JP6655818B2 - Game system and reader / writer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a game system and a reader / writer device.

  Generally, when a game machine is used in a game facility, it is necessary to pay a preset usage fee. In recent years, it has become possible to pay a usage fee by an electronic payment system using electronic money using a contactless IC chip, in addition to conventional coins or coins (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The system described in Patent Document 1 enables a game application to be executed using electronic money, and includes a plurality of game terminals that execute the game application and a medium (for example, an electronic money card) used as electronic money. ), A plurality of matching units for checking whether or not the usage fee of the game terminal can be paid, and performing a matching process on the medium. According to Patent Literature 1, when a user pays a usage fee with an electronic money card, each game terminal transmits a collation request for data received from the electronic money card to a collation unit, and performs collation processing by any of a plurality of collation units. Execute

  More specifically, in Patent Literature 1, each matching unit includes a matching interface unit and a matching unit. Upon receiving the collation request, the collation interface unit confirms whether the collation unit that is a pair is collatable. If collation is possible, the settlement unit performs settlement processing. If collation is impossible, a collation request is transferred or resent to another collation unit.

Japanese Patent No. 4739267

  However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163, since it is necessary to confirm each collating unit in each of the plurality of collating units in order to perform collation of electronic money, the collating process is actually performed in any of the collating units. In some cases, it takes time to be heard.

  One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a game system and a reader / writer device that can reduce the time required for a matching process for payment of a usage fee by electronic money settlement.

  A game system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of reader / writer devices installed in each of a plurality of game devices that execute an application and communicating with a medium used as electronic money, and using the game device with the medium. When the collation processing including the collation of whether or not the payment is possible and the withdrawal processing performed on the medium via the reader / writer device when the payment is determined to be possible is completed, a collation completion signal And a management unit, wherein the collation unit receives a collation request signal from the reader / writer device, and the withdrawal process performed via the reader / writer device times out. Also, when it is determined that the collation is completed, the medium information of the medium and the information of the unfinished processing in the withdrawal processing are included. , The reader / writer device receives the medium information from the medium, transmits the medium information to the management unit, receives collation destination information including the address of the collation unit, and notifies processing completion. If not received, the collation request signal is transmitted to the address, the collation destination information, and, if the processing completion notification is received, the collation request signal is not transmitted, and Instruct the execution of the application, receive the collation completion signal from the collation unit, if the result of the collation is possible to pay the usage fee, while updating the display on the display of the reader / writer device Instructing the game device to execute the application, and if the usage fee cannot be paid, sends an instruction to execute the application to the game device. If the reader / writer device determines that the withdrawal process has timed out, the display device displays on the display that the usage fee cannot be paid on the display. Without transmitting the instruction, the management unit stores the medium information and the information on the presence / absence of the processing completion in a log in association with each other, and refers to the log to associate the information associated with the medium information with the information. When not-completed processing is not included, the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit is transmitted to the reader / writer device, and the log is referred to, and the uncompleted processing is added to the information associated with the medium information. Is included, the verification destination information and the process completion notification are transmitted to the reader / writer device.

  A game system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is installed in each of a plurality of game devices that execute an application, and stores a plurality of reader / writer devices that communicate with a medium used as electronic money, and first balance information. Checking whether or not the usage fee of the game device can be paid by the medium, and a withdrawal process performed on the medium via the reader / writer device when it is determined that the payment is possible. A collation unit that transmits a collation completion signal when the collation process including the collation is completed, and a management unit, wherein the collation unit receives a collation request signal from the reader / writer device, and controls the reader / writer device. Also, when it is determined that the withdrawal processing performed via the MFP has timed out, the medium information of the medium and the processing in the withdrawal processing are not performed. Transmitting the collation completion signal including the information of the balance information and receiving the balance inquiry signal from the reader / writer device, obtaining the second balance information from the medium in communication with the reader / writer device, and obtaining the second balance information To the reader / writer device, the reader / writer device receives the medium information from the medium, transmits the medium information to the management unit, receives collation destination information including the address of the collation unit, When the process completion notification is not received, the collation request signal is transmitted to the address, the collation completion signal is received from the collation unit, and the collation result indicates that the usage fee can be paid. The reader / writer instructs the game device to execute the application, and when the use fee cannot be paid, or when the withdrawal process times out. If it is determined by the device itself, it does not transmit the execution instruction of the application to the game device, and if the collation destination information, the first balance information, and the process completion notification are received from the management unit, To the matching unit corresponding to the address, without sending the matching request signal, sending the balance inquiry signal, and receiving the second balance information from the matching unit, from the amount indicated in the first balance information If the amount obtained by subtracting the usage fee and the amount indicated in the second balance information match, the game device is instructed to execute an application. If the amounts do not match, a message to the user is issued. Is displayed on a display unit of the reader / writer device, and the management unit stores the medium information and the information on whether or not the processing has not been completed in a log in association with each other, and refers to the log to refer to the medium information. If the information associated with the report does not include the incomplete processing, the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit is transmitted to the reader / writer device, and the log is referenced to correspond to the medium information. When the attached information includes the incomplete process, the collation destination information and the incomplete process notification are transmitted to the reader / writer device.

  According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the time required for the collation processing for payment of a usage fee by electronic money settlement.

The figure which shows the example of a structure of the game system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a matching device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the reader / writer device according to Embodiment 1. Sequence diagram showing an operation example of settlement processing according to Embodiment 1. Sequence diagram showing an operation example of settlement processing according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a collation destination according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the number of logs in each matching device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the number of logs in each matching device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a status transition of the collation device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a management device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining the appropriateness of the number of matching devices according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining the appropriateness of the number of matching devices according to the second embodiment. Sequence diagram showing an operation example of settlement processing according to Embodiment 3 (when processing is not completed) Sequence diagram showing an operation example of the payment process according to Embodiment 3 (after the occurrence of incomplete processing)

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, as an example of the game system, a game system having a game machine that a user can pay with electronic money will be described.

  Hereinafter, a case where an electronic money card (for example, a non-contact IC card) is used as an example of a medium used as electronic money will be described. The medium used as the electronic money is not limited to the card, and may be any medium having the function of the electronic money. For example, a mobile phone having the function of the electronic money may be used.

  In the following, in order to simplify the description, the configuration and operation for performing processing related to payment by electronic money will be mainly described, and the description of the other configuration and operation will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
[Outline of the game system]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a game system according to the present embodiment. In the game system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a store 10 and a server 30 are connected via a network 20. Note that the game system 1 may include a plurality of stores 10.

  The store 10 has a configuration including a management device 100, a plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N, a plurality of game machines 300, and a LAN 600. Each game machine 300 has a configuration including a reader / writer device 400 and a billing device 500.

  The management device 100 manages devices in the store 10. For example, the management device 100 centrally manages the statuses of the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N in the store 10. Further, when the electronic money card is connected to the reader / writer device 400 installed in each of the game machines 300, the management device 100 selects the reader / writer from among the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N to be managed. The collation device 200 that performs the collation processing is selected for the device 400.

  It is sufficient that each store 10 includes at least one management device 100.

  The verification device 200 receives a request for verification of electronic money from the reader / writer device 400 installed in the game machine 300, and performs verification processing (payment processing). In addition, each matching device 200 holds a log (settlement log) of the settlement process performed in each of the matching devices 200, and performs a server via the network 20 at a predetermined timing (for example, when the number of settlement logs exceeds the upper limit). Upload the stored log to 30.

  In the game machine 300, a user can pay a usage fee by coins (coins) or electronic money. When detecting the payment of the usage fee, the game machine 300 executes the game application.

  When receiving the medium information (card information) from the electronic money card when the usage fee is paid by the electronic money, the reader / writer device 400 sends a collation request signal for requesting the collation device 200 to perform a collation process (a collation request). Send. When the verification process between the electronic money card and the verification device 200 is completed, the reader / writer device 400 transmits a verification completion notification to the charging device 500. Note that the collation device 200 to which the reader / writer device 400 requests collation is selected by the management device 100.

  When the billing device 500 receives a payment by coin (coin) or a verification completion notification by the electronic money from the reader / writer device 400, the charging device 500 controls the device (not shown) for controlling the execution of the game application by executing the game application. Instruct. Thereby, the game machine 300 executes the game application.

  The LAN 600 connects the management device 100, the verification device 200, and the game machine 300 (reader / writer device 400).

  If the number of reader / writer devices 400 in the store 10 is M, for example, the matching device 200 and the game machine 300 may be set so as to satisfy M> N. That is, in each store 10, the collation processing in the M (> N) reader / writer devices 400 is performed by the N collation devices 200. As described above, in the game system 1, in each store 10, the collation processing is performed on the plurality (for example, M) of the reader / writer devices 400 by the collation device 200 having the N redundant configurations. At this time, the reader / writer device 400 and the collation device 200 are not fixedly associated with each other, but are dynamically associated by the management device 100.

  In the game system 1, the server 30 manages the use status of the game machines 300 installed in a plurality of stores 10 connected via the network 20. For example, the server 30 compiles data on the usage fee in each store 10 (each game machine 300). Further, the server 30 compiles data relating to payment (settlement) by electronic money in each store 10. For example, when there are a plurality of electronic money providers available in the game system 1, the server 30 is configured by a server provided in each of the electronic money providers. Further, the server 30 may be configured by a plurality of servers including a server that manages the use status of the game machine 300 described above and a server that manages data related to electronic money settlement.

  The network 20 connects the server 30 and the plurality of stores 10. For example, the network 20 may be configured by the Internet, a telephone line, or the like.

[Configuration of Management Device 100]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the management device 100 according to the present embodiment. 2, the management device 100 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103.

  The communication unit 101 communicates with the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 via the LAN 600 (see FIG. 1).

  Specifically, the communication unit 101 requests, from the reader / writer device 400, an instruction of the collation device 200 to be the collation destination (connection destination at the time of settlement processing) among the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. Receives the collation destination request signal. Further, the communication device 101 transmits, to the reader / writer device 400, collation destination information including, for example, the IP address of the collation device 200 to be collated, as a response to the collation destination request received from the control unit 103.

  In addition, the communication unit 101 receives a notification of the result of the matching process (a matching completion signal) from the matching device 200. In addition, the communication unit 101 receives, from the reader / writer device 400, a processing result notification indicating whether or not the game has been started in the game machine 300.

  The storage unit 102 stores the statuses of the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N in the store 10. In addition, the storage unit 102 stores the collation results (transaction results) of the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N and the processing results (transaction results) of the plurality of reader / writer devices 400 as a settlement log. The storage unit 102 stores each transaction result between the reader / writer device 400 and the verification device 200 in association with each other.

  The control unit 103 controls a collation process by the electronic money by the reader / writer device 400 and the collation device 200. Further, upon receiving the notification of the result of the matching process from the matching device 200, the control unit 103 updates the payment log stored in the storage unit 102. Further, upon receiving the processing result notification from the reader / writer device 400, the control unit 103 updates the payment log stored in the storage unit 102.

  For example, the control unit 103 adopts a configuration including a management unit 104, a selection unit 105, and a notification unit 106.

  The management unit 104 manages the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N in the store 10. For example, the management unit 104 manages the status of each of the plurality of matching devices 200 stored in the storage unit 102. The status of the collation device 200 indicates, for example, a processing state (Busy state) and an empty state (Idle state). For example, when one collation device 200 is selected by the later-described selection unit 105, the management unit 104 changes the status of the collation device 200 from an empty state to a processing state. Further, when receiving the collation completion signal from the collation device 200 selected by the selection unit 105, the management unit 104 changes the status of the collation device 200 from a processing state to an empty state. Further, the management unit 104 changes the status of the matching device 200 from an empty state to a processing state while the matching device 200 uploads the settlement log to the server 30.

  Upon receiving the collation destination request signal, the selection unit 105 selects one collation device 200 to be a collation destination from the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N stored in the storage unit 102. For example, the selection unit 105 selects the matching device 200 based on a priority set in advance for the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N. In addition, the selecting unit 105 selects one collation device whose status managed by the management unit 104 is an empty state (Idle state) from the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N.

  The notifying unit 106 generates collation destination information including the IP address of the collation device 200 selected by the selection unit 105, and transmits the collation destination information to the requesting reader / writer device 400 via the communication unit 101.

[Configuration of collation device 200]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the matching device 200 according to the present embodiment. 3, the collation device 200 has a configuration including a communication unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a collation unit 203.

  The communication unit 201 communicates with the management device 100 and the reader / writer device 400 via the LAN 600 (see FIG. 1).

  Specifically, the communication unit 201 receives a collation request signal from the reader / writer device 400. In addition, the communication unit 201 transmits a collation completion signal including a notification of a result of the collation process, which is received from the collation unit 203 described later, to the management device 100 and the reader / writer device 400.

  In addition, the communication unit 201 transmits the result (settlement log) of the collation processing stored in the storage unit 202 to the server 30 via the network 20. The timing at which the communication unit 201 transmits the payment log to the server 30 is, for example, the timing at which the number of payment logs stored in the storage unit 202 reaches the upper limit.

  Further, the communication unit 201 exchanges data (e.g., balance data) relating to the withdrawal process between the reader / writer device 400 and the communicating electronic money card in the collation process by the collation unit 203.

  The storage unit 202 stores the result of the matching process performed by the matching unit 203.

  The collation unit 203 collates whether or not payment of the usage fee of the game machine 300 is possible with the electronic money card. Specifically, based on the balance received from the electronic money card and the transaction amount (usage fee) included in the collation request signal, collation unit 203 determines whether the transaction amount can be paid by the electronic money card. Determine whether or not.

  When determining that the payment of the transaction amount by the electronic money card is possible, the collation unit 203 transmits the amount obtained by subtracting the transaction amount from the balance to the electronic money card via the reader / writer device 400. Upon receiving a signal (for example, ACK) indicating that the balance has been updated from the electronic money card, the matching unit 203 transmits a matching completion signal to the management device 100 and the reader / writer device 400.

  On the other hand, when determining that the payment of the transaction amount by the electronic money card is impossible, the matching unit 203 transmits a signal indicating that the matching cannot be performed to the reader / writer device 400.

[Configuration of Reader / Writer 400]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the reader / writer device 400 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the reader / writer device 400 includes a communication unit 401 and a control unit 402.

  The communication unit 401 communicates with the electronic money card and receives card information. The card information includes, for example, a number (identification number) unique to the electronic money card and the balance of the electronic money. The communication unit 401 may include, for example, an antenna and an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit (not shown), and perform wireless communication with the electronic money card by bringing the electronic money card close to the antenna.

  The communication unit 401 communicates with the management device 100 and the matching device 200 via the LAN 600 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the communication unit 401 transmits a collation destination request signal to the management device 100, and receives collation destination information, which is a response to the collation destination request signal, from the management device 100. The communication unit 401 transmits a collation request signal to the collation device 200 corresponding to the collation destination information, and receives a collation completion signal, which is a response to the collation request signal, from the collation device 200.

  In addition, communication unit 401 transmits to charging device 500 a signal indicating that the payment by the electronic money card has been completed (that is, a signal instructing the start of the game).

  The control unit 402 controls processing between the electronic money card, the management device 100, the verification device 200, and the billing device 500. For example, the control unit 402 has a configuration including a card control unit 403, a collation control unit 404, and a notification unit 405.

  The card control 403 controls communication with the electronic money card via the communication unit 401. For example, the card control unit 403 receives card information from an electronic money card. Further, the card control unit 403 controls communication between the electronic money card and the matching device 200 in the withdrawal process.

  The collation control unit 404 controls communication related to collation processing via the communication unit 401. For example, when the card control unit 403 receives the card information from the electronic money card in the card control unit 403, the collation control unit 404 requests the collation device 200 to request an instruction of the collation device 200 as the collation destination among the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. The first request signal is transmitted to the management device 100. Further, upon receiving the collation destination information indicating the IP address of the collation device 200 to be collated from the management device 100, the collation control unit 404 transmits the collation request signal 200 to the collation device 200 corresponding to the IP address. Then, the matching control unit 404 receives the matching completion device from the matching device 200 of the matching destination.

  When receiving the collation completion signal in the collation control unit 404, the notifying unit 405 notifies the charging device 500 of the execution of the game application (use start instruction). Further, when instructing execution of the game application, the notification unit 405 notifies the management device 100 of the processing result.

[Electronic money collation processing]
The operation of the electronic money settlement process in the game system 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence showing operations of the management device 100, the verification device 200, the game machine 300 (the reader / writer device 400, the billing device 500), and the electronic money card (denoted as a card) in each store 10 of the game system 1. FIG.

  In step (hereinafter, referred to as “ST”) 101, a user (user) selects, for example, electronic money as a method of paying a usage fee of game machine 300 to game machine 300 (reader / writer device 400). At the same time, the amount of the usage fee is selected, and the electronic money card is held over the reader / writer device 400 provided in the game machine 300. As a result, the reader / writer device 400 specifies the usage fee (transaction amount) of the game machine 300.

  In ST102, reader / writer device 400 performs an electronic money card detection process. For example, the reader / writer device 400 performs a polling process for checking whether or not the electronic money card is approaching the reader / writer device 400 at a predetermined interval (that is, whether or not the electronic money card is held over the reader / writer device 400). I do. When detecting the electronic money card, the reader / writer 400 acquires the card information of the electronic money card. The card information includes, for example, Idm, which is an identification number (identification ID) unique to the electronic money card, and the card type of the electronic money card.

  In ST103, reader / writer 400 inquires of management device 100 about collation device 200 (collation device 200 that performs settlement processing), which is the collation destination, among a plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. Specifically, upon receiving the card information of the electronic money card in ST102, in ST103, reader / writer apparatus 400 issues an instruction of collation apparatus 200 to be collated among collation apparatuses 200-1 to 200-N. A request signal for requesting a verification destination is transmitted to the management device 100. This collation destination request signal may include, for example, the transaction amount specified in ST101 and the card type of the electronic money card indicated in the card information obtained in ST102.

  In ST104, management apparatus 100 selects one collation apparatus 200 for reader / writer apparatus 400 that transmitted the connection destination request in ST103, from a plurality of collation apparatuses 200-1 to 200-N. Specifically, when the management device 100 receives the collation destination request signal from the reader / writer device 400 that has received the card information from the electronic money card in ST103, the management device 100 performs management based on preset conditions in ST104. One collation device 200 is selected from the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. The details of the selection process of the matching device 200 in the management device 100 will be described later.

  Further, management device 100 stores the transaction amount and the card type included in the verification destination request signal in storage unit 102 (not shown).

  Further, the management device 100 manages the states of the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. For example, when one collation device 200 is selected in ST104, the management device 100 sets the status of the one collation device 200 to “in process (Busy)”, and receives a collation completion signal in ST109. Is managed as an empty state (Idle).

  In ST105, the management apparatus 100 transmits, to the reader / writer apparatus 400 that transmitted the collation destination request in ST103, collation destination information including information (for example, an IP address) related to the collation apparatus 200 selected in ST104. Send as a response.

  In ST106, the reader / writer 400 sends the transaction amount specified in ST101 and the electronic money card obtained in ST102 to the verification device 200 corresponding to the IP address indicated in the verification destination information received in ST105. A verification request signal including the card type is transmitted. That is, the reader / writer device 400 requests the matching device 200 selected in the management device 100 to perform a matching process (settlement process).

  In ST107, collation device 200 that has received the collation request signal from reader / writer device 400 performs a withdrawal process on the electronic money card via reader / writer device 400. For example, the verification device 200 reads out the balance from the electronic money card (Read), subtracts the transaction amount included in the verification request signal from the read balance, and writes the deducted amount (post-transaction amount) to the electronic money card. (Write), a withdrawal process is completed by receiving a response (Ack) to the writing from the electronic money card.

  When the withdrawal process (collation process) in ST107 is completed, collation device 200 notifies reader / writer device 400 of a collation completion signal indicating the completion of the collation process in ST108, and in ST109, the result of the collation process in collation device 200 (transaction). The management apparatus 100 is notified of the collation completion signal including the result (result).

  As described above, the collation device 200 collates whether or not the usage fee of the game machine 300 can be paid by the electronic money card. When the collation device 200 determines that the usage fee cannot be paid by the electronic money as a result of the collation processing, the collation device 200 notifies the reader / writer device 400 of a collation completion signal indicating that the electronic money cannot be used.

  In ST110, management device 100 updates the corresponding transaction result of matching device 200 based on the transaction result included in the matching completion signal received in ST109. The management device 100 manages the transaction result for each of the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N.

  Upon receiving the collation completion signal in ST108, in ST111, reader / writer device 400 notifies the user that the payment of the usage fee by the electronic money card has been completed by updating the sound or the display on the display. In addition, when the reader / writer device 400 receives the collation completion signal indicating that payment by electronic money cannot be performed, by notifying that the usage fee cannot be paid by the electronic money card, by updating the sound or the display on the display, Notify the user.

  In ST112, reader / writer device 400 instructs charging device 500 to execute the game application. Specifically, reader / writer device 400 instructs charging device 500 to transmit a pulse signal corresponding to the collated transaction amount. Note that, when receiving the collation completion signal indicating that payment by electronic money cannot be performed, the reader / writer device 400 does not instruct the charging device 500 to send a corresponding signal.

  In ST113, charging apparatus 500 transmits the pulse signal instructed in ST112 to a game application control apparatus (not shown). Thereby, the game application is executed, and the user can start the game (ST114). When the usage fee is paid by coins (coins), charging device 500 sends a pulse signal corresponding to the inserted coin to the game application control device.

  In ST115, reader / writer device 400 notifies management device 100 of a processing result indicating that a pulse signal (game start instruction) has been transmitted to the game application control device of game device 300.

  In ST116, management device 100 updates the transaction result of reader / writer device 400 based on the processing result received in ST115. The management device 100 holds the transaction result of the collation device 200 updated in ST110 and the transaction result of the reader / writer device 400 updated in ST116 in association with each other for each collation process.

  As described above, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed in each store 10 in the game system 1. In each store 10, it is also assumed that a collation request is simultaneously generated in the reader / writer device 400 provided in the plurality of game machines 300. In this case, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the management device 100 sends different collation devices 1 and 2 (collation devices) to the plurality of reader / writer devices 1 and 2 (reader / writer devices 400) that transmitted the collation request signal. 200) is selected. That is, in each store 10, the management device 100 can select the matching devices 200 to be compared with the plurality of reader / writer devices 400 by integrally managing the matching devices 200 in the store 10.

[Method of selecting collation device 200]
Next, details of a method of selecting the matching device 200 in the management device 100 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram provided for describing a method of selecting the matching device 200 in the management device 100. In FIG. 7, as an example, a case will be described in which one store 10 includes five collation devices A to E and M reader / writer devices 400-1 to 400-M.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the management device 100 holds a table for managing the priority, status, and IP address among the matching devices A to E for each of the matching devices A to E. The status of the matching device 200 is represented as “Busy” during a process such as a matching process or uploading of a matching result (log), and is represented as “Idle” when no process is performed. Is done.

  For example, in FIG. 7, the management device 100 receives a collation destination request signal from the reader / writer device 400-1 (procedure 1, which corresponds to ST103 shown in FIG. 5).

  Upon receiving the collation destination request signal, the management device 100 refers to the held table and selects the collation device 200 having the highest priority from the collation devices 200 whose status is Idle. For example, in FIG. 7, the management device 100 selects the collation device C having the highest priority from the collation devices C and E whose status is Idle (procedure 2. Corresponding to ST104 shown in FIG. 5).

  The management device 100 notifies the requesting reader / writer device 400-1 of collation destination information including the IP address (192.168.1.3) of the selected collation device C (procedure 3, corresponding to ST105 shown in FIG. 5). Further, the management device 100 changes the status of the selected collation device C from Idle to Busy (procedure 4).

  Upon receiving the IP address of the collation device C as the collation device 200 as the collation destination, the reader / writer device 400-1 sends a collation request signal including settlement information (transaction amount, card type) and the like to the collation device C. Transmit (procedure 5, corresponding to ST106 shown in FIG. 5). Thereby, the withdrawal process is performed between the collation device C and the electronic money card in communication with the reader / writer device 400-1 (ST107 shown in FIG. 5).

  Further, when receiving the collation completion signal (transaction result) from the collation device C, the management device 100 changes the status of the collation device C from Busy to Idle.

  In this way, in the game system 1, the management device 100 selects the collation device 200 to be collated with the reader / writer device 400 from the plurality of collation devices 200-1 to 200-N. The management device 100 manages the status of the matching device 200 in the store 10 and knows the matching device 200 that can perform the matching process (the free matching device 200). Therefore, the management device 100 can immediately notify the collation device 200 that can collate to the reader / writer device 400 that requests collation.

  Thereby, for example, the time required for determining the collation device 200 is compared with the case where the plurality of collation devices 200 are available and checked one by one for the reader / writer device 400 that requests collation, That is, it is possible to reduce the time required to start the matching process.

  When the number of stored logs reaches the upper limit, each matching device 200 starts uploading to the server 30. The matching device 200 uploading the log to the server 30 cannot perform the matching process. Therefore, for example, if the management apparatus 100 equally allocates a plurality of collation apparatuses 200 as collation destinations of the reader / writer apparatus 400, the timing at which the number of logs reaches the upper limit in each collation apparatus 200 may be the same period. Will be higher. In this case, since the plurality of collation devices 200 upload logs at the same time, the number of collation devices 200 that can be selected as collation destinations for the reader / writer device 400 is reduced, and the availability of the system cannot be maintained.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, priorities are set in advance for a plurality of matching devices 200 (for example, matching devices A to E shown in FIG. 8). Then, the management device 100 selects the collation device 200 as the collation destination of the reader / writer device 400 based on the priority.

  By doing so, the collation device 200 having a higher priority is more likely to be selected as the collation destination of the reader / writer device 400. In other words, the management apparatus 100 biases and assigns a specific collation apparatus having a high priority among the plurality of collation apparatuses 200 as a collation destination of the reader / writer apparatus 400. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of logs held by each matching device 200 (that is, the number of times selected as a matching destination) is biased. For this reason, the timing of uploading the log differs between the plurality of matching devices 200. Therefore, even if the reader / writer device 400 requests a collation destination, the number of collation devices 200 that can be selected as collation destinations does not become extremely small, so that the availability of the system can be maintained.

[Example of setting priority of collation device 200]
Next, an example of setting the priority order of the plurality of matching devices 200 will be described.

  The storage unit 202 of the collation device 200 is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory. Therefore, by setting the priority order as described above, if the collation device 200 selected as the collation destination is biased toward a specific device, the memory of the collation device 200 that is more likely to be selected has a higher rewriting frequency, Easier to do. That is, there is a bias in the deterioration of the memory between the matching devices 200.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 changes the priority order set for the plurality of collation devices 200 every predetermined period. The predetermined period may be, for example, one day, a plurality of days, or an hour unit.

  FIG. 9 shows a case where the priority of the matching device 200 is changed every day as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the priorities of the matching devices A to E on July 16 are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. On the other hand, the priorities of the matching devices A to E on July 17 are 2, 4, 5, 3, and 1, respectively. The priorities of the matching devices A to E on July 18 are 5, 1, 3, 2, and 4, respectively. Similarly, on July 19 and July 20, the priorities of the matching devices A to E are different from those of other days.

  In this way, for the plurality of collation devices A to E, the number of logs (that is, the number of times selected) in each period (one day in FIG. 9) has the same bias as in FIG. Looking at (5 days in FIG. 9), it can be seen that the total number of logs is almost the same.

  That is, within each period (one day), as in FIG. 8, by biasing the frequency of selection in the plurality of matching devices 200, the timing of uploading logs in the plurality of matching devices 200 can be made different. . On the other hand, over a plurality of periods, by making the selection frequency substantially the same between the plurality of matching devices 200, the degree of deterioration of the memory in the plurality of matching devices 200 can be equalized.

  The example of setting the priority order of the plurality of matching devices 200 has been described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 selects one collation device 200 from the plurality of collation devices 200 in the store 10. Specifically, the management device 100 centrally manages the status of the collation devices 200 in the store 10 and selects a collation device 200 that can perform collation processing with respect to the reader / writer device 400 that requests a collation destination. Thus, the collation device 200 that can be collated can be immediately selected without successively confirming whether collation can be performed with respect to a plurality of collation devices 200 each time there is a connection destination request from the reader / writer device 400. Can be. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the time delay required until the start of the matching process between reader / writer device 400 and matching device 200.

In the present embodiment, the management device 100 only selects the matching device 200 that performs the matching process. In other words, after the selection of the collation device 100, the collation process is directly performed between the reader / writer device 400 and the selected collation device 200 without the intervention of the management device 100. In this way, by minimizing the processing in the management device 100 related to the collation processing, the time delay required for the collation processing can be suppressed.
You.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the time required for the collation processing for payment by electronic money.

  Further, in the present embodiment, management device 100 sets priorities for a plurality of collation devices 200 and preferentially allocates collation devices 200 having higher priorities to reader / writer device 400. Thereby, in the plurality of collation devices 200, the number of logs to be stored is biased, and the upload timing to the server 30 can be made different. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid that all the collation devices 200 cannot be used due to the upload process, and to maintain the availability of the system.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, an example of determining the number of installations of the matching device 200 in the store 10 will be described.

  As described above, when receiving the collation destination request of the collation device 200 from the reader / writer device 400, the management device 100 selects the collation device 200 to be collated based on the status and priority of the collation device 200. Here, the management device 100 transmits an error as a response to the collation destination request of the reader / writer device 400 when collation requests from the plurality of reader / writer devices 400 occur simultaneously and the statuses of all the collation devices 200 are Busy. Then, it prompts the reader / writer device 400 to retry the collation destination request.

  For example, FIG. 10 shows an operation in a case where a plurality of reader / writer devices 400-1 to 400-6 make a verification request in a store 10 including a plurality of verification devices A to E.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, it is assumed that each reader / writer 400 transmits a collation destination request signal (indicated as an IP request) of the collation device 200 to the management device 100 in the order of the reader / writers 400-1 to 400-6. . Note that, as shown in FIG. 10, all the statuses of the matching devices A to E before the management device 100 receives the matching destination request signal are set to Idle.

  In this case, the management device 100 selects the collation devices A to E as collation destinations of the reader / writer devices 400-1 to 400-5 by the operation described in the first embodiment in the order in which the collation destination request signals are received. . As a result, the statuses of the matching devices A to E are all finally changed to Busy.

  As a result, collation processing (settlement processing) is directly performed between the reader / writer apparatuses 400-1 to 400-5 and the collation apparatuses A to E. When the settlement process is completed, the matching devices A to E notify the management device 100 of a matching completion signal including the result of the settlement process (transaction result). When receiving the collation completion signal from each of the collation devices A to E, the management device 100 changes the status to Idle.

  On the other hand, even if the management device 100 receives the collation destination request signal from the reader / writer device 400-6, the statuses of all the collation devices A to E are Busy. And send an error in response. Upon receiving the error, the reader / writer device 400-6 requests the collation destination instruction of the collation device 200 again. That is, the reader / writer device 400-6 continues to transmit the request until the collation destination of the collation device 200 is instructed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, after the status of the collation device A connected as the collation destination of the reader / writer device 400-1 is changed to Idle again, the management device 100 sends a collation destination request from the reader / writer device 400-6. When the signal is received, the IP address of collation device A is transmitted to reader / writer device 400-6, and the status of collation device A is changed to Busy. As a result, a collation process (settlement process) is performed between the reader / writer device 400-6 and the collation device A.

  As described above, when all the collation devices 200 are in the process of processing, each reader / writer device 400 retries the collation destination request until any one of the collation devices 200 is in the Idle state. Therefore, a delay in the collation processing occurs for the period during which the retry is being performed.

  If the above retries occur frequently, the chance of the collation processing is lost, so the redundancy of the collation apparatus 200 needs to be increased (that is, the number of the collation apparatuses 200 needs to be increased). On the other hand, when the retry does not occur at all and the matching device 200 having a lower priority is not used at all (when the number of matching devices 200 is excessive), it is necessary to reduce the number of matching devices 200 in order to reduce running costs. is there. As described above, it is very important to appropriately set the number of the matching devices 200 in each store 10 in consideration of the operation and cost of the matching process.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a method for determining an appropriate number of collation devices 200 to be installed in each store 10 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the management device 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, components that perform the same processing as in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 2) are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, control unit 103a performs a new process in addition to the process of control unit 103 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, in addition to the processing of the management section 104 (FIG. 2) according to the first embodiment, the management section 104a performs other processing described later, and the point that the determination section 130 is newly added. Embodiment 1 is different from Embodiment 1.

  Further, the collation device and the reader / writer device according to the present embodiment have the same basic configuration as the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 according to the first embodiment, and thus will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, a point of interest in the present embodiment will be described. As described in the first embodiment, when there is a collation destination request from the reader / writer device 400, the management device 100 preferentially selects the collation device 200 whose status is Idle and has a higher priority. In other words, the matching device 200 with the lowest priority is selected only when the same number or more of matching processes as the number of matching devices 200 are simultaneously occurring, that is, only when all the matching devices 200 are busy. Therefore, the number of times that the matching device 200 having the lowest priority has performed the matching process within the predetermined period (the number of logs) is equal to or greater than the total number of the matching devices 200 in the store 10 simultaneously within the predetermined period. It can be said that it is equivalent to the number of times.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 manages the number of logs in a predetermined number of matching devices 200 having a low priority, so that the number of matching devices 200 installed in the store 10 to which the management device 100 belongs is appropriate. It is determined whether or not.

  In FIG. 11, the management unit 104a holds in advance a counter indicating the number of matches (the number of logs) in each of the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N in the store 10. Upon receiving the collation completion signal from collation device 200 selected by selection unit 105 (corresponding to ST109 shown in FIG. 5), management unit 104a changes the status of collation device 200 from Busy to Idle as in the first embodiment. At the same time, the counter of the matching device 200 is incremented.

  Note that the counter held by the management unit 104a may be reset when the counter reaches the same upper limit as the upper limit of the number of logs held by the matching device 200. That is, the value of the counter held by the management unit 104a is the same as the number of logs in the matching device 200.

  The determination unit 130 determines whether the number of the plurality of matching devices 200 installed in the store 10 is appropriate based on the value of the counter of each matching device 200 during a predetermined period. Specifically, the determination unit 130 determines the plurality of matching devices based on at least the counter value of the matching device 200 having the lowest priority among the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N in the store 10. It is determined whether the number 200 is appropriate.

  For example, the determination unit 130 uses the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the lowest priority and the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the second lowest priority to determine the value of the matching device 200 installed in the store 10. Determine whether the number is excessive or insufficient. 12A to 12C show an example of the determination processing in the determination unit 130. 12A to 12C, it is assumed that five matching devices 200 are currently installed in one store 10.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the value of the counter of the matching device 200 having the lowest priority (that is, the number of logs of the matching device 200) is 1 or more, all the matching devices 200 are assigned at the store 10 at the same time. This is a state in which the state has occurred at least once. Therefore, when the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the lowest priority is 1 or more, the determining unit 130 determines that the matching device 200 is insufficient in the store 10.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the number of the matching devices 200 whose counter value is 0 is one, a state in which all the matching devices 200 are simultaneously assigned in the store 10 does not occur, and In this state, almost all of the matching devices 200 in the store 10 are in use. Therefore, when the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the lowest priority is 0 and the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the second lowest priority is 1 or more, the determination unit 130 performs the matching in the store 10. It is determined that the number of devices 200 is appropriate.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the number of collation devices 200 with the number of logs being 0 is two or more, the plurality of collation devices 200 are not used in the store 10. Therefore, when the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the lowest priority is 0 and the value of the counter of the matching device 200 with the second lowest priority is 0, the determination unit 130 performs the matching in the store 10. It is determined that the device 200 is in excess.

  In FIG. 12, the case where the determination unit 130 determines the appropriateness of the number of the matching devices 200 using the values of the counters of the two matching devices 200 with the lower priority has been described. When determining the appropriateness, the values of the counters of three or more matching devices 200 having a low priority may be used.

  In this way, the management apparatus 100 specifies the number of times that the collation processing simultaneously occurs in all the collation apparatuses 200 based on at least the number of logs (counter value) of the collation apparatus 200 with the lowest priority, and stores It is determined whether the number of matching devices 200 in 10 is appropriate. Thus, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 can provide the manager of the store 10 or the electronic money company with information serving as an index for determining the appropriate number of the matching devices 200. That is, for example, the manager of the store 10 or the electronic money company can estimate the appropriate number of the matching devices 200 in the store 10 based on the determination result in the management device 100 of each store 10.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by installing an appropriate number of matching devices 200 for each store 10, the matching process in the store 10 can be appropriately executed. As described above, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the delay in the matching process, and to suppress an increase in the time required for the matching process by the electronic money.

  The determination result of the determination unit 130 or the value of the counter in the management unit 104a may be displayed on, for example, a display (not shown) provided in the management device 100. The information may be displayed on a display (not shown) of a terminal device used by a company or the like.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the management device 100 may obtain statistics of determination results in a plurality of periods. In FIG. 13, for example, the management device 100 performs the appropriateness determination of the number of the matching devices 200 based on the value of the counter (the number of logs) for seven periods (for example, seven days), and performs the matching based on the determination result of seven days. An overall appropriateness determination of the number of devices 200 is made. In FIG. 13, the determination results for 7 days are 5 shortages, 1 appropriateness, and 1 excess. Since the number of times that the management device 100 is determined to be insufficient is the largest, the management device 100 comprehensively determines that the number of matching devices in the store 10 is insufficient. For example, it is assumed that the service (discount service) in the store 10 fluctuates such that the matching process is biased to a specific day or time. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the management device 100 can absorb the fluctuation by judging the appropriateness of the number of the matching devices 200 based on long-term statistics. Appropriateness can be determined appropriately.

  Further, the management device 100 may not include the determination unit 130. In this case, for example, the manager of the store 10 or the electronic money business operator checks the value of the counter of each verification device 200 managed by the management unit 104a, and performs verification based on the same criteria as the above-described criteria in the determination unit 130. What is necessary is just to determine whether the number of the devices 200 is excessive or insufficient.

(Embodiment 3)
In the withdrawal process performed between the electronic money card and the collation device via the reader / writer device, a subtraction command is transmitted from the reader / writer device to the electronic money card, but the electronic money card is transferred to the reader / writer midway. Communication may be interrupted such as being separated from the device. If the communication with the electronic money card is interrupted during the withdrawal processing as described above, the reader / writer device or the collation device does not receive a response to the subtraction command from the electronic money card, and the content recorded in the electronic money card is subtracted. It cannot be determined whether the processing has been abandoned before the subtraction. Such a state is called “processing not completed”.

  In the present embodiment, a case in which the processing is not completed will be described.

  Since the management device, the collation device, and the reader / writer device according to the present embodiment have the same basic configuration as the management device 100, the collation device 200, and the reader / writer device 400 according to the first embodiment, FIGS. 4 will be described. The management device 100, the collation device 200, and the reader / writer device 400 according to the present embodiment further perform a process for an incomplete process in addition to the same processes as in the first embodiment. Note that the management device 100, the collation device 200, and the reader / writer device 400 according to the present embodiment may perform the processing described in the second embodiment.

  In collation device 200 (FIG. 3) according to the present embodiment, collation unit 203 communicates with reader / writer device 400 when a collation request signal is received from reader / writer device 400 (FIG. 4), as in the first embodiment. The matching process is performed with the electronic money card in the middle. When the collation is completed, the collation unit 203 compares the card information (Idm, etc.) of the electronic money card, the balance information (first balance information) of the electronic money card, and the collation result including the presence / absence of unfinished processing in the collation. Is transmitted to the management device 100 (FIG. 2) via the communication unit 201 as a collation completion signal. Here, when the incomplete processing has occurred, the balance information of the electronic money card before collation is indicated in the balance information of the electronic money card included in the collation completion signal.

  Upon receiving the balance inquiry signal requesting the balance inquiry from the reader / writer device 400, the collating unit 203 acquires balance information (second balance information) from the electronic money card communicating with the reader / writer device 400. The collation unit 203 transmits the acquired balance information to the reader / writer device 400 via the communication unit 201.

  In management device 100 (FIG. 2) according to the present embodiment, management unit 104 includes card information of electronic money card, balance information, and the like included in the matching completion signal received from each of a plurality of matching devices 200 (FIG. 3). And the collation result (including the presence or absence of unfinished processing) is associated. The associated information is stored in the storage unit 102 as a payment log.

  When receiving the card information of a certain electronic money card and the collation destination request signal from the reader / writer device 400, the management unit 104 sets one collation device 200 from among the plurality of collation devices 200 as in the first embodiment. select.

  In addition, the management unit 104 refers to the payment log stored in the storage unit 102 and checks whether or not the incomplete process is included in the verification result associated with the card information. When the verification result associated with the card information does not include the incomplete processing, the management device 104 transmits only the verification destination information including the IP address of the selected verification device 200 to the reader / writer device 400. On the other hand, when the collation result associated with the card information includes the incomplete processing, the management unit 104 checks the collation destination information (IP address), the incomplete processing notification indicating that the processing is complete, and the card information Is transmitted to the reader / writer device 400 via the communication unit 101.

  In the reader / writer device 400 (FIG. 4) according to the present embodiment, when the collation control unit 404 receives only the collation destination information including the IP address of the collation device 200 to be collated from the management device 100, Is transmitted to the matching device 200 corresponding to. On the other hand, when the balance control unit 404 receives the balance information of the electronic money card and the process completion notification from the management device 100 in addition to the collation destination information (IP address), the collation control unit 404 sends the information to the collation device 200 corresponding to the IP address. , And transmits a balance inquiry signal without transmitting the verification request signal.

  The matching control unit 404 receives the balance information (the second balance information) from the matching device 200. Then, the matching control unit 404 compares the amount obtained by subtracting the usage fee from the amount indicated in the balance information (first balance information) received from the management device 100 and the balance information (second balance information) received from the matching device 200. ) Is determined. When the amounts match, the collation control unit 404 instructs the game machine 300 (charging device 500) to execute the game application via the notification unit 405.

  14 and 15 show operations of the management device 100, the verification device 200, the game machine 300 (the reader / writer device 400, the billing device 500), and the electronic money card in each store 10 of the game system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14 and 15, the same processes as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 5) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 shows the operation when the incomplete processing has occurred, and FIG. 15 shows the operation when the management apparatus 100 manages that the incomplete processing has occurred.

  First, the operation of each device when the incomplete processing has occurred will be described with reference to FIG.

  14, in ST103a, reader / writer apparatus 400 transmits a collation destination request signal to management apparatus 100. This collation destination request signal includes, in addition to the transaction amount specified in ST101 and the card type of the electronic money card indicated in the card information obtained in ST102, the identification number of the electronic money card obtained in ST102. Idm shown in FIG.

  The management device 100 manages the result (settlement log) of each matching process using information received from the reader / writer device 400 and the matching device 200. For example, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 stores, at each transaction of the electronic money card (that is, each Idm), at least a transaction amount, whether or not processing has not been completed, and whether or not there is compensation for the incomplete processing. Managing. These pieces of information are notified to the management apparatus 100 by the processing of, for example, ST103a (that is, the collation destination request signal), ST109a (that is, the collation result of the collation apparatus 200), and ST115a (that is, the processing result of the reader / writer apparatus 400). You.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 14, it is assumed that communication is interrupted during the withdrawal process (ST107) performed via the reader / writer device 400 between the electronic money card and the verification device 200. Note that the cause of the communication interruption in the withdrawal process is not limited to the electronic money card being separated from the reader / writer device 400. For example, a communication error between the electronic money card and the reader / writer device 400, or A communication error between the reader / writer device 400 and the verification device 200 is also assumed.

  Each of the reader / writer device 400 and the collation device 200 starts timing when the withdrawal process is started (not shown), and when the withdrawal process is not completed before a preset time has elapsed, Judge as timeout. For example, reader / writer device 400 and collating device 200 may start timing at the timing of transmitting and receiving the collation request signal in ST106.

  For example, in FIG. 14, since the communication is interrupted in ST107, a timeout occurs in the reader / writer device 400 and the collation device 200 in ST201 and ST202.

  In this case, the matching device 200 determines that the matching process corresponding to the withdrawal process has not been completed. Then, in ST109a, collation device 200 notifies management device 100 of a collation completion signal indicating that the processing has not been completed. When the balance of the electronic money card (balance before transaction) is acquired in the withdrawal process that has timed out, the matching device 200 also includes balance information (first balance information) indicating the balance in the matching completion signal. .

  Further, the reader / writer device 400 determines that the matching process corresponding to the withdrawal process has not been completed, and does not issue a pulse transmission instruction to the charging device 500 (that is, a game start instruction). Then, in ST115a, reader / writer device 400 notifies management device 100 of a processing result indicating that a pulse signal (use start instruction) has not been transmitted to the game application control device of game device 300.

  The management apparatus 100 updates the stored settlement log using the fact that the processing indicated by the matching completion signal received in ST109a is not completed and the balance of the corresponding electronic money card (that is, the balance before transaction). (ST110a). Management device 100 updates the stored settlement log using the processing result (no pulse transmission) received in ST 115a (ST 116a).

  As described above, when the processing is not completed, the management device 100 determines that the processing is not completed, the balance before the transaction, and the transaction amount for the electronic money card (Idm) in which the processing is not completed. Etc. are associated and managed as a settlement log.

  Next, the operation of each device when the management device 100 manages the incomplete processing as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 15, in ST301, the management apparatus 100 searches for a verification result (payment log) of the electronic money card corresponding to Idm included in the verification target request signal received in ST103a. If the electronic money card corresponding to the Idm indicates that the processing has not been completed as a result of the search, the management apparatus 100 performs processing in ST105b in addition to the verification destination information including the IP address of the verification apparatus 200 selected in ST104. To the reader / writer device 400, a process non-completion notice (instruction to prevent double withdrawal), which is an instruction of compensation processing for non-completion, and information indicating a pre-transaction balance and a transaction amount at the time of non-completion stored in the settlement log. Notice.

  Note that the reader / writer device 400 to which the electronic money card is currently connected and the collation device 200 selected this time as the collation destination by the management device 100 are used when the incomplete processing of the electronic money card (Idm) occurs. It is not necessarily the same as the reader / writer device 400 and the collation device 200.

  Upon receiving the process completion notification in ST105b, in ST106b, reader / writer apparatus 400 issues a balance inquiry request signal for requesting balance inquiry to collation apparatus 200 corresponding to the IP address indicated in the collation destination information received in ST105b. Send That is, when the reader / writer device 400 receives the processing completion notification, it does not transmit the verification request signal.

  In ST107b, collation device 200 that has received the balance inquiry request signal from reader / writer device 400 performs a balance inquiry process on the electronic money card via reader / writer device 400.

  In ST108b, matching device 200 notifies reader / writer device 400 of a balance matching process completion signal including the balance of the electronic money card. In addition, as in the first embodiment, collation apparatus 200 notifies management apparatus 100 of a collation completion signal including the result of the collation processing (balance inquiry result) in collation apparatus 200 in ST109.

  In ST302, reader / writer device 400 determines whether or not the electronic money card needs to be compensated for incomplete processing.

  For example, reader / writer device 400 calculates the value obtained by subtracting the transaction amount from the pre-transaction balance acquired in ST105b (that is, the amount in the case of successful collation processing) and the current balance of the electronic money card acquired in ST108b. It is determined whether they match.

  If the value obtained by subtracting the transaction amount from the pre-transaction balance matches the balance of the electronic money card, the reader / writer device 400 determines that the balance of the electronic money card has been reduced when processing has not been completed, and performs compensation processing. That is, when the reader / writer device 400 determines that the compensation process is necessary in ST302, the reader / writer device 400 instructs the charging device 500 to execute the game application in ST112. That is, the reader / writer 400 does not remove the usage fee from the electronic money card in the current collation process, thereby compensating for the usage fee that was erroneously removed when the process is not completed.

  In ST115b, reader / writer apparatus 400 notifies management apparatus 100 of a processing result indicating that the compensation processing has been performed. Management apparatus 100 updates the stored settlement log to the effect that the compensation processing indicated in the processing result received in ST115b has been performed (ST116b). That is, when the management apparatus 100 receives a processing result indicating that the compensation processing has been performed from the reader / writer apparatus 400, the management apparatus 100 updates the settlement log to the state in which the compensation processing associated with the corresponding card information has been executed.

  On the other hand, if the value obtained by subtracting the transaction amount from the balance before the transaction does not match the balance of the electronic money card (not shown), the reader / writer device 400 withdraws the usage fee from the electronic money card when the processing is not completed. Judgment is not made, and no compensation processing is performed.

  If the matching device 200 has not acquired the balance (pre-transaction balance) of the electronic money card (ST107 in FIG. 14), that is, if the balance has not been managed in the settlement log of the management device 100, it corresponds to incomplete processing. Therefore, the reader / writer device 400 does not perform the compensation process.

  When the compensation process is not performed, the reader / writer device 400 may start the collation process in the same manner as in the first embodiment (ST106 shown in FIG. 5), or hold the electronic money card over the user again. May be displayed on the display.

  In this manner, in the present embodiment, the management device 100 acquires the collation processing in which the usage fee is paid by the electronic money card in the store 10 from each collation device 100 and each reader / writer device 400, and the processing is not completed. Is managed centrally as a settlement log that includes the presence / absence and the presence / absence of compensation for incomplete processing. Thereby, in the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 different from the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 used when the processing is not completed in the store 10, the same electronic money card Even if the collation processing is performed, the compensation processing can be performed on the electronic money card.

  For example, it is assumed that a plurality of users can simultaneously use the same game using a plurality of game machines 300 in the store 10. In this case, if the collation processing is not normally completed in the reader / writer device 400 installed in any one of the plurality of game machines 300 (when the processing is not completed), the user is required to execute the check on the plurality of game machines 300 It is assumed that the electronic money card is held again over a reader / writer device 400 installed in another game machine (for example, an adjacent game machine) in 300. Since the management apparatus 100 centrally manages the electronic money card payment logs for all the devices in the store 10, the game machine 300 at the time of the incomplete processing and the game in which the collation processing immediately thereafter is performed are performed. Even if the electronic money card is different from the electronic money card 300, the electronic money card can be compensated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if processing is not completed in any of the plurality of reader / writer devices 400 and the plurality of matching devices 200 in each store 10, compensation processing for the incomplete processing can be performed. Becomes That is, even if the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 that have not completed the process are different from the collation device 200 and the reader / writer device 400 that perform the compensation process, the compensation process is appropriately performed. That is, according to the present embodiment, the compensation can be performed even if the incomplete processing occurs in any device. Thus, it is possible to suppress an increase in the time required for the collation processing using the electronic money, including the time required for the compensation processing.

  In FIG. 15, a case has been described in which reader / writer apparatus 400 determines whether or not there is a compensation process in ST302 when receiving a process incompletion notice (ST105b). However, when the reader / writer device 400 receives the processing completion notification, the reader / writer device 400 may perform the compensation processing without performing the determination.

  Also, in FIG. 14, when processing incomplete has occurred, in step ST109a, the collation apparatus 200 notifies the management apparatus 100 of the balance before the transaction of the electronic money card, that is, the management apparatus 100 The case where the previous balance is managed in association with the previous balance has been described. However, in the present embodiment, when the process is not completed, in ST109a, collation device 200 manages the amount obtained by subtracting the usage fee from the balance before the transaction of the electronic money card (the amount in the case where the transaction is performed). The device 100 may be notified. In other words, the management device 100 manages the post-transaction balance in association with the incomplete processing. In this case, the management device 100 notifies the post-transaction balance to the reader / writer device 400 together with the processing incompletion notification. In the compensation process, the reader / writer device 400 determines whether or not the compensation process is performed based on whether or not the post-transaction balance managed by the management device 100 matches the balance amount acquired from the electronic money card in communication. What is necessary is just to judge.

  Also, in FIG. 15, when the compensation processing is performed in ST302 and a processing result indicating that the compensation processing is performed is transmitted from the reader / writer apparatus 400 to the management apparatus 100 (ST115b), the management apparatus 100 sets the settlement log In the above, a case has been described in which the transaction result of the relevant electronic money card is updated to be compensated. However, in the present embodiment, instead of the above operation, when management device 100 transmits a processing incomplete notification to reader / writer device 400 (ST105b), management device 100 displays the transaction of the corresponding electronic money card in the settlement log. The result may be updated to compensated.

  The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above.

  In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which priorities are set in advance for the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N. However, in the above embodiment, the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N may be selected so that the use frequency (the number of times selected) is biased. For example, a probability according to a normal distribution may be set for each of the plurality of matching devices 200 instead of the priority. The management device 100 may select the collation device 200 to be collated based on the probability set for each collation device 200. As a result, in the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N, the probabilities of being selected as matching targets are biased according to the normal distribution, so that the plurality of matching devices 200-1 to 200-N can be used simultaneously as described above. Can be avoided.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the game system has been described as an example of the game system, but the game system is not limited to the game system. For example, the above embodiment may be applied to a television system for viewing television provided in a guest room of a hotel. In this case, store 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be regarded as one hotel, and game machine 300 may be regarded as a television set in a guest room.

  One embodiment of the present disclosure is useful for a system having a game machine in which a user can pay by electronic money.

1 Game System 10 Store 20 Network 30 Server 100 Management Device 200 Verification Device 300 Game Machine 400 Reader / Writer Device 500 Billing Device 600 LAN
101, 201, 401 Communication unit 102, 202 Storage unit 103, 103a, 402 Control unit 104, 104a Management unit 105 Selection unit 106, 405 Notification unit 130 Judgment unit 203 Collation unit 403 Card control unit 404 Collation control unit

Claims (6)

A plurality of reader / writer devices installed on each of a plurality of game devices that execute applications and communicating with a medium used as electronic money;
And a withdrawal process performed on the medium via the reader / writer device when the usage fee of the game device can be paid by the medium and when the payment is determined to be possible. A verification unit that transmits a verification completion signal when the verification processing is completed;
Management department,
A game system comprising:
The collating unit,
A collation request signal is received from the reader / writer device, and when it is determined that the withdrawal process performed via the reader / writer device has timed out, the medium information of the medium, and information on the incomplete process in the withdrawal process Transmitting the collation completion signal including
The reader / writer device,
Receiving the medium information from the medium, transmitting the medium information to the management unit,
When receiving the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit, and did not receive the processing incomplete notification, to the address, transmits the collation request signal,
The collation destination information, and, when the process completion notification is received, does not transmit the collation request signal, instructs the game device to execute an application,
If the collation completion signal is received from the collation unit and the result of the collation indicates that the usage fee can be paid, the display on the display of the reader / writer device is updated, and the application of the application is displayed on the game device. When execution is instructed and the payment of the usage fee is not possible, an instruction to execute the application is not transmitted to the game device, and a display indicating that payment of the usage fee by the medium is not allowed is displayed on the display. Do
If the reader / writer device itself determines that the withdrawal process has timed out, it does not transmit the application execution instruction to the game device,
The management unit,
The media information and the information of the presence or absence of the process incomplete are stored in a log in association with each other,
With reference to the log, if the processing incomplete is not included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
With reference to the log, if the processing incompletion is included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information, and, the process completion notification is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
Game system. A plurality of reader / writer devices installed on each of a plurality of game devices that execute applications and communicating with a medium used as electronic money;
Checking whether or not the usage fee of the game device can be paid by the medium in which the first balance information is stored, and, when determining that the payment is possible, transferring the usage fee to the medium via the reader / writer device. A collation unit that transmits a collation completion signal when a collation process including a withdrawal process to be performed is completed,
Management department,
A game system comprising:
The collating unit,
A collation request signal is received from the reader / writer device, and when it is determined that the withdrawal process performed via the reader / writer device has timed out, the medium information of the medium, and information on the incomplete process in the withdrawal process Transmitting the collation completion signal including
When receiving a balance inquiry signal from the reader / writer device, obtains second balance information from the medium in communication with the reader / writer device, transmits the second balance information to the reader / writer device,
The reader / writer device,
Receiving the medium information from the medium, transmitting the medium information to the management unit,
When receiving the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit, and did not receive the processing incomplete notification, to the address, transmits the collation request signal,
Receiving the collation completion signal from the collation unit, and instructing the game device to execute the application when the collation result indicates that the usage fee can be paid;
If the payment of the usage fee is not possible, or if the reader / writer device determines that the withdrawal process has timed out, the application execution instruction is not transmitted to the game device,
When the collation destination information, the first balance information, and the process completion notification are received from the management unit, the collation request signal is not transmitted to the collation unit corresponding to the address, and the balance inquiry signal is transmitted. Send,
When the second balance information is received from the matching unit, when the amount obtained by subtracting the usage fee from the amount shown in the first balance information matches the amount shown in the second balance information, Instructs the game device to execute an application, and if the two do not match, displays a message for the user on the display unit of the reader / writer device,
The management unit,
The media information and the information of the presence or absence of the process incomplete are stored in a log in association with each other,
With reference to the log, if the processing incomplete is not included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
With reference to the log, if the processing incompletion is included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information, and, the process completion notification is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
Game system. A plurality of reader / writer devices installed on each of a plurality of game devices that execute applications and communicating with a medium used as electronic money;
Checking whether or not the usage fee of the game device can be paid by the medium in which the first balance information is stored, and, when determining that the payment is possible, transferring the usage fee to the medium via the reader / writer device. A collation unit that transmits a collation completion signal when a collation process including a withdrawal process to be performed is completed,
Management department,
A game system comprising:
The collating unit,
When a collation request signal is received from the reader / writer device and it is determined that the withdrawal process performed via the reader / writer device has timed out, the usage fee is calculated based on the medium information of the medium and the first balance information. Transmitting the second balance information indicating the amount obtained by subtracting the above, and the collation completion signal including information indicating that the processing in the withdrawal processing has not been completed,
When receiving the balance inquiry signal from the reader / writer device, obtains third balance information from the medium in communication with the reader / writer device, transmits the third balance information to the reader / writer device,
The reader / writer device,
Receiving the medium information from the medium, transmitting the medium information to the management unit,
When receiving the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit, and did not receive the processing incomplete notification, to the address, transmits the collation request signal,
Receiving the collation completion signal from the collation unit, and instructing the game device to execute the application when the collation result indicates that the usage fee can be paid;
If the payment of the usage fee is not possible, or if the reader / writer device determines that the withdrawal process has timed out, the application execution instruction is not transmitted to the game device,
When the collation destination information, the second balance information, and the process completion notification are received from the management unit, the collation request signal is not transmitted to the collation unit corresponding to the address, and the balance inquiry signal is transmitted. Send,
When the third balance information is received from the matching unit, if the amount indicated in the second balance information matches the amount indicated in the third balance information, Instruct the execution of the application, if they do not match, display a message to the user on the display unit of the reader / writer device,
The management unit,
The media information and the information of the presence or absence of the process incomplete are stored in a log in association with each other,
With reference to the log, if the processing incomplete is not included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information including the address of the collation unit is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
With reference to the log, if the processing incompletion is included in the information associated with the medium information, the collation destination information, and, the process completion notification is transmitted to the reader / writer device,
Game system. The log is further associated with the presence / absence of a compensation process for the medium information,
When the reader / writer device instructs the game device to execute an application, the reader / writer device transmits a processing result corresponding to the medium information to the management unit,
The management unit, upon receiving the processing result from the reader / writer device, updates the log to the completed execution of the compensation process associated with the corresponding medium information,
The game system according to claim 1. The log is further associated with the presence / absence of a compensation process for the medium information,
The management unit, when transmitting the process incompletion notification, updates the log to indicate that the compensation process associated with the corresponding medium information has been executed,
The game system according to claim 1.   A reader / writer device in the game system according to claim 1.

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