amount of light incident on the imaging device,
The imaging disturbance determination means is
When the numerical information shown in the image information is included within a specific threshold range, it is determined as the first state indicating the possibility of disturbance of the imaging,
The first state is determined to the second state is likely interference of the imaging than the first state to continue a predetermined time,
The game medium payout means is
Based on being determined as the second state by the imaging disturbance determination means, to limit the payout of game media ,
The degree of disturbance corresponding to the level of the possibility of disturbance of the imaging, and the degree of disturbance that increases according to the duration of the first state is provided in association with a predetermined reference time,
The imaging disturbance determination means is
When the duration has passed the reference time, a determination is made to determine the degree of disturbance corresponding to the reference time,
When the numerical information is included in the range of the specific threshold value, and further included in the range of the second threshold value corresponding to the possibility of further interference with the imaging,
A gaming apparatus, comprising: a reference time variable means for setting the reference time to a time shorter than a currently set time . An imaging disturbance detection method capable of determining that imaging by the imaging apparatus is disturbed based on image information obtained by imaging by an imaging apparatus provided in a game hall,
A first step of paying out game media;
A second step of determining that imaging by the imaging device is obstructed based on image information indicating information obtained by quantifying the amount of light incident on the imaging device,
The second step includes
A step of determining the first state indicating the possibility of disturbance of the imaging when the numerical information indicated in the image information is included within a range of a specific threshold;
Determining that the first state is a second state in which the imaging state is more likely to be disturbed than the first state because the first state continues for a predetermined time,
The first step includes
Based on the determination of the second state in the second step, the game medium is restricted from being paid out,
The degree of disturbance corresponding to the level of the possibility of disturbance of the imaging, and the degree of disturbance that increases according to the duration of the first state is provided in association with a predetermined reference time,
The second step includes
When the duration has passed the reference time, a determination is made to determine the degree of disturbance corresponding to the reference time,
When the numerical information is included in the range of the specific threshold value, and further included in the range of the second threshold value corresponding to the possibility of further interference with the imaging,
An imaging disturbance detection method , wherein the reference time is set to a time shorter than a currently set time .

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