JP6745640B2 - Amusement system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is provided corresponding to the gaming machine accepts the gaming recording medium usable in the game, to receiving with the gaming system executable on the processing of the recording medium for a game.

A conventional gaming device is installed in a game hall and authenticates a player's face from an image captured by a CCD camera to lend a game medium or make a payment to a prepaid card or a membership card received from the player. There is a method of accumulating the balance that has been deposited and returning the prepaid card or the membership card that has accumulated the deposit balance. In this gaming apparatus, the accuracy of the player's face is improved by performing the gradation processing on the data of the image taken by the CCD camera (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-67790 A

Further, in the gaming device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not the person who is going to take out the prepaid card or the membership card is the player by using the image captured by the CCD camera, and the determination result is obtained. It may be possible to prevent unauthorized removal of the prepaid card or membership card by determining whether or not the prepaid card or membership card can be returned.However, depending on the environment of the amusement hall where the gaming device is installed, It is not possible to properly capture images including the player's face with the CCD camera due to the influence of the environment of the game hall due to the lighting of the machine and the light emission of the LED of the game machine, and the return of the prepaid card or membership card There is a problem in that the accuracy of determination of availability cannot be improved.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming system that can improve the determination accuracy of the determination as to whether or not a game recording medium can be returned.

The game system of means 1,
A game recording medium (for example, a membership card or a visitor card) that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1 or a slot machine 1001) and has a plurality of types that can be used for gaming is accepted and accepted. A game device (for example, each unit counting unit 300) capable of executing a process related to a game recording medium (for example, a card receiving process, a lending process, an issuing/paying process, a returning process, a replay, a payout process shown in FIG. 7). Or a medal lending machine 1100) and a management device capable of communicating with the gaming device,
The gaming device,
An image pickup means (for example, a camera module) capable of picking up a predetermined area including a player who plays a game in a corresponding gaming machine (for example, an area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly) every predetermined time. 405),
A face image detecting unit that detects a face image of a person from the image captured by the image capturing unit (for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 601 extracts the face of the player from the image captured in Sc41 of the face peripheral image extracting process). Part to detect),
A partial area of the image, which is a specific area including the face image detected by the face image detecting means (for example, a rectangle inscribed in the specified player's head as shown in FIG. 12B). Specific component specifying means for specifying a specific component relating to brightness in a face peripheral image which is an image in a frame (for example, a portion where the CPU 601 specifies the brightness of the face peripheral image in Sc51 of the face peripheral image brightness determination processing). ,
A processing unit that performs processing for optimizing the specific component based on the specific component specified by the specific component specifying unit (for example, when the CPU 601 executes Sc53 and Sc56 of the face peripheral image brightness determination process, the next time shooting is performed. A portion for adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 by +5 dB or -5 dB to optimize the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time),
Whether or not to return the game recording medium being accepted (for example, a membership card or a visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327) is displayed on the image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means. Return availability determination means based on the determination (for example, the CPU 601 executes the return availability determination processing Sc135 shown in FIG. 21 to adjust the brightness of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 in each unit counting unit 300). Is a portion for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 installed correspondingly, and determining whether or not to return the membership card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 based on the photographed image). ,
Personal information specifying means for specifying the personal information of the player included in the image from the image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means,
Determination means for determining whether or not the persons included in the latest image and the comparison target image captured by the image capturing means are the same person,
Equipped with
The game recording medium includes a game recording medium of a specific type and a non-specific type,
The management apparatus can manage the association with personal information identified by the individual information identification means and identifiable gaming machine identification information a game machine that is provided corresponding to the gaming device,
An image captured by the image capturing unit and identification information of the game recording medium received when the image is captured are associated and sequentially stored,
The comparison target image is the latest image associated with the identification information of the game recording medium,
The determination means is
When accepting the specific type of game recording medium, it is determined whether or not the same person is used by using the identification information of the game recording medium and the person information specified by the person information specifying means. Is possible,
When the non-specific type game recording medium is being received, the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the comparison target image and the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the latest image are displayed. If they match, Ri determinable der whether the same person using the personal information identified by the identification information and the person information identification means of the game recording medium, corresponding to the comparison target image If the identification information of the game recording medium and the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the latest image do not match, the person information identifying unit identifies the identification information of the gaming recording medium rather than the identification information of the gaming recording medium. It is possible to determine whether or not the same person by preferentially using the person information
It is characterized by that.
The gaming device of the means 2 is
A game recording medium (for example, a membership card or a visitor card) that is provided corresponding to a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1 or a slot machine 1001) and can be used for a game is accepted, and the accepted game recording medium is received. A gaming device (for example, each unit counting unit 300 or medal lending machine 1100) capable of executing a process (for example, a card receiving process, a lending process, an issuing/paying process, a returning process, a replay, a payout process shown in FIG. 7). ), and
An image pickup unit (for example, a camera module 405) capable of picking up an image of a predetermined region including a player who plays a game in a corresponding gaming machine (for example, a region in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly).
A face image detecting unit that detects a face image of a person from the image captured by the image capturing unit (for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 601 extracts the face of the player from the image captured in Sc41 of the face peripheral image extracting process). Part to detect),
A partial area of the image, which is a specific area including the face image detected by the face image detecting means (for example, a rectangle inscribed in the specified player's head as shown in FIG. 12B). Specific component specifying means for specifying a specific component relating to brightness in a face peripheral image which is an image in a frame (for example, a portion where the CPU 601 specifies the brightness of the face peripheral image in Sc51 of the face peripheral image brightness determination processing). ,
A processing unit that performs processing for optimizing the specific component based on the specific component specified by the specific component specifying unit (for example, when the CPU 601 executes Sc53 and Sc56 of the face peripheral image brightness determination process, the next time shooting is performed. A portion for adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 by +5 dB or -5 dB to optimize the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time),
Whether or not to return the game recording medium being accepted (for example, a membership card or a visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327) is displayed on the image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means. Return availability determination means based on the determination (for example, the CPU 601 executes the return availability determination processing Sc135 shown in FIG. 21 to adjust the brightness of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 in each unit counting unit 300). Is a portion for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 installed correspondingly, and determining whether to return the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 based on the photographed image). ,
It is characterized by having.
According to this feature, whether or not the game recording medium can be returned is determined based on the image in which the influence of the environment of the game hall is reduced, so that the determination accuracy of the determination can be increased.

Hand stage 3, a gaming device of the game system or means 2 means 1,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the persons included in the images captured by the image capturing unit at different times are the same person (for example, the CPU 601 executes Sc77 and Sc78 of the player determination process, so that the player The player face information stored in the lowest entry of the player face information stored in association with the player ID in the face information table (comparator player face information), and the player face information table in the player face information table. It is characterized by including a portion for comparing with the player face information which is not stored in association with the ID.
According to this feature, it is possible to reduce the influence of the environment of the game arcade and improve the accuracy of determining that the person is the same person.

Hand stage 4, a gaming device of the game system or means 2 means 1,
The determining means determines whether or not the person is the same person by using information (for example, a card ID of a membership card or a visitor card) regarding the game recording medium (for example, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 18). In addition, in Sc78 of the player determination process, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the player is the same person in consideration of the player face information and the card ID).
It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of the same person.

Hand stage 5 is a gaming system or device for a game according to any one of the game devices of the hand-stage 1 of the game system, it means 2 to means 4,
From the image captured by the image capturing unit, personal information identifying unit (eg, CPU 601 takes an image) that identifies the personal information included in the image (for example, player face information such as estimated age, estimated sex, and feature amount). A portion for outputting player face information by executing Sc30 of image-related processing),
An image in which the specific component specified by the specific component specifying unit does not satisfy the predetermined availability condition is excluded from the target image by the person information specifying unit (for example, the CPU 601 performs the face peripheral image brightness determination process). (When the brightness of the face peripheral image identified in Sc51 is greater than 192 or less than 64, the photographed image is deleted as a player face information output target)
It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of identifying person information from being lowered.

Hand stage 6, a gaming system or device for a game according to any one of the game devices of the game system, means 2 to means 5 Hand stage 1,
From the image captured by the image capturing means, the person information (for example, estimated age, estimated sex, characteristic amount, etc.) and reliability (for example, estimated age reliability or characteristic amount reliability) included in the image are specified. Personal information specifying means (for example, a portion for outputting player face information by the CPU 601 executing Sc30 of the captured image-related processing),
The personal information whose reliability specified by the personal information specifying means does not satisfy the availability condition is excluded from the target of using the personal information (for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the CPU 601 outside the specified value player face information). In Sc92 of the determination process, the player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200 and the data of the image (taken image) stored in association with the player face information are excluded from the estimated age correction target. (Part to be deleted from the information table)
It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, it is possible to limit the use of personal information with low reliability.

Hand stage 7, a gaming system or device for a game according to any one of the game devices of the game system, means 2 to means 6 Hand stage 1,
From the image picked up by the image pickup means, person information specifying means (for example, CPU 601 Sc30 of the photographed image-related processing) that specifies person information (for example, estimated age, estimated sex, characteristic amount, etc.) included in the image. (A part for outputting player face information by executing
The specific component specifying means is, for the face image detected by the face image detecting means, a minimum area of a predetermined shape capable of including the face image (for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, a player (A rectangular shape inscribed in the head of the person) is determined as the specific area (for example, a portion where the CPU 601 executes Sc44 and Sc49 of the face peripheral image cutout process),
When the size of the specific area determined by the specific component specifying unit is smaller than a predetermined lower limit value, it is excluded from the target image by the personal information specifying unit (for example, the CPU 601 extracts the peripheral face image). (If the left-right width of the face peripheral image is determined to be less than 110 pixels in Sc62 of the left-right width determination process, the image taken outside the player face information output target is deleted in Sc63).
It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, for example, it is possible to reduce the influence of the person who merely passes through the passage, not the player, of the gaming device.

Hand stage 8, a gaming system or device for a game according to any one of the game devices of the game system, means 2 to means 4 of the hand stage 1,
The image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means (for example, after the CPU 601 adjusts the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 in Sc53 or Sc56 of the face peripheral image luminance determination processing, Sc6 Person image identification means for identifying the personal information of the player included in the image (for example, a portion where the CPU 601 executes Sc30 of the captured image-related processing to output the player face information). When,
The person information specifying means is used for the management device (for example, the hall computer 540) that manages the person information in association with the game machine specifying information (for example, the game machine number) that can specify the game machine played by the player. Transmitting means for transmitting the personal information specified by the player information and the gaming machine specifying information of the corresponding gaming machine (for example, as shown in the modified example 2, the CPU 328a stores the player face information temporary storage table in the hall computer cooperation processing. The hall computer 540 includes a player face information notification command capable of specifying the estimated age and the estimated gender for each player face information stored, and a gaming machine number notification command capable of specifying the gaming machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Part to send to),
It is characterized by having.
According to this feature, it is possible to easily analyze the personal information for each gaming machine.

The present invention may have only the invention specifying matters described in the claims of the present invention, or may have a configuration other than the invention specifying matters described in the claims of the present invention. It may be one.

It is a front view showing a pachinko gaming machine and each unit counting unit in the embodiment. It is a block diagram of each stand counting unit. (A) is a block diagram of a camera module, (B) is an explanatory view showing the function of the captured image processing program. It is a schematic diagram showing processing which a picked-up image processing program and a personal information judging program perform in each unit counting unit. (A) is a diagram showing a player face information table stored in the RAM of the camera control board, and (B) is a diagram showing a player face information temporary storage table stored in the RAM of the control unit. , (C) are diagrams showing a player information database stored in the hall computer. It is a flow chart which shows each unit counting unit main processing performed in a control unit. It is a flowchart which shows the payment related process performed in a control unit. It is a flow chart which shows return processing performed in a control unit. It is a flowchart which shows the hall computer cooperation process performed in a control unit. It is a flowchart which shows the camera module main process performed in a camera module. It is a flowchart which shows the picked-up image related process performed in a camera module. (A) is a flowchart showing face peripheral image cutout processing executed in the camera module, and (B) is an explanatory diagram showing a cutout range when one face is detected as a player's face in the face peripheral image cutout processing. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a cutout range when a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face in the face peripheral image cutout processing. 7 is a flowchart showing a face peripheral image brightness determination process executed in the camera module. (A) is a flow chart showing a face peripheral image left/right width determination process executed in the camera module, and (B) is an explanatory view showing an example in which a photographed image is deleted as a player face information output non-target. Is. It is a flowchart which shows the player determination process performed in a camera module. It is a flowchart which shows the player face information judgment processing out of the specified value performed in a camera module. It is a flowchart which shows the estimated age correction process performed in a camera module. It is a figure showing an example of judgment whether a player in Sc78 of a player judging processing is the same person or another person. It is a figure which shows the correction example of the estimated age in Sc103 of an estimated age correction process. It is a flowchart which shows the player face information output process performed in a camera module. It is a flow chart which shows return possibility judgment processing performed in a camera module. FIG. 16 is a front view showing a slot machine and a game ball lending machine according to Modified Example 1.

Modes for carrying out the gaming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on Examples.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of each step of the flowchart in this embodiment, for example, a portion described as "step S1" may be abbreviated as "S1".

First, FIG. 1 is a pachinko gaming machine 1 which is a gaming machine arranged in parallel on each gaming island (gaming machine installation island, not shown) arranged in a game arcade, and the pachinko gaming machine 1 on the left side of the gaming machine 1. It is a figure showing each unit counting unit 300 installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the gaming machine 1. Each unit counting unit 300 in this embodiment is a visitor card having a prepaid function, which is a recording medium for games issued mainly to general players who are not registered as members, and members of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Processing for accepting a membership card, which is a recording medium for games issued to registered member players, and lending out game balls, which are gaming media used for games in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and counting each unit 300 is a gaming device that counts the number of game balls obtained in the game in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 1 and pays out (returns) the game balls within the counted number of game balls. ..

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko gaming machine 1 and each unit counting unit 300 manage a visitor card and a member card used in each unit counting unit 300, and management of each unit counting unit 300. Management of the number of counted game balls counted by the computer 500 and each counting unit 300, and the number of coins stored and the number of coins stored in the visitor card that the member player possessing the member card can use for another game. A gaming system mainly composed of a ball management computer 550 that manages the number of balls and a hall computer 540 that manages game information such as table data of each pachinko gaming machine 1 installed in the game hall are configured. ing.

In this embodiment, the card management computer 500, the ball management computer 550, and the hall computer 540 are formed by separate computers. Even if all of these computers are formed by one computer. Alternatively, any two of these computers may be formed by one computer.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the respective devices constituting the gaming system of the present embodiment are connected via a hub (HUB) 70 and a communication cable so as to be able to perform bidirectional data communication. A local area network (LAN) is formed by assigning a local IP address to each device, and each device connected to the local area network (LAN) can identify the device individually. Since each device is provided with an ID and has an IP address table in which a device (unit) ID is associated with a local IP address, a unit management table (not shown), and the like, each device is identified from the device (unit) ID. By sending each local IP address to the transmission data and transmitting/receiving the data, the data transmission/reception can be performed.

As described above, the card management computer 500 of the present embodiment manages the prepaid balance (gaming value) remaining in each membership card and each visitor card, and at the same time, these membership cards are managed via the communication line. The card management computer 500 is connected to the management server 82 installed in the card management company outside the game center that manages the visitor card and the visitor card so that the management server 82 can perform two-way data communication. By transmitting the management information, the card management company can grasp the sales by the membership card and the visitor card of each amusement center in the management server 82.

Next, a pachinko gaming machine 1, which is an example of the gaming machine used in this embodiment, will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a gaming board (gauge board) 2 that constitutes a gaming board surface, and a gaming machine frame (underframe) 3 that supports and fixes the gaming board 2. On the game board 2, a substantially circular game area surrounded by guide rails is formed, and a game ball launched from a predetermined ball launch device is driven into this game area so that a game is played. It has become.

Further, in the lower part of the game area, there is a hit ball supply plate (upper plate) 23 for storing game balls to be hit in the game area. In addition, the predetermined portion on the upper surface of the upper plate 23 is provided with an operation unit 14 provided with a balance display device for displaying the prepaid balance and a lending button operated for lending a game ball. ..

Further, below the upper plate 23, a lower plate 24 for storing the game balls overflowing from the upper plate 23 by the prize balls paid out when a hit ball is won at each winning opening in the game area is provided. In addition, below the lower plate 24 of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the winning ball counter 407 of each counting unit 300 is arranged. Then, the game balls stored in the lower plate 24 are poured into the acquired ball counter 407 so that the number of game balls acquired by the player can be counted.

The player operates the firing handle provided below the gaming machine to drive the game balls (game balls) stored in the upper plate 23 into the game area formed on the front surface of the game board (gauge board) 2. The prize balls are paid out to the upper plate 23 by playing a game with and winning the prize in the prize opening provided in the game area.

Further, when a prize is won in a predetermined starting winning opening provided in the game area, a variable display of effect symbols and special symbols is executed in the effect display device and the special symbol display device provided in the center of the game area, When it is decided to be a big hit in the internal lottery executed based on the start winning, the variable display result of the effect design and the special symbol becomes the big hit, so that the special variable prize provided in the game area The big prize door in the device (so-called attacker) is opened, and a lot of game balls are won to control the big hit game state in which many prize balls can be obtained.

When the jackpot gaming state is reached, as a gaming state after the jackpot gaming state, the probability of being determined as a jackpot in the internal lottery increases (high probability state) (so-called probability variation state) or the frequency of starting winnings increases to increase the gaming ball There is a case where a high base state (so-called short-time state) in which the rate of increase/decrease (base) per unit time increases increases. Even in the high-probability state, the high-probability state and the high-base state may be accompanied by the high-base state.

Next, each unit counting unit 300 will be described. Each unit counting unit 300 is provided so as to correspond to the pachinko gaming machine 1 on a one-to-one basis. Further, in the present embodiment, each unit counting unit 300 is provided so as to correspond to the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a one-to-one relationship, but for example, each unit counting unit 300 is provided between two pachinko gaming machines. It may be provided so as to correspond to the pair 1, and each one counting unit 300 may be shared by two left and right pachinko gaming machines 1, 1.

Each unit counting unit 300 is installed corresponding to a lateral position on a predetermined side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (in the present embodiment, on the right side when facing the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1), and is not a banknote or a member registration general Accepting a visitor card with a prepaid function, which is a game recording medium issued to a player, and a membership card, which is a game recording medium issued to a member player who has registered as a member at the game hall. , A process for lending a game ball, which is a spherical game medium used for a game in a game machine, and a game ball that a player has acquired in a game on a pachinko game machine 1, and the received game ball Processing for counting and processing for making it possible to specify the counted number of acquired game balls from a visitor card or a membership card are performed.

Each unit counting unit 300 manages a visitor card and a membership card used in each unit counting unit 300, a card management computer 500 that manages each unit counting unit 300, and a management of the number of stored balls and the number of held balls. Various computers such as a ball management computer 550 for performing and a hall computer 540 for managing game information such as table data of each pachinko gaming machine 1 installed in the game arcade are connected to and from each other. Bidirectional data communication is possible. In the hall computer 540 of the present embodiment, an image of a player photographed by a camera module 405 described later provided in each counting unit 300, and information related to the photographed face of the player (player A player database is stored in which player information based on face information) is stored in association with the game machine number of the pachinko game machine 1 on which the player has played a game (see FIG. 5C).

In a predetermined area of the hall computer 540 (for example, a hard disk or RAM of the hall computer 540), an area in which data of captured images can be stored as a player database, and age and gender as player information can be stored. Area, respectively. In this embodiment, the player's gender specified from the player's age and estimated sex calculated from the game machine number of the pachinko game machine 1 in which the player played the game, the data of the image taken and the estimated age. When a command indicating certain player information is received from the control unit 328, the data of the captured image and the player information are stored in the highest empty area (empty area) of a plurality of areas corresponding to the received gaming machine number. Entry) is additionally stored.

The visitor card and membership card used in this embodiment include a non-volatile memory for storing various data, rewriting and reading of the recorded information, and non-contact communication with an external reader/writer device. An IC card equipped with an IC chip having a control unit for executing is used. For these visitor cards and membership cards, card IDs that can identify individual cards, specifically, for visitor cards, The card ID starting with VC is stored in the member card in advance so that the member card ID starting with KC cannot be rewritten, and the type can be identified from the card ID, and the prepaid balance can specify the prepaid balance. Various data such as data is stored.

The membership card is issued to a member player who has performed membership registration at the game hall, and the member ID given to the member is stored in a non-rewritable manner. Also, using the membership card, the membership player can store the game balls that have been once acquired and counted and can be used again in the game even after the next day. Does not directly record the number of accumulated balls, which is the data of the accumulated balls, and these number of accumulated balls are stored in the ball management computer 550 that manages the information of the accumulated balls in association with the card ID and the member ID. Then, the card ID and the member ID are specified.

Similarly to the accumulated balls, the number of balls held on the day is stored in the ball management computer 550 in association with the card ID, the member ID, and the information about the number of balls held, so that The number of balls held can be specified from the member ID. Regarding the number of balls held, not only in the membership card but also in the visitor card, information on the number of balls held is stored in the ball management computer 550 in association with the card ID. Although the information on the number of balls held is not recorded, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information on the number of balls held is stored in the visitor card so that the number of balls held can be stored in the ball management computer 550. Information on the number of balls may be collated.

Further, the visitor card is purchased and issued by a card issuing/depositing machine (not shown) installed in the game hall, and is also issued by each unit counting unit 300.

Next, the structure of each counting unit 300 will be described. Each counting unit 300 of this embodiment also has the function of an ordinary card unit for lending a game ball using the prepaid amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 328 of each counting unit 300 and the pachinko gaming machine 1 perform various kinds of payout of game balls in the lending process and the payout process of the balls and coins (see FIG. 7) described later. Data (payout-related data) is connected so that it can be transmitted and received, and is also connected via a signal cable to an information output board (not shown) provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the jackpot gaming state from the pachinko gaming machine 1 Jackpot signal output in the above, probability changing medium signal output in the above high probability state, time saving medium signal output in the above high base state, every time a predetermined number (eg 10 balls) of prize balls are paid out The award ball signal output to the input device and the start signal output each time the display result of the variable display is derived (that is, each time the variable display is executed) are connected so that they can be input.

Each unit counting unit 300 is provided with an acquired ball counter 407 for counting the game balls acquired by the player. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a full-color LED 211 is built in the front surface of each counting unit 300 so that the state of each counting unit 300 can be notified by lighting in a plurality of colors having different wavelengths. In addition, an optical input/output unit 301 is provided, which has an infrared light receiving element 212 and is capable of inputting an infrared signal corresponding to a reset operation for error notification output from a remote controller (not shown) carried by an attendant at a game arcade. There is. A bill insertion slot 403 for inserting a bill is formed below the light input/output unit 301 on the front surface of each counting unit 300. The banknote insertion slot 403 communicates with a banknote identification unit 410 provided in each counting unit 300, and identifies the authenticity or the banknote type of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 403 in the banknote identification unit 410. By executing it, it is possible to accept these banknotes.

The banknote identification unit 410 takes in the banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion slot 403, identifies the authenticity or the banknote type, and outputs the identification result to the control unit 328. The banknote identification unit 410 can accept various banknotes (banknotes of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, and 1,000 yen). Therefore, if a visitor card or a membership card is not accepted when these cash is inserted, and the inserted cash is 1000 yen, the number of balls corresponding to the amount of 1000 yen ( For example, 250 balls are paid out from the nozzle 320 to the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. On the other hand, when the amount is 2,000 yen or more, the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount is deposited (the balance is added) to the visitor card stored in the card reader/writer 327 described later.

Further, a light-transmissive photographing window 405a is formed below the bill insertion slot 403 on the front surface of each unit counting unit 300. Behind the photographing window 405a in each unit counting unit 300, a camera module 405 for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 installed corresponding to each counting unit 300 through the photographing window 405a. It is provided.

Below the photographing window 405a on the front surface of each unit counting unit 300, a projecting portion 305 that projects toward the front of each unit counting unit 300 is provided. On the surface of the protrusion 305 facing the player, a display unit 312 capable of displaying various information and a transparent touch panel 315 (for inputting each display item displayed on the display unit 312 by touching a finger). 2) is provided. A replay switch 314 operated by the player to play a game using the stored coins is provided below the display unit 312 and the transparent touch panel 315.

In other words, the photographing window 405a and the camera module 405 are provided in the respective counting units 300 at positions where there is a low possibility that the player's hand operating the transparent touch panel 315 will obstruct the player's face. The positions of the photographing window 405a and the camera module 405 in each unit counting unit 300 are not limited to the positions of this embodiment, and may be any positions that can photograph the face of the player.

The protrusion 305 is rotatably attached within a predetermined angle range by being fixed to each unit counting unit 300 via a support shaft (not shown). Can be adjusted.

Inside each counting unit 300 corresponding to the protruding portion 305, there is a display control board 329 mounted with a display control microcomputer for performing display control of the liquid crystal display 313 and detection of an input position by the transparent touch panel 315. It is stored. The replay switch 314 is connected to the control unit 328.

Below the projecting portion 305 on the front surface of each unit counting unit 300, a game ball to be lent to the player and a nozzle 320 for paying out the game ball from the player's balls or accumulated balls are provided. .. Further, below the nozzle 320 on the front surface of each counting unit 300, a card insertion slot 309 for inserting/ejecting a visitor card or a membership card is provided. The card insertion slot 309 communicates with a card reader/writer 327 provided in each counting unit 300.

The card reader/writer 327 reads and writes recorded information such as a (member) card ID recorded in a membership card and a visitor card inserted from the card insertion slot 309, a membership ID (member card only), and prepaid balance data. In addition, it has a card stock section (not shown) for storing visitor cards (including collected cards) used for issuing, and the cards stored in the card stock section (not shown) can be issued. Has been done.

A ball payout device 406 for paying out game balls to the upper plate 23 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 corresponding to each counter unit 300 via the nozzle 320 is also provided in each counter unit 300 in this embodiment. Has been.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, each unit counting unit 300 of this embodiment includes an optical input/output unit 301, a bill identifying unit 410, an acquired ball counter 407, a card reader/writer 327, and a display control board 329. , A control unit 328 that controls each part of each counting unit 300 by a control program to provide various functions of each counting unit 300, and a card reader/writer 327 and an acquired ball counter. The display control board 329 and the display control board 329 are connected to the control unit 328 so that various kinds of data can be transmitted and received, and the light input/output unit 301 is connected to the control unit 328, so that the light input/output unit 301 is connected. A signal corresponding to the lighting control and the infrared signal received by the light input/output unit 301 is input to the control unit 328.

Further, the control unit 328 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 328a capable of executing a control program, a (member) card ID or a member ID (members only) of a visitor card or member card being accepted by the card reader/writer 327, and Prepaid balance (remaining frequency), number of balls accumulated, number of balls held (number of counted balls), number of store visit points, unit data of pachinko machine 1 with each unit counting unit 300 installed, game information of members who are playing It is possible to rewrite and store various data such as a RAM 328b capable of storing various data such as, a control program executed by a central processing unit (CPU) 328a, setting information including the device ID of each counting unit 300. A non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM 328c and a real-time clock (RTC) 328d capable of outputting time information and calendar information at that time. The data stored during the period is retained.

In the card table (not shown) stored in the RAM 328b of the present embodiment, the visitor card inserted (accepted) in the card reader/writer 327 or the (member) card ID or member ID (only the member card) read from the member card. , PIN (members only), (member) card ID and prepaid balance based on prepaid balance data, card ID or number of balls held by (member) card ID and member ID, (member) card ID and member ID Information such as the number of specified savings balls (only for members) and the number of store visit points specified by the member ID (only for members) is stored. Further, in the RAM 328b of this embodiment, an image of the player photographed by a camera module 405 described later provided in each unit counting unit 300, and information related to the photographed face of the player (player A player face information temporary storage table that is temporarily stored in association with (face information) is stored (see FIG. 5B).

In a predetermined area of the RAM 328b, a player face information temporary storage table, a region capable of storing captured image data, and a region capable of storing estimated age, estimated age reliability, and estimated sex as player face information. , And are respectively provided. In the present embodiment, when the data of the photographed images and the player face information are received from the camera module 405, the photographed images and the player face information are associated with each other and added to the uppermost empty area (empty entry). It is designed to be remembered. The contents stored in the player face information temporary storage table are cleared when the card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is returned.

Further, the control unit 328 is connected to a payout control board (not shown) of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed, and performs a payout process with the payout control board (not shown). It is possible to send and receive various signals accompanying it, and is connected to each computer such as a coin management computer via the communication unit 334 and the HUB so that data can be sent and received. It is possible through the communication unit 334.

Further, on the display control board 329 of the present embodiment, a display drive circuit (not shown) for driving the display of the liquid crystal display 313, and a position pressed by an output signal from the transparent touch panel 315 are specified. An input position detection circuit (not shown) that outputs the specified input position information, a VDP (not shown) that performs processing relating to a display image displayed on the display unit 312, and image data used for menu display and the like are stored. VROM (not shown), VRAM (not shown) for temporarily storing display data to be displayed on the display unit 312, and a control unit 328 independently from each other, processes judgments and processes associated with input of various switches and transparent touch panel. A display control microcomputer or the like that is implemented based on a program is mounted, and a liquid crystal display that forms a display unit 312 for displaying various display screens based on display data (page data) output from the control unit 328. It can be displayed on the container 313. It should be noted that the display unit 312 in the present embodiment is configured to display the items “payout” and “return”, and the player touches a location on the transparent touch panel 315 corresponding to the item “payout”. As a result, the game ball is paid out from the ball, and the player touches the place corresponding to the item “return” on the transparent touch panel 315 to return the visitor card or the membership card. Further, as will be described later in detail, in the present embodiment, when the player who touches (returns) the part corresponding to the item “return” on the transparent touch panel 315 is different from the player who is playing the game, a visitor card or The membership card is not returned.

The ball payout device 406 of the present embodiment is a device for paying out the game ball guided by a passage for guiding the game ball and a sprocket driven by a stepping motor or the like to the upper plate 23 via the nozzle 320. .. The ball payout device 406 is provided with a payout number count switch for counting the number of game balls paid out from the ball payout device 406, and a detection signal to the control unit 328 every time one payout of the game ball is detected. Is to be output. Then, when the CPU 328a provided in the control unit 328 determines that a predetermined number of game balls (for example, 125 balls) have been paid out by receiving the detection signal, it stops driving the ball payout device 406, The payout of game balls by the ball payout device 406 is stopped.

It should be noted that a storage tank for storing game balls is provided at the upper part of each game island arranged in the game hall in the present embodiment, and the game balls stored in the storage tank pass through the guide rail. The ball-discharging device 406 is reached through the curve gutter. Above the ball payout device 406, a ball break switch (not shown) is provided. When the ball cut switch detects the ball cut, the payout operation of the ball payout device 406 is stopped. When the out-of-ball switch detects a shortage of game balls, the supply mechanism provided on the game machine installation island supplies the game balls to the ball payout device 406.

That is, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 and each unit counting unit 300 of the present embodiment, the player operates the lending button provided on the operation unit 14 and the items of “payout” and “replay” on the transparent touch panel 315. By touching the corresponding portion, the ball payout device 406 is driven, and the game balls are paid out from the nozzle 320 to the upper plate 23. Then, when the game balls in the ball payout device 406 are insufficient, the game balls are appropriately caught from the storage tank to the ball payout device 406.

The winning ball counter 407 of the present embodiment is arranged below the lower plate 24 of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the player performs a predetermined operation on an operation unit (not shown) provided on the lower plate 24, thereby The game balls stored in the lower plate 24 are poured into the acquired ball counter 407. Further, the acquired ball counter 407 is connected to an inflow port (not shown) provided at the lower end on the front side of each unit counting unit 300 via a counted ball inflow path 404. The counted game balls flow into the inflow port from the counting ball inflow path 404 and flow toward the game ball transfer path (not shown) in the game island.

In addition, inside the acquired ball counter 407, a counter (not shown) for counting the game balls thrown into the acquired ball counter 407 and the acquired ball based on an instruction from the control unit 328 while controlling the counter. A counter controller (not shown) for controlling the operation of the counter 407 is built in, and the number of balls (count information) counted by the counter is transmitted from the counter controller to the control unit 328. There is.

Next, the camera module 405 in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the camera module 405 is a CMOS sensor that is an image sensor for photographing an area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly through the photographing window 405a. A camera board 610 on which the 606 and the like are mounted, and a camera control board 600 for controlling shooting using the CMOS sensor 606 and executing processing related to a shot image are provided.

In the camera control board 600, various kinds of data can be transmitted/received between the CPU 601 which controls the photographing using the CMOS sensor 606 and executes the processing relating to the photographed image, and the camera module 405 and the control unit 328. 5A, a RAM 603 capable of storing the player face information table and the data of the photographed image shown in FIG. 5A, and a real time clock (RTC) capable of outputting time information and calendar information at that time. 604 and a ROM 605 in which various programs executed by the CPU 601 are stored are mounted.

The ROM 605 determines the player, such as the estimated age and estimated sex of the player, from the photographed image based on the face of the player shown in the image, and the determined information is information related to the face of the player ( A person information determination program to be output as player face information) and a captured image related processing program that executes processing related to a captured image are stored. The personal information determination program according to the present embodiment is, for example, a face determination (face authentication) program using a known image sensing technique.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in the present embodiment, the CPU 601 executes the photographed image-related processing program to identify the player's face from the photographed image, and the face image is used as the face image. A face image cutout that is cut out as a peripheral image, a gain adjustment that adjusts the gain of a signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the time of next image shooting based on the brightness of the cutout face peripheral image, and a player output by the person information determination program The player is the same as the previous player based on the face information, the card ID of the card (member card or visitor card) accepted by the card reader/writer 327, and the card ID stored in the player face information table. From the output target of the player's face information by the person information determination program, the same person determination to determine whether or not, and the image in which the width of the cut-out face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels (the image before cutting out the face peripheral image) is output. Size filtering to exclude, brightness filtering to exclude an image (the image before cutting out the face peripheral image) in which the brightness of the clipped face peripheral image is larger than 192 or smaller than 64 from the output target of the player face information, and An estimated age at which an image (image before cutting out a face peripheral image) whose estimated age reliability value that is a part of the player face information output by the information determination program is less than 200 is excluded from the estimated age correction target described below. The reliability filtering and the estimated age correction for correcting the estimated age that is a part of the player face information output by the person information determination program can be executed. The brightness in the present embodiment refers to the average value of each pixel when the pixels (pixels) forming the cut-out face peripheral image are digitized with a gray scale (black and white component).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, each unit counting unit 300 of this embodiment photographs the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each unit counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly, every time a predetermined time elapses. With this, the player is photographed, and the image around the face of the player is cut out for each of the photographed images, luminance filtering and size filtering, gain correction, output of player face information, determination of the same person of the player, estimated age reliability. Each processing of filtering and estimated age correction is executed.

In a predetermined area of the RAM 603, an area capable of storing data of a captured image as a player face information table, an estimated age as player face information, an estimated age reliability, an estimated sex, a feature amount, and a feature amount reliability A region in which the degree and the like can be stored, a region in which the card ID read from the card reader/writer 327 can be stored, a region in which a player ID for identifying a player can be stored, and a process of estimated age correction by the CPU 601 A region capable of storing an estimated age-corrected flag for determining whether or not it has been executed, and a transmission for determining whether or not these captured images and player face information have been transmitted to the control unit 328. An area in which the done flag can be stored is provided. In this embodiment, when the player face information is output, the player face information and the photographed image are associated with each other and additionally stored in the highest empty area (empty entry). The card ID, the player ID, the estimated age corrected flag, and the transmitted flag are updated by executing the corresponding processing.

That is, in the present embodiment, when an image is captured by the camera module 405, size filtering and brightness filtering processing and player face information output are executed by the above-described captured image-related processing program and personal information determination program, Data of these captured images and player face information are additionally stored in the player face information table. Then, after the same person determination, estimated age reliability filtering, and estimated age correction processing by the captured image-related processing program are executed, the image data stored in association with the entry in which the transmitted flag is not set, The player information such as estimated age, estimated age reliability, estimated sex, etc. is transmitted to the control unit 328.

Next, in the control unit 328, the data of these images received from the camera module 405 and the player information such as the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, the estimated sex, and the like are stored in the top empty area (empty space) of the player face information temporary storage table. By additionally storing in the entry), the data of the image of the same player and the player information are accumulated.

Further, when the card (member card or visitor card) is returned from the card reader/writer 327, that is, when the player's game on the pachinko gaming machine 1 is completed, the player's gaming machine on the pachinko gaming machine 1 is played. The number, the data of the image of the player accumulated in the player face information temporary storage table (the data of the captured image), the age of the player calculated from the estimated age stored in each entry, and The sex of the player identified from the stored estimated sex is transmitted to the hall computer 540 as player information.

Then, in the hall computer 540, the gaming machine that has received the image data (the imaged image data) of the player and the player information received from the control unit 328 together with the image data of the player and the player information. It is additionally stored in the highest free area (empty entry) of the plurality of areas corresponding to the numbers.

By doing so, in this embodiment, a clerk of the game hall or the like refers to the player database of the hall computer 540 so that the player for each pachinko gaming machine (or slot machine) installed in the game hall. It is possible to understand the age group and sex of the player, and it is possible to analyze which pachinko gaming machine (or slot machine) matches the taste of a specific player.

Further, although not particularly shown, the camera module 405 is provided with a lens for transmitting light from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and an optical path of light entering the lens, which is installed close to the front of the lens. A shutter for blocking the shutter and a solenoid for opening and closing the shutter are provided. In the camera module 405 of this embodiment, the CPU 601 drives the solenoid to open the shutter for a predetermined time (for example, 1/500 seconds), so that each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly to the pachinko game machine 1. It is possible to capture an image by allowing light to enter the lens from the front side of the camera and receiving the entered light by the CMOS sensor 606.

In the present embodiment, as an image sensor for capturing an image with the camera module 405, a signal is generated by amplifying or converting digitally the electric charge converted from the light received independently for each pixel. Although the mode using the CMOS sensor 606 for outputting is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the charge converted from the light received by each pixel is transferred to the adjacent pixel in a relay manner. Then, a CCD sensor that finally amplifies the transferred charges may be used.

Next, the processing executed by the CPU 328a in the control unit 328 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the main unit counting unit main processing executed by the control unit 328 (CPU 328a). In each unit counting unit main process, the CPU 328a first executes a necessary initialization process (Sk1). In the initialization process, the CPU 328a first sets the interrupt prohibition. Next, the interrupt mode is set, and the stack pointer designated address is set in the stack pointer. After initialization of the built-in device (initialization of CTC (counter/timer) and PIO (parallel input/output port) which are built-in devices (built-in peripheral circuits)), the RAM 328b is set to the accessible state.

Next, the CPU 328a confirms whether or not the data protection processing for the backup RAM area (for example, power supply stoppage processing such as addition of parity data) is performed when the power supply to each counting unit 300 is stopped. If it is confirmed that such protection processing is not performed, the CPU 328a executes initialization processing. Whether or not there is backup data in the backup RAM area is confirmed by, for example, the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area in the power supply stop process.

After confirming that the power supply stop processing has been performed, the CPU 328a checks the data in the backup RAM area. In this embodiment, a parity check is performed as a data check. Therefore, the calculated checksum is compared with the checksum calculated and stored by the same process in the power supply stop process. When the power supply is stopped after an unexpected power failure or the like, the data in the backup RAM area should have been saved, so the check result (comparison result) becomes normal (match). If the check result is not normal, it means that the data in the backup RAM area is different from the data when the power supply was stopped. In such a case, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state when the power supply was stopped, the initialization process that is executed when the power is turned on, not when the power supply is restored from the stop, is executed.

If the check result is normal, the CPU 328a restores the settings with the backup data and clears the backup data. Next, it is determined whether or not the counting flag indicating that the counting by the acquired ball counter 407 is being executed is set. If the counting flag is set, the power interruption for restarting the counting interrupted by the power interruption is performed. Performs restart clock count processing. In the initialization process, the CPU 328a first performs a RAM clear process. In addition, the setting data stored in the RAM 328b is initialized, various tables are initialized, the connection status of each part is confirmed, and a connection confirmation request is sent to the card management computer 500, the hall computer 540, and the ball management computer 550. In response to the transmission and the connection confirmation request, the card management computer 500, the hall computer 540, and the ball management computer 550 set initial values and the like for each setting data based on the setting information returned.

Further, the CPU 328a indicates a closing-related processing specifying command indicating that the closing-related processing specifying command transmitted from the holding-ball managing computer 550 is received in the closing processing executed by the holding-ball managing computer 550 when the game hall is closed. It is determined whether or not the reception flag is set, that is, whether or not this activation process is executed after the business period ends.

When the tightening related process designation command reception flag is not set, the CPU 328a sets the register of the CTC built in the control unit 328 so that a timer interrupt is periodically taken every predetermined time (for example, 2 ms). .. That is, a value corresponding to, for example, 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a timer interrupt is taken every 2 ms. When the execution of the initialization process is completed, the CPU 328a sets the timer interrupt and sets the interrupt enable state. If the closing-related process designation command reception flag is set, the out-of-hours counting process of counting the game balls detected by the acquired ball counter 407 as invalid game balls is executed.

Then, when the initialization process of Sk1 is completed, the process proceeds to a loop process of monitoring the timer interrupt flag (Sk2). When a timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 328a sets (updates to 1) the timer interrupt flag in the timer interrupt process. In the main processing of each unit counting unit, if the timer interrupt flag is set, the flag is cleared (updated to 0) (Sk3), and the following processings from Sk4 to Sk12 are executed.

First, the CPU 328a executes a counting process (Sk4). In the counting process, based on the counting ball number included in the counting information received from the acquired ball counter 407, the counting ball number is added to the holding ball number stored in the card table, and the holding ball after addition is added. The number is transmitted together with the (member) card ID of the member card or the visitor card being accepted and the device ID of each unit counting unit 300, to update the number of balls held by the player.

Next, the CPU 328a executes the payout-related process (Sk5), and thereafter, the card (member card or visitor card) accepted by the card reader/writer 327 every time a predetermined time (for example, 0.7 seconds) elapses. A card ID notification command transmission setting process is executed to read out the ID and perform transmission settings for transmitting a card ID notification command capable of specifying the card ID to the camera module 405 (Sk6).

Further, the CPU 328a requests the player face information for requesting the player face information such as the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, and the estimated sex to the camera module 405 every time a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses. A player face information request process for setting the transmission of commands is executed (Sk7).

Further, the CPU 328a executes player face information input processing (Sk8). In the player face information input processing, whether or not the player face information notification command capable of specifying the player face information such as the image data captured from the camera module 405, the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, the estimated gender, etc. is received. Determine whether. When the captured image data and the player face information notification command are received, the estimated age, estimated age reliability, estimated gender, etc. are specified from each received player face information notification command, and these are specified. The player face information and the captured image data are associated with each other and sequentially stored in the player face information temporary storage table shown in FIG. 5B.

In addition, the CPU 328a executes the command transmission process, so that the control unit 328 causes the banknote identification unit 410, the card reader/writer 327, the camera module 405, the ball payout device 406, the acquired ball counter 407, the display control board 329, and the hall computer. The control command and various data are transmitted to 540, the card management computer 500, the ball management computer 550, etc. (Sk9).

Further, the CPU 328a determines that an error has been detected by inputting a predetermined error signal from each device to the control unit 328, and executes error notification processing (Sk10). Specifically, when an error signal is input from the bill identification unit 410 or the card reader/writer 327, the full-color LED 211 in the optical input/output unit 301 is blinked in red to notify the user. Further, when the communication state with each computer becomes an off-line state, the full-color LED 211 in the optical input/output unit 301 is blinked in orange to light up. In this way, by lighting the full-color LED 211 in a color having a different wavelength according to each state, the state of each counting unit 300 is notified. In the normal state, the lighting state of the full-color LED 211 is a continuous white lighting state.

Further, the CPU 328a receives the power interruption detection signal indicating that the power supply to each counting unit 300 has been cut off by the power interruption detection circuit (not shown), and thus the CPU 328a causes each of the CPUs 328a to operate. It is determined that the power supply to the platform counting unit 300 has been cut off, and the power failure detection process is executed (S12).

Further, when the closing-related process designating command output from the ball management computer 550 is input to the control unit 328, the CPU 328a determines that the closing-related process designating command is received, and executes the closing-related process ( S13).

After the execution of the tightening related processing, the processing shifts again to the loop processing for monitoring the timer interrupt flag (Sk2).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the process executed in Sk5 shown in FIG. 6 as the payout related process. In this payout-related process, the CPU 328a first executes an input waiting process (Sk21). After executing the input waiting process, the CPU 328a selects and executes any of the processes of Sk22 to Sk27 according to the value of the payout related process flag.

In the input waiting process of Sk21, the CPU 328a determines whether or not the insertion detection information associated with the insertion of the membership card or the visitor card is input from the card reader/writer 327 to the control unit 328, that is, the visitor card is inserted into the card reader/writer 327. It is determined whether or not the insertion detection information is input from the card reader/writer 327 to the control unit 328, and the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the card acceptance process. Further, the CPU 328a determines whether or not a signal indicating that the lending button provided on the operation unit 14 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 has been operated is input from the payout control board (not shown) to the control unit 328, that is, the lending button. Is operated, and when the lending button is operated, the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the lending process. In addition, the CPU 328a determines whether the currency identification information associated with the insertion of cash (banknotes) is input from the banknote identification unit 410 to the control unit 328, that is, whether the cash (banknotes) is inserted into the banknote identification unit 410. When it is determined that cash (banknotes) has been inserted into the banknote identification unit 410, the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the issue/payment process.

Further, in the input waiting process, the CPU 328 a outputs a signal indicating that the location corresponding to the item “return” displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 (display unit 312) on the transparent touch panel 315 is touched, to the display control board 329. From the liquid crystal display 313, that is, whether or not a part corresponding to the item “return” displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 on the transparent touch panel 315 is touched, and the liquid crystal on the transparent touch panel 315 is determined. When the location corresponding to the item “return” displayed on the display 313 (display unit 312) is touched, the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the return process. Further, the CPU 328a determines whether or not a signal indicating that the replay switch 314 has been operated is input from the replay switch 314 to the control unit 328, that is, whether or not the replay switch 314 has been operated, and When the play switch 314 is operated, the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the replay process. In addition, the CPU 328 a determines whether or not a signal indicating that the location corresponding to the item “payout” displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 on the transparent touch panel 315 is touched is input from the display control board 329 to the control unit 328. That is, it is determined whether or not a portion corresponding to the item “payout” displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 (display unit 312) on the transparent touch panel 315 has been touched, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 313 on the transparent touch panel 315. When the location corresponding to the item “Payout” is touched, the value of the payout related process flag is updated to a value according to the payout process.

In the card reception processing of Sk22, the CPU 328a outputs an instruction to take in the member card or visitor card inserted in the card insertion slot 309 to the card reader/writer 327, and the inserted member card or visitor card is stored in the card reader/writer 327. Data stored in the membership card or visitor card, specifically, the (membership) card ID of the membership card or visitor card, the member ID (membership card only), the prepaid balance data, and the number of digi balls. Reads numerical data (visitor card only), etc.

Then, the CPU 328a makes a transmission setting for transmitting an authentication request including the (member) card ID, the prepaid balance data, and the device ID read from the accepted membership card or visitor card to the card management computer 500, and the card management computer 500. Execute the card authentication process that receives the authentication result from. The command indicating the authentication request set for transmission is transmitted to the card management computer 500 by executing the command transmission process (Sk9).

When the authentication result returned from the card management computer 500 is “authentication NG”, the CPU 328a outputs an instruction to eject the accepted membership card or visitor card to the card reader/writer 327, and the inserted membership card or visitor card. Is returned and the card acceptance process is terminated, and when the returned authentication result is “authentication OK”, the (member) card ID and member ID (member only) read from the accepted card, and the prepaid balance. Is stored in the card table, and the ball management computer 550 receives a card acceptance notification including the (member) card ID, device ID, and number of balls retained (visitor card only) read from the accepted membership card or visitor card. To send.

Next, the ball management computer 550 stores the number of balls and the number of accumulated balls (members only) corresponding to the (member) card ID included in the received card acceptance notification, as the member savings stored in the ball management computer 550. In the management table or the visitor savings management table, it is specified from each data stored corresponding to the (member) card ID, and when the card ID is a member card ID, it is corresponded to the member card ID. The PIN code and store points stored in the member information table are further specified, and the number of balls possessed, the number of balls saved (members only), store points (members only), PIN (members only), and (member) The acceptance processing completion notification including the card ID is returned to each counting unit 300 that is the transmission source of the received card acceptance notification.

Upon receipt of the acceptance processing completion notification, the control unit 328 of each counting unit 300 causes the number of balls held, the number of accumulated balls (members only), the store visit point (members only), and the personal identification number included in the received acceptance processing completion notification. (Members only) is stored in the card table, and the prepaid balance stored in the card table is displayed on the display unit 312 of the liquid crystal display 313. Further, the received card information is cleared, and the value of the payout related process flag is set to a value according to the input waiting process.

In the loan process of Sk23, the CPU 328a first reads out the prepaid balance stored in the RAM 328b (card table) read from the inserted membership card or visitor card (including the visitor card issued by inserting banknotes) to a predetermined amount. It is determined whether or not the used unit amount (a predetermined unit amount when using the prepaid balance for the lending process) is less than 100 yen, and if the prepaid balance is less than 100 yen, the lending process is performed. finish.

On the other hand, when the prepaid balance is 100 yen or more, it is determined whether or not the prepaid balance is 500 yen or more set as the usage amount of the lending process. When the prepaid balance is equal to or more than the used amount, the used amount ball lending for outputting the payout instruction of the number of balls corresponding to 500 yen to the pachinko gaming machine 1 corresponding to each counting unit 300 and paying out On the other hand, when the amount is less than the used amount while the processing is performed, the number of balls corresponding to an integer value obtained by dividing the prepaid balance at that time by 100 yen, for example, if the prepaid balance is 450 yen, it corresponds to 400 yen. A display amount ball lending process is executed in which each coin counting unit 300 outputs a coin number payout instruction to the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 1 and pays it out.

Then, the used amount is subtracted and updated from the prepaid balance (which is the same as the prepaid balance stored in the card table of the RAM 328b) displayed on the balance display (not shown) provided in the operation unit 14, and the card table prepaid is updated. After updating the remaining amount and the prepaid balance data stored in the member card or the visitor card being accepted to the prepaid balance data that can identify the new prepaid balance by subtracting and updating the usage amount, to the card management computer 500, The transmission setting for transmitting the lending completion notification including the device ID uniquely assigned to each counting unit 300, the (member) card ID of the member card or visitor card being accepted, and the usage amount is performed, The usage amount is subtracted and updated from the prepaid balance stored in association with the (member) card ID in the membership card table or the visitor card table of the card management computer 500. After completing these processes, the CPU 328a updates the value of the payout related process flag to a value corresponding to the input waiting process. The command indicating the lending completion notification set for transmission is transmitted to the card management computer 500 by the CPU 328a executing a command transmission process (Sk9).

In the Sk24 issuance/payment process, the CPU 328a first identifies the inserted amount of coins inserted from the input currency identification information, and determines whether or not there is a membership card or visitor card being accepted by the card reader/writer 327. Determine whether. When it is determined that there is no member card or visitor card being accepted, the CPU 328a moves the visitor card stored in the card storage unit (not shown) to a predetermined reading position in the card insertion slot 309. Then, the card ID of the visitor card is read out, and transmission settings for transmitting an issuance request including the read out card ID, the inserted amount, and the device ID of each counting unit 300 to the card management computer 500 are performed. The command indicating the lending issuance request set for transmission is transmitted to the card management computer 500 by the CPU 328a executing the command transmission process (Sk9).

In response to the reception of this issuance request, the card management computer 500 determines whether or not the card ID included in the received issuance request exists in the visitor card table, and if it exists, it corresponds to the card ID. The "status" of the visitor card table is updated to "in use", the date and time at that time output from the RTC 328d is stored in the latest issue date and time, and the received money input is stored in the "remaining amount" as a prepaid balance. , "Issue permission" is returned to each counting unit 300 of the transmission source of the issuance request. If the received card ID does not exist in the visitor card table, "Issuable" is returned.

In addition, the card management computer 500 sends an issuance notification including the latest issued date and time stored and the card ID and device ID included in the received issuance request to the ball management computer 550 along with the transmission of the “issue permission”. By notifying the ball management computer 550, the ball management computer 550 causes the latest issue date and time of the visitor savings management table corresponding to the card ID included in the received issue notice to be the latest issue date and time included in the received issue notice. Is stored, the “status” of the unit management table corresponding to the device ID included in the received issue notification is updated to “accepting”, and the received card ID is stored in “reception ID” to manage the unit. Update the table.

Upon receipt of the above-mentioned “issue permission”, the CPU 328a writes and stores the prepaid balance corresponding to the inserted amount into the visitor card moved to the card insertion slot 309, and stores the visitor card ID in the card table. After storing the prepaid balance corresponding to the deposit amount and displaying the prepaid balance on the balance display, the issuance/payment process is terminated and the operation standby state is returned to. After completing these processes, the CPU 328a updates the value of the payout related process flag to a value corresponding to the input waiting process.

In the return process of Sk25, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 328a first determines whether or not the below-described hall computer cooperation process is being executed (Sk31). If the hall computer cooperation process is being executed (Sk31; Y), the process proceeds to Sk46. If the hall computer cooperation process is not being executed (Sk31; N), the process proceeds to Sk33. In Sk33, the CPU 328a determines whether or not a ball management computer cooperation process described later is being executed. When the ball management computer cooperation process is being executed (Sk33; Y), the process proceeds to Sk44, and when the ball management computer cooperation process is not being executed (Sk33; N), the process proceeds to Sk34.

In Sk34, the CPU 328a determines whether or not a return permission/inhibition determination wait flag indicating that the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is to be determined is set. .. Although details will be described later, the CPU 601 mounted on the camera control board 600 of the camera module 405 determines whether to permit the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327. The determination is made in the return possibility determination process (see FIG. 21). If the return availability determination wait flag is set (Sk34; Y), the process proceeds to Sk40, and if the return availability determination wait flag is not set (Sk34; N), the process proceeds to Sk35. In Sk35, the CPU 328a determines whether or not a card return prohibition flag indicating that the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is prohibited is set. When the card return prohibition flag is set (Sk35; Y), the return process is ended, and when the card return prohibition flag is not set (Sk35; N), the process proceeds to Sk36.

In Sk36, the CPU 328a makes a setting to prohibit counting of new game balls in the acquired ball counter 407. Further, the CPU 328a invalidates a touch operation to a location corresponding to the item "return" displayed on the display unit 312 of the liquid crystal display 313 on the transparent touch panel 315 as a setting for invalidating a new return operation. (Sk37). Further, the CPU 328a sets the return permission/inhibition determination request command for requesting the camera control board 600 to determine whether to permit the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327. (Sk38), the return possibility determination waiting flag is set, and the return process is ended (Sk39).

In Sk40, the CPU 328a returns the membership card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 by the CPU 601 mounted on the camera control board 600 of the camera module 405 executing the return possibility determination process (FIG. 21). It is determined whether or not the card return prohibition command indicating that the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is permitted is received. When the card return prohibition command or the card return permission command is received (Sk40; Y), the process proceeds to Sk41, and when the card return prohibition command and the card return permission command are not received (Sk40; N), the return process To finish.

In Sk41, the CPU 328a clears the return approval/disapproval determination waiting flag based on the reception of the card return prohibition command or the card return permission command. Then, it is determined whether or not the received command is a card return prohibition command (Sk42). If the received command is a card return prohibition command (Sk42; Y), the process proceeds to Sk43, and if the received command is a card return permission command (Sk42; N), the process proceeds to Sk44a. Note that in Sk43, the CPU 328a sets the card return prohibition flag based on the reception of the card return prohibition command, and proceeds to Sk50.

In Sk44, the CPU 328a executes the ball management computer cooperation process as a part of the process for returning the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 based on the reception of the card return permission command. ..

In the ball management computer linkage process, the CPU 328a causes the ball management computer 550 to perform the device ID of each counting unit 300, the card ID of the returned card, and the number of balls held and the number of accumulated balls stored in the card table ( Execute the sending settings for sending a return notification including (members only). The command indicating the return notice set for transmission is transmitted to the ball management computer 550 by executing the command transmission process (Sk9).

In response to the receipt of this return notice, the di ball management computer 550 determines the number of dice stored in the member savings management table or the visitor savings management table in association with the (member) card ID included in the received return notice. The number of balls (only for members) is updated to the number of balls and the number of balls included in the received return notification, and the "status" corresponding to the device ID received in the unit management table is changed to "standby", The card ID stored in the “acceptance ID” is deleted, and the update completion notification is transmitted to each counting unit 300 that is the transmission source of the return notification.

Upon receipt of this update completion notification, the CPU 328a of the control unit 328 outputs an ejection instruction to the card reader/writer 327 to eject the member card or visitor card being accepted from the card insertion slot 309, and resets the card table. ..

Then, in Sk45, the CPU 328a determines whether or not the series of processes in the ball management computer cooperation process have been completed. When the ball management computer cooperation process is completed (Sk45; Y), the process proceeds to Sk46, and when the ball management computer cooperation process is not completed (Sk45; N), the return process is ended.

In Sk46, the CPU 328a stores in the player face information temporary storage table (see FIG. 5B) as a part of the processing for returning the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327. A process for calculating the age of the player from the player face information, specifying the gender of the player, and transmitting a command indicating the age and sex of the player and the data of the captured image to the hall computer 540 is performed. Performs hall computer cooperation processing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the hall computer cooperation process executed by the CPU 328a in Sk46 of the return process shown in FIG. In the hall computer cooperation process, the CPU 328a first specifies the estimated age of all the player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table shown in FIG. 5B (S51). Then, the age of the player is calculated from these specified estimated ages (Sk52). Specifically, in Sk52, the CPU 328a divides the sum of all estimated ages specified in Sk51 by the estimated number of ages specified in Sk51, that is, calculates the average of the estimated ages as the age of the player.

In this embodiment, the age of the player is calculated as an average of the estimated ages of all the player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, the estimated age at the center when the estimated ages of all the player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table are arranged in ascending order, that is, the median is the age of the player. Of the estimated ages of all player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table, the estimated age that appears most frequently, that is, the mode value is calculated as the age of the player. Good. In addition, the age of the player is calculated by averaging a predetermined number of estimated ages around the median when the estimated ages of all player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table are arranged in ascending order. You may.

Next, the CPU 328a identifies the estimated sex of all the player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table shown in FIG. 5B (Sk53). Then, in these specified estimated sexes, it is determined whether the number of the estimated sexes of the player stored as male is larger than the number stored as female (Sk54). If the estimated gender of the player is greater than the number stored as male (Sk54; Y), the gender of the player is specified as male and the process proceeds to Sk59 (Sk55). If the estimated sex of the person is equal to or less than the number stored as a female (Sk54; N), the process proceeds to Sk56.

In Sk56, the CPU 328a determines whether the estimated sex of the player is greater than the number stored as a female than the number stored as a male. If the estimated gender of the player is greater than the number stored as female (Sk56; Y), the gender of the player is specified as female and the process proceeds to Sk59 (Sk57). If the estimated sex of a player is less than or equal to the number remembered as a male, that is, the number of remembered gender of a player is the same as the number remembered as a female. If it is, the gender of the player is specified as unknown and the process proceeds to Sk59 (Sk58).

In addition, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the gender of the player is unclearly specified only when the estimated gender of the player is the same as the number stored as the female. The invention is not limited to this, and the difference between the number in which the estimated sex of the player is remembered as a male and the number in which it is remembered as a female is within a predetermined ratio or a predetermined ratio to the estimated age number specified in Sk51. In some cases, the player's gender may be unspecified.

In Sk59, the CPU 328a specifies the player face information with the highest estimated age reliability from the player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table shown in FIG. 5(B). Further, the player face information notification command that can specify the age of the player calculated in Sk52 and the gender of the player specified in any one of Sk55, Sk57, and Sk58, and the most estimated age reliability specified in Sk59. Data of images (taken images) stored in association with high player face information, and a gaming machine number notification command capable of specifying the gaming machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. Transmission settings for transmission to the hall computer 540 are performed (Sk60). Note that the player face information notification command, the imaged image data, and the gaming machine number notification command are transmitted to the hall computer 540 by the CPU 328a executing a command transmission process.

Then, the CPU 328a clears the stored contents of the player face information temporary storage table and ends the hall computer cooperation processing (Sk61).

When the hall computer 540 receives the player face information notification command, the imaged image data, and the game machine number notification command from the control unit 328, the hall computer 540 performs the hall computer cooperation process from the received player face information notification command. Identify the calculated age and the identified gender. Further, the gaming machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which the player has played a game is specified from the received gaming machine number notification command. Then, the data of the photographed images and the player information (the age calculated by the hall computer cooperation process and the specified gender) correspond to the specified gaming machine number in the player database shown in FIG. 5C. It is additionally stored in the highest empty area (empty entry) of the plurality of areas.

Returning to the return process of FIG. 8, the CPU 328a determines whether or not the series of processes in the hall computer cooperation process is completed. When the hall computer cooperation processing is completed, the setting for prohibiting the counting of new game balls in the acquired ball counter 407 set in Sk36 is set as the setting for permitting the counting of new game balls in the acquired ball counter 407. Is canceled (Sk48). Further, as a setting to validate the new return operation, the touch operation to the part corresponding to the item “return” displayed on the display unit 312 of the liquid crystal display 313 on the transparent touch panel 315 is enabled, and the process proceeds to Sk50. (Sk49).

Then, the CPU 328a updates the value of the payout related process flag to a value according to the input waiting process in Sk50, and ends the return process.

In the present embodiment, the hall computer cooperation processing is executed every time the member card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is returned, so that the calculated age of the player and the gender of the identified player can be obtained. A player face information notification command that can be specified, data of an image (taken image) stored in association with the player face information having the highest estimated age reliability, and a pachinko machine in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. An example is shown in which a game machine number notification command capable of specifying the game machine number of the game machine 1 is transmitted from the control unit 328 to the hall computer 540, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these Communication between the control unit 328 and the hall computer 540 is performed by transmitting the player face information notification command, the image (captured image) data, and the gaming machine number notification command only when the hall computer 540 requests transmission. The amount and the processing load may be reduced. Further, by transmitting from the control unit 328 to the hall computer 540, only one or two of the player face information notification command, the image (photographed image) data, and the gaming machine number notification command. The communication amount and processing load between the control unit 328 and the hall computer 540 may be further reduced.

Next, processing executed by the CPU 601 mounted on the camera control board 600 of the camera module 405 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 21.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the camera module main processing executed by the CPU 601. In the camera module main process, the CPU 601 first executes a necessary initialization process (Sc1). In the initialization processing, the CPU 601 sets interruption prohibition. Next, the interrupt mode is set, and the stack pointer designated address is set in the stack pointer. Then, after initialization of the built-in device (initialization of CTC (counter/timer) and PIO (parallel input/output port) which are built-in devices (built-in peripheral circuits)), the RAM 603 is set to the accessible state.

Next, the CPU 601 confirms whether or not the data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, power supply stop processing such as addition of parity data) is performed when the power supply to each counting unit 300 is stopped. After confirming that such protection processing is not performed, the CPU 601 executes initialization processing. Whether or not there is backup data in the backup RAM area is confirmed by, for example, the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area in the power supply stop process.

After confirming that the power supply stop process has been performed, the CPU 601 checks the data in the backup RAM area. In this embodiment, a parity check is performed as a data check. Therefore, the calculated checksum is compared with the checksum calculated and stored by the same process in the power supply stop process. When the power supply is stopped after an unexpected power failure or the like, the data in the backup RAM area should have been saved, so the check result (comparison result) becomes normal (match). If the check result is not normal, it means that the data in the backup RAM area is different from the data when the power supply was stopped. In such a case, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state when the power supply was stopped, the initialization process that is executed when the power is turned on, not when the power supply is restored from the stop, is executed.

If the check result is normal, the CPU 601 restores the settings with the backup data and clears the backup data. Next, it is determined whether or not any one of a captured image-related process (Sc8), a player face information output process (Sc9), and a return possibility determination process (Sc10) described below is being executed, and these captured image-related processes are performed. If any one of the processing, the player face information output processing, and the return possibility determination processing is being executed, the restart processing at the time of power interruption restart is performed to restart the processing interrupted by the power interruption. In the initialization process, the CPU 601 first performs a RAM clear process. In addition, the setting data stored in the RAM 603 is initialized, various tables are initialized, the connection status of each unit is confirmed, the connection confirmation request is transmitted to the control unit 328, and the connection confirmation request is transmitted. Then, the initial value and the like are set for each setting data based on the setting information returned from the control unit 328.

Then, when the initialization process of Sc1 is completed, the process proceeds to a loop process of monitoring the timer interrupt flag (Sc2). When a timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 601 sets (updates to 1) the timer interrupt flag in the timer interrupt process. In the main processing of each unit counting unit, if the timer interrupt flag is set, the flag is cleared (updated to 0) (Sc3), and the following processing of Sc4 to Sc11 is executed.

First, the CPU 601 indicates that an image for determining whether or not the member card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 can be returned in a return determination process (Sc11; see FIG. 21) described later is being taken. It is determined whether or not the return possibility determination image capturing flag is set (Sc4). When the return availability determination image capturing flag is set (Sc4; Y), the process proceeds to Sc10, and when the return availability determination image capturing flag is not set (Sc4; N), the process proceeds to Sc5. In Sc5, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the player face information output standby using the person information determination program stored in the ROM 605 is on standby in a captured image-related process (C8; see FIG. 11) described later. When the player face information output standby is in progress (Sc5; Y), the process proceeds to Sc8, and when the player face information output standby is not in progress (Sc5; N), the process proceeds to Sc6.

In Sc6, the CPU 601 outputs a signal for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed corresponding to the camera board 610 every time a predetermined time (for example, 0.8 seconds) elapses. By the output, the CMOS sensor 606 executes a shooting process of shooting the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. In the camera board 610, the solenoid is driven by receiving a signal from the camera control board 600 for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly, and the shutter is driven for a predetermined time. Open (for example, 1/500 seconds). In this way, by opening the shutter by driving the solenoid, light is received by the CMOS sensor 606, and an area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly is photographed. The data of the image captured in this manner is output from the CMOS sensor 606 and then transmitted to the camera control board 600.

After the execution of Sc6, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the photographing is completed, more accurately, whether or not the data of the image photographed and output by the CMOS sensor 606 in Sc6 is received by the camera control board 600. The determination is made (Sc7). When the image data captured and output by the CMOS sensor 606 is received by the camera control board 600 (Sc7; Y), the process proceeds to Sc8, and the image data captured and output by the CMOS sensor 606 is output. Is not received by the camera control board 600 (Sc7; N), the process proceeds to Sc2. Although the present embodiment exemplifies a form in which the photographing is completed in Sc7, that is, the photographing process in Sc6 is executed over a plurality of timer interrupts, the present invention is not limited to this. However, if the photographing process can be completed during the timer interrupt of 1, the process of Sc7 may not be executed.

In Sc8, the CPU 601 executes the captured image processing program and the person information determination program stored in the ROM 605 based on that the image data captured and output by the CMOS sensor 606 is received by the camera control board 600. A captured image-related process for executing the various processes used (see FIG. 3B) is executed.

Further, the CPU 601 is a player for transmitting image data (taken image) data and player face information stored in the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A to the control unit 328. Face information output processing is executed (Sc9).

Further, the CPU 601 executes a return availability determination process for determining whether or not to permit the return of the member card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 to the control unit 328 (Sc10).

Further, the CPU 601 executes command transmission processing for transmitting control commands and various data from the camera module 405 to the control unit 328 (Sc11). After the command transmission process is executed, the process moves to a loop process for again monitoring the timer interrupt flag (Sc2).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the captured image-related processing in the camera module main processing shown in FIG. In the captured image-related processing, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the player face information output standby using the person information determination program stored in the ROM 605 is waiting (Sc21). If the player face information output is on standby (Sc21; Y), the process proceeds to Sc32. If the player face information output is not on standby (Sc21; N), the process proceeds to Sc22.

In Sc22, the CPU 601 determines whether or not a new image has been captured, that is, whether or not the camera control substrate 600 has received data of a new image captured by the CMOS sensor 606 from the camera substrate 610. When a new image is captured (Sc22:Y), the process proceeds to Sc23, and when a new image is not captured (Sc22;N), the process proceeds to Sc34.

In Sc23, the CPU 601 uses the captured image processing program stored in the ROM 605 to detect the player's face from the newly captured image and the player's face periphery detected by the process as a face peripheral image. When the size of the face peripheral image (horizontal width) is less than 110 pixels, the face peripheral image cutting process is performed to perform the process of deleting the newly captured image. In the face peripheral image cutout processing according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face from the captured image, the face peripheral image having the longest horizontal width is cut out as the face peripheral image. Then, in Sc24, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the newly photographed image is deleted in the face peripheral image cutout process in Sc23. When the newly photographed image is deleted in the face peripheral image clipping process of Sc23 (Sc24; Y), the process proceeds to Sc34, and when the newly photographed image is not deleted in the face peripheral image clipping process of Sc23 (Sc24; ;N) and then proceed to Sc25.

In Sc25, the CPU 601 specifies the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out in Sc23, and adjusts the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the time of the next image capturing based on the specified brightness. When the brightness is higher than 192 or lower than 64, a face peripheral image brightness determination process is performed to perform a process of deleting a newly captured image. Then, in Sc26, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the newly captured image is deleted in the face peripheral image brightness determination process in Sc25. When the newly photographed image is deleted in the face peripheral image luminance determination process of Sc25 (Sc26; Y), the process proceeds to Sc34, and when the newly photographed image is not deleted in the face peripheral image luminance determination process of Sc25. (Sc26; N), and proceeds to Sc27.

In Sc27, the CPU 601 specifies the left and right width of the face peripheral image cut out in Sc23, and when the specified left and right width is less than 110 pixels, the CPU 601 performs a process of deleting a newly captured image. Execute the judgment process. Then, in Sc28, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the newly captured image is deleted in the face peripheral image left/right width determination process in Sc27. When the newly photographed image is deleted in the face peripheral image left/right width determination process of Sc27 (Sc28; Y), the process proceeds to Sc34, and the newly photographed image is not deleted in the face peripheral image left/right width determination process of Sc27. In the case (Sc28; N), the process proceeds to Sc29.

In Sc29, the CPU 601 determines whether or not a plurality of faces have been detected as the player's face from the captured image in the face peripheral image cutout process in Sc23. When a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face from the photographed image (Sc29; Y), it is impossible to specify which face the player face information should be output. Therefore, the player face information output The image taken as a non-target is deleted, and the process proceeds to Sc34 (Sc31). When only one face is detected as the player's face from the photographed image (Sc29; N), the process proceeds to Sc30. In addition, when a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face from the captured image, as will be described later, in addition to the player's face, the face of a passerby who accidentally passed behind the player is the player's face. This is the case when it is detected as a face.

In Sc30, the CPU 601 responds to the fact that only one face is detected as the player's face from the photographed image in the face peripheral image cutout process in Sc23, and accordingly, the player uses the person information determination program based on the photographed image. The face information (estimated age of player, estimated age reliability, estimated sex, feature amount, feature amount reliability, etc.) is started and the process proceeds to Sc32. As described above, in the present embodiment, in the face peripheral image clipping process of Sc23, when only one face is detected as the player's face from the captured image, the player face information is output from the captured image while , Sc23, in the face peripheral image cutout process, when a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face from the photographed image, the image photographed as the player face information output target is deleted. The player's face information can be detected from the image in which only one face is detected as the player's face without being prevented from outputting inappropriate information as the player's face information.

In Sc32, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the output of the player face information using the personal information determination program has been completed. When the output of the player face information is completed (Sc32; Y), the process proceeds to Sc33, and when the output of the player face information is not completed (Sc32; N), the process proceeds to Sc34.

Then, in Sc33, the CPU 601 associates the output player face information with the photographed image based on the completion of the output of the player face information using the person information determination program, and vacates the player face information table. It is additionally stored in the area (empty entry). At this time, the CPU 601 sets the value of the estimated age corrected flag stored in association with the output player face information and the captured image to “0” indicating that the estimated age has not been corrected. Along with the spine, the value of the transmitted flag is set to "0" indicating that the player face information and the photographed image have not yet been transmitted to the control unit 328.

Then, in Sc34, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the card ID notification command is received from the control unit 328. The card ID notification command is received by the card reader/writer 327 by the CPU 328a every time a predetermined time (for example, 0.7 seconds) elapses in the main unit counting unit main process shown in FIG. Or a visitor card) and sends it to the camera module 405 by reading the card ID. The CPU 601 receives the card ID notification command from the card reader/writer 327 and accepts the card (member card or visitor card). It is possible to specify the card ID of. When the card ID notification command is received from the control unit 328 (Sc34; Y), the process proceeds to Sc35, and when the card ID notification command is not received from the control unit 328 (Sc34; N), the process proceeds to Sc36.

In Sc35, the CPU 601 identifies the card ID of the card (member card or visitor card) received by the card reader/writer 327 from the received card ID notification command, and shows the identified card ID and FIG. 5(A). From the player face information and the card ID stored in the player face information table, the player playing the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly becomes the player face information table. A player determination process for determining whether or not the player is the same person as the player of the image that is the output source of the stored player face information is executed.

Further, in Sc36, the CPU 601 determines from the player face information and image data stored in the player face information table shown in FIG. The player face information determination processing out of the specified value for deleting the data as the target for the estimated age correction is executed.

Further, in Sc37, the CPU 601 does not set the estimated age corrected flag among the player face information stored in the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A (the value of the estimated age corrected flag is The estimated age correction process for correcting the estimated age of the player face information (which is “0”) is executed, and the captured image related process is ended.

In the photographed image-related processing of this embodiment, when a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face from the photographed image, the photographed image is deleted as a player face information output target. The present invention is not limited to this, and the player face information (the estimated age of the player, the estimated age of the player) using the person information determination program based on the face peripheral image cut out in the face peripheral image cutout process of Sc23. Output of reliability, estimated sex, feature quantity, feature quantity reliability, etc.) may be started.

FIG. 12A is a flowchart showing the face peripheral image cutout process of Sc23 shown in FIG. In the face peripheral image cutout process, the CPU 601 first detects the player's face from the photographed image (Sc41). Note that in Sc41, the CPU 601 may detect the face of the player by detecting a part of the face such as eyes, nose, mouth, and ears that is included in the captured image. Then, the CPU 601 determines whether or not only one face has been detected as the player's face in Sc41 (Sc42). When only one face is detected as the player's face in Sc41 (Sc42; Y), the process proceeds to Sc43, and when only one face is not detected as the player's face in Sc41 (Sc42; N), Proceed to Sc46.

In Sc43, the CPU 601 specifies the shape of the player's head from the captured image based on the fact that the face 1 of the player is detected in Sc41, as shown in FIG. 12(B). Then, a rectangular frame inscribed in the specified player's head is set (Sc44), the image in the set frame is cut out as a face peripheral image, and the face peripheral image cutout process is ended (Sc45).

Further, in Sc46, the CPU 601 determines whether or not a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face in Sc41. When a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face in Sc41, that is, when the face of a passerby who accidentally passed behind the player is detected as the player's face in addition to the player's face (Sc46; Y), proceed to Sc47, and if a plurality of faces are not detected as the player's face in Sc41, that is, if the player's face cannot be detected from the photographed image (Sc46; N), proceed to Sc50. ..

In Sc47, the CPU 601 specifies the shape of each player's head from the captured image based on the fact that a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face in Sc41, as shown in FIG. 12(C). Then, a rectangular frame inscribed in each head of the identified player is set (Sc48). Then, the right and left width dimensions of the set rectangular frames are compared, and the left and right width dimension is longer than L2 in the example shown in FIG. 12C. The image inside the (L1 frame) is cut out as a face peripheral image, and the face peripheral image cutout processing ends (Sc49).

Then, in Sc50, the CPU 601 deletes the photographed image as a player face information output target, based on the fact that the player's face cannot be detected from the photographed image, and ends the face peripheral image cutout process.

Further, in the face peripheral image cutout processing of the present embodiment, as shown in Sc43 to Sc45 and Sc47 to Sc49, a rectangular frame inscribed in the specified player's head is set, and the image in the frame is set as the face. Since the image is cut out as a peripheral image, the left and right width and the vertical width of the face peripheral image to be cut out are different for each captured image.

In the face peripheral image cutout process of the present embodiment, the image in the rectangular frame inscribed in the specified player's head is cut out as a face peripheral image, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shape of the frame inscribed by the identified player may be a shape other than a rectangle, such as a circle or an ellipse, and the image in the frame other than the rectangle may be cut out as a face peripheral image.

Further, in the face peripheral image cutout processing of the present embodiment, the image in the rectangular frame inscribed in the specified player's head is cut out as a face peripheral image, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the specified player's head fits within the frame, the frame does not have to be inscribed in the player's head.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the face peripheral image brightness determination processing of Sc25 shown in FIG. In the face peripheral image brightness determination processing, the CPU 601 first specifies the brightness of the face peripheral image (Sc51). In Sc51, the CPU 601 may calculate the average value of each pixel when the pixels (pixels) forming the cut-out face peripheral image are digitized with a gray scale (black and white component) as the brightness.

Then, in Sc52, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the brightness of the face peripheral image identified in Sc51 is higher than 154. When the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is higher than 154 (Sc52; Y), the process proceeds to Sc53, and when the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is 154 or less (Sc52; N), Sc55. Proceed to.

In Sc53, the CPU 601 outputs the CMOS sensor 606 at the time of the next shooting of the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed based on that the brightness of the face peripheral image is higher than 154. Adjust the signal gain by -5 dB. Then, it is determined whether or not the brightness of the face peripheral image identified in Sc51 is higher than 192 (Sc54). When the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is higher than 192 (Sc54; Y), the process proceeds to Sc58, and when the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is 192 or less (Sc54; N). The face peripheral image brightness determination process ends.

In Sc55, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the brightness of the face peripheral image identified in Sc51 is less than 134. If the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is less than 134 (Sc55; Y), the process proceeds to Sc56, and if the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is 134 or more (Sc55; N), the face peripheral The image brightness determination process ends.

In Sc56, the CPU 601 outputs the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the time of the next shooting of the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed based on that the brightness of the face peripheral image is less than 134. Adjust the gain of +5 dB. Then, it is determined whether or not the brightness of the face peripheral image identified in Sc51 is less than 64 (Sc57). When the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is less than 64 (Sc57; Y), the process proceeds to Sc58, and when the brightness of the face peripheral image specified in Sc51 is 64 or more (Sc57; N), The face peripheral image brightness determination processing ends.

When Sc58 is executed after execution of Sc54, the CPU 601 determines that the player face information cannot be properly output using the person information determination program because the brightness of the face peripheral image is too high. The image taken as a non-information output target is deleted, and the face peripheral image brightness determination processing ends. When executing Sc58 after executing Sc57, the CPU 601 determines that the player face information cannot be appropriately output using the person information determination program because the brightness of the face peripheral image is too low. The image taken as a non-information output target is deleted, and the face peripheral image brightness determination processing ends.

As described above, in the face peripheral image luminance determination process of the present embodiment, it is determined whether the image obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image is appropriate for the player face information output target from the luminance of the face peripheral image. By making the determination, it is possible to appropriately output the player face information using the personal information determination program.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which it is determined from the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the photographed image whether or not the photographed image is suitable for the player face information output target. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be determined from the brightness of the captured image whether or not the captured image is appropriate for the player face information output target.

Further, the present embodiment exemplifies a form in which it is determined from the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the photographed image whether or not the photographed image is appropriate to be the target of the player face information output. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and from the components related to the brightness other than the brightness, such as the illuminance and the light intensity of the face peripheral image cut out from the captured image, the captured image is targeted for the player face information output. It may be determined whether it is appropriate to do. Further, in the present embodiment, the brightness of the cut-out face peripheral image is specified, and the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the next shooting is adjusted based on the specified brightness, so that the image captured next time is Although the form for optimizing the luminance of the face peripheral image to be cut out is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and components related to the brightness (luminance, illuminance, luminous intensity specified from the face peripheral image cut out are illustrated. Etc.) and the component relating to the brightness optimized in the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured next time may be different.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the average value of each pixel when digitizing each pixel (pixel) forming the face peripheral image cut out from the captured image with gray scale (black and white component) is used as the brightness of the captured image. Although the form of determining whether or not it is appropriate for the target of player face information output has been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and forms a face peripheral image cut out from a captured image. Each pixel (pixel) is digitized with gray scale (black and white component), and the median value or the maximum value of these values is used as the luminance, and whether the photographed image is appropriate for the player face information output target or not It may be determined based on these median values or maximum values.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the average value of each pixel when digitizing each pixel (pixel) forming the face peripheral image cut out from the captured image with gray scale (black and white component) is used as the brightness of the captured image. Although the form of determining whether or not it is appropriate for the target of player face information output has been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and forms a face peripheral image cut out from a captured image. Of each pixel (pixel), a value obtained by digitizing a specific pixel with a gray scale (black-and-white component) is used as the luminance, and whether or not the photographed image is appropriate for the player face information output target is determined. You may judge by a numerical value.

Further, in the face peripheral image brightness determination processing of the present embodiment, in each other pachinko gaming machine adjacent to or facing the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each unit counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly, a light emitting member such as an LED for a super reach effect is displayed. In the case where the brightness of the face peripheral image changes due to the effect of the production accompanied by light emission, or in the pachinko gaming machine 1 itself to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly, the production accompanied by the light emission of the light emitting member such as LED such as super reach production. Even when the brightness of the face peripheral image changes due to the influence, the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the time of the next shooting of the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly is adjusted. By optimizing the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured next time, it is possible to appropriately output the player face information using the personal information determination program.

In the present embodiment, when the brightness of the face peripheral image is higher than 154, the CMOS sensor 606 outputs the image at the next time in the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. When the signal gain is uniquely adjusted by -5 and the brightness of the face peripheral image is less than 134, the CMOS sensor 606 is used at the next shooting in the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. Although the mode in which the gain of the signal output from the device is uniquely adjusted by +5 is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. The adjustment range of the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at the next shooting may be different according to the brightness of the face peripheral image.

Further, in this embodiment, when the brightness of the face peripheral image is greater than 154 and less than 134, the CMOS sensor is used at the time of the next shooting of the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. Although the mode in which the gain of the signal output from 606 is adjusted has been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the next shooting of the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly is performed. The threshold value of the brightness of the face peripheral image for adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 at times may be set to an arbitrary value according to the environment of the game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed.

FIG. 14A is a flowchart showing the face peripheral image left/right width determination processing in Sc27 shown in FIG. In the face peripheral image left/right width determination processing in the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 14B, a region in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly by the CMOS sensor 606 is photographed. At that time, the player's face was not detected because the player accidentally turned to the side, and instead the face of a person other than the player such as a passerby passing behind the player was detected as the player's face. At this time, it is possible to prevent the face peripheral image of the person other than the player from being stored in the player face information table, or to output the player face information based on the face peripheral image of the person other than the player. This is a process to be executed to prevent this.

As shown in FIG. 14A, in the face peripheral image left/right width determination processing, the CPU 601 first specifies the left/right width of the face peripheral image (Sc61). It is determined whether the lateral width of the face peripheral image specified in Sc61 is less than 110 pixels (Sc62). When the horizontal width of the face peripheral image specified in Sc61 is less than 110 pixels (Sc62; Y), the process proceeds to Sc63, and when the horizontal width of the face peripheral image specified in Sc61 is 110 pixels or more (Sc62; N). ), the face peripheral image left/right width determination process ends.

Then, in Sc63, the CPU 601 appropriately outputs the player face information using the person information determination program because the right and left width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels, that is, the left and right width of the face peripheral image is too short. If it is not possible, the image taken outside the player face information output target is deleted, and the face peripheral image left/right width determination process ends.

As described above, in the face peripheral image left/right width determination processing of the present embodiment, the player's face is not detected by chance, and instead the face of a person other than the player, such as a passerby, who has passed behind the player, is detected by the player. Player face information based on the face of a person other than the player is stored in the player face information table from the left and right widths of the face peripheral image cut out from the captured image even when detected as the face of the player. It is prevented that inappropriate player face information is output using the personal information determination program. Even if the face peripheral image cut out from the captured image is a face peripheral image based on the player's face, the left and right width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels, so that the player face information is output. By deleting the image obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image as a non-target, it is possible to prevent inappropriate player face information from being output using the personal information determination program.

It should be noted that the present embodiment exemplifies a mode in which, when the lateral width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels, the image cut out from the face peripheral image is deleted as a player face information output non-target. Is not limited to this, and whether or not the image obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image is excluded from the player face information output target is determined by the vertical width and area of the face peripheral image, the length of the diagonal line, etc. May be.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which, when the lateral width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels, the image obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image is deleted as a player face information output non-target. Is not limited to this, and the threshold value for determining whether or not the image obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image is excluded from the target of player face information output may be any value other than 110.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the player determination processing of Sc35 shown in FIG. In the player determination process, the CPU 601 first specifies the card ID received by the card reader/writer 327 from the card ID notification command received in Sc34 (see FIG. 11) (Sc71). Then, with reference to the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A, it is determined whether or not there is player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID, that is, each unit counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. It is not determined whether or not the player playing the game on the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the same person as the player of the image from which the player face information stored in the player face information table is output. It is determined whether there is player face information (Sc72). If there is player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID (Sc72; Y), the process proceeds to Sc73, and if there is no player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID (Sc72; N). ), the player determination process ends.

In Sc73, the CPU 601 refers to the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A and determines whether or not there is player face information that is not stored in association with the card ID. If there is player face information that is not stored in association with the card ID (Sc73; Y), the process proceeds to Sc74. If there is no player face information that is not stored in association with the card ID (Sc73; N), Proceed to Sc75.

In Sc74, the CPU 601 stores the card ID specified in Sc71 in association with each piece of player information that is not stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table.

Then, in Sc75, the CPU 601 displays the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information table, that is, the face peripheral image is first displayed after the game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed opens. It is determined whether or not the player face information output based on the cut-out image is stored in association with the player ID. When the player ID is stored in association with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information table (Sc75; Y), the process proceeds to Sc77, and the highest entry of the player face information table is entered. When the player ID is not stored in association with the player face information stored in (Sc75; N), the process proceeds to Sc76.

In Sc76, the CPU 601 stores the player face information stored in the highest entry in the player face information table in association with the player ID.

Then, in Sc77, the CPU 601 identifies the player face information stored in the lowest entry among the player face information stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table as the comparison target player information. , The comparison target player information and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information, and the game stored in the highest entry of the player face information in which the player ID is not stored in association with each other. The player face information and the card ID specified from the received card ID notification command are compared to determine whether the player is the same person or another person (Sc78). That is, the processes of Sc77 and Sc78 in the present embodiment are processes for determining whether or not the persons (players) included in the images captured by the camera module 405 at different times are the same person.

Incidentally, in Sc78, as shown in FIG. 18, the player stored in the highest entry of the player face information which is not stored in association with the comparison target player face information identified in Sc77. Combining the determination result when comparing the face information and the determination result when comparing the card ID specified from the card ID notification command and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information, if necessary. At, it is determined whether the player is the same person, another person, or unknown.

It should be noted that the comparison between the player face information to be compared and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID is estimated to constitute the player face information. Among information such as age, estimated age reliability, estimated sex, feature amount, feature amount reliability, whether there is a predetermined number of matching information, the information when the difference when compared is within a predetermined value is predetermined By determining whether or not there are a large number, it is possible to make a determination from among “high possibility of the same person”, “unknown”, and “high possibility of other person”.

For example, the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the visitor card (stock card) that is stocked (stored) in the card reader/writer 327 in advance, and is stored in association with the comparison target player information. When the card ID is the same as the card ID specified from the card ID notification command, the comparison target player face information and the player ID are stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with each other. If the result of comparison with the player's face information is "most likely to be the same person", the judgment result of both player's face information is prioritized and the final judgment result is judged to be "the same person" If the result of comparison between the player face information and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player face information is “unknown”, both player face information Priority is given to the determination result of No., and the final determination result is determined to be “unknown”, and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with each other. If the result of the comparison with the player's face information that is present is “the possibility of another person is high”, the determination result of both player's face information may be prioritized and the determination result may be determined as “other”.

When the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the visitor card, and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is the same as the card ID specified from the card ID notification command. Indicates that the comparison result of the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information in which the compared player face information and the player ID are not stored in association with each other is “most likely to be the same person”. In that case, in addition to the determination results of both player face information, the determination result of the card ID is considered, and it is determined that they are the “same person” as the final determination result, and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are associated with each other. If the result of comparison with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored as “unknown” is “unknown”, in addition to the determination results of both player face information, the determination of the card ID is performed. Considering the result, the final determination result is determined to be "the same person", and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with each other. If the result of comparison with the player's face information is "most likely to be another person", the result of determination of the card ID is considered in addition to the result of determination of both player's face information, and the final determination result is "unknown". Just make a decision.

When the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the visitor card, and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is the same as the card ID specified from the card ID notification command. The comparison result with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored by associating the compared player face information with the player ID is “most likely to be another person”. At this time, in consideration of the possibility that a plurality of players are exchanging a platform (pachinko gaming machine) for playing games among fellow players, the final determination result may be determined as "other".

In addition, when the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the membership card and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is the same as the card ID specified from the card ID notification command. Indicates that the comparison result of the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information in which the compared player face information and the player ID are not stored in association with each other is “most likely to be the same person”. In that case, in addition to the determination results of both player face information, the determination result of the card ID is considered, and it is determined that they are the “same person” as the final determination result, and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are associated with each other. If the result of comparison with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored as “unknown” is “unknown”, in addition to the determination results of both player face information, the determination of the card ID is performed. Considering the result, the final determination result is determined to be "the same person", and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with each other. If the result of comparison with the player's face information is "most likely to be another person", the result of determination of the card ID is considered in addition to the result of determination of both player's face information, and the final determination result is "unknown". Just make a decision.

When the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the membership card, and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is the same as the card ID specified from the card ID notification command. The comparison result with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored by associating the compared player face information with the player ID is “most likely to be another person”. Even at this time, in consideration of the possibility that a plurality of players are exchanging a platform (pachinko gaming machine) for playing games among fellow players, the final determination result may be determined as "other".

If the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the visitor card and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is different from the card ID specified from the card ID notification command, If the comparison result of the comparison target player face information and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID is “most likely to be the same person” For example, by determining that the players of the same person exchange cards and continue playing the game, the determination results of both player face information are given priority, and the final determination result is determined to be the "same person". If the comparison result of the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the compared player face information and the player ID is “unknown”, both games The determination result of the face information of a person is prioritized, the final determination result is determined to be “the same person”, and the highest rank among the player face information in which the player face information to be compared and the player ID are not stored in association with each other. If the result of comparison with the player's face information stored in the entry is "the possibility of another person", then the determination result of both player's face information is given priority, and it is determined as "other" as the final determination result. do it.

Further, when the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the membership card and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is different from the card ID specified from the card ID notification command, If the comparison result of the comparison target player face information and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID is “most likely to be the same person” For example, in consideration of the determination result of the card ID in addition to the determination result of both player face information, it is determined as “other” as the final determination result, and the comparison target player face information and the player ID are stored in association with each other. If the comparison result with the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored is “unknown”, the determination result of the card ID is considered in addition to the determination results of both player face information. Then, the final determination result is determined to be "other", and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the comparison target player face information and the player ID. If the result of comparison with “is a large possibility of another person”, the judgment result of the card ID may be considered in addition to the judgment results of the face information of both players, and it may be judged as “another person” as the final judgment result. ..

It should be noted that the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is the card ID of the membership card, and the card ID stored in association with the comparison target player information is different from the card ID specified from the card ID notification command. When the comparison result of the target player face information and the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID is “most likely to be the same person” "Is the same person" as the final determination result in consideration of the possibility that the player has inserted the membership card from the card insertion slot 309 during the game, that is, the card reader/writer 327 has received the membership card during the game. It may be determined to be “unknown”.

Note that the determination example shown in FIG. 18 is an example, and when the card ID specified from the card ID notification command is a visitor card or a membership card, the determination result of both player face information is “possible to be the same person. The final judgment result can be judged from "same person", "unknown", and "others" in more detail depending on the combination of "most likely" or "unknown" or "most likely to be another person". Good.

Returning to FIG. 15, after execution of Sc78, the CPU 601 determines whether or not it is determined that the player is the same person as the final determination result of Sc78 (Sc79). When it is determined that the player is the same person as the final determination result of Sc78 (Sc79; Y), the process proceeds to Sc80, and when it is determined that the player is unknown or another person as the final determination result of Sc78 ( Go to Sc79; N) and Sc81.

In Sc80, the CPU 601 associates the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table with the comparison target player information. The stored player ID is associated and stored, and the process proceeds to Sc84.

Further, in Sc81, the CPU 601 determines whether or not it is determined that the player is another person as the final determination result in Sc78 (Sc81). When it is determined that the player is another person as the final determination result of Sc78 (Sc81; Y), the process proceeds to Sc82, and when it is determined that the player is unknown as the final determination result of Sc78 (Sc81; N). ), and proceeds to Sc83.

In Sc82, the CPU 601 includes the comparison target player information in the player face information stored in the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table. The player ID different from the player ID stored in association with the player face information of is stored in association with the player ID, and the process proceeds to Sc84.

That is, in the player determination processing of the present embodiment, when the same player ID is stored in association with a plurality of consecutive player face information in the player face information table, these player face information are the same. It indicates that the information is player face information by the player. On the other hand, the player face information stored in the player face information table in association with the player ID different from the other player face information is the player face information by the player different from the other player face information. It shows that it is coming out.

In Sc83, the CPU 601 determines that it is impossible to determine whether the player is the same person or another person, and determines that it is the highest entry of the player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table. The player face information and the image (photographed image) data stored in association with the player face information are deleted, and the process proceeds to Sc84.

Then, in Sc84, the CPU 601 refers to the player face information table, and determines whether or not there is player face information in which the player ID is not stored in association with the player face information table. When there is player face information that is not stored in association with the player ID in the player face information table (Sc84; Y), the processes of Sc78 to Sc83 are repeatedly executed again, and the player ID is stored in the player face information table. When there is no player face information that is not stored in association with (Sc84; Y), the player determination process is ended.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the player face information determination processing outside the specified value shown in FIG. In the player face information determination processing out of the specified value, the CPU 601 first refers to the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A, and estimates the age reliability from the player face information stored in the player face information table. Player face information whose degree is less than 200 is specified (Sc90), and it is determined whether there is player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200 (Sc91). If there is player face information with an estimated age reliability of less than 200 (Sc91;Y), proceed to Sc92, and if there is no player face information with an estimated age reliability of less than 200 (Sc91;N), the specified value The outside player face information determination processing ends.

In Sc92, the CPU 601 determines that the estimated age reliability cannot be appropriately corrected because the estimated age reliability is too low, and thus the player whose estimated age reliability is less than 200 from the player face information table is excluded from the estimated age correction target. The face information and the data of the image (taken image) stored in association with the player face information are deleted, and the player face information determination processing outside the specified value is ended.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the estimated age correction process shown in FIG. In the estimated age correction processing, the CPU 601 first determines whether or not there is player face information for which the estimated age corrected flag is not set (set to "0") in the player face information table (Sc101). ). If there is player face information for which the estimated age correction flag has not been set (set to "0") in the player face information table (Sc101; Y), the process proceeds to Sc102 and the player face information table is displayed. If the estimated age corrected flag is not set (set to "0") and there is no player face information (Sc101; N), the estimated age correction process ends.

In Sc102, the CPU 601 sets the estimated age of each player face information for which the estimated age corrected flag is not set (set to "0") in the player face information table, for the player of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Based on what is said, it is uniquely corrected by -5 years old.

In the present embodiment, the estimated age of each player face information in which the estimated age corrected flag is not set (set to “0”) is targeted at the player of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Basically, an example of uniquely correcting −5 years old will be exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the correction width of the estimated age in Sc 102 may be any value other than −5 years old.

Next, in Sc103, the CPU 601 corrects the estimated age of each player face information for which the estimated age corrected flag is not set (set to “0”) according to the difference from the centroid age. The center of gravity age is an age calculated statistically from the age of the customers who visit the game arcade, and is set to 43 in this embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, when 43 years old, which is set as the center of gravity age in this embodiment, is subtracted from the estimated age corrected at −5 years in Sc102, and the subtraction result is +11 years old or more. The estimated age corrected in Sc102 is further corrected by -3 years, and when the subtraction result is +1 to +10 years, the estimated age corrected in Sc102 is further corrected by -1 year and the subtraction result is 0 years. In some cases, the estimated age corrected in Sc102 is not corrected (corrected age 0 years), and when the subtraction result is -1 to -10 years, the estimated age corrected in Sc102 is further corrected by +1 year, When the subtraction result is -11 years or less, the estimated age corrected in Sc102 is further corrected by +3 years.

After the execution of Sc103, the CPU 601 sets the value of the estimated age corrected flag stored in association with the player's face information in which the estimated age is corrected to "1" indicating that the estimated age has been corrected. Then, the estimated age correction process ends.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the player face information output processing shown in FIG. In the player face information output processing, the CPU 601 first determines whether or not a player face information request command has been received from the control unit 328 (Sc111). In the player face information request command, in the main unit counting unit main process shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 328a causes the camera module 405 to estimate the estimated age and estimated age reliability each time a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses. This is a command to perform transmission setting in Sk8 to request player face information such as degree and estimated sex, and to transmit in Sk9. When the player face information request command is received from the control unit 328 (Sc111; Y), the process proceeds to Sc112, and when the player face information request command is not received from the control unit 328 (Sc111; N), Proceed to Sc117.

In Sc112, the CPU 601 refers to the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A, and the player face information in which the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table (set to "0") Is determined, that is, whether there is player face information that has not been transmitted to the control unit 328. When the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table (set to "0") and there is player face information (Sc112; Y), the process proceeds to Sc113 and is transmitted to the player face information table. If there is no player face information where the flag is not set (set to “0”) (Sc113; N), the process proceeds to Sc116.

In Sc113, the CPU 601 determines whether or not there is three or more player face information stored with the same player ID associated with the player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set (set to "0"). That is, it is determined whether or not there are three or more player face information items determined to be the player face information items of the same player. When there are three or more player face information items that are stored in association with the same player ID (Sc113; Y), the process proceeds to Sc114, and the player face information item that is stored in association with the same player ID is 2 When it is the following (Sc113; N), it progresses to Sc116.

In Sc114, the CPU 601 identifies three or more player face information items stored in association with the same player ID from the player face information items stored in the player face information table. An image stored in association with the player face information notification command capable of specifying the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, and the estimated sex for each of the specified player face information and the stored image (the captured image 2) data is transmitted to the control unit 328, and the player face information output process ends (Sc115). The player's face information notification command set for transmission in Sc115 and the data of the shot image are transmitted to the control unit 328 by the CPU 601 executing the command transmission process (Sc11).

As described above, in this embodiment, every time the player face information request command is received from the control unit 328, three or more player face information items are collectively transmitted, so that the control unit 328 gives the player face information. The number of communications with the control unit 328 can be suppressed more than in the case where one player face information is transmitted each time a request command is received.

In the present embodiment, when there are three or more player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table, the control unit 328 collects the player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are four or more or five or more player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table. In this case, the player face information for which these transmitted flags are not set may be collectively transmitted to the control unit 328. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 17, even if a new image is captured, the image captured before the player face information is output based on the captured image is deleted. In some cases, even if the player face information is output, the output player face information may be deleted. Therefore, the player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table is 4 or more or 5 or more. If the player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set is collectively transmitted to the control unit 328 in the above cases, the interval for collectively transmitting the player face information may be widened. .. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when there are three or more player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set in the player face information table, the control unit 328 collects the player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set. By transmitting the player face information together, the interval at which the player face information is collectively transmitted is reduced.

Further, in Sc116, the CPU 601 sets the transmission of the player face information notification command indicating that there is no player face information that can be transmitted, and ends the player face information output processing. The player face information notification command for which transmission setting has been made in Sc116 is transmitted to the control unit 328 by the CPU 601 executing the command transmission process (Sc11).

In the case in the present embodiment, when the player face information already sent to the player face information table flag is set is not, or, the player face information transmission flag is not set is 2 or less , A mode of transmitting a player face information notification command indicating that there is no player face information that can be transmitted to the control unit 328 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the player is not limited to this. If there is no player face information for which the transmitted flag is set in the face information table, or if the number of player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set is 2 or less, no command is issued to the control unit 328. May not be transmitted.

Then, in Sc117, the CPU 601 refers to the player face information table and compares the player IDs stored in the two lowest entries in the player face information table. Then, it is determined whether or not the player IDs are different, that is, whether or not the player face information stored in both entries is the player face information of another person (Sc118). When both player IDs are different (Sc118; Y), the process proceeds to Sc119, and when both player IDs are the same (Sc118N), the player face information output process is ended.

In Sc119, the CPU 601 has different player IDs stored in the lowest two entries in the player face information table, that is, plays a game in the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. The player face information before the player ID in the player face information table is changed is specified, assuming that the player in question is changed (changed) to another player. Next, it is determined whether or not there is player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set (set to "0") in the player face information specified in Sc119 (Sc120). If there is player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set (set to "0") in the identified player face information (Sc120; Y), the specific face information not transmitted to the control unit 328. When the player has changed (replaced) in the state where is left, the process proceeds to Sc121, and the player face information in which the transmitted flag is not set in the specified player face information (set to “0”) If not (Sc120; N), it is determined that the player has changed (replaced) with no specific face information that has not been transmitted to the control unit 328 remaining, and the player face information output processing ends.

Then, in Sc121, the CPU 601 determines the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, and the estimated sex for each player face information for which the transmitted flag is not set from the player face information before the player ID specified in Sc119 changes. The transmission setting for transmitting the data of the image (captured image) stored in association with the identifiable player face information notification command and each player face information is performed to the player face. The information output process ends. The player's face information notification command and image data set for transmission in Sc121 are transmitted to the control unit 328 by the CPU 601 executing command transmission processing (Sc11).

In this way, in the player face information output processing of the present embodiment, even when the player face information request command is not received from the control unit 328, the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. If it is determined that the player who is playing the game has changed (changed) to another player, the information has been transmitted to the control unit 328 from the player face information before the change of the player. Since the player face information that does not exist can be collectively transmitted, the player face information for the same player can be transmitted to the control unit 328 without omission.

In the present embodiment, the camera module 405 notifies the control unit 328 of the player's face information capable of specifying the estimated age, estimated age reliability and estimated sex as the player's face information shown in FIG. 5(A). Although the mode of transmitting the command or the data of the photographed image is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, the data of the photographed image is not transmitted, and the determination result of the person information determination program By transmitting only the player face information notification command capable of specifying the estimated age as the player face information, the estimated age reliability and the estimated sex, the communication amount and the processing load between the camera module 405 and the control unit 328 are reduced. May be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the camera module 405 notifies the control unit 328 of a player face information which can specify the estimated age, estimated age reliability and estimated sex as the player face information shown in FIG. 5(A). Although the mode for transmitting the command is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the player face information capable of specifying the feature amount and the feature amount reliability from the camera module 405 to the control unit 328. The notification command may be sent.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the return availability determination processing shown in FIG. In the return availability determination processing, the CPU 601 firstly, the return availability determination image capturing flag indicating that the image for determining the availability of the return of the membership card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is being captured. It is determined whether or not is set (Sc131). When the return availability determination image capturing flag is set (Sc131; Y), the process proceeds to Sc135, and when the return availability determination image capturing flag is not set (Sc131; N), the process proceeds to Sc132.

In Sc132, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the returnability determination request command is received from the control unit 328. If the return availability determination request command is received from the control unit 328 (Sc132; Y), the process proceeds to Sc133. If the return availability determination request command is not received from the control unit 328 (Sc132; N), return availability is returned. The determination process ends. In Sc133, the CPU 601 sets the value of the shooting number counter indicating the number of times the returnability determination image is captured to 0, sets the returnability determination image shooting flag, and proceeds to Sc135 (Sc134).

In Sc135, the CPU 601 outputs a signal for photographing the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly to the camera board 610, as processing for photographing the returnability determination image. Then, the CMOS sensor 606 executes a return possibility determination image capturing process of capturing an area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Incidentally, in the return possibility determination image photographing process in the present embodiment, similarly to the photographing process (Sc6), a region in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly from the camera control substrate 600 in the camera substrate 610. An area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly by driving a solenoid by receiving a signal for photographing and opening a shutter for a predetermined time (for example, 1/500 seconds) To shoot. Note that the return availability determination image capturing process of the present embodiment is executed after the face peripheral image brightness determination process is executed, so the brightness of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 is adjusted in the face peripheral image brightness determination process. In this state, the area in front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 corresponding to each counting unit 300 is photographed. Then, the captured image data is output from the CMOS sensor 606 and then transmitted to the camera control board 600.

After execution of Sc135, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the capture of the returnability determination image in Sc135 has been completed, more accurately, whether or not the data of the captured image has been received from the camera substrate 610 (Sc136). ). When the returnability determination image has been captured (Sc136; Y), the process proceeds to Sc137, and when the returnability determination image has not been captured (Sc136; N), the returnability determination process ends.

In Sc137, the CPU 601 detects the player's face from the photographed returnability determination image. Then, whether only one face is detected as the face of the player in Sc137, that is, the face of the passerby who accidentally passed behind the player other than the face of the player is detected in addition to the face of the player. It is determined whether or not the player's face is detected (Sc138). When the face 1 is detected as the player's face (Sc138; Y), the process proceeds to Sc139, and when the face 1 is not detected as the player's face (Sc138; N), the process proceeds to Sc143.

In Sc139, the CPU 601 refers to the player face information table shown in FIG. 5A, and associates the same player ID as the player face information stored in the lowest entry of the player face information table. The player face information having the highest estimated age reliability is specified from the stored player face information. Then, the image stored in association with the specified player face information is compared with the image captured this time (returnability determination image) (Sc140), and the same player appears in both images. Or not (Sc141). Whether or not they are the same player may be determined by the shape and position of the player's eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. detected from both images. When the same player is shown in both images (Sc141; Y), the process proceeds to Sc142, and when the same player is not shown in both images (Sc141; N), the process proceeds to Sc146. ..

Then, in Sc142, the CPU 601 performs transmission setting for transmitting the card return permission command to the control unit 328 based on the determination that the same player appears in both images in Sc141. , Sc147. The card return permission command set for transmission in Sc142 is transmitted to the control unit 328 by the CPU 601 executing the command transmission process (Sc11).

Further, in Sc143, the CPU 601 assigns the image (returnability determination image) photographed in Sc135 to Sc139, assuming that a plurality of faces are detected as the player's face in Sc138 or the player's face cannot be detected. Deleted as a non-comparison target with the image stored in association with the player face information specified by. Then, the value of the shooting number counter is incremented by 1 (Sc144), and it is determined whether the value of the shooting number counter after the addition has reached a predetermined value (for example, 3 times) (Sc145). If the value of the shooting number counter after addition has reached a predetermined value (for example, 3 times) (Sc145; Y), the process proceeds to Sc146, and the value of the shooting number counter after addition is a predetermined value (for example, 3 times). If it has not reached (Sc145; N), the processes of Sc135 to Sc138 are executed again to photograph the returnability determination image, and detect the face of the player from the captured returnability determination image.

Next, when executing Sc146 after executing Sc141, the CPU 601 causes the card reader/writer 327 to accept a person different from the player who was playing the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1 to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly. Assuming that the return of the existing card (member card or visitor card) is requested, the transmission setting for transmitting the card return prohibition command is performed to the control unit 328, and the process proceeds to Sc147. When executing Sc146 after executing Sc145, the CPU 601 has detected a plurality of faces as the player's face from the returnability determination image, or has not detected the player's face from the returnability determination image. As a result, the transmission setting for transmitting the card return prohibition command is performed to the control unit 328, and the process proceeds to Sc147. The card return prohibition command set for transmission in Sc146 is transmitted to the control unit 328 by the CPU 601 executing the command transmission process (Sc11). That is, in the return possibility determination processing in the present embodiment, by receiving the return possibility determination request command from the control unit 328, the membership card or visitor accepted by the card reader/writer 327 by face authentication using the player's face. This is a process of determining whether or not to return the card.

After executing Sc142 or Sc146, the CPU 601 clears the shooting number counter (Sc147), clears the return availability determination image shooting flag, and ends the return availability determination process (Sc148).

In this embodiment, the estimated age reliability is included in the player face information stored in association with the same player ID as the player face information stored in the lowest entry of the player face information table. An example in which it is determined whether or not the same player is shown in both images by comparing the image stored in association with the highest player face information with the returnability determination image However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a game in which the same player ID as the player face information stored in the lowest entry of the player face information table is stored in association with each other. By comparing the image stored in association with the player face information having the highest feature reliability among the person face information and the returnability determination image, the same player is shown in both images. It may be determined whether or not.

Further, in this embodiment, the estimated age reliability is included in the player face information stored in association with the same player ID as the player face information stored in the lowest entry of the player face information table. An example in which it is determined whether or not the same player is shown in both images by comparing the image stored in association with the highest player face information with the returnability determination image However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the player face information is output from the returnability determination image, and the output player face information and the lowest entry of the player face information table are output. Of the player face information stored in association with the same player ID information as the player face information stored in the player face information with the highest estimated age reliability, both images are displayed. It may be determined whether or not the same player is shown.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when only one face is not detected as the player's face from the returnability determination image (Sc138; N), the number of times of shooting is the predetermined number of times (the value of the shooting number counter is the predetermined number of times ( For example, although a mode in which the returnability determination image is repeatedly captured until the number of times reaches 3)) is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the returnability determination image is used as a face of the player. If only the face No. is not detected (Sc138; N), the card return prohibition command may be transmitted to the control unit 328 without repeatedly capturing the returnability determination image.

In this embodiment, when the card return prohibition command is transmitted to the control unit 328, the membership card and the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 are not returned by any operation of the player. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, when a card return prohibition command is transmitted to the control unit 328, it is output from a remote controller (not shown) possessed by an attendant of the game arcade. The member card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 may be returned by receiving the return prohibition cancellation signal at the optical input/output unit 301. Furthermore, if the return of the membership card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is prohibited, the image of the player who has returned the membership card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327 is displayed. The player who has performed the return operation may be specified as the person requiring attention by transmitting the information to the hall computer 540 or the like and storing it.

As described above, in each unit counting unit 300 in the present embodiment, the brightness in the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured by the camera module 405 is specified, and based on the specified brightness, the image captured by the camera module 405 next time is determined. By adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 in order to optimize the brightness of the face peripheral image to be cut out, shooting is performed while reducing the influence of the environment of the game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed. It can be carried out. Further, an image taken after adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606, that is, an image in which the influence of the environment of the game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed is reduced, is accepted by the card reader/writer 327. Since it is determined whether or not to return the existing membership card or visitor card, it is possible to enhance the determination accuracy of whether or not to return the membership card or visitor card.

In addition, the CPU 601 executes the player determination process to determine whether or not the players shown in the images captured by the camera module 405 at different times are the same person, so that the pachinko gaming machine 1 can operate. It is possible to reduce the influence of the environment of the installed game arcade and improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the person is the same person.

In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the players shown in the images taken by the camera module 405 at different times are the same person, based on the player face information output based on these taken images. Although the form of determination by comparison is shown as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not the players shown in the images taken at different times by the camera module 405 are the same person. The determination may be made by comparing the captured images themselves.

In addition, in consideration of whether or not the players shown in the images taken at different times by the camera module 405 are the same person, by considering the card ID of the member card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327. By making the determination, it is possible to further improve the determination accuracy of whether or not the player is the same person.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the card reader/writer 327 accepts whether or not the players shown in the images taken by the camera module 405 at different times are the same person. Although the mode in which the determination is made in consideration of the card ID of the membership card or the visitor card is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the game shown in the images taken at different times by the camera module 405. Whether the persons are the same person may be determined regardless of the card ID of the member card or the visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer 327.

Further, after the CPU 601 specifies the brightness of the face peripheral image in Sc51 of the face peripheral image brightness determination process, and if the specified brightness is not 192 or less and 64 or more that are the predetermined available conditions, the face peripheral image is determined. It is possible to prevent the output accuracy of the player's face information from being lowered by deleting the cutout image as a target for not outputting the player's face information.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the brightness of the face peripheral image is not less than 192 which is the predetermined availability condition and 64 or more is taken as an example in which the photographed image is deleted as the outside of the player face information output target is exemplified. The present invention is not limited to this, and the pachinko game in which each counting unit 300 is installed corresponding to the layout of the gaming island in which the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed, the adjacent pachinko gaming machine, the opposing pachinko gaming machine, etc. The brightness of the surroundings of the machine 1 changes greatly, so that the range of the above-mentioned available conditions can be appropriately set by the clerk of the game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed, so that the influence of the environment of the game hall can be further improved. An image may be taken by the camera module 405 in a reduced state.

Also, the player face information including the estimated age and the estimated age reliability is output from the image captured by the camera module 405, and when the output estimated age reliability does not satisfy the available condition of 200 or more, the game is played. Limiting the use of player face information having a low estimated age reliability by deleting the player face information and the data of the image (captured image) from which the player face information is output as a target for the estimated age reliability correction. You can

In this embodiment, the player face information whose estimated age reliability does not satisfy the availability condition of 200 or more is deleted as the estimated age reliability correction target, but in addition to this. Alternatively, or alternatively, the player information whose feature amount reliability does not satisfy the predetermined value which is the available condition may be deleted as the player face information having low reliability.

Also, a face peripheral image is cut out from the image captured by the camera module 405, and if the left and right width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels which is a predetermined lower limit value, it is excluded from the player face information output target. By deleting the image (captured image) obtained by cutting out the face peripheral image, it is possible to reduce the influence of, for example, detecting the face of a passerby who accidentally passed behind the player.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any modifications or additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. Be done.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a mode in which the present invention is applied to each unit counting unit 300 provided corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 1 that uses a game ball as a game medium is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to a medal lending machine 1100 provided corresponding to a slot machine that uses medals as a game medium, as shown in FIG. 22 as a first modified example.

Although not shown in the figure, the gaming system of the first modification is similar to that of the embodiment, and the gaming system of the first modification has a plurality of games arranged in a game hall (pachinko parlor). The slot machines 1001 are arranged side by side on an island (not shown), and are installed in a lateral position on a predetermined side of the slot machines 1001 (right side in the first modification) in a one-to-one correspondence with the slot machines 1001. And a membership card, and processing for lending a medal, which is a game medium used for a game in the slot machine 1001, and counting the medals obtained in the game in the corresponding slot machine 1001, and A medal lending machine 1100 for paying out (returning) medals within the medal range, a card management computer for managing the visitor card and membership card used in the medal lending machine 1100, and the medal lending machine 1100, and a medal lending Management of the number of counted medals counted in the machine 1100, management of the number of savings medals that the member player possessing the membership card can use for another game, and the number of medals possessed in the visitor card are shown. It is mainly composed of a medal management computer and a hall computer which manages game information such as table data of each slot machine 1001 installed in the game hall. The medal lending machine 1100 and each computer are a local area network. (LAN) so that data can be exchanged between them via the local area network (LAN).

As shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of slot machines 1001 are juxtaposed on each gaming island (not shown) arranged in the game hall, and a housing 1001a having a front opening and a left side of the housing 1001a. And a front door 1001b that is rotatably and pivotally supported. At the upper position inside the casing 1001a, reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and among the symbols arranged on these reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R. Three consecutive patterns are arranged so that they can be seen through the see-through window 3.

When playing a game (game) in the slot machine 1001, first, a medal, which is an example of a disc-shaped game medium, is inserted from the medal insertion unit 1004, or a bet number is set using credits. To use the credit, the MAXBET switch 1006 may be operated. When the specified number of bets determined according to the gaming state is set, the pay lines L1 to L5 are activated, and the operation of the start switch 1007 is activated, that is, the game can be started. In the first modified example, when three bets are set as the specified number of bets regardless of the gaming state and the specified number of bets is set, the pay lines L1 to L5 are activated. In addition, when the medals are thrown in exceeding the maximum number out of the prescribed number corresponding to the gaming state, the amount is added to the credit.

The winning line is a line set to determine whether the combination of symbols displayed on the transparent window 3 of each reel 1002L, 1002C, 1002R is a combination of winning symbols. Here, only the winning line L set across the symbols arranged in the lower row of the reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R is defined as the winning line. In addition, in the first modification, the number of pay lines is one, but a plurality of pay lines may be set.

When the start switch 1007 is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R rotate, and the symbols on the reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R continuously change. When any of the stop switches 1008L, 1008C, 1008R is operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R is stopped, and the display result is derived and displayed on the see-through window 3.

Then, all the reels 1002L, 1002C, 1002R are stopped to complete one game, and a predetermined symbol combination (also called a winning combination) on any of the pay lines L1 to L5 is a reel 1002L, 1002C, 1002R. If the player stops as a result of the display, a prize is generated, and the number of medals determined according to the prize is given to the player and added to the credit. Further, when the number of credits reaches the upper limit (for example, 50), the medals are directly paid out from the medal payout opening 1009 to the lower plate 1005 provided so as to project forward to the lower part of the front door 1001b. ing. Further, in any of the pay lines L1 to L5, when the symbol combination accompanied by the transition of the game state is stopped as the display result of each reel 1002L, 1002C, 1002R, the game state corresponding to the symbol combination (for example, It is adapted to migrate regular bonuses and to Biggubona scan, etc.).

A light output unit 111 having the same configuration as the light input/output unit 301 shown in the embodiment is provided on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100 installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the slot machine 1001.

Further, a protrusion 1114 that protrudes toward the front of the medal lending machine 1100 is provided below the light output unit 1111 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100. On the surface of the protruding portion 1114 facing the player, a display unit 1115 capable of displaying various information and a transparent touch panel (not shown) for allowing each display item displayed on the display unit 1115 to be touched with a finger. Is provided. Further, a replay switch 1121 operated by the player to play a game using the saved medals is provided below the display unit 1115 and the transparent touch panel. The protrusion 1114 is rotatably attached within a predetermined angle range by being fixed to the medal lending machine 1100 via a support shaft (not shown), and the player can set the angle of the surface having the display 1115. It can be adjusted.

Below the protruding portion 1114 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100, a bill insertion slot 1110 for inserting a bill and a card insertion slot 1112 for inserting and ejecting a visitor card or a membership card are provided. .. The banknote insertion slot 1110 communicates with a banknote identification unit provided in the medal lending machine 1100, and in the banknote identification unit, authenticity of a banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 1110 and identification of a banknote type are performed. It is possible to accept these banknotes. Further, the card insertion slot 1112 communicates with a card reader/writer provided in the medal lending machine 1100, and the card reader/writer is recorded on a membership card and a visitor card inserted from the card insertion slot 1112. (Member) Reads and writes card IDs, member IDs (member cards only), record information such as prepaid balance data, and a card stock section that stores visitor cards (including collected cards) used for issuing ( (Not shown), the cards stored in the card stock section (not shown) can be issued.

Further, below the bill insertion slot 1110 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100, a translucent photographing window 1130 is formed. Behind the shooting window 1130 in the medal lending machine 1100, a camera module for shooting an area in front of the slot machine 1001 installed corresponding to the medal lending machine 1100 through the shooting window 1130 is provided. ..

A lid member 1160 that can be opened and closed by the player is provided below the shooting window 1130 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100. By opening the lid member 1160, the player can insert the medals paid out to the lower plate 1005 of the slot machine 1001 into the medal lending machine 1100. It should be noted that the medal lending machine 1100 according to the present modification 1 is provided with a counting device capable of counting the number of inserted medals, and the number of medals counted by the counting device is a member card or a visitor who is accepting. It is designed to be added and updated to the number of medals specified by the card.

A nozzle 1150 for guiding the paid-out medals to the lower tray 1005 of the slot machine 1001 is provided below the lid member 1160 on the front surface of the medal lending machine 1100.

In the medal lending machine 1100 configured as described above, face peripheral image cutout processing, face peripheral image brightness determination processing, face peripheral image left/right width determination processing, player determination processing, non-specified value player face information, as in the above embodiment. By executing the determination process, the estimated age correction process, and the returnability determination process, the brightness of the image to be captured next time by the camera module is determined, and the membership card or visitor card accepted by the card reader/writer for the player. It may be determined whether or not to return.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the hall computer cooperation process, the CPU 328a causes the age of the player calculated from each estimated age stored in the player face information temporary storage table and the gender of the player identified from each estimated gender. The example has been illustrated in which the player face information notification command capable of specifying and the gaming machine number notification command capable of specifying the gaming machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 1 are transmitted to the hall computer 540, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, as a second modification, in the hall computer cooperation processing, the CPU 328a allows the player face for which the estimated age and the estimated gender can be specified for each player face information stored in the player face information temporary storage table. The information notification command and the gaming machine number notification command capable of specifying the gaming machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 1 may be transmitted to the hall computer 540. By doing so, the hall computer 540 accumulates information such as the age and sex of the player for each pachinko gaming machine installed in the game arcade, so that the age and sex of these players can be accumulated. Information can be easily analyzed for each pachinko gaming machine.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the brightness identified from the face peripheral image in the face peripheral image brightness determination process is larger than 192 or less than 64, or the horizontal width of the face peripheral image is 110 in the face peripheral image horizontal width determination process. When the number of pixels is less than the number of pixels, the image taken as a player face information output target is deleted has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the specified brightness is greater than 192 or less than 64, or if the lateral width of the face peripheral image is less than 110 pixels in the facial peripheral image horizontal width determination processing, the player face information is calculated based on the captured image. Instead of outputting, only the photographed image may be stored in the empty entry of the player face information table.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the player face information stored in the player face information table has the player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200, the estimated age reliability is less than 200. An image that is stored in association with the player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200 and the player face information whose fixed age reliability is less than 200 by excluding the player face information from the estimated age correction ( Although an example is shown in which the data of the taken image) is deleted from the player face information table, the present invention is not limited to this, and the player face information stored in the player face information table If there is player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200, a flag indicating that it is not subject to estimated age correction is set in association with the player face information whose estimated age reliability is less than 200. Thus, the data of the image (taken image) stored in association with the player face information having the estimated age reliability of less than 200 and the player face information having the constant age reliability of less than 200 is played. The face information table may not be deleted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a mode in which each unit counting unit 300 as a game device according to the present invention is installed at the left side position of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko gaming machine 1 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each unit counting unit 300 as a gaming device may be installed corresponding to a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, each unit counting unit 300 and the medal lending machine 1100 (Modification 1) are illustrated as the gaming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this and the present invention is not limited to this. The game device to which the invention is applied is information related to a game in the pachinko gaming machine 1 or the slot machine 1001 above the pachinko gaming machine 1 or the slot machine 1001 (for example, the number of big hits, the number of bonus winnings, the number of times of variation display or the number of games Etc.), a settlement device that accepts a visitor card and settles the prepaid balance remaining in the visitor card, a jet counter that counts the number of game balls and medals acquired by the player, etc. It may be a device other than the counting unit 300 and the medal lending machine 1100. In addition, the game device to which the present invention is applied may be a camera unit that is a device different from the counting unit 300 for each unit and the medal lending machine 1100 (Modification 1). It may be provided between the pachinko gaming machines 1 (or slot machines 1001). In this case, one camera unit may be configured to be able to photograph each player of the two pachinko gaming machines 1 (or slot machines 1001).

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as the player face information output by the person information determination program, the estimated age, the estimated age reliability, the estimated sex, the feature amount, and the feature amount reliability are exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. The player's face information output by the person information determination program is not limited to these, but includes the estimated age, estimated age reliability, estimated gender, feature quantity, feature quantity reliability, and the maximum of a specific part of the player's face. The minimum width and the output time of these player face information may be output.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, which pachinko game machine is selected from among a plurality of pachinko game machines installed in a game arcade by using an image taken with the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 adjusted. Is an example of a form in which whether the player is popular, the age group or sex of the player for each pachinko gaming machine, or whether or not to return the membership card or the visitor card is exemplified. The image captured in a state in which the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 is adjusted is not limited, and determination of a player who has made an illegal act in the past or a long-time pachinko gaming machine 1 game is possible. The display on the display unit 312 may be changed to a display such as "Welcome" or the like when it is used to prevent the player from playing a game of being depressed or when a different player is photographed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the player does not appear in the image captured by the camera module 405 (when the player's face is not detected), the captured image is deleted. When the player is not captured in the plurality of images continuously captured by the camera module 405, each counting unit 300 may be shifted to the power saving mode in which the power consumption is small.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the area in front of the gaming machine (the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the slot machine 1001 of the modified example 1) in which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly by the camera module 405 every 0.8 seconds has elapsed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the type of gaming machine to which each counting unit 300 is installed correspondingly (whether it is a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine), The camera module 405 may change the interval at which each of the counting units 300 captures an image of the area in front of the corresponding gaming machine according to the model of the gaming machine.

Further, in the embodiment, the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 according to the brightness of the face peripheral image clipped from the image captured by the camera module 405. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shutter open period (exposure) is set according to the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured by the camera module 405. The brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time may be adjusted by adjusting. Further, only one of the adjustment of the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 and the adjustment of the shutter open period (exposure) is performed according to the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured by the camera module 405. May be performed, or both may be performed.

Further, in the embodiment, the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the signal output from the CMOS sensor 606 according to the brightness of the face peripheral image clipped from the image captured by the camera module 405. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the contrast of the image to be captured next time according to the luminance of the face peripheral image cut out from the image captured by the camera module 405. May be adjusted, or the tone of the image to be captured next time may be corrected using a tone curve to optimize the brightness of the face peripheral image cut out from the image to be captured next time.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 1 and the slot machine 1001 are illustrated as an example of the gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a gaming ball having a predetermined number of balls. Are circulated inside the gaming machine, and the lent balls lent out in response to the player's lending request and the number of prize balls awarded according to winning are added, while the gaming spheres used in the game The present invention can be applied to a so-called enclosed game machine in which a number is subtracted and stored. In addition, since points and points are given to the player instead of the game balls in these enclosed gaming machines, these given points and points correspond to the game value.

1 Pachinko gaming machine 300 Each unit Counting unit 328 Control unit 328a CPU
405 camera module 540 hall computer 601 CPU
606 CMOS sensor 1001 slot machine 1100 medal lending machine

Claims (1)

A gaming device provided corresponding to a gaming machine, capable of receiving a game recording medium usable for a game, and capable of executing processing relating to the received game recording medium, and a management device capable of communicating with the gaming device. A gaming system including and
The gaming device,
An image pickup unit capable of picking up an image of a predetermined area including a player who plays a game on a corresponding gaming machine at predetermined time intervals
Face image detecting means for detecting a face image of a person from the image captured by the image capturing means,
Partial region of the image, a specific component specifying unit for specifying a specific component relating to brightness in a specific region including the face image detected by the face image detecting unit,
Processing means for performing a process for optimizing the specific component based on the specific component specified by the specific component specifying means,
Return possibility determination means for determining whether or not the game recording medium being accepted can be returned based on the image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means,
Personal information specifying means for specifying the personal information of the player included in the image from the image after the processing for optimizing the specific component by the processing means,
Determination means for determining whether or not the persons included in the latest image and the comparison target image captured by the image capturing means are the same person;
Equipped with
The game recording medium includes a game recording medium of a specific type and a non-specific type,
The management device is capable of managing the gaming machine identification information capable of identifying the gaming machine provided corresponding to the gaming machine and the person information identified by the person information identifying means in association with each other,
An image captured by the image capturing unit and identification information of the game recording medium received when the image is captured are associated and sequentially stored,
The comparison target image is the latest image associated with the identification information of the game recording medium,
The determination means is
When accepting the specific type of game recording medium, it is determined whether or not the same person is used by using the identification information of the game recording medium and the person information specified by the person information specifying means. Is possible,
When the non-specific type game recording medium is being received, the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the comparison target image and the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the latest image are displayed. If they match, Ri determinable der whether the same person using the personal information identified by the identification information and the person information identification means of the game recording medium, corresponding to the comparison target image If the identification information of the game recording medium and the identification information of the game recording medium corresponding to the latest image do not match, the person information identifying unit identifies the identification information of the gaming recording medium rather than the identification information of the gaming recording medium. It is possible to determine whether or not the same person by preferentially using the person information
A gaming system characterized by the following.

Images