KR20030070216A - System for managing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide a device management system capable of carrying out a wide range of developments by accurate management even by a person who lacks funds and the like and can always manage with optimized management software. This apparatus management system is provided with the floor management apparatus which wirelessly inputs the operation information of a some management object apparatus, and the master management apparatus which stored several application software containing the know-how regarding operation management of each said management object apparatus. The floor management device downloads any one of the application software of the master management device through an Internet connection, thereby enabling the on-the-fly management of the management target device.

Description

System for managing machines

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device management system provided in game machine management and the like in a amusement facility equipped with a plurality of game machines.

In the play facility, various game machines are provided, and the play player enters a predetermined number of pieces of coins or play facility readers into a predetermined slot of the game machine, starts the operation of the game machine, and plays.

By the way, the management (sales) of the operation state of each game machine is indispensable in the operation of the above-mentioned amusement facility, such as the game player likes to play some kind of game machine. Such management is conventionally performed when a coin is collected from a coin box of each game machine after the game facility is closed, and the value of the coin input counter attached to the game machine is checked and based on the value.

However, there has been a problem that grasp of the operation state of such a game machine can not be identified except after the coin recovery of all game machines.

On the other hand, there is also a point-of-sale information management (POS) system that can grasp the sales information in real time. In such a POS system, it is based on predetermined management software, but when it introduces a POS system in the case of spreading a plurality of amusement facilities extensively (national development etc.), the initial stage by the development of the management software etc. Even if there is huge cost only by investment, even if we try to develop new facility nationwide, it is limited by cost, and only the person with the financial power introduces nationwide POS system, There was a problem that the amusement facilities could not be widely deployed, or that they would have to be based on the previous management methods.

In addition, the management situation gradually changes, such as the introduction of new game machines or replacement of game machines with poor operation rates, and it is desirable to collect the changes of these situations extensively on a national scale and improve management software. However, it is difficult for an operating company to improve such management software to be able to perform it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device management system capable of carrying out a wide range of developments by accurate management, even if a person lacks the funds and the like, and can always manage with optimized management software.

1 is an overall block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a floor management device and a game machine, according to one embodiment.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1A, 1B: Floor management device 3, 5, 11, 13: Game device (management device)

7: collection device (management target) 9: currency exchange device (management target)

15: Internet 17: POS data management server

19: POS database (database)

21: data center

22: operating company management equipment 27: sensor unit (injection sensor)

The invention of claim 1 includes a floor management device for wirelessly inputting operation information of a plurality of target management devices, and a master management device storing a plurality of application software including know-how related to operation management of each of the target management devices. The floor management device can download any one of the application software of the master management device through an Internet connection, thereby enabling management of the management target device at any time.

Invention of Claim 2 is a device management system of Claim 1, Comprising: It is equipped with the database which stored the various information regarding the operation management of the said management object machine, The said floor management device is any one of the said various information by Internet connection. It is characterized in that by downloading the management management of the occasional operation of the management target device.

The invention of claim 3 is the device management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the management target device is a game machine, and the game machine is an input sensor for detecting the input of coins, information and game machines based on the detection output of the input sensor. And a wireless unit which wirelessly transmits holding information of its own code information, and a wireless unit which wirelessly transmits holding information of the holding unit, wherein the floor management device includes a wireless unit for wirelessly inputting information output from the respective game machines, and the wireless input information. And a processing unit which processes the downloaded application software or downloaded application software and various types of information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device management system according to claim 3, wherein the management target device includes a collecting device or an exchange device related to a game machine, and the collecting device or an exchange device includes: a collecting sensor or an exchange sensor for detecting collection or exchange; And a holding unit for information based on the detection output of the collecting or currency exchange sensor, and a wireless unit for wirelessly transmitting holding information of the holding unit, wherein the wireless unit of the floor management device receives the information output from the collecting unit or the exchange unit. Wirelessly inputting, and the processing unit of the floor management device processes the wirelessly inputted information including the information output from the collection device or the money exchanger using the downloaded application software or downloaded application software and various kinds of information. It is done.

The invention of claim 5 is the device management system according to claim 2, comprising: an operating company management device capable of connecting to the Internet, and a data center in which operation information output by automatic transmission from the management target device is inserted via the Internet; The operating company management device downloads any one of the application software of the master management device, any one of the various information from the database, and the accumulated information of the data center by internet connection, and enables the operation management of the management target device at any time. Characterized by being done.

Embodiment of invention

1 is a block diagram of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device management system of FIG. 1 is applied as a game machine management system, and the floor management is performed by using a range of independent data (A, B, ...) or an independent floor as one unit, which can reliably transmit data with low power. The apparatus 1A, 1B ... is provided. The floor management devices 1A, 1B, ... are managed objects in the floors (stores A, B, ...), and a plurality of game machines 3, 5, ..., game machines 11, 13, ... Only in the floor, the traveling collection device 7 (shown in store A), and the currency exchange device 9 (stored in the store A) installed on the floor. ·) Is connected wirelessly. These several stores A, B, ... are extensively installed, such as nationwide development.

The floor management devices 1A, 1B, ... of the plurality of stores A, B, ... can be connected to the POS data management server 17, which is a master management device, via the Internet 15. have. The POS database 19 is connected to the POS data management server 17 as a database. Further, the data center 21 can be connected to the Internet 15 by, for example, a dedicated line, and the operating company management device 22 can also be connected to the Internet.

The floor management devices 1A, 1B, ... of the stores A, B, ... are used as main processing devices, for example, personal computers. The concrete structure of the floor management apparatus 1A, 1B, ..., the game machines 3, 5, ..., game machines 11, 13, ... etc. of each floor is as shown in FIG. .

First, the game machine 3, 5, ..., game machine 11, 13, ..., ... will be described on behalf of the game machine 3, the coin inlet 23 and the coin box ( 25, a sensor unit 27, a game machine main body 29, a data holding unit (holding unit) 31 and a wireless unit 33 are provided.

The coin inlet 23 is a portion in which the player injects the coin 35 to start the game. Furthermore, when the game machine 3 uses a medal, it becomes a medal slot. The sensor unit 27 is an input sensor for detecting the input of coins. The coin box 25 is a portion for accumulating the input coins. The game machine body 29 is a body portion provided with a predetermined game board or the like.

The data holding part 31 has a count function for counting the number of times of contact switch-on of the sensor part 27 when the coin 35 is input from the coin inlet 23, the count data and the body of the game machine 3. It is equipped with the memory function which stores number data (ID data), and the data clear function by an instruction signal, and is combined with an existing game machine as an exclusive board | substrate. In addition, a backup power supply is provided for data retention so that data is not lost even when the power supply is turned off.

Since the radio section 33 only needs to configure a power saving radio station, it is possible to wirelessly transmit the retention information of the data storage section 25 by using a subcarrier MKS modem IC for a general radio or the like, and to perform the floor management device 1A. Is to receive an indication signal from

The floor management device 1A includes a wireless unit 37, a data processing unit 39 composed of a personal computer, and a modem 41 for communication. The radio unit 37 wirelessly inputs information output from the game machine 3 to perform data transmission. The processing section 39 is composed of a personal computer and wirelessly operates the game machine 3 using application software and various information downloaded from the POS data management server 17 and the POS database 19 by wireless input information. The point of sale information management is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the processing unit 39 downloads the application software and various kinds of information and performs the processing, the processing unit 39 is provided with only basic software mainly composed of menus. The floor management device 1A performs data collection and aggregation management of the game machine 3 by using the downloaded application software and various information. Furthermore, the floor management device 1A has a data print out function.

The money exchange device 9 of FIG. 1 constitutes a management target device, and includes a money exchange sensor for detecting a money exchange amount or the total number of money exchange medals as money exchange, a holding unit for information based on the detection output of the money exchange sensor, and a holding unit. A radio unit is provided for wirelessly transmitting information to the floor management device 1A.

The collection device 7 constitutes a management target device. In the present embodiment, the collection device 7 is a running type, and is used as a counting device as a counting device such as a coin and ID as code information of the game machines 3, 5, ... itself. A reading mechanism of a code (bar code display), a holding unit for information based on the detection output of the counting mechanism and the reading mechanism, and a radio unit for wirelessly transmitting the holding information of the holding unit to the floor management device 1A.

The POS data management server 17 stores a plurality of application software including know-how about operation management of the game machines 3, 5, ..., game machines 11, 13, ... Doing. This application software establishes a point-of-sale information management (POS) system for selling stores (A, B, ...) to grasp information in real time. It is a system.

In addition, each floor management device 1A, 1B, ... downloads application software from the POS data management server 17 via the Internet 15, and performs operation management of the game machine 3 and the like. The management server 17 functions as an application software service provider (ASP).

As the application software stored in the POS data management server 17, commuting of the staff in the store, in addition to the machine management and sales management of the game machines 3, 5, ..., the collection device 7, and the currency exchange device 9 It is software such as management, and includes a high level of know-how related to operation management at any time.

The POS database 19 includes machine name (case name), game name (substrate name), number of slots, type, charge setting (50 yen, 100 yen, ...) as machine information of game machines 3, 5, ..., The date of purchase, price, depreciation, dimensions, weight, parts replacement history, repair history, store information, sales information, and the like are stored.

In the data center 21, charge information is automatically sent from the stores A, B, ..., each time charges are input to the game machines 3, 5, ..., and are provided via a dedicated line and the Internet 15. Are transmitted and all are stored.

The operating company management device 22 has the same configuration as the floor management device 1A and the like, and has application software, various information, and the like from the POS data management server 17, the POS database 19, and the data center 21. The accumulated information can be downloaded to perform operation management at any time. This occasional operation management includes management, aggregation, analysis, data printout, and the like of data of floor management devices 1A, 1B, ... of stores nationwide (floor A, B, ...).

And play by game at each store (A, B, ...) enjoys game machine (3, 5, ...), game machine (11, 13, ..., ...) according to preference. do. The operation of the game machine 3 and the like starts after coins, medals and the like are put into the game machines 3 and the like. Accordingly, when the input of coins or the like is sensed by the sensor unit 27 and the number of inputs of coins or the like is counted by the data holding unit 31, the operation state of the game machine 3 or the like can be managed and grasped at any time.

Thus, at the time of receiving the instruction signal (the radio signal of the ID number of the corresponding game machine) from the floor management device 1A, etc. Then, the gas number and count data of the game machine 3 and the like are transmitted from the radio section 33, and the floor management device 1A and the like receive this data signal. In this way, the floor management apparatus 1A, 1B, ... receives all the data of all game machines 3, 5, ..., and game machines 11, 13, ..., ... under that management. To sum up and aggregate.

In this arrangement and aggregation, the store staff operates the floor management devices 1A and 1B, connects to the Internet 15, downloads the necessary application software from the POS data management server 17, and simultaneously stores the POS data. The necessary information is downloaded from the base 19 and performed.

For example, software of a sales slip can be downloaded from the POS data management server 17, data such as model name, game name, and fee setting can be downloaded from the POS database 19 for processing, and printed out as a sales slip. Can be.

The same operation can also be performed by the operating company management device 22. Furthermore, since the fee information is automatically sent and stored every time a fee is input to each game machine 3, 5, ... in the data center 21, the operating company management device 22 is connected via the Internet 15. Connected to the POS data management server 17 and the POS database 19 and based on the data stored in the data center 21, stores (A, B, ...) and game machines (3, 5) nationwide. , And the amount of sales of the game machines 11, 13, ..., ..., etc. can be grasped at any time.

Therefore, the store staff does not have to perform a billing operation, and the service time to a user can be extended, and the environment of stores A, B, ... is greatly improved.

In this way, the operation states of the game machines 3, 5, ..., game machines 11, 13, ..., the game machines 3, 5, ..., game machines 11, 13, ... It is not necessary to confirm the number of coins, medals, etc. of the coin box of ..., and can grasp | ascertain easily based on the number of coin input counts at the arbitrary time.

In addition, at the end of the business operation of the store, data of the money exchange device 9 is received, and the game device 3, 5, ..., game machine 11, 13, ... And collect the total amount of coins or the number of medals, etc. from the coin boxes of the coin boxes of the coin boxes of the coin boxes, and the game machines 3, 5, ..., 11, 13, ... The detection data are sent to the floor management devices 1A, 1B, ... as in the ID number, application software is downloaded from the same POS data management server 17, and necessary information is downloaded from the POS database 19, respectively. It is possible to confirm whether or not there is a coincidence with the foregoing data by wireless transmission from each game machine 3, 5, ..., game machine 11, 13, ..., ....

In this way, application software including advanced know-how can be downloaded from the POS data management server 17, and operation management of the game machine 3 and the like can be performed. Therefore, the stores A, B, ... are newly deployed nationwide. Even in this case, the operating companies of stores A and B do not have to develop their own application software, and can be deployed nationwide at very low cost.

In other words, the initial investment costs hundreds of millions of yen for the introduction of nationwide POS, but in this system, the initial investment is enough to establish a wireless LAN, and moreover, the application includes a high level of know-how with a 3% operating fee for sales. Software is available. Therefore, by providing the know-how of the work by the software for a specific industry and collecting the know-how fee as the software use fee, it is possible to immediately obtain the know-how of the work of the operator performing the optimized operation and to perform the optimal work uniformly. It can carry out and it is extremely advantageous for achievement improvement.

In addition, the introduction of new know-how to application software can be done by extracting improvements from some or all of the facilities in which the application software with accumulated know-how is widely deployed. There is no need to improve the application software on its own, and furthermore, it is possible to always operate by the optimum application.

In addition, the introduction of new models and batch conversion from old models to popular models are frequent in amusement facilities, and 200 to 300 game machines are installed in large facilities, and the wireless point of sale information management is used for deployment. Even if switching and replacement are performed freely, operation management can be started immediately, which is extremely convenient.

As such, an ASP type POS system combining ASP and wireless POS systems can expand the opportunity to introduce data-driven management tools even in industries with severe management environments.

In the invention of claim 1, the floor management device downloads any one of the application software of the master management device through the Internet connection, and enables management of the management target device at any time. By the downloaded application software, the floor management device can accurately manage the managed object by a POS system or the like by wireless communication. For this reason, even in the case of extensively deploying a facility equipped with a management target device (national development, etc.), it can be carried out at low cost, and it becomes possible to manage and grasp the management target device in an optimal operating method at any time. In addition, even when new know-how is put into the application software, it can be immediately downloaded and used, so that optimal operation can be always performed. Incorporating new know-how into application software can be done by extracting improvements from some or all of the extensively deployed facilities by providers of application software with accumulated know-how. It is not necessary to improve the software and the like, and furthermore, it is possible to always operate with the optimum application software. Since it is managed by a POS system by wireless communication, operators of facilities can grasp the sales information immediately in real time even if the plurality of managed objects are switched or replaced in order for optimal placement.

In the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1, the database stores various types of information on the operation management of the management target device, and the floor management device downloads any one of the various types of information by Internet connection. Occasional operation management of the target device becomes possible. Therefore, the operators of the management target devices do not need to have a database storing various kinds of information, and the system can be constructed more inexpensively.

In the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2, when a coin is input into the game machine, it is detected by the input sensor, and information based on the detection output and code information of the game machine itself are held in the holding unit. The possession information of the holding portion is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless portion to the floor management device. The floor management device can wirelessly input information output from each game machine from the wireless unit, and process the wireless input information by the processing unit using the downloaded application software or downloaded application software and various information. Therefore, even in the case of extensively deploying amusement facilities equipped with various game consoles (such as nationwide deployment), the operator of the facility can easily download and use application software, so that the game console can be managed at any time in an optimal operating state. It can be deployed at low cost.

In the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 3, when the collection sensor or the exchange sensor of the collection device or the currency exchange device detects the collection or exchange, the holding unit holds information based on the detection output, The possession information of the part can be wirelessly transmitted from the radio part. The wireless unit of the floor management device wirelessly inputs information output from the collection device or the currency exchange device, and the processing unit of the floor management device downloads the wirelessly input information including the information output from the collection device or the currency exchange device. It can be processed using the downloaded application software and various information. Therefore, it can be managed from time to time by an optimal operating method including a collection device or a currency exchange device, and can be performed at low cost even when the amusement facilities are widely deployed.

In the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the operation information is automatically transmitted from the target device to the data center via the Internet, and the operating company management device can download the accumulated information of the data center by Internet connection. . Therefore, it is possible to manage at any time by the accumulated accumulation information, application software, and various information in the amusement facilities of each place, and the staff of the facility does not need to perform a billing operation, etc., and can extend the service time to a guest etc. have.

Claims (5)

With floor manager which wirelessly inputs operation information of plural management target devices, It is provided with the master management apparatus which stored the some application software containing the know-how regarding the operation management of each said management object machine, And the floor management device downloads any one of the application software of the master management device through an internet connection, thereby enabling management of the management target device at any time. The method of claim 1, And a database storing various kinds of information about operation management of the management target device. And the floor management device downloads any one of various pieces of information from the database via an internet connection, and enables the operation management of the management target device at any time. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The management target device is a game machine, and the game machine wirelessly transmits a holding sensor for detecting a coin input, a holding unit for information based on the detection output of the input sensor and code information of the game machine itself, and holding information for the holding unit. Equipped with a wireless unit, The floor management device includes a wireless unit for wirelessly inputting information output from each game machine, and a processing unit for processing the wireless input information using the downloaded application software or downloaded application software and various kinds of information. Device management system characterized by the above. The method of claim 3, wherein The management target device includes a collecting device or a currency exchange device relating to a game machine, and the collection device or the currency exchange device includes a collection sensor or a currency exchange sensor for detecting collection or currency exchange, and a detection of the collection or currency exchange sensor. A holding unit for information based on the output and a wireless unit for wirelessly transmitting holding information of the holding unit, The wireless unit of the floor management device wirelessly inputs information output from the collection device or the currency exchange device, and the processing unit of the floor management device wirelessly downloads the input information including the information output from the collection device or the currency exchange device. A device management system characterized by processing using one application software or downloaded application software and various information. The method of claim 2, Operating company management equipment with Internet access; And a data center in which operation information output by automatic transmission from the management target device is inserted via the Internet, The operating company management device downloads any one of the application software of the master management device, any one of the various information from the database, and the accumulated information of the data center by the Internet connection, so that the operation management of the management target device can be performed at any time. Device management system characterized in that possible.