JP6788514B2 - Amusement park system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system for Yu skills field.

In the game hall where the game machine is installed, a management device for managing game information and a rental machine for renting balls and medals used in the game are provided. Further, the lending machine and the management device communicate with each other on a regular basis. For example, in Patent Document 1, information is transmitted and received between the lending machine with a counting function and the management device to manage the number of balls held by the player. It is stated that. Further, in Patent Document 1, by recording the number of balls held on the IC card, a game using the balls recorded on the IC card is performed in an offline state in which information cannot be transmitted and received between the lending machine and the management device. It is stated that it enables.

Here, when the offline state occurs for a long time, a lot of processing may be performed on the lending machine side during the offline state. In this case, a large amount of offline information is transmitted from the lending machine to the management device after recovering from the offline state.

JP-A-2015-208390

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 makes it difficult for problems to occur during the offline state, and does not facilitate processing after the offline state is restored to the online state. For this reason, if a lot of processing is performed on the lending machine side during the offline state, the processing load of the management device becomes large by transmitting a large amount of offline information from the lending machine side to the management device at a time, and processing related to the offline information. There is a risk that processing other than the above cannot be performed normally.

It should be noted that the problem of a large amount of information to be transmitted is not limited to offline information and lending machines, but is applicable if the management device and the game device are configured to send and receive game information. ..

The present invention has been made in view of the above, an object thereof is to provide a easier Yu for Technical field system that manages the gaming information.

Since the number of game information transmitted in the game device according to claim 1 changes according to the magnitude of the processing load of the management device, a huge amount of game information can be obtained from the game device in a situation where the processing load of the management device is large. It can be suppressed from being transmitted. As a result, it is possible to prevent the management device from becoming unable to manage the game information due to a large processing load. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the management of game information.

Overall block diagram which shows one Embodiment of this invention Functional block diagram in the amusement park system Conceptual diagram for explaining the storage area of a general card Flow chart of card reception process Flowchart of initialization process Sequence diagram showing the signal flow between the management device and the rental machine (Part 1) Sequence diagram showing the signal flow between the management device and the rental machine (Part 2) Sequence diagram showing the signal flow between the management device and the rental machine (Part 3)

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of the amusement park system. A large number of game machines 1 are installed in the game hall, and a rental machine 2 and a call lamp 3 corresponding to each game machine 1 on a one-to-one basis are installed. The game machine 1, the rental machine 2, and the call lamp 3 are connected to the management device 6 via the relay device 4 and the LAN 5. Further, a POS and a balance settlement machine (all not shown) are also installed in the amusement park, and these POS and the balance settlement machine are also connected to the management device 6 via the LAN 5. Although not shown in FIG. 1, in reality, for example, several hundred game machines 1 are managed by the management device 6.

The management device 6 is installed in, for example, an office in the game hall, and is connected to a keyboard 7, a monitor 8, a printer (not shown) and the like operated by the manager of the game hall. The management device 6 receives a game signal (game information) transmitted from the game machine side (game machine 1, rental machine 2, etc.), and also receives the game information for each game machine 1 and personal data for each member registered as a member. Etc. are managed.

The game machine 1 is a CR (card reader) pachinko machine, and has an operation handle 10, an upper tray 11, and a lower tray 12 that constitute a launching device that launches balls on the board 9, and a liquid crystal display unit 13 on the board 9. , It has a general drawing winning opening 14, a first starting opening 15, a second starting opening 16, and a large winning opening 17. Further, a lending button 11a and a return button 11b (both refer to FIG. 2) are arranged side by side on the upper tray 11.

The game machine 1 operates as shown below.
(1) The first starting port 15 is a winning opening (so-called navel winning opening) in which the winning rate does not fluctuate, and the second starting opening 16 is a winning opening (so-called electric chew) in which the winning rate fluctuates. A jackpot lottery is performed according to the winnings (starting winnings) to the starting ports 15 and 16, and the lottery result is notified by the symbol variation performed on the liquid crystal display unit 13, and the jackpot state is set according to the variation result.

(2) If a start prize is won during a symbol change, the symbol change is cumulatively held up to a predetermined holding upper limit value (for example, 4 each), and the held symbol change is started after the symbol change is completed. If the start prize is won while the number of pending symbol fluctuations (number of pending) is the upper limit, the symbol fluctuation is not suspended, and if the second starting port 16 has a hold, the first starting port 15 is held. Executes the symbol change that is held in preference to.

(3) The winning probability (big hit probability) of the jackpot lottery is 1/260, and the probability variation rate, which is the ratio of the jackpot state (probability variation jackpot state) that becomes the probability variation state (probability variation) after the end of the jackpot state, is (normal state, probability variation). Both states) are 66.6%. When a jackpot condition occurs, the jackpot 17 is opened by the corresponding round (R).

(4) The corresponding round is also drawn in the same manner as the jackpot lottery, and the distribution rate is 55% for 4R and 45% for 15R when the first starting port 15 is won, but the second starting port 16 In the case of winning a prize, 4R is 10%, 15R is 90%, and the priority of pending digestion of the symbol change according to the prize is set higher in the second starting port 16 than in the first starting port 15. There is. The maximum number of winnings in 1R is 9, the maximum opening period is 30 seconds, and 1R ends when either the maximum number of winnings or the maximum opening period is satisfied.

(5) During the probability change, the jackpot probability is improved to 1/74, and the winning rate to the second starting port 16 is increased, resulting in a time saving state (time saving). Since the probability change state continues until the next jackpot state, it continues until a jackpot state (normal jackpot state) that becomes a normal game state (normal state), which is neither a jackpot state nor a probability change state, occurs after the end of the jackpot state. After that, the time is shortened until a predetermined number (for example, 100 times) of symbol fluctuations are performed.

(6) The second start opening 16 is in an open state with a high winning rate when a normal symbol (general figure) that fluctuates according to the winning of the general drawing winning opening 14 is hit. In this case, the fluctuation time of one normal figure is 30 seconds in the normal state and 3 seconds in the time saving state. Further, the opening time is 0.3 seconds once in the normal state and 5 seconds twice in the time saving state. That is, in the time saving state, the normal figure fluctuation period is shorter than in the normal state, while the opening period is longer or the number of times of opening is increased, so that the winning rate of the second starting port 16 is increased. The values illustrated above are various values depending on the model, and for example, the jackpot probability and the round distribution are different.

The game machine 1 and the peripheral devices attached to the game machine 1 output the following game signals as the game progresses, such as the player driving a ball and starting a prize at each of the starting ports 15 and 16. ..
Out signal = A signal that can specify the consumption value (out) output from the out BOX that collects the consumed balls. Since one pulse is output for every 10 consumed (used, driven, collected) balls, "the number of out signals x 10" is specified as out. It may be a signal output from the game machine 1.

Safe signal = A signal that can specify the winning value (safe) output from the game machine 1. Since one pulse is output for every 10 balls to be paid out, "the number of safe signals x 10" is specified as safe.

Start signal = A signal that can specify the start process (design variation, accessory operation, unit game) in the liquid crystal display unit 13 (feature) that fluctuates (operates) according to the start prize (specific prize) output from the game machine 1. Is. Since it is output when the symbol variation is confirmed, the start process is specified according to the input of the start signal, and "start signal x 1" is specified as the number of starts (number of start processes). It may be used as a signal indicating a prize to the first starting port 15 or the second starting port 16.

Jackpot signal = A signal that can specify the jackpot period output from the game machine 1. Since it is a state signal whose level is output during the jackpot, the input of the jackpot signal is specified as the jackpot.

Specific state signal = A signal that can specify the specific state (sweet) output from the game machine 1. Since it is a state signal whose level is output during a specific state (during a short time) in which the winning rate of the second starting port 16 is improved, the input of the specific state signal is specified as the specific state. In addition, the period during which neither the jackpot signal nor the specific state signal is input is specified as the normal state.

The lending machine 2 is a game device having a so-called counting function for each machine, and is a state display unit 20 indicating the game state of the game machine 1, a money slot 21 into which money (money value, valuable value) is inserted, and a player. A touch-sensitive LCD display unit 22 that accepts operation input from and displays game information such as the number of symbol fluctuations (number of starts) and jackpot probability as the game progresses, and a ball (including stored balls if a member) Located below the payout button 23 for paying out, the payout nozzle 24 through which the paid out balls pass, the card insertion slot 25 into which the general card 27 and the membership card (not shown) are inserted, and the lower tray 12 of the game machine 1. It has a removable counting tray 26 and the like.

FIG. 2 mainly shows a functional block diagram of the rental machine 2 and the management device 6. The lending machine 2 has a control unit 2A composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 2a, a ROM 2b, a RAM 2c, and an I / O 2d, and a peripheral unit connected to the control unit 2A. The control unit 2A executes various control programs (software), and is a first receiving means, an initialization processing executing means, an abnormality recording medium issuing means, a second receiving means, an initialization processing restarting means, and a game information collecting means. , Transmission means, load state determination means. Further, the storage unit 2M such as ROM 2b and RAM 2c and the control unit 2A correspond to storage means.

The peripheral part of the lending machine 2 determines the authenticity of the money inserted into the I / F unit 30 and the money insertion slot 21 that transmit and receive various signals and various information between the relay device 4, the management device 6, and the game machine 1. The general money processing unit 21a, the liquid crystal display unit 22, the touch panel 31 provided on the liquid crystal display unit 22, the general card 27, and the membership card are inserted into the card insertion slot 25 (while accepting). The card reader / writer (card RW) 25a that reads and writes various information to the card 27 and the membership card, the card stock section 25b that can stock up to 10 general cards 27, the payout button 23, and the payout button 23 were operated. A payout unit 32 that pays out balls for one frequency (for example, 500 yen) from a payout nozzle 24, a counting unit 33 that counts balls flowing in from a counting tray 26, and a configuration that can operate even when the power is cut off and the power supply is It is a cutoff time management unit 35 or the like that manages the cutoff time that is cut off.

Since the rental machine 2 has a configuration in which signals are transmitted / received or game information related to the game is collected via the I / F unit 30 and other peripheral parts, the peripheral parts such as the I / F unit 30 and the control unit 2A are connected to each other. It is possible that it corresponds to the game information collecting means and transmitting means. Further, the card RW25a for receiving the general card 27 and the membership card and performing various processing is the first receiving means, the initialization processing executing means, the abnormal recording medium issuing means, the second receiving means, and the initialization processing together with the control unit 2A. It is also possible that it corresponds to the means of resumption.

The general card 27 and the membership card are IC cards (recording media) capable of storing information. That is, the general card 27 is a card that is valid only on that day, and has an IC chip 27a built-in. In the memory of the IC chip 27a (hereinafter, simply referred to as a general card 27), a general ID that can identify the card is stored, and the balance and the number of balls held are stored. Although not shown, the membership card is a card that is valid until a preset expiration date (for example, 3 years), and has a built-in IC chip. In the memory of the IC chip of the membership card (hereinafter, simply referred to as a membership card), a member ID that can identify the card (card member) is stored, and the balance and the number of balls held are stored. Further, the number of stored balls corresponding to the membership card is stored in the member account of the management device 6.

The control unit 2A of the rental machine 2 (hereinafter, appropriately abbreviated as “rental machine 2”) has the following functions.
(1) When the money inserted into the money insertion slot 21 is received, the input amount, which is the amount of the money, is stored in the storage unit 2M as a balance, and the balance is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22. When the lending button 11a of the game machine 1 is operated with the balance in this way, the number of balls corresponding to one frequency within the range of the balance is put inside the game machine 1 according to the operation of the lending button 11a. Lend from the payout mechanism of. For example, if the lending unit price is 4 yen, 125 coins will be paid out, and if the lending unit price is 1 yen, 500 coins will be paid out. At this time, since a signal indicating that the ball for the number of times has been paid out from the game machine 1 to the lending machine 2 is output, the balance stored in the storage unit 2M and the balance displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 are used. Along with subtracting the number of times, a sales signal that can specify the number of rented balls indicating the number of rented game media is output. Since the sales signal is a pulse signal in which one pulse is output each time a ball for several times is paid out, one pulse is specified as the sales amount for 500 yen.

(2) When a ball dropped from the lower tray 12 of the game machine 1 is received by the counting tray 26, the ball received by the counting tray 26 flows into the counting unit 33 to count the balls, and the counted ball is counted. The number of counting balls, which is a number, is stored in the storage unit 2M as the number of balls, and the number of balls held is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22. When the payout button 23 is operated with the number of balls held in this way, it corresponds to the number of balls held or the number of stored balls (in the case of a member player) according to the operation of the payout button 23. The number of balls to be played is paid out from the payout mechanism inside the game machine 1. At this time, it is possible to subtract one frequency from the number of balls stored in the storage unit 2M and the number of balls displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22, and to specify the number of balls to be paid out, which indicates the number of game media to be paid out. Output a payout signal.

(3) When the general card 27 is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 and accepted, the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 are read by the card RW25a, and the read balance and the number of balls held are stored in the storage unit 2M. (Data is transferred from the general card 27 to the storage unit 2M) and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22. At this time, the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 are reset to zero (the data of the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 are deleted). When the general card 27 is accepted, the loan processing and the withdrawal processing are performed within the range of the balance and the number of balls held from the general card 27. In addition, in the card acceptance process at the time of accepting the general card 27, if the initialization process as the IC card is not performed normally, the initialization process of rewriting the data in the format suitable for each game hall is performed. It will be executed, but details will be described later.

(4) When the membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 and accepted, the balance and the number of balls held in the membership card are read by the card RW25a, and the read balance and the number of balls held are stored in the storage unit 2M. At the same time, it is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22. At this time, the balance and the number of balls stored in the membership card are reset to zero. Further, by inputting the number of stored balls stored in the member account of the management device 6 on condition that the operation input of the password is performed, the number of stored balls corresponding to the membership card is also stored in the storage unit 2M and the liquid crystal display unit 22. indicate. When the membership card is accepted, the loan processing and the withdrawal processing are performed within the range of the balance read from the membership card, the number of balls held, and the number of stored balls corresponding to the membership card.

(5) When the return button 11b of the game machine 1 is operated, the general card 27 is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 at that time, and if there is at least one of the balance and the number of balls held (“0””. (If not), the balance and the number of balls held in the storage unit 2M are stored in the general card 27, and the general card 27 is issued. At this time, the balance and the number of balls stored in the storage unit 2M are reset to zero. When the general card 27 is issued, an issuance signal capable of specifying the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 is transmitted to the management device 6 together with the general ID, and the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 are managed by the management device 6. But remember and manage.

(6) If the membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 when the return button 11b is operated and there is at least one of the balance and the number of balls held, the balance and holdings stored in the storage unit 2M The number of balls is stored in the membership card and the membership card is issued. Also at this time, the balance and the number of balls stored in the storage unit 2M are reset to zero. When the membership card is issued, an issuance signal capable of specifying the balance and the number of balls held in the membership card is transmitted to the management device 6 together with the member ID, and the balance and the number of balls held in the membership card are also stored in the management device 6. To manage. Further, the number of balls held information that can specify the number of balls held is transmitted to the management device 6 on condition that the operation input of the password is performed, and the number of balls held is stored in the member account of the management device 6 as the number of stored balls.

(7) If neither the general card 27 nor the membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 at the time when the return button 11b is operated and there is at least one of the balance and the number of balls held, card movement (not shown) is performed. The general card 27 is paid out (set) to the card RW25a by a mechanism (not shown), the balance and the number of balls stored in the storage unit 2M are stored in the general card 27, and the general card 27 is issued. Also at this time, the balance and the number of balls stored in the storage unit 2M are reset to zero. Further, also in this case, when the general card 27 is issued, an issuance signal capable of specifying the balance and the number of balls held in the general card 27 is transmitted to the management device 6 together with the general ID, and the balance and possession stored in the general card 27. The number of balls is also stored and managed by the management device 6.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the management device 6 has a control unit 6A composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 6a, a ROM 6b, a RAM 6c, and an I / O 6d, and a peripheral portion connected to the control unit 6A. The control unit 6A executes various control programs, and corresponds to a receiving means, a special processing executing means, and a processing load information notifying means.

As a peripheral part of the management device 6, an I / F unit 37 for transmitting / receiving or notifying various signals and various information to / from the game machine side (or relay device 4) is provided. The control unit 6A and the I / F unit 37 have a configuration in which the game information transmitted by the lending machine 2 is received and the processing load information described later is notified to the lending machine 2 via the I / F unit 37. However, it is also possible to support a receiving means and a processing load information notification means.

By the way, in the lending machine 2, when using an IC card such as the general card 27 described above, the initialization process of the IC card is executed, but an abnormality occurs in the middle of the initialization process and the initialization process is normal. May not be completed. Therefore, the lending machine 2 of the present embodiment stores the execution state information capable of specifying the execution state of the initialization process in the IC card when the initialization process cannot be completed normally. Based on the execution state information, not only the own device 2 but also another lending machine 2 adopts a configuration in which the initialization process can be restarted and completed.

Further, the lending machine 2 transmits the game information collected as the game information collecting means to the management device 6 at a predetermined cycle while in the online state. Therefore, for example, when the lending machine 2 performs a lot of processing on the own device 2 side during an offline state in which information cannot be transmitted / received to / from the management device 6, the lending machine 2 still transmits the many processing to the management device 6. It is also conceivable that the processing load of the management device 6 will be increased by transmitting a large amount of offline information, which is the game information before transmission to the management device 6, from the own device 2 side to the management device 6 at once. Be done. Therefore, the lending machine 2 of the present embodiment stores in the storage unit 2M the pre-transmission game information that has not been normally transmitted to the management device 6 as the transmission means among the game information collected as the game information collection means, and is the management device. A configuration is adopted in which the pre-transmission game information is transmitted according to the processing load state of 6.

Regarding the configuration of the amusement park system related to the rental machine 2, the drawings after FIG. 3 are also shown in the order of "1. IC card and initialization processing" and "2. Management device processing load and rental machine processing". It will be explained with reference to it.

<1. IC card and initialization process>
FIG. 3 shows a memory map of the storage unit of the IC chip 27a in the general card 27. That is, the general card 27 has a storage area 100 composed of storage areas 101 to 116 divided into a plurality of blocks (for example, 16 blocks), and each block is executed as a “own store code” in FIG. Status information is associated. In this case, the execution status information can specify, for example, whether or not the initialization process is executed at the own store for each block, and whether or not the initialization process is not executed at any store, so to speak, whether it is the shipping state or not. It is an 8-digit private code that can be distinguished.

Specifically, for example, when "00000001" is stored as the "own store code", the rental machine 2 determines that the general card 27 has a code unique to the store of the amusement park. On the other hand, in the shipping state of the general card 27, "00000000" is stored as the initial code (shipping code) of blocks 1 to 16, and the unused general card 27 (for own store) is stored by the lending machine 2. It is determined as an IC card in which the code is not stored). Further, when the lending machine 2 cannot read a code that cannot even be read as an IC card, that is, a code such as a factory code or a code for own store (including a member code for own store described later), it identifies this. It is ejected from the card insertion slot 25 as an impossible error card.

In addition, the code for own store can be shared by multiple stores, and by prescribing a code that can be used in multiple stores within a chain store, any store within the chain store can be used. The rental machine 2 can also be used as a general card 27 with a common store code. Further, regarding the general card 27 and the membership card of the present embodiment, when the lending machine 2 accepts any of the cards (at the time of step S1 in FIG. 4 described later), it is determined whether or not the card is for own store. Since it cannot be discriminated, it is appropriately referred to as an "IC card".

When the lending machine 2 of the present embodiment receives the IC card, it first determines whether or not the own store code is stored in the first block, that is, the uppermost address 0 in FIG. 3, and the own store code. If it is determined that is not stored, it is determined whether or not the member code for own store is stored. Here, the IC card in which, for example, "50000001" is stored in the first block as the "membership code for own store" is attached with a unique code that can identify the member of the amusement park by the lending machine 2. Judge as a membership card. In this way, the own store code or the own store membership code corresponding to each block is stored in the storage area 100 of the general card 27 or the membership card.

Then, when the lending machine 2 receives the IC card as the first reception means, the lending machine 2 executes the initialization process based on the determination result of whether or not the above-mentioned own store code or own store membership code is stored. As a means, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, by making it possible to store each data consisting of 16 blocks and associating each block with a code for own store, the IC card is initialized as a general card 27 in a format suitable for each playground. Execute the initialization process.

In the storage area 100 of the general card 27 illustrated in FIG. 3, the storage area 101 of the first block is "holding ball information" for specifying the information related to the number of balls held, and the storage area 102 of the second block is "Balance information" for specifying the information related to the balance, ..., In the storage area 116 of the 16th block, in order to specify information related to the history such as the number (unit number) of the game machine 1 that played the game. "Game history information" is stored. The initialization process performs so-called formatting for storing such various types of information in the storage area 100 of the general card 27, and all the information in each block is attached with a code for own store by the initialization process. Except for the private store code, it will be reset to zero.

The initialization process is performed in the main game corresponding to a game hall in which a plurality of rental machines 2 including at least one rental machine 2 (first game device) and another rental machine 2 (second game device) are installed. In the field system, any lending machine 2 can be executed. Further, as will be described in detail in the follow chart below, for example, in one lending machine 2, an abnormality may occur during the initialization process as an abnormality recording medium issuing means, and the initialization process may be completed normally. If it cannot be done, even if a general card 27 (an abnormal recording medium that does not store the store code until the last block) that stores the execution status information up to the block in the middle is issued, the other lending machine 2 will When a general card 27 recording execution status information is received as the second reception means, the execution status of the initialization process is specified from the execution status information of the general card 27 as the initialization process restart means, and the initialization process is performed. It is designed to restart from the middle.

The initialization process of the lending machine 2 and the card reception process before the start of the initialization will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of card reception processing executed by the lending machine 2 at a predetermined cycle, and the lending machine 2 receives the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 25 and its IC is received. The code stored in the card is collated with each predetermined code.

That is, when the lending machine 2 starts the card reception processing, the IC card inserted (accepted) from the card insertion slot 25 can be accessed via the card RW25a in the first block (first address 0). Is determined (S1). When the lending machine 2 identifies, for example, an IC card having a different standard, a card that is not an IC card in the first place, or a code for another store via the card RW25a, it determines that the error card is inaccessible (S1: NO, S11). .. In this case, the lending machine 2 ejects the error card from the card insertion slot 25 (S12), and ends (returns) this process.

When the lending machine 2 determines that access is possible in the first block (S1: YES), it determines whether or not the own store code is stored in the first block (S2). In this determination, the data of the first block of the IC card read (accessed) by the card RW25a is collated with the own store code "00000001" in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2. By this collation, when the lending machine 2 determines that the own store code is not stored in the first block (S2: NO), it determines whether or not the own store membership code is stored in the first block. (S3). In this determination, the data in the first block of the IC card is collated with the member code "50000001" for own store in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2. Based on this collation, when the lending machine 2 determines that the membership code for its own store is stored in the first block (S3: YES), it determines that the received IC card is a membership card of its own store (S4). This process ends.

On the other hand, when the lending machine 2 determines that the member code for own store is not stored in the first block (S3: NO), it determines that the general card 27 is in the shipping state in which the shipping code "00000000" is stored. (S5). Along with this determination, the lending machine 2 executes the initialization process of FIG. 5 (S6).

In the initialization process of FIG. 5, the lending machine 2 first identifies the first block in which the own store code “00000001” is not stored (S21). This identification is performed by searching for a block in which the store code is not stored in the order from the upper address to the lower address in the storage area 100 of the general card 27. Therefore, for the general card 27 in the shipping state, the first block in which the shipping code is stored is specified as the first block.

Next, the lending machine 2 initializes the specified block (S22). In this initialization, for example, when the first block is specified as the first block to be initialized, the number of balls held is reset from zero to a memorable state for the "ball holding information" of the first block illustrated in FIG. (Update. As described above, in this step S22, in order to initialize the block specified in S21, when another block (the second and subsequent blocks) is specified in S21, it is preset according to the other block. The information (see FIG. 3) is reset to a memorable state. In this way, if the lending machine 2 can reset the number of balls held from zero to a memorable state, for example, regarding the "ball holding information" of the first block, it determines that the normal initialization of the first block is completed (S23). : YES).

Further, the lending machine 2 stores the initialized storage area 101 of the first block, for example, in association with the own store code “00000001” (S24). After that, the lending machine 2 determines whether or not the initialization and the association of the own store code are completed up to the final 16th block (S25), and the initialization up to the 16th block corresponds to the own store code. If it is determined that the attachment is not completed (S25: NO), the process returns to step S21.

In this way, the lending machine 2 repeatedly executes steps S21 to S25 to initialize each storage area 101 to 116 and associate the store code in the order in which the number of blocks increases from the first block. As a result, when the lending machine 2 determines that the initialization and the association of the own store code have been completed up to the final 16th block (S25: YES), the lending machine 2 determines that the general card 27 is an IC card for the own store. (S26), return (end the initialization process).

On the other hand, in the lending machine 2, it is assumed that an error occurs during the initialization of the above-mentioned block and the initialization is not completed normally. In this case, in step S23, the lending machine 2 re-initializes the block in which the error occurred (that is, retries the initialization), and even if the retry is performed twice, the initialization of the block is still normal. If it is determined that the IC card has not been completed (S23: NO), the IC card is ejected from the card insertion slot 25 (S27) and returned.

In one lending machine 2, it is determined in S1 of FIG. 4 that the first block can be accessed again (S1: YES), and in S2, it is determined that the member code for own store is stored in the first block (S2). S2: YES) may occur. For example, in the one lending machine 2 in which an error has occurred, an employee manually inserts the IC card ejected from the card insertion slot 25 into the card insertion slot 25 again. That is, in one lending machine 2, the abnormal recording medium in which an abnormality occurred in the middle of the initialization process (for example, the second block), and only the first block has been initialized and the association of the own store code has been completed. The IC card can be accepted again as the second receiving means (S1: YES and S2: YES).

Similarly, in one lending machine 2, for example, when an abnormality in the initialization process occurs in the third and subsequent blocks, the IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 again to access the first block again. On the other hand, if it is determined that the member code for own store is stored in the first block (S1: YES and S2: YES), for example, if an abnormality in the initialization process occurs in the first block, that When the IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 25 again, the first block can be accessed again (S1: YES), but the member code for own store is not stored in the first block (S2: NO). , The above-mentioned initialization process will be performed from the first block.

Further, when the one lending machine 2 determines in S2 above that the member code for own store is stored in the first block (S2: YES), the member code for own store is stored in the final 16 blocks. If (S7: YES), it is determined that the general card 27 is for own store (step S8), and the card is returned. However, if the member code for own store is not stored in the final 16th block (S7: NO), It is determined that the initialization process is an IC card in the middle (S9), and the initialization process of FIG. 5 is restarted (S10).

In this way, one lending machine 2 is designed to specify the execution state of the initialization process from the member code for the store of the IC card, and the code for the store is used when the initialization process of FIG. 5 is restarted. Identify the first block in which is not recorded (S21). In this case, if, for example, the second block is specified by searching for a block in which the own store code is not stored in one rental machine 2, the initialization process is restarted from the second block in the middle (S22). .. As a result, when it is determined that the initialization of the second block is completed, the one lending machine 2 stores the own store code in association with the second block (S24). In this way, the one lending machine 2 restarts the initialization of each storage area 101 to 116 and the association of the own store code from the second block by repeatedly executing steps S21 to S25, and the final 16th block. If it is determined that the initialization and the association of the code for the own store have been completed (S25: YES), it is determined that the general card 27 for the own store is completed (S26), and the product returns.

If an error occurs again in the middle of the initialization process after restarting the initialization process, the initialization of the block is retried, and even if the retry is performed twice, the initialization of the block is still completed normally. If it is determined that the card is not present (S23: NO), the IC card is ejected from the card insertion slot 25 (S27) and returned.

As described above, since the IC card can specify the execution state of the initialization process by the code for own store associated with the blocks of its own storage areas 101 to 116, one lending machine 2 (another gaming device) ), The other lending machine 2 accepts the IC card from the insertion slot 25 as the second receiving means (accepts the IC card issued by another gaming device) even if the initialization process of all blocks cannot be completed. As a result, the card acceptance processing and initialization processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 described above can be restarted. As a result, even if a large abnormality occurs in which the initialization process cannot be restarted in one lending machine 2, the initialization process can be completed in the other lending machine 2. As a result, the frequency with which the initialization process can be completed normally can be increased.

<2. Management device processing load and rental machine processing>
Regarding the communication between the lending machine 2 and the management device 6 described above, different processes are performed depending on whether the offline state occurs (see FIG. 8) and the offline state does not occur (see FIG. 7). Here, the offline state is a state in which communication is not possible due to some reason between the rental machine 2 and the management device 6, such as a disconnection of the communication path, the influence of noise, and a communication failure state due to a power failure on the devices 2 and 6 side. It shall be a generic term.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the process for changing from the offline state to the online state due to the power cutoff in the rental machine 2 will be described as an example with reference to FIG.
That is, when the power is turned on, the rental machine 2 acquires the cutoff time managed by the cutoff time management unit 35 of the own device 2, and acquires the elapsed time from the previous power cutoff to the current power on. As shown in FIG. 6, the rental machine 2 waits for the reception of the connection request signal from the management device 6 when the elapsed time from the power cutoff to the power-on is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). To do.

When the power is turned on, the management device 6 transmits the connection request signal to the lending machine 2 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 10 seconds). The connection request signal transmitted from the management device 6 to the lending machine 2 is a signal including information for requesting the connection to the lending machine 2 (information that can identify the lending machine 2 that is the request destination) and the like. is there.

When the lending machine 2 receives the connection request signal from the management device 6, the lending machine 2 transmits the connection signal to the management device 6. The connection signal transmitted from the lending machine 2 to the management device 6 is information indicating that the lending machine 2 has accepted the request for connection from the management device 6 (information that can identify the own device 2, etc.). Is a signal containing.

When the management device 6 receives the connection signal from the rental machine 2, the management device 6 transmits the response signal to the rental machine 2. The response signal transmitted from the management device 6 to the lending machine 2 is information indicating that the management device 6 has responded to the acceptance of the request from the lending machine 2 (information that can identify the lending machine 2 as the response destination, etc. ) Is included.

In this way, the lending machine 2 and the management device 6 are brought into an online state in which communication is possible by transmitting and receiving in the order of the connection request signal, the connection signal, and the response signal. That is, if the elapsed time from the previous power cutoff to the current power on is longer than or equal to a predetermined time, the rental machine 2 collects the connection request signal from the management device 6 side and receives a signal related to connection and response. By exchanging information, it becomes an online state in which communication with the management device 6 is possible.

On the other hand, the rental machine 2 manages the game side request signal as shown in FIG. 6 when the elapsed time from the previous power cutoff to the current power on is less than a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Send to 6. The game side request signal transmitted from the lending machine 2 to the management device 6 is information for the lending machine 2 to request the management device 6 to transmit the connection request signal to the own device 2 (transmission destination of the connection request signal). It is a signal including information that can identify the own device 2).

When the management device 6 receives the game side request signal from the rental machine 2, the management device 6 transmits the connection request signal to the rental machine 2. When the lending machine 2 receives the connection request signal from the management device 6, the lending machine 2 transmits the connection signal to the management device 6. When the management device 6 receives the connection signal from the rental machine 2, the management device 6 transmits the response signal to the rental machine 2.

In this way, the lending machine 2 immediately transmits a game side request signal when the elapsed time from the previous power cutoff to the current power on is less than a predetermined time. Therefore, by transmitting and receiving in the order of the game side request signal, the connection request signal, the connection signal, and the response signal, it is possible to bring the communication into an online state at an early timing. In addition, since the exchange after the game side request signal is a process that is shared with the case where the elapsed time until the power is turned on is longer than a predetermined time, the processing program for bringing it online is simplified and the processing is performed. The amount of data required can be reduced.

The connection signal transmitted from the lending machine 2 to the management device 6 includes information on the time required for erasing the memory of the lending machine 2 and the time required for writing the memory. The management device 6 specifies the time required for erasing the memory of the lending machine 2 and the time required for writing the memory from the connection signal received from the lending machine 2, and until the time required for erasing the memory or the time required for writing the memory elapses. The next signal is not transmitted to the lending machine 2. This is because the rental machine 2 adopts a configuration in which the time required for erasing its own memory and the time required for writing the memory are transmitted to the management device 6, so that the specifications of the rental machine 2 become higher or lower and the memory becomes higher or lower. Even if the time required for erasing or the time required for writing to the memory is changed, it is only necessary to change the content included in the connection signal, which is a device for reducing the amount of change in the communication setting of the management device 6. Further, if the lending machine 2 receives a signal from the management device 6 during memory erasing or memory writing, the memory erasing and memory writing operations of the lending machine 2 may become unstable. However, this configuration is adopted. By doing so, it is possible to guarantee the memory erasing and memory writing operations of the lending machine 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, assuming that the management device 6 is in the online state, for example, when the amusement park is opened (or closed), the management device 6 is changed from the closed mode to the open mode (or from the open mode). A special management signal that can identify the change to the closed mode) is transmitted to the rental machine 2.

Here, the special signal on the management side is different from the first processing load state in which the processing load of the management device 6 is relatively small or tends to be small when the store is closed, and the first processing load state in business or the like. As a signal including mode information (processing load information) that can determine the second processing load state in which the processing load is large or likely to be large, other than the closed mode and the open mode. , Maintenance mode and other information related to the business status of the amusement park can be included. Therefore, the management device 6 functions as a processing load information notification means for notifying the lending machine 2 of the processing load information that can specify the current size of the processing load and whether or not the processing load is likely to increase.

As a result, when the lending machine 2 receives the management side special signal from the management device 6, the contents included in the management side special signal (for example, the business mode) are stored in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2 (overwrite update). To do). Therefore, thereafter, the lending machine 2 determines the content of the mode stored in the storage unit 2M, so that the processing load state of the management device 6 is, for example, the second processing load state corresponding to the open mode. Can be determined. When the rental machine 2 receives the management side special signal including the information of the closed mode from the management device 6, the processing load state of the management device 6 is changed to the first processing load state corresponding to the closed mode. Judge that there is.

Further, the lending machine 2 collects game information related to the game as online information in the online state shown in FIG. 7, and when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied (for example, a transmission timing having a 25-second cycle has arrived). The collected online information is transmitted to the management device 6. This "online information" or "offline information" described later is game information that can be collected by the lending machine 2, for example, information on the balance (information on the player's usage amount and balance), the remaining number of IC cards, and the like. including. Further, in the lending machine 2, the collected game information is stored in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2, and is collectively transmitted to the management device 6 as a so-called batch process, for example, at a cycle of 25 seconds.

The cycle for transmitting game information in the rental machine 2 is included in the connection request signal from the management device 6 described above. This is because the management device 6 adopts a configuration in which its own processing capacity is transmitted to the lending machine 2, so that even if the specifications of the management device 6 become high or low, the lending machine 2 transmits game information. It is only necessary to change the above, and this is a device for reducing the amount of change in the communication setting of the rental device 2.

When the management device 6 receives the game information from the lending machine 2 as shown in FIG. 7, the management device 6 accumulates (or stores, aggregates, etc.) the received game information and sends a reception completion signal to the lending machine 2. Send to. As a result, when the lending machine 2 receives the reception completion signal from the management device 6, it can determine that the game information has been normally transmitted. As described above, as the process for receiving and managing the game information from the lending machine 2 (or the special process for managing the game information received as the receiving means) in the management device 6, the game information is described. In addition to the storage processing in the storage unit 6M of the above, it is possible to grasp including the transmission / reception processing of various signals such as the above-mentioned management special signal and the reception completion signal.

On the other hand, the lending machine 2 does not receive the reception completion signal when the game information itself cannot be transmitted to the management device 6 or when the game information can be transmitted as shown by "x" in FIG. In that case, it is determined that the game information has been offline, and thereafter, the game information is not newly transmitted until it is determined that the game information has been online.

Further, in this case, the lending machine 2 stores the game information when it is determined to be in the offline state, such as the game information that could not be transmitted normally, as offline information in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2, and thereafter, offline. The game information collected in the state is stored in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2 as "offline information" (see FIG. 8). This offline information corresponds to the pre-transmission game information which is the game information that the lending machine 2 has not normally transmitted to the management device 6 as the transmitting means among the game information collected by the lending machine 2 as the game information collecting means. .. Therefore, the storage unit 2M and the lending machine 2 normally transmit / receive information to / from the management device 6 after an offline state occurs in which the information cannot be normally transmitted / received to / from the management device 6 as pre-transmission game information. It can be said that the game information is stored until the online state is restored.

As a result, the management device 6 determines that the offline state has occurred on the management device 6 side when the period during which the game information is not received from the rental machine 2 elapses for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), and then connects. The request signal will be transmitted to the lending machine 2 at a predetermined cycle. By adopting the configuration related to the connection request signal of the management device 6 and the configuration related to the connection request signal when the power cutoff time in the rental machine 2 is less than, for example, 30 seconds, the rental machine 2 and the management device 6 It suppresses the occurrence of a situation in which communication cannot be performed for the above-mentioned predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds).

Therefore, the lending machine 2 transmits and receives to and from the management device 6 in the order of the connection request signal, the connection signal, and the response signal shown in FIG. 8, and when the response signal is received, the rental machine 2 is restored to the online state. After that, the collected game information is stored in the storage unit 2M of the own device 2 as online information by the determination. As a result, when the transmission timing of the 25-second cycle arrives, the lending machine 2 preferentially transmits the online information to the management device 6 if the online information and the offline information are stored in the storage unit 2M. .. When a large amount of processing is performed on the lending machine 2 side during the offline state, if a large amount of offline information is transmitted from the lending machine 2 side to the management device 6 at one time, processing other than the processing related to the offline information can be performed normally. This is because there is a risk that it will disappear.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the lending machine 2 determines that the offline information is stored in the storage unit 2M, the processing load state of the management device 6 is the first processing load corresponding to the closed mode. It is determined which of the state and the second processing load state corresponding to the open mode. That is, the lending machine 2 determines whether or not the mode stored in the storage unit 2M is the open mode (whether or not the amusement park is open) as the load state determining means, thereby determining the first processing load state. And the second processing load state are determined.

Then, the lending machine 2 stores a plurality of offline information in the storage unit 2M, and when the transmission condition is satisfied due to the arrival of the transmission timing, the first special number (for example, 1000) in the first processing load state. The offline information is transmitted up to the upper limit of the transaction amount), while the offline information is transmitted up to the second special number (for example, 100 transactions) which is smaller than the first special number in the second processing load state. In other words, the lending machine 2 transmits offline information to the management device 6 up to 1000 transactions if the game hall is not open, while the lending machine 2 sends offline information to the management device 6 if the game hall is open, for example, up to 100 transactions. The offline information is transmitted to the management device 6.

Here, the "transaction amount" is the number (numerical value) of pre-transmission game information, which is offline information transmitted from the lending machine 2 to the management device 6 at one time, and corresponds to the number of pre-transmission game information collected by the lending machine 2. To do. Therefore, when the transmission condition is satisfied in the situation where the lending machine 2 stores a plurality of pre-transmission game information in the storage unit 2M, the pre-transmission game information is limited to the number determined based on the processing load information. Can be said to be transmitted to the management device 6.

In this way, the maximum number of offline information transmitted at one time in the lending machine 2 is determined, such as 1000 transactions in the closed mode and 100 transactions in the open mode, so that the amount of data to be transmitted to the management device 6 is determined. Is suppressed so as not to be excessive with respect to the processing load of the apparatus 6. Therefore, in the lending machine 2, when the transmission timing arrives with the online information and the offline information stored in the storage unit 2M, in the open mode, all the online information and 100 transactions of the offline information are stored. If it is in the closed mode, all the online information and 1000 transactions of offline information are transmitted. Further, for example, even if a large amount of offline information is stored in the storage unit 2M in the business mode, the offline information is stored for 100 transactions at a cycle of 25 seconds until the number of transactions is less than 100, and the online information at the transmission timing. It will be transmitted to the management device 6 together with.

According to the present embodiment relating to the above "1. IC card and initialization processing" and "2. Processing load of management device and processing of rental machine", the following effects can be obtained.
If an abnormality occurs during the initialization process of the rental machine 2, the initialization process can be restarted from the middle. As a result, it is finally possible to increase the frequency with which the initialization process is normally completed. Therefore, the IC card initialization process can be satisfactorily performed by the lending machine 2.

If an abnormality occurs during the initialization process of the lending machine 2, the initialization process can be restarted at a lending machine 2 different from the lending machine 2 where the abnormality occurred. Depending on the content and degree of the abnormality that occurred, such as the IC card being unable to be accepted, it is possible that the lending machine 2 where the abnormality occurred cannot restart the initialization process. In this respect, other lending with this configuration Since the initialization process can be restarted on the machine 2, it is possible to increase the frequency with which the initialization process is normally completed.

Since the number of game information transmitted from the lending machine 2 changes according to the magnitude of the processing load of the management device 6, a huge amount of game information is transmitted from the lending machine 2 in a situation where the processing load of the management device 6 is large. Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the management device 6 from being unable to manage the game information due to a large processing load. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the management of game information.

It is conceivable that the processing performed by the management device 6 is increasing during the business at the amusement park as compared with the case where the business is not open. In this respect, in this configuration, the number of game information transmitted by the lending machine 2 to the management device 6 changes depending on whether or not it is open. Therefore, the processing load of the management device 6 is received by receiving the game information during business hours. Can be suppressed from becoming excessively large.

Since the number of game information to be transmitted on the lending machine 2 side is determined based on the notification result of the management device 6, it is possible to prevent the lending machine 2 from transmitting the game information that the management device 6 cannot process. As a result, it is possible to prevent the management device 6 from being unable to manage the game information due to a large processing load. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the management of game information.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or extended as follows. In addition, each modification listed below may be combined as appropriate.
The gaming machine 1 may be applied to a gaming machine different from the pachinko machine that pays out the illustrated balls. For example, an enclosed pachinko machine in which a ball is enclosed and a score (game value) is consumed to shoot the ball. It can also be applied to machines and slot machines that use medals (game value). In this case, a lending machine that gives points or rents medals may be applied as a gaming device.

Further, any device can be applied as a game device, for example, a game information display device for displaying game information such as a call lamp 3, or a game information display device provided at the edge of a game island where a plurality of game machines 1 are installed. It is also possible to use a counting machine to be used and a prize exchange device for exchanging prizes according to the counting result of acquired balls and medals as a gaming device. That is, the gaming device does not need to be provided on the gaming machine 1 on a one-to-one basis, and the correspondence between the gaming device and the gaming machine 1 may be one-to-many, or multiple-to-one. It is also possible to make multiple to multiple.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which an IC card is used as the recording medium is illustrated, but a recording medium different from the IC card may be used, for example, a coin-type recording medium or a stick-type recording medium may be used. It is possible. Further, the initialization of the IC card is not limited to the general card 27, and it is also possible to initialize the membership card as a recording medium.

The target of the initialization processing in the recording medium is not limited to the storage areas 101 to 116 of the chip 27a (memory) of the IC card, and the configuration related to the storage of information such as the own store code and the initialization processing can be arbitrarily configured. You may change it. For example, the store code may be recorded on the card by printing a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), and the printing process may be included in the initialization process. The "memory" and "recording" in the above description can be understood as having the same meaning, for example, "memory in memory" is referred to as "recording in memory".

In the present embodiment, in order to enable the initialization process to be restarted from the middle of the recording medium, a configuration for determining whether or not the initialization process has been executed for each block has been illustrated, but the configuration is limited to such a configuration. It's not a thing. For example, the storage area of the recording medium is not largely divided into blocks, and the gaming device has detailed information (directly indicating the progress state of the initialization process) that can determine to which storage area the initialization process has been executed. A recording medium storing the information to be shown) may be issued, the progress state of the initialization process may be specified by referring to the information, and the initialization process may be restarted based on the specific result. Also, for example, the execution status information is not limited to the code for own store, but can be common information (common to multiple chain stores, etc.) whether or not the initialization process has been executed, and the initialization process can be performed up to any block. It is also possible to use information indicating that the process has ended. That is, the initialization process, the storage format of the IC card, and the execution state information may be arbitrarily changed.

When resuming the initialization process in the gaming device, it is not necessary to restart from the block (item part) in the middle of interrupting the initialization process, but from the item part (item part before interruption) in the previous stage of the item part. It is also possible to restart the initialization process.

Further, in the present embodiment, at the timing when the initialization process of each block is completed, the completed block is associated with the code for own store and stored, but the process of ejecting the card is started or started. The execution status information may be stored at the same timing. That is, the timing of storing the execution state information can be changed as appropriate.

In the present embodiment, the card insertion slot 25 is provided so that the part that accepts the IC card that has been partially initialized is the same as the part that accepts the IC card in the shipped state, but the configuration is not limited to this. .. For example, in one gaming device, a portion that accepts an IC card that has been initialized halfway may be provided in addition to a portion that accepts a shipped IC card. Further, the IC card in the shipped state and the IC card in which the initialization process has been partially executed may be accepted by different types of gaming devices. For example, the IC card in the shipped state may be accepted. It is also possible to configure the management device 6 to accept the IC card that has been received by the prize exchange device and has been initialized halfway.

As described above, even if the game device that has executed the initialization process halfway and the game device that restarts the initialization process are different, the initialization process is not limited to the configuration that allows the restart of the initialization process. The initialization process may not be restarted unless it is the same game device as the game device executed halfway. That is, even if the present invention is applied to the various game devices described above, the initialization process can be restarted only by one game device that has executed the initialization process halfway. In this case, it is preferable that at least one of the IC card and the gaming device stores information that can identify that the initialization process of the IC card has been executed halfway.

Specifically, the IC card that stores the ID information of the lending machine 2 that is executing the initialization process on the IC card side during the execution of the initialization process, or performs the initialization process halfway on the lending machine 2 side. ID information is stored, and it is determined whether or not the ID information of the lending machine 2 stored on the IC card side matches, and the ID information of the IC card stored on the lending machine 2 side matches. A configuration for determining whether or not to allow the restart of the initialization process is conceivable by determining whether or not. On the other hand, if an abnormality occurs during the initialization process of the one lending machine 2, the initialization process cannot be restarted by the one lending machine 2, and the initialization process is performed only by the other lending machine 2. May be configured so that can be restarted.

The processing of the initialization process of the IC card in the shipping state and the initialization process for restarting the IC card that has been initialized halfway are common (process of FIG. 5), but the IC card in the shipping state is used. The processing contents of the initialization process (initialization process for the first time) and the initialization process for restarting may be different.

The game information managed by the management device 6 may be arbitrarily changed. For example, it is possible to manage the number of medals possessed by the player corresponding to the slot machine, the history of the transition of the number of medals, and the like. It is possible.

In the present embodiment, when the response signal cannot be received from the management device 6, it is determined that the game information cannot be transmitted normally, but the response signal may not be received from the management device 6. In this configuration, if the game information can be transmitted, it may be determined that the game information has been normally transmitted to the management device 6.

In the present embodiment, 1000 transactions (that is, 1000 pieces) are exemplified as the first special number, and 100 pieces are exemplified as the second special number, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the first special number is set to 100 pieces. As long as the first special number and the second special number maintain the magnitude relationship between the two special numbers, such as setting the second special number to 10, each number can be set to a different number.

In the present embodiment, the number of game information is illustrated as a special number, but for example, when the processing load of the management device 6 is large, the game information is transmitted from the transmitting means up to the first data amount (for example, 50 Mbytes). When the processing load is small, the number of game information can be grasped as the amount of data, such as transmitting the game information from the transmitting means up to the second data amount (for example, 10 Mbytes). That is, the number of game information to be transmitted to the management device 6 at one time varies depending on the capacity of each game information, but the minimum storage capacity of each game information is fixed, and the amount of data that can be transmitted for each game information. Also has an upper limit. Therefore, the configuration in which the special number is the upper limit includes not only the configuration in which the number of direct game information is determined, but also the configuration in which the upper limit is determined by the amount of data. Therefore, the management device 6 may notify the gaming device of information that can specify the amount of data that can be processed when received, as processing load information.

In the present embodiment, the rental machine 2 determines that the processing load is large in the open mode and the processing load is small in the closed mode in the management device 6, but the configuration is limited to this. is not. For example, the gaming device, which is the rental machine 2, may be configured to determine whether the processing load of the management device 6 is large or small from the operating rate of the game hall notified from the management device 6.

Further, the configuration is such that it is determined whether or not the mode is in business, that is, whether or not the processing load is likely to increase, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the management device 6 may notify the game device of the magnitude of the processing load, and the game device may determine whether or not the processing load of the management device 6 is likely to increase based on the notification result. Good.

Further, the method of notifying the magnitude of the processing load by the management device 6 can be arbitrarily changed. For example, it is conceivable to notify the gaming device by the number of offline information that can be processed. Be done. In this configuration, the number of offline information to be transmitted by the notification of the number may be determined on the gaming device side.

In the present embodiment, the lending machine 2 is configured to determine that the game information transmission timing has come when a predetermined cycle has elapsed, but the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, various notifications of the management device 6 described above are predetermined. The transmission timing may be determined by the lending machine 2 based on the notification by performing the cycle.

In addition, numerical values, the number of digits, items, etc. are examples, and any numerical value may be adopted.
It is also possible to extract the following features from the embodiments illustrated above.
In a game hall where a plurality of game machines are installed, a first reception means for receiving a recording medium which is installed corresponding to the game machine and can record information, and the first reception means are the recording media. When the above is received, the initialization process execution means for executing the initialization process for initializing the recording medium and the initialization process can be completed normally due to an abnormality occurring in the middle of the initialization process. If not, the abnormal recording medium issuing means for issuing the recording medium on which the execution state information capable of specifying the execution state of the initialization process is recorded, and the recording medium in which an abnormality occurs during the initialization process are used. When the second receiving means and the second receiving means receive the recording medium in which an abnormality occurs during the initialization process, the execution state of the initialization process is determined from the execution state information of the recording medium. It is characterized by comprising an initialization process restarting means for identifying and restarting the initialization process from the middle.

A plurality of gaming devices are installed in the game hall corresponding to a plurality of gaming machines, and the initialization processing restarting means causes an abnormality to occur during the initialization processing and another gaming device is used. When the second receiving means receives the issued recording medium, the execution state of the initialization process is specified from the execution state information of the recording medium, and the initialization process is restarted from the middle. To do.

In a game field system corresponding to a game field in which a plurality of game devices including at least a first game device and a second game device are installed, the first game device can record information. A first receiving means that accepts various recording media, an initialization processing executing means that executes an initialization process that initializes the recording medium when the first receiving means receives the recording medium, and the initialization process. When an abnormality occurs in the middle of the process and the initialization process cannot be completed normally, an abnormality record for issuing the recording medium recording the execution state information capable of specifying the execution state of the initialization process. The second gaming device includes a medium issuing means, and the second gaming device has a second receiving means for receiving the recording medium in which an abnormality has occurred during the initialization process issued by the abnormal recording medium issuing means, and the second receiving means. When the receiving means receives the recording medium in which an abnormality has occurred during the initialization process, the execution state of the initialization process is specified from the execution state information of the recording medium, and the initialization process is performed from the middle. It is characterized by being provided with a means for resuming the initialization process for resuming.

In the drawing, 1 is a game machine, 2 is a rental machine (game device), and 2A is a control unit (first reception means, initialization processing execution means, abnormality recording medium issuing means, second reception means, initialization processing restart means). , Game information collecting means, transmitting means, load state determination means, storage means), 2M is a storage means, 30 is an I / F unit (game information collecting means, transmitting means), and 6A is a control unit (receiving means, executing special processing). Means, processing load information notification means), 25a is a card RW (first reception means, initialization processing execution means, abnormality recording medium issuing means, second reception means, initialization processing restart means), 37 is an I / F section (means, processing load information notification means). Receiving means, processing load information notification means).

Claims (2)

Multiple game devices that are provided for multiple game machines and collect game information related to the game,
In a game field system including a management device that receives the game information from the game device and manages the game information.
The management device
A receiving means for receiving the game information transmitted by the game device, and
A special process executing means for executing a special process which is a process for managing the game information received by the receiving means, and a special process executing means.
Notify the gaming device of processing load information, which is information that can specify the size of the current processing load, whether or not the processing load tends to increase, or the number of game information that can be processed when received. With processing load information notification means
The gaming device
A game information collecting means for collecting the game information and
When the predetermined transmission condition is satisfied, the transmission means for transmitting the game information collected by the game information collecting means to the management device, and the transmission means.
Of the game information collected by the game information collecting means, a storage means for storing pre-transmission game information which is the game information that the transmitting means has not normally transmitted to the management device, and
A load state determination means for determining the content of the processing load information is provided.
When the transmission condition is satisfied in a situation where the storage means stores a plurality of the pre-transmission game information, the transmission means transmits the pre-transmission game information in a number determined based on the processing load information. A system for amusement parks that features this. The storage means is an online state in which information can be normally transmitted / received to / from the management device after an offline state occurs in which information cannot be normally transmitted / received to / from the management device as pre-transmission game information. gaming facility for the system of claim 1, wherein the storing the game information between until restored.

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