JPH11184709A - Managing method for game machine for distribution or the like and complementary software therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten network connection time during selection game operation and to unnecessitate a speed matching measure during the time by completing a charging processing procedure and decoding before game starting operation on the side of a terminal which receives a software for distribution and charging processing procedure transmitted from the side of a host. SOLUTION: When the distribution is requested from the terminal side to the host side, a host side transmission software related to a game software selected on the terminal side is distributed from the host side, and the terminal side performs its reception and the temporary storage processing of the software. Next, the protection of an individual terminal equipment side software under loading, change working from terminal side software into updating software to be performed by a complementary program 4a provided inside the host side transmission software 8, charging calculation for a selected object software and the temporary storage of the result including a transmitted automatic erasing means 7 are automatically processed. When the processing is completed, the account of charging is settled, the automatic decoding processing of a transmission software part is continuously performed and when the processing is completed, a communication line is automatically disconnected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solution for a game information transaction performed between a host and a terminal using a communication network. The present invention relates to a management technique for a game machine for distribution and the like in which the degree of sophistication or diversification is measured by a minor change, and the charge settlement on the terminal side and the host side is rationalized by economically using communication means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game machine has a TV screen at home, a dedicated CRT at a game center, or a small electronic liquid crystal screen for portable use. A series of game screens are projected and some proceed while interacting with the operator. Also, following the game stage in which the operator interacts like a pachinko game machine and a ball hits a hit hole, a new game display such as a fiber scene is provided to diversify the game. There is something. Alternatively, a karaoke machine provided with a CRT screen displays a background corresponding to the song, and a game center displays a front virtual screen of the passing scenery in an operation display scene provided on the front of the virtual drive operation device. In addition, in print clubs, which are varieties of ready-made photographic devices by electronic technology, hard copy is provided by providing a background screen on the back of the subject. Hereinafter, a game machine that electronically forms a display screen, a ready-made photographing machine capable of hard-copying a screen provided by the electronic operation thereof, and similar devices are referred to as a game machine or the like. The game program software usable for them is called electronic software.

[0003] In general, consumer preferences for commercially available electronic software are diverse, and market competition is fierce. Manufacturers are busy upgrading product versions. At that time, the trader is forced to bear the same distribution costs as in the case of shipping the original version even for minor changes of the same game. In particular, in the sale of electronic software with a dedicated machine, it has been premised that old hardware is rendered useless every time a version is upgraded. Consumers, on the other hand, bear the price of the unchanged software portion, which occupies the majority of the game at every version up, together with the distribution cost. On the other hand, distribution electronic software provided through communication can at least omit the step of commercializing a package, and is therefore of interest to both manufacturers and consumers.

Therefore, a proposal has been made to transfer the contents of these games by communication means. A proposal for distributing to home TVs (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-286489), a proposal by which a manufacturer distributes all game data to an initialization optical disk of a game terminal device of a purchaser (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-286489). (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-1609), a game machine for transferring popular software to a vacant game machine of a commercial game center by communication.
No. 63756), a device for transmitting a projection screen image to a karaoke room (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-331201), and a proposal for transmitting software to a portable small electronic game machine which can be operated while moving. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-191954). Further, a proposal for solving a technical problem caused by the use of communication is to solve a difference between a distribution communication speed occurring during a game and a game operation speed on a terminal side, which is slower than the communication speed (JP-A-Hei. 08-214044)
However, as a proposal for solving a management problem arising on the host side, a game when charging according to the game execution time is proposed.
Various disclosures have been made, such as measures for collecting system fees (JP-A-09-155062).

[0005]

In the above-mentioned distribution game machine, the connection time between the host side and the terminal side is determined by terminating the game starting from the network connection and reducing the game fee. The end point is the time when a settlement is made and a game is not to be continued, and it is almost equal to the connection time of the communication line.
This connection time varies depending on the difficulty of the game and the skill of the operator. Therefore, if the host-side communication speed and the terminal-side operation speed are to be uniformly adjusted, the quality of the game screen may be impaired. Further, if the connection time is long, there is a disadvantage that the probability of occurrence of a communication failure increases. Conventionally, the delivery fee of a game for distribution (hereinafter referred to as billing) is one game.
This is the sum of the provision fee per system and the host connection fee proportional to the operation time. Of these, host connection fees are inconvenient for consumers. That is, even if the same game is performed, the charging is different due to the superiority of the game operation, and the same person can use the same game.
That is, even if the system is repeatedly operated, the billing does not become constant. On the other hand, the host station also has an unstable factor in charge management. That is, when the terminal side stops the game on the way or does not perform a correct billing settlement after the game ends,
There is no guarantee of charge settlement.

In addition to the above, the game software industry has the following problems. That is, generally, a general manufacturer / distributor sells packaged products obtained by converting electronic software into hardware, and promotes the sale of the packaged products in accordance with the Unjustified Premiums and Unauthorized Labeling Prevention Law (hereinafter, the Unjustified Premiums Prevention Law). Subject to the restrictions described above). In other words, hardened articles are used for sales of software contents, and the company appeals for the exterior design of the package and competes with price discounts. However, the added value of software products is in the form of software, but until now, even if you want to give and express prizes with the soft value, payment and collection of charges are rational and detailed in a soft state At present, there was no appropriate clearing method that could be used.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above problems, and is connected to a network until a game is selected, thereby enabling disconnection of a communication line before the start of the game. Reduces network connection time during game operation, eliminates the need for speed matching measures during that time, maintains the quality of the game screen, and does not transmit all data when distributing software. Together with enabling version up,
Improve the memory environment on the host side and terminal side of software provision,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a management method of a game machine for distribution and the like and a complementary software for the software, which can provide added value and prizes for promotion in a software state by rationalizing and clarifying billing settlement. It is.

[0008]

A distribution gate according to the present invention.
A method of managing a game machine or the like is to connect a plurality of terminals performing a display operation such as a predetermined game on an electronic screen to a host station directly by a communication means or indirectly through an intermediate server. Then, the host-side transmission software capable of changing the contents of the game is applied to a network provided to the terminal side, and an individual terminal accessing the network receives a password via a password. -When requesting transmission of specific software that has been upgraded, the host station collectively transmits host-side transmission software that composes a supplementary program for changing the specific game and required billing data processing software, and sends them. Is read out from the memory sequentially by the individual terminals that have received the data, and the supplementary program is decoded only when the procedure operation indicated by the billing data processing software is completed within a predetermined time. Individual Edit and complete the update software that can operate the game in addition to the software on the terminal side, or after the game operation based on the update software in addition to them, separate the supplementary program from the update software and After restoring and editing the software on the individual terminal side, save the restored software on the individual terminal, and temporarily store on the individual terminal a control program for selectively and automatically deleting the received content including the separated specific complementing program. It is configured as follows.

The complementary software employed in the method of the present invention is a network for connecting a plurality of terminals for performing display operations such as games on an electronic screen to a host station via communication means. Compatible with host-side transmission software, allowing access to the terminal-side software copied from the host station's original software to the individual terminal by updating the contents and operating the contents. It comprises a control program stored in terminal-side software and host-side transmission software, the host-side transmission software comprising text data, image data, and audio data programmed based on the original software. A supplementary program for changing the content of a specific game, which selectively has data,
Change and control billing data processing software and software contents,
Alternatively, it is organized by a control program including an automatic erasing means for selectively erasing the contents of the host-side transmission software.
A random number is added to some or all of them, or organized in a random number table to form a code, and the random number can be decoded later.

[0010]

In response to the transmission request from the terminal, the host collectively transmits the entire contents of the distribution software and the billing procedure, and the terminal that receives it collects the billing within a fixed time before the start of the game operation. Since the procedure and decoding are completed, the communication line can be disconnected thereafter. Therefore, the connection time with the network is very short, and there is no damage to the transmission software on the host side due to radio interference or speed inconsistency during communication and game operation, so that the cause of malfunction during the game is reduced. The host-side transmission software protects its contents with random numbers before the settlement of the charge, and temporarily stores the automatic erasing means at the time of distribution as necessary, so that the distribution software is not left on the terminal side after the game is over. Can be treated. Since the supplementary program related to the change of the game and the like transmitted to the terminal side software originates from the same original software, any processing such as change, update, restoration and editing of the terminal side software performed by the host side transmission software is performed. The software content such as the game is distributed only to the updated part without error, so that the communication amount on the host side and the terminal side and the required memory amount are small.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a distribution gate according to the present invention will be described.
The management method of the memory device and its complementary software will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the method of the present invention and its complementary software. FIG. 1A is a situation processing diagram showing processing over time, FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing the configuration of the complementary software, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a data arrangement diagram in a server for explaining the contents of host-side data distribution according to the method of the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of complementary software according to the present invention. FIG. 4B shows a data arrangement diagram when using a random number, FIG. 4C shows a data arrangement diagram when using a random number sequence, and FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the method of the present invention. This is a flowchart for explanation.

The structure of the method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the configuration of the network 3 to which the terminal 1 accesses by implementing the method of the present invention is as follows.
An intermediate service for storing distribution software by the communication means 2
A host station 3a connected via the server 3d, and the host station stores software of required contents not described herein,
A server 3b having a backup function is provided so that the server 3b can be accessed without an intermediate server 3d if necessary.

The terminal 1 connected to the network 3 can receive host-side transmission software described later at an appropriate time. That is, a host side distribution operation of required electronic software is received by a transmission request operation (time t1) (time t2).
At the stage before the game operation, the terminal side makes a predetermined selection and decision. For example, when the terminal side gives a signal to determine the operation of a specific game existing in the received electronic software, a predetermined charge is automatically selected and the charge is settled, and the contents of the electronic software are decoded. You. Here, the decoding includes releasing the function of keeping the host-side transmission software confidential with random numbers and unspecified symbols, and decoding related to machine language translation. If you do not choose to purchase software for the billing to be settled, read the terminal side software at the same time as the game ends,
The temporary storage software including the program for restoring and editing the status before reception and the program for automatically deleting the host-side transmission software is stored in the memory 11 attached to the terminal 1 and the package software installed in the terminal. Is temporarily stored in an empty memory space provided in advance. By the above processing, the preparation stage on the terminal side before the communication line disconnection is completed. These related processes are automatically performed, and at the same time, the notification content corresponding to the process and the determination of the end of the network connection OK are automatically transmitted from the terminal side to the host side, and the host side transmits the communication line 2 to the host side. The wire is disconnected (time ts).

That is, the time (1) during which the terminal 1 connects to the network 3 is between the times t1 and t2 shown in the figure.
The period from the time t2 to the time ts is the time (2) in which the terminal side selects and decides before the game operation, and the host station 3a receives the settlement of the charge. Also, as described above, without receiving the specific game directly, at the beginning of the time (2) described later, the software software is received, and the required electronic software is selected by the software. A request for transmission of the selected electronic software may be sent to the host, and the game operation preparation step may be completed after waiting for the incoming call.

The operation of the game on the terminal 1 side is performed at time ts.
And ends at time te (time (3)). Then, within the time (4) provided at the same time as the game end signal, the temporary storage software stored in the preparation stage is read out, restored to the terminal-side software before reception, edited, and returned to the pre-reception state. Then, the host-side transmission software is separated (end time t4). In the next time (5), the separated host-side transmission software is automatically deleted based on the instruction given during the preparation stage (completion time t5).

Next, the configuration of complementary software used in the method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the supplementary software 4 is composed of host-side transmission software 8 and a control program 6c in the game software 6 formed as a pair with the transmission software as required. The host-side transmission software 8 includes a supplementary program for changing a specific game (hereinafter, referred to as a specific supplementary program) 4a, a control program 4b for software management control on the terminal side and the host station side, and billing data processing. It consists of software 5. And the game software 6 attached to the terminal 1
This is copy software obtained based on the original software 3c of the host station 3a. Similarly, the supplementary program 4a included in the host-side transmission software 8 is created based on the original software.

Here, the supplementary program 4a indicates the contents of electronic software which is merely a list of words and images by itself, that is, the part which only updates the game scene. Control program 4b
Is to add and edit the updated contents of the game and the like to the terminal side software 6 and separate the terminal side software parts unnecessary for the update,
This is for preserving and restoring to the state before distribution after the end of the game, including the automatic erasing means 7 for software that does not need to be stored, and for temporarily storing those functions. The billing data processing software 5 is a software for displaying a predetermined service charge for the selected updating software, transferring the payment OK, clearing the bill, and instructing the communication line disconnection. Further, in the control program 6c in the game software 6, the complementary software 4 paired with the host side transmission software 8
In the part, the program for supplementary software must be added in advance so that the symbol interpretation used in the transmission software can be decoded into a common one, and a screen display different from that of the terminal side software before reception is performed. Refers to the part of the control program that enables

As shown in FIG. 3, the complementary software 4 configured as described above is inserted into the random number table 9 shown in FIG. Or the same figure (B)
As shown in (1), a certain random number sequence 9b is also randomly added to the data sequence of the complementary software 4. As shown in FIG. 9C, by forming a random number sequence 9b of a code whose meaning is previously specified between the individual terminal side software 6a,
This configuration software may be used directly as the complementary software 4, that is, the complementary program itself. In addition, software 4
Symbols x and y shown on the left side of the data sequence shown in the figure are shown as an example, and communication status confirmation data, and z is billing data.
Similarly, the blank space on the left side indicates the x, y, and z, and the blank space on the right side and the symbol w indicate data for confirming the end of data transmission, and are predetermined in the control programs 4b and 6c. This is in accordance with the provisions described above.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the server 3b or the intermediate server 3d used in the method of the present invention is provided with a software database arranged and edited in a distributable state, and various utilities such as search and billing. The online management master to be processed is stored. The soft data base
For example, software that can be provided by the host, such as game software I, II, and ‥, is stored in a searchable manner for each version number attached to each update of the game contents. The version software is in a state of easy distribution. Further, for the contents of the same version number, a combination of elements that can be changed to a slightly different meaningful expression including a combination that selects only one of the following three elements, for example, encoded with the a1 symbol (a, A and B) can be selected at random. Many examples of these combinations are prepared. Here, the element is, for example, significant text data (a, b, ‥) for changing the progress of the game by replacing the elements a and b. The background is image data (A, B, ‥) which replaces the image with a seascape, and similarly, voice data (A, B, 変 え る) which changes a small laughter into a loud voice by replacing the elements と and ロ. B) and ‥), respectively.

The host station 3a is provided with a newly produced software or a version-up product not described here, and various catalogs, billing lists, and selection data software including other notices for facilitating selection of the software. To provide a pre-care and after-care server environment for providing the software to the servers 3b to 3d. The host station 3a not only provides a personal game, but also provides a three-element supply server for a game machine for a game center or an arcade, or for a karaoke room. Alternatively, it may be organized and constructed as a dedicated station such as an image specialized supply server for hard copy such as for a photographing machine. Terminal 1 is an ATM
The database is accessed at any time via a switch. The accessible terminal is a WS terminal for business use,
Individuals can use the communication means 2 such as a PC terminal, a mobile terminal or a wireless terminal, and any terminal may be selected.

Further, an embodiment of the method of the present invention using distribution software stored in the server will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, in the method of managing game machines for distribution of the present invention, the individual terminal side software 6 for storing the contents of specific electronic software to be sold and distributed by the host station 3a is provided to the terminal 1. It is assumed that loading is performed (S1). Then, the terminal is connected to a communication line for accessing the network 3 (S2), and inputs a password or a password (S3). As a result, the host confirming that the accessing terminal has a valid contract and credit transmits, for example, data software for software selection (S4). A list for software selection is displayed on the terminal side by the transmission from the host side (S5). The list includes a version-up list relating to the game software and the game to be used, and features of the game change contents. And so on. When the software to be requested for transmission is determined from among them, the software selection condition attributable to the terminal is displayed, and the terminal is notified of the selection. For example, a game that has been upgraded as shown in Table 1 (A) is unnecessary after use of the game, or as shown in Table (B), the amount of available memory in the individual terminal 1a is greatly increased. Since specific items such as a certain item are listed, items in the list are selected and designated (S6). Table 1 shows examples of these special notes. In this embodiment, the software handling example NO. 1 and the software protection selection contents (2) in the table (B) are designated.

[0021]

[Table 1]

With the above selection, confirmation items made before all game operations are displayed on the screen (S7), and when the confirmation is completed, the terminal is asked whether the game is to be started (S8). If you want to select another version up game here,
"NO" is instructed, and the process returns to the stage 5. The game selection operation is repeated.If the "YES" instruction is confirmed, the distribution request is automatically processed from the terminal side to the host side. The host side transmits the host side transmission software 8 relating to the game software selected by the terminal side, and the terminal side receives and temporarily stores the software (S9). Protection for individual terminal side software and supplementary program 4 included in host side transmission software 8
The processing of changing the terminal-side software to update software, the accounting calculation for the selected target software, and the temporary storage of the result including the transmitted automatic erasing means 7 are automatically processed (S10). When the process is completed, the payment is settled, the automatic decoding process of the transmission software part is performed, and the preparation process is completed (S11). At this point, the communication line is automatically disconnected (S12), the terminal side performs a decoding process, and the terminal is updated to be executable and updated. Update software 6
b is registered (S13). Stages 12 and 1
3 can be in reverse order.

The game operation of the update software 6b is started (S
14) When this is completed (S15), the game end processing is automatically performed (S16). That is, a process of separating the supplementary program 4a from the update software 6b described below,
Restoration to the state before receiving the software on the transmission side by fitting and restoring the temporarily stored individual terminal-side software 6a into the separation location. By this processing, the individual terminal device side software 6a becomes a software state that can be executed again, is registered and stored in the memory storage portion of the terminal device 1a, and the registration of the update software is automatically canceled and separated and complemented. The host-side transmission software 8 including the program 4a is automatically deleted (S17). Subsequently, it is confirmed that another game is not to be performed (S18), and this operation is finished as it is. However, if it is to be performed, the same communication as described above is performed by the control program 6c attached to the individual terminal side software 6a. The above-mentioned stage 2 such as line connection, password input, etc.
The processes from to 4 are automatically operated (S19).
It should be noted that the technology of the present invention can provide a new version if the software environment is unified.
It is also easy to distribute 100% of the contents of the John software and to have the payment cleared at the same time.

Next, the processing procedure of the complementary software according to the present invention for the terminal side software will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a processing procedure diagram for explaining the processing. The history NO. As shown in the column 1-1, the original software 3c including the software part (1) to (3) managed by the host is copied into a soft copy-3c ', which becomes a package software product and becomes an individual terminal. The side software 6a. The copy lock software 4c for copyright protection and a free memory area to be used at the time of version up are provided inside the individual terminal side software. At the time of the distribution, the package software is loaded and input to the terminal 1. In the following, each one of the software configurations that shows the blank space as appropriately vertically divided into two vertically long sections will hereinafter be simulated as a program string of an information code and a position code. As shown in the figure, the terminal 1 has a memory 1 in addition to the package software.
Assume that there is one. Similarly, the history No. As shown in FIG. 2, in order to partially update the individual terminal device side software 6a, the supplementary program 4a files an exchange part b and a newly added part c.

FIG. In the version-up processing shown in the left column of 1-2, the individual terminal side software 6
a. The exchange part is added between the software parts (1) and (2), and the part a of the individual terminal side software which has been before receiving is replaced in accordance with the required game contents. To separate. Also, the newly added part is inserted between the soft parts (2) and (3). Therefore, the host sets the supplementary program 4a in advance so that the replacement and insertion can be performed. Then, as shown in the right column, the random number table 9 for transmission protection is solved, and the copy lock software on the terminal side is unlocked by the control program 4b of the constituent part (procedure). Each part of the supplementary program 4a and the automatic erasing means 7 and other parts of the host-side transmission software 8 such as billing data processing software which are not described here are temporarily stored in the memory 4d on the terminal side. Terminal-side control program 6 not described in
c is appropriately used and controlled (procedure).
If the amount of memory is insufficient for the size of the memory 4d in the package software, the control program 6c will
Is stored in the memory 11 on the storage side.

The version-up procedure performed by the terminal-side software 6 corresponds to the history NO. As shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the reorganization is performed so that the individual terminal side software 6a is supplemented by the supplementary program 4a to become the update software 6b indicated by the white arrow. At this time, the replacement part a controlled in advance as described above is separated, transferred, and temporarily stored in the empty memory 4d, and the respective parts of the supplemental program are organized according to the predetermined control, and the executable update software 6
Version up is performed as b.

FIG. As shown in the left column of FIG. 4, at the end of the game, the processing procedure for restoring from the update software 6b to the restoration software indicated by the two-dot chain line, that is, the state of the individual terminal side software 6a before reception is performed by the update software 6b The replacement part b and the newly added part c are separated from each other and temporarily stored in the free memory 4d, and the replacement part a is read out and written in the initial predetermined position (procedure). At the same time, the exchange part and the newly added part are automatically deleted together with other software parts of the host-side transmission software. At this time, the transmitted automatic erasing means not described here is also automatically erased.

Next, an embodiment of the complementary software 4 having the simplest software structure shown in FIG. 3C will be described. Illustrated program data sequence (c, e, ‥, c)
It is assumed that the contents of each of the symbols defining the content are defined in advance between the terminal side software 6 and the host side transmission software 8 when the package software is provided. Therefore, when the data string is indicated by alphabets, a is a thousand or first prize, and b is 500 in a scoring game such as a race race.
Points or second prize, hereinafter f is evaluated as non-equal or zero point, total points are accumulated at the end of the game with several races as one set, and others who operate the same game and Compete for points with the host or the gamer who recorded the previous results. Further, a software configuration capable of performing a point-added game for minorly changing the data sequence of the simple structure of the complementary software 4 may be easily formed as follows and used for the game. In other words, the number of accesses is automatically totaled for each fixed access period or date and time, and the size of one expected totalized group is obtained. Set forth in The total number of points is distributed for each access, and further, the points are sequentially and subdivided into a terminal game in which a plurality of operations in one access are set as one set, and the points obtained by performing these processes sequentially are calculated. , Encoding and parameter
Stored as the data. In addition, by changing the code of the data sequence to a point and managing the computer, it is possible to provide various point-differentiated games in which the host performs overall management by the data sequence having the simple structure. . The provision of the service of managing the unspecified group access performed by the host side facilitates the automatic management of the provision of software prizes or sales promotion tickets which can be performed within the application of the Unjustified Prize Prevention Law, and the terminal side also receives data. This group access automatic management service executes the entire process of software product sales promotion in a soft state, such as accumulating software and tickets received by sales promotion on the software and receiving new updated software. It can be a technique.

[0029]

The method for managing a game machine for distribution and the like and the complementary software according to the present invention are capable of updating the contents of the game for distribution and the like on the terminal side in various manners, and the game is provided. In addition to shortening the network connection time during the provision of the service, the game operation can be performed within a time period not restricted by the billing, and the host station ends the billing settlement before the game. The same economic rationalization as the terminal has been achieved. Furthermore, since the host can easily make minor changes to the distribution software, additional software such as games can be used as a promotional prize, or communication means can be used for original packaged products once sold. After-sales after-sales care can be facilitated. Further, it is possible to provide the terminal with a means for storing the right to use the updated software and the right to issue on the network side. In addition, the technology of the present invention can be widely applied to electronic devices for soft copy which add various kinds of games and added value of background screen change, and those which can be hard copied by using the same device. Further, the game machines used in the present invention are not limited to those for home use and mobile use, and can be suitably applied to similar electronic devices for business use, such as game centers and karaoke rooms. The present invention can be applied not only to office software of office software but also to software for controlling NC machine tools in the field of manufacturing, and the economic effect can be widened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of managing a game machine for distribution and the like and its complementary software according to the present invention, wherein (A) is a situation processing diagram showing processing performed over time, and (B) is complementary software FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a data arrangement diagram in a server for explaining contents of data distribution on a host side according to the method of the present invention.

3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of complementary software according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a data arrangement diagram when a random number table is used, FIG. 3B is a data arrangement diagram when a random number is used, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a data arrangement diagram when a random number sequence is used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a processing procedure diagram illustrating a processing procedure for complementary software according to the present invention with respect to terminal-side software.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 terminal 1a, 1b, individual terminal 2 communication means 3 network 3a host station 3b server 3c original software 3c 'copy software 3d intermediate server 4 complementary software 4a complementary program (change specific game) 4b Control program (for distribution) 4c Copy lock software 4d Free memory 5 Billing data processing software 6 Terminal side software 6a Individual terminal side software 6b Update software 6c Terminal control program 7 Automatic deletion means 8 Host side Transmission software 9 Random number table 9a Random number 9b Random number sequence 10 Data software 11 for selection 11 Memory (terminal installed) (1), (2), ‥, a, b, ‥ Time or part of program sequence a, b, ‥ , A, B,..., T1, t2, ts Each time before the start of the game te, t4, t5 Each time after the end of the game

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminals (1) for performing a display operation of a game or the like based on predetermined software on an electronic screen screen are directly or intermediately communicated by a communication means (2) (3d). ) Is connected to the host station (3a) indirectly, and a network (3) is provided that provides host-side transmission software (8) to the terminal side to enable the contents of the game and the like to be changed. In addition, when the individual terminals (1a, 1b,...) Accessing the network make a transmission request for the upgraded specific software via a password, the host station (3a) specifies the specific software. -Complementary program for changing the program (4
a) and the host-side transmission software (8), which includes the required charging data processing software (5), is batch-transmitted, and the individual terminals receiving them sequentially read out from the memory and read the charging data. Only when the procedural operation indicated by the data processing software (5) is completed within a certain period of time, the supplementary program (4a) is decoded and added to the individual terminal side software (6a) for editing and game. Completion of update software (6b) that can be operated, etc., or a game based on the update software
After the end of the program operation, the complementary program is separated from the update software (6b), and the individual terminal side software (6
a) The control program (4b) for restoring and editing in (a), storing in the individual terminal, and selectively and automatically deleting the received content including the separated complementary program is temporarily stored in the individual terminal (1a). A method for managing a distribution game machine or the like characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A network for connecting a plurality of terminals (1) for performing display operations such as games on an electronic screen screen to a host station (3a) via communication means (2). (3)
To the terminal-side software (6), which is copied from the original software (40) of the host station and input to the individual terminal (1a) by accessing the host station, the content can be updated and operated. (4) a control program (6c) stored in terminal-side software (6) and a host-side transmission software (8), which are compatible with the host-side transmission software (8); The side transmission software is a supplementary program (4) for changing the contents of a specific game, which selectively has text data, image data, and audio data programmed based on the original software (3c).
a), a charge data processing software (5), and a control program (4b) including automatic erasing means (7) for changing and controlling the software contents or selectively erasing the contents of the host-side transmission software. ) Complementary software characterized by knitting. 3. The host-side transmission software (8) is formed by adding a random number (9a) to a part or all of the software or organizing it in a random number table (9), and coding and decoding them. 3. The complementary software according to claim 2, wherein the complementary software is configured together with a control program (4b) that enables the control program.