JP7280604B2 - terminal equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a terminal device connected to a gaming machine such as a slot machine.

Conventionally, there is a gaming machine called an EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine) that scrolls a symbol row on a display and rearranges a plurality of symbols in a symbol display area in which a plurality of paylines are set. In such a gaming machine, the player determines the content of the bet for one game by operating the control panel.

When a game is played on such a conventional gaming machine, a player inserts bills into a bill validating device of a PTS (player tracking system) terminal (terminal device) provided in the gaming machine, thereby verifying the inserted bills. is transmitted from the PTS terminal to the gaming machine, and the gaming machine converts the input amount into credit data for playing the game.

By the way, conventionally, in casino halls where gaming machines are installed, it has become possible for a player who has registered as a member to play a game on the gaming machine using a membership card (IC card) issued at the time of registration. there is Specifically, instead of cash, by inserting a membership card into a gaming machine (PTS terminal), cash data stored on the membership card or stored on the server in association with the membership card can be used. You can put it in the game and play the game. Also, the prize generated as a result of the game is recorded on the membership card, or is associated with the membership card and stored on the server. In other words, a player who has a membership card can play a so-called cashless game without inserting cash directly into the gaming machine (see Patent Document 1).

In a system in which a player who has registered as a member plays a game using a membership card, a session is defined as a period from the time the player inserts the membership card into the gaming machine to the time the player finishes the game and pays out the membership card. The casino hall manages the game history and settlement of each member by transferring the history of the game and credit data related to the prizes generated by the game to the information processing device installed in the casino hall. .

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0135799

In such a system, when the game ends, the settlement process associated with the membership card is executed according to the game result. requires the troublesome operation of pulling out the membership card from the PTS terminal when the game ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device that can execute processing at the end of a game without making the player aware of it.

The terminal device of the present invention is
In a game facility where a plurality of gaming machines are installed, a terminal device that is communicatively connected to any one of the gaming machines capable of playing games according to credit as valuable value,
a first communication unit capable of reading, by wireless communication, a non-contact communication medium storing member information of a player before the start of the game;
a second communication unit that performs wireless communication with the non-contact communication medium via a directional antenna having directivity directed toward the player playing a game with the connected gaming machine;
a control unit that executes processing when the game is finished in the connected gaming machine based on the communication result of the first communication unit and the communication result of the second communication unit;
The control unit
a first determination process for determining whether or not the member information read by the first communication unit matches pre-authenticated member information;
When the determination result of the first determination process matches the member information, it is determined whether or not detection of the non-contact communication medium by the second communication unit is in a non-detection state, and the non-detection state is determined. a second determination process for determining whether or not the game is over when the credit balance in the connected gaming machine is referred to, and when the balance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. and
Further, in the terminal device of the present invention, in the above configuration,
The control unit
When the determination result of the first determination process matches the member information, a timer is started, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not the second communication unit has entered the non-detection state. and
Further, in the terminal device of the present invention, in the above configuration,
In the first determination process, biometric information of the player is acquired and the authentication is performed by comparing it with pre-registered biometric information.

According to the present invention, the process at the end of the game can be executed without making the player aware of it.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information management system and the configuration of an information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an antenna communication area of a second reader/writer according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a PTS terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an IC card according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a game execution determination processing procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 4 is a flowchart showing a game execution determination processing procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 4 is a flow chart showing a reception processing procedure of the second reader/writer according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining determination of a member player according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a game execution determination processing procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

As a terminal device of the present invention, a PTS (player tracking system) terminal attached to a gaming machine (slot machine) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration of Information Management System]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information management system 100 including a terminal device (PTS terminal 700) according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an information management system 100 includes a plurality of gaming machines (for example, slot machines 10A, 10B, . It is composed of an information processing device 500 . In the present embodiment, communication between the slot machines 10A, 10B, . , 10B, . . . may communicate with the information processing apparatus 500 directly.

The information processing device 500 is also connected to the network 102 , and the network 102 is connected to the mobile communication network 1000 and the mobile terminal provider server 400 . The mobile terminal operator server 400 is managed by the mobile terminal operator. A mobile terminal device 1100 that has concluded a contract with a mobile terminal operator can communicate with the mobile terminal operator server 400 via the mobile communication network 1000 and the network 102 .

A terminal device provided at the reception counter 201 is connected to the information processing device 500. By registering the member number in the database of the information processing device 500 via this terminal device, the member number is registered on the database. A corresponding member account is to be opened. At the reception counter 201, the member number registered in the information processing device 500 is stored in a newly issued member information card (IC card 1500) and passed to the player who has registered as a member. At the time of member registration, a player who intends to register enters member information (for example, name, address, telephone number, nationality, passport number, personal identification information issued by the government, etc.) on a prescribed form at the reception counter 201. , the member's bank account information and password if necessary) and submit it. The reception counter 201 clerk registers the contents of the submitted form in the database of the information processing apparatus 500 by inputting the contents of the submitted form together with the newly issued membership number through the terminal device. As a result, the entered member information is registered in the database in association with the member number.

The credit data stored in the member account is used when the member plays a game at the slot machines 10A, 10B, . The credit data of the amount corresponding to the prize is added to the credit data of the corresponding member account on the database. Incidentally, as a method of inputting credit data into a member account, in addition to a method of paying cash at the reception counter, an input method associated with a bank credit card, that is, a method of inputting cash data from a member's bank account to the information processing device 500. It is also possible to use the method of transferring to the member account of Further, the slot machine 10 is provided with a cash slot, and the player can directly insert cash into the slot machine 10 to play the game.

Thus, the IC card 1500 (member information card) to which the member number is assigned is issued at the reception counter 201 and used when a player who has registered as a member plays a game on the slot machine 10 .

The information processing apparatus 500 is also connected to a cashier 202 for cashing based on the IC card 1500 (membership information card). A player who has played a game using an IC card 1500 as a member information card will receive credit balance, etc. of the member account specified by the IC card 1500 through game end processing executed in the slot machine 10 upon completion of the game. information is updated.

As a result, after the game end processing is performed in the slot machine 10, the player brings the IC card 1500 closer to the card reader of the cashier 202, so that the membership number stored in the IC card 1500 is associated with the IC card 1500. The balance of the member account of the player is paid out to the member player. Incidentally, in the slot machine 10 (PTS terminal 700), the amount of prize generated when the game is played by directly inserting cash without using the IC card 1500 is stored in the slot machine 10 (PTS terminal 700). This is issued in association with a new IC card 1500 (non-member information card) stocked in advance.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the PTS terminal 700 provided in the slot machine 10 is provided with a card stacker 742 for pre-stocking the IC cards 1500 . If the player inserts cash (bills) into the bill entry 60 to play the game, and there is a credit balance at the end of the game, when the player presses the cashout button, the IC card 1500 prepared in the card stacker 742 ( non-member information card) is ejected to the outside from the card ejection port 701 by a predetermined ejecting mechanism (not shown). At this time, in the PTS terminal 700, the card number pre-stored in the ejected non-member information card is read out by the third reader/writer 773 provided in the ejecting path from the card stacker 742, and the game ends. The player's credit balance is associated and transmitted to the information processing device 500 . The information processing device 500 opens a non-member account associated with the card number transmitted from the PTS terminal 700 in the database, and stores the credit balance in the non-member account.

A player who receives a non-membership information card (IC card 1500) ejected from the slot machine 10 can use the non-membership information card at another slot machine 10 or use it at the cashier 202 to receive cash refund. can do. The non-member information card has the same configuration as the member information card, and is capable of contactless transmission and reception of information with the slot machine 10 (PTS terminal 700) (details will be described later). .
The non-member information card is provided to the player by being paid out from the card stacker 742 of the slot machine 10, but may also be distributed within the gaming facility.

Also connected to the information processing device 500 are table game devices 20A, 20B, . The table game devices 20A, 20B, . . . for playing card games, for example, have a game board, a card shoe, a dealer display, a chip tray, and a control unit for controlling these.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 500. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 551, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 552, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 553, a gaming machine I/F 556, a database 560, and an I/F 556 on the bus. It has a configuration in which an F561, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 562, a keyboard 563, a mouse 564 and the like are connected. A member account associated with a member number is provided in the database 560, and the member account is associated with the member information of the corresponding member and the member number stored in the IC card 1500 issued to the member. Balance information (credit balance), game history information, and the like are stored. In addition, the database 560 is provided with a non-member account associated with the information card number, and the non-member account contains balance information ( credit balance) and the like are stored.

[Overall Structure of Slot Machine]
The overall structure of the slot machine 10 will be described.
In the slot machine 10, banknotes, coins, medals, tokens, etc., as well as electronic valuable information such as electronic money are used as game values.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lower image display panel 141 is provided at the center of the front face of the casing 11 of the slot machine 10 . The lower image display panel 141 is a liquid crystal panel and constitutes a display. The lower image display panel 141 has a symbol display area 150 that displays images of a plurality of video reels 151-155. A part of the front panel 13 is provided with a lamp 112 used for presentation. Various notification lamps 111 are provided on the top of the slot machine 10 .
In this embodiment, a video reel is a reel that simulates the rotating and stopping motion of a mechanical reel having a plurality of symbols drawn on its circumference. Each video reel is assigned with a symbol string consisting of a plurality of symbols.

An upper image display panel 131 is provided on the front portion of the upper housing 12 above the lower image display panel 141 . The upper image display panel 131 is a liquid crystal panel and constitutes a display. The upper image display panel 131 displays an image related to the effect, an image introducing the content of the game, and an explanation of the rules.

Below the lower image display panel 141, there are provided a control panel 30 having various buttons, a PTS terminal 700 having a function as a conversion device, and a building entry 60. FIG. In the embodiment of the present invention, currency information (currency unit, amount represented by the currency unit, amount The PTS terminal 700 and the building entry 60 are included as a terminal device that manages information such as the number of credits corresponding to the PTS terminal 700 as a concept of the terminal device. good.

The bill entry 60 identifies whether bills are legal and accepts legal bills into the slot machine 10 . The bill entry 60 is electrically connected to the PTS terminal 700, and when it receives a legal bill, it sends an input signal to the PTS terminal 700 based on the amount of the bill.

Note that, in the present embodiment, there is a concept of currency information (for example, "1 php, 1 credit") in addition to the inserted currency information of bills inserted into the bill entry 60 . This currency information consists of a currency unit (“php (Philippine peso)”, “usd (US dollar)”, “jpy (yen)”, etc.) and amount information represented by this currency unit (e.g., “1php”). and the number of credits corresponding to the amount information (for example, "1 php, 1 credit", etc.).

The PTS terminal 700 has an LCD (liquid crystal display) 177 . The LCD 177 has a touch panel on its display screen, and functions as a player's touch operation input means in addition to image display. The player can input, for example, a password required for member authentication to the PTS terminal 700 by operating the touch panel as necessary. In addition, the PTS terminal 700 has a camera 713, a microphone 715, a speaker 707, etc., and constitutes a unit in which these are integrated (FIG. 6). The camera 713 can take a face image of the player and carry out authentication processing using the camera function. The microphone is used for player participation in the game by voice and for player authentication by voice recognition.

Also, the PTS terminal 700 can use a contactless IC card 1500 . A contactless IC card means a card-like communication medium equipped with an IC chip capable of contactlessly transmitting and receiving information to and from a reader/writer provided in the PTS terminal 700 .

In the PTS terminal 700, as a method of transmitting and receiving information to and from the IC card 1500 in a non-contact manner, two types of communication are possible: an electromagnetic induction method and a radio wave method. Specifically, information can be transmitted and received to and from the IC card 1500 by an electromagnetic induction method, and information can also be transmitted and received by a radio wave method. The PTS terminal 700 has a first reader/writer 771, a second reader/writer 772 and a third reader/writer 773 (FIG. 6) for transmitting and receiving information by these two methods. The first reader/writer 771 and the third reader/writer 773 perform contactless transmission and reception of information with the IC card 1500 within a range of several centimeters by an electromagnetic induction method (frequency 13.56 MHz). On the other hand, the second reader/writer 772 performs non-contact transmission and reception of information with the IC card 1500 within a range of several meters using radio waves (for example, UHF band (900 MHz band or 2.45 GHz)). As shown in FIG. 4, radio waves radiated from the UHF band antenna provided in the second reader/writer 772 are directional radio waves, and the PTS terminal (slot machine 10) provided with the second reader/writer 772 The slot machine 10 has directivity in the front vertical direction toward the player who plays the game with the slot machine 10 in front of the slot machine 10 . That is, in FIG. 4, transmission and reception are possible in an area AR1 facing the front of the slot machine 10 (the position of the player playing the slot machine 10). Note that the frequency bands used in the first reader/writer 771 and the second reader/writer 772 are not limited to these, and various bands can be combined.

In this embodiment, the IC card 1500 has a configuration capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from any of the first reader/writer 771, the second reader/writer 772, and the third reader/writer 773. By using one IC card 1500, a player can be authenticated before starting a game in the slot machine 10, and the authenticated player (member or non-member) can authenticate the PTS. The slot machine 10 equipped with the terminal 700 can determine that the game is in progress and that the game has ended without the player (member or non-member player) being aware of it (details will be described later). ).

In addition, the PTS terminal 700 is provided with a card stacker 742 (FIGS. 3 and 6) for storing a plurality of unused IC cards 1500 in advance in order to issue the IC cards 1500 as non-member information cards. ing.
When the player operates the cash-out button after inserting cash into the building entry 60 without using the member information card and playing the game, the credit balance is recorded on the database in association with the card number of the non-member information card. The non-member information card is ejected from the card ejection port 701 (FIG. 3) of the slot machine 10 (PTS terminal 700).

[Internal configuration of the slot machine]
Next, referring to FIG. 5, the internal configuration of the slot machine 10 and the control panel 30 provided in the slot machine 10 will be described.

The game controller 70 is provided on a game circuit board inside the slot machine 10 . The display controller 170 is provided inside the control panel on a control panel circuit board separate from the game circuit board of the game controller 70 . The game controller 70 and the display controller 170 each include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided on the game circuit board and the control panel circuit board, programs executed by the CPU, and data used for these programs. and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data during program execution. The game controller 70 and the display controller 170 are constructed by cooperation of these hardware and the software in the storage device as described above. Note that the display controller 170 is not limited to being provided separately from the game controller 70 , and the game controller 70 may have the functions of the display controller 170 .

For example, the storage device of the game controller 70 stores data and programs used when the CPU operates. For example, the game controller 70 can store the above-described game program, game system program, and authentication program when they are loaded from the external storage device. The storage device of the game controller 70 is also provided with a work area for executing the above program. For example, an area for storing the number of games played, the number of bets, the number of payouts, the number of credits, and the like, and an area for storing symbols (code numbers) determined by lottery are provided.

As described above, the game controller 70 executes the game and controls the symbol display area 150 (FIG. 3) so that the symbols are rearranged according to the game. In addition, as described above, the game controller 70 activates the number of activated lines corresponding to the input of the credit button in the display frame of 3 rows and 5 columns composed of a plurality of blocks, and , when a predetermined number or more of symbols of the same type are rearranged, a line payout corresponding to the symbols of the type is awarded. That is, the game controller 70 is configured to control the slot machine by causing the CPU to execute the game program and game system program in the storage device. The display controller 170 has a graphic board and displays the bet amount on the display portion of the credit button.

The control panel 30 is provided with a CHANGE switch 31S, a CASHOUT switch 32S, a BET switch 34S, a credit switch 40S, a spin switch 46S, and a denomination changeover switch 47S corresponding to each button described above. Each switch detects when the corresponding button is pressed by the player and outputs a signal to game controller 70 and display controller 170 . The game controller 70 controls betting based on signals from each switch. The display controller 170 transmits signals from each switch to the game controller 70, and the game controller 70 determines the content to be displayed on the display section provided for the credit button based on these signals, and the determination result is sent to the display controller. 170 to display on each button.

The game controller 70 is also connected to a graphic board 130, a power supply unit (not shown), and a communication interface 82 in addition to a speaker, a touch panel, and the like.

The graphic board 130 controls image display performed by the upper image display panel 131 and the lower image display panel 141 based on control signals output from the game controller 70 . The graphic board 130 includes a VDP for generating image data, a video RAM for storing image data generated by the VDP, and the like.

The graphic board 130 also includes a VDP (Video Display Processor) that generates image data based on a control signal output from the game controller 70, a video RAM that temporarily stores image data generated by the VDP, and the like. I have. The image data used when generating image data by VDP is included in the game program in the storage device. The graphic board 130 also has a function of outputting the operation results of various touch icons provided on the lower image display panel 141 to the game controller 70 .

The communication interface 82 is for communicating with the PTS terminal 700 and an external control device. When receiving the input signal from the bill entry 60 , the PTS terminal 700 transmits the inserted currency information included in the input signal to the game controller 70 via the communication interface 82 . In addition, the PTS terminal 700 transmits/receives information to/from the IC card 1500 via the first reader/writer 771, the second reader/writer 772, or the third reader/writer 773, and transmits the result to the IC card 1500 via the communication interface 82. Send to game controller 70 .

[Configuration of PTS terminal]
Next, referring to FIG. 6, the internal configuration of the PTS terminal 700 will be described.

A PTS controller 750 that controls the PTS terminal 700 has a CPU 751 , a ROM 752 and a RAM 753 .

The CPU 751 performs execution control of each component of the PTS terminal 700, executes various programs stored in the ROM 752, and performs calculations.

The ROM 752 is composed of a memory device such as a flash memory, and stores permanent data to be executed by the CPU 751 . The RAM 753 temporarily stores data necessary for executing various programs stored in the ROM 752 .

The external storage device 754 is, for example, a storage device such as a hard disk device, and stores programs executed by the CPU 751 and data used by the programs executed by the CPU 751 .

A server I/F (interface) 755 realizes data communication between the information processing device 500 such as a hall management server and other servers and the PTS terminal 700 . A gaming machine I/F (interface) 756 realizes data communication between the game controller 70 of the slot machine 10 and the PTS terminal 700 via the communication interface 82 (FIG. 5) on the slot machine 10 side. A defined protocol may be used for data communication. The PTS terminal 700 communicates with the information processing device 500 via the server I/F 755 .

In addition, the PTS terminal 700 is connected via a bill entry I/F (interface) 757 to the bill entry 60, which is a bill validator, and is also connected to a settlement machine (not shown) via a settlement machine I/F (interface) 758. ), and can send and receive data to and from them as needed.

The IC card control unit 741 controls transmission and reception of information to and from the IC card. An LED control unit and the like (not shown) are provided.

The DSP 765 receives audio data acquired from the microphone 715 , performs predetermined audio processing, and then transmits the data to the CPU 751 . The DSP 765 also transmits the received audio data to the speaker 707 . Furthermore, the DSP 765 outputs the received sound to the headphone through the audio terminal to which the headset is connected, and also processes the sound received from the microphone and transmits the processed sound to the CPU 751 . Note that the schematic configuration is shown here, and an A/D converter, a D/A converter, an amplifier, etc. are omitted.

The camera control unit 766 acquires an image of the display screen (transaction code, etc.) of the mobile terminal device 1100 captured by the camera 713, performs predetermined image processing as necessary, and transmits the processed data to the CPU 751. . The data is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 500 or the like via the server I/F 755, for example.

An LCD 177 is also connected to the PTS terminal 700, and the LCD 177 is provided with a touch panel so that it can receive a player's touch operation.

[Contactless IC card communication]
The first reader/writer 771, the second reader/writer 772 and the third reader/writer 773 (FIG. 6) provided in the PTS terminal 700 are IC cards 1500 (membership information cards, member information cards, etc.) used for RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier). Information is transmitted and received without contact with a non-member information card). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, an IC card 1500 has a coil-shaped antenna 1501 for, for example, the HF band (13.56 MHz) provided on a card-shaped substrate, and a UHF band (900 MHz band). ) is provided. The IC card 1500 also has a first transmission/reception circuit 1511 and a second transmission/reception circuit 1512 for driving these two antennas mounted as IC chips.

Coiled antenna 1501 is connected to first reader/writer 771 or third reader/writer 771 of PTS terminal 700 .
An antenna for transmitting and receiving information to and from the reader/writer 773 by an electromagnetic induction method. Information can be transmitted/received to/from the first reader/writer 771 by bringing them close to each other. Incidentally, the third reader/writer 773 is provided close to the route through which the IC card 1500 (non-member information card) is ejected from the card stacker 742, and reads the ejected IC card 1500 (non-member information card). It is designed to read the card number unique to the stored card. Instead of storing the card number in advance, the third reader/writer 773 may store the card number in the IC card 1500 (non-member information card) each time the non-member information card is issued.

The first reader/writer 771 is provided on the front surface of the PTS terminal 700 at a position where the player can easily hold the IC card 1500 over it. The player brings the IC card 1500 closer to the first reader/writer 771 at a distance of several centimeters, thereby enabling non-contact communication between the IC card 1500 and the first reader/writer 771. can be done.

On the other hand, the dipole antenna 1502 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving information to and from the second reader/writer 772 of the PTS terminal 700 using radio waves. Information can be sent to and received from the second reader/writer 772 over a range of distances. Since the second reader/writer 772 can communicate with the IC card 1500 within a distance of several meters, it does not need to be exposed on the front surface of the PTS terminal 700 and is provided inside the PTS terminal 700 .

Thereby, the player can send and receive information to and from both the first reader/writer 771 and the second reader/writer 772 in a contactless manner using one IC card 1500 (member information card or non-member information card). It can be carried out. That is, the player brings the IC card 1500 close to the coiled antenna 1501 (FIG. 3) of the first reader/writer 771 at a distance of several centimeters, thereby connecting the IC card 1500 and the PTS terminal 700 via the first reader/writer 771 . can be put into a communicable state. Also, within a range of several meters in front of the dipole antenna 1502 of the second reader/writer 772 (that is, within a range of several meters in front of the slot machine 10 provided with the PTS terminal 700 (area AR1 in FIG. 4)), the IC card 1500 exists, the IC card 1500 and the PTS terminal 700 can be put into a communicable state via the second reader/writer 772 .

That is, in order to enable communication between the IC card 1500 and the first reader/writer 771, the IC card 1500 needs to be brought close to the coiled antenna 1501 of the first reader/writer 771 by several centimeters. However, in order to enable the IC card 1500 to communicate with the second reader/writer 772, the IC card 1500 is within the communication range of the dipole antenna 1502 of the second reader/writer 772. It should be in front. As a result, a player playing a game on the slot machine 10 (usually facing the slot machine 10 in front of the slot machine 10) can carry the IC card 1500 in a pocket of his/her clothes. 1500 is ready to communicate with the PTS terminal 700 via the second reader/writer 772, while the player intentionally puts the IC card 1500 several centimeters away from the coiled antenna 1501 of the first reader/writer 771. When the IC card 1500 is brought close to the distance, the IC card 1500 becomes communicable with the PTS terminal 700 via the first reader/writer 771 .

[Game execution determination processing in PTS terminal]
8 and 9 are flowcharts showing game execution determination processing by the PTS terminal 700. FIG. In this process, the PTS terminal 700 (PTS controller 750) confirms that the player has started the game in the slot machine 10 equipped with the PTS terminal 700, that the player is playing the game, and that the player is playing the game. is completed.

Specifically, the PTS controller 750 determines whether or not the first reader/writer 771 has detected the IC card 1500 (member information card or non-member information card) in step S101 of FIG. If a negative result is obtained in step S101, this means that the player has not brought the IC card 1500 close to the coil antenna 1501 of the first reader/writer 771, and the PTS controller 750 This process is repeated until is detected.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step S101, this means that the player has moved the IC card 1500 closer to the coiled antenna 1501 of the first reader/writer 771, and the PTS controller 750 , the member number stored in the IC card (if the member number is not stored, the card number) is read out from the IC card 1500, the process is shifted from step S101 to step S102, and the member is read from the IC card 1500. Determine whether the number has been read. If it is determined that the membership number has been read, the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S102 to step S103, displays a prompt to enter a password on the LCD 177 (FIGS. 3 and 6) of the PTS terminal 700, and continues to step S104. determines whether or not a password has been entered.

If a negative result is obtained in step S104, this means that the player has not entered the password via the operation means such as the touch panel of the LCD 177, and the PTS controller 750 continues to operate until the password is entered. , the above steps S103 and S104 are repeated.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step S104, this means that the player has entered the password, and the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S104 to step S105. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the member information has not been read, the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S102 to step S105.

If a positive result is obtained in step S104 or a negative result in step S102, the PTS controller 750 performs authentication processing in step S105. In this authentication process, the PTS controller 750 transmits the input password and the membership number read from the IC card 1500 to the information processing device 500 when the member number is read from the IC card 1500 . Based on the member number and password, the information processing device 500 determines whether or not the authentication request is made through an IC card 1500 that has been legitimately issued to a pre-registered member. The information processing device 500 creates a member account corresponding to a combination of a member number and a password, and manages credit data and the like in association with the account. The password is specified by the member player who receives the issuance of the member information card when the member information card is issued, and is managed by the information processing device 500 .

In the authentication process in step S105, if the combination of the member number and the entered password matches that of the registered member, it can be determined that the player is a legitimate member player. If the combination of passwords obtained does not match that of a registered member, it cannot be determined that the player is a legitimate member player.

If the IC card 1500 detected in step S101 is a non-member information card, the PTS controller 750 reads the card number in step S101 because the member number is not stored in the non-member information card. In this case, the PTS controller 750 does not display a prompt to enter a password (step S103). It is determined whether or not a member account has been created on the database of the information processing device 500 . If a non-member account corresponding to the card number read from the IC card 1500 is created on the database, it can be determined that the non-member information card has been issued legally. If a non-member account corresponding to is not created on the database, it can be determined that the non-member information card is not a legally issued non-member information card.

The information processing device 500 transmits these authentication results to the PTS terminal 700 . In step S106 (FIG. 9), the PTS terminal 700 determines whether or not the authentication result transmitted from the information processing device 500 is successful authentication (result of determination that the card is a legitimate member information card or a legitimate non-member information card). to decide.

If the authentication result is not authentication success, the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S106 to step S109 by obtaining a negative result in step S106, and displays the LCD 177 of the PTS terminal 700 indicating that the password is incorrect or that the authentication is not successful. Execute error handling to indicate success.

On the other hand, if the authentication result is a successful authentication, the PTS controller 750 obtains a positive result in step S106, and moves the process from step S106 to step S107 to start the reception process by the second reader/writer 772. Execute. Also, at this time, the PTS controller 750 starts an internal timer (not shown). If it is determined that the authentication is successful in step S106, the PTS terminal 700 communicates with the game controller 70 of the slot machine 10 to prompt the member (non-member) player to input credits to be inserted into the game. prompt. A member (non-member) player can insert the member's credit into the game from a member (non-member) account provided in the member (non-member) database of the information processing device 500 via the PTS terminal 700 after authentication. can.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing details of the receiving process (step S107) by the second reader/writer 772 shown in FIG. When the PTS controller 750 shifts the process to the reception process (step S107) by the second reader/writer 772, it determines whether or not the second reader/writer 772 has received a signal from the IC card 1500 (step S201). .

If the second reader/writer 772 does not receive the reception result, the PTS controller 750 obtains a negative result in step S201, thereby shifting the process to step S206, starting the internal timer in step S106, and performing a predetermined Determine whether time has passed. If the predetermined period of time has not elapsed, the PTS controller 750 obtains a negative result in step S206, thereby moving the process to step S201 described above and repeating the reception determination. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has passed, the PTS controller 750 obtains a positive result in step S206, and shifts the process to step S108 (FIG. 9).

On the other hand, when the second reader/writer 772 receives a signal from the IC card 1500, the PTS controller 750 obtains a positive result in step S201 to shift the process from step S201 to step S202. When the member number (or card number) received from the IC card 1500 and the member number (or card number) authenticated in steps S105 and S106 described above, the authenticated information (i.e., received by the first reader/writer 771 and the authenticated membership number (or card number)). Then, in step S203, it is determined whether or not these comparison results match.

A positive result in step S203 indicates that the member number or card number (i.e. information) and the member number or card number of the IC card 1500 received in step S201 (that is, the information received by the second reader/writer 772) are the same, that is, the information from the same IC card 1500 is meant to be In this case, a member (non-member) player authenticated by holding the IC card 1500 close to the first reader/writer 771 provided in the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 10 wears the IC card 1500. , the game is started in the slot machine 10, and it can be determined that the game is still in progress. Member) The reception result from the information card (IC card 1500 ) is stored in the RAM 753 of the PTS terminal 700 .

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S203, this means that the member (non-member) information (that is, the first leader/ information received by the writer 771) does not match the information from the IC card 1500 received in step S201 (that is, the information received by the second reader/writer 772); means that it is not information about In this case, an IC card different from the IC card 1500 of the member (non-member) player authenticated by holding the IC card 1500 close to the first reader/writer 771 provided in the PTS terminal 700 of the slot machine 10 1500 is detected in the receiving area of the second reader/writer 772 . In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a person B (step S101 It can be determined that a person who has an IC card 1500X different from the IC card 1500 detected by the first reader/writer 771 in FIG. . As a result, the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S203 to step S205, and stores the reception result from the card (IC card 1500X) other than the member (non-member) received in the above-described step S201 in the RAM 753 of the PTS terminal 700. store, and the process moves to step S206.

In step S206, the PTS controller 750, based on the count result of the internal timer that is started when the authentication success result is obtained in the above-described step S106, determines that the predetermined time has passed since the authentication success result was obtained. determine whether it did. If a negative result is obtained in step S206, this means that the predetermined time has not passed since the member (non-member) player held the IC card 1500 over the first reader/writer 771, and the PTS The controller 750 shifts the processing to step S201 described above and waits for reception of another IC card 1500 in the second reader/writer 772 .

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step S206, this means that a predetermined time has passed since the member (non-member) player held the IC card 1500 over the first reader/writer 771. , the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S206 to step S107.

After the process of step S204 or when a positive result is obtained in step S206, the PTS controller 750 shifts the process to step S108 (FIG. 9), and , the IC card 1500 received via the second reader/writer 772 at this time is the member or non-member IC card 1500 authenticated in steps S105 and S106 (that is, in the first reader/writer 771 It is determined whether or not it is the same as the IC card 1500 received and successfully authenticated.

If a positive result is obtained in step S108, this means that the information from the IC card 1500 of the member (non-member) player who has been successfully authenticated based on the reception result of the first reader/writer 771 is transferred to the second reader/writer 772. It means that it has been received, and the PTS controller 750 shifts the process to step S110, determines that the successfully authenticated member (non-member) player is playing a game in the slot machine 10, and proceeds to step S107 described above. The processing is shifted to repeat the receiving processing by the second reader/writer 772 .

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step S108, this means that the information from the IC card 1500 of the member (non-member) player who has been successfully authenticated based on the reception result of the first reader/writer 771 is the second This means that it has not been received by the reader/writer 772, and the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S108 to step S113 to transmit the game result (history) regarding the member player to the information processing device 500. Execute the game end process.

Through the game execution determination processing (FIGS. 8 to 10) described above, the member (non-member) player holds the IC card 1500 over the first reader/writer 771 and, if the member is a member, further enters the password for authentication (step S105). , step S106) succeeds, and when the game is started in the slot machine 10 provided with the first reader/writer 771, the member (non-member) player puts the IC card 1500 in his/her pocket or the like into the first slot machine. 2 reader/writer 772 detects (step S107, step S201) that the member (non-member) player has started the game at the slot machine 10 that has been successfully authenticated.

As long as the member (non-member) player continues to play the game, second reader/writer 772 continues to detect IC card 1500 of the member (non-member) player ("YES" in step S108). , the PTS controller 750 can determine that the member (non-member) player authenticated via the first reader/writer 771 before the start of the game continues to play the game in the slot machine 10 (step S110). ).

When the member (non-member) player who is determined to be playing the game finishes the game and leaves the seat, the IC card 1500 put in the pocket or the like of the member (non-member) player is transferred to the second reader/writer 772 . By leaving the transmitting/receiving area AR1, the second reader/writer 772 becomes unable to communicate with the member (non-member) player's IC card 1500 ("NO" in step S201 or step S203). When PTS controller 750 detects that this state continues for a predetermined period of time ("YES" in step S206), PTS controller 750 can determine that the member (non-member) player has finished the game and execute game end processing. can. As a result, the member (non-member) player does not need to perform any end operation when terminating the game, and the process (step S113) at the time of game termination is executed without making the member (non-member) player aware of it. be able to.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, when the second reader/writer 772 cannot communicate with the member (non-member) player's IC card 1500 (non-detection state) for a predetermined period of time, the member (non-member) player Although the case where it is determined that the game has ended has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, in FIG. 12 where the parts corresponding to those in FIG. (Step S108 "NO"), that is, if the second reader/writer 772 has not received information from the member player's IC card 1500 that has been successfully authenticated based on the reception result of the first reader/writer 771, the PTS controller 750 moves the process from step S108 to step S111 and determines whether or not the credit balance for the game is zero by communicating with the game controller 70 of the slot machine 10 .

If a negative result is obtained in step S111, this means that the credit balance in the slot machine 10 is not zero, that is, the balance remains, and the PTS controller 750 proceeds from step S111 to step The process proceeds to S112, it is determined that the member (non-member) player has temporarily left the slot machine 10 (it is determined that the game has not ended), and the processing of step 107 is repeated.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step S111, this means that the credit balance in the slot machine 10 is zero (no balance remains), that is, the game is being played in step S110. The balance of the member (non-member) player determined to be zero and the member (non-member) player has moved from the slot machine 10, or the member (non-member) successfully authenticated based on the reception result of the first reader/writer 771 Non-member) Information from the player's IC card 1500 has never been received by the second reader/writer 772 (step S201 "NO", step S206 "YES", step S108 "NO", progress of step S111) ) (meaning that the member left without playing the game after the authentication process), the PTS controller 750 shifts the process from step S111 to step S113, and the member (non-member) Member) By transmitting the game result (history) regarding the player to the information processing device 500, the game end processing is executed.

In this way, both the fact that the IC card 1500 of the member (non-member) player has not been detected by the second reader/writer 772 and that the credit balance in the slot machine 10 is zero. By using it as a determining factor for the end of the game by a member (non-member) player, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination that the game is over when the player temporarily leaves the slot machine 10, for example.
Incidentally, the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 shows a modification of the processing subsequent to the processing of steps S101 to S104 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12 above, one of the criteria for determining that the member (non-member) player has finished the game is that the credit balance in the slot machine 10 has become zero (FIG. 12). (step S111), the credit balance is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a case where the credit balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. In this way, it is possible to determine that the game has ended even for a player who ends the game and leaves the seat when the credit balance becomes small.

In the above-described embodiment, the criterion for determining that the member (non-member) player has finished the game is that the credit balance in the slot machine 10 has become zero. S111), but not limited to this, for example, when the cashout button 30A (FIG. 1) of the slot machine 10 is operated and a signal representing the operation result is output from the CASHOUT switch 32S (FIG. 5), the member (non-member) It may be determined that the player has finished the game. In this way, if there is a credit balance, the end of the game can be determined by the operating state of the cashout button operated at the end of the game.

That is, when second reader/writer 772 has not detected IC card 1500 for a predetermined period of time and operation information indicating that cashout button 30A for withdrawing the credit balance has been operated is received. By judging that the game is over immediately, it is possible to prevent erroneous judgment that the game is over when a member (non-member) player temporarily leaves the slot machine 10, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the IC card 1500 is detected by the first reader/writer 771 in a non-contact manner as an authentication method for the member (non-member) information card authentication processing (steps S105 and S106) before the game starts. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the face image of the player may be captured and the face image data may be compared with pre-registered face image data for authentication. In addition to the face image, various biometric authentication technologies such as capturing the voice of the player with a microphone and comparing the voice data with pre-registered voice data, or fingerprint authentication, etc. can be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which two types of communication methods, the electromagnetic induction method and the radio wave method, are installed in one IC card 1500 to perform authentication before the start of the game and determination during the game. For example, the PTS terminal 700 is equipped with only a radio wave system with a relatively long transmission and reception distance, and only the corresponding second reader/writer 772 is provided. and the password input by the player's input operation to the PTS terminal 700 (for example, operation of the touch panel of the LCD 177). It is also possible to determine whether the game is in progress or when the game is over only by detecting the IC card 1500 .

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a card-shaped non-contact information medium (IC card 1500) is used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. By providing non-contact communication means (first transmission/reception circuit, second transmission/reception circuit, coil antenna 1501, and dipole antenna 1502 shown in FIG. 7) mounted on the card 1500, the portable terminal device 1100 can may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a game is played by inserting cash (banknotes) into the slot machine 10 and the cashout button is pressed, the non-member information card (IC Card 1500) has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a ticket printer may be provided in slot machine 10 or PTS terminal 700, and paper media may be output from the ticket printer. For example, a player who receives a payout of a ticket with a barcode can redeem the ticket by having the cashier 202 read the barcode of the ticket. In this way, with a configuration in which tickets are paid out from the ticket printer and converted into cash at the cashier 202, even a non-member player who is not registered as a member can insert cash into the slot machine 10 and be paid out as a result of the game. Prizes can be redeemed through tickets issued from ticket printers.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific examples are merely illustrated, and the present invention is not particularly limited. Moreover, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely enumerations of the most suitable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. isn't it.

In addition, in the above detailed description, the characteristic parts have been mainly described so that the present invention can be understood more easily. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth in the foregoing detailed description, but may be applied to other embodiments and its scope of application is diverse. Moreover, the terms and usage used in this specification are used to describe the present invention precisely, and are not used to limit the interpretation of the present invention. In addition, it is believed that those skilled in the art can easily conceive of other configurations, systems, methods, etc. included in the concept of the present invention from the concept of the invention described herein. Therefore, the claims should be considered to include equivalent configurations within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.
[Appendix]
The terminal device of the present invention is
A terminal device communicably connected to a gaming machine capable of playing games according to credits,
a reading unit capable of reading, by wireless communication, a non-contact communication medium storing member information of a player before the start of the game;
and a control unit that executes a process at the end of the game based on the reading state of the non-contact communication medium by the reading unit after the game is started.
According to this configuration, before the start of the game, the player's start of the game can be determined by reading the non-contact communication medium in which the member information of the player is stored by wireless communication. Based on the reading state of the non-contact communication medium, it is possible to determine whether the player has finished the game, and to execute processing at the end of the game. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of inserting the membership card into the gaming machine during the game and pulling out the membership card when the game ends, as in the conventional art. In other words, it is possible to execute the processing at the end of the game without making the player aware of it.
In the terminal device of the present invention, in the above configuration,
The reading unit
an antenna for wirelessly communicating with the contactless communication medium;
a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the contactless communication medium via the antenna;
The antenna is characterized by having directivity toward the player playing a game with the gaming machine.
According to this configuration, the antenna having directivity directed toward the player who plays the game in the gaming machine to which the terminal device that reads the non-contact communication medium is connected enables the player who plays the game in the gaming machine to However, if the non-contact communication medium is carried, it can be determined that the member possessing the read non-contact communication medium is playing the game and that the game has ended.
In the terminal device of the present invention, in the above configuration,
The control unit
It is characterized in that it is determined that the game is over when the read state continues for a predetermined time and the balance of the credits becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount.
According to this configuration, it is determined that the game has ended when the non-contact communication medium has been read for a predetermined period of time and the credit balance has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount. It is possible to prevent erroneous judgment that the game is over when the player is temporarily away from.
In the terminal device of the present invention, in the above configuration,
The gaming machine has an operation unit for paying out the credit balance according to the game result,
The control unit
The game is determined to be over when the reading state continues for a predetermined time and operation information indicating that the operation unit is operated is received from the gaming machine.
According to this configuration, the game ends when the operation information indicating that the operation unit for paying out the credit balance is operated is received in addition to the non-contact communication medium being read for a predetermined time. By judging that the game is over, for example, it is possible to prevent erroneous judgment that the game is over when the player temporarily leaves the gaming machine.

10 slot machine 100 information management system 201 reception counter 500 information processing device 700 PTS terminal 771 first reader/writer 772 second reader/writer 773 third reader/writer 1500 IC card 1501 coiled antenna 1502 dipole antenna 1511 first transmission/reception circuit 1512 second transmission/reception circuit

Claims (3)

In a game facility where a plurality of gaming machines are installed, a terminal device that is communicatively connected to any one of the gaming machines capable of playing games according to credit as valuable value,
a first communication unit capable of reading, by wireless communication, a non-contact communication medium storing member information of a player before the start of the game;
a second communication unit that performs wireless communication with the non-contact communication medium via a directional antenna having directivity directed toward the player playing a game with the connected gaming machine;
a control unit that executes processing when the game is finished in the connected gaming machine based on the communication result of the first communication unit and the communication result of the second communication unit;
The control unit
a first determination process for determining whether or not the member information read by the first communication unit matches pre-authenticated member information;
When the determination result of the first determination process matches the member information, it is determined whether or not detection of the non-contact communication medium by the second communication unit is in a non-detection state, and the non-detection state is determined. and executing a second judgment process of referring to the balance of the credits in the connected gaming machine and judging whether or not the game is over when the balance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. terminal equipment. The control unit
If the determination result of the first determination process matches the member information, a timer is started, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not the non-detection state has been reached by the second communication unit. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first determination process, biometric information of the player is acquired and the authentication is performed by comparing the acquired biometric information with pre-registered biometric information.

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