JPH11221329A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the disclosure of techniques and know-how for controlling kinds of game machines invented at the time of developing a program for controlling game machines by reading the program for controlling game machines stored in a computer for controlling game machines. SOLUTION: The program for controlling game machines an ciphered by conversion control data 42 being a prescribed cryptographic key is stored in ROM and according to inverse conversion control data 41 being a prescribed deciphering key, the ciphered program stored in ROM 22 is inverse-converted and deciphered. According to the program for control which is deciphered and becomes an original normal program, prescribed control operation is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine control computer for controlling a gaming machine represented by a pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine or a slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computer program for controlling a gaming machine for controlling a gaming machine has been developed by a developing and manufacturing company, and if the developed program passes a certain standard, the developed program is transferred to a computer. For example, a game machine control computer including the read only memory (ROM) is mounted on a game machine and carried into a game arcade.

[0003]

However, after being shipped to a game arcade, there are cases where a control program stored in a computer mounted on the gaming machine is illegally read and decoded. In such a case, there has been an inconvenience that a variety of gaming machine control technologies and know-how conceived by the development and manufacturing company with a great deal of effort during program development are known to others.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to maintain the confidentiality of various game machine control techniques and know-how conceived at the time of program development.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gaming machine control computer for controlling a gaming machine, which stores an encrypted program storing a gaming machine control program encrypted with a predetermined encryption key. Means for decrypting an encrypted program stored in the encrypted program storage means in accordance with a predetermined decryption key, wherein the predetermined control is performed in accordance with the control program decrypted by the decryption means. The operation is performed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a gaming machine control program is stored in the encrypted program storage means in the form of encrypted data encrypted with a predetermined encryption key. On the other hand, when performing a predetermined control operation according to the stored gaming machine control program, the stored encryption program is decrypted according to a predetermined decryption key, and the control operation is performed according to the decrypted control program. Is performed.
That is, since the control program for controlling the gaming machine is stored in the form of an encrypted program encrypted with a predetermined encryption key, even if the stored program is read, It is difficult to decipher unless you have a decryption key.

[0007]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment,
A pachinko gaming machine is shown as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a coin gaming machine or a slot machine may be used, and the type of gaming machine is not limited.

FIG. 1 is an overall system block diagram showing a security system using a gaming computer according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a semiconductor chip / IC card maker. The semiconductor chip / IC card maker 1 manufactures a microcomputer mass-production chip 7 as an example of a gaming machine control computer according to the present invention.
This chip for mass production 7 is a CPU (Central Pr)
processing Unit), RAM (Random
Access Memory), ROM (Read
It is a semiconductor chip in which only memories and input / output ports (I / O ports) are integrated into one chip. The semiconductor chip / IC card maker 1 manufactures a development chip 8 as a semiconductor chip. This development chip 8
It is a so-called piggy CPU in which a ROM can be detachably mounted on a semiconductor chip in which a CPU, a RAM, and an input / output port are integrated into one chip. Semiconductor chip I
The C card maker 1 manufactures the ICE chip 9.
This ICE chip 9 is a so-called evaluation CP
U is a board having a built-in CPU for a development support device, which is used when an in-circuit emulator or the like is used, and is a board for linkage with the development support device. In addition, semiconductor chip IC card manufacturers
The M checker 3, the IC card writer 4, the IC card 5, and the ROM writer 6 are manufactured.

The ROM checker 3, the IC card writer 4, and the IC card 5 are received from the semiconductor chip / IC card maker 1 to the chip card distribution company 2, and further received from the chip card distribution company 2 to the third party testing organization 50. You. The chip card distribution company 2 is an organization for managing whether chips and cards are properly distributed and mediating the distribution of chips to predetermined game machine manufacturers and the like, and may be a completely private company. It may also be a public business association created by the government. Third party testing organization 5
0 is an organization for testing a gaming machine developed by a gaming machine maker from a public standpoint, which is constituted by a consigned organization of a public supervising organization such as the police, for example.

The gaming machine maker 11 is divided into a mass production section 12 and a development section 13, and a dedicated ROM writer 6 and a mass production chip 7 are carried into the chip card distribution company 2 from the semiconductor chip / IC card 1. Then, the chips are transferred from the chip card distribution company 2 to the mass production section 12 of the gaming machine maker 11. On the other hand, the development chip 8 and the ICE chip 9 are carried from the semiconductor chip / IC card maker 1 to the chip card distribution company 2, and further from the chip card distribution company 2 to the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11. In addition, a chip distribution management organization is interposed between the chip card distribution company 2 and the gaming machine maker 11, and the mass production chip 7, the development chip 8, and the ICE chip 9 are provided through the chip distribution management organization through the chip distribution management organization. 11 may be carried. The development section 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 develops a program using the loaded development chip 8, and develops a product. And development department 1
3 incorporates a development chip 8 equipped with a ROM 16 storing a developed program as an application chip into an application gaming machine, further prepares application documents, and generates an application including the application chips, application documents, and the like. The submission 52 is submitted to the third-party testing institution 50 to apply for a test.

The third party testing organization 50 tests the received test submission 52 as shown in FIG.
As shown by 4, the result of the test is determined. If it is determined to be rejected, as shown in FIG. 55, the application submission 52 is returned to the gaming machine maker to notify the rejection.

If the third party 50 determines that the test is successful, a ROM writing IC card is issued as shown in FIG. 56, and an ID confirmation IC card is issued as shown in FIG.
A card is issued. The issuance of the ROM writing IC card is performed by connecting the IC card 5 to the IC card writer 4 and storing predetermined data in the IC card 5. The IC card writer 4 uses the IC card 5 as shown in FIG.
The write IC card 5a is issued by writing the data as shown in FIG. The writing IC card 5a is carried into the mass production section 12 of the gaming machine maker 11. The IC card writer 4 writes an encryption program or the like in the IC card 5 to thereby confirm the ID for ID confirmation.
Issue C card 5b. This ID confirmation IC card 5
b is carried into the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11.
The encrypted program data, which will be described in detail later, is a program obtained by encrypting a program developed by the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 with an encryption key including the conversion control data 42 (see FIG. 4). is there. Further, the IC card writer 4 issues the program confirmation IC card 5c by writing the reverse conversion control data 41 (see FIG. 3) and the like to the IC card 5. The program confirmation IC card 5c and the ID confirmation IC card 5b are not limited to the IC card, but may be constituted by floppy disks. Further, the IC card 5 shown in the present embodiment means a general IC card including an MPU, a RAM, a ROM, a predetermined power supply, and the like. In addition, IC
Instead of the card 5, an optical card using an optical disk memory or the like, an IC memory cartridge, or the like may be used.

The ID confirmation IC card 5b carried into the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 is submitted to the competent supervisory authority 51 together with the certification document 58, and an application for certification is made. The jurisdiction supervisory authority 51 is a public organization composed of, for example, police in each prefecture. Competent supervisory authority 51
Then, the submitted verification document is verified, and the ID confirmation IC card 5b carried in with the verification document is stored. Then, when the jurisdiction supervisory authority 51 determines that the game machine has passed, mass production of the gaming machine is started in the mass production section of the gaming machine maker 11.

In the mass production section 12 of the gaming machine maker 11,
The loaded write IC card 5a and the mass-production chip 7
ROM 22 of mass-production chip 7 connected to OM writer 6
An encrypted program obtained by encrypting the developed program data 43 (see FIG. 4) is written in (see FIG. 2). The writing of the encryption program will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. Then, the mass-production chip 7 on which the encryption program is written is mounted on the substrate 15 of the game machine 14, and the game machine 14 is shipped to the game hall 17.

As described above, only gaming machines that have passed the inspections of the third-party testing institution 50 or the jurisdiction supervisory authority 51 are loaded into the amusement arcade 17, and only the gaming machines in which sound games are played are provided. Will be installed. However, in a game arcade, there is a case where a program of a microcomputer for controlling a game machine provided in the game machine is illegally remodeled in cooperation with a specialist. Therefore, the competent supervisory authority 51 checks the gaming machine 14 installed in the amusement arcade 17 in a random manner, and if there is a gaming machine that seems to be malfunctioning,
As shown in FIG. 3, the ROM of the gaming machine is collated. Specifically, the ID sent from the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 and stored in the supervisory authority 51
Among the check IC cards 5b, the ID check IC card 5b corresponding to the gaming machine 14 in question is connected to the ROM checker 3, and the mounting chip 7a of the game machine 14 in question is connected to the ROM checker 3. Connect to
The encrypted program stored in the ROM 22 of the mounting chip 7a is read, and the read encrypted program is compared with the encrypted program stored in the ID confirmation IC card 5b to determine whether they match. Perform
If they match, it means that the program has not been tampered with, and if they do not match, it is highly likely that the program has been tampered with. If the ID information does not match as a result of the ROM comparison and the user wants to confirm the contents of the unauthorized alteration, the third party testing organization 50 is requested to conduct an appraisal.

In the third party testing organization 50, the mounting chip 7a and the master ROM 16a requested to be evaluated are connected to the ROM checker 3. The master ROM 16a is a ROM in which a program developed by the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 and determined to be passed by the third party testing organization 50 is stored, and stored in the third party testing organization 50. Things. The third party testing organization 50 selects the master ROM 16a corresponding to the gaming machine in question from the stored master ROM 16a and connects it to the ROM checker 3. Further, the ROM checker 3 includes the above-described IC for program confirmation.
The card 5c is connected. In this state, the ROM checker 3 decrypts the encrypted program stored in the ROM of the mounting chip 7a based on the inverse conversion control data (decryption key) stored in the program confirmation IC card 5c, and The normal program stored in the master ROM 16a is compared with a normal program stored in the master ROM 16a. If they match, there is no abnormality in the gaming machine control program of the gaming machine in question, while if they do not match, the gaming machine control program of that gaming machine has been tampered with. And the contents of the unauthorized modification can be confirmed. If necessary, the program of the mounting chip 7a of the gaming machine in question may be confirmed by the gaming machine maker 11 or the chip card distribution company 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a mounting chip in a state where a chip for mass production is mounted on a substrate and various devices and circuits connected to the mounting chip.

The mounting chip 7a has a central processing unit (CP) capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure.
U18 and RA that can write and call necessary data
M25, an I / O port 31 that receives input signals and provides input data to the CPU 18 and receives output data from the CPU 18 and outputs the data to the outside, a ROM 22 that stores operation program data of the CPU 18 and the like are formed in one chip. ing. A crystal oscillation signal from an externally provided crystal oscillator 33 is input to the clock generation circuit 19 provided on the mounting chip 7a. The crystal oscillation signal from the crystal oscillator 33 has a frequency twice as high as the operation clock. Note that a vibration signal from a ceramic oscillator using ceramic as an oscillator instead of the crystal oscillator 33 may be input to the clock generation circuit 19.

The programmable clock frequency dividing circuit 20 to which the clock signal from the clock generating circuit 19 is inputted,
The input clock signal is frequency-divided and a predetermined clock signal is converted to a sound generator 34 or a variable display device driving IC.
35. The sound generator 34 outputs a sound generation control signal to a speaker 97 (see FIG. 5) provided in the gaming machine. The variable display device display drive IC 35 is provided with a variable display device 90 provided in the game machine.
(See FIG. 5).
The AM, ROM, and I / O ports are configured as one chip. The variable display device display driving IC 35 may be provided in a state where it is connected to the programmable interrupt request timers 28 and 29 as shown by a dashed line in the drawing. The variable display device 90 may be directly controlled by an output signal from the I / O port 31.

The programmable interrupt request timer 0 (2
8) and 1 (29) are composed of 16-bit programmable counter timers,
Built-in counter and compare register (2 sets). This programmable interrupt request timer 0 (28),
No. 1 (29) has not only an interval timer function, an event counting function, a one-shot output function, a PWM (pulse width modulation) output function, but also a pulse width measurement function and a time difference measurement function as main functions. .

The pulse width measuring function is, for example, a start winning switch 101a, 101b, 10 provided in a game machine.
This function measures the waveform length of the detection signal of the 1c or 10 count detection switch 102 (see FIG. 6). The time difference measurement function is a function of measuring the time from when there is a detection signal from the above-described various switches to when there is a next detection signal. The pulse width measurement function and the time difference measurement function
Programmable interrupt request timers 0 (28), 1 (2
This can be achieved when the clock source of the counter 9) is selected as an external input.

As a clock source of the counter, a clock can be selected and used as a refresh count, and an output from the other programmable interrupt request timer can be selected as a clock source and used as a 32-bit counter. Can also. As a method of selecting these clock sources, a method of selecting them inside a program is adopted. That is, there is a register at a certain address, a predetermined number is written therein, and a clock source is selected according to the type of the written number.

This programmable interrupt request timer 0
For (28) and 1 (29), an interrupt can be set by a count output and a compare output, and the interrupt is set to be routed to one of the exceptional processes of user reset, maskable interrupt, and non-maskable interrupt. it can. Further, by the function of the prescaler, the clock unit time of the timer can be arbitrarily set, and the value of the compare register (two sets) can be arbitrarily set. Output signals from the programmable interrupt request timers 0 (28) and 1 (29) are input to the reset / interrupt controller 30.

This reset / interrupt controller 30
It has a system reset function and a user reset function. The system reset refers to initializing the entire mounting chip 7a including the I / O port 31 and restarting from the power-on state. On the other hand, a user reset is to perform a warm restart of the mounted chip 7 by resetting only the CPU 18. This user reset is performed, for example, once every 2 msec to enable interrupt processing. The reset / interrupt controller 30 receives a system reset signal, a user reset signal for performing a warm restart, a non-maskable interrupt request signal, and a maskable interrupt request signal from the interrupt request signal generating circuit 37. Reset / interrupt controller 3
From 0, a system reset output signal is output to the interrupt request signal generation circuit 37.

The system reset signal input to the reset / interrupt controller 30 is low active and has a level input. That is, it is reset when the input signal switches from the high level to the low level. Reset / interrupt controller 30
Similarly, the user reset signal which is input to is low active and level input. In some cases, the interrupt request signal generating circuit 37 is not provided.

The mounting chip 7a is provided with an address decode circuit 26 and a data output time adjustment circuit 27. The address decode circuit 26 decodes address data from the CPU 18 and supplies a chip select signal to the I / O port 31. As a result, the bit of the I / O port 31 is specified according to the output address, and the output port can be specified.

The data output time adjustment circuit 27 provides a wait function for extending a machine cycle in order to interface with a low-speed input / output device. By setting
Wait states for up to four machine cycles are possible.

The I / O port 31 has 8 bits (port A
And a 4-bit (for port B) peripheral device interface port (PIP). These port terminals serve as a chip select terminal for external input / output and a handshake terminal (for one port) in addition to a general-purpose input / output port function. As shown in FIG.
a, b, and c, and a selection instruction for selecting any of the three modes is sent from the ROM 22 to the CPU.
18 to the I / O port 31. And
When the mode c is selected, a chip select function of an 8-bit general-purpose input / output port 6 bits capable of setting input / output in bit units is provided. To have a handshake function, the mode a or b is selected. Then, an 8-bit general-purpose input / output port for which input / output can be set for each byte is provided. However, two terminals (P8, P9) are set as handshake terminals for port a, and timing signals and read / write signals are input / output to / from these handshake terminals P8, P9. This handshake terminal can be set to interrupt. Further, the interruption of the handshake terminal can be set to the exception processing of the maskable interruption. When mode a is selected, terminals P10 to P13 become chip select signal ports, and when mode B is selected, terminals P10 to P1
The terminal 3 is a PIP for the port B without a handshake function.

Various drive circuits 38 and various switch circuits 39 of the gaming machine are connected to the I / O port 31. Then, signals from the various switch circuits 39 are given to the CPU 18 via the I / O port 31, and control signals from the CPU 18 are given to the various drive circuits 38 via the I / O port 31.

The watchdog timer 32 provided on the mounting chip 7a provides a function of detecting a malfunction (runaway) due to a cause such as a noise or a drop of a power supply voltage and returning to a normal state. This watch dock timer 32
Is supplied to the system check circuit 40 and the reset / interrupt controller 30. The watchdog timer 32 is configured to output a watchdog timer signal when the reset timing of the timer is equal to or longer than the maximum allowable reset interval time. The maximum allowable reset interval time can be set by the gaming machine maker 11 to a desired time. Furthermore, this watchdog timer 3
2, the clock unit time of the timer can be set by the operation of the 8-bit prescaler. The output of this watchdog timer signal can be set to be routed to any one of the exception processing of user reset, maskable interrupt, and non-maskable interrupt. The system check circuit 40 may not be provided.

An address bus terminal (16 terminals) and a data bus terminal (8 terminals) are connected to the external bus interface 23 provided on the mounting chip 7a, and an address bus signal and a data bus signal are respectively output. You. From the external bus interface 23, a signal indicating that the data bus is in a read cycle, a signal indicating that the data bus is in a write cycle, a signal indicating that access to the memory space is being performed, and an operation code fetch cycle is being executed. A signal indicating the presence is output. Further, the data bus signal from the data bus terminal may be input to the I / O port of the variable display device display driving IC 49 and the data bus to operate the variable display device display driving IC. In this case, as the content of the signal input to the variable display device display drive IC, for example, a command signal for making the gaming machine a big hit can be considered. on the other hand,
As the command signal to be input to the variable display device display drive IC 49, an output signal from the I / O port 44 may be input as a command signal. The external bus interface 23 includes the mass production section 12 of the gaming machine maker 11 described above.
Is connected to a ROM writer 6 (see FIG. 1), a game machine control program is input and stored in the ROM 22 in the form of an encrypted encrypted program.
The reverse conversion control data (decryption key) stored in the OM writing IC card 5a is input and stored in the security circuit 21 with a built-in ROM. This will be described in detail later. In the figure, reference numeral 24 denotes an inverter circuit, which converts the encryption program stored in the ROM 22 into the inverse conversion control data (decryption data) stored in the security circuit 21 when the microcomputer performs a control operation in accordance with the gaming machine control program. Inverse conversion (decryption) using the encryption key) to return to the program before conversion
It is for input to.

In the figure, reference numeral 36 denotes a large-capacity capacitor.
This is for backing up the power supply of AM25.
As described above, the RAM 25 is backed up by the capacitor 36. However, if the power supply is momentarily interrupted for any reason, the operation of the CPU becomes unstable, and abnormal data access to the RAM 25 destroys the data in the RAM 25. May be affected. Therefore, in response to the output from the backup power supply at the moment of a power interruption, the RAM 25
An access control function for prohibiting access to the C.25 is added.

That is, the RAM 25 is provided with an access control register, which controls whether to access the RAM 25 according to the value of a predetermined bit. The switching of this bit is performed while the operation is still stable, in response to a non-maskable interrupt or the like generated by the backup power supply when the power supply is momentarily interrupted. When this bit is a value indicating that access is not possible, neither data reading nor writing from the RAM 25 can be performed, so that an abnormal operation of the gaming machine can be prevented. In some cases, the capacitor 36 is not provided.

The development chip 8 described with reference to FIG. 1 has substantially the same circuit configuration as the mass-production chip 7 described with reference to FIG. 2, except that the ROM 22 has the same configuration as the piggy CPU. It is external without being made into a single chip, and the developed program is stored in the external ROM. As described above, the third-party testing organization 50 tests the gaming machine control program based on the development chip 8 having an external ROM, so that the development chip 8
There is an advantage that it is easy to pull out the ROM from the ROM and directly call and check the program stored in the ROM. In the case of the development chip 8, since the encrypted gaming machine control program does not need to be decrypted, the security circuit 21 is unnecessary. However, the security circuit 21 may be provided. In this case, no inverse conversion control data (decryption key) is stored in the security circuit 21, and the security circuit 21 has no security function. Circuit.

In the case of the development chip 8, the external bus interface 23 (see FIG. 2) of the development chip 8 is connected to a one-chip microcomputer I for program development.
An ICE chip 9 as a CE adapter board is connected. All of the input / output terminals of the development chip 8 are connected to the ICE chip 9.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation for inputting a game machine control program to a mass-production chip and storing the program in an encrypted form in a ROM.

The ROM writer 6 (see FIG. 1) is provided with a programmable inverter circuit 44. The programmable inverter circuit 44 has a function of converting an input signal according to a predetermined format and outputting the converted signal. The programmable inverter circuit 44 is programmable, and the conversion method changes depending on the program. The programmable inverter circuit 44 is connected to a ROM writing IC card 5a (see FIG. 1). The ROM writing IC card 5a stores game machine control program data 43 developed by the development department 13 of the gaming machine maker 11 and determined to be passed by the third party testing organization 50, and the program data 43 is stored in the ROM writing IC card 5a. Conversion control data 42 as an encryption key for converting and encrypting data 43 by a programmable inverter circuit 44, and a decryption key for reversely converting the encrypted program data and returning to a program before conversion Is stored.

The storage data will be described in more detail. For example, the program data 43 is obtained by arranging a plurality of one-unit machine words each including an instruction code portion and an operand portion. On the other hand, the conversion control data 42 is composed of a plurality of data corresponding to each one unit of machine language of the program data 43, and is data for converting and encrypting one unit of machine language according to a predetermined format. is there. The reverse conversion control data 41 is composed of a plurality of data corresponding to each one unit of machine language of the program data, and reversely converts each one unit of machine language of the encrypted program converted according to the conversion control data 42 one by one. This is data for returning to the original normal program.

A ROM writer is a ROM writing IC.
The reverse conversion control data 41 stored in the card 5a is output to the external bus interface 23 of the mass production chip 7 as it is without any conversion. The output inverse conversion control data 41 is stored in the ROM of the security circuit 21 via the inverter circuit 24. Next, ROM
The writer reads the first one unit part of the conversion control data 42 of the ROM writing IC card 5a, then reads the first one unit part of the program data 43, and reads the read program data part earlier. The data is converted and encrypted according to the control data portion, and output to the external bus interface 23. The output encrypted program data portion is stored in the ROM 22 via the inverter circuit 24. Next, the ROM writer reads out the second conversion control data portion, then reads out the second program data portion, converts and encrypts it according to a predetermined format in the same manner as described above, and outputs the encrypted program data portion to an external device. The program data is output to the bus interface 23, and the encrypted program data portion is stored in the ROM 22. As described above, the ROM writer has a function of converting program data one unit at a time according to a predetermined format, encrypting the data, and storing the data in the ROM 22 of the mass-production chip 7 one by one.

As a specific method of encrypting the program data 43, for example, the binary order of a unit program part (machine language) composed of a binary code consisting of an instruction code part and an operand part May be replaced according to the conversion control data 42, or the address data of the operand portion may be converted into data indicating another address according to the conversion control data 42. As still another example, when a machine language consisting of one unit of the program data 43 stored in the ROM writing IC card 5a is stored in the ROM 22 input to the mass production chip, it is normally stored. The address of the ROM 22 is converted to the conversion control data 42
In accordance with the above. That is, instead of changing the order of the binary code itself of the machine language consisting of one unit, when the machine language of each unit is stored in the ROM 2, the address which is the storage address is different from the normal address. It is stored at the address. As a result, the address connections inside the CPU 18 are separated.

Although the above three methods can be considered as specific methods of encryption, two or more of these methods may be used in combination. In addition, the security circuit 21 stores the inverse conversion control data 41 corresponding to each of the above three methods and combinations thereof. When performing a control operation based on the encryption program stored in the ROM 22, the encryption program stored in the ROM 22 is read out to the inverter circuit 24 one by one and stored in the security circuit 21. The inverse conversion control data 41 is stored in the inverter circuit 24 one by one.
Then, the read encrypted program is inversely converted and decrypted in accordance with the read inverse conversion control data 41, and is returned to the original normal program and input to the CPU 18. C
The PU 18 performs a predetermined control operation in accordance with the inversely converted normal game machine control program. ROM22
Thus, an encrypted program storage means in which a gaming machine control program encrypted with a predetermined encryption key is stored. The inverter circuit 24 constitutes decryption means for decrypting the encryption program stored in the encryption program storage means according to a predetermined decryption key.

FIG. 5 is an overall front view showing a pachinko gaming machine 14 as an example of a gaming machine in which a gaming machine control computer is incorporated.

When the player operates a hitting operation handle 92 provided at the lower right corner of the pachinko gaming machine 14, the hitting ball launching device 93 (see FIG. 6) is activated, and pachinko balls are placed one by one in the game area 94. Is driven into. Gaming area 94
The pachinko balls that are driven into the inside are the starting winning prizes 96a, 96
If any one of b and 96c is won, the variable display device 90 capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information starts variably displaying. This variable display device is provided with a plurality of (three in the drawing) drums, and a plurality of types of identification information (symbols, numbers, etc.) are drawn on the outer periphery of the drum. The variable display is performed by rotating the stepping motor and the like, and the variable display can be stopped by stopping the stepping motor.
Note that the variable display device 90 may be constituted by a digital display using a liquid crystal display, a segment LED, a dot matrix LED, or electroluminescence instead of using a drum. The display result when the variable display device is stopped is determined by a combination of predetermined identification information (for example, 7
In the case of (77), the variable winning ball device 95 is opened and the first state is advantageous for a player who is likely to win a pachinko ball, and a big hit state occurs. Whether or not to generate the big hit state is determined based on the value of the random number counter that is counted up by using the reset waiting time of the microcomputer at the time of starting winning, and based on the picked up value. In this embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine in which a pachinko ball is inserted to play a game has been described. However, a card processing machine including a card reader / writer or the like is provided to record a card capable of identifying information of a predetermined value. The card-type gaming machine may be such that a recording medium such as the above can be inserted into the card processing machine to play a game within a value range specified by the recording medium. In this case, the card processing machine may be provided so as to be separable from the pachinko gaming machine 14, or may be incorporated in the pachinko gaming machine 14. In the case of this card-type gaming machine, the acquired score obtained by the game is displayed, and at the end of the game, a premium recording medium on which a valuable value corresponding to the score is recorded is paid out to the player. This premium recording medium may be constituted by a recording medium different from the recording medium inserted into the card processing machine at the start of the game, or the recording area of the recording medium inserted at the start of the game is divided into two parts. The value required at the start of the game may be recorded in the game area, and the value corresponding to the acquired score at the end of the game may be recorded in the other recording area and paid out to the player. In the figure, a speaker 97 generates a sound effect or the like at the time of a big hit based on a signal from the sound generator 34 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 6 is an overall rear view showing the internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine 14. As shown in FIG. The starting winning ports 96a, 96
The winning balls that have won the balls b, 96c (see FIG. 5) are detected by the winning ball detection switches 101a, 101b, 101c, and the detection signals are input to the various switch circuits 39 (see FIG. 2) of the game control main board 15. . The winning balls that have won the variable winning ball device 95 are detected by the 10-count detection switch 102, and the detection signals are input to the various switch circuits 39 (see FIG. 2) of the game control main board 15. The winning balls that have won the variable winning ball device 95 are detected by the 10-count detection switch 102, and the detection signals are input to the various switch circuits 39 of the game control main board 15. The game control main board 15 has the connector 103 mounted thereon with the above-described mass production chip 7a, and the detection signal is input via the connector 103. In the figure, reference numeral 180 denotes a solenoid for opening and closing the variable winning ball apparatus 95, which is controlled based on drive control signals from various drive circuits 38 (see FIG. 2) of the game control main board 15. The game control main board 15 is provided on the mechanism plate side of the gaming machine 14 in a state housed in the board case 104. In the figure, reference numeral 108 denotes a game control sub-substrate, which is a variable winning ball device display driving IC 35 described above.
(See FIG. 2) has been implemented. A connector 107 is provided on the game control sub-board 108, and the connector 107 is connected to the connector 103 of the game control main board 15 via the connection wiring 105. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 14 is provided with a relay terminal board 111, and the connector 110 of the relay terminal board 111 and the connector 103 of the game control main board 15
5 are connected. Further, the connector 103 of the game control main board 15 and the locking device 113 are connected via a ground wire 112, and the game control main board 1
5 is grounded.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) When developing a game machine control program in the development section 13 of the game machine maker 11, not only a control program for controlling the game machine in the gaming state but also a test program is developed and stored in the ROM 16. You may let it. That is, before the game machine is shipped to the game hall 17 as shown in FIG. 1, the board check or the control check of the variable prize ball device and the like provided on the game board may be performed again. Is traditionally a ROM
Was mounted on the board 15 without being integrated into a single chip, so that the ROM was pulled out and a ROM storing another test program was inserted in its place to shorten all the controls in which the gaming machine could operate. Time (for example, within 60 seconds)
All of them, and checked whether they worked properly. However, in the present embodiment, since the ROM is also integrated into one chip,
Cannot be extracted and replaced with another test ROM. Therefore, in addition to the control program for controlling the gaming machine during the game in the development section, the test program is also stored in the ROM 16, and after passing the test by the third party testing organization 50, And the test program are written into the mounting chip 7a by the ROM writer 6 so that the test program operates for a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) when the power is turned on so that the above-described check can be performed. To Another reason for performing the pre-shipment check is that a game machine control program development company creates a program, passes the test by a third-party testing organization 50, passes the chip 7a in which the passed program is stored, and This is because a board check may be performed before the board is mounted on the board 15 and shipped to the gaming machine maker 11.

The test program stored in the mounting chip 7a is necessary at the time of shipment and is almost unnecessary after shipment to the game arcade 17, so that, for example, about one to three times After the test program is executed, control may be performed so that the test program is not executed again.

(2) The IC card 5 may be configured so that stored information stored in the IC card 5 is automatically deleted after a predetermined period (for example, three years). With such a configuration, the conversion control data 42 which is an encryption key
Since the secret data such as the inverse conversion control data 41 which is the decryption key and the like is automatically deleted, the security is further improved.

(3) When the program data 43 is stored in the ROM 22 of the gaming machine control computer while encrypting the program data 43 using the ROM writing IC card 5a, the program data of the gaming machine control microcomputer to which the program data is written is written. The writing history such as the number and the writing date and time may be automatically stored in the ROM writing IC card 5a. In this case, the write history is stored in R
The OM writing IC card 5a is periodically transferred to a third-party testing organization 5
By submitting to 0, there is an advantage that the gaming machine maker 11 can prevent the illegality of the gaming machine maker in that the program data 43 is written in the gaming machine control microcomputer more than expected and the data is circulated.

(4) The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0051]

Specific Example of Means for Solving the Problems The ROM 22 shown in FIG. 4 and the like constitutes an encrypted program storage means in which a game machine control program encrypted with a predetermined encryption key is stored. . The decryption means for decrypting the encryption program stored in the encryption program storage means according to a predetermined decryption key is constituted by the inverter circuit 24 shown in FIG. 4 and the like. A predetermined control operation is performed according to the control program decoded by the decoding means.

[0052]

According to the present invention, since the game machine control program stored in the encrypted program storage means is encrypted data, for example, the stored program is Even if it is read, it is difficult to decipher it unless you have the decryption key,
The confidentiality of various gaming machine control technologies and know-how conceived during program development is maintained as much as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an outline of a security system using a gaming machine control computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a mounting chip constituting a gaming machine control computer according to the present invention and peripheral devices connected thereto.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing a function corresponding to a mode of an I / O port.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an operation when encrypting program data for controlling a gaming machine and writing the encrypted program data into a ROM of the computer for controlling a gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is an overall front view showing a pachinko gaming machine as an example of the gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is an overall rear view showing the internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 is a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a gaming machine, 7 is a mass production chip, 7a is a mounting chip, 5 is an IC card, 5a is a writing IC card, 5b is an ID confirmation IC card, 5c is a program confirmation IC card, 6 is a ROM writer, 43 is program data, 42 is conversion control data, 41 is inverse conversion control data, 22 is ROM, 18 is CPU, 44 is a programmable inverter circuit, 24 is an inverter circuit,
21 is a security circuit.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 25, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Title of the Invention] game machine

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0005]

The present invention according to claim 1 is provided.
Is a gaming machine control computer for controlling gaming machines
Operation control by the gaming machine control computer.
A gaming machine for performing , the computer for controlling the gaming machine
Includes encrypted the game machine control program encryption program storage means is stored, and decoding means for decoding the encrypted program stored in the encrypted program storage means by said decoding means Calculation for performing a predetermined control operation in accordance with the decrypted gaming machine control program
Control means, said encrypted program storage means and
The arithmetic and control means is integrated with one chip
And said that you are. The present invention described in claim 2 is a contractor.
In addition to the configuration of the invention described in claim 1, the game machine control
The computer stores the encrypted program in the storage unit.
The encrypted encryption program is
And configured to be readable outside the
Encryption program is verified using a legitimate encryption program.
That the encryption program is unauthorized
It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not there is .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine.
There are, stored in the encryption program storage means of the game machine control computer in the form of encrypted data game machine control program is encrypted. On the other hand, when the game machine performs a predetermined control operation according to the game machine control program is stored, the gaming machine control computer odor
Te, decrypts the encrypted program being remembers, the operation control in accordance with the decoded game machine control program
The control operation is performed by the means . And the encryption pro
Gram storage means and arithmetic control means are integrated into one chip.
And are integrally formed. That is, since it is stored in the gaming machine control program for controlling the gaming machine in the form of encrypted encryption programs, programs which are if the stored is read to the outside of the gaming machine Even if it does not have data for decryption such as a decryption key , decryption is difficult. In addition, crypto
Program storage means and arithmetic control means are one chip
Since it is integrally formed by
Since the storage means cannot be easily removed from the chip,
The unauthorized decryption of programs becomes even more difficult
In addition, a record that memorized the encrypted program
It is not possible to replace the storage means with the proper encryption program storage means.
It is difficult to perform correct actions. The book according to claim 2
According to the invention, in addition to the function of the invention described in claim 1,
Acts like The gaming machine control computer is encrypted
Encryption program stored in the encrypted program storage means.
System can be read out of the gaming machine control computer
Is configured. And a computer for controlling a gaming machine
The encryption program read out of the
By using the program to verify the
It is determined whether the program is invalid. This
In this way, the encryption program is
Is the encryption program read out to the outside illegal?
Is stored in the encrypted program storage means.
Whether the encryption program being used has been tampered with
It can be easily confirmed.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0051

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0051]

Specific Examples of Means for Solving the Problems] (1) FIG.
The gaming machine is controlled by the pachinko gaming machine 14 shown in FIG.
Game machine control computer for controlling the game machine
A gaming machine whose operation is controlled by a personal computer
Have been. Provided on the mounting chip 7a shown in FIG.
Computer for controlling the gaming machine
Has been established. As shown in FIG.
The computer has an encrypted program storage means (ROM 2
2), decoding means (inverter circuit 24), and
Calculation control means (CPU 18). RO shown in FIG.
By M22, the encrypted gaming machine control program is
The stored encrypted program storage means is configured
You. By the inverter circuit 24 shown in FIG.
Encryption program stored in the encryption program storage means.
Decoding means for decoding the RAM is configured. In FIG.
By the indicated CPU 18, decoding by the decoding means is performed.
Predetermined control according to the encoded gaming machine control program
Arithmetic control means for performing an operation is configured. In Figure 1 etc.
As shown, the encrypted program storage means and the
The arithmetic and control means are integrated into one chip.
You. (2) As shown in FIG.
Computer is stored in the encryption program storage means.
Computer for controlling the gaming machine.
Externally read from the encryption
The program is a legitimate encryption program (ID confirmation IC card)
Collation using the encryption program stored in the code 5b)
By doing so, the encryption program is illegal
Is determined (refer to the connection check of the ROM checker 3).
See).

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0052

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0052]

[Effect of the embodiment of means for solving the problems] claim 1
With regard to, for game machine control program stored in the encrypted program storage means is encrypted data, for example, the the stored program gaming machine
Even if it is read from the
Decoding as long as you do not have the data of the eye is difficult, game
Various confidentiality of technology and know-how for a game machine control program was conceived during development of the machine as much as possible is held in the gaming machine. In addition, an encryption program storage means,
The arithmetic and control means are integrated into one chip.
Therefore, the encryption program storage means can be easily
Unable to remove, so illegal program on gaming machine
Decoding becomes even more difficult, and
While maintaining the confidentiality of Uhau more securely,
Correct the storage means storing the illegally modified encryption program.
Misconduct in exchange for the standard encryption program storage means
It can be difficult to do. Regarding claim 2
Is the following effect in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1.
Fruit can be obtained. Game machine control with encryption program
Read out of the computer for
Since it is determined whether or not it is correct, the encryption program
The encryption program stored in the
It can be easily confirmed whether or not it was built.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A game machine control computer for controlling a game machine, comprising: an encryption program storage means in which a game machine control program encrypted by a predetermined encryption key is stored; Decrypting means for decrypting an encrypted program stored in the encrypted program storage means, and performing a predetermined control operation in accordance with the control program decrypted by the decrypting means. , Gaming machine control computer.