JP6887885B2 - Game management system and game management method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game management system and a game management method for managing games in a game store.

Conventionally, game stores have provided games with a game medium intervening. For example, in pachinko games, a game ball is used as a game medium, and the game ball is driven into the game board surface to play a game. A plurality of winning areas (winning openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined number of game balls are given as prize balls based on the passing of the game balls through the winning areas. In this way, the number of game media increases or decreases depending on the result of the game, and the player can exchange the acquired game media for prizes.

Generally, each gaming machine is equipped with a device for each machine. Each device accepts payment and lends out a game medium. In addition, each device manages the number of game media acquired by the game as the number of game media, and performs a replay process of subtracting the number of possessed game media to pay out the game media (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .).

When the player operates the return button provided on the gaming machine when the player finishes the game, each device ejects the number of gaming media managed by the player after associating it with the card. By presenting this card at the prize counter, the player can exchange the card for a prize according to the number of associated game media. The card is also associated with a valuable value that can be used to lend the game medium. The balance of valuable value remaining at the end of the game can be settled with a settlement machine.

Here, there is known a technique for preventing another player from using the card when he / she notices that he / she has forgotten to eject the card at the end of the game. For example, Patent Document 2 stores the identification information of the card used by each device, and when a predetermined operation is accepted, the identification information is transmitted to the management device to suspend the use, and the usage is suspended. The technology for suspending the use of the card is disclosed by storing the identification information of the card in each device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-131037 Patent No. 5158637

However, in the conventional technology, it is necessary to store both the identification information of the card used by each device installed in the amusement store and the identification information of the card whose use has been suspended. However, there is a problem that the cost of the entire system increases significantly and the configuration becomes complicated.

For these reasons, how to efficiently realize the restrictions on the use of storage media has become an important issue.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game management system and a game management method capable of efficiently restricting the use of a storage medium.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises a device for each machine which is installed in a game machine for playing a game using a game medium in a game store and performs processing related to the game medium, and the game medium. It is a game management system having a management device that stores the value that can be used for paying out in association with the identification information of the storage medium, and each of the above-mentioned devices limits the use of the storage medium discharged from the own device. The management device includes a usage restriction operation receiving means for receiving a usage restriction operation, which is an operation of the above, and an information transmitting means for transmitting predetermined information to the management device based on the usage restriction operation, and the management device is the information transmitting means. The storage medium is provided with a storage medium specifying means for specifying a plurality of storage media that are candidates for the usage restriction operation based on the information transmitted by the above-mentioned storage medium, and a storage medium selected from the plurality of storage media specified by the storage medium specifying means. It is characterized by further providing a limiting means for restricting the use of.

Further, in the present invention, in the above invention, the information transmitting means transmits information for identifying each of the units to the management device, and the storage medium specifying means is the closest to each of the units specified from the information. a predetermined number of storage medium used in, or, and identifies as a candidate of the use restriction operation a predetermined number of storage media used in the specified date and time in the information.

Further, in the above invention, the limiting means is adapted to limit the use of the storage medium based on an instruction from the management device if the storage medium is accepted in a device of the gaming store, the Suppressing means for suppressing the restriction by the restricting means when it is determined that the player who uses the storage medium is changed at the time when the use of each device is restricted and it is determined that the player is changed. It is characterized by further providing.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the storage medium specifying means identifies the storage medium last used by each of the stand devices.

Further, in the present invention, in the above invention, the storage medium specifying means is a predetermined number of storage media used most recently by each of the devices, or a predetermined number of storage media used at a date and time specified in the information. It is characterized in that the candidates are extracted and presented, and the selection of the storage medium subject to the usage restriction is accepted from the candidates.

Further, in the present invention, when the use of the storage medium specified by the storage medium specifying means is detected in the above invention, the player who has requested the restriction on the use of the storage medium notifies the device in use. It is characterized by performing.

Further, according to the present invention, each device that is attached to a game machine that plays a game using a game medium in a game store and performs processing related to the game medium, and a value that can be used for paying out the game medium are stored in the storage medium. A game management method in a game management system having a management device for storing identification information in association with the identification information, which is an operation for restricting the use of the storage medium discharged from the own device by each of the devices. The usage restriction operation acceptance step for receiving the above, the information transmission step in which each device transmits predetermined information to the management device based on the usage restriction operation, and the management device are transmitted by the information transmission step. Based on the information, the storage medium specifying step for specifying a plurality of storage media that are candidates for the usage restriction operation and the use of the storage medium selected from the plurality of storage media specified by the storage medium specifying step are restricted. It is characterized by including a restriction step to be performed.

According to the present invention, restrictions on the use of the storage medium can be efficiently applied.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a game store. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the inter-unit card processing machine. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-unit card processor. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the inter-unit card processor. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the card management device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the card management device. (Part 1) FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit of the card management device. (Part 2) FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the inter-unit card processing machine for suspending the use of the card. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the card management device for suspending the use of the card. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display relating to suspension of use of the card. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the prize management device shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is an example of a screen when the prize management device reads the card to be suspended. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for displaying the candidate list and selecting the target to be suspended. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the inter-unit card processing machine according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the card management device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure related to suspension of use of the card of the inter-unit card processing machine in the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure related to suspension of use of the card of the card management device according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the game management system and the game management method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present specification, the possession ball is data indicating the game medium acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and may be re-used for the game only during the day (time before the store closes). Say what you can do. The ball storage is data indicating the game medium acquired by the player in the game or the number of the game media, and can be used again for the game from the next day onward (time after the store is closed). The pachinko ball can be used by both general players and member players, and is used when the gaming machine used for the game is changed (so-called table movement). The ball storage is usually available only to member players, and is used when the acquired game medium is used for games on the next day or later. A predetermined fee may be charged for the use of the stored balls.

First, the concept of the game management system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to the first embodiment. A plurality of gaming machines are installed in the game store, and each gaming machine is provided with a machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 which is a device for each machine. Further, the inter-table card processing machine 10 is communicably connected to the card management device 40 provided in the game store.

Based on the operation of the player, the inter-table card processing machine 10 performs a game ball lending process, a replay process of possessed balls and stored balls, a counting process of counting acquired game balls and adding them to the possessed balls, and the like. Perform various processes related to. Further, when the player operates the return button provided on the game machine when the player finishes the game, the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 discharges the number of balls managed by the player device after associating the card with the card.

Further, the stand-to-machine card processor 10 has a function related to suspension of card use in order to prevent other players from using the card when the player notices that he / she has forgotten to eject the card at the end of the game. Have.

Specifically, when the machine-to-table card processing machine 10 receives the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk requested by the player (S1), the platform card processing machine 10 transmits a card usage suspension request to the card management device 40 (S1). S2). This card usage suspension request includes the device ID of the inter-unit card processing machine 10.

The card management device 40 manages the card usage history of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Specifically, the device ID of the inter-unit card processor 10 is associated with the card use start time, use end time, and card ID. As an example, in FIG. 1, the inter-unit card processor 10 having the device ID “3024” used the card with the card ID “1033” from the use start time “11:20” to the use end time “14:54”. Indicates the state. Further, it indicates that the inter-unit card processor 10 having the device ID "3007" is using the card with the card ID "1033" from the start time "15:01", and the card has not been used yet. Therefore, the end time of use is blank.

When the card management device 40 receives the card usage suspension request from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 identifies the card ID to be suspended based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request (S3).

For example, if a card usage suspension request is received from the inter-unit card processing machine 10 of the device ID "3024" and the card ID of the last card used by the inter-unit card processing machine 10 is "1033", the card ID " 1033 ”is specified as the target of suspension of use. In this way, if the card usage suspension request specifies only the device ID, the last used card ID is subject to suspension of use. If the date and time are additionally specified, the card ID used by the device specified at that date and time can be subject to suspension of use.

The card management device 40 identifies the card ID to be suspended, and then identifies the device using the card with the specified card ID as the device in use (S4). In the example of FIG. 1, the inter-unit card processing machine 10 having the device ID “3007” is the device in use.

When the card management device 40 identifies the device in use, the card management device 40 transmits a card usage stop instruction to the device in use. Upon receiving the card usage suspension instruction, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 suspends the use of the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, and the like (S5).

In this way, the card management device 40 acquires the device ID of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 used by the player at a predetermined time, and the inter-unit card processing machine 10 specified by the device ID is at a predetermined time. By identifying the card that was being used and restricting the use of the specified card, it is possible to use a card that is a storage medium with a simple configuration without having the inter-machine card processor 10 store the card usage history. Such restrictions can be made efficiently.

Next, the system configuration of the game store will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a game store. As shown in FIG. 2, in the game store, a plurality of game machines 20 and a machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 provided corresponding to each game machine 20 are installed. The inter-unit card processor 10 connects to a communication line, which is a network in the store, via the island controller 30. The island controller 30, the card management device 40, the member management device 50, the prize management device 60, and the payment machine 80 are connected to the communication line.

The gaming machine 20 is a device for driving a gaming ball into a gaming board surface to play a game. A plurality of prize areas (winning openings) are provided on the game board surface of the game machine 20, and a predetermined number of game balls are given as prize balls based on the fact that the game balls have passed through the prize areas. It has become. Further, a predetermined number of starting areas (starting openings) are provided on the game board surface, and a predetermined lottery is performed based on the passing of the game balls through the starting areas. If the lottery is a big hit, the operation of a predetermined movable member or the like will perform an operation that is advantageous in terms of the game, such as improving the probability of passing the game ball to the above-mentioned winning area or another starting area. The result of the lottery due to the passage of the ball to the starting port is displayed on the special symbol display device that displays the result of the lottery. The lottery result of this special symbol display device is displayed in a mode in which a final display is performed after a variable display for a predetermined time. Further, on the game board surface, a decorative symbol display device for variably displaying decorative symbols such as predetermined numbers based on the result of the lottery is provided, and when the result of the lottery is a big hit, for example, (7, 7). , 7), etc. are displayed and notified. It is also possible to provide an area that serves as both a starting area and a winning area.

In the above-mentioned winning area, a winning sensor for detecting the passage of the game ball to the winning area is provided, and the passing (winning) of the game ball driven into the winning area by this winning sensor is detected. It has become. Further, the control unit of the game machine 20 has a prize ball memory for storing the number of game balls to be given as prize balls for each prize area.

Therefore, when the winning sensor detects that the driven game ball has passed through the specific winning area, the gaming machine 20 should give the game ball based on the stored contents of the winning ball memory and the number of game balls that have passed through the winning area. The number of prize balls can be determined, and the determined number of prize balls can be paid out. In addition, the driven game balls are finally discharged from the back side of the game board to the outside of the game machine regardless of whether or not they have passed through the winning area. The gaming balls discharged to the outside of the gaming machine are detected by an out-ball detecting device attached to each gaming machine.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts payments, lends game balls, and communicates with the card management device 40. When the inter-unit card processing machine 10 receives a bill inserted by a player, it transmits payment notification data including the amount of the bill to the card management device 40, and the amount is set to the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Add the numbers according to. Then, when the predetermined ball lending operation is performed, the ball lending request is transmitted to the card management device 40, the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40 is subtracted, and the number of games corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value is played. Performs ball payout processing.

Further, when the inter-unit card processing machine 10 accepts the card insertion, it transmits the card insertion notification data to the card management device 40. Further, when the inter-unit card processing machine 10 receives data including the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls from the card management device 40, the inter-unit card processing machine 10 stores the received prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls. Then, when the number of balls held is stored, the inter-unit card processor 10 transmits the ball holding request data to the card management device 40 to reduce the number of balls held by the card management device 40 to zero. clear.

Further, when the inter-table card processing machine 10 accepts the ball holding replay operation, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of holding balls stored in its own device, and pays out the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted number of holding balls. Do. Further, when the inter-unit card processor 10 receives the ball storage replay operation, the table-to-table card processing machine 10 transmits the ball storage replay request data to the card management device 40 to subtract a predetermined number from the number of balls stored managed by the member management device 50. Then, the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted number of stored balls is paid out.

Further, when the inter-table card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, it transmits the ball holding ball addition request data including the number of balls held by its own device to the card management device 40, and holds balls to the card management device 40. After adding the numbers, the card ejection notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40 to control the ejection of the cards.

The island controller 30 is a relay device for bundling a group of game machines 20 and a machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 provided on a game island.

The card management device 40 is a device that manages the prepaid value of a card, the number of balls held, and the like as card data. When the card management device 40 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 manages the card ID of the inserted card in association with the device ID of the inter-unit card processing machine 10, and manages the card ID. The prepaid value and the number of balls held in association with the above are transmitted to the inter-unit card processing machine 10. When the card ID shown in the card insertion notification data is the card ID of the membership card, the card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data to the member management device 50 and receives it from the member management device 50. The stored ball replay data is transmitted to the inter-unit card processor 10.

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball holding ball subtraction request data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 clears the number of balls held to zero. Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball addition request data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the number of balls included in the ball addition request data is set to the number of balls managed by the card management device 40. to add.

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the ball lending request data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID and converts the ball lending permission data into the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Send to. Then, when the ball storage replay request data is received, the ball storage replay request data is transmitted to the member management device 50, and when the member management device 50 outputs the ball storage replay data, the ball storage replay data is transferred to the machine. It is transmitted to the card processor 10.

Further, when the card management device 40 receives the card ID from the prize management device 60, the card management device 40 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls held associated with the card ID. Further, when the card ID is received from the settlement machine 80, the prepaid value associated with the card ID is notified to the settlement machine 80.

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

When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 uses the stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls and the password associated with the card ID shown in the card insertion notification data. It is transmitted to the inter-card processing machine 10. Further, when the member management device 50 receives the ball storage replay request data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined number from the number of stored balls associated with the card ID shown in the ball storage replay request data. The stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls after the subtraction is transmitted to the inter-unit card processor 10. The communication between the inter-unit card processor 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40.

Further, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the prize management device 60, the member management device 50 notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of stored balls corresponding to the designated card ID.

The prize management device 60 is a terminal device for exchanging prizes attached to a prize exchange counter in the game store, and performs a prize exchange process for exchanging acquired balls, the number of stored balls, and the number of balls held for prizes. The prize management device 60 is connected to a card reader that reads a card ID from a card and a prize payout device that pays out prizes. When the prize management device 60 reads the card ID from the general card or the membership card (or when the identification data corresponding to the card ID is read from the mobile terminal or the like), the prize management device 60 transmits the card ID to the card management device 40. The number of balls possessed by the card ID is requested. When exchanging the number of stored balls for prizes, the member management device 50 is requested to store the number of stored balls.

When the card with the prepaid value is inserted, the checkout machine 80 transmits the card ID of the card to the card management device 40 and receives the response data to acquire the prepaid value associated with the card. Then, the money is paid out according to the acquired prepaid value.

Next, the ball lending process of the game system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the player performs a ball lending operation on the platform card processor 10, the platform card processor 10 transmits ball lending request data to the card management device 40. The ball lending request data includes a card ID of a card inserted in the inter-unit card processing machine 10, an address that identifies the inter-unit card processing machine 10 that is the transmission source, or arbitrary identification data.

When the card management device 40 receives the ball lending request data, the card management device 40 subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID of the ball lending request data. Then, the card management device 40 transmits the ball lending permission data to the inter-unit card processing machine 10 of the transmission source. The inter-unit card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission data performs a payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value.

Next, the ball holding replay process when the holding ball is replayed by the game system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the inter-unit card processor 10 accepts the insertion of a general card or a membership card, it transmits the card insertion notification data to the card management device 40. The card insertion notification data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the address that identifies the inter-unit card processing machine 10 as the sender, or arbitrary identification data, and the inter-unit card processing machine. Includes data for identifying rates of 10.

When the card management device 40 receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management device 40 transmits the number of balls held at each rate associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data to the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Notice.

The inter-unit card processor 10 stores the number of balls held from the card management device 40. Then, the card ID, the data for specifying the rate, and the ball subtraction request data indicating that the number of balls held is cleared to zero are transmitted to the card management device 40. When the card management device 40 receives the ball subtraction request data, the card management device 40 clears the number of balls held at each rate specified by the card ID to zero. Further, when the inter-table card processing machine 10 accepts the ball holding replay operation and performs the holding ball replay, the platform card processing machine 10 subtracts a predetermined number from the stored number of holding balls and performs a payout process of the corresponding number of game balls. .. When paying out, for multiples of units that can be paid out by the gaming machine (for example, 25 balls), the payout is processed by sending a payout instruction to the gaming machine, and the rest (for example, less than 25 balls) is paid out by the player. The payout process is performed by paying out from the nozzle unit 18a.

When the inter-unit card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, the inter-unit card processing machine 10 transmits the possession ball addition request data to the card management device 40. The ball addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, the address that identifies the inter-unit card processing machine 10 that is the sender, or arbitrary identification data, and the number of balls held at each rate. ..

When the card management device 40 receives the ball addition request data, the card management device 40 adds the number of balls included in the ball addition request data to the number of balls held at each rate associated with the card ID. After that, the inter-machine card processor 10 transmits the card ejection notification data to the card management device 40 to control the ejection of the card.

Next, the ball storage replay process in the game system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the inter-unit card processing machine 10 reads the card ID from the membership card or a mobile terminal that can be used as the membership card, the card insertion notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40. The card insertion notification data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the address that identifies the inter-unit card processing machine 10 as the sender, or arbitrary identification data, and the inter-unit card processing machine. Includes data for identifying rates of 10.

The card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data received from the inter-unit card processor 10 to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data, the member management device 50 has a password associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data and the number of stored balls at the rate specified by the card insertion notification data. Then, the stored ball replay data including the possible number of stored ball replays is transmitted to the inter-unit card processor 10. The number of balls that can be replayed indicates the number of balls that can be replayed. The possible number of ball storage replays is a multiple of the number of game ball payout units in the ball storage replay. If an upper limit is set for the ball storage replay, the maximum value within the range of the number of stored balls and the upper limit is the possible number of ball storage replays. In addition, instead of the possible number of ball storage replays, the number of times the ball storage replay is possible may be used as the ball storage replay frequency. The stored ball replay frequency corresponds to the quotient obtained by dividing the stored ball number by the number of game ball payout units in the stored ball replay. However, if an upper limit is set for the ball storage replay, the ball storage replay frequency is limited by this upper limit.

The inter-vehicle card processor 10 stores the received ball storage replay data, and can accept the ball storage replay operation when the number of possible ball storage replays shown in the ball storage replay data is 1 or more.

When the inter-vehicle card processor 10 first accepts the ball storage replay operation after storing the ball storage replay data, the player is requested to input a password, and the entered password is the ball storage replay data. It is determined whether or not it matches the password shown in.

When the passwords match, the inter-unit card processor 10 transmits the ball storage replay request data to the card management device 40. The ball storage replay request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10, an address that identifies the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 that is the source, or arbitrary identification data, and the machine-to-machine card processing. Includes data for identifying the rate of the machine 10.

The card management device 40 transmits the ball storage replay request data to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the ball storage replay request data, the member management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of the stored balls at the rate specified by the telegram among the stored balls associated with the card ID in the ball storage replay request data. Then, recalculate the possible number of ball storage replays. Then, the stored ball replay data including the balance after subtraction and the possible number of stored ball replays is transmitted to the inter-unit card processor 10.

The inter-vehicle card processing machine 10 updates the number of stored balls to be stored, and performs a payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the number of payout units of the stored ball replay. In addition, it is determined whether or not the number of possible replays of the stored balls after the update is 1 or more. If the number of possible ball storage replays is 0, the ball storage replay operation cannot be accepted. If the number of possible ball storage replays after the update is 1 or more, the ball storage replay operation can be accepted again. It is not necessary to confirm the PIN for the second and subsequent replays of the stored balls. The personal identification number may be confirmed every time. Further, although the case where the member management device 50 subtracts the balance of the stored balls and then the inter-unit card processing machine 10 performs the game ball payout process is illustrated here, the game ball payout process is performed based on the stored ball replay request. After that, the balance of the stored balls may be subtracted. This is because the number of possible ball storage replays is shown in the ball storage replay data before the ball storage replay request, and the balance shortage is not found after the ball storage replay request is accepted.

Next, the transition from holding balls to storing balls in the closing process will be described. The card management device 40 confirms the number of balls held in the card management data at the time of closing the store, and if there is a record associated with the number of balls held larger than zero, the card management device 40 displays the number of balls held in the record together with the card ID and the rate. Notify the member management device 50. The member management device 50 adds the number of balls held from the card management device 40 to the number of stored balls specified by the card ID and the rate. After that, the card management device 40 clears the number of balls held to zero.

Next, the appearance of the inter-table card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the inter-table card processing machine 10. Note that FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the inter-table card processing machine 10 connected to the gaming machine 20 as the inter-table card processing machine 10. Further, the game machine 20 to be installed is shown by a broken line. Further, although FIG. 3 shows the inter-table card processing machine 10 that accepts only banknotes, it is also possible to provide a mobile terminal or a unit having a function of accepting electronic money or coins associated with the card.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-table card processing machine 10 includes a status display unit 11, a bill insertion slot 12a, a display operation unit 13, a card insertion slot 14a, a holding portion 14b, a nozzle unit 18a, and a counting unit 18b.

The status display unit 11 is composed of, for example, multicolor LEDs, and displays the status of the device of the inter-unit card processor 10 by lighting or blinking in a predetermined color. The bill insertion slot 12a is an insertion slot for various bills required for lending game balls. The display operation unit 13 is a device composed of, for example, a full-color touch panel type liquid crystal display or the like, and accepts the display of operation buttons and the input operation by the operation buttons. Although detailed illustration is omitted in FIG. 3, the display operation unit 13 has a flat plate shape in which the long side of the corresponding gaming machine 20 side is pivotally supported by the inter-table card processing machine 10. The angle formed by the front panel of the pachinko machine 10 and the display surface of the display operation unit 13 can be changed.

The card insertion slot 14a is a card insertion slot owned by the player. The holding unit 14b is a portion for holding the mobile terminal used for membership registration, and when the mobile terminal is held over the holding unit 14b, data such as a unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal is read from the mobile terminal. The nozzle unit 18a is a mechanism for ejecting a game ball to the game machine 20. The nozzle unit 18a is composed of a tubular nozzle provided on the front surface of the inter-table card processing machine 10 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and the tip of the nozzle can be located in the storage portion of the gaming machine. There is. The nozzle is supplied with the game medium from the ball supply device in the table-to-table card processor, which has been supplied with the game medium from the supply mechanism on the island where the table-to-table card processor 10 is installed. The counting unit 18b is a mechanism for counting game balls dropped from the lower plate of the game machine 20. The counting unit 18b includes a saucer for receiving game balls, a counting unit provided at the lower part of the inter-table card processing machine 10 for counting game balls with a counting sensor, and a counting unit for passing the game medium from the saucer to the counting unit. It consists of a passage part. The saucer portion and the counting passage portion can be integrally removed from the inter-table card processing machine 10 based on a predetermined operation (for example, an employee's remote control operation). Further, the counting unit has a unit structure, and by removing the counting unit, the saucer unit, and the counting passage unit, the inter-table card processing machine 10 can be operated without a counting function.

Next, the configuration of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inter-table card processing machine 10 includes a bill carrier unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a reader / writer 14, a holding unit 14b, a communication unit 15, a storage unit 16, and a control unit 17. And a nozzle unit 18a and a counting unit 18b.

The bill transport unit 12 is a transport unit that transports the bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 12a to a bill storage unit (not shown) while discriminating the denomination and authenticity of the bills. The display operation unit 13 has a function of identifying and displaying various information such as the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls that can be used for ball lending from the card or the like that has received it, and displays information not related to other cards or the like. It is an input / output device such as a touch panel type liquid crystal display having a function and a function of accepting various operations such as ball lending operation. In addition to the above-mentioned display, the display operation unit 13 also has a function of displaying excess or deficiency regarding the number of cards that can be stored and displaying the communication status (online / offline, etc.) with the host device.

The reader / writer 14 is a device that reads a card ID from a card inserted in the card insertion slot 14a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a is stored in a card storage unit (not shown) via the reader / writer 14. The holding unit 14b is an interface unit that reads various information such as a unique ID (for example, IDm) of the mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication when the mobile terminal or the like is held over. Further, the reader / writer 14 has a function of associating the card stored in the card storage unit with value data such as a possession ball and a prepaid value shown in the card data 16b and issuing the card as a new card according to the return operation of the player. Also has. However, if the prepaid value shown in the card data 16b is 0 and the number of balls held is less than a certain number (minimum number of holdings), control is performed so that the card is not returned even if there is a return operation. This is a control to prevent the game store from losing money due to the discarding of cards associated with a small amount of balls, and it is accepted not only from the cards stored in advance but also from the outside. The same applies to other cards (excluding membership cards). As a fixed number, for example, the value obtained by multiplying the number of balls held by the lending unit price per ball can be set to be the card price or the lowest price prize in the game store, but the game is not limited to this. It can be set freely according to the store policy. In addition, if it is controlled not to return the card even if there is a return operation, the stored ball can be paid out, but a display indicating that the card cannot be returned and / or a replay of the card is displayed. A prompting display may be made.

The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication between the gaming machine 20 and the island controller 30. The nozzle unit 18a is used for paying out a part or all of the game balls when paying out the game balls by lending or replaying. The counting unit 18b is a unit that counts game balls.

The storage unit 16 is a storage device including a hard disk device, a non-volatile memory, and the like. The storage unit 16 stores the own device state data 16a and the card data 16b.

The own device state data 16a is data indicating the state of the inter-unit card processing machine 10. The own device state data 16a includes the device ID of the inter-unit card processor and the game setting. The device ID of the inter-table card processing machine is identification data for uniquely identifying the inter-unit card processing machine 10 in the game store. The game setting is data indicating a game type or the like set in the inter-table card processing machine 10. When handling multiple rate game balls in a game store, "ball 1" for a 4-yen rate game ball, "ball 2" for a 2-yen rate game ball, and "ball 3" for a 1-yen rate game ball. In this way, the game type name is set and managed for each rate. The inter-machine card processor 10 selects a rate to be used for the game from these game types and stores it as a game setting.

The card data 16b is data related to the card being used by the player. The card data 16b includes a card ID, a prepaid value, a possession ball, a stored ball, a possible number of stored ball replays, and the like. There is data for each type of game (rate) for possessed balls and stored balls. The card ID is a card ID read by the reader / writer 14. When a card is conveyed from a card storage unit (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and the card is ejected, the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during the transfer. Further, even when a card is conveyed from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage unit (not shown), the card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during the transfer.

The control unit 17 is a control unit that controls the entire inter-unit card processing machine 10, and includes a data management unit 17a, a counting processing unit 17b, a use stop operation processing unit 17c, and a use stop processing unit 17d.

When the card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits the card insertion notification data including the device ID of the own device status data 16a and the card ID of the card data 16b to the card management device 40. Further, when the data management unit 17a receives data including value data (at least one of the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls) from the card management device 40, the data management unit 17a updates the card data 16b with the received value data. .. The data management unit 17a appropriately displays and controls the prepaid value, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls shown in the card data 16b on the display operation unit 13.

Further, when the bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits the payment notification data including the amount of the inserted bill, the card ID, and the inter-unit card processing machine ID to the card management device 40.

Further, the data management unit 17a transmits the ball lending request data including the card ID and the device ID to the card management device 40 when the ball lending operation is performed by the player. When the ball lending permission data is received as a response to the ball lending request data, the data management unit 17a performs a predetermined number of game ball payout processing.

Further, when the player performs the ball holding replay operation, the data management unit 17a subtracts a predetermined number from the number of balls held in the card data 16b and performs a payout process of the corresponding number of game balls. Do.

Further, when the number of possible ball storage replays shown in the card data 16b is 1 or more, the data management unit 17a can display the ball storage replay button on the display operation unit 13 and accept the ball storage replay operation. And. When the player performs the ball storage replay operation, the data management unit 17a transmits the ball storage replay request data including the card ID and the inter-unit card processing machine ID to the member management device 50. When the stored ball replay data is received as a response to the stored ball replay request data, the number of stored balls in the card data 16b is updated, and the game balls of the number of payout units of the stored ball replay are paid out. At the time of the first ball storage replay operation, the input of the password is requested, and the ball storage replay request data is transmitted on condition that the password matches the password shown in the card data 16b.

Further, when the card return operation is performed by the player, the data management unit 17a transmits the card ID, the device ID, and the ball addition request data including the number of balls held to the card management device 40, and the card data 16b. After clearing the number of balls held to zero, the card ejection notification data is transmitted to the card management device 40, and the card is ejected.

Further, if the player performs the ball storage transfer operation with the membership card inserted, the data management unit 17a subtracts the number of balls held in the card data 16b and the member via the card management device 40. By transmitting the ball storage addition request data to the management device 50, the possessed balls are transferred to the ball storage. It is also possible to transfer balls using a mobile terminal instead of a membership card. Specifically, if the number of balls held is equal to or greater than a predetermined number and the mobile terminal is held over the holding unit 14b after the predetermined operation is performed, the data management unit 17a holds the balls shown in the card data 16b. By subtracting the number and transmitting the ball storage addition request data including the IDm read by the holding unit 14b, the possessed ball is transferred to the ball storage.

When a game ball is thrown into the counting unit 18b, the counting processing unit 17b causes the counting unit 18b to count the game balls, and adds the counting result to the number of balls held in the card data 16b.

The usage suspension operation processing unit 17c is a processing unit that receives a card usage suspension operation by a game clerk or the like requested by a player and transmits a card usage suspension request to the card management device 40. The card use stop operation is received by, for example, the display operation unit 13. Further, the clerk terminal device carried by the game clerk may accept the card use stop operation, and the clerk terminal device may receive a signal indicating the acceptance of the card use stop operation.

The card usage suspension request transmitted by the usage suspension operation processing unit 17c to the card management device 40 includes the device ID of the own device shown in the own device status data 16a. In addition, data for specifying the date and time may be included in the card usage suspension request. If data that specifies the date and time is included, the card used by the own device at the specified date and time will be subject to suspension of use.

Further, the use stop operation processing unit 17c receives the result of the card use stop request from the card management device 40 and controls the display on the display operation unit 13. When the card management device 40 identifies the card ID to be used, the device using this card ID is specified, and the use of the card is stopped, the success of the suspension of use and which device is in use. Will be displayed. Further, when the card ID is specified but the device in use cannot be specified, it is displayed that the card ID is specified but its location is unknown.

When the usage suspension processing unit 17d receives the card usage suspension instruction from the card management device 40, the usage suspension processing unit 17d suspends the use of the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, etc., and indicates that the card usage has been suspended. Notify the card management device 40. The suspension of use of the card is canceled when a predetermined operation is received from the game clerk.

Next, an example of the data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 16 of the inter-unit card processing machine 10.

The own device state data 16a shown in FIG. 5A shows a state in which the ID of the inter-table card processing machine 10 is "3001" and "ball 1" is set as the game type of the inter-unit card processing machine 10. ing.

The card data 16b shown in FIG. 5B shows a state in which the ID of the card inserted in the inter-unit card processing machine 10 is "2002". Here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, the card whose first digit is "1" is a general card, and the card whose first digit is "2" is a membership card. Further, the card data 16b indicates a state in which the prepaid value is "2000 degrees". Here, the frequency of the prepaid value is equivalent to 1 yen per frequency. Further, the card data 16b shows a state in which the number of balls held by ball 1 is "375 balls", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "500 balls", and the number of balls held by ball 3 is "2000 balls". Shown.

Further, in the card data 16b, the password for replaying the stored balls is "7777", the number of possible replays of the stored balls is "250", the number of stored balls 1 is "250", and the number of balls 2 is 2. The number of stored balls of the ball 3 is "1000 balls", and the number of stored balls of the ball 3 is "4000 balls". Although the configuration in which the number of balls that can be replayed is stored as the number of balls that can be replayed is shown here, the number of times that the replay is possible may be stored as the replay frequency. Further, although not shown, the card management device 40 stores ON / OFF of the "lock" flag indicating the validity / invalidity of the card in addition to the possessed ball, the stored ball, and the prepaid value in association with the card ID. , When the theft of the card is discovered, it is turned on by the employee operation. These data are also included in the card data 16b and stored. Furthermore, this "lock" flag can be set for each function ("use of stored balls", "boarding", etc.). For example, only the "boarding" function is subject to "locking" at the request of the player. It can also be used to prevent erroneous operation. In addition, in this specification, "entry" means that the number of game media of a certain rate is converted into the number of game media of another rate based on the ratio of the unit price of the game media. In a specific example, in the inter-unit card processing machine 10 associated with the 4-yen rate, the number of balls X at the 1-yen rate is used, and X × (1 yen / 4 yen) = X / 4 balls. Can be exemplified by the payout process. This "boarding" function can be enabled / disabled by the member management device 50 according to the store management policy.

Further, the inter-unit card processing machine 10 has a function of locking the return of the card (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "return lock function"). This is an arbitrary password (for example, a number) of the player when the prepaid value or the value such as the possession ball associated with the card is equal to or more than a preset predetermined value (for example, the prepaid value is 100 yen, the possession ball is 25 balls, etc.) It is possible to set (4 digits), and when the card is returned, it is a function that performs the operation corresponding to the return operation on the condition that the same password as the set password is entered. is there. The setting of this password is maintained when the value is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, but the setting is cleared when the value is lower than the predetermined value, for example, when the values are all zero. This predetermined value can be arbitrarily set by the game store. For example, by setting the predetermined value to zero, this process may be performed whenever a value is generated. Further, even when the return of the card is locked, it is preferable to be able to perform other operations such as lending operation and ball payout operation so that convenience can be maintained while improving security. .. If the inter-unit card processor 10 has a means for identifying an individual player such as an image pickup device (for example, a camera), the card return is locked by the return lock function in addition to the above control. Even if it is not in the state, if the player is determined to be replaced by these means, the state to lock the return of the card is automatically set unless the replacement to the same customer is determined. Good.

Next, the configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the card management device 40 includes a display unit 41, an input unit 42, an external network communication unit 43, a store network communication unit 44, a storage unit 45, and a control unit 46.

The display unit 41 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The input unit 42 is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The external network communication unit 43 is an interface unit for data communication with a device outside the game store. The store network communication unit 44 is an interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, the member management device 50, the prize management device 60, and the payment machine 80 via a communication line in the game store.

The storage unit 45 is a storage device such as a hard disk device or a non-volatile memory, and stores game type setting data 45a, card management data 45b, device management data 45c, and usage history data 45d.

The game type setting data 45a is data in which the lending rate and the display name are associated with the game type. The card management data 45b is data in which the prepaid value, the number of balls held in each game type, and the destination device ID indicating the device ID of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 into which the card is inserted are associated with the card ID. is there. The device management data 45c is data related to the device placed in the game store. The device management data 45c includes the device ID of the machine-to-machine card processor, the address of the machine-to-machine card processor 10, the installation location, the game machine ID of the adjacent game machine, and model data.

The usage history data 45d is data for managing the usage history of the card by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Specifically, the device ID of the inter-unit card processor 10 is associated with the card use start time, use end time, and card ID.

The control unit 46 is a control unit that controls the entire card management device 40, and includes a game type setting management unit 46a, a card management unit 46b, a device management unit 46c, a usage history management unit 46d, a use suspension target identification unit 46e, and a use. It has a stop instruction unit 46f. Actually, the program corresponding to these functional units is stored in a ROM or non-volatile memory (not shown), and these programs are loaded into the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executed to execute the game type setting management unit. The processes corresponding to the 46a, the card management unit 46b, the device management unit 46c, the usage history management unit 46d, the usage suspension target identification unit 46e, and the usage suspension instruction unit 46f are executed.

The game type setting management unit 46a is a processing unit that manages the game type used in the game store, the rate, and the display name as the game type setting data 45a in association with each other.

The card management unit 46b is a processing unit that manages the card management data 45b. Specifically, when the card management unit 46b receives the card insertion notification data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b also notifies the card insertion notification that the destination device ID of the card ID shown in the card insertion notification data is used. The device ID shown in the data. In addition, the prepaid value associated with the card ID shown in the card insertion notification data and the number of balls held at each rate are notified to the inter-unit card processing machine 10 as value data. If the inserted card is a membership card, the card insertion notification data is transmitted to the member management device. When the card management unit 46b receives the ball subtraction request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b clears the number of balls held at the rate indicated in the ball subtraction request data to zero.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the ball lending request data including the card ID from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, it determines whether or not the prepaid value associated with the card ID is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. .. When the prepaid value is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the card management unit 46b subtracts the predetermined value from the prepaid value stored in the card management data 45b, and includes the prepaid value updated in the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Send the card lending permission data. On the other hand, when the prepaid value is less than a predetermined value, the card management unit 46b notifies the inter-unit card processing machine 10 of the ball lending non-profit data.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the payment notification data including the amount of money, the card ID and the device ID inserted from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b notifies the prepaid value associated with the card ID of the payment. Add the prepaid value for the amount shown in.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the ball storage replay request data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the card management unit 46b transfers the ball storage replay request data to the member management device 50. Further, the response data from the member management device 50 to the ball storage replay request data is also transferred to the inter-unit card processing machine 10.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the ball addition request data, the card management unit 46b adds the number of balls included in the ball addition request data to the number of balls held at the corresponding rate. Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the card ejection notification data, the card management unit 46b erases the user device ID of the card ID.

Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the card ID from the prize management device 60, the card management unit 46b notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls held at each rate associated with the card ID. Further, when the card management unit 46b receives the card ID from the payment machine 80, the card management unit 46b notifies the payment machine 80 of the prepaid value associated with the card ID.

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

The usage history management unit 46d is a processing unit that manages the usage history of the card by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Specifically, when the usage history management unit 46d detects the use of a new card from the card insertion notification data or the payment notification data from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the device ID of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 is used. The usage start time and the card ID are associated and added to the usage history data 45d. Then, when the end of use of the card in the inter-unit card processing machine 10 is detected by the card ejection notification data or the use of the value, the use start time is added to the corresponding portion of the usage history data 45d.

When receiving the card usage suspension request from the inter-unit card processing machine 10, the usage suspension target identification unit 46e refers to the usage history data 45d and is the target of suspension of use based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. It functions as a storage medium specifying means for specifying a card ID. At this time, if the date and time are not specified in the card usage suspension request, the machine card processor 10 having the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request specifies the last used card as the target of suspension of use. If the date and time are specified in the card usage suspension request, the card used by the inter-machine card processor 10 having the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request at the specified date and time is specified as the target of suspension of use. ..

Further, the usage suspension target identification unit 46e refers to the usage history data 45d and identifies the device using the card with the specified card ID as the device in use.

When the device in use is specified by the device for which the target for suspension of use 46e is specified, the usage suspension instruction unit 46f transmits a card usage suspension instruction to the device in use. Then, when the in-use device notifies that the use of the card has been stopped, the inter-machine card processor 10 that has sent the card use stop request is notified that the use of the card has been stopped successfully, and which device is in use. Will be notified as a result of suspension of use. Here, it is not necessary to perform the process of immediately transmitting the usage stop instruction when the device in use is specified. For example, even if the device in use is specified, if the status related to the card ID is set to "suspended" and there is an update request for the card to be suspended in this state, "suspended". Make sure that the status of is returned. As a result, the inter-unit card processing device 10 may be set to the state of suspension of use. Further, even if the target card is locked by the "return lock function", the inter-unit card processing machine 10 that has received the card usage suspension instruction suspends the use of the card in preference to this. That is, the card is suspended regardless of whether the card return is locked or not.

Further, when the card ID is specified but the device in use is not specified, the use suspension instruction unit 46f uses the card as the result of the suspension of use that the card ID is specified but the location is unknown. Notify the inter-unit card processor 10 that is the source of the stop request.

If the card ID is specified but the device in use is not specified, the state related to the specified card ID is set to "suspended". When a card with a card ID to be suspended is accepted by any of the devices in this state, the status of "suspended" is returned in response to the inquiry of the card data using the card ID. As a result, the inter-unit card processing device 10 is set to the state of suspension of use. It should be noted that the process may be a process of monitoring the usage history data 45d and transmitting a card usage suspension instruction to the device used when the card ID to be suspended is used by any device. Alternatively, the device (inter-unit card processing machine 10, prize management device 60, payment machine 80) that may use the card is notified of the card ID to be suspended, and the suspension of use of the card is instructed in advance. May be good.

Further, if the card ID is specified but the device in use is not specified, and the player requesting the suspension of use of the card is playing a game using another card, the player is at that time. The card ID in use may be separately managed as the notification destination card ID, and when the card ID to be suspended is used, the notification destination card ID may be notified to the device in use.

Next, an example of the data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. 7 and 8 are explanatory views for explaining an example of data stored in the storage unit 45 of the card management device 40.

The game type setting data 45a shown in FIG. 7A associates the game type name “ball 1” with the rate “4 yen” and the display name “4 pachinko”. Further, the game type setting data 45a associates the game type name "ball 2" with the rate "2 yen" and the display name "2 pachinko". Further, the game type setting data 45a associates the game type name "ball 3" with the rate "1 yen" and the display name "1 pachinko".

In the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 7B, the card ID "1001" has a prepaid value "2500", the number of balls held by ball 1 is "1500", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "2300", and the number of balls 3 is 3. Is associated with the number of balls "0". That is, the card with the card ID "1001" is not inserted into the inter-table card processing machine 10, and the holding balls are managed by the card management device 40.

Further, in the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 7B, the card ID “1002” is associated with the prepaid value “500”, the number of balls held at each rate “0”, and the destination device ID “3004”. That is, the card with the card ID "1002" is inserted into the inter-unit card processing machine 10 with the device ID "3004", and the number of balls held is transferred to the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Therefore, the number of balls held at each rate is zero.

Further, in the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 7B, the card ID "1033" is associated with the prepaid value "3000", the number of balls held at each rate "0", and the destination device ID "3007". That is, the card with the card ID "1033" is inserted into the inter-unit card processing machine 10 with the device ID "3007", and the number of balls held is transferred to the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Therefore, the number of balls held at each rate is zero.

Further, in the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 7B, the card ID "2002" is associated with the prepaid value "2000", the number of balls held at each rate "0", and the destination device ID "3001". That is, the card with the card ID "2002" is inserted into the inter-unit card processing machine 10 with the device ID "3001", and the management of the jade is transferred to the inter-unit card processing machine 10. Therefore, the number of balls held at each rate is zero.

Further, in the card management data 45b shown in FIG. 7B, the card ID “1001”, the card ID “1002”, and the card ID “2002” are associated with “non-target” indicating that the usage is not subject to suspension, and the card is used. Indicates a state in which the ID "1033" is associated with the "target" indicating that the usage is suspended.

In the device management data 45c shown in FIG. 7 (c), the address on the network of the inter-machine card processor 10 with the ID "3001" is "AB.CD.EF.GH", and the installation location is "Island 1-1". , The ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "P001", the game type is "ball 3", and the model of the connected gaming machine 20 is "EV01". It also shows that the gaming machine 20 is in use.

The usage history data 45d shown in FIG. 8D associates the card usage start time, usage end time, and card ID with the device ID. As an example, in FIG. 8, the inter-unit card processor 10 having the device ID “3024” used the card with the card ID “1033” from the use start time “11:20” to the use end time “14:54”. Indicates the state. Further, it indicates that the inter-unit card processor 10 having the device ID "3007" is using the card with the card ID "1033" from the start time "15:01", and the card has not been used yet. Therefore, the end time of use is blank.

Next, the processing procedure of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 relating to the suspension of use of the card will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 for suspending the use of the card. First, the use stop operation processing unit 17c of the inter-table card processing machine 10 determines whether or not the card use stop operation by the game clerk or the like has been accepted (step S101).

When the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk or the like is accepted (step S101; Yes), the usage suspension operation processing unit 17c transmits a card usage suspension request to the card management device 40 (step S102). After that, the usage suspension operation processing unit 17c receives the usage suspension result, which is the result of the card usage suspension request, from the card management device 40 (step S103), and displays it on the display operation unit 13 (step S104). The suspension result can include the card ID of the card subject to suspension, the device ID of the device in use, the ball possession, the processing before return, and the like. The display of this information will be described later.

After step S104, or when the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk or the like is not accepted (step S101; No), the usage suspension processing unit 17d determines whether or not the card usage suspension instruction has been received from the card management device 40. (Step S105).

If the card usage suspension instruction has not been received from the card management device 40 (step S105; No), the usage suspension processing unit 17d ends the process as it is. On the other hand, when the card usage suspension instruction is received from the card management device 40 (step S105; Yes), the usage suspension processing unit 17d suspends the use of the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, and the like. The card management device 40 is notified that the use of the card has been stopped (step S106), and the process ends. The details of this notification will be described later.

Next, the processing procedure of the card management device 40 relating to the suspension of use of the card will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the card management device 40 for suspending the use of the card. First, when the usage suspension target identification unit 46e receives the card usage suspension request from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 (step S201), the usage history data 45d is referred to, and based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. The card ID to be suspended is specified (step S202). Further, the usage suspension target identification unit 46e refers to the usage history data 45d and identifies the device using the card with the specified card ID as the device in use (step S203).

When the in-use device is specified (step S204; Yes), the use stop instruction unit 46f transmits a card use stop instruction to the in-use device (step S205). Then, upon receiving a notification from the in-use device that the use of the card has been stopped, the inter-unit card processor 10 that has sent the card use suspension request is notified of the success of the suspension of use and the result of the suspension of use in which device is in use. (Step S206), and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the device in use is not specified (step S204; No), the usage suspension instruction unit 46f sends the card usage suspension request source the usage suspension result that the card ID is specified but the location is unknown. It is transmitted to the inter-unit card processing machine 10 (step S206), and the processing is completed. In addition, the suspension result can include the card ID of the card subject to suspension, the device ID of the device in use, the ball possession, the processing before return, and the like.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display relating to suspension of use of the card. In FIG. 11, a certain inter-table card processing machine 10 requests the card management device 40 to stop using the card (S1a), and the card management device 40 makes a target card to the inter-unit card processing machine 10 in use. The card usage suspension instruction is transmitted (S2a), and the usage suspension result is transmitted to the requesting machine card processing machine 10 (S3a).

Upon receiving the card usage suspension instruction, the inter-machine card processor 10 suspends the use of the card by prohibiting the acceptance of various operations, and at the same time, "The card usage is restricted. Please call the clerk." Is displayed. This display is just an example, and it may be notified that it cannot be used due to an error display or blackout.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has received the usage suspension result can display the card ID of the card subject to suspension of use, the device ID in use, the ball possession, the processing before return, and the like. In FIG. 11, the device ID "3007" in use, the card ID "1033", the current prepaid balance "3000 yen", the ball "4 pachinko 500 balls", and the processing "ball lending" before return are displayed. Notifies the current state of the card that was the target of suspension. It should be noted that this display is only an example, and information such as possession balls and stored balls of other game types can be displayed. Further, as a process before returning, a plurality of operation histories may be displayed.

Next, a case where the card to be suspended is read by the prize management device 60 of the prize exchange counter will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the prize management device 60 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the prize management device 60 has a configuration in which a housing for a game clerk and a housing for a player are connected by a communication line. The housing for the game store clerk is provided with a store side display unit 61, an operation unit 62, a receipt issuing unit 63, a card reader 67a, and a store clerk tag reader 67b. A customer-side display unit 64 and a mobile terminal reader 67c are provided in the housing for the player.

The game clerk holds the card presented to the player over the card reader 67a to read the card ID from the card, and identifies the balance of the possessed balls and the stored balls associated with the card ID. When the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 has each machine counting machine for counting the balls acquired by each machine, the card presented by the player is a member registration issued by the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10. This includes general cards held by non-players and membership cards held by players who have registered as members at the game store. The general card is associated with the balls counted by each counter, and the membership card is associated with the balls and the stored balls deposited by the member. On the other hand, when the inter-unit card processing machine 10 does not have a counter for each unit, an island-end counter 90 for counting balls is provided at the island edge, and the counting result is issued by a receipt from the island-end counter 90. Will be done. In such a case, the prize management device 60 is separately provided with a barcode reader for reading the barcode recorded on the receipt (the number of balls can be specified from the barcode), and the barcode is used as a basis for reading the barcode. The specified number of balls is specified as the number of acquired balls. In addition, the number of game balls (number of balls held, number of stored balls, number of acquired balls) associated with media such as these receipts and cards can be totaled. The specified number of game balls is used in exchange for special prizes and general prizes. A clerk at a game store can be authenticated by holding his clerk tag over the clerk tag reader 67b.

The store-side display unit 61 is a display unit and operation unit for a store clerk who is an operator, and includes a touch panel color liquid crystal display and the like. The store side display unit 61 displays prize exchange details, operation guidance, and the like. The operation unit 62 includes a plurality of keys such as a numeric keypad, a dedicated key, and a mode key, and is used when inputting a prize exchange operation or the like. The dedicated key includes a high-speed exchange key for high-speed exchange with a special prize, an individual prize key associated with each prize, a ball storage key for performing ball storage processing, and the like.

The receipt issuing unit 63 is an issuing unit that issues and processes various receipts such as a registration list and a total list, and includes a thermal printer or the like.

The customer-side display unit 64 provided in the housing for the player is composed of a fluorescent display tube, a touch panel color liquid crystal display, or the like. By checking the display contents of the customer side display unit 64, the player can check the balance of the balls held or stored balls associated with the card. Further, the customer side display unit 64 can display the event information when the higher-level device (for example, the card management device 40) notifies the event information or the like as setting data. The customer side display unit 64 is also used for inputting a personal identification number when using the stored balls. When a mobile terminal that can be used as a membership card is held over, the mobile terminal reader 67c reads information corresponding to the card ID from the mobile terminal. The number of balls held and the number of stored balls are specified by the information corresponding to this card ID.

FIG. 13 is an example of a screen when the prize management device 60 reads a card to be suspended. In FIG. 13, the prize management device 60 is reading three general cards. The first card has a card ID of "1017" and a 4-pachi (game type ball 1) possession ball of "1200". The second card has a card ID of "1033" and a 4-pachi (game type ball 1) possession ball of "500". The third card has a card ID of "1009" and a 4-pachi (game type ball 1) possession ball of "720".

Of these three cards, the card with the card ID "1033" is subject to suspension of use, so the message "Usage restricted" and the "Confirm" button are displayed in association with the card ID "1033". ing. In addition, the message "Please press the confirmation button before totaling" is displayed. Although not shown here, in the prize management device 60, when the read card has a prepaid balance, a display (for example, a warning display, a balance display, etc.) that can recognize that the prepaid balance remains is displayed on the store side. It is displayed on the display unit 61, or both the store side display unit 61 and the customer side display unit 64, and it is understood that the prepaid balance needs to be processed separately from the prize exchange.

In this way, when the card to be suspended is received, the process is temporarily stopped, and the card to be suspended is notified to the clerk. Then, when the clerk operates the "confirmation" button, the subsequent processing, that is, the exchange of prizes can be permitted. After operating the "Confirm" button, the prizes can be exchanged by excluding the balls of the card to be suspended and adding up the balls of other cards. Therefore, cards that are not subject to suspension of use can be used for prize exchange. In addition, by operating the "confirmation" button, the possession of the card to be suspended may also be included in the total. In this case, the clerk can ask the player about the circumstances of the card to be suspended, and if there is no problem, the exchange process can be continued.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the process is temporarily stopped when the card to be suspended is received, but the card reading process may be configured so as not to be stopped. In other words, if there are cards to be suspended among multiple cards, the total number of balls will be totaled as usual, while a display that can recognize which card is under usage restriction and a confirmation operation will be performed. The necessary information is displayed. Then, on condition that the confirmation operation has been performed, subsequent processing (selection of exchange prize, etc.) may be possible. Also, if the exchange prize can be selected before the card is read, even if the number of cards that can exchange the selected prize is read, if there is no confirmation operation, the exchange process will be confirmed. (For example, the operation of the "confirm" button) may be disabled.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the processing is temporarily stopped when the card to be suspended is accepted is shown, but when the card to be suspended is accepted, the subsequent processing is restricted by an error display or blackout. You may try to do so.

It is desirable that the settlement machine 80 also does not perform the settlement process when the card to be suspended is accepted. In this case, the message "The use of the card is restricted. Please call the clerk." Is displayed. In addition, it may be notified that it cannot be used by an error display or blackout.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the inter-unit card processor 10 that has received the card use stop operation transmits the device ID of its own device to the card management device 40, and the card management device 40 is based on the device ID. Since the card to be suspended is specified and the use of the specified card is restricted, the storage medium has a simple configuration without having the inter-machine card processor 10 store the card usage history. It is possible to efficiently limit the use of the card.

For prepaid value and possession balls, a predetermined number of "use-up standard values" (for example, 25 balls possessed, equivalent to a prepaid value of 100 yen, etc.) are set, and if the value falls below the "use-up standard value", the card is "used up". , And may be configured not to be subject to suspension of use. In this case, the requester for suspension of use will be notified that it has been used up. The "use-up reference value" can be arbitrarily set by the operation of the management device 40. In addition, even if the current value is not below the use-up reference value, it can be configured so that the card is not subject to suspension if there is a history of having fallen below the use-up reference value even once since the card was ejected from the target device. ..

When the card to be suspended is used up in the settlement machine 80, the serial number of the banknote withdrawn in the settlement (when the banknote is issued, it is attached to the banknote to individually identify the banknote). The serial number to be used, for example, consisting of 6-digit alphanumeric characters) may be stored to limit the use of the banknote in the game hall.

For example, the inter-table card processing machine 10 and the checkout machine 80 are equipped with a bill identification machine that can identify the serial number of bills. The checkout machine 80 has a function of storing the serial number of the bill used for withdrawal when the card is settled. Then, when the use of the card is suspended and the payment has been completed by the payment machine 80, among the serial numbers stored in the payment machine 80, the serial number corresponding to the card is selected by the management device 40. The management device 40 notifies all the inter-unit card processing machines 10 of the serial number as a target of restriction. When the bill identification machine recognizes that the bill with the serial number has been accepted, the inter-unit card processing machine 10 performs restriction processing such as error down. However, it is not essential to equip the inter-unit card processing machine 10 with a bill identification machine having a serial number identification function, and only the card sales / deposit machine provided at the island edge or the like may have this function. In this case, if the use of the card is suspended, it is possible to issue / deposit the card only with the card sales / deposit machine provided at the island edge, etc., and the issue / deposit with the inter-unit card processing machine 10 is possible. It is forbidden.

Next, the game management system according to the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the card management device 40 uniquely identifies the card ID to be suspended and suspends the use based on the card usage suspension operation has been described, but in the second embodiment, the card usage suspension has been described. A configuration will be described in which the card management device extracts candidates for card IDs to be suspended based on the operation and suspends the use of the card IDs selected from the candidates.

Further, in the second embodiment, when the inter-machine card processor receives an instruction to stop using the card, it is determined whether or not the player has been replaced, and if the player has been replaced, the player is used. It is configured to avoid stopping. When the game is completed, the general card is taken into the inter-table card processing machine and reused in the next game of the player. That is, when a player who has illegally acquired a card finishes the game, after the card is taken in, it may be used by the next player who has not performed fraud, and the game is not fraudulent in this way. This is because if the use of the customer is stopped, it is unfair to the player.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of the game management system according to the second embodiment. When the game clerk who receives the request from the player receives the card use stop operation (S11), the machine-to-machine card processor 110 transmits a card use stop request to the card management device 140 (S12). This card usage suspension request includes the device ID of the inter-unit card processor 110.

The card management device 140 manages the card usage history by the inter-unit card processing machine 110, and when the card usage suspension request is received from the inter-unit card processing machine 110, it is based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. The candidate card ID to be suspended is extracted (S13).

For example, when a card usage suspension request is received from the inter-unit card processing machine 110 of the device ID "3024", the card IDs of a predetermined number (for example, 10) of cards recently used by the inter-unit card processing machine 110 are used. Extract. If the date and time are additionally specified, a predetermined number of card IDs used by the designated device before and after the date and time can be extracted.

The card management device 140 extracts candidates for card IDs to be suspended, and then transmits the extracted candidates as a list to the inter-unit card processor 110 (S14). The inter-unit card processor 110 displays a list of received candidates (S15). FIG. 14 shows the balance of the card ID and the prepaid value for the candidate list. Specifically, a card with a card ID of "1007" having a final balance of "500 yen", a card with a card ID of "1033" having a final balance of "5000 yen", and a card with a card ID of "1025" having a final balance of "2000 yen". Indicates that the card is displayed.

The inter-machine card processing machine 110 accepts a selection operation of the usage suspension target from the displayed candidates (S16), and notifies the card management device 140 of the suspension target (S17). Upon receiving the notification of the card ID to be stopped, the card management device 140 identifies the device using the card with the notified card ID as the device in use (S18).

When the card management device 140 identifies the device in use, the card management device 140 transmits a card use stop instruction to the device in use. Upon receiving the card usage suspension instruction, the inter-machine card processing machine 110 suspends the use of the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, and the like (S5).

In this way, the card management device 140 acquires the device ID of the inter-table card processing machine 110 used by the player at a predetermined time, extracts the candidate card ID to be suspended from the device ID, and extracts the candidate card ID. By restricting the use of the card ID selected from the candidates, it is possible to efficiently restrict the use of the card with a simple configuration without having the inter-machine card processor 110 store the card usage history. ..

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for displaying the candidate list and selecting the target to be suspended. As shown in FIG. 15A, a card with a card ID of "1007" having a final balance of "500 yen", a card with a card ID of "1033" having a final balance of "5000 yen", and a card with a card ID of "1025" having a final balance of "1025". If any of the cards is selected while the "2000 yen" card is displayed (S15), the detailed display (15a) of the selected card is performed.

In the detailed display of FIG. 15, the card ID "1033" is selected, and as details, the device ID "3007" in use, the card ID "1033", the current prepaid balance "3000 yen", the possession ball "4 pachinko 500 balls", and the return The previous process "ball lending" is displayed. In addition, a "selection" button for confirming the stop target and a "back" button for returning to the display of the candidate list are displayed. The operation for the "selection" button in this detailed display is accepted as the stop target selection operation (S16).

Here, when the player transfers the ball storage using the mobile terminal and the possession ball and the prepaid value of the card data 16b become "0", the general card used up to that point is a stand-to-machine card processor. It is taken into 110. In such a case, the card ID becomes blank as shown in the third place of the candidate list in FIG. 15 (b). Then, when the third candidate list in which the card ID is blank is selected, details including information indicating the transfer destination due to the transfer of stored balls (identification information of the mobile terminal and the card ID of the membership card) are displayed.

In FIG. 15B, the card ID "(mobile phone storage)", the mobile IDm "IDmX1", the current prepaid balance "2000 yen", the possession ball "none", and the ball storage "4 pachinko 1220 balls" are displayed as details. There is.

As already explained, as a candidate list, the card ID is extracted from the history of a predetermined number (for example, 10) of cards recently used by the inter-machine card processor 110, but the history that is unsuitable as a candidate is excluded. And extraction may be performed.

Specifically, since general cards are not used by the same person across business days, general cards before the previous day are not suitable as candidates. This is because even if the general card before the previous day is displayed and selected, the use will not be properly stopped, and only the possibility of accidentally stopping the use due to an operation error remains.

Therefore, when displaying the candidate list, general cards before the previous day are excluded. Since the membership card can be used by the same person across business days, even the history before the previous day is displayed as a candidate. In addition, even when the store closing process and the store opening process are performed, if the business dates are the same, the general card is displayed as a candidate.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the inter-unit card processing machine 110 according to the second embodiment. In the inter-machine card processing machine 110 shown in FIG. 16, the operations of the use stop operation processing unit 117c and the use stop processing unit 117d of the control unit 17 are the same as the use stop operation processing unit 17c and the use stop processing unit 17d shown in FIG. Unlike this, it further includes a player change determination unit 117e. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the inter-unit card processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 4, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c receives the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk or the like requested by the player, the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c transmits a card usage suspension request to the card management device 140. The card usage suspension request transmitted by the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c to the card management device 140 includes the device ID of the own device shown in the own device status data 16a. In addition, data for specifying the date and time may be included in the card usage suspension request.

After transmitting the card usage suspension request, the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c receives a list of card ID candidates to be suspended from the card management device 140 and displays it on the display operation unit 13. Then, the operation of selecting the suspension target is accepted from the displayed candidates, and the card management device 140 is notified of the suspension target card ID.

After that, the use stop operation processing unit 117c receives the result of the card use stop request from the card management device 140, and displays and controls the display operation unit 13. When the card management device 140 suspends the use of the card, the success of the suspension of use and which device is in use are displayed. If the device in use cannot be identified or the use cannot be stopped, a message to that effect is displayed.

When the usage suspension processing unit 117d receives the card usage suspension instruction from the card management device 40, the usage suspension processing unit 117d suspends the use of the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, etc., and indicates that the card usage has been suspended. Notify the card management device 40. However, when the player change determination unit 117e determines that the player has been replaced, the use suspension processing unit 117d does not stop the use, and manages the card to the effect that the use is not stopped due to the change of the player. Notify device 140.

The player change determination unit 117e is a processing unit that determines the change of a player. The change of the player can be determined by using, for example, an image of the player or a mobile terminal of the player. When determining the change using the image of the player, a camera is provided in the inter-machine card processor 110, the player is imaged when the card is inserted, the image is saved, and the card usage stop instruction is received. The image may be taken again and collated with the saved image. Alternatively, the player may be imaged when the card is ejected, the image may be saved, and the image of the player may be added to the card usage stop instruction. In this case, the determination is made by collating the image captured by the inter-machine card processor 10 that has received the card use stop instruction with the image added to the card use stop instruction. Alternatively, when a person matching the image captured when the card is ejected is using a machine other than the inter-machine card processor 10 that has received the card use stop instruction, it is determined that the player has been replaced.

When determining the replacement using the player's mobile terminal, the unique ID of the mobile terminal is stored during the replay operation using the mobile terminal, and the player is replaced when the unique ID of the mobile terminal does not match. It is determined that it has been done. Alternatively, the unique ID of the mobile terminal may be associated with the card ID when the card is ejected, and the unique ID of the mobile terminal may be added to the card usage suspension instruction. In this case, the determination is made by comparing the unique ID of the mobile terminal acquired by the inter-machine card processor 10 that has received the card usage suspension instruction with the unique ID of the mobile terminal added to the card usage suspension instruction. Alternatively, when the unique ID of the mobile terminal associated with the card is ejected is read by a machine other than the inter-machine card processor 10 that has received the card usage stop instruction, it is determined that the player has been replaced.

Alternatively, if the time between the insertion of the card and the receipt of the card usage suspension instruction when both the prepaid value and the possession ball are zero (or less than the "use-up standard value") exceeds a predetermined time, the game is played. It may be determined that a customer change has occurred. In addition, when the time between the insertion of the card and the reception of the instruction to stop using the card is longer than a predetermined time during which neither the driving of the game ball nor the prize is generated in the gaming machine 20, the player is replaced. May be determined.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the card management device 140 according to the second embodiment. In the card management device 140 shown in FIG. 17, the operations of the use stop target identification unit 146e and the use stop instruction unit 146f of the control unit 46 are different from those of the use stop target identification unit 46e and the use stop instruction unit 46f shown in FIG. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the card management device 140 shown in FIG. 6, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

When receiving the card usage suspension request from the inter-unit card processing machine 110, the usage suspension target identification unit 146e refers to the usage history data 45d and is the target of suspension of use based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. The candidate of the card ID to be becomes is extracted. At this time, if the date and time are not specified in the card usage suspension request, the card IDs of a predetermined number (for example, 10) of the cards most recently used by the inter-machine card processor 110 having the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request are used. Extract. If the date and time are specified in the card usage suspension request, a predetermined number of card IDs used before and after the specified date and time by the inter-machine card processor 110 having the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. Is extracted.

The usage suspension target identification unit 146e extracts candidates for card IDs to be suspended, and then transmits the extracted candidates as a list to the inter-unit card processing machine 110. After that, the usage suspension target identification unit 146e receives a notification of the suspension target card ID from the inter-machine card processing machine 110, refers to the usage history data 45d, and uses a device using the card with the notified card ID. Specified as a medium device.

When the in-use device is specified by the use suspension target identification unit 146e, the use suspension instruction unit 146f transmits a card use suspension instruction to the in-use device. Then, when the in-use device notifies that the use of the card has been stopped, the inter-unit card processing machine 110 that sent the card use stop request is notified that the use of the card has been stopped successfully, and which device is in use. Will be notified as a result of suspension of use. If the in-use device does not suspend the use due to the change of the player, the machine-to-machine card processor 110, which is the sender of the card usage suspension request, is notified to that effect.

Further, when the device in use is not specified, the usage suspension instruction unit 146f identifies the card ID, but the usage suspension result that the location is unknown is the transmission source of the card usage suspension request. Notify the inter-card processor 110.

If the device in use is not specified, the usage history data 45d is monitored, and when the card ID to be suspended is used in any of the devices, the device used is instructed to stop using the card. To send. Alternatively, the device (inter-unit card processing machine 110, prize management device 60, payment machine 80) that may use the card is notified of the card ID to be suspended, and the card suspension is instructed in advance. May be good.

Furthermore, if the device in use is not specified and the player who requested the suspension of use of the card is playing a game using another card, the player uses the card ID currently in use. It may be managed separately as the notification destination card ID, and when the card ID to be suspended is used, the notification destination card ID may be notified to the device in use.

Next, the processing procedure for suspending the use of the card of the inter-unit card processing machine 110 in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for suspending the use of the card of the inter-unit card processing machine 110 in the second embodiment. First, the use stop operation processing unit 117c of the inter-table card processing machine 110 determines whether or not the card use stop operation by the game clerk or the like has been accepted (step S301).

When the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk or the like is accepted (step S301; Yes), the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c transmits the card usage suspension request to the card management device 40 (step S302). After transmitting the card usage suspension request, the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c receives a list of card ID candidates to be suspended from the card management device 140 (step S303) and displays it on the display operation unit 13 (step). S304). Then, the operation of selecting the suspension target is accepted from the displayed candidates (step S305), and the card management device 140 is notified of the suspension target card ID (step S306).

After that, the usage suspension operation processing unit 117c receives the usage suspension result, which is the result of the card usage suspension request, from the card management device 140 (step S307), and displays it on the display operation unit 13 (step S308).

After step S308, or when the card usage suspension operation by the game clerk or the like is not accepted (step S301; No), the usage suspension processing unit 117d determines whether or not the card usage suspension instruction has been received from the card management device 140. (Step S309).

If the card usage suspension instruction has not been received from the card management device 140 (step S309; No), the usage suspension processing unit 117d ends the process as it is. On the other hand, if the card usage stop instruction is received from the card management device 140 (step S309; Yes), the player substitution determination unit 117e determines whether or not the player substitution has occurred (step S310).

If the player has not been replaced (step S310; No), the use suspension processing unit 117d has stopped using the card by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, etc., and has stopped using the card. Notifying the card management device 40 to that effect (step S311), the process ends. On the other hand, if a player change has occurred (step S310; Yes), the use suspension processing unit 117d does not stop the use, and the card management device 140 indicates that the use was not stopped due to the change of the player. (Step S312), and the process ends.

Next, the processing procedure for suspending the use of the card of the card management device 140 in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for suspending the use of the card of the card management device 140 in the second embodiment. First, when the usage suspension target identification unit 146e receives the card usage suspension request from the inter-unit card processing machine 110 (step S401), the usage history data 45d is referred to, and based on the device ID indicated in the card usage suspension request. The card ID to be suspended is extracted (step S402).

The usage suspension target identification unit 146e extracts candidates for card IDs to be suspended, and then transmits the extracted candidates as a list to the inter-unit card processing machine 110 (step S403). After that, the usage suspension target identification unit 146e receives a notification of the suspension target card ID from the inter-machine card processor 110 (step S404), refers to the usage history data 45d, and uses the card with the notified card ID. Identify the device in use as the device in use (step S405).

When the in-use device is specified (step S406; Yes), the use stop instruction unit 146f transmits a card use stop instruction to the in-use device (step S407). Then, upon receiving a notification from the in-use device that the use of the card has been stopped or that the use has not been stopped due to the change of the player, the use of the card is suspended as a result of the suspension of use to the inter-machine card processor 110 that has sent the card usage suspension request. It is transmitted (step S408) and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the device in use is not specified (step S406; No), the usage suspension instruction unit 146f sends the card usage suspension request source the usage suspension result that the card ID is specified but the location is unknown. It is transmitted to the inter-unit card processing machine 110 (step S408), and the processing is completed.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the inter-unit card processor 110 that has received the card use stop operation transmits the device ID of its own device to the card management device 140, and the card management device 140 is based on the device ID. Since the card candidates to be suspended are extracted and the use of the cards selected from the candidates is restricted, the card usage history is not stored in the inter-machine card processor 110, and the configuration is simple. It is possible to efficiently limit the use of the card as a storage medium.

Further, in the second embodiment, the inter-table card processor 110 determines whether or not the player has been replaced, and if the player is replaced, the card is avoided from being used. Therefore, the player who has not performed fraud It is possible to prevent the situation where the use is stopped.

In the above-described second embodiment, the case where the inter-unit card processing machine 10 or the inter-unit card processing machine 110 accepts the card usage suspension operation has been described as an example, but the card usage suspension operation is for a game clerk. It is possible to accept with any device such as a terminal device or a card management device.

Further, in the above-mentioned Examples 1 and 2, the case where the use of the target card is stopped by prohibiting ball lending, replay, return, etc. has been described as an example, but some of these operations are prohibited. You may. Further, it may be configured to output only a warning message and accept various operations.

Further, in the above-mentioned Examples 1 and 2, the case where the use of the card is stopped by suspending the use of the card ID has been described as an example, but instead of these, the device in use is targeted. It may be configured to stop the use of the device that accepts the card.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, detailed description of the form of the card which is a medium for associating the number of game media is omitted, but such a card includes a magnetic card, an IC card, and the like. Further, although the description has been made by taking a "card" as an example for convenience of explanation, the present invention can be applied when a chip, a stick, a mobile terminal, or the like is used in addition to the card.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the game ball is used as the game medium has been described as an example, but it can also be applied to the case where a medal for a slot machine is used.

Further, the present invention may be applied to an enclosed gaming machine using a gaming ball enclosed in the gaming machine. In the enclosed game machine, the number of game balls that can be thrown onto the game board is managed as the number that can be played, and the actual game balls may be paid out at the time of ball lending or replay. Instead, the number of games that can be played will be added.

Further, each of the illustrated configurations is a schematic function, and does not necessarily have to be physically illustrated. That is, the form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and all or part of the device is functionally or physically distributed / integrated in an arbitrary unit according to various loads and usage conditions. Can be configured.

As described above, the game management system and the game management method according to the present invention are suitable for efficiently restricting the use of the storage medium.

10,110 Card processing machine between units 11 Status display unit 12 Bill transfer unit 12a Bill insertion port 13 Display operation unit 14 Reader / writer 14a Card insertion port 14b Holding unit 15, 124 Communication unit 16, 45 Storage unit 16a Own device status data 16b Card data 17, 46 Control unit 17a Data management unit 17b Counting processing unit 17c, 117c Use stop operation processing unit 17d, 117d Use stop processing unit 18a Nozzle unit 18b Counting unit 20 Game machine 30 Island controller 40, 140 Card management device 41 Display Unit 42 Input unit 43 External network communication unit 44 Store network communication unit 45a Game type setting data 45b Card management data 45c Device management data 45d Usage history data 46a Game type setting management unit 46b Card management unit 46c Device management unit 46d Usage history management unit 46e, 146e User suspension target specific unit 46f, 146f Usage suspension instruction unit 50 Member management device 60 Prize management device 80 Settlement machine 117e Player change determination unit

Claims (7)

Each device that is attached to a game machine that plays a game using a game medium in a game store and performs processing related to the game medium, and a value that can be used for paying out the game medium are stored in association with identification information of the storage medium. A game management system that has a management device for
Each of the above-mentioned devices
A usage restriction operation receiving means for accepting a usage restriction operation, which is an operation for restricting the use of the storage medium discharged from the own device, and a means for receiving the usage restriction operation.
Based on the use restriction operation information transmitting means for transmitting predetermined information to the management device
With
The management device is
A storage medium specifying means for specifying a plurality of storage media that are candidates for the usage restriction operation based on the information transmitted by the information transmitting means is provided.
A game management system further comprising limiting means for restricting the use of a storage medium selected from a plurality of storage media specified by the storage medium specifying means. The information transmitting means transmits information for identifying each of the devices to the management device,
The storage medium specifying means uses a predetermined number of storage media most recently used by each device specified from the information, or a predetermined number of storage media used at the date and time specified in the information. game management system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying as a candidate. The limiting means limits the use of the storage medium based on an instruction from the management device when the storage medium is accepted by the device in the game store.
At the time when the use of each of the units is restricted, the change determination of the player who uses the storage medium is performed, and when it is determined that there is a change of the player , the restriction by the restriction means is suppressed. The game management system according to claim 1, further comprising means. The game management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage medium specifying means identifies the storage medium that was last used by each of the devices. The storage medium specifying means extracts and presents a predetermined number of storage media candidates used most recently by each of the devices, or a predetermined number of storage media candidates used at a date and time specified in the information. The game management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection of a storage medium subject to usage restrictions is accepted from the candidates. The first aspect of the present invention is that when the use of the storage medium specified by the storage medium specifying means is detected, the player who has requested the restriction on the use of the storage medium notifies the device in use. The game management system according to any one of ~ 5. Each device that is attached to a game machine that plays a game using a game medium in a game store and performs processing related to the game medium, and a value that can be used for paying out the game medium are stored in association with identification information of the storage medium. It is a game management method in a game management system having a management device to be used.
The usage restriction operation reception step for receiving the usage restriction operation, which is an operation for restricting the use of the storage medium discharged from the own device, and the usage restriction operation reception step.
An information transmission step in which each device transmits predetermined information to the management device based on the usage restriction operation.
A storage medium specifying step in which the management device identifies a plurality of storage media that are candidates for the usage restriction operation based on the information transmitted by the information transmission step.
A game management method including a restriction step that limits the use of a storage medium selected from a plurality of storage media specified by the storage medium identification step.

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