JP5092154B2 - Game equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and in particular, a gaming machine that provides a service that uses a user's face image obtained by imaging with a personal authentication camera in addition to user authentication in order to authenticate a user. About.

  The game center is equipped with various game devices, and when playing with these game devices, cash is put into the medal lending machine installed in the game center, and the number of game centers unique to the amount of money inserted It is possible to play a game by borrowing a medal and inserting a predetermined number of medals into a game machine to be played.

  Depending on the game device, some of the medals inserted by the player may be returned to the player, or more medals may be acquired and returned to the player. There are cases where the game ends without using all the medals.

  The medal unique to the game center has a certain monetary value set by the game center, and it is prohibited to take out the medal acquired by the player outside the game center.

  Therefore, at the game center, when the game is finished with all the medals earned by the player remaining without being used, the medals owned by the player are stored at the game center and the player enters the next time. At this time, the medal deposited from the player is paid out.

  This medal deposit / withdrawal must be made by the person who deposited the medals, and the identity verification is performed by a game center staff.

Therefore, mechanization is also desired in the medal deposit / dispensing operation at the game center. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a coin deposit device for a game center that only pays out only to the person who deposited the medal.
JP 07-171240 A

  The game center coin depositing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to use optical data of a palm print or a fingerprint for identity verification, so that payment cannot be made to anyone other than the depositor. , Preventing the occurrence of gambling, and automating coin deposit and withdrawal operations.

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is no proposal to improve the player's taste by using a palm print or fingerprint for identity verification in addition to identity verification.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine that provides a service that uses a user's face image obtained by imaging with a personal authentication camera in addition to user authentication in order to authenticate the user. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a gaming machine for depositing a game medium acquired by a game player in a game hall, wherein the number of the game media input when the player deposits the game medium is calculated. Prior to counting, an imaging means for capturing the player's face image , the player's face image captured by the imaging means, and a member authentication face image previously captured and registered at the time of member registration Authentication means for authenticating whether or not the player is a member based on the result of the comparison, and the game medium input by the player when the authentication means authenticates the player as the member When the number of game media counted by the counting means exceeds a preset number, the face image of the player imaged by the imaging means is preset. Service information with added information Characterized by comprising an output means for outputting.

The invention of claim 2 further comprises output request accepting means for accepting the output request for the service information in the invention of claim 1 , wherein the output means accepts the output request by the output request accepting means. In this case, the service information is output .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the output means includes a display means for displaying the service information on a screen .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the output means includes a printing means for printing out the service information .

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the face image of the user acquired for the personal authentication is displayed on the operation screen in addition to the personal authentication, or is printed out with a sticker or the like. It is possible to provide a service that improves the interest of the user by effectively using the imaging means.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a game system according to the present invention applied to a medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 installed in a game center, and the best system configuration for carrying out the present invention using this medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100. It is the figure which showed an example.

  The medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 manages the medals acquired by the player at the game center by placing the medal into the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100, and the player himself / herself deposits the medals when the player visits the store again. The medal deposit / withdrawal system 10 shown in FIG. 1 shows only the configuration of the main part of the present invention for convenience of explanation. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, a medal deposit / withdrawal system 10 includes various game devices (not shown) installed in a game center, a medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100, and a management device 3 installed in a game center office. Are communicably connected via a network such as a LAN (= Local Area Network) 2 and exchange information.
Note that a plurality of medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100 may be connected to the medal deposit / withdrawal system 10.

  The management device 3 is a computer including an input device such as a keyboard (= KB) and a mouse, an output device of a display device such as a display, a storage device, a central processing unit, and the like. A printer (not shown) is connected.

  The management apparatus 3 centrally manages various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100 installed in the game center, and also provides service contents of the various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100 set in advance by a staff member. Setting information such as output conditions is distributed to various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100.

  In addition, personal information of players (members) who have been registered in advance is managed as a database (member information database), and the facial image of the applicant who wishes to join at the time of member registration is a feature of the personal information of members in the present invention. Is registered in the personal information as face image data for authentication.

  The face image data for authentication registered as personal information of each member is the face of the player imaged by the camera provided in each device when the member's authentication is required on the various devices installed in the game center. The image data and the authentication face image data are collated to authenticate whether or not the user is the member, and the medal obtained by the member player at the game center is deposited in the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100, or It is used as data for authentication as to whether or not the member himself / herself has deposited a medal when the medal is withdrawn from the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 at the time of revisit.

  In addition, the personal information of each member is updated based on the number of medals deposited and paid out from the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 and the identification information for identifying the member.

  The medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 deposits medals acquired by a member player as described above and pays out medals in response to a medal payout request from the member player, and deposits or pays out medals. And the identification information of the member who made the deposit or withdrawal is notified to the management apparatus 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a touch panel type LCD (= Liquid Crystal Monitor) screen 101 is on the upper right side of the front face of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100, and a digital camera 107 (hereinafter simply referred to as “camera 107”) is on the upper left side. In other words, a bill insertion slot 102 is arranged on the right side of the center, a printed product output slot 106 is arranged on the left side of the center, a medal insertion part 103 is arranged on the right side of the lower surface, and a medal ejection part 104 is arranged on the left side of the lower surface.

  The LCD screen 101 displays various processing desired by the player, such as guidance messages for depositing or paying out medals, guidance messages for various selection operations, and the face image of the player captured by the camera 107 of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100. It is displayed according to the player's operation instructions.

  The camera 107 is a digital camera that captures a face image of a player for authenticating a player who deposits or pays out medals.

  The player's face image data captured by the camera 107 is verified by collating with the member's face image data stored and held in the member information database of the management device 3.

  The banknote insertion slot 102 is an insertion slot for inserting banknotes and can borrow from the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 a number of medals according to the amount of the inserted banknote.

  The medal insertion slot 103 is an insertion slot for inserting a medal when the player deposits the medal into the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100. The medal throwing unit 104 pulls out the medal deposited by the player or inserts a bill. Thus, the medal is thrown out from the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 when the medal is borrowed.

  The printed matter output port 106 prints and outputs predetermined information including a sheet on which the number of medals and member information associated with medal deposit, withdrawal, borrowing, etc. are printed, and a face image of the player captured by the camera 107 on the sticker 105. .

  A functional configuration of the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional internal configuration of the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 includes a display / operation unit 108, a control unit 109, UPS 110, banknote processing unit 111, cleaning unit 112, lift mechanism 113, power supply unit 114, lateral transport mechanism 115, lower tank 116, depositing hopper 117, printer 118, dispensing hopper 119, upper A tank 120 and a camera control unit 121 are provided.

The display / operation unit 108 performs various processes such as a medal deposit process, a medal withdrawal process, and a medal lending process desired by the player on the above-described LCD screen 101 (see FIG. 1) based on a command signal from the control unit 109. The control unit 109 is notified of screen control corresponding to the information or information instructed to operate.
The control unit 109 manages and controls each unit, each mechanism, and each hopper of the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 and controls the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 as a whole.

  The UPS 110 is an uninterruptible power supply. When the power supply from the power supply unit 114 is interrupted, the UPS 110 supplies power to the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 for a predetermined time instead of the power supply unit 114.

  The banknote processing unit 111 identifies the authenticity and amount of the banknote inserted from the above-described banknote insertion slot 102 (see FIG. 1), notifies the control unit 109 of the identified amount information, and sends a genuine banknote to a predetermined banknote. The banknotes that are transported and stored in the storage location are processed.

  The depositing hopper 117 is a hopper that receives medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 103 (see FIG. 1), and accepts medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 103 so that the player can deposit medals into the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100, The medals accepted by the deposit hopper 117 are counted by a counting unit (not shown) after the player is authenticated and stored in the lower tank 116.

  The lateral transport mechanism 115 is a transport mechanism that transports medals stored in the lower tank 116 to the cleaning unit 112, and has a predetermined value according to the number of medals stored in the upper tank 120 and the number of medals paid out from the payout hopper 119. The medals stored in the lower tank 116 are transported to the cleaning unit 112 at the timing.

  The lift mechanism 113 is a transport mechanism that transports the medals cleaned by the cleaning unit 112 to the upper tank 120, and the medals transported from the lower tank 116 to the cleaning unit 112 by the horizontal transport mechanism 115 and cleaned by the cleaning unit 112. The lift mechanism 113 lifts it to the upper tank 120 and stores it in the upper tank 120.

  The medals stored in the upper tank 120 are sent to the payout hopper 119 by a predetermined amount, and are thrown out from the payout hopper 119 at the time of medal withdrawal processing or lending processing and are lent out or paid out to the player.

  The camera control unit 121 controls the above-described camera 107 to capture the face image of the player and the captured face image data to the control unit 109 in order to authenticate the player when the player deposits or pays out medals. Control to transfer to.

  The power supply unit 114 is a power supply for supplying power to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100.

  In the medal deposit / withdrawal system 100 to which the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 configured as described above is connected, the face image captured by the camera 107 for authenticating the player, which is a feature of the present invention, is used to authenticate the player. A control operation for providing a service to the player by using it elsewhere will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  In order to enable authentication of whether or not the player is a registered member based on the face image of the player who uses the medal depositing / withdrawing machine 100, the medal depositing / withdrawing machine 100 The face image data for authentication for authenticating by collating the face image data of the player acquired by capturing with the camera 107 of 100 is required.

  Therefore, in the medal deposit / withdrawal system 100, as described above, the personal information of the player who has performed the membership procedure in advance is registered and managed in the member information database 300 of the management device 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of personal information of each member registered in the member information database 300 of the management apparatus 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the member information database 300 includes NO. , Member No. Personal information of each member composed of name, address, telephone number, face image, personal identification number, number of medals, etc. is stored and held.

  NO. Is a record number indicating a record of personal information registered in the member information database. Is the identification number that identifies the member, name is the member's name, address is the member's address, phone number is the member's phone number, face image is a file that contains the member's authentication face image data to authenticate the member The file name indicating the password, the password number is a password number for verifying whether or not the user is a corresponding person, and the number of medals indicates the number of medals deposited by the member.

  Note that the face image data for member authentication is obtained by capturing a face image of a person who wants to join with a camera such as a digital camera by a game center staff member when applying for membership.

  The attendant at the game center receives a membership application form filled in with the necessary information from the applicant, obtains a face image of the applicant by using a camera, and enters the membership application form on the management device 3 The personal information of the user is input, the personal information of the member is created by associating the file storing the face image data of the applicant, and registered in the member information database 300 of the management device 3.

  Processing such as construction of the member information database 300 and registration and updating of the member's personal information by the management apparatus 3 can be realized using known software such as image processing software and database creation software.

  The management device 3 centrally manages various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100 installed in the game center, and service contents of the various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100 set in advance by a staff member. And a system for distributing setting information such as output conditions to various game devices and medal depositing / dispensing machines 100, and the staff members in advance of various game devices and medal depositing / dispensing devices 100 before opening the game center. Service contents, output conditions, and the like are collectively set, and the setting information is distributed to various game devices and medal deposit / withdrawal machines 100.

  Next, the control operation of the medal depositing process by the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation of the medal depositing process by the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the medal depositing process is selected by the player on the LCD screen 108 of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 (YES in step S401), the input of a personal identification number for identifying the player and An operation instruction screen (not shown) that prompts the player to insert a medal is displayed (step S402).

  The LCD screen 108 displays a selection menu screen for selecting various processing such as medal deposit processing, medal withdrawal processing, and medal lending processing that can be selected by the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100. The selected process is executed by giving an operation instruction such as touching with a finger.

  Note that screen data such as menu screens and various operation screens displayed corresponding to various processes are stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) of the control unit 109, and the control unit 109 plays games on the LCD screen 108. The screen data is read out in a timely manner according to the customer's selection operation, transferred to the LCD screen 108, and displayed on the LCD screen 108.

  When a password is input by a player and a medal is inserted from the medal insertion unit 103 (YES in step S403), after the input password is authenticated (YES in step S403), the member to which the player is registered In order to authenticate whether or not the player is himself, the player's face image is captured and acquired by the camera 107 provided (step S404).

  If the password entered by the player is not authenticated (NO in step S403), a message screen indicating that the password is incorrect and that the correct password is entered is displayed, and the password is displayed to the player. Prompt for re-entry.

  The authentication of the personal identification number is performed by comparing the personal identification number entered on the LCD screen 108 by the control unit 109 with the personal identification number registered in the personal information of the member registered in the membership information database 300 of the management device 3. Authenticate if they match.

  Further, when the password is authenticated, the member number corresponding to the password is changed. Or the name of the file storing the authentication face image data of the member.

  The face image data acquired by capturing with the camera 107 and the face image data of each member stored and held in the member information database 300 of the management device 3 are collated by the control unit 109, and the player is the member himself / herself. If authenticated (YES in step S405), the control unit 109 causes the counter (not shown) to count the inserted medals (step S406), displays the counting result by the counter on the LCD screen 108, and the player A confirmation screen (not shown) for confirming the counting result of inserted medals is displayed (step S407).

  The authentication that the player is the member himself / herself is performed by the control unit 109 authenticating the personal identification number input from the LCD screen 108 by the player and using the member's authentication face image data corresponding to the personal identification number and the camera 107. When the face image data acquired by imaging is matched and matched, the player is authenticated as a registered member.

  Further, the number of medals counted is displayed on the confirmation screen in step S407, and the number of medals counted when the confirmation button displayed on the confirmation screen is selected and operated by the player is registered in the personal information of the member. An update process for adding to the number of medals is performed (step S408).

  In addition, when it is desired to additionally insert medals on the confirmation screen in step S407, the player adds the medal addition button displayed on the confirmation screen and the count result by adding the medals is displayed. The confirmation screen may be displayed, and when it is desired to cancel the deposit of medals on the confirmation screen in step S407, the cancel button displayed on the confirmation screen is selected by the player so that the medal deposit can be made. The insertion process may be stopped, and medals having the number of medals inserted from the medal insertion unit 103 may be thrown out from the medal throwing unit 104 and returned to the player, and then the process may be terminated.

  When the number of medals for the member exceeds the preset value as a result of the update process in step S408, a message indicating a blessing including the player's face image as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed. The service screen 500 displayed is displayed on the LCD screen 108 to inform the player (step S410).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, on the service screen 500, a player's face image 501 acquired by capturing with the camera 107, a message (Congratulation!) And a member name (Yamauchi-sama) 502 indicating a blessing, An acquired medal number (acquired number 3000) 503, a game hall name (game hall Gory) 504, a date ('05 .10.01) 505, and the like are displayed.

  Information such as conditions for displaying the service screen 500 and messages added to the face image of the service screen 500 can be arbitrarily set by the management device 3, for example, “Congratulations!” Or “Thank you!” May be a message indicating a blessing or appreciation such as “Masu”, and the service screen 500 may be displayed when a predetermined set value is exceeded or the transaction screen 500 is displayed for every transaction as described above. Often, these condition settings and message contents are set by the manager of the game center in the management device 3 and distributed to the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100.

  On the other hand, the medal depositing / withdrawing machine 100 stores and holds the condition settings and message contents distributed from the management apparatus 3 in the storage device of the control unit 109, and the control unit 109 refers to these condition settings or displays the message contents when appropriate. The service screen 500 on which a message including the face image of the player is read and displayed is displayed on the LCD screen 108.

  After displaying the service screen 500 in step S410, if a print button (not shown) on the LCD screen 108 is selected according to the player's request, a sticker 105 as shown in FIG. 5B is printed by the printer 118 (step S412). After the output from the printed matter output port 106, the processing is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of images in which a message is added to the face image of the service screen 500 described above are printed on one sticker 510 and output.

  Further, after the service screen 500 is displayed in step S410, if the player does not select a print button (not shown) on the LCD screen 108, the service screen 500 is displayed for a certain period of time, and then the process ends.

  Next, the control operation of the medal withdrawal process by the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation of the medal withdrawal process by the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when a player selects a medal withdrawal process on the LCD screen 108 of the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 (YES in step S601), an input of a personal identification number for identifying the player and a medal are performed. An operation instruction screen (not shown) that prompts the user to input the desired number of drawers is displayed (step S602).

  After the password is input by the player in accordance with the operation instruction message on the operation instruction screen, when the number of medals is entered (YES in step S603), the input password is authenticated (YES in step S603). In order to authenticate whether or not the player is a registered member, the player's face image is captured and acquired by the attached camera 107 (step S604).

  If the password entered by the player is not authenticated (NO in step S603), a message screen indicating that the password is incorrect and that the correct password is entered is displayed, and the password is displayed to the player. Prompt for re-entry.

  The authentication of the personal identification number and the authentication of whether or not the player is a registered member is performed by managing the personal identification number entered on the LCD screen 108 by the control unit 109 in the same manner as the medal depositing process described above. The personal identification number registered in the personal information of the member registered in the member information database 300 of the device 3 is collated, and if it matches, the personal identification number is authenticated as the correct personal identification number. The control unit 109 authenticates the personal identification number input from the LCD screen 108 by the player, and captures the member's authentication facial image data corresponding to the personal identification number and the camera 107 to obtain the identification number. If the face image data matches and matches, the player is authenticated as a registered member.

  When it is verified that the player is the member himself (YES in step S605), an update process is performed to subtract the desired number of medals drawn by the player from the number of medals registered in the personal information of the member. This is performed (step S606).

  After the update process, medals with the number of medals drawn by the player are thrown out from the payout hopper 119, and medals are paid out to the player (step S607).

  If it is determined in step S605 that the player is not a member (NO in step S605), the authentication face image data and the face image data captured by the camera 107 match. If not, a message indicating that authentication could not be performed is displayed, the medal withdrawal process is stopped, and the process ends (step S608).

  In step S607, the medal is paid out from the hopper 119 and paid out to the player, and the number of medals registered in the personal information of the updated player is added to the face image of the player. A service screen may be displayed on the LCD screen 108 to notify the number of remaining medals.

  In addition to the above-described medal deposit processing and medal withdrawal processing, the medal lending process confirms whether or not the member is a member by face authentication, and if it is a member, adds a service that gives usage points. In this case, a captured face image and a message such as “GOOD LUCK” may be displayed.

  As described above, the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 according to the present invention acquires the player's face image in addition to using the player's face image captured and acquired by the camera 107 in order to authenticate the player. Depending on the number of medals, or whenever a player makes a deposit or withdrawal transaction at the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100, the number of transaction medals including the player's face image, a thank-you and congratulatory message are displayed and the player's interest Can provide services that improve

Also, according to the player's wishes, the number of transaction medals including the player's face image, a thank-you message, and a blessing message can be printed on a sticker and provided as a commemorative sticker.
In this embodiment, the gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to the medal depositing / dispensing machine 100 installed in the game center. However, the ball, medal counting machine installed in the pachinko hall, the casino You may apply to the ticket settlement machine installed in the game place.

  When the gaming machine of the present invention is applied to a ball or medal counter installed in a pachinko hall, each counter includes an authentication unit that uses a player's face image and an imaging unit that captures the player's face image. When counting the game media of balls and medals acquired by the player, if the count value of the game media acquired by the player exceeds a preset number, the image taken by the imaging means The player displays the count value including the player's face image and information of thanks and congratulatory messages on the screen of each counter and prints out the information including the player's face image displayed as desired on the sticker. It is possible to provide services that improve the interest of

  In addition, when the gaming machine of the present invention is applied to a ticket settlement machine installed in a casino game hall, the ticket settlement machine includes authentication means based on a player's face image and imaging means for capturing the player's face image. When the value corresponding to the value of the ticket acquired by the player is paid out and the value specified by the ticket settlement machine exceeds the preset value, the image is taken by the imaging means. The information that includes the face image of the player displayed on the screen of the ticket settlement machine is displayed on the screen of the ticket settlement machine with the value or blessing message information specified by the ticket settlement machine in the face image of the player. By printing out, it is possible to provide a service that enhances the interest of the player.

The figure which shows an example of the medal deposit / withdrawal system 10 to which the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 according to the present invention is connected. The block diagram which shows the functional internal structure of the medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 The figure which shows an example of the member information database 300 memorize | stored and held by the management apparatus 3 Flow chart showing an example of control operation of medal deposit processing by medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100 The figure which shows an example of the service screen 500 and the seal | sticker 105 Flow chart showing an example of control operation of medal withdrawal processing by medal deposit / withdrawal machine 100

Explanation of symbols

2 LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Management apparatus 10 Medal depositing / dispensing system 100 Medal depositing / dispensing machine 101 LCD screen 102 Bill insertion slot 103 Medal insertion part 104 Medal throwing part 105 Seal 106 Print output port 107 Camera 108 Display / operation part 109 Control part 110 UPS ( = Uninterruptible power supply)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 Banknote processing part 112 Washing part 113 Lift mechanism 114 Power supply part 115 Horizontal conveyance mechanism 116 Lower tank 117 Deposit hopper 118 Printer 119 Discharge hopper 120 Upper tank 121 Camera control part 300 Member information database 500 Service screen

Claims (4)

A gaming device for depositing game media obtained by a game player at a game,
Prior to counting the number of game media inserted when the player deposits, an imaging means for capturing a face image of the player;
The player's face image captured by the imaging means and previously captured at the time of member registration
The player is the member himself / herself based on the collation result with the registered face image for authentication.
An authentication means for authenticating
A counting means for counting the number of the game media inserted by the player when the authentication means authenticates the player as the member ;
When the number of the game media counted by the counting unit exceeds a preset number, service information obtained by adding preset information to the face image of the player captured by the imaging unit is output. And an output means for playing. An output request receiving means for receiving an output request for the service information;
The output means includes
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the service information is output when the output request is received by the output request receiving means. The output means includes
The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the service information on a screen. The output means includes
The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing unit that prints out the service information.

Images