JP7232118B2 - game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines .

In an enclosed game machine in which game balls are enclosed, calculations relating to game performance information can be performed as disclosed in Patent Document 1, and information relating to the calculated game performance information can be output to the vocabulary section. .

JP 2018-51022 A

However, in an enclosed game machine as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform a plurality of types of processing with different properties, such as communication control processing and game medium circulation processing, as frame control. In addition, since there are a plurality of game slots with different specifications such as game medium circulation paths, the program for game medium circulation processing also differs depending on the game slots in accordance with the specifications of the game slots. Therefore, if a program is created in accordance with the specifications of the game frame, there is a risk that the development efficiency of the game machine will be lowered.

The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a gaming machine that includes a program in accordance with the specifications of the game slot, but does not reduce the development efficiency of the gaming machine.

(1) A gaming machine (eg, P-machine 2, slot machine) capable of communicating with a gaming device (eg, CU3),
a control means capable of executing processing (for example, frame control board 17);
A storage means (e.g., program memory) in which a program for executing processing by the control means is stored in advance,
The processing executed by the control means includes:
communication processing for communicating with the game device (for example, game ball lending function (dedicated PIF));
a game information management process (for example, a main control process) for managing information about the progress of the game;
Predetermined calculation processing (for example, performance display function) for performing calculations related to game performance corresponding to the provision of game value;
a game medium circulation process (for example, a game ball circulation function) for circulating the game medium;
The storage means
A first area (for example, a program in the area) pre-stored with a program for at least executing the communication process and the game information management process, and a program for executing at least the predetermined arithmetic process and the game medium circulation process. has a pre-stored second area (for example, an out-of-area program),
The control means can repeatedly execute a predetermined process,
The predetermined process is
the communication process pre-stored in the first area;
and the predetermined arithmetic processing pre-stored in the second area,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period,
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times during the calculation period before outputting information,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the calculation period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance,
In the predetermined processing performed at a specific time after the predetermined time in the calculation period, a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance is calculated.

According to such a configuration, since the programs stored in the first area and the second area are divided, the common first area program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game frame, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved. improves.

(2) A game frame (eg, game frame 5) of a gaming machine (eg, P machine 2, slot machine) communicable with a gaming device (eg, CU3),
a control means capable of executing processing (for example, frame control board 17);
A storage means (for example, a program memory) in which a program for executing the processing executed by the control means is stored in advance,
The processing executed by the control means includes:
communication processing for communicating with the game device (for example, game ball lending function (dedicated PIF));
a game information management process (for example, a main control process) for managing information about the progress of the game;
Predetermined calculation processing (for example, performance display function) for performing calculations related to game performance corresponding to the provision of game value;
a game medium circulation process (for example, a game ball circulation function) for circulating the game medium;
The storage means
A first area (for example, a program in the area) pre-stored with a program for at least executing the communication process and the game information management process, and a program for executing at least the predetermined arithmetic process and the game medium circulation process. is pre-stored in a second area (for example, an out-of-area program).

According to such a configuration, since the programs stored in the first area and the second area are divided, the common first area program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game frame, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved. improves.

(3) In the gaming machine of (1) above,
The processing executed by the control means includes a predetermined processing that is repeatedly performed and an interrupt processing (for example, timer interrupt processing) different from the predetermined processing,
In the interrupt processing, a plurality of types of processing with different interrupt cycles can be executed,
In each interrupt cycle, after executing a process (for example, port input process (FIG. 41)) for which a program is pre-stored in the first area among the interrupt processes, the program is stored in the second area among the interrupt processes. executes pre-stored processing (for example, ball polishing mechanism control timer subtraction processing (FIG. 41)).

According to such a configuration, processing can be optimized in that the processing procedure is defined regardless of the interrupt cycle.

(4) In the gaming machines (1) and (3) above,
In the storage means, the program pre-stored in the first area is common regardless of the type of gaming machine (for example, the program stored in the frame-common program area), and the second program is stored in accordance with the type of gaming machine. The programs pre-stored in the area are different (for example, programs stored in the non-common program area).

According to such a configuration, since the common program and the different program are separated, the common program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game slot, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved.

(5) In the gaming machines (1), (3)-(4) above,
The control means can repeatedly execute a predetermined process (e.g., main loop process),
The predetermined process is
the communication processing (for example, SC board communication processing) pre-stored in the first area;
and the predetermined arithmetic processing (for example, performance information calculation processing) stored in advance in the second area,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents (for example, ball output rate, number of game balls acquired per minute (base), role ratio, continuous role ratio) can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period (for example, 180 seconds),
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times within the predetermined period,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance (for example, in the first main loop process, only the ball payout rate is determined as the performance). It is calculated by information calculation processing.),
In the predetermined process at a specific time after the predetermined time in the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the gaming performance (for example, In the second main loop process, only the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is calculated in the performance information calculation process.).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing load required for one predetermined process by making different types of parameters to be calculated in the predetermined calculation process.

(6) In the gaming machine of (5) above,
The predetermined processing includes specific arithmetic processing (for example, performance information accumulation processing),
In the specific arithmetic processing, a plurality of parameters belonging to a special type different from the predetermined type of parameter and the specific type of parameter (for example, the total number of game balls launched, the total number of game balls acquired, the number of operations of the accessory continuous actuating device) , the maximum difference number of balls (MY)),
The specific arithmetic processing is performed in each time of the predetermined processing, and the plurality of parameters belonging to the special type are calculated in the specific arithmetic processing (for example, the calculation is performed in each time of the main loop processing).

According to such a configuration, different calculation processes are used for various parameters depending on the degree of processing load, so that further optimization of the processes can be achieved.

(7) In the game machines of (5) and (6) above,
In the communication process, a plurality of types including game information (for example, hall control/fraud monitoring information, etc.), installation information (for example, game machine installation information, etc.), and game performance information (for example, game machine performance information, etc.) can be transmitted to the game device, and the transmission timing differs depending on the type of information (for example, one of the information is determined and transmitted based on the processing shown in FIG. 20).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to optimize the transmission of information transmitted from the gaming machine to the outside, and to avoid information congestion.

It is a front view showing a card unit and a pachinko game machine. It is a block diagram showing a control circuit used in the card unit and the pachinko game machine. It is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the PIF wiring that connects the card unit and the pachinko game machine. It is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram for explaining the outline of the gaming machine information notification transmitted from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining information on the type of gaming machine; FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating gaming machine performance information. It is a figure for demonstrating gaming machine installation information. It is a figure for demonstrating whole control and fraud|fraud monitoring information. It is a figure for demonstrating whole control and fraud|fraud monitoring information. It is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram showing the timing of information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a timing chart of information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram showing a modification of the timing of the lending information and lending response information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram showing the timing of information when disconnection occurs between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing major data among various data stored in the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine, respectively, and transmission/reception modes thereof; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of transmitting gaming machine installation information from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of transmitting gaming machine performance information from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit; It is a figure which shows the sequence for demonstrating the timing which a pachinko game machine transmits hall|hole control and fraud monitoring information to a card unit. It is a flow chart for explaining the processing of determining the type of gaming machine information to be transmitted from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. It is a diagram showing a count notification sequence between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram showing a count notification sequence between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. It is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence during counting between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the communication abnormality sequence by PIF disconnection between a card unit and a pachinko game machine. It is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence due to a power failure between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. It is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence at the time of lending between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. It is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence at the time of lending between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between a main control board and a frame control board; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication sequence for explaining communication timing; 4 is a diagram showing a list of commands transmitted and received between the main control board and the frame control board; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a command for notifying gaming machine installation information and a response for gaming machine installation information response; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining commands for notifying gaming machine information; It is a figure for demonstrating the classification information contained in game information. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a command for gaming machine information response; 4 is a flowchart showing setting change processing; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of program memory and RAM areas; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of programs stored in an area program and an outside area program in a program memory; 4 is a flow chart for explaining processing of a program executed by a CPU of a frame control board; FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in power-on processing; FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in main loop processing; FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in timer interrupt processing; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining performance information items; 4 is a timing chart for explaining processing timings of performance information transmission processing and performance information calculation processing; It is a figure for demonstrating the maximum difference number of balls. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a gaming system including a card unit and a pachinko gaming machine; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection sequence between a card unit and a hall controller output BOX; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection sequence between a card unit and a hall controller output BOX; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining communication between a card unit and a hall controller output BOX; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the contents notified to the inside of the card unit and to the hall controller output BOX; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a list of commands transmitted and received between the SC and the CU control unit; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of information transmitted and received between an SC board and a CU control unit; FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining information output from a hall controller output BOX to a hall controller; FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a standard port hole controller output signal; FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a hall controller output signal of an expansion port; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining types of notifiable errors and fraud detection;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of pachinko machines>
First, referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment will be described. On each game island (not shown) arranged in a game hall (hall), an enclosed circulation type pachinko game machine (hereinafter also abbreviated as a game machine, pachinko machine or P machine) is an example of a game machine. ) 2 are installed. A card unit (hereinafter also abbreviated as CU) 3, which is an example of a game device, is installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the P table 2 at a predetermined side position of the P table 2. there is Although a card unit will be described below as an example of a gaming device according to the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be a call lamp device or the like.

The P table 2 encloses a game ball (pachinko ball), which is an example of a game medium (hereinafter also referred to as an enclosed ball), and is provided on the upper left side when the player operates the ball hitting operation handle 25. A shooting solenoid of a shooting mechanism 30, which is a shooting device, is driven to shoot enclosed balls one by one into a game area 27 on the front surface of a game board 26, thereby playing a game. Specifically, a touch sensor is provided around the ball hitting operation handle 25, and when the player's hand touches the touch sensor while the player is operating the ball hitting operation handle 25, the player's hand touches the touch sensor. The contact is detected by the touch sensor and the firing solenoid is driven. In this state, the enclosed ball is shot into the game area 27 by adjusting the hitting ball shooting momentum according to the amount of rotation operation of the hitting ball operation handle 25 by the player.

When the shooting solenoid is driven to hit the enclosed balls into the game area 27 one by one, the subtraction mechanism 32 subtracts one ball from the number of game balls that can be played on the P table 2 accordingly. The shooting intensity of the game ball (hereinafter simply referred to as shooting intensity T) can be adjusted according to the amount of rotation operation of the ball hitting operation handle 25 (hereinafter also simply referred to as handle operation amount), and the handle operation amount is increased. The emission intensity T increases accordingly. Therefore, the player can adjust the launch intensity T so that the game ball passes through the area he or she is aiming at by adjusting the amount of operation of the handle. When a shooting device is provided on the lower side of the game board 26, the foul balls flow down through the foul ball return path and are detected by the foul ball detection switch provided on the way, resulting in a negative number of shot balls. may be counted (that is, game points may be added according to the detection of the foul ball detection switch).

The P table 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called first-class pachinko game machine, and a variable display device (also called a special symbol) 278 is provided in the center of the game area 27 . In addition, the game area 27 is provided with a plurality of types of prize-winning openings in which the hit enclosed ball can win a prize. In the game area 27 shown in FIG. 1, one big winning hole (variable winning ball device) 271, three normal winning holes 272, 273, 274, and three start winning holes 275, 276, 277 are shown. ing. In particular, the starting prize-winning port 276 is composed of an electric tulip that can be changed between a first state (e.g., open state) that is advantageous to the player and a second state (e.g., closed state) that is disadvantageous to the player. .

The variable display device 278 has a variable display section capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information (symbols), and based on the detection signals of the starting winning balls that have entered the respective starting winning openings 275, 276, and 277, Start variable display of multiple types of identification information. When the display result of the variable display device becomes a combination of specific identification information (for example, a grid), a big win state (also called a big win game state) occurs, and the big winning opening 271 opens.

In addition, when the display result of the variable display device 278 becomes a combination of predetermined special identification information (for example, a combination of definite variable symbols such as 777) among combinations of jackpot symbols (slots), a definite variable jackpot state is obtained. is generated, and after the end of the jackpot state associated therewith, a probability change state (probability change state) in which the probability of occurrence of the jackpot is improved occurs.

The enclosed ball hit into the game area 27 wins a prize in one of the prize-winning openings, or is collected to an out-port 154 without winning a prize. Enclosed balls that have entered one of the winning openings and enclosed balls that have been collected in the out opening 154 are returned to the hitting ball launching position through the collection path in the P platform 2 again. When the player operates the batted ball operation handle 25, the enclosed ball at the batted ball launching position is hit into the game area 27 again.

A game ball number indicator for displaying the number of game balls is provided above the ball hitting operation handle 25 of the P platform 2 . The game ball number display 29 is composed of a 7-segment LED display and is controlled by the frame control section 171 (see FIG. 2). The game ball number display 29 displays the number of game balls, an error number of an error that has occurred, and the like. The game ball number display 29 is not limited to a 7-segment LED display, and may be configured with a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or other display.

Furthermore, a counting button 28 for counting the number of game balls from the game balls to the held balls is provided to the left of the game ball number display 29 on the P table 2 . In the present embodiment, the counting operation is repeatedly executed according to the length of time the count button 28 is held down (for example, 250 balls are counted each time the count button 28 is held down for 0.3 seconds). It should be noted that, regardless of the pressing duration time, once pressed, a predetermined number (for example, 250 balls) may be counted from the game balls to the held balls, or when the count button 28 is pressed once. , regardless of the pressing time (regardless of long pressing or not), all game balls currently owned by the player may be counted. In addition, the counting speed is further improved when the card return operation is performed, realizing smooth card return processing.

Thus, since the count button 28 is provided on the P table 2 side, the operability of the player sitting facing the P table 2 can be improved compared to the case where the count button 28 is provided on the CU3 side. . Further, the P table 2 is provided with speakers 270 at upper right and upper left positions of the game area 27 for outputting music data to be reproduced in accordance with the effects displayed on the variable display device 278 . Note that the positions and the number of speakers are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the positions and the number may be changed as necessary.

The P table 2 according to the present embodiment can be divided into a game board 26 and other game frames (game frame, front frame) 5 . In particular, the game board 26 is different for each pachinko game machine model developed by each company, while the game frame 5 is a common common frame regardless of the model. For this reason, when a game store replaces a new machine, it is sufficient to replace only the game board 26.例文帳に追加

<Configuration of card unit>
Next, still referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of CU3 according to the present embodiment will be described. This CU3 can be a visitor card (also called a general card) with a prepaid function, which is a game storage medium issued to general players who have not registered as members, or a member player who has registered as a member of the game parlor. A member card, which is a game storage medium issued to a player, is accepted. A visitor card or a membership card is composed of an IC card.

The CU3 that receives these cards has the function of converting the game value owned by the player specified by the stored information of the card (for example, the prepaid balance, the number of balls held, or the number of balls stored) into "game ball data". . At the P table 2, a pinball game corresponding to the number of balls specified by the game ball data is enabled. In other words, the "game ball data" is data indicating the remaining number of shot balls that can be shot. In the following description, "game ball data" is simply referred to as "game ball" in the same way as accumulated balls and held balls.

A bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, a card insertion/ejection slot 309 for inserting a membership card or a visitor card, and the like are provided on the front side of the CU3. A card reader/writer (not shown) accepts a member card or visitor card inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 309, and reads information stored in the card.

A display 54 is provided in a portion extending from the CU3 to the front side of the P table 2. - 特許庁The display 54 displays the prepaid balance stored in the inserted game storage medium (card), etc., and can display the number of game balls and other various information, and has a transparent touch panel on the surface. , and is configured such that various operations can be input by touching various display items displayed on the display section of the display unit 54 with a finger. For example, on the display 54 shown in FIG. 1, a ball rental button 321, a return button 319, and a replay button are displayed, and operation input is possible by touching these display items with a finger. Note that the display 54 may display a replay button.

The ball lending button 321 is a button for performing an operation (conversion operation to game balls) for withdrawing the balance stored in the inserted card and using it for a game on the P table 2 . The return button 319 is operated when the player ends the game, and the inserted card receives the fixed number of possession balls at the end of the game (number of possession balls at the time of inserting the card - number of conversions to game balls + counting operation). It is a button for storing and discharging the number of balls counted by.

When a replay button (not shown) is operated and the number of balls acquired by the player is stored in the inserted card, part of the number of balls held by the player is withdrawn and converted into game balls. It is possible to play a game by the P table 2 based on the game ball. On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card and the number of balls held is not stored and the stored balls are stored in the hall management computer or the like, part of the stored balls is withdrawn and turned into game balls. It is converted, and the game by the P machine 2 becomes possible. That is, when both stored balls and balls in possession are stored in association with the inserted card, the balls in possession are preferentially withdrawn. In addition to the re-play button, a dedicated ball withdrawal button for withdrawing the owned balls may be provided, and the re-play button may be a dedicated button for withdrawing accumulated balls.

Here, the "stored balls" are the balls that are deposited in the hall out of the balls acquired on the previous day or earlier, and become game balls when the stored balls are withdrawn. The stored balls are game media deposited in the game hall, and are generally managed by a hall management computer or other management computer installed in the game hall.

"Possessed ball" is a ball acquired on the day, and it becomes a game ball when the possessed ball is withdrawn. The number of balls in possession is the number of game balls that the player has owned as a result of playing the game on the P machine 2, and is the number of balls that have not yet been deposited in the game hall. It's about. In general, the number of balls acquired by a player on the day at a gaming facility is called "balls in possession", and the number of balls acquired by a player on or before the previous day and deposited in the gaming facility is called "stored balls". Say.

A “game ball” is a ball that can be shot from the P platform 2 . As already explained, the data on the number of game balls is generated in exchange for withdrawing the balance of the prepaid card, the balls in hand, or the accumulated balls.

It should be noted that the number of possession balls may be managed by a management device for managing the number of possession balls set in the game hall. In short, the difference between "stored balls" and "balls in possession" is the number of balls that have been deposited in the game hall after the operation of storing balls for depositing into the game hall, or the number of balls that have not yet been deposited in the game hall. It is a point whether it is the number of balls in the stage where it is not.

In this embodiment, the stored ball data is not directly stored in the member card, but is stored in a server installed in the game hall such as a hall management computer in association with the member card number, and the corresponding stored ball is searched based on the member card number. configured to allow On the other hand, the possession ball is stored directly in the card. However, it is not limited to this, and both may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number. Even in the case of the visitor card, the possession ball is directly stored in the visitor card. However, the game is not limited to this, and the ball may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number. When the card number is stored in the hall server in correspondence with the card number, data that can specify the time stored in the hall server may be written in the card (member card, visitor card) and ejected. In addition, the prepaid balance is directly written on a card (membership card, visitor card) and discharged.

The timing of storing the balls in the card (member card, visitor card) or the hall server is, for example, stored in real time each time the counting button 28 is operated and the counting process is performed, or stored at regular intervals. Alternatively, the timing may be set such that the card is stored collectively when the card is returned.

When the player finishes playing and returns the card from the CU3, the balls stored in the CU3 are temporarily stored in the hall server as accumulated balls, and the date the player receives the card is the same. When the card is inserted again in the same or another CU3 on the same day, only the possession balls for the day once stored as stored balls are again stored in the CU3, and the game balls are added within the range of the possession balls, and the game can be played. You may do so.

A bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 is taken in by a bill validator (not shown), and its authenticity and bill type are identified.

An IR (Infrared) photosensitive unit (also referred to as an IR light receiving unit) 320 is further provided on the front side of the CU3. The IR sensitive unit 320 is an IR sensitive unit 320 that receives an infrared signal from a remote control (not shown) carried by a game hall attendant, converts it into an electronic signal, and outputs the electronic signal.

Although not shown, the P stand 2 is provided with a picture frame-like outer frame 4, a game frame (hereinafter also referred to as a cell) 5 and a glass door 6 that can be opened and closed with the left edge thereof as a swing center. ing.

A back mechanism opening switch 13 shown in FIG. 2 is provided at a portion in contact with the outer frame 4 in the lower portion of the game frame 5 to detect that the game frame 5 has been opened. A front decoration open switch 12 shown in FIG. 2 is provided at a portion of the upper portion of the game frame 5 that contacts the glass door 6, and the opening of the glass door 6 is detected by the front decoration open switch 12. be.

The number of times the front cover open switch 12 and the back mechanism open switch 13 are opened is counted by a counter (not shown). The counting counter is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and can operate with a backup power supply even when the power supply to the P unit 2 is interrupted. Even when the power is off, the number of times the glass door 6 or the game frame 5 is detected to be open can be counted and the counted value can be transmitted to the frame control unit 171 (see FIG. 2). Here, the backup power supply is, for example, a capacitor or a storage battery provided in the P-table 2 .

A main control board 16 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the back surface of the game board 26 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the glass door 6). Since the back surface of the outer frame 4 is closed, the main control board 16 becomes detachable from the game board 26 by first opening the game frame 5 and removing the game board 26 from the game frame 5 . In other words, in order to remove the main control board 16 from the game board 26 or to replace the semiconductor chip provided on the main control board 16, the game frame 5 must be opened. The work can always be detected. Therefore, if the main control board 16 is illegally removed from the game board 26 or if the semiconductor chip provided on the main control board 16 is illegally replaced, the back mechanism open switch 13 can detect it.

Furthermore, a frame control board 17 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the back surface of the game frame 5 . The frame control board 17 also needs to be removed from the back surface of the game frame 5 after the game frame 5 is first opened. Therefore, if the frame control board 17 is illegally removed from the back side of the game frame 5, or if the semiconductor chip provided on the frame control board 17 is illegally replaced, the back mechanism opening switch 13 can always detect it.

<Configuration of card unit and pachinko machine>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit used for CU3 and P-table 2. As shown in FIG. The outline of the control circuit for the CU 3 and the P table 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The CU3 is provided with a CU control unit 323 configured by a microcomputer or the like. The CU control unit 323 is the main control function unit of the CU 3, and includes a CPU as a control center, a ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU, peripheral An input/output interface and the like are provided to maintain signal consistency with equipment.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external output terminal 340 for communicating with a management computer, a hall controller, and the like. The CU3 transmits the state of the CU3 and the gaming machine state information received from the P machine 2 (including information displayed on the performance display monitor 40) to the outside such as a management computer or a hall controller via the external output terminal 340. . The CU control unit 323 communicates with the frame control board 17 of the P table 2 via the SC board 325 . The SC board 325 and the frame control board 17 are connected, for example, by a dedicated PIF wiring 322 (see FIG. 1). Communication between the CU control unit 323 and the frame control board 17 is based on lending information (information on operation for withdrawing the balance stored in the inserted card and using it for a game on the P machine 2) and lending response information (lending information , and other counting information (information on counting processing from game balls to holding balls) and game machine information are transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the CU control unit 323 in one direction. I am doing it by communication. Therefore, the P machine 2 side does not recognize whether or not the CU 3 has received the counting information and the gaming machine information. The CU3 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the side of the P table 2, and the P table 2 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the side of the CU3. These connecting portions are configured by connectors, for example. The SC board 325 is equipped with an SC microcomputer (SC) that executes various processes for ensuring security in communication between the P stand 2 and the CU 3 .

The CU control unit 323 is supplied with the identification result signal after identification of the bill's authenticity and type by the above-described currency identification device. In addition, when the IR photosensitive unit 320 receives infrared rays emitted from a remote control possessed by a game arcade attendant, the received light signal is input to the CU control unit 323 . The card reader/writer reads the stored information of the inserted card and inputs the read information to the CU control unit 323. At the same time, the CU control unit 323 instructs the card reader/writer to write the information to the inserted card. When data is transmitted, the card reader/writer writes the data to the inserted card. The information stored in the card includes a card ID. The CU control unit 323 stores the card ID read by the card reader/writer until the game ends.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the balls held by the player while the player is playing. Data such as the balance or the number of balls held is output from the CU control unit 323 to the display control unit 350 and converted into display data by the display control unit 350 . The display data converted by the display control unit 350 is transmitted from the CU3 to the display device 54 extending to the front side of the P table 2 . The display 54 displays an image corresponding to the display data. Also, when the player operates the touch panel provided on the surface of the display 54 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 via the display control section 350 . For example, when the player operates the ball lending button 321 or return button 319 displayed on the display 54 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 via the display control section 350 . In addition, the ball rental button 321 and the return button 319 are not limited to the configuration provided on the CU 3, but may be provided on the front surface of the CU 3, or may be provided on the P table 2 and input an operation signal to the CU control unit 323. There may be. When the player operates a replay button (not shown) displayed on the display 54 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 via the display control section 350 . Note that the replay button is not limited to being provided on the CU 3 , and may be provided on the front surface of the CU 3 or may be provided on the P table 2 to input an operation signal to the CU control unit 323 .

The P machine 2 has a main control board 16 that controls the progress of the game on the P machine 2, a frame control board 17 that manages and stores game balls, and a firing solenoid 31a based on commands from the frame control board 17. , a variable display device 278, and an effect control board 15 for controlling display of the variable display device 278 based on commands transmitted from the main control board 16 are provided.

The main control board 16 and the effect control board 15 are provided on the game board 26 . The main control board 16 is equipped with a game control microcomputer, which is the main control section 161 . The main control section 161 is the main control function section of the gaming machine. The game machine control microcomputer consists of the CPU as the control center, the ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, the RAM that functions as the work area for the CPU, and maintains signal consistency with peripheral devices. An input/output interface and the like are provided for this purpose. The main control unit 161 is connected to a winning sensor 162 and a radio wave sensor 163 provided on the game board 26 .

The main control unit 161 selects a random number for determining a big win (or a small win)/losing when a ball wins in each of the start winning holes 275, 276, and 277, and stores the random number. This is called reserved memory. The maximum value of the number of reserved memories is, for example, "4". When the variable display device 278 becomes ready to start a new variable display, the main control unit 161 consumes one reserved memory, performs a jackpot determination based on the reserved memory, and derives the display result from the start of the variable display. The variable display time up to the point is determined from a plurality of types. Moreover, when a big hit is determined, it is also determined whether or not to generate a probability variation. The main control unit 161 transmits the result of the big hit determination (including whether or not to change probability) and the information on the variable display time to the effect control unit 151 mounted on the effect control board 15 as a command.

Commands related to variable display transmitted from the main control unit 161 to the effect control unit 151 include a variable start command indicating the start of variable display, a display result command (big hit/loss) indicating the result of variable display, and a variable display pattern. A possible variable display time command, a variable stop command indicating the timing for deriving and displaying a variable display result, and the like are included. Furthermore, the commands sent from the main control unit 161 to the effect control unit 151 include a command that can identify the progress of the big win during the big win, a command that indicates the occurrence of a new pending memory, and a command that indicates the occurrence of an error in the game state. There are commands to show

The effect control section 151 determines variable display contents of the variable display device 278 based on these commands transmitted from the main control section 161 . For example, the effect control unit 151 specifies the variable display result and the variable display time based on the command transmitted from the main control unit 161, determines the stop pattern, and determines the variable display pattern (presence or absence of reach, type of reach). is determined, and furthermore, the effect pattern of the advance notice effect related to the big hit and reach is determined. The effect control unit 151 controls the display of the variable display device 278 according to the determined variable display content.

The frame control board 17 is provided in the game frame 5 . The frame control board 17 is equipped with a frame control microcomputer, which is a frame control section 171 . The frame control unit 171 is a frame control function unit of the gaming machine. The frame control microcomputer has a CPU as the control center, a ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU, and maintains signal consistency with peripheral devices. An input/output interface and the like are provided for this purpose.

For the frame control board 17, a counting button 28, a performance display monitor 40, a radio wave sensor 173, a subtraction solenoid 32a, a subtraction mechanism entrance sensor 32b, a subtraction mechanism exit sensor 32c, a lifting mechanism exit sensor 33, and an out ball detection switch 701 , a front decoration open switch 12, and a back mechanism part open switch 13 are provided in an electrically connected state. An out-ball detection signal is input from the out-ball detection switch 701 to the frame control board 17 . The main control board 16 calculates a base value (also simply referred to as a base) based on the out-ball detection signal. The radio wave sensor 173 is for detecting a fraudulent act of illegally transmitting radio waves to keep the subtraction mechanism entrance sensor 32b always on. A detection signal from the radio wave sensor 173 is input to the frame control section 171 via an input port (not shown) of the frame control board 17 . The subtraction mechanism entrance sensor 32b detects the shooting of game balls by changing from off to on, and based on the detection, the frame control section 171 subtracts "1" from the number of game balls.

Therefore, if the subtraction mechanism entrance sensor 32b is always turned off due to illegal radio waves, the number of game balls will not be subtracted no matter how many balls are shot. The radio wave sensor 173 detects such fraud by radio waves.

A performance display monitor 40 is provided on the frame control board 17 . Performance display monitor 40 is a 7-segment LED display. The performance display monitor 40 displays predetermined information such as performance information, base, character ratio, and continuous character ratio related to the given game value (for example, prize balls) calculated by the frame control unit 171 . The information displayed on the performance display monitor 40 can be output to a hall server or the like via the CU 3, but it is also possible to provide an external output terminal on the P stand 2 and directly output the information to the hall server or the like.

Here, the base is a large winning opening 271, normal winning openings 272 to 274, and start winning openings 275 to 277 provided in the game area 27 for the number of game balls hit into the game area 27 of the P table 2. It is the ratio of the number of game balls corresponding to the game value given according to the winning of the game balls to the winning opening. In addition, the role ratio (also referred to as role ratio) refers to the ratio of the game balls acquired by the game balls fired in 10 hours due to the operation of the role. In this embodiment, the role ratio corresponds to the game value given by winning the game balls fired in 10 hours (60,000 balls because 100 balls can be fired in one minute) into all the winning holes. Of the number of game balls to be played, a start winning opening 276 composed of an electric tulip as one of the accessories and a big winning opening 271 composed of a variable winning ball device as one of the accessories are played. It refers to the ratio of the number of game balls corresponding to the game value given by winning a prize of the ball. In addition, the continuous role ratio (also referred to as continuous ratio) is the ratio of the number of game balls acquired from the game balls fired in 10 hours due to the operation of the relevant role when the role is continuously operated. say. In the present embodiment, the continuous role ratio is the game value given by winning the game balls fired in 10 hours (60,000 balls because 100 balls can be fired in one minute) into all the winning holes. Among the number of corresponding game balls, the ratio of the number of game balls corresponding to the game value given by winning the game ball to the big winning hole 271 provided with the variable winning ball device which is one of the accessories say.

Main control chip ID, winning slot information, round information, winning detection signal, starting winning slot winning information, error information, number of symbol determination times, and jackpot information are transmitted from the main control board 16 to the frame control board 17.

The main control chip ID (also called main chip ID) is a chip ID stored in the main control board 16 of the P stand 2, and is transmitted to the frame control board 17 when the power of the P stand 2 is turned on. Information. Winning mouth information includes the type of winning mouth (starting winning mouth, normal winning mouth, big winning mouth) and the number of prize balls (the number of balls paid out when a game ball enters the winning mouth. It is managed by the game value as a game point used in the game of the player, and below, the number of game balls given when the game ball enters the winning opening, and in the medalless slot, the bonus win such as BB and the number of medals to be awarded (game value equivalent to medals), and is transmitted to the frame control board 17 when the power of the P stand 2 is turned on. The round information is information on the number of rounds when the jackpot is won, and is transmitted to the frame control board 17 when the power of the P table 2 is turned on.

The winning detection signal is a detection signal of a game ball that has entered a winning opening other than the starting winning opening. The frame control board 17, which receives this detection signal, performs control to add the number of balls to be given to the winning ball to the number of game balls and the number of additional balls.

The starting winning opening winning information is information indicating that a game ball has won in one of the starting winning openings. The error information is information for notifying the frame control board 17 to that effect when an error occurs while the main control board 16 is performing game control.

The number of design determinations is information on the design determined as the display result of the variable display device for winning a prize in each starting prize winning opening.

The jackpot information is information indicating that a jackpot has occurred, and includes common jackpot information indicating jackpots common to each manufacturer and manufacturer-specific jackpot information indicating manufacturer-specific jackpots. The common jackpot information is a jackpot commonly adopted by game machine manufacturers, such as a 15-round jackpot, for example. When a time-saving state (control state for shortening the variable display time of the variable display device) occurs, the time-saving information is included. A maker-specific jackpot is a jackpot state that is adopted only by a certain gaming machine maker, such as a sudden probability change (suddenly).

A gaming machine installation information notification and a gaming machine information notification are transmitted from the main control board 16 to the frame control board 17 (see FIG. 32). Conversely, a gaming machine installation information response and a gaming machine information response are transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the main control board 16 (see FIG. 32). The gaming machine installation information response and gaming machine information response are commands for indicating that the gaming machine installation information notification and gaming machine information notification have been received from the main control board 16 .

The SC board 325 of the CU3 and the frame control board 17 of the P table 2 are electrically connected via the PIF wiring 22, and various commands are transmitted from the SC board 325 to the frame control board 17 (see FIG. 4). ). Conversely, various responses are transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the SC board 325 (see FIG. 4).

In addition to the frame control board 17, the game frame 5 is provided with a launch control board 31, a launch solenoid 31a, and a game ball number indicator 29. As shown in FIG. Although the game ball number display 29 may be directly attached to the game frame 5, it may be attached to the game frame 5 like the upper tray or lower tray provided on the front side of a normal pachinko game machine from which balls are paid out. It may be provided in a rotatable manner. This point is the same for the indicator 54 as well. The frame control unit 171 of the frame control board 17 displays the number of game balls currently owned by the player on the game ball number display 29 .

A firing enable signal is output from the frame control board 17 to the firing control board 31 . The firing control board 31 receiving it outputs a signal for exciting the firing solenoid 31 a of the firing mechanism 30 . As a result, the game ball is shot to the game area 27 . The shooting control board 31 emits a shooting solenoid excitation output and drives the shooting solenoid 31a when the input signal of the touch ring for detecting that the player touches the hitting operation handle 25 is input.

The RAM clear switch 293 is a switch for erasing the gaming machine information and game information stored in the RAM of the P machine 2. After the P machine is in an error state, the switch is operated by the clerk to clear the initial state. state can be restored. This RAM clear switch 293 is operated by a store clerk, for example, after the card is ejected.

<Circulation path of game balls>
Here, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the circulation route of the game balls in the P table 2 will be outlined. When the player operates the hitting operation handle 25, the shooting solenoid 31a is driven. As a result, one game ball that has been supplied to the shooting position is rebounded by the hitting ball hammer and hit into the game area 27.例文帳に追加

A subtraction reference signal is output to the subtraction mechanism 32 in conjunction with the shooting solenoid 31a operating and the game ball being shot. In the subtraction mechanism 32, based on the output subtraction reference signal, the subtraction solenoid 32a is energized to move the movable piece to send the game ball to the shooting mechanism 30, and the game ball passes through the subtraction mechanism entrance sensor 32b. Subtract the number of game balls.

Of the balls hit into the game area 27, the out balls that enter the out port 154 (see FIG. 1) flow down the out ball flow path and are detected by the out ball detection switch 701 provided on the way. .

All the winning balls that have entered the winning opening or the variable winning ball device are collected at the back of the game machine and guided to the collected ball passage path. Similarly, out balls and foul balls are also guided to the recovery ball passage path. A lifting mechanism exit sensor 33 is provided in the recovery ball passage path. Therefore, all winning balls, out balls, and foul balls are detected by the lifting mechanism exit sensor 33 . In other words, the lifting mechanism exit sensor 33 is a switch that detects all of the game balls that have been shot. When the number detected by the switch and the number of shots of the game balls shot by the shot solenoid 31a become equal, it can be determined that all the hit game balls have been recovered.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the difference between the number detected by the lifting mechanism exit sensor 33 and the number of shots is calculated. It is determined that it has not been completed. By making this determination, it can be determined whether or not there is a floating ball that is rolling in the game area 27 or caught between nails or the like in the game area and not falling.

<Connection between CU and P unit>
The CU3 and the P table 2 connect the SC board 325 and the frame control board 17 shown in FIG. 2 by PIF wiring. The configuration of the PIF wiring will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of PIF wiring that connects the card unit and the pachinko game machine. FIG. 3(a) shows the wiring number and information name of the PIF wiring connecting the CU 3 and the P unit 2, and FIG. Illustrated.

Specifically, the wiring number 1 has an information name of "isolation GND" and is assigned an isolation GND. The wiring number 2 is used for the signal GND of the wiring number 6 with the information name "insulation GND". The wiring number 3 is used for the signal GND of the wiring number 7 with the information name "insulation GND". The wiring number 4 has an information name of “PSI” and is used to transmit connection confirmation information from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 . The PSI wiring and the VL wiring are looped in CU3. When the VL wiring is connected, 5 V of the voltage of the VL wiring is supplied as the voltage of the PSI wiring, and when the VL wiring is disconnected, the VL wiring When the voltage of the PSI wiring changes from 5V to 0 (zero) V, the voltage of the PSI wiring also changes from 5V to 0 (zero) V. Therefore, the P unit 2 outputs a PSI signal (5V ON signal) to CU3 as a special signal for connection confirmation while detecting connection with CU3 (VL=ON), and the connection with CU3 is not detected ( VL=OFF), the PSI signal is not output to CU3.

The wiring number 5 has an information name of "isolation GND" and is assigned an isolation GND. The wiring number 6 has an information name of "rental response information, counting information, gaming machine information", and is used to transmit respective information from the P machine 2 to the CU3. The wiring number 7 has an information name of “rental information” and is used to transmit the rental information from the CU 3 to the P unit 2 . The wiring numbers 8 and 9 have an information name of "isolation 5V (VL)" and are assigned as signal lines of 5V for isolation (power supply VL for connection confirmation).

<Communication between CU3 and P unit 2>
Next, communication between the CU 3 and the P stand 2 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail. A message used in the communication is composed of a frame having a predetermined format. Transmission data (telegram) is always transmitted in units of one frame. In other words, the message is not divided and transmitted. Also, when sending electronic messages continuously, leave an interval of 1 millisecond or more.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram outlining information transmitted and received between the CU 3 and the P unit 2. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, an outline of information (telegrams) transmitted and received between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Between the frame control board 17 of the P machine 2 and the SC board 325 of the CU3, there are divided into (a) rental information, (b) rental response information, (c) counting information, and (d) game machine information. Telegrams are communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port. The four types of information (telegrams) (a) to (d) sent and received between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 have different headers, and the types of the telegrams can be distinguished by the headers. It has become.

Even if (a) lending information and (b) lending response information are communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port, (a) lending information and (c) counting information are communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port. (a) rental information and (d) gaming machine information may be communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port. Even if (b) lending response information and (c) counting information are communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port, (b) lending response information and (d) game machine information are communicated through common asynchronous serial communication. Communication may be performed through a port, or (c) counting information and (d) gaming machine information may be communicated through a common asynchronous serial communication port.

Lending information is described in FIG. 4(a). The rental information includes information on the number of rental balls included in the rental notification telegram sent by the CU 3 to the P machine 2 and information on the rental serial number for communication management. The information on the number of rental balls is information on the number of game balls related to rental, and includes information on, for example, 125 balls as the information on the number of game balls transmitted in one piece of information. In addition, when the number of rental balls is 0 (zero), the rental information may be transmitted by including the information of 0 (zero) in the information of the number of rental balls.

FIG. 4(b) describes lending response information. The lending response information includes information on the number of lending pitches received as information included in the lending reception result response telegram sent by the P machine 2 to the CU 3 and information on the lending serial number for communication management. The information on the number of rental balls received is information that informs CU3 of the result of receiving the information on the number of rental balls transmitted from CU3.

Count information is described in FIG.4(c). In the count information, the P-unit 2 transmits to the CU 3 as a count notification telegram containing the number of counted balls, the cumulative number of counted balls, and a counting serial number for communication management. Note that the P unit 2 does not receive information for confirming the transmission result from the CU3. The number of balls counted, the number of accumulated balls counted, and the serial number counted are all information for the purpose of counting game balls. Also, the number of counted balls transmitted in one piece of information is, for example, 250 balls. In addition, when the number of counted balls is 0 (zero), the count information may be transmitted by inserting the information of 0 (zero) into the information of the number of counted balls.

FIG. 4(d) describes gaming machine information. As for the game machine information, the P machine 2 transmits the game machine installation information, the game machine performance information, and the hole control/fraud monitoring information to the CU3. Note that the P unit 2 does not receive information for confirming the transmission result from the CU3. The gaming machine installation information is information for the purpose of machine history management, and is transmitted to the CU 3 as a telegram notifying the gaming machine installation information after the power is turned on. The gaming machine installation information includes information such as the manufacturer code, model code, and chip ID number of the main/frame control CPU.

The gaming machine performance information is information for the purpose of totaling performance information, and is transmitted to the CU 3 as a telegram for notifying the gaming machine performance information. The gaming machine performance information outputs the results calculated based on the game. number (high base), total number of game balls acquired by special electric accessories, total number of game balls acquired by normal electric accessories, total number of game balls acquired by accessory continuous differential device, total number of game balls acquired by starter, normal Total number of winning game balls in the winning slot, total number of special electric role items, total number of normal electric role items, total number of special symbol display devices, total number of normal symbol display devices, role ratio, continuous Includes information such as character ratio. In addition, the conditions for the frame control board 17 to notify the gaming machine performance information to the CU 3 include, for example, (1) notification after 3 minutes have passed since the power supply of the P machine 2 was turned on, and (2) a specified number of shot balls Notified every minute (e.g., 60,000 balls) fired or specified time (e.g., 10 hours) cycle, (3) Notification given priority over game machine installation information notification, (4) Hall control/fraud monitoring information notification There are conditions such as notification in the next period (after 300 ms). These conditions are examples and other conditions may be adopted, and even if only one of the above conditions is adopted or a plurality of conditions are adopted in combination, good.

The hall control/fraud monitoring information is information for the purpose of tabulating information on the hall control/fraud monitoring by the CU3. Hole control and fraud monitoring information includes jackpots, probability fluctuations, time reduction, hole control information such as the number of winning balls in each winning hole, number of game balls (current number of balls in possession), serial number of game balls, game machine error status, Contains fraud monitoring information such as fraud detection status.

<Game machine information notification>
Next, the game machine information notification command will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of gaming machine information notification transmitted from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. The gaming machine information notification command shown in FIG. 5 is a command for the P machine 2 to notify the CU 3 of gaming machine information. - Three pieces of fraud monitoring information are included. The type of gaming machine information included in the gaming machine information notification command is determined by notification conditions of each information, and is notified to the CU3.

The gaming machine information notification command includes telegram length information, command information, serial number information, gaming machine type information, gaming machine information type information, and gaming machine information. The message length information indicates the length of the message to be transmitted (from the message length to the error detection code (CRC) of the communication frame). The command information indicates the command code of the message. The serial number information indicates a sequence number. The serial number is a sequence number that the primary station side (for example, the P side) sets the initial value to "0" and counts up (+1) at the time of transmission. However, the primary station side does not count up the serial number when retransmitting, and the secondary station side (for example, the CU side) also transmits the received serial number as it is. Commands and responses used for communication commonly include message length information, command information, and serial number information, so descriptions of the commands and responses below will be omitted.

The gaming machine type information is information for indicating the gaming machine type of the P machine 2 . FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining information on the type of gaming machine. In FIG. 6, if the game machine type information is "10", it indicates that the P machine 2 connected to the CU 3 is "pachinko" of "pachinko game machine", and if it is "11", it indicates that "pachinko game It indicates that it is a "parrot" of "machine". Also, if the game machine type information is "20", it indicates that the P machine 2 connected to the CU3 is the "rotary" of the "rotary type game machine", and if it is "30", it indicates that the "arrangement If it is "40", it indicates that it is a "jankyu game machine" of a "jankyu game machine". In addition, in CU3, if the transmitted gaming machine type information is "10" or "11", the number of game balls is displayed by, for example, "ball" as the unit used in the game, and the gaming machine type information is displayed. is "20", the number of game medals is displayed, for example, the unit used in the game is "pieces".

Returning to FIG. 5, the information on the gaming machine information type is a type code indicating the type of information included in the gaming machine information. If the information of the gaming machine information type is “0x00”, it indicates that the information included in the gaming machine information is the gaming machine performance information, and if it is “0x01”, it indicates that the information included in the gaming machine information If it is "0x02", it indicates that the information included in the gaming machine information is hole control/fraud monitoring information. Incidentally, if the information of the game machine information type is a value other than the above, the notified CU3 determines that there is an abnormality.

The gaming machine information includes one of gaming machine installation information, gaming machine performance information, hall control/fraud monitoring information based on the type code set in the gaming machine information type information, and is notified to the CU3. The game machine performance information includes information such as the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), the role ratio, the continuous role ratio, etc. The game machine installation information includes the manufacturer code, model code, and chip ID of the main control CPU and frame control CPU. Information such as numbers, and hall control/fraud monitoring information includes information such as big hits, probability fluctuations, time reduction, the number of winning balls in each winning hole, and the number of game balls.

Furthermore, the gaming machine information will be explained in detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining gaming machine performance information. FIG. 7 shows the gaming machine performance information included in the gaming machine information when the gaming machine information type information is "0x00". For example, the gaming machine information includes the total number of game balls launched, the total number of game balls acquired, the ball output rate, . The total number of game balls fired is the accumulated information of the number of fired balls. It is the information In addition, the number of operations of the normal symbol display device is information obtained by accumulating the number of times the normal symbol is stopped, and the role ratio is information of the cumulative value of the number of prize balls operated by the role product / the cumulative value of the number of prize balls × 100, and is the information of the continuous role. The product ratio is the information of the accumulated value of the number of consecutive action prize balls/the accumulated value of the number of prize balls×100.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the gaming machine installation information. FIG. 8 shows the gaming machine installation information included in the gaming machine information when the gaming machine information type information is "0x01". For example, the gaming machine information includes a main control chip ID number, a main control CPU manufacturer code, a main control CPU model code, a frame control chip ID number, a frame control CPU manufacturer code, and a frame control CPU model code.

9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining the hall control/fraud monitoring information. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the hole controller/fraud monitoring information included in the gaming machine information when the gaming machine information type information is "0x02". For example, the game machine information includes "number of game balls", "number of shot balls", "total number of prize balls", "main control state", "game machine error state", "fraud detection state", and "game information". ” contains.

"Number of game balls" indicates the current number of game balls. For example, if the number of game balls is 10000, it indicates "0x102700". "Number of balls fired" indicates the number of balls fired (-128 to 127). If there are back balls, the number of back balls is subtracted, and if there are multiple balls fired at the time of transmission, they are added up. indicate the number. "Total number of prize balls" indicates the sum of the number of prize balls and the number of prizes won.

The "main control state" is information on the game state of the P machine 2, and includes "main control state 1" and "main control state 2". "Main control state 1" includes information on jackpot 1 (all jackpots), jackpot 2 (specific jackpot), and jackpot 3 (jackpot with reduced variation time), and information on gaming machine state signals 1-4. . The game machine state signals 1 to 4 are used to output the state from the external output terminal 340 of the CU3 to the outside such as a hall controller, and the "external terminal board state output signal terminals 1 to 4" output from the external output terminal of the CU3. 2” (see FIG. 54). "Main control state 1" includes information during big hit + time saving (variation time reduction), high probability, and time saving (variation time reduction).

The "gaming machine error state" includes information on the error code occurring in the gaming machine. Specifically, in the "game machine error state", Bits 0 to 5 represent an error code. If is "0", only the alarm is issued, and if "1", the alarm is issued plus hall control output.

The "fraud detection status" includes "fraud detection status 1" to "fraud detection status 3". "Unauthorized detection state 1" is a setting change mode information indicating that the main control board 16 has changed the settings in Bit 0, and a setting confirmation mode indicating that the main control board 16 is confirming the settings. is indicated by Bit 1, and information indicating that the main control board 16 has detected a fraudulence detection state, in particular, board surface frauds 1 to 6 are indicated by Bits 2 to 6, respectively. "Fraud detection state 2" indicates the state of fraud detection in the frame control board 17. Bit 0 opens the front decoration, Bit 1 opens the back mechanism, Bit 2 detects fraudulent radio waves, Bit 3 detects the number of game balls cleared, and Bit 4 wins a prize. It includes information indicating that an error 1 in the number of balls has been detected and an error 2 in the number of winning balls in Bit 5 has been detected. Here, the winning ball number abnormality 1 detection is performed by detecting that the difference between the winning number detected by the main control board 16 and the winning number detected by the frame control board 17 is 100 or more, and the winning ball number abnormality 2 detection. detects that the difference between the number of launched balls and the total number of returned balls (the number of winning balls + the number of non-winning balls) is 100 or more. "Fraud detection state 3" indicates the state of fraud detection in the frame control board 17, and includes information indicating that a small ball has been detected in Bit0 and an iron ball has been detected in Bit1.

The “game information” includes information for notifying the frame control board 17 of start-up wins, big wins, and the number of symbol determinations generated by the main control board 16 . The "game information" consists of a total of 2 bytes: type information (upper 1 byte) and count information (lower 1 byte). The type information is composed of a data type and a data number, and a data number is set for each data type.

The type information is set for each value of the data type (Bits 4 to 7). For example, when the data type value is 1, it is the start-up winning information. A data number (Bits 0 to 3) is set for each data type, and if the data number is 1, it indicates the starting port number such as start port 1.

As the count information, different frequency information is set for each data type. Data type is 1 = starting entry winning, 2 = big winning entry winning, 3 = winning entry winning, 9 = starting entry winning by operation of role, 10 = big winning entry by continuous operation of role, 11 = by operation of role In the case of a prize-winning prize, the count information consists of the number of prize balls (upper 4 bits) and the number of prizes (lower 4 bits). For example, if 2 wins are made in the starter 1 of 3 prize balls, the data type (Bits 4 to 7) is "1 = starter 1", the data number (Bits 0 to 3) is "1 = starter 1", and the prize The game information (0x1131) with the number of balls (Bits 4 to 7) of "3 = 3 prize balls" and the number of prizes (Bits 0 to 3) of "1 = 1 prize" is 2 data.

Next, communication between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 using the messages described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the timing of information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. In the sequence shown in FIG. 11, the (b) rental response information No. shown in FIG. 3 to No. 4 information, (c) counting information, and (d) gaming machine information are transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 through a common asynchronous serial communication port. Conversely, if the (a) lending information No. shown in FIG. 1 to No. 2 information is sent from CU3 to P-unit 2 over a common asynchronous serial communication port.

Note that the sequence shown in FIG. 11 is an example, and a sequence in which (c) counting information and (d) gaming machine information shown in FIG. 4 are transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 via a common asynchronous serial communication port may be used . In the case of this sequence, (a) lending information No. shown in FIG. 1 to No. 2 is transmitted from CU3 to P unit 2 through another asynchronous serial communication port, and (b) rental information No. 3 to No. 4 information is sent from P-unit 2 to CU3 on another asynchronous serial communication port. Furthermore, the No. of (a) rental information shown in FIG. 1 to No. 2 is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 through the common asynchronous serial communication port, and the (b) lending information No. 2 shown in FIG. 3 to No. 4 information and (c) counting information are transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 over a common asynchronous serial communication port. In the case of this sequence, the (d) gaming machine information shown in FIG. 4 may be transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 through another asynchronous serial communication port.

Among the information transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3, (d) gaming machine information is transmitted at regular intervals A as shown in FIG. In other words, the period from the transmission of information from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 to the transmission of the next information is controlled to the specified period A (for example, 300 ms=0.3 seconds). The P machine 2 can transmit the gaming machine information to the CU3 every prescribed period A regardless of the reception status of the gaming machine information at the CU3. Therefore, the P machine 2 does not need to resend the gaming machine information, and it does not need to store the past gaming machine information, so that the processing load can be reduced.

In this way, information is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 at intervals of 300 ms. On the other hand, since 100 game balls are hit into the game area 27 per minute by operating the hitting ball operation handle 25 of the P table 2, the hitting time interval is 0.6 seconds. As a result, multiple pieces of information are transmitted and received during one shot of the ball.

The gaming machine information communicates with the counting information through the same asynchronous serial communication port. Therefore, if you try to send counting information at the same timing as sending game machine information, the information may become congested within the common asynchronous serial communication port, resulting in data collisions and incorrect communication. be. Therefore, when the gaming machine information is transmitted to the CU 3 every prescribed period A, the P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information for a prescribed period shorter than the prescribed period A in order to optimize the information transmission. At a timing corresponding to B (for example, 100 ms), (c) count information is transmitted to CU3. The count information is transmitted to CU3 every prescribed period B regardless of the reception status at CU3. If the player operates the counting button 28 before transmitting the game machine information, the number of balls to be counted includes, for example, 250 balls, and the player's operation of the counting button 28 corresponds to the gaming machine information. 0 (zero) ball information is included in the counting ball number if not done before sending the .

The transmission of the counting information is not limited to the case where it is performed within the prescribed period B from the timing of transmitting the gaming machine information. It may be until the timing when the machine information is transmitted.

In FIG. 12, after the counting information is transmitted to CU3, the lending information is received from CU3 during the valid reception time (for example, 170 ms). The rental information transmitted from the CU3 to the P machine 2 includes information on the number of rental balls and the rental serial number. If the player operates the lend ball button 321 or the replay button before transmitting the gaming machine information, the number of lending balls includes information of, for example, 125 balls, and the player presses the lend ball button 321. Alternatively, if the replay button is not operated before transmitting the gaming machine information, the number of lent balls includes information of 0 (zero) balls.

The lending response information is communicated through the same asynchronous serial communication port as the gaming machine information. Therefore, when lending response information is sent from the CU3 at the timing of sending gaming machine information, the information is congested within the common asynchronous serial communication port, data collision occurs, and communication is not performed correctly. there is a possibility.

Therefore, the CU3 transmits the rental information to the P machine 2 during the valid reception time after receiving the counting information. In other words, the P machine 2 receives the information on the number of rented balls and the serial number from the CU 3 within the effective reception time after transmitting the counting information, and returns the result of receiving the number of rented balls and the rental serial number within the response time. Send lending response information to CU3.

In FIG. 12, the communication between CU3 and P machine 2 determines the timing of transmitting count information based on the timing of transmitting technical equipment information, and determines the timing of receiving rental information based on the timing of transmitting count information. However, the communication between the CU 3 and the P machine 2 may be performed at other timings such as determining the timing of transmitting and receiving the counting information and the rental information based on the timing of transmitting the gaming machine information.

CU3 explains in more detail the timing of transmitting the rental information within the valid reception time after receiving the counting information. FIG. 13 is a timing chart of information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine.

First, in (i) shown in FIG. 13, the frame control board 17 transmits gaming machine information to the CU3 at a cycle of 300 ms when the game becomes possible. In (ii), the frame control board 17 transmits the counting information 100 ms after the transmission of the gaming machine information regardless of whether or not the counting button 28 is operated by the player. Also, when the count button 28 is pressed within the 300ms cycle, the count information is transmitted with the number of balls counted as 250. When the count button 28 is not operated, the count information is transmitted with 0 (zero) information entered in the number of count balls.

In (iii), CU3 transmits rental information within 170 ms (receiving valid time) after completion of reception of count information. Further, when the ball lending button 321 or the replay button is pressed within the 300 ms cycle, the lending information is transmitted with the number of lending balls set to 125. If the ball lending button 321 or the replay button is not operated, the lending information is transmitted with 0 (zero) as the number of lending balls. CU3 transmits rental information within 170 ms after completion of reception of count information, but CU3 does not transmit response information corresponding to the count information. Therefore, the P unit 2 side does not recognize whether or not the CU3 has received the count information.

In (iv), when the frame control board 17 receives the information of the number of rented balls and the lending serial number from the CU 3, the lending response information of the number of rented balls and the lending serial number is sent within 10 ms (response time) from the reception of the information. Send to CU3. (v) Thereafter, the same operation is repeated with a period of 300 ms.

At the timing shown in FIG. 13, the lending information and the lending response information are transmitted and received between the CU3 and the P table 2 even if the player does not operate the ball lending button 321 or the replay button. However, if the player does not operate the ball lending button 321 or the replay button, the lending information and the lending response information may not be transmitted and received between the CU3 and the P table 2. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a modification of the timing of lending information and lending response information transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine.

First, in (i) shown in FIG. 14, the frame control board 17 transmits the game machine information to the CU3 at a cycle of 300 ms when the game becomes possible. In (ii), the frame control board 17 transmits the counting information 100 ms after the transmission of the gaming machine information regardless of whether or not the counting button 28 is operated by the player. Also, when the count button 28 is pressed within the 300ms cycle, the count information is transmitted with the number of balls counted as 250. When the count button 28 is not operated, the count information is transmitted with 0 (zero) information entered in the number of count balls. (iii) Thereafter, the same operation is repeated with a period of 300 ms.

In (iv), when the lend ball button 321 or the replay button is pressed, the CU3 transmits the lending information with the number of lending balls set to 125 within 170 ms (receiving valid time) from the completion of reception of the counting information. That is, the operation of the ball lending button 321 or the replay button by the player is performed before transmitting the counting information, and after the operation, waiting for the timing of receiving the counting information from the P table 2, within 170 ms Send lending information at (receiving valid time). On the other hand, if the ball lending button 321 or the replay button is not pressed, the CU3 does not transmit the lending information even if the reception of the counting information is completed. In (v), when the frame control board 17 receives the information of the number of rented balls and the lending serial number from the CU 3, within 10 ms (response time) from the reception of the information, the frame control board 17 returns the lending response information of the number of rented balls and the lending serial number. Send to CU3.

Next, the processing when disconnection occurs between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine when information is transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine at the timing shown in FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the timing of information when disconnection occurs between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. Since the processing at the timings (i) to (v) shown in FIG. 15 is the same as the processing at the timings shown in FIG. 13, the processing at the timings after (vi) will be described.

In (vi), if disconnection occurs due to the PIF wiring coming off between the CU3 and the P unit 2, the voltage of the power supply VL for checking the connection supplied to the wiring numbers 8 and 9 changes from 5V to 0 ( zero) V (VL = change from ON to OFF). When the voltage of the connection confirmation power source VL supplied to the wiring numbers 8 and 9 changes from 5 V to 0 V, the frame control board 17 sends a signal to the launch control board 31 to stop shooting game balls. to output In this way, by performing the process shown in FIG. 15, the P machine 2 can stop the shooting of game balls with a simple configuration and process without performing authentication with the CU3. Further, based on the change of the voltage of the power supply VL for connection confirmation from 5V to 0V, the operation of the count button 28 in the count switch board 37 shown in FIG. 25 is disabled. In the case that the P machine 2 is the primary station, if the player operates the counting button 28 to output the counting information to the CU3 when the PIF wiring is disconnected or the like, and the P machine is disconnected, the CU3 will output the P machine. 2, it may be difficult for CU3 to perform recovery processing using gaming machine information. In order to prevent the player from being disadvantaged by such an event, when disconnection occurs between the CU 3 and the P table 2, the operation of the counting button 28 itself is invalidated, or the output of the counting information is invalidated. there is

Even after disconnection has occurred between CU3 and P stand 2, in (vii), the frame control board 17 transmits gaming machine information to CU3 at intervals of 300 ms when the game becomes possible. In (viii), the frame control board 17 transmits the counting information 100 ms after the transmission of the gaming machine information regardless of whether or not the counting button 28 is operated by the player.

<Mode of transmission and reception between the card unit side and the pachinko machine side>
Next, FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing major data among various data stored on the CU 3 side and the P stand 2 side, respectively, and their transmission/reception modes. Referring to FIG. 16, major data among various data stored on the CU 3 side and the P stand 2 side and transmission/reception mode thereof will be described.

In this embodiment, the variation in the number of game balls is calculated on the P table 2 side, and the current latest number of game balls is stored and managed. The CU3 side also calculates and stores the current number of game balls, but the number of game balls is based on the information transmitted from the P machine 2 side. On the other hand, the CU 3 side manages and stores the balls (the number of balls held by the card), the number of accumulated balls, and the prepaid balance (balance).

FIG. 16 shows data stored in the RAM provided in the CU control unit 323 on the CU3 side and data stored in the RAM mounted on the frame control board 17 on the P stand 2 side. First, when the P-machine 2 and the CU 3 are installed in the game hall and the power is turned on in a state where they are electrically connected for the first time, the frame control board 17 on the P-machine 2 side is transferred from the main control board 16 to the main chip. ID (main control chip ID) is sent, the main chip ID is sent to the CU3 side, and the frame chip ID (frame control chip ID) stored in the frame control board 17 itself is sent to the CU3 side. .

The CU3 side stores the transmitted main chip ID and frame chip ID. In this state, the information of the main chip ID and the frame chip ID are stored on the CU3 side and the P stand 2 side. When the power is turned on thereafter, the two pieces of information, that is, the main chip ID and the frame chip ID are transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side.

On the CU3 side, the transmitted data and the already stored data are collated to determine whether or not the same P unit 2 as last time is connected. On the other hand, in the P machine 2, after the power is turned on, the information such as the main chip ID and the frame chip ID, which are the installation information, are transmitted to the CU3, and thereafter, the gaming machine information is transmitted to the outside including the CU3 at predetermined intervals. becomes possible. Since the P machine 2 can output the game machine information without going through the authentication process, the processing load can be reduced.

Both the CU3 and the P unit 2 add a "serial number" to the message and transmit it. Both CU3 and P unit 2 store the "serial number" received from the other party. The "serial number" includes three types of "game ball number serial number", "counting serial number" and "rental serial number". "Serial number" indicates the sequence number of the message. For the "serial number", the transmitting side (primary station side) sets the initial value to "1" and increments (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission. However, when resending, the "serial number" is not counted up. The receiving side (secondary station side) transmits the received serial number as it is. Note that no response will be given if the continuity of the serial numbers is not established. "Game ball number serial number" is a serial number used when the P machine 2 notifies the game ball number to the CU3. "Counting serial number" is a serial number used when the P machine 2 requests the CU3 to count the game balls. "Rental serial number" is a serial number used when CU3 requests the P stand 2 to lend out game balls.

The latest gaming machine performance information, hall control information and fraud monitoring information are transmitted from the P machine 2 side to the CU 3 side. The latest gaming machine performance information, hole control information and fraud monitoring information are stored in the RAM of the frame control section 171 (see FIG. 2) on the P machine 2 side. Specifically, the information of the counting ball number counter is included. As for the number of game balls, the count value of the game ball counter is transmitted from the P machine 2 side to the CU 3 side as fraud monitoring information. However, instead of this, or in addition to the game ball counter, the number of game balls may also be included in the latest gaming machine performance information.

Information on these counters is collectively transmitted to the CU3 side as gaming machine information. The CU 3 grasps changes in the number of game balls from the latest game machine performance information and hall control information transmitted from the P machine 2 . In CU3, for example, the number of game balls is added based on the "number of prize balls×the number of winning balls" included in the hall control information, and the number of game balls is subtracted based on the "number of shot balls". Furthermore, the counting ball number counter is a counter that counts the number of counting balls. The number of counted balls is "the number of balls converted from game balls to possession balls by a counting operation". The cumulative ball number counter is a counter that counts the cumulative number of balls. The counted cumulative number of balls is "the cumulative number of balls that have been converted from game balls to held balls by the counting operation", and is the cumulative number of balls counted from RAM clear (initialization operation), or the cumulative number of balls counted on the day number of balls. It is assumed that the cumulative number of balls does not change even if the player changes. A 2-byte data area is assigned to the cumulative ball number counter, and information on 0 to 65,535 balls can be stored. Therefore, when the cumulative ball number counter counts the cumulative number of balls to "0xFFFF (65,535 balls)", the next value is updated to "0x0000 (0 balls)". In addition, when a counting operation is received while a game ball is being shot, the game points to be counted are preferentially updated, and the shooting of the game ball is stopped and the game points corresponding to the shooting are updated. stops execution. As a result, it is possible to avoid overlap of the timing of the subtraction of the game points to be counted and the subtraction of the game points corresponding to the firing, and the update process of the game points can be realized more accurately. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of update processing. Further, the subtraction of the game points to be counted and the subtraction of the game points corresponding to the shot may be performed at the same time. As a result, since the shooting of game balls is not stopped, a smooth game can be realized. Here, the "prize ball" is a game ball that is awarded by winning a prize in a winning slot (in a medalless slot, the number of medals awarded for winning a small winning combination such as BB (equivalent to medals) Playing value)), it is a safe ball. The "shot ball" is the ball shot by the gaming machine, and if there is a back ball, the number of shot balls is the number of balls after subtracting the back ball.

When the count button 28 is pressed, the frame control unit 171 counts the number of game balls as the counted number of balls, and transmits the value of the counted ball number counter (the number of counted balls) from the P machine 2 side to the CU 3 side. In addition, the frame control unit 171 updates the value of the counting cumulative ball number counter each time the value of the counting ball number counter (counting ball number) is counted, and the value of the counting cumulative ball number counter (counting cumulative number of balls) is updated. is transmitted from the P unit 2 side to the CU3 side.

On the side of P machine 2, each time the value of the counting ball number counter is transmitted to the side of CU3, the count value is stored (rewritten) as backup data in the previous gaming machine information storage area (RAM of frame control unit 171, etc.). After that, the value of the counting ball number counter is cleared to 0 (excluding the game ball number counter). In this embodiment, "clear" has the same meaning as "initialize".

As a result, the data of the number of counted balls transmitted to the CU 3 side immediately before is stored as backup data in the storage area for the previous gaming machine information (the gaming machine information transmitted immediately before). This backup data is not only the value of each counter at the time of the next transmission, but also the value of each counter that was not transmitted last time, when the data of the number of counted balls is not transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side. to be able to send The number of game balls transmitted immediately before may be added to the previous gaming machine information and stored.

In addition, the frame control board 17 updates the value of the game ball number counter according to the occurrence of winning, the shooting of a ball, and the occurrence of a counting ball (conversion from a game ball to a holding ball). The value of the number-of-balls counter is transmitted to the CU3 side as the number of game balls.

On the CU3 side, the cumulative data storage area in the RAM stores the number of game balls, the number of balls held in the card (simply referred to as the number of balls held), the number of stored balls, the balance, and the number of balls held when the card is inserted. The number of balls on card is obtained by subtracting the number of lent balls (the number of balls converted from the number of balls on card to the number of game balls) from the number of balls held when the card is inserted, and adding the number of counted balls. In other words, the number of cards held by the player is the number of balls owned by the player at the present time.

Based on the value of the counting ball number counter transmitted from the P table 2, the number of cards held balls is added, and the number of game balls is subtracted to update. In this way, the CU 3 can manage the latest information by updating the number of game balls and the number of cards held by the latest game machine information sent from the P machine 2 one by one.

As shown, the CU3 has an area for storing the number of game balls, and also receives the count value of the game ball counter (also referred to as the number of game balls or the total number of game balls) from the P platform 2 side. . CU3 updates the area for storing the number of game balls in the following procedure. That is, the CU3 grasps the change in the number of game balls from the latest gaming machine performance information and hall control information transmitted from the P machine 2 side, and based on the value of the counting ball counter and the number of rented balls, , updates the number of game balls stored, and determines whether or not the count value of the game ball counter transmitted from the P stand 2 side matches the updated number of game balls. If they match, the game is allowed to continue.

As a result, for example, an error notification is performed by an abnormality notification lamp or display 54, or an error notification signal indicating that an error has occurred is transmitted to the hall management computer or hall server (in this case, the hall management computer or an error notification may be made by a hall server). As a result, a predetermined notification is issued to prompt the attendant to take a manual action.

Instead of shifting to an error state and stopping the game, the number of game balls stored on the CU3 side may be replaced with the count value of the game ball number counter transmitted from the P machine 2 side. good. Alternatively, instead of that, the number of game balls managed by the CU3 side and the number of game balls stored by the P machine 2 side may be corrected to an average value.

Thus, in this embodiment, the number of game balls is also stored on the CU3 side, and it is determined whether or not the number of game balls matches the number of game balls managed and stored on the P stand 2 side. (CU3 side function). Therefore, even if the number of game balls stored on the P table 2 side does not match the number of game balls stored on the CU 3 side due to fraud or other circumstances, it can be checked. Here, the determination function is provided on the CU3 side. It is also possible to receive the number of game balls that are in agreement and determine whether or not they match.

Further, when the CU3 fails to receive the count information, the number of game balls stored on the CU3 side and the number of game balls managed and stored on the P machine 2 side do not match, so special processing is executed. . As the special processing, processing for displaying the history information of the gaming machine information is performed to compensate for the number of game balls based on the gaming machine information, compensation for the number of game balls is performed based on the history information, and error notification is performed. or

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, CU3 has a storage area for storing the number of balls held in the card and the number of stored balls, a storage area for storing the prepaid balance of the accepted (inserted) card, and a storage area for storing the number of balls held when the card is inserted. and a storage area for storing the The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 2) stores stored balls in response to an input requesting the use of stored balls (for example, press input of a replay button provided in CU3 (when no balls are held)). A predetermined number of stored balls is subtracted from the area.

The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 2) is a storage area for storing a held ball in response to an input requesting the use of a held ball (for example, pressing input of a replay button provided on the CU 3 when the held ball is present). Subtract a given number of balls from Furthermore, the CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 2) subtracts a predetermined value from the storage area for storing the prepaid balance in response to an input requesting use of the prepaid balance (for example, pressing the ball lending button 321).

When a player performs an operation to lend a predetermined amount of value from the player's possession value (for example, the number of balls held, the number of stored balls, or the prepaid balance) and use it in the game, the number of balls for the withdrawal is transmitted from the CU3 side to the P table 2 side for adding to the game ball counter. In response to this, the P table 2 side increments and updates the game ball number counter.

<Communication Sequence Between CU and P Unit>
Next, the communication sequence between CU3 and P stand 2 will be described. In communication between the CU3 and the P unit 2, a command-response method is adopted in which the P unit 2 is the primary station and the CU3 is the secondary station. First, the timing of transmitting the gaming machine installation information from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of transmitting the gaming machine installation information from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. After the start-up of the P machine 2 is completed, the P machine 2 transmits a serial number=0 and a command for game machine information notification to the CU3. After 300 ms has elapsed, the P machine 2 transmits a command of serial number=1 and game machine information notification to the CU3. The P machine 2 transmits a count notification command to CU3 between the sequence number = 0 and the sequence number = 1, further receives a lending notification command from CU3, and as a response thereto, sends a lending reception result response command to CU3. I am replying.

In the communication sequence between the CU 3 and the P unit 2, after the P unit 2 has started up, telegram communication is repeated between the sequence number=0 and the sequence number=1. 60 s) After lapse of 60 s), the P machine 2 transmits the serial number=200 and the game machine installation information to the CU 3 in the game machine information notification command. After that, the P machine 2 notifies the gaming machine installation information to the CU3 in a cycle of one minute.

Next, the timing for transmitting the gaming machine performance information from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 will be explained. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of transmitting the gaming machine performance information from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. After the start-up of the P machine 2 is completed, the P machine 2 transmits a serial number=0 and a command for game machine information notification to the CU3. After 300 ms has elapsed, the P machine 2 transmits a command of serial number=1 and game machine information notification to the CU3. The P machine 2 transmits a count notification command to CU3 between the sequence number = 0 and the sequence number = 1, further receives a lending notification command from CU3, and as a response thereto, sends a lending reception result response command to CU3. I am replying.

In the communication sequence between the CU3 and the P machine 2, after the P machine 2 has started up, telegram communication is repeated between serial number = 0 and serial number = 1, but three minutes after the start of the P machine 2 ( 180 s) After the lapse of 180 s), the P machine 2 transmits a game machine information notification command including the game machine performance information to the CU 3 with the serial number=88. After that, the P table 2 notifies the game balls to be fired for the prescribed number of shot balls (eg, 60,000 balls) or at regular intervals of the prescribed time (eg, 180 s, 10 hours).

Next, the timing for transmitting hall control/fraud monitoring information from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of transmission of hall con/fraud monitoring information from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. After the start-up of the P machine 2 is completed, the P machine 2 transmits the game machine information notification command including the hall control/fraud monitoring information to the CU 3 with the serial number=0. After 300 ms have elapsed, the P machine 2 transmits the game machine information notification command including the hall control/fraud monitoring information to the CU3 with the serial number=1. The P machine 2 transmits a count notification command to CU3 between the sequence number = 0 and the sequence number = 1, further receives a lending notification command from CU3, and as a response thereto, sends a lending reception result response command to CU3. I am replying.

In the communication sequence between the CU3 and the P unit 2, after the P unit 2 has been activated, telegram communication is repeated between the serial number=0 and the serial number=1. In other words, from the completion of activation of the P machine 2, the P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification command including the hall control/fraud monitoring information to the CU3 at a cycle of 300 ms (predetermined period).

The gaming machine information that can be included in the gaming machine information notification command is any one of gaming machine installation information, gaming machine performance information, hall controller/fraud monitoring information. Each piece of information is transmitted in the cycle described with reference to FIGS. Explain what you have decided on.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for explaining the process of determining the type of gaming machine information to be transmitted from the pachinko gaming machine to the card unit. The processing shown in FIG. 20 is executed before the P machine 2 (particularly, the CPU of the frame control unit 171) commands the CU3 to notify the gaming machine information. While the transmission cycle of the game machine information notification command is 300 ms, the processing cycle of the CPU of the frame control unit 171 due to timer interrupt is 4 ms. be. First, the P table 2 determines whether or not there is a launch, prize ball, or state change (step S101). 9 and 10 (for example, number of game balls, main control state 1, gaming machine error state, fraud detection state 1, etc.), P machine 2 launches and wins prizes. Judge that there is a ball, state change.

When it is determined that there is a shot, a prize ball, or a state change (YES in step S101), the P machine 2 selects "0x02" of the hole controller/illegal monitoring information as the type of gaming machine information (step S102). When "0x02" of hall control/fraud monitoring information is selected as the type of gaming machine information, the processing shown in FIG. Send to CU3 including information.

When it is determined that there is no launch, prize ball, or state change (NO in step S101), the P stand 2 determines whether or not the special period has passed (step S103). Here, the special period is, for example, 3 minutes (180 s) from the completion of activation of the P unit 2, and the game balls are fired for a specified number of shot balls (eg, 60,000 balls) or for a specified time (eg, 180 s, 10 hours) be. When determining that the special period has passed (YES in step S103), the P machine 2 selects "0x01" of the gaming machine performance information as the type of gaming machine information (step S104). When "0x01" of the gaming machine performance information is selected as the gaming machine information type, the processing shown in FIG. Send to CU3.

When it is determined that the special period has not passed (NO in step S103), the P machine 2 determines whether or not a predetermined period has passed (step S105). Here, the predetermined period is, for example, one minute (60 s) after the start-up of the P units 2 is completed, which is a shorter period than the special period. When determining that the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in step S105), the P machine 2 selects "0x00" of the gaming machine installation information as the type of gaming machine information (step S106). When the gaming machine installation information "0x00" is selected as the gaming machine information type, the processing shown in FIG. Send to CU3.

When it is determined that the predetermined period has not passed (NO in step S105), the P machine 2 selects "0x02" of hall controller/fraud monitoring information as the type of gaming machine information (step S107). When "0x02" of hall control/fraud monitoring information is selected as the type of gaming machine information, the processing shown in FIG. Send to CU3 including information. In addition, since the hall control/fraud monitoring information transmitted to CU3 in step S107 is information transmitted when there is no shot, prize ball, or state change, empty information is transmitted.

As can be seen from the processing shown in FIG. 20, the gaming machine information included in the gaming machine information notification command transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 includes the gaming machine installation information, the gaming machine performance information, the hall controller/fraud monitoring information, and the gaming machine information. It is one of them, and the priority to be transmitted is different for each. Specifically, the priority is highest for hall control/fraud monitoring information, and lower for gaming machine performance information and gaming machine installation information. However, the priority of hall control/fraud monitoring information is lower than that of gaming machine performance information and gaming machine installation information when there is no launch, prize ball, or state change. In other words, when the timing of transmitting the gaming machine performance information and the timing of transmitting the gaming machine installation information overlap, the P machine 2 gives priority to transmission of the gaming machine performance information, and transmits the gaming machine installation information at the next timing. If the timing for sending gaming machine performance information and the timing for sending hall control/fraud monitoring information overlap, priority is given to sending hall controller/fraud monitoring information, and gaming machine performance information is sent at the next timing. Send.

<Counting notification sequence>
Next, a counting notification sequence for counting and subtracting part of game balls will be described. 21 and 22 are diagrams showing the counting notification sequence between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. FIGS. 21 and 22 show the case where the count button 28 is pressed without detecting the card return operation.

Also, in FIG. 21, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (member card or visitor card) is "100" balls, and the initial number of game balls is "1000" balls. .

Here, an example will be described in which counting continues in units of 250 balls while the operation of the counting button 28 is detected, and the counting operation ends when the operation of the counting button 28 is no longer detected. However, even if the number of game balls to be counted increases according to the length of time that the count button 28 is pressed for a long time, if the count button 28 is pressed and held for a certain period of time, all the number of game balls that are held will be counted. may be counted.

First, the P machine transmits a gaming machine information notification (hereinafter simply referred to as a gaming machine information notification) including any one of hall control/fraud monitoring information, gaming machine installation information, and gaming machine performance information to CU3. . It should be noted that since the information contained is hall control/fraud monitoring information, it contains the information of the serial number=n and the number of game balls=1000. The P machine transmits the counting information including the message of the counting notification to the CU3 within 100 ms (within the prescribed period B shown in FIG. 12) after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to the CU3.

If the player presses the count button 28 before transmitting the count information to the CU 3, the P machine will include the count serial number = m, the number of counted balls = 250, and the cumulative number of counted balls = 250 in the counting notification telegram. CU3 is notified of the counting information including the information. When the P machine transmits a count notification telegram containing the information of the number of game balls = 250 to CU3, the number of game balls = 750 is subtracted from the information of the number of game balls held = 1000 by subtracting the counted 250 balls. Update to information. On the other hand, if the player has not pressed the counting button 28 before transmitting the counting information to the CU 3, the P machine will include the counting serial number = m, the number of balls to be counted = 0, and the cumulative number of balls to be counted = 0 information is included to inform CU3 of no counting.

For example, if the player has not operated the count button 28, the number of counted balls included in the count notification message sent to the CU3 is the counted data of 0 (zero) balls. Further, in response to the operation of the counting button 28 by the player, for example, when a continuous operation of less than 0.5 seconds is detected, the number of counted balls included in the counting notification message sent to the CU 3 becomes the count data of one ball. . This is an operation used for adjusting the fraction of the ball held. Further, when a continuous operation of 0.5 seconds or more and less than 0.8 seconds is detected, the number of counted balls included in the counting notification message sent to CU3 is the count data of 250 balls. When continuous operation of 0.8 seconds or more is detected, the number of counted balls included in the counting notification telegram that is first transmitted to CU3 becomes the counting data of 250 balls, and thereafter the counting notification is transmitted to CU3 every 0.3 seconds. The number of counted balls included in the electronic message is the counted data of 250 balls. That is, when the player continuously operates the count button 28, the count data for 250 balls is transmitted to the CU3 every 0.3 seconds.

The CU3 receives the count information from the P table 2, adds the number of counted balls to the number of balls held, and updates the number of balls=100+250=350. CU3 receives the count information from the P machine 2 and within the reception valid period (see FIG. 12), regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed or not, lending information including a rental notification message to the P machine 2 Send. The lending notification telegram includes the information of the lending serial number=k and the number of lending balls=0.

The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits the lending response information including the lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time (see FIG. 12). The lending reception result response telegram includes the information that the lending serial number=k and the number of lending ball reception results=normal.

The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the prescribed period A (see FIG. 12) has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3. The new game machine information notification sent to CU3 includes the updated serial number=n+1 and the subtracted number of game balls=750 in the hole controller/fraud monitoring information.

When the player continues to press the counting button 28 when transmitting a new gaming machine information notification to the CU 3, the P machine 2 updates the counting notification message with the counting serial number = m + 1, the number of counting balls = 250, the count information is notified to the CU3 including the information of the cumulative number of balls counted=500. When the P machine transmits a counting notification telegram containing the information of the number of game balls = 250 to CU3, the number of game balls = 500 is obtained by subtracting the counted 250 balls from the information of the number of game balls held = 750. Update to information. In addition, the P table 2 updates the information of the cumulative number of counted balls = 500 by adding the information of the current number of counted balls = 250 to the information of the cumulative number of counted balls = 250 of the previous time.

The CU3 receives the counting information from the P table 2, adds the number of balls counted to the number of balls it has, and updates the number of balls=350+250=600. The CU3 transmits the rental information including the telegram of the rental notification to the P machine 2 within the valid reception period after receiving the counting information from the P machine 2 regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed or not. The lending notification telegram includes the updated lending serial number=k+1 and the number of lending balls=0.

The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits lending response information including a lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time. The lending reception result response telegram includes the updated lending serial number=k+1 and the lending ball number reception result=normal information.

In the sequence shown in FIG. 22, if the player stops pressing the count button 28 before transmitting a new gaming machine information notification to CU3, the P machine 2 will transmit the next gaming machine information notification to CU3. , do not count. Specifically, since the player has stopped pressing the count button 28 when transmitting the new game machine information notification to the CU 3, the P machine 2 updates the counting serial number in the counting notification telegram=m+2, counting CU3 is notified of count information including the information of the number of balls=0 and the cumulative number of counted balls=500.

In other words, the P machine does not perform counting and transmits a count notification telegram containing the information that the number of balls counted = 0 to the CU 3 , and leaves the information of the number of game balls held = 500 and returns the information of the number of game balls. Do not update. In addition, the P table 2 does not update the information of the cumulative number of counted balls, leaving the information of the previous cumulative number of balls=500.

Even if the CU3 receives the count information from the P table 2, the number of balls counted=0, so the CU3 does not update the number of balls held=600. The CU3 transmits the rental information including the telegram of the rental notification to the P machine 2 within the valid reception period after receiving the counting information from the P machine 2 regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed or not. The rental notification telegram includes the updated rental serial number=k+2 and the number of rental balls=0.

The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits lending response information including a lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time. The lending reception result response telegram includes the updated lending serial number=k+2 and the lending ball number reception result=normal information. The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the lapse of the specified period A since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3.

<Communication error sequence during counting>
Next, the communication error sequence being counted will be described. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a communication error sequence during counting between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. The communication abnormality includes the case where the communication between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 cannot be performed normally for some reason, such as when one electronic message is lost due to noise or the like. FIG. 23 shows the case where the count button 28 is pressed without detecting the card return operation.

Also, in FIG. 23, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (member card or visitor card) is "0", and the initial number of game balls is "1000". .

Here, when the pressing of the counting button 28 is detected, a predetermined unit (for example, 250 balls) of game balls is counted, and when the pressing of the counting button 28 is no longer detected, the counting operation is performed. An example of ending will be explained. However, even if the number of game balls to be counted increases according to the length of time that the count button 28 is pressed for a long time, if the count button 28 is pressed and held for a certain period of time, all the number of game balls that are held will be counted. may be counted.

First, the P machine transmits a gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=1000 balls. The P machine transmits the counting information including the message of the counting notification to the CU3 within 100 ms (within the prescribed period B shown in FIG. 12) after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to the CU3.

Since the player has pressed the count button 28 before transmitting the count information to the CU 3, the P machine 2 includes the information of the number of counted balls = 250 balls and the cumulative number of counted balls = 150 balls in the counting notification telegram. CU3 is notified of the counting information. When P machine 2 transmits to CU3 a counting notification telegram containing information on the number of game balls counted = 250 balls, the number of game balls by subtracting the counted 250 balls from the information on the number of game balls held = 1000 balls = Update to the information of 750 pitches.

The CU3 receives the count information from the P table 2, converts it into a ball with the counted number of balls, adds the number of counted balls to the number of balls it has, and updates the number of balls = 0 + 250 = 250 balls. . Further, when the number of balls held is updated, CU3 updates the stored number of cumulative counted balls=0+250=250 balls.

Although not shown, the CU 3 thereafter receives the count information from the P units 2 and then, within the reception valid period, regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed or not, sends the rental information including the telegram of the rental notification to the P units. 2. The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits lending response information including a lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time. The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the lapse of the specified period A since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3.

When the P machine 2 detects that the player has pressed the count button 28 when transmitting a new gaming machine information notification to the CU 3, the number of balls counted = 250 balls and the number of accumulated counted balls = 250 in the telegram of the count notification. CU3 is notified of the counting information including the ball information. When the P machine transmits a counting notification telegram containing information on the number of balls counted = 250 to CU3, the counted number of balls = 750 is subtracted from the information on the number of game balls held = Update to the information of 500 balls. Further, the P table 2 updates the information of the cumulative number of balls counted = 500 balls by adding the information of the current number of counted balls = 250 balls to the information of the previous cumulative number of balls counted = 250 balls.

However, due to a communication error, the counting information sent from the P table 2 did not reach the CU3. CU3 did not receive the counting information from the P table 2. = remains at 250 balls. In other words, in the P unit 2, regardless of whether or not the condition regarding the communication abnormality with the CU 3 is satisfied, the number of counting balls is transmitted at predetermined intervals, and the number of counting balls included is different depending on whether or not the pressing of the counting button 28 is accepted. . Although not shown, the CU 3 then transmits rental information including a rental notification telegram to the P table 2 regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed or not. Further, the P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the prescribed period A has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3.

When the gaming machine information notification is sent to CU3, the pressing of the counting button 28 by the player has not been detected, so the number of balls counted = 0 balls and the cumulative number of counted balls = 500 balls are included in the counting notification telegram. CU3 is notified of the counting information. However, since the previous count notification message could not be received due to a communication error, the cumulative number of counted balls stored in CU3 is still 250 balls. Therefore, CU3 determines that the previous counting notification telegram could not be received due to a communication error and the count was lost. The number of balls counted = 500 balls (cumulative number of counted balls newly received from the P stand 2), and the ball having a difference of 250 balls is automatically corrected. At this time, CU3 does not report the error. When CU3 automatically corrects the ball with the difference of 250 balls, it updates the stored cumulative number of counted balls to 500 balls.

When the CU3 automatically corrects the missing count, the error is not notified, but the hall controller or the ball control server may be notified that the automatic correction has been performed. Of course, error notification may also be performed when a counting loss occurs in CU3 and is automatically corrected.

In the case of a game device that cannot be automatically corrected, a notification is made to prompt the store clerk to take recovery measures after the occurrence of an abnormality. The clerk confirms the number of game balls in the gaming machine, confirms the number of balls in the player's possession and the reception history of counting information on the screen of the gaming device, and determines the number of game balls in the gaming machine and the number of balls in the player's possession. It is necessary to calculate the difference and operate the POS terminal of the prize counter to add the difference to the player's card. In CU3, such complicated processing is not required, and the number of balls counted when defects occur can be automatically corrected and added to the number of balls held, eliminating the correction work by the store clerk and preventing work mistakes.

Of course, as described above, instead of automatically correcting the number of counted balls due to a loss in CU3, if a loss of count occurs, CU3 is in an error state, and the previous cumulative number of counted balls and the current cumulative number of counted balls are combined. A configuration may be employed in which a missing value is calculated in advance from the difference between , and part of the correction work by the store clerk is reduced. A store clerk who confirms the deficit value calculated in advance by CU3 can add the number of balls to the number of balls to be counted by performing correction work by the management server or CU3. Even in such a case, it is possible to omit the work of confirming the number of game balls in the game machine, and confirming the number of balls held by the player and the reception history of the counting information on the screen of the game device. can be reduced.

<Communication error sequence due to PIF disconnection>
Next, a communication abnormality sequence due to PIF disconnection will be described. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence due to PIF disconnection between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. In FIG. 24, the voltage of the connection confirmation power supply VL explained in FIG. A case of detecting PIF disconnection will be described as an example. Note that PIF disconnection may be detected by a method other than that shown in FIG.

First, the P machine transmits a gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=1000 balls. The P machine transmits the counting information including the message of the counting notification to the CU3 within 100 ms (within the prescribed period B shown in FIG. 12) after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to the CU3.

Since the player has pressed the count button 28 before transmitting the counting information to the CU 3, the P machine includes the information of the number of balls counted = 250 balls and the number of accumulated counted balls = 250 balls in the message of the count notification. CU3 is notified of the counting information. When P machine 2 transmits to CU3 a counting notification telegram containing information on the number of game balls counted = 250 balls, the number of game balls by subtracting the counted 250 balls from the information on the number of game balls held = 1000 balls = Update to the information of 750 pitches.

The CU3 receives the count information from the P table 2, converts it into a ball with the counted number of balls, adds the number of counted balls to the number of balls it has, and updates the number of balls = 0 + 250 = 250 balls. . Further, when the number of balls held is updated, CU3 updates the stored number of cumulative counted balls=0+250=250 balls.

Although not shown, the CU3 then includes a rental notification telegram within the valid reception period (see FIG. 12) after receiving the count information from the P machine 2, regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed. The rental information is transmitted to the P platform 2. The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits the lending response information including the lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time (see FIG. 12). The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the prescribed period A (see FIG. 12) has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3.

After that, when PIF disconnection occurs, the voltage of the power supply VL for connection confirmation is changed from 5V to 0V (off state: VL=OFF), or the output of the connection confirmation signal PSI is turned off (PSI=OFF). ), the disconnection of the PIF is detected, and shooting of game balls is stopped. When the CU 3 detects the disconnection of the PIF, the CU 3 displays an error and then turns off (VL=OFF) the connection confirmation power supply VL supplied to the wiring numbers 8 and 9 shown in FIG. In addition, in the P table 2, after the PIF disconnection occurs, the stop of shooting the game ball and the operation of the counting button 28 are invalidated.

By turning off the power supply VL for connection confirmation, the condition regarding the communication abnormality between the P table 2 and the CU 3 is established, and henceforth, the shooting stop of the game ball and the operation of the counting button 28 are invalidated. However, regardless of whether or not the condition relating to the communication abnormality is satisfied, the count notification including the count information is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 at predetermined intervals. The counting information included in the counting notification differs in the number of counted balls depending on whether or not the operation of the counting button 28 is accepted. As a result, since the count information (predetermined information) is information that is periodically transmitted, it is possible to quickly detect when the count information is not reached.

If the pressing of the counting button 28 by the player is detected before the disconnection of the PIF occurs, the P machine 2 sends a new gaming machine information notification (not shown) to the CU 3, and then inserts a counting ball into the counting notification message. CU3 is notified of count information including the information that the number of balls is 250 and the cumulative number of balls counted is 500. When the P machine transmits a counting notification telegram containing information on the number of balls counted = 250 to CU3, the counted number of balls = 750 is subtracted from the information on the number of game balls held = Update to the information of 500 balls. Further, the P table 2 updates the information of the cumulative number of balls counted = 500 balls by adding the information of the current number of counted balls = 250 balls to the information of the previous cumulative number of balls counted = 250 balls.

However, the count information sent from the P unit 2 did not reach the CU3 due to the PIF disconnection, and the CU3 did not receive the count information from the P unit 2. The number of balls remains at 250 balls.

While the PIF disconnection is occurring, the P-unit 2 transmits the SC board status notification to the CU3. Note that the SC board status notification includes information on a PIF disconnection error. When the CU 3 receives the SC board status notification including the information of the PIF disconnection error from the P unit 2, the display 54 or the like displays the PIF disconnection error.

When the clerk responds to the display of the PIF disconnection error and performs an operation to eliminate the PIF disconnection and clear the error with the remote control, the CU3 transmits an SC board status response to the P stand 2. It should be noted that the SC board state response includes information of ready (game machine communication start OK) as the CU state.

After that, the P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=700 balls. The previous number of game balls included in the gaming machine information notification received from the P machine 2 before the PIF disconnection occurred is the number of game balls=750. Therefore, CU3 determines that the previous counting notification telegram could not be received due to PIF disconnection and the count was lost, and the previous number of game balls = 750 balls (the number of game balls stored in CU3) and the current number of game balls = 500 balls (the number of game balls newly received from the P table 2) and the difference 250 balls are regarded as the balls to be automatically corrected. At this time, CU3 does not report the error.

After that, since the player has not pressed the counting button 28 by the time the counting information is transmitted to the CU 3, the P machine 2 sends the counting notification telegram with the number of balls counted = 0 balls, the cumulative number of counted balls = 500 balls, or CU3 is notified of count information including the information of 0 balls. When a PIF disconnection occurs, it may be necessary to turn off the power of the P base 2 in order to recover. When the power supply of the P table 2 is turned off, the cumulative counted number of balls becomes 0, and thus the cumulative counted number of balls cannot be used for automatic correction as shown in FIG. Therefore, when PIF disconnection occurs, CU3 automatically corrects the difference in the number of game balls. In addition, when the automatic correction is performed, the CU3 uses the cumulative number of ball counts received first after restoration as an initial value.

<Communication error sequence due to power failure>
Next, a communication abnormality sequence due to a power failure will be described. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a communication abnormality sequence due to a power failure between the card unit and the pachinko game machine. In FIG. 25, a case where a power failure occurs and the card unit and the pachinko game machine are powered off will be described as an example.

First, the P machine transmits a gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=1000 balls. The P machine transmits the counting information including the message of the counting notification to the CU3 within 100 ms (within the prescribed period B shown in FIG. 12) after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to the CU3.

Since the player has pressed the count button 28 before transmitting the counting information to the CU 3, the P machine includes the information of the number of balls counted = 250 balls and the number of accumulated counted balls = 250 balls in the message of the count notification. CU3 is notified of the counting information. When P machine 2 transmits to CU3 a counting notification telegram containing information on the number of game balls counted = 250 balls, the number of game balls by subtracting the counted 250 balls from the information on the number of game balls held = 1000 balls = Update to the information of 750 pitches.

The CU3 receives the count information from the P table 2, converts it into a ball with the counted number of balls, adds the number of counted balls to the number of balls it has, and updates the number of balls = 0 + 250 = 250 balls. . Further, when the number of balls held is updated, CU3 updates the stored number of cumulative counted balls=0+250=250 balls.

Although not shown, the CU3 then includes a rental notification telegram within the valid reception period (see FIG. 12) after receiving the count information from the P machine 2, regardless of whether the ball rental button 321 is pressed. The rental information is transmitted to the P platform 2. The P machine 2 receives the lending information from the CU3 and transmits the lending response information including the lending reception result response message to the CU3 within the response time (see FIG. 12). The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after the prescribed period A (see FIG. 12) has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3.

Thereafter, pressing of the counting button 28 by the player on the P table 2 is further detected. At the P machine 2, when it detects that the player presses the count button 28, the counted 250 balls are subtracted from the information of the number of game balls held = 750 balls, and the information of the number of game balls = 500 balls is updated. do.

However, if a power failure occurs after detecting that the player presses the count button 28 on the P machine 2, the P machine 2 cannot notify the CU of the counting notification message. Since the power outage cannot notify CU3 of the counting information including the information of the number of balls counted = 250 balls and the cumulative number of balls counted = 500 balls from the P machine 2, the counting information from the P machine 2 has not been received, so the number of balls counted 250 balls are missing, and the number of balls = 250 balls remains.

After that, when the power supply is restored, start-up processing is performed on the P machines 2 and CU3, and the P machines 2 and CU3 are restored, the P machines 2 transmit gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=500 balls. The previous number of game balls included in the game machine information notification received from the P machine 2 before the power failure occurred is the number of game balls=750 balls. Therefore, based on the difference in the number of game balls, CU3 determines that a communication interruption (power interruption) has occurred due to the occurrence of a power failure. In addition, CU3 determines that the previous count notification telegram could not be received due to a power failure and the count was lost, and the previous number of game balls = 750 balls (the number of game balls stored in CU3) and the current number of game balls = The difference 250 balls from 500 balls (the number of game balls newly received from the P table 2) is automatically corrected as a ball. At this time, CU3 does not report the error.

After that, since the player has not pressed the counting button 28 by the time the counting information is transmitted to the CU 3, the P machine 2 sends a counting notification message indicating that the number of balls counted = 0 balls and the number of accumulated counted balls = 0 balls. CU3 is notified of the counting information including the information. When a power failure occurs, the power of the P stand 2 is always turned off. When the power supply of the P table 2 is turned off, the cumulative counted number of balls becomes 0, and thus the cumulative counted number of balls cannot be used for automatic correction as shown in FIG. Therefore, CU3 automatically corrects the difference in the number of game balls when a power outage occurs. In addition, when the automatic correction is performed, the CU3 uses the cumulative number of ball counts received first after restoration as an initial value.

<Communication error sequence at the time of rental>
Next, a communication abnormality sequence at the time of rental will be described. 26 and 27 are diagrams showing a communication abnormality sequence at the time of lending between the card unit and the pachinko gaming machine. If a communication error occurs during rental, the number of rental balls may disappear or be double added.

Specifically, if the number of lent balls is lost, the unit will notify the number of lent balls and the serial number, but there may be cases where a communication error occurs during the rental and the number of lent balls is not received by the gaming machine. be. In this case, when the gaming machine counts, the unit is notified of the previous lending serial number and the number of lending balls of 0. Therefore, the unit assumes that the response from the gaming machine is normal, and does not count the number of lending balls. Do not resend the number of rental balls even though it is received. As a result, the number of lent balls that should have been lent to the gaming machine disappears.

In addition, as a double addition of the number of rented balls, there is a communication error during renting, but the unit notifies the number of rented balls and the rented serial number, and the number of rented balls is received by the gaming machine. . In this case, when the gaming machine counts, the unit is notified of the previous lending serial number and the number of lending balls of 0, so the unit receives the number of lending balls as an abnormal response from the gaming machine. resending the number of loaned balls despite the fact that As a result, the number of lent balls lent to the gaming machine is double-added.

Therefore, the CU3 prepares a serial number for confirmation that the P unit 2 cannot be rented, and suspends the lending process. there is With this function, it is possible to prevent double addition of the number of lent balls lent to the gaming machine.

First, the P machine transmits a gaming machine information notification to the CU3. The gaming machine information notification includes information on the number of game balls=1000 balls. Thereafter, when the CU3 detects that the player has pressed the ball lending button 321, the CU3 starts the process of giving 250 game balls to the P table 2 in divisions. However, within 100 ms after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to CU3, the P machine transmits the count information including the telegram of the count notification to CU3.

Since the player has not pressed the count button 28 by the time the count information is transmitted to the CU 3, the P machine includes the information of the number of counted balls = 0 balls and the cumulative number of counted balls = 0 balls in the counting notification telegram. CU3 is notified of the counting information. CU3 confirms the information of the number of counted balls=0 balls included in the count notification, in order to prioritize the reception of the count notification over the transmission of the rental notification. After confirming the information on the number of balls counted, the CU3 transmits rental information including a rental notification message to the P unit 2 within a valid reception period (for example, 170 ms) after receiving the counting information from the P unit 2. . Since the player has pressed the ball lending button 321, the CU3 notifies the P machine 2 of the lending by including the information of the lending serial number=1 and the number of lending balls=125 in the lending notification message. The CU3 transmits information on the number of rental balls in the range of 1 ball to 255 balls according to the rental unit price and the loan amount to the P machine 2 . Therefore, when lending 250 game balls, the 250 balls are divided into 125 balls each and given to the P table 2.例文帳に追加

P machine 2, which received the rental information transmitted from CU3, updates the number of game balls to 1125 balls, and transmits rental response information including a rental reception result response message to CU3 within the response time (for example, 10 ms). do. The lending reception result response telegram includes the information that the lending serial number is 1 and the lending ball number reception result is OK (normal).

The P machine 2 transmits the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after a specified period A (for example, 300 ms) has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was transmitted to the CU3. The new gaming machine information notification sent to CU3 includes information on the number of game balls=1125. Further, the P machine transmits counting information including a message of counting notification to CU3 within 100 ms after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to CU3.

CU3 confirms the information of the number of counted balls=0 balls included in the count notification, in order to prioritize the reception of the count notification over the transmission of the rental notification. After confirming the information on the number of balls counted, the CU3 transmits rental information including a rental notification message to the P unit 2 within a valid reception period (for example, 170 ms) after receiving the counting information from the P unit 2. . The CU3 notifies the P machine 2 of information on the remaining divided number of rental balls, including the information of the rental serial number = 2 and the number of rental balls = 125 in the telegram of the rental notification.

P machine 2, which received the rental information transmitted from CU3, updates the number of game balls to 1250 balls, and transmits rental response information including a rental reception result response message to CU3 within the response time (for example, 10 ms). do. The lending reception result response telegram includes the information that the lending serial number is 2 and the lending pitch reception result is OK (normal).

However, an error occurred in the communication between the P machine 2 and the CU3, and the rental reception result response message sent from the P machine 2 did not reach the CU3. Due to the reception, the lending response information including the telegram of the lending acceptance result response cannot be received within the response time (for example, 10 ms). In CU3, since the lending result is missing, it is determined that the lending process is incomplete.

The P machine 2 sends the gaming machine information notification to the CU3 after a prescribed period A (for example, 300 ms) has elapsed since the previous gaming machine information notification was sent to the CU3, regardless of whether or not the lending reception result response has been received by the CU3. Send. The new gaming machine information notification sent to CU3 includes information on the number of game balls=1250 balls. In CU3, it is conceivable to use the information on the number of game balls included in the gaming machine information notification as a rental confirmation as to whether or not the rental process has been completed. do not judge Further, the P machine transmits counting information including a message of counting notification to CU3 within 100 ms after transmitting the gaming machine information notification to CU3.

CU3 confirms the information of the number of counted balls=0 balls included in the count notification, in order to prioritize the reception of the count notification over the transmission of the rental notification. After confirming the information on the number of balls counted, the CU3 transmits rental information including a rental notification message to the P unit 2 within a valid reception period (for example, 170 ms) after receiving the counting information from the P unit 2. . CU3 determines that the lending process is incomplete because the previous lending result is missing, so it uses the serial number 0, which is not received by the P unit 2, and adds the lending serial number to the lending notification message. = 0, the number of lent balls = 0, and notify the P machine 2. In other words, the CU3 prepares a serial number for confirmation that the P machine 2 does not accept lending, and suspends the lending process.

P machine 2, which received the lending information transmitted from CU3, does not perform lending processing as a serial number for confirmation that lending is not accepted because the lending serial number is 0. , 10 ms), it transmits lending response information including a lending reception result response message to CU3. The lending reception result response telegram contains the information that the previous lending serial number = 2 and the lending ball number reception result = NG (abnormal) because the lending has not been accepted.

When the CU3 receives a lending reception result response including the information that the number of lending ball reception results is NG (abnormal), the CU3 refers to the serial number in the result response to determine the lending status. Specifically, when the lending serial number included in the previous lending notification message matches the lending serial number in the received lending acceptance result response message, CU3 determines that the loan has been completed, and In the case of notification-1), it is determined that the lending has not been completed.

<Communication between main control board and frame control board>
Next, communication between the main control board 16 (main control section 161) and the frame control board 17 (frame control section 171) provided in the P table 2 (see FIG. 2) will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 28, the sequence processed between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 when the power is turned on will be described. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17. As shown in FIG.

Communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is performed by a polling method with the main control board 16 as the primary station, and the polling interval is, for example, 108 ms. Note that communication for power-on notification and power-on reception is excluded. The main control board 16 resends the notification telegram when it cannot receive a response for 108 ms after transmitting the notification telegram. When the main control board 16 fails to receive a response from the frame control board 17 after accumulating 10 times, the main control board 16 determines that the communication line is disconnected.

Furthermore, the frame control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 only when it receives normal data. The serial number used for transmission/reception is stored in the storage unit of both the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17, and is used for confirming the normality of commands and for recovering from power failure and recovery from communication line interruption.

Specifically, the communication sequence will be described. First, when power is turned on, communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is started after the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 are activated. It takes, for example, 3 minutes at maximum to start up the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 . If the frame control board 17 fails to receive the gaming machine installation information notification within 3 minutes after activation, it reports an error as communication line disconnection. After the communication line is disconnected, if the gaming machine installation information notification is normally received, the error notification is canceled. Although the communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is performed in plaintext, encrypted communication may be performed.

The frame control board 17 does not determine whether there is an abnormality in communication with the main control board 16 for a specific period (for example, 3 minutes) after the power is turned on (communication abnormality cannot be determined). A communication abnormality determination is performed with the control board 16 (communication abnormality determination is possible). If the frame control board 17 determines that there is a communication abnormality during the communication abnormality determination period, the frame control board 17 can notify that there is a communication abnormality. In other words, the frame control board 17 does not perform the process of determining whether there is an abnormality in communication with the main control board 16 for a specific period (for example, 3 minutes) after the power is turned on, and receives the gaming machine installation information after startup. After that, it is possible to perform the process of determining communication abnormality.

First, the main control board 16 notifies the frame control board 17 of the gaming machine installation information after activation. Specifically, the main control board 16 sets the communication serial number to “0” and transmits a command for notifying the gaming machine installation information to the frame control board 17 . The frame control board 17 that has received the game machine installation information notification command sets the communication serial number to “1” without counting up and transmits a game machine installation information response to the main control board 16 .

After notifying the frame control board 17 of the game machine installation information, the main control board 16 notifies the frame control board 17 of the game machine information at a constant cycle (108 ms). Specifically, the main control board 16 transmits a game machine information notification command to the frame control board 17 with the communication serial number set to “1”. The frame control board 17 that has received the game machine information notification command sets the communication serial number to “1” and transmits a game machine information response response to the main control board 16 without counting up. Thereafter, when the main control board 16 transmits a command to the frame control board 17, it notifies the frame control board 17 of the gaming machine information while counting up the communication serial number.

The main control board 16 can transmit game information such as game machine installation information or game machine information to the frame control board 17 at predetermined intervals (for example, 108 ms) after the power is turned on. When it is controlled, the game machine is stopped and the game information such as the game machine installation information or the game machine information is not transmitted. In other words, when the setting change mode or setting confirmation mode control is started, the main control board 16 stops the game and updates the gaming machine information transmitted to the frame control board 17 every predetermined period (for example, 108 ms). Not notified. After that, when the state controlled in the setting change mode or the setting confirmation mode ends, the main control board 16 enters a game machine stop state and transmits game information such as game machine installation information or game machine information. That is, when the control in the setting change mode or the setting confirmation mode is completed, the main control board 16 restarts the game, and notifies the frame control board 17 of the game machine information that is being transmitted to the frame control board 17 every predetermined period (for example, 108 ms). to resume.

Here, the relationship between the communication timing between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 and the communication timing between the frame control board 17 (P table 2) and the CU3 will be described. FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a communication sequence for explaining communication timing. As shown in FIG. 29, the main control board 16 notifies the frame control board 17 of the gaming machine information at regular intervals (108 ms). On the other hand, the frame control board 17 transmits the game machine information to the CU3 at a cycle (300 ms) slower than the constant cycle (108 ms) of communication with the main control board 16 . Note that the frame control board 17 may transmit the game machine information to the CU3 at a cycle of 200 ms instead of 300 ms.

In other words, this is the communication timing at which the communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is performed three times while the communication between the frame control board 17 and the CU3 is performed once. When the communication between the frame control board 17 and the CU3 is at a period of 200 ms, the communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is repeated twice while the communication between the frame control board 17 and the CU3 is performed once. communication timing. Therefore, the frame control board 17 can acquire the information of the game machine from the main control board 16 more frequently, so that the change of the game machine can be grasped more accurately. can be sent to The communication timing between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 and the communication timing between the frame control board 17 (P table 2) and the CU3 are intentionally shifted by 108 ms so as not to coincide with each other. The period of communication between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 is not limited to 108 ms, and may be any period as long as it does not exceed 100 ms and is an integer multiple of 100 ms.

<Commands between the main control board and the frame control board>
Next, commands transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17 will be described. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a list of commands transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the frame control board 17. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 30, commands transmitted from the main control board 16 to the frame control board 17 include game machine installation information notification and game machine information notification. The game machine installation information notification command is a command for notifying the frame control board 17 of the game machine installation information. The game machine information notification command is a command for notifying the frame control board 17 of the game machine information.

On the other hand, the responses sent from the frame control board 17 to the main control board 16 include a gaming machine installation information response and a gaming machine information response. The gaming machine installation information response is a response for responding to the main control board 16 with the reception result of the gaming machine installation information. The gaming machine information response is a response for responding to the main control board 16 with the gaming machine information reception result.

<Game machine installation information notification/game machine installation information response>
Next, the gaming machine installation information notification command and the gaming machine installation information response response will be described in detail. FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining a gaming machine installation information notification command and a gaming machine installation information response response. The gaming machine installation information notification command shown in FIG. 31(a) is a command for the main control board 16 to notify the frame control board 17 of the gaming machine installation information. , "main control chip ID number", "main control CPU manufacturer code", and "main control CPU model code". The "game machine type" includes the information shown in FIG. When the main control board 16 transmits the game machine installation information notification command to the frame control board 17, the communication serial number is a fixed value of "0". Also, the electronic message for notifying the installation information of the gaming machine must be completed in one frame and not divided and transmitted. Further, if the frame control board 17 fails to receive the checksum within 20 ms after receiving the telegram length of the gaming machine installation information notification, the frame control board 17 cancels the data received up to that point and receives again from the telegram length. The following commands and responses are performed in the same way.

The gaming machine installation information response shown in FIG. 31(b) is a response for the frame control board 17 to respond to the main control board 16 with the reception result of the gaming machine installation information notification. Receipt Result”. The frame control board 17 responds with the communication serial number as a fixed value of "0" as in the game machine installation information notification.

<Game machine information notification>
Next, the game machine information notification command will be described in detail. FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining commands for game machine information notification. The game machine information notification command is a command for the main control board 16 to notify the frame control board 17 of game machine information (hall control information, fraud monitoring information, etc.). ”, “gaming machine error state”, “fraud detection state”, and “game information”. The main control board 16 adds 1 to the communication serial number when notifying the gaming machine information. Note that the maximum communication serial number is 255, and the count returns to 1 after 255. Also, when retransmitting a message, 1 is not added (updated) to the communication serial number.

The "main control state" is information on the game state of the P machine 2, and includes "main control state 1" and "main control state 2". "Main control state 1" includes information on jackpot 1 (all jackpots), jackpot 2 (specific jackpot), and jackpot 3 (time-saving jackpot), and information on gaming machine state signals 1-5. The gaming machine status signals 1 to 5 are used to output the status from the external output terminal 340 of CU3 to the hall controller 810 via the hall controller output BOX 811, and the "external terminal board status output" output from the hall controller output BOX 811 correspond to signal terminals 1 and 2” (see FIG. 54). "Main control state 1" includes information during big hit + time saving (variation time reduction), high probability, and time saving (variation time reduction). Regarding the status output signal output from the hall controller output BOX 811, the state output from "L" to "H" corresponds to the change of the bit corresponding to the gaming machine status signal 1 to 5 from "0" to "1". When the bits corresponding to the gaming machine state signals 1 to 5 change from "1" to "0", the state output signal changes from "H" to "L".

The "gaming machine error state" includes information on the error code occurring in the gaming machine. "Unauthorized detection state 1" is a setting change mode information indicating that the main control board 16 has changed the settings in Bit 0, and a setting confirmation mode indicating that the main control board 16 is confirming the settings. is indicated by Bit 1, and information indicating that the main control board 16 has detected a fraudulence detection state, in particular, board surface frauds 1 to 6 are indicated by Bits 2 to 6, respectively.

The “game information” includes information for notifying the frame control board 17 of start-up wins, big wins, and the number of symbol determinations generated by the main control board 16 . The "game information" consists of a total of 2 bytes: type information (upper 1 byte) and count information (lower 1 byte). The type information is composed of a data type and a data number, and a data number is set for each data type.

The type information will be explained in more detail. FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining type information included in game information. The type information is set for each value of the data type (Bits 4 to 7). For example, when the value of the data type is 1, it is the start-up winning information. A data number (Bits 0 to 3) is set for each data type. For example, if the data number is 1, it indicates the starting port number such as start port 1.

If the data type value is 2, it notifies that the player has won a large prize-winning slot by operating a special electric accessory, and if the data number is 1, it indicates a large-winning slot number such as 1. If the value of the data type is 9, it notifies the number of design decisions, and if the data number is 1, it indicates the special figure number such as special figure 1. When the data type value is 12, the number of times of the prize, that is, the number of openings of the big prize opening is notified. When the data type value is 14, it indicates that the CU3 is to output a pulse, and the data number indicates the terminal of the external output terminal 340 of the CU3. When the data type value is 15, the state required for calculating the performance information is notified, and the data number is fixed to 1.

As the count information, different frequency information is set for each data type. Data type is 1 = Starting entry winning prize 1, 2 = Starting entry winning prize 2, 3 = Starting entry winning prize 3, 4 = Starting entry winning prize 1, 5 due to other accessory operation = Starting entry winning award 2, 6 = In the case of the starting entrance winning prize 3 by the operation of other accessories, the count information is composed of the number of prize balls (upper 4 bits) and the number of winning prizes (lower 4 bits). For example, if 2 of 3 prize balls are won at start 1, the data type (Bits 4 to 7) is "1 = starter win", the data number (Bits 0 to 3) is "1 = starter 1", and the prize The game information (0x1131) with the number of balls (Bits 4 to 7) of "3 = 3 prize balls" and the number of prizes (Bits 0 to 3) of "1 = 1 prize" is 2 data.

When the data type is 9=the number of design determinations, the count information is composed of unused (upper 4 bits) and the number of design determinations (lower 4 bits). If the data type is 10=per special symbol and 11=per normal symbol, the count information is composed of unused (upper 4 bits) and the number of hits (lower 4 bits). When the data type is 12=the number of times of the prize (the number of openings of the big prize opening), the count information is composed of unused (higher 4 bits) and the number of times of the prize (lower 4 bits). When the data type is 13=specific area passing, the count information is composed of unused (upper 4 bits) and specific area passing number (lower 4 bits). When the data type is 14=external terminal board pulse output, the count information consists of unused (upper 4 bits) and the number of pulse output (lower 4 bits).

When the data type is 15=performance information status notification, the count information consists of unused (upper 4 bits) and a status flag (lower 4 bits). In the state flags (Bit0 to 3), Bit0 indicates the base state, Bit0 indicates that it is in the low base if it is "0", indicates that it is in the high base if it is "1", Bit1 indicates the state in the big hit, Bit1 is "0" indicates normal time, "1" indicates that it is a big hit, Bit2 indicates a high probability state, Bit1 indicates a low probability if "0", high probability if "1" there is

<Game machine information response>
FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the gaming machine information response command. The gaming machine information response shown in FIG. 34 is a response for the frame control board 17 to respond to the main control board 16 with the reception result of the gaming machine information notification, and includes "game machine information reception result". there is The frame control board 17 directly responds with the communication serial number received in the game machine information notification. However, when the frame control board 17 receives a communication serial number that does not establish continuity, it does not respond.

<Set value change processing>
Next, the CPU of the main control board 16 executes game control main processing such as initial setting processing, RAM clear processing, set value change processing, set value confirmation processing, random number circuit setting processing, timer interrupt setting, and interrupt permission. and periodically execute timer interrupt processing.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing set value change processing executed by the CPU of the main control board 16 in the game control main processing. It is assumed that the main control board 16 is provided with a lock switch, a setting switch, a RAM clear switch, and a display monitor (not shown). Further, in the present embodiment, the winning probability of the big hit (ball output rate) is changed according to the set value. More specifically, by using a display result determination table (winning probability) corresponding to the set value, the winning probability of the big win (ball payout rate) is changed. The setting value consists of 6 stages from 1 to 6, and 6 is the highest ball payout rate, and the smaller the value is in the order of 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, the lower the ball payout rate is. That is, when 6 is set as the set value, the advantage for the player is the highest, and the lower the value is in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, the lower the advantage is. In other words, the set value is such that 6, which is the largest value, is the most unfavorable value for the game hall side, and 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 are values that are advantageous to the game hall side as the values become smaller in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Become.

When changing the setting value, the main control board 16 inserts a predetermined setting key into the lock switch, operates the setting key to turn it from OFF to ON, and operates the RAM clear switch and the setting changeover switch when the power is turned on. is ON, the setting change state is entered and the set value change process is executed. In the setting value change process, the CPU of the main control board 16 first starts lighting all the segments that make up the first special symbol display device (not shown) and the second special symbol display device (not shown) ( S4501).

Further, the CPU of the main control board 16 adds information (specific information) of the setting change mode to the gaming machine information notification and transmits it to the frame control board 17 (S4502). The setting change mode information transmitted to the frame control board 17 is not notified by the frame control board 17, but is controlled to the setting change mode via the CU3 connected to the P stand 2 and the hall controller output BOX. It is output to a management device such as a management computer of a hall controller or amusement arcade as a security signal indicating that it is in use.

The main control board 16 determines whether any value from 1 to 6 is stored as a set value at the address F000 of the RAM (S4503). If an invalid value other than 1 to 6 is stored in the RAM of the main control board 16, or if no setting value is stored in the RAM of the main control board 16 (NO in S4503), the main control board 16 adds information (setting change error) to the game machine information notification as a game machine error, transmits it to the frame control board 17, and advances the process to S4505 (S4504). The game machine error information sent to the frame control board 17 is not notified by the frame control board 17, but is sent to the hall controller or the management computer of the game hall via the CU3 connected to the P stand 2 and the hall controller output BOX. etc. is output to the management device. If any value from 1 to 6 is stored as a setting value in the RAM of the main control board 16 (YES in S4503), the process proceeds to S4505 without executing the processing of S4504.

The CPU of the main control board 16 starts displaying the set values stored at address F000 in the RAM on a display monitor (not shown) (S4505).

Then, the CPU 103 of the main control board 16 sets a set value changing flag (S4507), and determines whether or not a setting switch (not shown) has been operated (S4508). If the setting changeover switch has not been operated (NO at S4508), the process proceeds to S4511. The contents of F001 are updated (S4509).

Specifically, when the set value displayed on the display monitor is "1", the set value "2", which is one step more advantageous for the player than "1", is set as the temporary set value. When the set value stored in the address F001 of the RAM of the control board 16 and displayed on the display monitor is "2", the set value "3" is one step more advantageous than "2" for the player. is stored as a provisional set value in the address F001 of the RAM of the main control board 16; do. If the set value displayed on the display monitor is "6", "1" may be stored as a provisional set value in the address F001 of the RAM of the main control board 16. FIG.

Then, the CPU of the main control board 16 displays the setting value (temporary setting value) stored in the address F001 in the RAM on the display monitor (S4510), and determines whether or not the lock switch (not shown) is ON. is determined (S4511).

If the lock switch is ON (YES in S4511), the CPU of main control board 16 stores a new provisional set value in address F001 of RAM of main control board 16 by repeatedly executing the processes of S4508 to S4511. and a process of displaying the set value stored at the address F001 on the display monitor.

If the lock switch is OFF (NO in S4511), the CPU of the main control board 16 clears the setting value changing flag (S4512) and changes the setting value (or provisional setting value) on the display monitor. The display is terminated (S4513), and all segments constituting the first special symbol display device and the second special symbol display device are turned off (S4514).

Then, the CPU of the main control board 16 determines whether or not a provisional set value is stored at the address F001 in the RAM (S4515). If the provisional setting value is not stored at the address F001 in the RAM of the main control board 16 (NO in S4515), the process proceeds to S4518, and if the provisional setting value is stored at the address F001 in the RAM of the main control board 16 If (YES in S4515), it is further determined whether or not the setting value stored at address F000 in the RAM differs from the provisional setting value stored at address F001 (S4516).

If the setting value stored at address F000 in the RAM of the main control board 16 and the provisional setting value stored at address F001 are the same (NO in S4516), the process proceeds to S4518, and the main control If the set value stored at address F000 in the RAM of the board 16 is different from the provisional set value stored at address F001 (YES in S4516), the set value is stored at address F001 in the RAM. The provisional setting value currently set is stored in address F000 (S4517), and the process proceeds to S4518. In other words, in the process of S4517, the temporary set values are updated and stored in the RAM of the main control board 16 as the actual set values.

Further, the CPU of the main control board 16 deletes the setting change mode information from the gaming machine information notification transmitted to the frame control board 17 and transmits it to the frame control board 17 (S4518), ending the setting value change process. do. By deleting the setting change mode information from the game machine information notification, the CPU of the main control board 16 is controlled to the setting change mode output to a management device such as a hall controller or a game arcade management computer. You can turn off the security signal that indicates that you are Note that even if the main control board 16 cancels the setting change mode, the security signal is not stopped immediately, but after a delay (for example, 30 seconds) from the cancellation of the setting change mode. The stop control of the security signal may be performed by the main control board 16, or may be performed by any of the frame control board 17, the CU3, and the hall control output BOX.

Note that the main control board 16 inserts a predetermined setting key into the lock switch, operates the setting key to turn it from OFF to ON, and if only the setting switch is turned ON when the power is turned on, the setting is performed. A confirmation state is entered and set value confirmation processing is executed. In the setting value confirmation process, the CPU of the main control board 16 first starts lighting all the segments that constitute the first special symbol display device and the second special symbol display device, and notifies the frame control board 17 of the gaming machine information. is added with the setting confirmation mode information (predetermined information) and transmitted. The setting confirmation mode information transmitted to the frame control board 17 is sent to the hall controller as a security signal indicating that it is controlled to the setting confirmation mode via the CU 3 connected to the P stand 2 and the hall controller output BOX. and a management device such as a game hall management computer.

Then, the CPU of the main control board 16 displays the set value stored at the address F001 in the RAM on the display monitor. If the RAM of the main control board 16 stores an invalid setting value other than 1 to 6, or if the setting value is not stored in the RAM of the main control board 16, the main control board 16 As a game machine error, information (error at the time of setting confirmation) is added to the game machine information notification and transmitted to the frame control board 17 . The game machine error information sent to the frame control board 17 is not notified by the frame control board 17, but is sent to the hall controller or the management computer of the game hall via the CU3 connected to the P stand 2 and the hall controller output BOX. etc. is output to the management device. Then, when the lock switch is turned off, the CPU of the main control board 16 deletes the setting confirmation mode information from the gaming machine information notification transmitted to the frame control board 17, and transmits it to the frame control board 17 to set the information. End the value confirmation process.

By deleting the setting confirmation mode information from the game machine information notification, the CPU of the main control board 16 is controlled to the setting confirmation mode output to the management device such as the management computer of the hall controller or the game arcade. You can turn off the security signal that indicates that you are Even if the main control board 16 cancels the setting confirmation mode, the security signal is not stopped immediately, but after a delay (for example, 1 second) from the cancellation of the setting confirmation mode. The stop control of the security signal may be performed by the main control board 16, or may be performed by any of the frame control board 17, the CU3, and the hall control output BOX.

Although it has been described that the main control board 16 is provided with the setting changeover switch, the RAM clear switch, and the display monitor, at least one of these components may be provided on the frame control board 17 . For example, when a lock switch or a setting changeover switch is provided on the frame control board 17, when the lock switch or the setting changeover switch is operated, the information is transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the main control board 16. may Also, if a display monitor is provided on the frame control board 17 , the set values may be transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the main control board 16 .

<Processing on the frame control board>
Next, processing executed by the CPU of the frame control board 17 will be described in detail. First, by executing a program in the CPU of the frame control board 17, various control processes such as power-on processing, main loop processing, and timer interrupt processing are performed. The memory space of the CPU of the frame control board 17 has a memory space for accessing built-in registers, ROM, RAM and the like. Specifically, FIG. 36 shows a memory map of the program memory and RAM areas. As for the memory space of the CPU of the frame control board 17, for example, a program memory area is assigned to the built-in ROM area of 0000H to 1BC3H (H indicates a hexadecimal number; the same shall apply hereinafter) in the memory space. The CPU of the frame control board 17 reads programs stored in the built-in ROM area and performs various control processes.

In the program memory, as shown in FIG. 36, a program area within the use area of 0000H to 0939H in the memory space (simply referred to as a program within the area), a data area within the use area of 0939H to 09AEH (simply referred to as the data area within the area). ), an out-of-use program area of 1000H to 1B39H (also simply called out-of-area program), and an out-of-use data area of 1B40H-1BC3H (simply called out-of-area data area). Further, a free area of 09AFH to 0FFFH is allocated between the intra-area data area and the intra-area data area. The CPU of the frame control board 17 designates this program memory and reads out the program from the ROM.

Also, although not shown, the memory space is allocated to a built-in register area. The CPU of the frame control board 17 reads data from the built-in register and writes data to the register via this built-in register area.

Furthermore, F000H to F3FFH in the memory space are allocated to the internal RAM area. The CPU of the frame control board 17 designates this RAM area to read data from the RAM and write data to the RAM. Note that the area after F400H in the memory space is an unused area.

As shown in FIG. 36, the RAM area includes a RAM area within the use area of F000H to F12CH (also referred to simply as the RAM area within the area), and a stack area within the use area of F12DH to F1FFH (also simply referred to as the stack area within the area). ), a RAM area outside the use area F200H to F297H (also simply called an outside RAM area), and a stack area outside the use area F298H to F400H (also simply called an outside stack area). The CPU of the frame control board 17 designates this RAM area to read and write data from the RAM.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the configuration of the programs stored in the area program and the outside area program in the program memory. In the area program, programs for "power-on processing", "main control processing", "interrupt control processing" and "general purpose processing", which are programs for controlling the frame control board 17, are stored. Furthermore, the programs in the area include "power supply", "main control communication function", "game ball lending function (dedicated PIF)", "fire control function", "game ball number display function", "test signal output function" ”, “error cancellation function”, and “internal data area” programs are stored.

The out-of-area program stores programs for "power-on processing" and "general-purpose processing". Furthermore, the out-of-area program includes "performance display function", "error detection function", "error cancellation function", "fraud monitoring function", "game ball circulation function", "ball polishing function", and "out-of-area data area” program is stored.

In the program memory, programs common to the game frame (common frame program) are stored in the programs from the "power-on processing" to the "fraud monitoring function" of the in-area program and the out-of-area program. In other words, the same common program is stored in the program memory regardless of the manufacturer or model. On the other hand, the "game ball circulation function", the "ball polishing function", and the "outside area data area" of the outside area program store different programs depending on the specifications of the game frames. In other words, the program memory stores a program corresponding to the specifications of the game frame for each manufacturer and model. The programs from "error detection function" to "outside data area" are programs (equivalent to middleware) implemented by CPU functions.

In this way, the program memory includes a frame common program area storing a program of the "main control communication function" for executing at least communication processing and game information management processing, and at least predetermined calculation processing and game medium circulation processing. It has a different program area (non-common program area) for each frame specification in which the "game ball circulation function" program for execution is stored. Since the programs stored in the frame-common program area and the non-common program area are divided in this way, it is possible to separate and develop a common program regardless of the specifications of the game frame and a different program for each frame specification. Therefore, the development efficiency of the game machine is improved. In addition, if the amount of use of the program within the area and the program outside the area is assumed to be 3011 Kbytes as shown in FIG. It suffices to develop a different program for each specification, and the development efficiency of the game machine is improved.

In addition, the game frames are stored in a common program area regardless of the type of game machine (for example, manufacturer or model) in the program memory, and are stored in a non-common program area depending on the type of game machine. different programs. As a result, the development efficiency of the game machine is improved by using the program stored in the frame-common program area only by developing different programs according to the type of the game machine. In particular, since there are multiple game frames with different specifications such as the circulation path of game balls, such as the upper game frame and the lower game frame where the shooting device is located, The program of the "circulation function" will also differ depending on the game frame. Therefore, by storing the "game ball circulation function" program in a different program area (non-common program area) for each frame specification, only the program in that area is created according to the game frame specifications, Since the programs in the frame-common program area can be used as they are, the development efficiency of the game machine is improved.

Next, "power-on processing", "main control processing (main loop processing)", and "interrupt control processing (timer interrupt processing)" executed by the CPU of the frame control board 17 will be described in detail. FIG. 38 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the program executed by the CPU of the frame control board 17. FIG. Note that the CPU of the frame control board 17 is hereinafter simply referred to as the frame control board 17 as well.

First, the frame control board 17 executes a power-on process program when the power of the P table 2 is turned on (step S100). When the power-on process ends, the frame control board 17 executes a main loop process program (step S200), and repeatedly executes processes required for the game. The frame control board 17 is set so that the built-in CTC (counter/timer) repeatedly generates a timer interrupt during execution of the main loop processing program (step S300). The repetition period is set to 1 ms, for example.

Next, the power-on processing will be described in detail. FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining the processing executed in the power-on processing. First, when the power-on process is started, the frame control board 17 executes the CPU initialization process (step S101) and initializes the flag set in the CPU. In addition, the frame control board 17 may perform CPU built-in register setting, power failure detection signal standby processing, communication initial setting, and the like. Further, the frame control board 17 executes RAM clear processing (step S102) to initialize the information stored in the RAM.

Next, the frame control board 17 executes game ball clear processing (step S103) and sets the number of game balls stored on the frame control board 17 side to 0 (zero). In addition, the frame control board 17 executes processing for setting initial values within the region, such as clearing of the work area, processing for setting RAM initial values, and processing for determining transition to the ball removal function (step S104). Thereafter, the frame control board 17 executes the power-on process stored in the out-of-area program area to perform the out-of-area initial value setting process (step S105). The out-of-area initial value setting processing includes, for example, out-of-area work area clear processing, out-of-area work area initial value setting processing, out-of-area port input processing, and out-of-area output port clear processing.

Next, the main loop processing will be described in detail. FIG. 40 is a flow chart for explaining the processing executed in the main loop processing. First, the frame control board 17 executes a firing stop control process (step S201) and outputs a signal to the firing control board 31 to stop shooting the game ball. Thereafter, the frame control board 17 executes main control board communication processing (step S202), communicates with the main control board 16, and receives game machine information and the like from the main control board 16. FIG. The frame control board 17 executes a game machine information management process (step S203) and manages the game machine information received from the main control board 16. FIG.

Next, the frame control board 17 executes SC board communication processing (step S204), communicates with the CU3, and transmits gaming machine information and the like to the CU3. Further, the frame control board 17 executes game ball number display control processing (step S205) and displays the game ball number managed by the frame control board 17 side on the game ball number display 29. FIG. After that, the frame control board 17 executes an intra-area error cancellation process (step S206).

Next, the frame control board 17 executes the ball polishing mechanism control process stored in the outside program area to polish dirt on the game ball collected from the out port 154 (step S207). After that, the frame control board 17 executes the game ball circulation mechanism control process stored in the program area outside the area, and returns the game balls processed by the ball polishing mechanism to the shooting device (step S208). The frame control board 17 also executes the out-of-area error detection process (step S209) and the out-of-area error cancellation process (step S210) stored in the out-of-area program area.

Further, the frame control board 17 executes fraud detection processing (step S211), performance information accumulation processing (step S212), and performance information calculation processing (step S213) stored in the outside program area. The performance information accumulation process performs a process of accumulating and storing performance information, which will be described later. Also, the performance information calculation process is a process of calculating predetermined information such as the base, the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio. Note that the frame control board 17 can execute other processes described in FIG. 37 in the main loop process.

Next, timer interrupt processing will be described in detail. FIG. 41 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in timer interrupt processing. The timer interrupt processing interrupts the main loop processing every 1 ms and executes the following processing. First, the frame control board 17 performs 1 ms timer subtraction processing (step S301), cassette motor driving processing (step S302), and lifting motor driving processing (step S303). By executing the cassette motor driving process and the lifting motor driving process, the game balls collected at the out port 154 are returned to the launching device. The cassette motor driving process and the lifting motor driving process are stored in the outside program area.

Next, the frame control board 17 determines whether or not to perform the processing to be executed every 2 ms depending on whether or not the repetition period has passed twice (step S304). When performing the process to be executed every 2ms (YES in step S304), the frame control board 17 performs the 2ms timer subtraction process (step S305), and executes the game ball number indicator LED control process (step S306). The game ball number display LED control process performs control to display the game ball number managed by the frame control board 17 on the game ball number display 29 .

Thereafter, the frame control board 17 executes port input processing (step S307), switch detection processing (step S308), and subtraction mechanism control processing (step S309) as processing executed every 2 ms. The port input process controls a port for receiving information such as gaming machine information transmitted from the main control board 16 . The switch detection process detects the states of various switches connected to the frame control board 17 . The subtraction mechanism control process subtracts the number of game balls based on information such as gaming machine information transmitted from the main control board 16 .

Furthermore, the frame control board 17 executes ball polishing mechanism control timer subtraction processing (step S310), ball polishing mechanism switch detection processing (step S311), and game ball circulation mechanism switch detection processing (step S312) as processes executed every 2 ms. ). Ball polishing mechanism control timer subtraction processing, ball polishing mechanism switch detection processing, and game ball circulation mechanism switch detection processing are stored in the program area outside the area, and realize functions related to the circulation of game balls collected at the out port 154. ing. In addition, the frame control board 17 executes out-of-area error monitoring processing (step S313), out-of-area error cancellation monitoring processing (step S314), and fraud monitoring processing (step S315) as processes executed every 2 ms. The out-of-area error monitoring process, out-of-area error cancellation monitoring process, and fraud monitoring process are stored in the out-of-area program area.

Next, the frame control board 17 executes the processing every 4 ms after executing the fraud monitoring processing, or if the processing to be executed every 2 ms is not executed (NO in step S304), depending on whether or not the repetition cycle has passed four times. It is determined whether or not to perform the processing to perform the processing (step S316). When performing the process to be executed every 4 ms (YES in step S316), the frame control board 17 performs the 4 ms timer subtraction process and the test signal output process (step S318). If the process to be executed every 4 ms is not executed (NO in step S316), the frame control board 17 terminates the timer interrupt process.

Next, the performance information accumulation process (step S212) and performance information calculation process (step S213) executed in the main loop process will be described in detail. First, performance information items accumulated or calculated in performance information accumulation processing and performance information calculation processing will be described. FIG. 42 is a diagram for explaining performance information items. The total number of shot game balls is the total number of shots detected by the frame control board 17 . The total number of game balls acquired is the number of all game balls acquired through the game, and includes "starting gate winning", "large winning gate winning by operating special electric accessories", "winning gate winning", and "gate passing". Or normal figure operation entrance prize”, “starting entrance prize by normal electric accessory operation”, “large prize entrance prize by continuous operation device operation”, “prize by normal electric accessory operation”, “other accessory operation It is the cumulative total of the number of game balls obtained by "winning".

The ball output rate is a value calculated by (total number of acquired game balls/total number of fired game balls.times.100). The number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is a value obtained by the total number of acquired game balls during the low base/the total number of game balls fired during the low base×100. The role ratio is a value obtained by multiplying the total number of prize balls by the action of the role/total number of game balls acquired×100. In addition, the cumulative total number of prize balls by the action of the accessory is "the number of game balls acquired by the operation of the special electric accessory when the accessory continuous operation device is not activated", "the number of game balls acquired by the operation of the normal electric accessory". , and "the number of game balls acquired by other accessories". The continuous role ratio is a value obtained by multiplying the cumulative total number of prize balls by the continuous role action/total number of acquired game balls×100. The cumulative value of the total number of prize balls by the continuous role product operation is a number obtained by accumulating "the number of game balls acquired by the operation of the continuous role product operation device". The ball output rate, the number of game balls obtained per minute (base), the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio are performance information items calculated in the performance information calculation process.

The total number of game balls fired and the total number of game balls acquired are performance information items accumulated in the performance information accumulation process, but there are also "the number of operations of the accessory continuous operation device" and "maximum number of difference balls (MY)". and so on.

Incidentally, it is possible to similarly apply the performance information accumulation process (step S212) and the performance information calculation process (step S213) to a medalless slot machine. In that case, the performance information item shown in FIG. 42 is read as the total number of used medals for the total number of game balls fired, and the total number of earned medals for the total number of acquired game balls, and the number of medals (game value equivalent to medals) is accumulated. . For example, the total number of winning game balls is the sum of the number of medals awarded for small wins in BB, RB, CB, or AT, and the number of medals awarded for minor wins in normal conditions. . In addition, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is a value obtained by multiplying the total number of medals acquired in a normal state other than BB, RB, CB, or AT/total number of medals used in a normal state x 100. . Furthermore, the accessory ratio is a value obtained by multiplying the total number of acquired medals in BB, RB, and CB/total number of acquired medals×100.

Next, the timing of calculation processing in performance information calculation processing will be described. The frame control board 17, for example, transmits the gaming machine performance information 180 seconds after the completion of the gaming machine startup as shown in CU3 and FIG. 18, and then transmits the gaming machine performance information at intervals of 180 seconds. In this case, the frame control board 17 performs performance information calculation processing 100 ms before transmission in a period of 180 seconds. As the processing time increases, the load of arithmetic processing increases. For example, when the frame control board 17 executes the performance information calculation process 100 ms before transmitting the gaming machine performance information, the ball output rate, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), and the character ratio are calculated in one main loop process. , If all the continuous accessory ratios are calculated, there is a risk of affecting other processes in the main loop process.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the performance information calculation process can be executed multiple times within a predetermined period (for example, 100 ms), and the parameters (ball output rate, minute acquisition rate, The number of game balls (base), character ratio, continuous character ratio) are set to one. Then, the frame control board 17 avoids concentration of calculation processing by calculating another parameter in the performance information calculation processing of the specific times after the predetermined times within the predetermined period.

FIG. 43 is a timing chart for explaining processing timings of performance information transmission processing and performance information calculation processing. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 43, the performance information transmission process transmits gaming machine performance information to CU3 every 180 seconds. The frame control board 17 calculates the ball output rate, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio 100 ms before transmitting the gaming machine performance information to the CU 3 in the performance information transmission process. In the performance information calculation process executed in the first main loop process in a period of 100 ms, one parameter is selected from a plurality of parameters and calculated, and in the second main loop process another parameter is selected and calculated. . In other words, multiple parameters are not calculated in the performance information transmission process executed in one main loop process.

When the parameters are the ball output rate, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), the role ratio, and the continuous role ratio, as shown in FIG. Only the rate is calculated in the performance information calculation process. Next, in the second main loop process, the frame control board 17 calculates only the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) in the performance information calculation process.

After that, in the third main loop process, the frame control board 17 calculates only the character ratio in the performance information calculation process. Further, in the fourth main loop process, the frame control board 17 calculates only the continuous accessory ratio in the performance information calculation process. The maximum processing time for each main loop process is 3 ms. In addition, in the performance information calculation process, parameters can be sequentially processed one by one by providing counters in the order of processing the ball output rate, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), the role ratio, and the continuous role ratio.

The main loop processing includes performance information accumulation processing (specific arithmetic processing), as described with reference to FIG. In the performance information accumulation process, the ball output rate, the number of game balls acquired per minute (base), the role ratio, the total number of game balls fired that are different from the continuous role ratio, the total number of game balls acquired, and the number of operations of the role continuous operation device , the maximum number of difference balls (MY) (a plurality of parameters belonging to the special type). At each time of the main loop processing, calculations are performed regarding the total number of game balls shot, the total number of game balls acquired, the number of operations of the accessory continuous actuating device, and the maximum difference number of balls (MY). In the timing chart shown in FIG. 43, the total number of game balls fired, the total number of game balls acquired, the number of times the accessory continuous actuating device is operated, and the maximum number of difference balls ( MY). Therefore, in the frame control board 17, it becomes possible to manage in real time the parameters that change during the game, such as the total number of game balls launched and the total number of game balls acquired.

Next, the maximum number of difference balls (MY) will be described in detail. FIG. 44 is a diagram for explaining the maximum difference number of balls. The vertical axis shown in FIG. 44 indicates an increase or decrease in the number of game balls, which increases with prize balls and decreases with shots. When the power is turned on, the differential ball number counter = 0 and the maximum differential ball number = 0. When the game is started, the number of game balls decreases as the game balls are shot, and continues to decrease until the first big win occurs. In addition, when the difference ball number counter=0, even if the game ball is shot, the difference ball number counter is not counted.

The number of game balls turns to increase by acquiring prize balls due to the occurrence of the first big hit. The differential ball number counter is updated by adding the differential ball number counter+the number of winning balls as the processing at the time of winning balls, and when the differential ball number counter is larger than the maximum differential ball number, the maximum differential ball number is updated. In FIG. 44, when the first big hit occurs, the number of difference balls counter=0 and the maximum number of difference balls=0. The numbers will keep updating.

When the first big hit is completed and 1000 prize balls are won, the difference ball number counter=1000 and the maximum difference ball number=1000. After that, when the game is continued and the game ball is shot, the differential ball number counter is not 0, so the differential ball number counter is updated by (the differential ball number counter-the number of shot balls). That is, when the difference ball number counter is 1 or more, the number of shot balls is subtracted from the difference ball number counter each time a game ball is shot.

In FIG. 44, the difference ball number counter continues to decrease until the second big win occurs. While the number of difference balls counter is decreasing, the maximum number of difference balls is not updated. After that, the differential ball number counter increases by winning prize balls, and continues to decrease by shooting the number of game balls. Next, when the differential ball number counter exceeds the maximum differential ball number of 1000, the maximum differential ball number is updated. When the second big hit is finished and the difference ball number counter reaches 1200, the maximum difference ball number=1200 is updated.

Since the maximum difference number of balls is included in the performance information items calculated in the performance information accumulation process, it is notified to CU3 every 180 seconds. The processing of counting the difference ball number counter, updating the maximum difference ball number, and notifying the CU3 of the maximum difference number of balls shown in FIG. 44 is repeated until the P-table 2 is powered off.

<Configuration of Gaming System Including Card Unit and Pachinko Machine>
The P unit 2 is connected to the CU 3 on a one-to-one basis. In the game hall (hall), there are a plurality of sets of the P table 2 and the CU 3, and each set is connected to a management computer and a hall controller to constitute a game system. A gaming system including the CU 3 and the P table 2 will be described below. FIG. 45 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a gaming system including card units and pachinko gaming machines. In the gaming system shown in FIG. 45, an example in which one set of P stand 2 and CU3 is connected to the management computer 802 and hall computer 810 is illustrated for the sake of simplicity of explanation.

The P-table 2 and the CU 3 are connected via the PIF wiring 322 . This PIF wiring 322 connects the PIF-E circuit 171a connected to the frame controller 171 of the P-table 2 and the PIF-E circuit 325a connected to the SC board 325 of the CU3. In the CU3, the SC board 325 encrypts the information transmitted from the P unit 2 as necessary, and outputs the information to the outside (the management computer 802 and hall computer 810) via the CU control unit 323. FIG. The SC board 325 is a security monitoring board for the gaming system. Note that the SC board 325 and the CU control unit 323 may be combined into one.

The management computer 802 is a computer connected to the external output terminal 340 of the CU3, the card company data center 801 is the center of the card company connected to the management computer 802, and the game machine information center 800 is output from the P machine 2. It is a center that collects various information related to

Hall controller 810 is a computer that collects game information output from P stand 2, and hall controller output BOX 811 can receive information output from external output terminal 340 of CU 3 with hall controller 810, a data lamp, or the like. It is a device that converts into a signal and outputs it. Although FIG. 45 shows a configuration in which the hall controller output BOX 811 is provided outside the CU3, the hall controller output BOX 811 may be provided inside the CU3.

<Communication between hall controller output box and card unit>
The hall controller output BOX 811 is a signal conversion unit for game information, and is a device that outputs game information to the outside (for example, the hall controller 810, etc.). Also, a plurality of hall controller output BOXes 811 may be connected to the hall controller 810 via repeaters (not shown). Hall controller output BOX 811 and CU3 are connected by serial communication, and it is necessary to ensure some kind of security when connecting with CU3. Specifically, if the hall controller output BOX 811 is illegally modified and inaccurate information is output to the hall controller 810, the inaccurate information is provided to the player, resulting in an inappropriate state. In addition, if whether or not the gaming machine information can be output depends on the specifications of the card unit, the outputting of the gaming machine information itself may be wasted. Therefore, while unifying the outputs from the hall controller output BOX 811 to the outside, the hall controller output BOX 811 performs authentication processing when connecting to the CU3. The CU3 may incorporate a circuit unit corresponding to the hall controller output BOX811. CU3, which incorporates a circuit unit corresponding to the hall controller output BOX 811, is connected to the hall controller 810 by serial communication, performs authentication processing in the circuit unit corresponding to the hall controller output BOX 811, and, depending on the result, outputs game machine information. Output is disabled. Communication between the hall controller output BOX 811 and CU3 will be described in detail below.

46 and 47 are diagrams showing the connection sequence between the card unit and the hall controller output BOX. FIG. 46 shows the connection sequence when the hall controller output BOX 811 is powered on before CU3. FIG. 47 shows the connection sequence when the hall controller output BOX 811 is powered on after CU3. It shows the connection sequence. First, in the connection sequence of FIG. 46, the hall controller output box 811 waits for connection with the CU control unit 323 until the CU3 is powered on and communication with the CU control unit 323 becomes possible.

When the power supply of CU3 is turned on and communication with the CU control unit 323 becomes possible, the CU control unit 323 confirms the connection destination with respect to the hall controller output BOX 811 and issues an authentication data issue request. Hall controller output BOX 811 performs a connection destination confirmation response in response to connection destination confirmation from CU control unit 323 and issues authentication data to CU control unit 323 . The issued authentication data is stored in CU control unit 323 .

On the other hand, the SC board 325 transmits a hall controller output BOX authentication notification command to the CU control unit 323 . In response to the hall controller output BOX authentication notification, the CU control unit 323 includes the stored authentication data in a hall controller output BOX authentication response command and transmits the command to the SC board 325 . The SC board 325 authenticates the hall controller output BOX 811 based on the hall controller output BOX authentication response. After authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811, communication between the hall controller output BOX 811 and CU3 is started. When the communication is started, the SC board 325 transmits the gaming machine information notification including the gaming machine information transmitted from the P machine 2, and the CU control section 323 receives the information transmitted from the SC board 325. The gaming machine information is included in the hall console information notification command and transmitted to the hall console output BOX 811 . If hall controller output BOX 811 cannot be authenticated (NG), CU3 does not communicate with hall controller output BOX 811 and does not output information.

In the connection sequence of FIG. 47, when the CU3 is powered on, the CU control unit 323 requests the hall controller output BOX 811 to issue authentication data. No issuance. The CU control unit 323 requests the issuance of authentication data until the hall controller output BOX 811 is powered on, and waits for connection with the hall controller output BOX 811 . The processing after the hall controller output BOX 811 is powered on is the same as the processing in the connection sequence of FIG. 46, so the description will not be repeated.

Next, authentication processing between the hall controller output BOX 811 and the CU control unit 323 will be described in detail. FIG. 48 is a diagram for explaining communication between the card unit and the hall controller output BOX. First, the CU control unit 323 requests the hall controller output BOX 811 to issue authentication data. When issuing an authentication data issuance request, the CU control unit 323 transmits information of the current date (X month X day) and information of the SC management number to the hall computer output BOX 811 as encryption source data.

In the hall computer output box 811, information obtained by adding the pre-embedded fixed key, the received encryption source data, and the expiration date (△ days), and the pre-embedded encryption key A are encrypted by block cipher. to implement. Hall controller output BOX 811 issues the encrypted information to CU control unit 323 as authentication data. The issued authentication data is stored as authentication data in hall controller output BOX 811 in CU control unit 323 .

Authentication is performed between the CU control unit 323 and the SC board 325, and communication between the CU control unit 323 and the SC board 325 becomes possible. Thereafter, the SC board 325 transmits a hall controller output BOX authentication notification command to the CU control unit 323 in order to perform authentication with the hall controller output BOX 811 . In response to the hall controller output BOX authentication notification, the CU control unit 323 stores the stored authentication data, the information on whether the hall controller output BOX 811 is connected or not, and the current date information among the encryption source data. It is included in the command of the computer output BOX authentication response and transmitted to the SC board 325 . The SC board 325 decrypts the authentication data transmitted in the hall controller output BOX authentication response with the pre-embedded encryption key A, and adds the fixed key, the encryption source data, and the expiration date (△ days). Get tailored information.

The SC board 325 confirms the expiration date of the authentication data from the obtained information. Specifically, the SC board 325 judges that the current date is valid until XX day of the month + △ day of expiration date = XX day of the month + △ day. Therefore, the SC board 325 notifies the hall controller output BOX 811 of the game information if it is within the validity period even if the hall controller output BOX 811 is not connected. After that, the SC board 325 checks the authentication data in the hall controller output BOX 811 from the obtained information. Furthermore, after confirming the states of the SC board 325 and the CU control unit 323, the CU3 starts communication with the P stand 2. FIG. Information sent from the SC board 325 to the hall controller output BOX 811 via the CU control unit 323 is encrypted with a fixed key, for example. When the SC board 325 determines from the obtained information that the authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811 is NG, the display 54 notifies the abnormality. Of course, CU3 may output an error signal to the management computer 802 or the like when authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811 is NG.

Here, the contents notified to the CU3 and hall controller output BOX 811 will be described. FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining the contents notified to the inside of the card unit and the hall controller output BOX. FIG. 49( a ) shows information notified from the SC substrate 325 to the CU control unit 323 among the information output to the Hall controller output BOX 811 . As shown in FIG. 49(a), when the validity period of the authentication data expires, the SC board 325 does not notify the CU control unit 323 of the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state, and the game information. However, even if the connection of the hall controller output BOX 811 changes to no, the information notified from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323 does not change. Besides when the validity period of the authentication data expires, the SC board 325 does not notify the CU control unit 323 of the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state, and the game information even when the authentication fails. Also, in FIG. 49(a), since the SC board 325 does not notify the CU control unit 323 of the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state, and various types of game information, these information are displayed on the CU3 side. (same as the display limitation on the data lamp side below). The setting change and setting confirmation information is information notified from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323 regardless of whether the authentication data has expired and regardless of whether the Hall controller output BOX 811 is connected or not. .

FIG. 49(b) shows information notified from the CU control unit 323 to the hall controller output BOX 811. FIG. As shown in FIG. 49(b), when the validity period of the authentication data expires, the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state and the game information are controlled by the CU as in the case of FIG. 49(a). It is not notified from the unit 323 to the hall controller output BOX 811 . Therefore, in the hall controller 810 connected to the hall controller output BOX 811, display of information on the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state, and the game information is restricted. Also, when the connection of the hall controller output BOX 811 changes to no connection, the information notified from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323 remains unchanged, but the CU control unit 323 does not notify the hall controller output BOX 811 . Even if the hall controller output BOX 811 cannot be authenticated (NG), the CU3 can play a game on the P machine 2 if communication with the P machine 2 is possible. Further, even if the validity period of the authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811 expires, the CU3 can play a game on the P machine 2 if communication with the P machine 2 is possible. Furthermore, the hall controller output BOX 811 can be connected to a data lamp (call lamp), and when notification is restricted due to authentication failure, updating of the display of the data lamp is restricted. For example, on the data lamp side, updating of displays such as the number of starts, the number of big wins, and the status of big wins is restricted. The setting change and setting confirmation information is information notified from the CU control unit 323 to the hall controller output BOX 811 regardless of whether or not the authentication data has expired.

<Communication between SC board and CU control unit>
Next, communication between the SC board 325 provided in the CU3 and the CU control section 323 (see FIG. 45) will be described. First, commands transmitted and received between the SC board 325 and the CU control unit 323 will be described. FIG. 50 is a diagram showing a list of commands transmitted and received between the SC board 325 and the CU control section 323. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 50, commands transmitted from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323 include game machine information notification, count notification, and lending reception result response. The gaming machine information notification command is a command for the SC board 325 to notify the CU control unit 323 of gaming machine information and information for the gaming machine information center 800 . The count notification command is a command for the SC board 325 to notify the CU control unit 323 of count information. The lending reception result response command is a command for the SC board 325 to respond to the CU control unit 323 with the lending information reception result.

On the other hand, commands sent from the CU control unit 323 to the SC board 325 include a telegram reception response and a lending notification. The electronic message reception response command is a command for the CU control unit 323 to respond to the SC board 325 for reception of gaming machine information or counting information. The rental notification command is a command for the CU control unit 323 to notify the SC board 325 of rental information and gaming machine information center 800 reception information.

<Timing of communication between SC board and CU control unit>
Next, the timing of communication between the SC board 325 and the CU control section 323 will be described. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a sequence for explaining the timing of information exchanged between the SC board 325 and the CU control section 323. In FIG. Among the information transmitted from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323, the gaming machine information notification is transmitted every 300 ms as shown in FIG. When receiving the game machine information notification, the CU control unit 323 notifies a message receipt response within 40 ms.

The gaming machine information notification communicates with the counting notification through a common communication port. Therefore, when trying to transmit the counting notification at the timing of transmitting the gaming machine information notification, the information may be congested within the communication port and data collision may occur, resulting in incorrect communication. Therefore, when the SC board 325 transmits the game machine information notification to the CU control unit 323 every 300 ms, in order to optimize the information transmission, the game machine information notification is sent for 100 ms, which is shorter than 300 ms. at a timing corresponding to .

The transmission of the count information is not limited to being performed within 100 ms from the timing of transmitting the gaming machine information notification, but may be any timing that does not cause congestion with the gaming machine information notification. It may be until the timing when the notification is sent.

In FIG. 51, the CU control unit 323 notifies a telegram receipt response within 40 ms after receiving the count notification, and transmits a lending notification to the SC board 325 within 70 ms after notifying the telegram receipt response. That is, the CU control unit 323 transmits the rental notification to the SC board 325 within 110 ms after receiving the count notification. When the SC board 325 receives the lending notification, the SC board 325 notifies the lending reception result response within 30ms.

In FIG. 51, the SC board 325 and the CU control determine the timing of transmitting the count notification based on the timing of transmitting the technical equipment information notification, and determine the timing of receiving the rental notification based on the timing of transmitting the counting notification. Although an example of communication with the unit 323 has been described, the communication between the SC board 325 and the CU control unit 323 determines the timing of transmitting and receiving the count notification and the rental notification based on the timing of transmitting the gaming machine information notification. Other timing may be used.

<Information output from hall controller output BOX to hall controller>
Next, information output from the hall controller output BOX 811 to the hall controller 810 will be described in detail. FIG. 52 is a block diagram for explaining information output from the hall controller output BOX 811 to the hall controller 810. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 52, gaming machine information (hall controller/fraud monitoring information) is output from the game board 26 (main control board 16) to the game frame 5 (frame control board 17) by serial communication.

The gaming machine information includes a pulse output for outputting information as a pulse signal and a state output for outputting information as a state signal. The pulse output includes the number of symbol determination times, the starting port, and the external terminal board pulse output signals 1-4. For example, in the "symbol fixed number of times", a signal of one pulse is output for each time the symbol is stopped. The state signals include jackpot 1, jackpot 2, and external terminal board state output signals 1-4. For example, in "jackpot 1", a state signal (ON signal) is output when all the jackpots are hit.

The pulse output and state output are output from the game frame 5 (frame control board 17) to the hall controller output BOX 811 via the CU5. The hall controller output BOX 811 has 15 ports (terminals) for pulse output and 13 ports (terminals) for state output. By outputting pulse output and state output information from these ports (terminals), game machine information is output from the hall controller output BOX 811 to the hall controller 810 .

First, signals output from standard ports (terminals) will be described. FIG. 53 is a block diagram for explaining the hall controller output signal of the standard port. The standard port is provided with first to twentieth terminals. The first terminal is information about "number of shots", the second terminal is information about "prize ball", the third terminal is information about "number of symbol variations 1", and the fourth terminal is about "number of symbol variations 2". Each information is output as a pulse signal. In addition, the fifth terminal provides information regarding "start gate 1", the sixth terminal provides information regarding "start gate 2", the seventh terminal provides information regarding "pass gate 1", and the eighth terminal provides information regarding "pass gate 2". ” as a pulse signal. For example, in the "number of shots", a signal of one pulse is output from the first terminal for a predetermined number of shot ball data (for example, 10 balls). The ninth terminal outputs information on the "number of times of prizes", the tenth terminal outputs information on the "number of winning prizes", and the eleventh terminal outputs information on the "specific area passage" as pulse signals. For example, in the "accessory number", a 1-pulse signal is output from the ninth terminal for each opening of the large winning opening when the accessory continuous operation device is not activated.

Next, the 12th terminal provides information on "jackpot 1", the 13th terminal provides information on "jackpot 2", the 14th terminal provides information on "jackpot 3", and the 15th terminal provides information on "jackpot + time saving". Each information is output as a state signal. The 16th terminal is information about "high probability", the 17th terminal is information about "time saving", the 18th terminal is information about "door open", the 19th terminal is information about "illegal", and the Terminal 20 outputs information about "gaming machine error" as a status signal. For example, in "high probability", the state signal (ON signal) is output from the 16th terminal when the probability is high. Also, when an incorrect set value is set in the setting change mode or in the setting confirmation mode, a status signal (ON signal) is output from the 20th terminal.

Next, signals output from the expansion port (terminal) will be described. FIG. 54 is a block diagram for explaining a hall controller output signal of an expansion port. The expansion port is an external output terminal prepared in advance for expansion, and is provided with 21st to 28th terminals. When the extension port is added according to the specifications of a new gaming machine, the terminal can be used to output necessary gaming machine information to the outside.

The 21st terminal outputs information on "external terminal board pulse output signal terminal 1" to the 24th terminal outputs information on "external terminal board pulse output signal terminal 4" as pulse signals, respectively. For example, in the "external terminal board pulse output signal terminal 1", a 1-pulse signal is output from the 21st terminal for each pulse output based on information newly set according to the specifications of the game machine.

The 25th terminal is information about "setting change", the 26th terminal is information about "setting confirmation", the 27th terminal is "external terminal board state output signal terminal 1" to the 28th terminal is "external terminal board state output signal terminal 2". ” as status signals. For example, in "setting change", when Bit 0 of fraud detection state 1 is "1", the ON state signal (ON signal) is output from the 25th terminal during the setting change mode. In "setting confirmation", it is turned ON when Bit 1 of fraud detection state 1 is "1", and an ON state signal (ON signal) is output from the 26th terminal during the setting confirmation mode. In the "external terminal board state output signal terminal 1", a state signal (ON signal) is output from the 25th terminal when the external terminal state signal 1 based on the information newly set according to the specifications of the game machine is in the ON state.

In the hall controller output BOX 811, by unifying the output to the outside as shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, whether or not the game machine information can be output differs depending on the specification of the card unit, and the output of the game machine information itself becomes useless. prevent this from happening.

<Operations after detection of P errors and fraud>
Next, the operation after the error and fraud detection of the P machine 2 will be described. FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining types of notifiable error and fraud detection. In FIG. 55, 28 types of errors are described, and the "error code", "error name", "details of error and fraud detection", and "operation after error and fraud detection" are described for each error. there is

For example, the number 3 error has an “error code” of “F06”, an “error name” of “communication error within the managed gaming machine”, and an “error detection content” of “no communication between the managed gaming machine board and the managed gaming frame”. Detecting a response or disconnection", "Operation after error and fraud detection" detects an abnormality in the game frame 5, and the game ball number display 29 on the game frame 5 side and the sound output on the game board 26 side (first Voice output means), LCD presentation, notification by illumination, and error information is output to the hall controller.

Here, when notifying with the game frame 5, in addition to displaying an “error code” on a display device such as the game ball number indicator 29 (for example, the variable display device 278), an error code provided on the frame control board 17 Alternatively, an "error code" may be displayed on a 7-segment LED display for notification. Also, instead of displaying the "error code", the game may be stopped to report an error, or error information may be output to the outside.

Also, for example, error number 23 has an "error code" of "F97", an "error name" of "main control board startup error", and an "error detection content" of "main control board does not start even after a specified period of time has passed." "detected", "operation after error and fraud detection" detects an abnormality on the game board 26, notifies with sound output on the game board 26 side, LCD effect, and illumination, stops firing, stops the hole Outputs error information to the controller.

The reporting means may report the error by outputting a sound on the game board or lighting up an electric decoration depending on the type of the error. Further, the notification means may notify the error by outputting error information output or incorrect information output to the hall controller depending on the type of the error.

Further, for example, error number 27 has an "error code" of "F75", an "error name" of "error when changing settings", and an "error detection content" of "an invalid value is stored as a set value." "detected" and "operation after error and fraud detection" detect an abnormality on the game board 26, notify the error on the display monitor or the like on the game board 26 side, and output the error information to the hall controller. For example, the error number 28 has an "error code" of "F76", an "error name" of "setting confirmation error", and an "error detection content" of "an invalid value is stored as a set value." "detected" and "operation after error and fraud detection" detect an abnormality on the game board 26, notify the error on the display monitor or the like on the game board 26 side, and output the error information to the hall controller.

Next, the case where multiple errors shown in FIG. 23 are executed will be described in more detail. Since the game frame 5 and the game board 26 are performing serial communication, errors and fraud detected on the main control board 16 side are notified to the frame control board 17 via the serial communication. Therefore, the frame control board 17 can grasp errors and fraud detections detected on the main control board 16 side. For example, when the main control board 16 side detects a communication error within the management game machine (error code = F06) and the frame control board 17 side detects a game ball circulation device error (error code = F17), the frame control board 17 , the error detection on the main control board 16 side can be grasped through serial communication.

The main control board 16 notifies the frame control board 17 of the error information with the information of "gaming machine error state" included in the gaming machine information notification command shown in FIG. The "gaming machine error state" includes error code information in Bits 0 to 5, information on whether the error is detected in Bit 6 by the frame control board 17 ("0") or the main control board 16 ("1"), Bit 7 contains the information of the output destination of the error information. When Bit 7 of "gaming machine error state" is "0", the frame control board 17 side performs only error notification (notification). Further, when Bit 7 of "gaming machine error state" is "1", in addition to error notification (notification) on the frame control board 17 side, error information is output (HC output) to the hall controller.

That is, when error information is notified from the main control board 16 to the frame control board 17, the frame control board 17 transmits the error information to the signal (for example, game machine error state) related to the game machine information shown in FIG. and send it to CU3. The CU3 outputs the error information included in the signal related to the gaming machine information to the hall controller via the hall controller output BOX.

Therefore, in the frame control board 17, the main control board 16 side voice output (for example, the game board side speaker) error notification of communication abnormality in the management game machine, and the frame control board 17 side voice output (game frame side speaker) ), the error priority is determined so as to limit the error notification of the game ball circulation device abnormality so as not to overlap with the error notification of the game ball circulation device abnormality. That is, the frame control board 17 gives higher priority to the error notification from the game board side speaker, and while the error notification is being performed, the error notification from the game frame side speaker is restricted.

The frame control board 17 can detect the occurrence of an error (specific event) different from the error (predetermined event) on the main control board 16 side, and the notification of the error (predetermined notification) is output by the main control board 16 side audio output (second event). 1 audio output means), an error notification (specific notification) based on the detection of an error (specific event) by the frame control board 17 is output by the frame control board 17 side audio output (second When the error notification (predetermined notification) is performed by the main control board 16 side audio output, the error notification (specific notification) is performed by the frame control board 17 side audio output. not performed in

For example, when the frame control board 17 detects a game ball circulator abnormality (error code = F17), the game ball circulator abnormality is notified when the main control board 16 side does not notify the error. Therefore, when an error is reported on the main control board 16 side, the game ball circulation device abnormality is not reported. In this way, by determining the priority of the error to be notified, even when the game board 26 of a certain manufacturer is mounted in the game frame 5, even when the game board 26 of another manufacturer is mounted in the game frame 5 Even if there is, a unified error notification can be performed.

When the main control board 16 detects an error (error code=F75) when changing settings, the main control board 16 notifies the error, but the frame control board 17 does not notify the error and controls the frame. The board 17 outputs the error information to the hall controller via the hall controller output BOX via the CU3. On the other hand, if a game ball circulation device abnormality occurs on the frame control board 17 side while the main control board 16 detects a setting change error (error code = F75), the frame control board 17 detects a setting change error ( Since it is possible to detect the occurrence of a game ball circulation device abnormality (specific event) different from the special event), and the frame control board 17 side does not report the error on the main control board 16 side, the game ball is detected on the frame control board 17 side. It is possible to notify a circulator abnormality (error code=F17). It should be noted that even while the setting value of the setting change mode is being displayed on the main control board 16 side, the frame control board 17 side can similarly notify the game ball circulation device abnormality (error code = F17). .

<Configuration of Embodiment>
(1) In an enclosed game machine in which a game ball is enclosed, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-170533), display instrument control command is sent. The display device control commands include game machine information commands, card unit operation commands, and test commands. The gaming machine information commands include commands indicating the gaming state of the gaming machine, such as the number of occurrences of big hits and the number of probability variations, and the card unit operation commands include commands according to the player's operation of the card unit.

Also, a game machine capable of changing settings is disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-200902). In this gaming machine, a setting change suggestive effect is performed by displaying a character image selected according to the type of set value before and after the change when the change is stopped or when the change is started.

In the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the frame control board that controls launching sends commands such as the game state of the gaming machine, such as the number of occurrences of big hits and the number of probability variations, to the display effect control board. No notification has been sent. In addition, in the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 2, a character image is displayed to suggest a setting change, but the fact that the gaming machine is being controlled in the setting change mode is properly notified to the outside. do not have.

The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine to which a setting change function is added, in which it is possible to appropriately inform the outside that the game machine is controlled in a setting change mode. To provide a game machine and a game frame that can be notified to

(1-1) A game board (for example, game board 26) provided with a first control means (for example, main control board 16) for controlling progress of a game;
A gaming machine (for example, P platform 2, slot machine),
The first control means is capable of controlling a setting change permission state (for example, a setting change mode) in which any one of a plurality of setting values with different degrees of advantage for the player can be set, and corresponds to the setting change permission state. specific information (for example, gaming machine information including information on a setting change mode) indicating that the setting change permission state is being controlled when the control is performed to the second control means;
Based on the specific information from the first control means, the second control means can transmit information corresponding to the specific information to the outside of the gaming machine (for example, setting change mode for CU3). Notification of game machine information including information, output to hall control output box (Fig. 54)).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately notify the outside that the game machine is controlled in the setting change mode in the game machine to which the setting change function is added.

(1-2) A second control that can communicate with a game board (for example, the game board 26) having a first control means (for example, the main control board 16) that controls the progress of the game, and that manages information on the game value. A game frame (eg, game frame 5) comprising means (eg, frame control board 17),
The second control means is
In the first control means capable of controlling a setting change permission state (for example, a setting change mode) in which any one of a plurality of setting values with different degrees of advantage for the player can be set, control corresponding to the setting change permission state is being performed, specific information (for example, game machine information including information on a setting change mode) indicating that the setting change permission state is being controlled is received from the first control means, Information corresponding to the specific information can be transmitted to the outside of the game frame (for example, game machine information including setting change mode information is notified to CU3, and output to hall controller output BOX (FIG. 54)) .

According to such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately notify the outside that the game machine is controlled in the setting change mode in the game machine to which the setting change function is added.

(1-3) In the gaming machine of (1-1) above,
The game board further comprises first effect control means (for example, a display monitor) capable of executing effects based on information from the first control means,
The game frame further includes second effect control means (for example, game ball number display 29, speaker 270) capable of executing effects based on information from the second control means,
The first effect control means can execute notification that the setting change permission state is controlled when the first control means is performing control corresponding to the setting change permission state (for example , display the set value on the display monitor),
When receiving the specific information from the first control means, the second control means sends information corresponding to the specific information to the game machine without outputting information to the second effect control means. It is possible to transmit to the outside (for example, information on the setting change mode transmitted to the frame control board 17 is not notified by the frame control board 17, and the CU 3 connected to the P stand 2 and the hall controller output BOX (Via, it is output to a management device such as a hall controller or a game hall management computer as a security signal indicating that it is controlled in the setting change mode).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid redundant notifications regarding setting changes in a game machine to which a setting change function is added.

(1-4) In the gaming machine of (1-3) above,
The game frame further includes audio output means (for example, speaker 270),
The second control means is capable of detecting a specific event (for example, a game ball circulation device abnormality (error code=F17)) occurring in the game frame, and
When the second control means detects the occurrence of the specific event, the audio output means can notify information about the occurrence of the specific event (for example, the game ball circulation device on the frame control board 17 side). Abnormality (error code = F17) is notified).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately notify the outside of the occurrence of the specific event in the gaming machine to which the setting change function is added.

(1-5) In the gaming machines (1-1), (1-3)-(1-4) above,
The first control means can be controlled to a setting confirmation permission state (for example, setting confirmation mode) in which it is possible to confirm whether the degree of advantage for the player is set to one of a plurality of different setting values. When the control corresponding to the setting confirmation permission state is being performed, the second control means transmits predetermined information (for example, game machine information including setting change mode information) indicating that the control is in the setting confirmation permission state. can be sent to
The second control means is capable of transmitting information corresponding to the predetermined information to the outside of the game machine (for example, including information on the setting confirmation mode for the CU3), based on the reception of the predetermined information. Notification of game machine information, output to hall controller output box (Fig. 54)).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately notify the outside that the gaming machine is controlled in the setting confirmation mode in the gaming machine to which the setting change function is added.

(1-6) In the gaming machine of (1-5) above,
The first control means is capable of transmitting game information to the second control means every predetermined period after the power is turned on, and when controlled to the setting change permission state or the setting confirmation permission state, the gaming machine It becomes a stop state and does not transmit the game information (for example, when the control of the setting change mode or the setting confirmation mode is started, the main control board 16 stops the game and sends a frame every predetermined period (for example, 108 ms) The gaming machine information transmitted to the control board 17 is set to non-notification (FIG. 28)).

According to such a configuration, in a gaming machine to which a setting change function is added, since a game is prohibited in a situation where the setting value can be changed, appropriate control can be realized.

(1-7) In the gaming machine of (1-6) above,
The first control means controls the specific information indicating that the setting change permission state is controlled in response to the start of control of the setting change permission state or the setting confirmation permission state or the setting confirmation permission state. Sending the predetermined information indicating that it is performed to the second control means,
The second control means is capable of receiving game information from the first control means every predetermined period after the power is turned on, and judges communication abnormality with the first control means for a specific period after the power is turned on. is not performed, and a communication abnormality is determined with the first control means after the specific period has elapsed after the power is turned on. , the frame control board 17 does not perform the process of judging abnormal communication with the main control board 16 for a specific period of time (for example, 3 minutes) after the power is turned on, and receives the gaming machine installation information after startup. It becomes possible to perform the process of judging the communication abnormality later (FIG. 28)).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to optimize the timing of the communication abnormality determination in the game machine to which the setting change function is added.

(2) In an enclosed type gaming machine in which game balls are enclosed, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-51022), calculations relating to game performance information are performed, and calculations relating to game performance information are performed. Information can be output to the vocabulary.

However, in the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, when processing game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents, concentration of the calculation processing increases the burden of the calculation processing, which may affect other processing. was there.

The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of appropriately processing game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents, and a game machine. It is to provide a game frame.

(2-1) A gaming machine (for example, a P stand 2, a slot machine) capable of communicating with a gaming device,
Control means (eg, frame control board 17) capable of repeatedly executing predetermined processing (eg, main loop processing),
The predetermined process is
communication processing (for example, SC board communication processing) for communicating with the gaming device;
a predetermined calculation process (for example, performance information calculation process) for calculating game performance corresponding to the granting of game value,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents (for example, ball output rate, number of game balls acquired per minute (base), role ratio, continuous role ratio) can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period (for example, 180 seconds),
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times within the predetermined period,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance (for example, in the first main loop process, only the ball payout rate is determined as the performance). It is calculated by information calculation processing.),
In the predetermined process at a specific time after the predetermined time in the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the gaming performance (for example, In the second main loop process, only the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is calculated in the performance information calculation process.).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing load required for one predetermined process by making different types of parameters to be calculated in the predetermined calculation process.

(2-2) A game frame of a gaming machine that can communicate with a gaming device (for example, a game frame 5),
Control means (eg, frame control board 17) capable of repeatedly executing predetermined processing (eg, main loop processing),
The predetermined process is
communication processing (for example, SC board communication processing) for communicating with the gaming device;
a predetermined calculation process (for example, performance information calculation process) for calculating game performance corresponding to the granting of game value,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents (for example, ball output rate, number of game balls acquired per minute (base), role ratio, continuous role ratio) can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period (for example, 180 seconds),
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times within the predetermined period,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance (for example, in the first main loop process, only the ball payout rate is determined as the performance). It is calculated by information calculation processing.),
In the predetermined process at a specific time after the predetermined time in the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the gaming performance (for example, In the second main loop process, only the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is calculated in the performance information calculation process.).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing load required for one predetermined process by making different types of parameters to be calculated in the predetermined calculation process.

(2-3) In the gaming machine of (2-1) above,
The predetermined processing includes specific arithmetic processing (for example, performance information accumulation processing),
In the specific arithmetic processing, a plurality of parameters belonging to a special type different from the predetermined type of parameter and the specific type of parameter (for example, the total number of game balls launched, the total number of game balls acquired, the number of operations of the accessory continuous actuating device) , the maximum difference number of balls (MY)),
The specific arithmetic processing is performed in each time of the predetermined processing, and the plurality of parameters belonging to the special type are calculated in the specific arithmetic processing (for example, the calculation is performed in each time of the main loop processing).

According to such a configuration, different calculation processes are used for various parameters depending on the degree of processing load, so that further optimization of the processes can be achieved.

(2-4) In the game machines (2-1) and (2-3) above,
In the communication process, a plurality of types including game information (for example, hall control/fraud monitoring information, etc.), installation information (for example, game machine installation information, etc.), and game performance information (for example, game machine performance information, etc.) can be transmitted to the game device, and the transmission timing differs depending on the type of information (for example, one of the information is determined and transmitted based on the processing shown in FIG. 20).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to optimize the transmission of information transmitted from the gaming machine to the outside, and to avoid information congestion.

(2-5) In the gaming machines (2-1), (2-3)-(2-4) above,
Further comprising storage means (e.g., program memory) in which a program for executing the predetermined process in the control means is stored in advance,
The storage means
A first area (for example, a program within the area) in which a program for at least executing the communication process is stored in advance, and a second area (for example, an area outside the area) in which a program for at least executing the predetermined arithmetic process is stored in advance. program).

According to such a configuration, since the programs stored in the first area and the second area are divided, the common first area program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game frame, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved. improves.

(2-6) In the gaming machine of (2-5) above,
The processing executed by the control means includes a predetermined processing that is repeatedly performed and an interrupt processing (for example, timer interrupt processing) different from the predetermined processing,
In the interrupt processing, a plurality of types of processing with different interrupt cycles can be executed,
In each interrupt cycle, after executing a process (for example, port input process (FIG. 41)) for which a program is pre-stored in the first area among the interrupt processes, the program is stored in the second area among the interrupt processes. executes pre-stored processing (for example, ball polishing mechanism control timer subtraction processing (FIG. 41)).

According to such a configuration, processing can be optimized in that the processing procedure is defined regardless of the interrupt cycle.

(2-7) In the game machines of (2-5) and (2-6) above,
In the storage means, the program pre-stored in the first area is common regardless of the type of gaming machine (for example, the program stored in the frame-common program area), and the second program is stored in accordance with the type of gaming machine. The programs pre-stored in the area are different (for example, programs stored in the non-common program area).

According to such a configuration, since the common program and the different program are separated, the common program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game slot, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved.

(3) In an enclosed type game machine in which a game ball is enclosed, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-51022), calculations related to game performance information are performed, and calculations are performed regarding the calculated game performance information. Information can be output to the vocabulary.

However, in an enclosed game machine as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform a plurality of types of processing with different properties, such as communication control processing and game medium circulation processing, as frame control. In addition, since there are a plurality of game slots with different specifications such as game medium circulation paths, the program for game medium circulation processing also differs depending on the game slots in accordance with the specifications of the game slots. Therefore, if a program is created in accordance with the specifications of the game frame, there is a risk that the development efficiency of the game machine will be lowered.

The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a game machine and a game frame that include a program according to the specifications of the game frame but do not reduce the development efficiency of the game machine. be.

(3-1) A gaming machine (eg, P machine 2, slot machine) capable of communicating with a gaming device (eg, CU3),
a control means capable of executing processing (for example, frame control board 17);
A storage means (e.g., program memory) in which a program for executing processing by the control means is stored in advance,
The processing executed by the control means includes:
communication processing for communicating with the game device (for example, game ball lending function (dedicated PIF));
a game information management process (for example, a main control process) for managing information about the progress of the game;
Predetermined calculation processing (for example, performance display function) for performing calculations related to game performance corresponding to the provision of game value;
a game medium circulation process (for example, a game ball circulation function) for circulating the game medium;
The storage means
A first area (for example, a program in the area) pre-stored with a program for at least executing the communication process and the game information management process, and a program for executing at least the predetermined arithmetic process and the game medium circulation process. is pre-stored in a second area (eg, an out-of-area program).

According to such a configuration, since the programs stored in the first area and the second area are divided, the common first area program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game frame, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved. improves.

(3-2) A game frame (eg, game frame 5) of a gaming machine (eg, P stand 2, slot machine) communicable with a gaming device (eg, CU3),
a control means capable of executing processing (for example, frame control board 17);
A storage means (for example, a program memory) in which a program for executing the processing executed by the control means is stored in advance,
The processing executed by the control means includes:
communication processing for communicating with the game device (for example, game ball lending function (dedicated PIF));
a game information management process (for example, a main control process) for managing information about the progress of the game;
Predetermined calculation processing (for example, performance display function) for performing calculations related to game performance corresponding to the provision of game value;
a game medium circulation process (for example, a game ball circulation function) for circulating the game medium;
The storage means
A first area (for example, a program in the area) pre-stored with a program for at least executing the communication process and the game information management process, and a program for executing at least the predetermined arithmetic process and the game medium circulation process. is pre-stored in a second area (for example, an out-of-area program).

According to such a configuration, since the programs stored in the first area and the second area are divided, the common first area program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game frame, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved. improves.

(3-3) In the gaming machine of (3-1) above,
The processing executed by the control means includes a predetermined processing that is repeatedly performed and an interrupt processing (for example, timer interrupt processing) different from the predetermined processing,
In the interrupt processing, a plurality of types of processing with different interrupt cycles can be executed,
In each interrupt cycle, after executing a process (for example, port input process (FIG. 41)) for which a program is pre-stored in the first area among the interrupt processes, the program is stored in the second area among the interrupt processes. executes pre-stored processing (for example, ball polishing mechanism control timer subtraction processing (FIG. 41)).

According to such a configuration, processing can be optimized in that the processing procedure is defined regardless of the interrupt cycle.

(3-4) In the game machines of (3-1) and (3-3) above,
In the storage means, the program pre-stored in the first area is common regardless of the type of gaming machine (for example, the program stored in the frame-common program area), and the second program is stored in accordance with the type of gaming machine. The programs pre-stored in the area are different (for example, programs stored in the non-common program area).

According to such a configuration, since the common program and the different program are separated, the common program can be used regardless of the specifications of the game slot, so the development efficiency of the gaming machine is improved.

(3-5) In the game machines of (3-1), (3-3)-(3-4) above,
The control means can repeatedly execute a predetermined process (e.g., main loop process),
The predetermined process is
the communication processing (for example, SC board communication processing) pre-stored in the first area;
and the predetermined arithmetic processing (for example, performance information calculation processing) stored in advance in the second area,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents (for example, ball output rate, number of game balls acquired per minute (base), role ratio, continuous role ratio) can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period (for example, 180 seconds),
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times within the predetermined period,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance (for example, in the first main loop process, only the ball payout rate is determined as the performance). It is calculated by information calculation processing.),
In the predetermined process at a specific time after the predetermined time in the predetermined period, calculation is performed on a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the gaming performance (for example, In the second main loop process, only the number of game balls acquired per minute (base) is calculated in the performance information calculation process.).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing load required for one predetermined process by making different types of parameters to be calculated in the predetermined calculation process.

(3-6) In the gaming machine of (3-5) above,
The predetermined processing includes specific arithmetic processing (for example, performance information accumulation processing),
In the specific arithmetic processing, a plurality of parameters belonging to a special type different from the predetermined type of parameter and the specific type of parameter (for example, the total number of game balls launched, the total number of game balls acquired, the number of operations of the accessory continuous actuating device) , the maximum difference number of balls (MY)),
The specific arithmetic processing is performed in each time of the predetermined processing, and the plurality of parameters belonging to the special type are calculated in the specific arithmetic processing (for example, the calculation is performed in each time of the main loop processing).

According to such a configuration, different calculation processes are used for various parameters depending on the degree of processing load, so that further optimization of the processes can be achieved.

(3-7) In the game machines of (3-5) and (3-6) above,
In the communication process, a plurality of types including game information (for example, hall control/fraud monitoring information, etc.), installation information (for example, game machine installation information, etc.), and game performance information (for example, game machine performance information, etc.) can be transmitted to the game device, and the transmission timing differs depending on the type of information (for example, one of the information is determined and transmitted based on the processing shown in FIG. 20).

According to such a configuration, it is possible to optimize the transmission of information transmitted from the gaming machine to the outside, and to avoid information congestion.

<Modification>
(1) The above embodiment has been described assuming that the P machine 2 is an enclosed circulation type pachinko game machine in which pachinko balls are enclosed. , the same may be applied to the above-described embodiment. Although it has been explained that the P table 2 communicates with the CU 3, which is a unit, through the frame control board 17, in the slot machine, a communication board is provided in place of the frame control board, and communication with the unit is performed via the communication board. I do.

(2) By operating the operation switch for displaying the character ratio/continuous character ratio provided on the frame control board 17, the character ratio/continuous character ratio is displayed on the performance display monitor 40. You may do so. Further, by operating an operation switch (for example, an error release switch, a RAM clear switch) for displaying the role product ratio provided on the frame control board 17, the role product ratio is displayed and displayed on the frame control board 17. The continuous role ratio may be displayed by operating an operation switch (for example, a ball removal switch, a game ball clear switch) for displaying the provided continuous role ratio. At this time, the fact that the game frame 5 is open may be added as a display condition.

(3) In the above-described embodiment and modification, the performance information related to the given game value (for example, prize balls) calculated by the frame control unit 171, the base, the character ratio, the continuous character ratio, etc. The predetermined information is specified and transmitted by the game machine or game device. However, it is not limited to this, and the above-mentioned predetermined information may be specified by a management device such as a server inside the game hall (hall computer 810, etc.) or an external server (gaming machine information center 800, etc.). good.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, an abnormality in the base, the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio is indicated by the performance display monitor 40 (Fig. 2, Fig. 31) is displayed on the display unit. This notification may be made according to a specific operation. Also, the value of the base, the character ratio, or the continuous character ratio may be displayed on the display section of the frame control board 17 . Alternatively, the information may be displayed on a display section, such as the display 54, that can be seen by the player, which is different from the display section of the frame control board 17 that the player cannot normally see. In this case, it may be displayed according to a specific operation on the touch panel of the display 54 . Also, it may always be displayed even if there is no specific operation. In addition, even if the fact that the base, the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio are abnormal, and at least one or more of the base, the character ratio, and the continuous character ratio, are displayed. good. In addition, information suggesting any one or more of these information (for example, displaying a red icon, making the background red) or related information (for example, base, character ratio or continuous character ratio A graph display such as a bar graph or a line graph) may be displayed.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the authentication data is a variable value including the information of the current date (xx month xx day) and the information of the SC management number as encryption source data. However, the authentication data is not limited to this, and the authentication data is a variable value that includes information on the current date (month and day), information on the current time, and information on the SC management number as encryption source data. may also be fixed values. The security is improved by making the authentication data a variable value including information on the current date (0th/day), information on the current time, and information on the SC management number as encryption source data. In addition, by including current time information in the authentication data, periodical authentication can be performed at regular time intervals.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, it has been explained that authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811 based on the authentication data is performed when the power is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and authentication of the hall controller output BOX 811 based on the authentication data may be performed periodically other than when the power is turned on. By performing authentication every time, spoofing, copying, etc. become impossible and security is improved.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the CU3 monitors the connection state of the hall controller output BOX 811, but if unconnected or unauthenticated is detected, the CU3 notifies the card company data center 801 of an alarm, You can contact the hall clerk. Further, when CU3 monitors the connection state of hall console output BOX 811 and detects unconnected or unauthenticated state, CU3 may display an error and inform the hall clerk.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, when the validity period of the authentication data expires, the SC board 325 must notify the CU control unit 323 of the number of shot balls, the total number of prize balls, the main control state, and the game information. explained. However, not limited to this, for example, when the validity period of the authentication data expires, other information such as the number of game balls and the number of counting balls may not be notified from the SC board 325 to the CU control unit 323 .

(9) In the above-described embodiment, it was explained that the information about the setting value was not transmitted from the main control board 16 to the frame control board 17. good. Furthermore, the information about the setting value may be configured to be transmitted from the frame control board 17 to the outside.

(10) The setting change is a work performed by a store clerk, such as a manager of the store, who is given the authority to change the setting in advance, for a specific game machine in accordance with a business plan. Therefore, the work is not performed by a game store clerk who does not have the authority to change the settings. In the current gaming machine, when the setting change mode is controlled, a security signal is output to the hall controller to inform that the setting change mode is being controlled. However, the security signal is also output when an error occurs in addition to when the setting change mode is set. Therefore, with only the security signal, it is impossible to distinguish whether the setting change mode is being controlled or an error has occurred. Accurate detection was difficult.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 54, etc., it is possible to notify the outside (for example, CU3, hall controller) that the setting change mode is controlled in a manner distinguishable from other errors. Therefore, by checking the reception history of the CU3 and the hall controller, it is possible to check the evidence that the amusement store clerk, who does not have the authority to change the settings, illegally changed the settings contrary to the business plan.

In addition, by linking the information (specific information) indicating that the setting change mode is being controlled with the monitoring camera in the store, it is possible to identify the person who performed the setting change operation. Specifically, in response to the reception of a signal (specified information or predetermined information) corresponding to the setting change mode or the setting confirmation mode by the management device (hall controller) in the store, the target game machine is specified and the game is played. The machine and its operator may be photographed by a security camera (surveillance camera) in the store. In this way, by distinguishing information indicating that the setting change mode is being controlled (specific information) from other information and outputting it to the outside, it is possible to detect unauthorized setting change work, and the target game By resetting the set value of the machine to the set value that matches the business plan, the operation of the game machine against the business plan can be avoided, and the occurrence of damage to the game parlor can be avoided. In addition, information (predetermined information) indicating that the setting confirmation mode is being controlled can be distinguished from other information and output to the outside. It is possible to check the traces of confirmation.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents of the scope of the claims.

2 pachinko machine, 3 card unit, 16 main control board, 17 frame control board, 26 game board, 29 game ball number display, 171 frame control unit, 309 card insertion/ejection port, 319 return button, 320 IR light receiving unit , 321 ball rental button, 323 CU control unit.

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of communicating with a gaming device,
a control means capable of executing a process;
a storage means in which a program for executing the processing in the control means is stored in advance;
The processing executed by the control means includes:
a communication process for communicating with the gaming device;
a game information management process for managing information about the progress of the game;
Predetermined calculation processing for calculating game performance corresponding to the granting of game value;
a game medium circulation process for circulating the game medium;
The storage means
A first area pre-stored with a program for at least executing the communication process and the game information management process, and a second area pre-stored with a program for at least executing the predetermined arithmetic process and the game medium circulation process. and
The control means can repeatedly execute a predetermined process,
The predetermined process is
the communication process pre-stored in the first area;
and the predetermined arithmetic processing pre-stored in the second area,
In the predetermined calculation process, game performance including a plurality of types of parameters with different calculation contents can be calculated,
In the communication process, the information about the game performance can be output every predetermined period,
The control means is
The predetermined process can be executed multiple times during the calculation period before outputting information,
In the predetermined process performed a predetermined number of times during the calculation period, calculation is performed on a predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the game performance,
a gaming machine, wherein in the predetermined process performed a specific time after the predetermined time in the calculation period, a specific type of parameter different from the predetermined type of parameter among the plurality of types of parameters included in the gaming performance is calculated; .

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