JP7762969B2 - Amusement Park System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement center system.

Conventionally, in order to effectively utilize surveillance cameras as a surveillance resource in amusement parlors, amusement parlor systems would always designate gaming machines not being attended by store staff, such as amusement parlor employees, as the target of imaging by the main camera, while designating gaming machines attended by store staff as the target of imaging by the sub-camera (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This allows gaming machines not attended by store staff to be monitored by a closer surveillance camera, while also ensuring that gaming machines attended by store staff are not overlooked.

Patent No. 5816949

However, with conventional technology, both the main camera and the sub-camera are fixed surveillance cameras (fixed imaging devices, monitoring resources). Therefore, when multiple imaging request information with high importance (high likelihood of fraudulent activity) is input at the same time, the gaming machine that is the target of one of the imaging requests is imaged by the sub-camera, which is installed at a location farther away from the main camera, and there is a risk that the surveillance camera will not be able to fully fulfill its role.

In addition, by pointing a remote control (remote control device) at a call device that includes a call lamp, store staff can input the game information (the gaming machine number of the gaming machine they are playing) into a higher-level computer such as a hall computer. However, because the operation of the remote control is left to the store staff, the game information is not always input correctly, and there is a possibility that a gaming machine that should be captured by the main camera will be captured by the sub-camera.

The present invention aims to make effective use of surveillance resources (fixed-image capture devices, etc.) without requiring manual input of information.

In one representative embodiment of the present invention, in an amusement facility system equipped with a monitoring management means capable of instructing the operation of a fixed imaging device, the fixed imaging device is capable of capturing images of one or more of a plurality of gaming devices installed in a predetermined area, and the monitoring management means recognizes a gaming device to be monitored within the predetermined area that may have been the subject of an imaging event based on game information output from each gaming device or the detection results of a status change detection means capable of detecting status changes in each gaming device, and is capable of instructing the operation of the fixed imaging device based on gaming device identification information capable of identifying the installation location of the gaming device to be monitored and portable imaging device location information regarding the location of a portable imaging device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, monitoring resources (fixed imaging devices and portable imaging devices) can be effectively utilized without requiring manual input of information.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an amusement facility system (amusement facility management system). 1 is a block diagram showing signal transmission and reception between components of the amusement center system. FIG. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the placement of surveillance cameras within an amusement facility and the movement routes of patrol cameras. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an imaging mode (imaging method) of a surveillance camera. 10 is a table illustrating an example of the operation of the monitoring management device and the monitoring camera when the patrol camera is not in use. 10 is a table for explaining an example (example 1) of the operation of a monitoring management device, a patrol camera, and a monitoring camera when a patrol camera is used. 2 is a table for explaining examples (Example 2-1, Example 2-2) of the operation of the monitoring management device, the patrol camera, and the monitoring camera when the patrol camera is used. A sequence diagram illustrating the flow of information and instructions within the amusement center system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an imaging target designation process executed by the monitoring management device.

[Embodiment]
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, gaming machines refer to various gaming machines, such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines (slot machines). Furthermore, the location where gaming machines are installed will be referred to as an amusement facility (or store or hall), and the employees and related personnel of the amusement facility will be referred to as store staff. Furthermore, a person who enters an amusement facility where gaming machines are installed will be referred to as a visitor (or entrant), and a visitor who plays (or has played) a game on a gaming machine will be referred to as a player.

[Configuration of the gaming center system]
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an amusement center system 100 (amusement center management system) that is installed in an amusement center and manages the amusement center. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the transmission and reception of signals between the components of the amusement center system 100.

The gaming center system 100 comprises, as its components, a hall computer 10, gaming information collection devices 20, 21, a surveillance camera 30 (fixed imaging device), a patrol camera 40 (wearable camera, portable imaging device), a camera controller 50, a recording/playback device 60, a surveillance management device 70, a surveillance monitor 80, and gaming devices 200, 201. These components are connected to each other so that they can send and receive various information and signals, as shown in Figure 2. The hardware for these components may be conventional.

For example, the hall computer 10, gaming information collection devices 20, 21, surveillance camera 30, patrol camera 40, camera controller 50, recording/playback device 60, and surveillance management device 70 each include a processing unit, a memory unit, and a communications interface. The processing unit is an MPU (microprocessor) or CPU (central processing unit). The memory unit includes a ROM (read-only memory) that pre-stores programs and necessary data, and a RAM (random access memory) that is used as a work area when the processing unit is operating, and, if necessary, a hard disk (HDD) that can store data such as imaging information (image data).

The hall computer 10 and the monitoring management device 70 may be, for example, personal computers, and may have an input device (such as a keyboard) and a display device (display, display means). The monitoring camera 30 and the patrol camera 40 further include an imaging element such as a CCD image sensor (charge-coupled device), and a lens.

Gaming devices 200, 201 are gaming machines corresponding to pachinko machines or pachislot machines (slot machines), and in this embodiment include gaming machine main bodies 200a, 201a and associated devices such as inter-machine units 200b, 201b (gaming ball dispensing machine, medal dispensing machine, card unit) and out-tank devices. Inter-machine units 200b, 201b are inter-machine units installed between the main body of a gaming machine and the main body of an adjacent gaming machine. The out-tank devices are installed at the bottom rear of the gaming machine and are normally not visible. Note that gaming devices 200, 201 may consist of only gaming machine main bodies 200a, 201a, or only inter-machine units 200b, 201b.

The gaming information collection device 20 collects status information related to the status of the gaming device 200, which is a pachinko machine, and gaming information about the gaming device 200. It is preferably installed near and directly above the gaming device 200 (directly above the gaming machine main body 200a). Gaming information collection devices 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-m are provided corresponding to m pachinko machines (gaming devices 200-1, 200-2, ..., 200-m). The m pachinko machines are collectively referred to as gaming devices 200, and the m gaming information collection devices are collectively referred to as gaming information collection devices 20. Each gaming information collection device 20 is equipped with a call device including a call lamp, which lights up the call lamp based on the player's operation and outputs a call signal to the hall computer 10 to call a store staff member or the like. The gaming information collection device 20 does not necessarily have to be integrated with the call device, but may be provided separately from the call device.

The gaming information collection device 21 collects status information related to the status of the gaming device 201, which is a pachislot machine, and gaming information about the gaming device 201, and is preferably installed near and directly above the gaming device 201 (directly above the gaming machine main body 201a). Gaming information collection devices 21-1, 21-2, ..., 21-n are provided corresponding to n pachislot machines (gaming devices 201-1, 201-2, ..., 201-n). The n pachislot machines are collectively referred to as gaming devices 201, and the n gaming information collection devices are collectively referred to as gaming information collection devices 21. Each gaming information collection device 21 is equipped with a call device including a call lamp, which lights up the call lamp based on the player's operation and outputs a call signal to the hall computer 10 to call store staff, etc. Note that the gaming information collection device 21 is not limited to being integrated with the call device, and may be provided separately from the call device.

In this embodiment, status information relating to the status of gaming devices 200, 201 (gaming machines) is information on the detection results of status change detection sensors (status change detection means, status detection means), and is information regarding fraud, etc. The status change detection sensors are provided in gaming devices 200, 201 and include vibration detection sensors that detect vibrations, magnetic detection sensors that detect magnetism, and radio wave detection sensors that detect radio waves. In this embodiment, the status change detection sensors are provided in gaming machine main bodies 200a, 201a of gaming devices 200, 201, and include at least one of a vibration detection sensor, a magnetic detection sensor, and a radio wave detection sensor. Note that the vibration detection sensor may be provided in something other than gaming machine main bodies 200a, 201a, such as inter-machine units 200b, 201b (gaming ball dispensing machine, medal dispensing machine, card unit), etc.

The hall computer 10 is capable of recognizing the occurrence or possibility of fraud based on the gaming machine status information received from the gaming information collection device 20, and is capable of outputting fraud event information when it recognizes the occurrence or possibility of fraud. When it determines from the status information that the detection result (detection state) of the status change detection sensor of a specified gaming machine has changed from a normal state to an abnormal state, the hall computer 10 is capable of outputting fraud event information indicating the occurrence or possibility of fraud. The fraud event information here is fraud factor information that indicates the abnormal detection of the status change detection sensor of a specified gaming machine as the cause of fraud.

In addition, in this embodiment, the gaming information (signals) of gaming devices 200, 201 (gaming machines) includes signals related to gaming value (gaming balls or medals), such as prize ball signals for pachinko machines and prize medal signals for pachislot machines, special prize signals (jackpot signals or bonus signals), probability change/time reduction signals for pachinko machines, start winning signals for pachinko machines and lever operation signals for pachislot machines (signals related to operation of the lever to start the game), pattern confirmation signals, door opening signals, and security signals. Furthermore, the gaming information (signals) of gaming devices 200, 201 may include, as information or signals from inter-machine units 200b, 201b (gaming ball dispensing machine, medal dispensing machine, card unit), gaming value granting signals such as held ball payout signals or held medal payout signals, card information, gaming value lending signals such as ball lending signals or medal lending signals, gaming value granting signals such as saved ball payout signals or saved medal payout signals, deposit signals, gaming value information such as held ball information or saved medal information corresponding to counting signals. Furthermore, the gaming information (signals) of gaming devices 200, 201 may include recovery signals for gaming media (gaming value such as gaming balls or medals) recovered in the out-tank device.

Based on the gaming information received from the gaming information collection device 20, the hall computer 10 calculates or recognizes the number of loaned balls or medals (number of loaned gaming values) equivalent to the loaned ball amount, the number of payouts (number of balls held for payout, number of medals held for payout, number of gaming values awarded), safe (total number of prize balls, total number of prize medals, total number of gaming values acquired), out (number of balls fired, number of medals inserted, number of gaming values used), base (safe in normal state / out in normal state x 100), number of special prizes (number of jackpots, number of bonuses), during special prize, during probability fluctuation, during time reduction, number of starts (number of confirmed patterns, number of winnings in all starting slots, number of winnings in starting slot 1, number of winnings in starting slot 2), number of prize balls or number of prize medals (number of counted balls, number of counted medals, number of counted gaming values), amount deposited, number of replay balls or number of replay medals (number of gaming values related to replays), door opening signal, security signal, etc.

The hall computer 10 analyzes the calculated or recognized values and states to determine whether an irregular state (abnormal state) or irregular value (abnormal numerical value) has occurred. When an irregular state or irregular numerical value is recognized for a specific gaming machine (gaming device 200, 201), the hall computer 10 can output fraudulent event information indicating the occurrence or possibility of fraud. The fraudulent event information here is fraud factor information that indicates an irregular state or irregular numerical value on a specific gaming machine as a fraud factor. Here, an irregular state corresponds to a door opening (or frame opening) or the reception of a door opening signal (frame opening signal) or security signal indicating the possibility of such an irregular state. Note that fraudulent event information may also be output in the event of a special prize (jackpot or bonus) that is not due to fraud, as the apparent safe will be an irregular numerical value.

The number of loaned balls or medals is calculated based on the ball loan signal or medal loan signal. The number of payouts is calculated based on the saved ball payout signal or saved medal payout signal. Safe is calculated based on the prize ball signal or prize medal signal. Out is calculated based on the recovery signal. The number of special prizes and recognition of when a special prize is in progress are based on the special prize signal. Recognition of when the probability is changing and when the time is reduced is based on the probability change/time reduction signal. The number of starts is calculated based on the pattern confirmation signal, or the start winning signal or lever operation signal. The number of prize balls or prize medals is calculated based on the counting signal. The deposit amount is calculated based on the deposit signal. The number of replay balls or replay medals is calculated based on the held ball payout signal or held medal payout signal.

The surveillance cameras 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4, 30-5, and 30-6 (collectively referred to as surveillance cameras 30) are assigned camera numbers from 1 to 6 and monitor the interiors of Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the amusement facility as their monitoring areas (areas enclosed by dotted lines in Figure 3). Each surveillance camera 30 is a fixed imaging device that is attached to a component that makes up the amusement facility, such as the ceiling, and does not move. The patrol camera 40 is a wearable camera, i.e., a portable imaging device, that can be carried or worn by store staff patrolling the amusement facility and can patrol (move) the amusement facility.

Each surveillance camera 30 and patrol camera 40 can include in their imaging information, in addition to captured image data (photographed image data), which is the image data captured (filmed), camera information such as the camera number and the date and time of capture (i.e., the recording date and time) as the imaging situation. Each surveillance camera 30 can also include in its imaging information the imaging conditions. The imaging conditions include the surveillance camera 30's orientation (pan angle, tilt angle), imaging magnification (zoom degree, enlargement/reduction degree), and angle of view. The patrol camera 40 can include in its imaging information, in addition to the captured image data, data on the patrol camera's 40's location information. For example, the imaging situation, imaging conditions, and location information may be included in the imaging information by being added to the header of the captured image data.

The camera controller 50 is a control device that controls each surveillance camera 30 and is capable of transmitting control information to each surveillance camera 30 to control the operation of each surveillance camera 30. The camera controller 50 transmits control information corresponding to operation instruction information from the surveillance management device 70 to each surveillance camera 30. In this embodiment, the operation instruction information includes the camera number (camera information) of the surveillance camera 30 to be used for capturing images and instruction information on the operating mode (image capturing method).

The recording and playback device 60 is a video recorder that can record (store) and play back the image information captured and transmitted by each surveillance camera 30 and patrol camera 40, and operates as both a recording device and a playback device. The recording and playback device 60 records and plays back the image information captured by each surveillance camera 30 and patrol camera 40 in accordance with control information (recording and playback instructions) transmitted from the surveillance management device 70. For example, as a recording operation, the recording and playback device 60 records all image information received after receiving a recording instruction, and as a playback operation, it transmits the image information corresponding to the playback instruction to the surveillance management device 70. The recording and playback device 60 may store the image information for a certain period of time and discard it after the certain period has elapsed. The recording and playback device 60 may also include in the image information the camera number of the camera that received the image information and the recording date and time, instead of each surveillance camera 30 and patrol camera 40.

The monitoring management device 70 receives image capture information from the recording and playback device 60 that is performing playback operations, and receives fraud event information from the hall computer 10 that indicates the occurrence or possibility of fraud. Based on the image capture information and fraud event information, the monitoring management device 70 transmits operational instruction information for each monitoring camera 30 to the camera controller 50.

The monitoring management device 70 uses general image data analysis and recognition means to identify characters and symbols from the image data of the captured information. In particular, the monitoring management device 70 identifies the gaming machine number of the gaming machine as the characters or symbols. The gaming machine number (machine number, gaming device number) is gaming machine identification information (gaming device identification information) that identifies the gaming machine and its installation location, and is provided on the gaming machine (i.e., gaming device 200, 201) or in the vicinity of the gaming machine. In addition, the monitoring management device 70 can identify individuals, such as entrants, not only by external characteristics, such as whether they are the same person or a person to be monitored (pre-registered person), but also by their walking style and movement habits. This makes it possible to register (store) and monitor individuals who may be committing fraud.

Based on the fraudulent event information, the monitoring management device 70 can set gaming machines where fraud has occurred or is likely to have occurred, i.e., gaming machines where a factor (cause of imaging) captured by the surveillance camera 30 may have occurred, as gaming machines to be monitored (gaming machines to be monitored). Imaging factors (causes of imaging) include the opening of the gaming machine door, abnormal values in the base, the occurrence of a special prize (which may be a special prize due to fraud), and a change in the detection status of the status change detection sensor. The monitoring management device 70 then transmits operational instruction information as information instructing the operational mode (imaging method) of the surveillance camera 30 based on the gaming machine number (specified in the fraudulent event information) that identifies the installation location of the gaming machine to be monitored and the location information of the patrol camera 40 (added or included in the imaging information from the patrol camera 40). This allows for operational instructions that effectively utilize the surveillance camera 30 as a monitoring resource without requiring manual input of information. The operation instruction information includes, as operation modes, imaging conditions such as the camera direction (pan angle and tilt angle), imaging magnification (i.e., zoom level, enlargement/reduction level), and angle of view. The operation instruction information may include the camera number of the surveillance camera 30 that is to capture images. The operation instruction information may also include, as operation modes, the gaming machine number as information about the gaming machine to be captured by the surveillance camera 30.

The surveillance management device 70 can specify the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30. The surveillance management device 70 may specify the gaming machine to be imaged by gaming machine number. The gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 may basically be the same as the gaming machine to be monitored where an imaging factor may have occurred (a gaming machine where fraud has occurred or is likely to occur). However, the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 may differ from the gaming machine to be monitored, depending on conditions such as the location information of the patrol camera 40. This allows the surveillance camera 30 and the patrol camera 40 to be effectively utilized as surveillance resources. The surveillance management device 70 then determines imaging conditions such as camera direction, imaging magnification, and angle of view based on the imaging mode (zoom imaging or peripheral imaging, as shown in FIG. 4) and/or the gaming machine to be imaged. The surveillance camera 30 can capture the gaming machine to be imaged by imaging under the imaging conditions determined in this way.

In a modified example, the camera controller 50 may store in a memory unit imaging conditions (camera direction, imaging magnification, angle of view, etc.) corresponding to the gaming machine to be imaged. Here, multiple imaging conditions may be stored corresponding to multiple imaging modes (see FIG. 4), such as zoom imaging and peripheral imaging. The surveillance management device 70 then transmits to the camera controller 50 operation instruction information including imaging mode information and imaging target designation information, rather than imaging conditions. The imaging mode information is information that designates the imaging mode. The imaging target designation information includes the camera number of the surveillance camera 30 to be imaged and the gaming machine number of the gaming machine to be imaged. Upon receiving the operation instruction information, the camera controller 50 can cause the surveillance camera 30 corresponding to the camera number to image the gaming machine to be imaged, specified by the gaming machine number, using imaging conditions (stored in the camera controller 50) corresponding to the gaming machine to be imaged and the imaging mode.

The monitoring management device 70 also transmits control information for controlling the recording and playback device 60. The monitoring management device 70 then displays on the monitoring monitor 80 the imaging information (captured images) transmitted (played back) by the recording and playback device 60 in response to the control information. The monitoring management device 70 can transmit playback instructions (control information) according to a predetermined playback program to the recording and playback device 60, and the monitoring monitor 80 can display the imaging information played back by the recording and playback device 60. The monitoring management device 70 may simply have the recording and playback device 60 sequentially play back the imaging information most recently captured by each monitoring camera 30 and patrol camera 40 and display it on the monitoring monitor 80. A monitoring monitor 80 with multiple screens may display the imaging information from each camera on a screen assigned to each monitoring camera 30 and patrol camera 40, or may display the imaging information on multiple screens in the order in which it was played back.

As shown in Figure 2, the hall computer 10 and the monitoring management device 70 may be collectively referred to as the monitoring management means. In this embodiment, the hall computer 10 and the monitoring management device 70 are provided separately, but they may also be integrated into a single device. The functions of the monitoring management device 70 may be included in the hall computer 10, and the monitoring management device 70 may be omitted (the hall computer 10 becomes the monitoring management means), or conversely, the functions of the hall computer 10 may be included in the monitoring management device 70, and the hall computer 10 may be omitted (the monitoring management device 70 becomes the monitoring management means). The monitoring management means may also include a camera controller 50 and a recording/playback device 60.

[Surveillance camera placement and patrol camera routes]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating (A) the placement of surveillance cameras in an amusement facility and (B) the movement paths (movement routes) of patrol cameras.

In this embodiment, a plurality of gaming machines (gaming devices 200, 201) corresponding to gaming machine numbers (machine numbers, gaming device identification numbers) ranging from 1 to 60 are provided within the gaming facility. The gaming machine numbers, which identify the gaming machines and their installation locations, are displayed by attaching printed matter with the numbers or by painting or coloring components, and may be assigned not only to the gaming machine main bodies 200a, 201a but also to the gaming information collection devices 20, 21 (including call lamps) and inter-machine units 200b, 201b surrounding the gaming machines. Preferably, the gaming machine numbers are displayed around the call lamps provided on the gaming information collection devices 20, 21. Four gaming machine islands (gaming islands) are provided in parallel within the gaming facility. Each gaming machine island has 10 gaming machines on one side or 20 gaming machines on both sides, and island equipment is also provided to supply gaming media (gaming balls or medals) to the gaming machines. Furthermore, there are passageways between adjacent gaming machine islands. The island equipment may include a jet counter that counts the gaming media won by players as prize balls or medals. The jet counter is installed at the edge of the gaming machine island.

As shown in Figure 3(A), surveillance cameras 30-1 (camera number = 1) and 30-2 (camera number = 2) are installed at both ends of the aisle between gaming machines numbered 1 to 10 and gaming machines numbered 11 to 20, facing the aisle. Surveillance cameras 30-3 (camera number = 3) and 30-4 (camera number = 4) are installed at both ends of the aisle between gaming machines numbered 21 to 30 and gaming machines numbered 31 to 40. Surveillance cameras 30-5 (camera number = 5) and 30-6 (camera number = 6) are installed at both ends of the aisle between gaming machines numbered 41 to 50 and gaming machines numbered 51 to 60, facing the aisle.

Surveillance camera 30-1 monitors area 1, where gaming machines numbered 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 are located. Surveillance camera 30-2 monitors area 2, where gaming machines numbered 6 to 10 and 16 to 20 are located. Surveillance camera 30-3 monitors area 3, where gaming machines numbered 26 to 30 and 36 to 40 are located. Surveillance camera 30-4 monitors area 4, where gaming machines numbered 21 to 25 and 31 to 35 are located. Surveillance camera 30-5 monitors area 5, where gaming machines numbered 41 to 45 and 51 to 55 are located. Surveillance camera 30-6 monitors area 6, where gaming machines numbered 46 to 50 and 56 to 60 are located.

As shown in Figure 3 (B), the patrol camera 40 is carried by store staff or the like and patrols the arcade along an S-shaped (zigzag) route (arrow) that passes through all of the aisles between the gaming machine islands. The route may pass through the jet counters at the ends of the gaming machine islands so that the patrol camera 40 can also capture images of the jet counters. Other routes can also be used for the patrol camera 40, as long as they can capture images of all gaming machines (gaming devices 200, 201). For example, other patrol modes (patrol methods) can also be used, such as traveling back and forth along one aisle before moving to another aisle. The route traveled by the patrol camera 40 may also be a route that can capture images of only a necessary portion of the gaming machines (such as models prone to fraud).

Patrol camera 40 can acquire location information about its own location using a location information acquisition means (location identification means) and include the acquired location information in the image information as described above. For example, the location information acquisition means (location identification means) can identify the location of patrol camera 40 and acquire location information about that location using a positioning system such as GPS positioning, Wi-Fi positioning, beacon positioning, or UWB positioning. Patrol camera 40 is equipped with a device (such as an IC chip or circuit module) that can acquire location information using these positioning systems. Note that with these positioning systems, it is becoming easier to develop technology that can identify the location with an error of about a few centimeters.

The monitoring management device 70 stores a map that models the amusement center, and on the map, the gaming machine numbers and locations of the gaming machines are associated, and the camera numbers and locations of the monitoring cameras 30 are associated. The position of the moving patrol camera 40 can also be traced on the map that models the amusement center.

GPS positioning receives GPS (Global Positioning System) signals and calculates location based on those GPS signals. Wi-Fi positioning is a method of determining location by calculating triangulation based on differences in radio wave strength and radio wave arrival time from multiple Wi-Fi access points. Beacon positioning uses devices (beacon devices) that emit Bluetooth (registered trademark) signals to measure location ranges by determining signal strength and determine location using triangulation. UWB positioning uses impulse UWB (Ultra Wide Band) to determine distance from a source based on the propagation time of UWB signal pulses from three or more sources and determine location using triangulation.

The location information acquisition means (location identification means) may be an image recognition means (character recognition means) that can image-recognize gaming machine numbers (letters, numbers, symbols) in the image information (captured images) captured by the patrol camera 40 and acquire them as location information. In particular, since gaming machine numbers are often displayed in white or black, white or black letters (numbers) may be image-recognized. The patrol camera 40 can then transmit the captured images containing the gaming machine numbers, which serve as location information related to its own location, to the monitoring management device 70 via the recording/playback device 60. The monitoring management device 70 can then image-recognize the gaming machine numbers contained in the received image information (captured images) from the patrol camera 40 as location information using the location information acquisition means, acquire the location of the gaming machine corresponding to the gaming machine number, and determine that location as the (approximate) location of the patrol camera 40. The monitoring management device 70 stores the map locations of the gaming machines corresponding to the gaming machine numbers.

In addition, gaming machine numbers (gaming machine identification information) are often displayed on the gaming machines (gaming machines 200, 201) or on gaming information collection devices 20, 21 located in the vicinity (surroundings) of the gaming machines. For this reason, the monitoring management device 70 may acquire images of the gaming machines and their surroundings included in the captured images, perform image recognition of the gaming machine numbers in the acquired images, and use the gaming machine numbers as location information for the patrol camera 40. If there are multiple numbers in the captured image, the monitoring management device 70 may use the number displayed closest to the call lamp as the gaming machine number and use this as location information for the patrol camera 40.

The location information acquisition means (location identification means) may also be an image recognition means (character recognition means, etc.) that can image-recognize the model name (logo) of the gaming machine in the image information (captured image) captured by the patrol camera 40 and acquire this as location information. The model name of the gaming machine is also gaming machine identification information (gaming device identification information) that identifies the gaming machine (gaming device 200, 201). The monitoring management device 70 may then image-recognize the model name of the gaming machine contained in the image information (captured image) captured by the patrol camera 40 received from the recording/playback device 60 as location information using the location information acquisition means, acquire the location of the gaming machine corresponding to this model name, and determine this location as the location (approximate location) of the patrol camera 40. The monitoring management device 70 may also store the location on a map of the gaming machine corresponding to the model name.

[Imaging mode of surveillance camera]
4 is a diagram for explaining the imaging mode (imaging method) of the surveillance camera 30. Here, the imaging mode of the surveillance camera 30-1 is illustrated as an example, but the imaging modes of the other surveillance cameras are similar.

The multiple imaging modes include, for example, (A) wide-area imaging, (B) zoom imaging, (C) peripheral imaging 1, and (D) peripheral imaging 2. The spatial range captured in the captured image, or the number of gaming machines captured in the captured image, increases in the following order: zoom imaging < peripheral imaging 1 < peripheral imaging 2 < wide-area imaging, reaching a maximum with wide-area imaging and a minimum with zoom imaging.

In (A) wide-area imaging, the surveillance camera 30 captures images of the entire monitored area, capturing (photographing) the images of all 10 gaming machines in the monitored area. In wide-area imaging, the pan angle of the surveillance camera 30 is adjusted to approximately zero so that the surveillance camera 30 faces along the aisle toward the opposite side of the aisle. For example, surveillance camera 30-1 captures images of gaming machines numbered 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 located in area 1.

In the zoom imaging of (B), the surveillance camera 30 enlarges and captures an image of one target gaming machine designated by the surveillance management device 70, capturing (photographing) the image so that the image of the target gaming machine occupies the majority of the captured image. In the zoom imaging, the camera direction (pan angle, tilt angle) of the surveillance camera 30 is adjusted so that it faces the target gaming machine, and the image of the target gaming machine is positioned in the center of the captured image. For example, surveillance camera 30-1 can enlarge and zoom in on gaming machine number 3 as the target gaming machine among the gaming machines located in area 1.

In (C) Peripheral Imaging 1, the surveillance camera 30 captures (photographs) one gaming machine designated by the surveillance management device 70 as a target gaming machine and the gaming machines adjacent to it (surrounding area). The surveillance management device 70 adjusts the imaging conditions (camera direction, imaging magnification, etc.) so that the captured image includes both the image of the target gaming machine and the images of the gaming machines adjacent to it. For example, surveillance camera 30-1 captures the image of gaming machine number 3 and the gaming machines adjacent to it (gaming machines numbered 2 and 4) among the gaming machines located within area 1. Furthermore, for example, surveillance camera 30-1 captures the images of gaming machines numbered 1 and 2 located at the edge of area 1. Note that in Peripheral Imaging 1, the surveillance management device 70 may designate multiple gaming machines to be captured and adjust the imaging conditions so that images of the multiple gaming machines are included in the captured image. The surveillance camera 30 may then capture the images of the multiple gaming machines based on these imaging conditions.

In peripheral imaging 2 (D), the surveillance camera 30 captures (photographs) some of the gaming machines in the monitored area, located on both sides of the aisle in the width direction. The surveillance camera 30 captures images so that a predetermined number of gaming machines (here, six) in the monitored area are included in the captured image. In peripheral imaging 2, the pan angle of the surveillance camera 30 is adjusted to approximately zero so that the surveillance camera 30 faces along the aisle and faces the opposite side across the aisle. For example, surveillance camera 30-1 captures images of gaming machines numbered 2 to 4 and 12 to 14 located in area 1. Note that the tilt angle of surveillance camera 30-1 may be adjusted so that gaming machines numbered 5 and 15 are barely captured, or the tilt angle may be adjusted so that gaming machines numbered 5 and 15 are also captured.

In peripheral imaging 2 and wide-area imaging, the monitoring management device 70 may designate multiple gaming machines straddling both sides of the aisle as gaming machines to be imaged. Then, peripheral imaging 2 or wide-area imaging may be performed within a predetermined range (within the range of peripheral imaging 2, within the range of wide-area imaging) that includes the designated multiple gaming machines to be imaged. In peripheral imaging 2 and wide-area imaging, since most or the entire area is imaged, the gaming machines to be imaged do not need to be designated, and the monitoring management device 70 may set the pan angle of the monitoring camera 30 to approximately zero, and switch the tilt angle, imaging magnification, and angle of view depending on whether peripheral imaging 2 or wide-area imaging is being performed.

The surveillance management device 70 can select the imaging mode depending on the situation, such as the position information of the patrol camera 40. During normal operation of the surveillance camera 30 (normal imaging operation, basic operation, default operation), the surveillance management device 70 may select a specific imaging mode, such as wide-area imaging or peripheral imaging 2, or may switch between the imaging modes of the surveillance camera 30 in sequence according to a predetermined time schedule or program. During normal operation of the surveillance camera 30, the surveillance management device 70 may select zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1 for the surveillance camera 30, and may switch between the gaming machines to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (those included in the captured image) in sequence according to a predetermined time schedule or program. The surveillance management device 70 may also specify jet counters installed at the edge of the gaming machine island, in addition to the gaming machines to be imaged, as the imaging targets of the surveillance camera 30 in accordance with a predetermined time schedule or program.

[Example of surveillance camera operation (without patrol cameras)]
5 is a table illustrating an example of the operation of the monitoring management device 70 and the monitoring camera 30 when the patrol camera 40 (wearable camera) is not in use. In this case, there is no person (store staff member) carrying (wearing) the patrol camera 40 (wearable camera) in the amusement facility, and there is no patrol camera 40 that can move through the aisles in the portable amusement facility.

When the patrol camera 40 is not in use and the monitoring management device 70 recognizes (determines, judges) the occurrence or possibility of fraud involving a specific gaming machine based on fraudulent event information, the monitoring camera 30 monitoring the area where the specific gaming machine is located sets the specific gaming machine as the gaming machine to be monitored and captures an image of the monitored gaming machine using zoom imaging, treating it as the gaming machine to be imaged. Note that instead of zoom imaging, the monitoring camera 30 may also perform peripheral imaging 1, which captures the monitored gaming machine and the gaming machine next to it.

For example, if the monitoring management device 70 recognizes, based on the fraudulent event information, that fraud has occurred or is likely to occur involving gaming machine number 4, the monitoring camera 30-1 monitoring area 1 where gaming machine number 4 is located will capture an image of gaming machine number 4 (the gaming machine to be monitored and imaged) using zoom imaging. Similarly, if the monitoring management device 70 recognizes that fraud has occurred or is likely to occur involving gaming machine number 19, the monitoring camera 30-2 monitoring area 2 where gaming machine number 19 is located will capture an image of gaming machine number 19 using zoom imaging. Similarly, if the monitoring management device 70 recognizes that fraud has occurred or is likely to occur involving gaming machines number 14 and k, the monitoring cameras 30-1 and 30-i monitoring areas 1 and i where gaming machines number 14 and k are located, respectively, will capture an image of gaming machines number 14 and k using zoom imaging. Meanwhile, the surveillance camera 30, which monitors an area where no gaming machines where fraud has occurred or been detected as likely to have occurred, captures an image of the entire area using wide-area imaging.

[Example of surveillance camera operation (patrol cameras used)]
6A and 6B are tables that explain examples (Example 1, Example 2-1, Example 2-2) of the operation of the monitoring management device 70, the patrol camera 40, and the surveillance camera 30 when the patrol camera 40 is used. In this case, a person (store staff member) carrying the patrol camera 40 (wearable camera) is present in the amusement facility, and the patrol camera 40 can move through the aisles within the portable amusement facility. Note that while FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of the operation of surveillance camera 30-1, which monitors Area 1 out of the multiple surveillance cameras 30, the same applies to the operation of surveillance cameras 30-2 to 30-6.

In Example 1 shown in Figure 6A, the monitoring management device 70 recognizes (determines) that fraud has occurred or is likely to occur on gaming machine number 4 based on fraudulent event information, and recognizes (determines) gaming machine number 4 as a monitored gaming machine where an imaging factor may have occurred. In this case, when patrol camera 40 enters the vicinity of gaming machine number 4 and captures the surrounding area, surveillance camera 30-1 performs wide-area imaging of area 1 (Figure 4(A)) as normal operation, and is able to capture gaming machines other than gaming machine number 4 (the monitored gaming machine). In this way, patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of gaming machine number 4 or its surroundings, while surveillance camera 30-1 can capture images of gaming machines that patrol camera 40 is not responsible for capturing, thereby making effective use of surveillance camera 30-1 (monitoring resources). For example, the surrounding area may be area 1 monitored by surveillance camera 30-1 or an area including the gaming machine next to gaming machine number 4 (the gaming machine to be monitored). The surveillance management device 70 can determine that patrol camera 40 has entered the vicinity of gaming machine number 4 based on location information (gaming machine number) obtained from images captured by patrol camera 40 and location information obtained from the positioning system.

When the patrol camera 40 is not in the vicinity of gaming machine number 4, which has recognized the occurrence or possibility of fraud, the surveillance camera 30-1 performs zoom imaging of gaming machine number 4 (= the monitored gaming machine) as the gaming machine to be imaged. However, after the patrol camera 40 arrives in the vicinity of gaming machine number 4, the surveillance camera 30-1 performs wide-area imaging of area 1 as a normal operation. Furthermore, when there is no fraudulent event information and the surveillance management device 70 does not recognize the occurrence or possibility of fraud (when there are no abnormalities), the surveillance camera 30-1 also performs wide-area imaging of area 1 as a normal operation. Note that when there is no fraudulent event information (when there are no abnormalities), the imaging mode (imaging method) of the surveillance camera 30-1 may be selected depending on the status of the patrol camera 40, such as whether the patrol camera 40 is targeting a specific gaming machine or is moving, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 8 described below.

In example 2-1 shown in Figure 6B (I), if the monitoring management device 70 recognizes (determines) that fraud has occurred or the possibility of fraud involving gaming machine number 4 based on fraudulent event information, and determines that patrol camera 40 is monitoring gaming machine number 4, surveillance camera 30-1 will perform peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2 (Figures 4 (C) (D)) to capture images of gaming machine number 4 and its surroundings. In this way, patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of gaming machine number 4, and surveillance camera 30-1 can also capture images of gaming machines that patrol camera 40 is not responsible for capturing images of (i.e., gaming machines other than gaming machine number 4, for example, gaming machines numbered 3 and 5), so surveillance camera 30-1 can be used effectively. Furthermore, when the patrol camera 40 stops patrolling and gaming machine number 4 is recognized in the image captured by the patrol camera 40, the monitoring management device 70 can determine that the patrol camera 40 is monitoring gaming machine number 4.

When patrol camera 40 is not monitoring any gaming machines in area 1 (when there are no abnormalities), surveillance camera 30-1 performs zoom imaging of gaming machine number 4 (= the gaming machine to be monitored), which has been identified as having or potentially been found to be cheating. However, after patrol camera 40 begins monitoring gaming machine number 4, it performs peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2, which captures gaming machine number 4 and its surroundings.

When there is no fraudulent event information and the monitoring management device 70 does not recognize the occurrence or possibility of fraud (when there are no abnormalities), if it determines that patrol camera 40 is monitoring gaming machine number 4, surveillance camera 30-1 will perform peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2, capturing images of gaming machine number 4 and its surroundings. In this way, patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of gaming machine number 4, while surveillance camera 30-1 can also capture images of gaming machines not captured by patrol camera 40 (i.e., gaming machines other than gaming machine number 4, for example, gaming machines numbered 3 and 5), allowing for effective use of surveillance camera 30-1. Similarly, when there is no fraudulent event information and no abnormalities, if it determines that patrol camera 40 is not monitoring any gaming machines in area 1 (when there are no abnormalities), surveillance camera 30-1 will perform wide-area imaging of area 1 as normal operation.

In example 2-2 shown in Figure 6B (II), if the monitoring management device 70 recognizes (determines) the occurrence or possibility of fraud involving gaming machine number 4 based on fraudulent event information, and determines that patrol camera 40 has entered the vicinity of gaming machine number 4 and is monitoring gaming machine number 14, surveillance camera 30-1 will perform peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2 (Figures 4 (C) (D)) to capture images of gaming machine number 14 and its surroundings. In this way, patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of gaming machine number 14, and surveillance camera 30-1 can also capture images of gaming machines that patrol camera 40 is not responsible for capturing images of (i.e., gaming machines other than gaming machine number 14, for example, gaming machines numbered 13 and 15), so surveillance camera 30-1 can be used effectively. Furthermore, when the patrol camera 40 stops patrolling and gaming machine number 14 is recognized in an image captured by the patrol camera 40, the monitoring management device 70 can determine that the patrol camera 40 is monitoring the gaming machine with gaming machine number 14.

When patrol camera 40 is not monitoring any gaming machines in area 1 (when there are no abnormalities), surveillance camera 30-1 performs zoom imaging of gaming machine number 4 (= the gaming machine to be monitored) that has recognized the occurrence or possibility of fraud as the gaming machine to be imaged. However, after patrol camera 40 enters the vicinity of gaming machine number 4 and begins monitoring gaming machine number 14, it performs peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2, which images gaming machine number 14 (set as the new gaming machine to be imaged) and its surroundings.

When there is no fraudulent event information and the monitoring management device 70 does not recognize the occurrence or possibility of fraud (when there are no abnormalities), if it determines that the patrol camera 40 is monitoring gaming machine number 14, the monitoring camera 30-1 will perform peripheral imaging 1 or peripheral imaging 2, capturing images of gaming machine number 14 (set as the target gaming machine) and its surroundings. In this way, the patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of gaming machine number 14, while the monitoring camera 30-1 can also capture images of gaming machines not captured by the patrol camera 40 (i.e., gaming machines other than gaming machine number 14, such as gaming machines numbered 13 and 15), allowing for effective use of the monitoring camera 30-1. Similarly, when there is no fraudulent event information and no abnormalities, if it determines that the patrol camera 40 is not monitoring any gaming machines in area 1 (when there are no abnormalities), the monitoring camera 30-1 will perform wide-area imaging of area 1 as normal operation.

[Example of information and instruction flow within the gaming center system]
7 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of information and instructions within the amusement center system 100. The monitoring camera 30 will be described using the monitoring camera 30-1 monitoring area 1 as an example.

In the example of Figure 7 (A), the hall computer 10 recognizes an abnormality detected by the status change detection sensor or an irregular state or value for a gaming machine in Area 1, and transmits fraud event information as fraud cause information to the monitoring management device 70. The monitoring management device 70, via the camera controller 50, instructs the monitoring camera 30-1 to zoom in on the gaming machine in Area 1 where it has recognized the occurrence or possibility of fraud as the gaming machine to be imaged (= gaming machine to be monitored). Note that here, the patrol camera 40 is not in the vicinity of the gaming machine where it has recognized the occurrence or possibility of fraud, is not monitoring any gaming machine in Area 1 (no abnormalities), or is not in use.

In the example of FIG. 7(B), the hall computer 10 similarly transmits fraudulent event information to the monitoring management device 70 as fraudulent cause information. Furthermore, the patrol camera 40 monitors a specific gaming machine in Area 1 (see FIG. 6B) and transmits a captured image showing the gaming machine number of the specific gaming machine (i.e., captured image information including the gaming machine number) as monitoring information for the specific gaming machine to the monitoring management device 70 via the recording/playback device 60. Even if the monitoring management device 70 receives fraudulent event information (fraudulent cause information), it instructs the monitoring camera 30-1 via the camera controller 50 to take peripheral image 1 or peripheral image 2, which captures images of the specific gaming machine and its surroundings in Area 1 (see FIG. 6B). Here, the monitoring camera 30-1 may also be instructed to take a wide-area image of Area 1.

In the example of Figure 7(C), the hall computer 10 similarly transmits fraudulent event information to the monitoring management device 70 as fraud factor information. The monitoring management device 70 then sets the gaming machine (gaming machine involved in the fraud) identified in the fraudulent event information (fraud factor information) as the gaming machine to be monitored, and instructs the monitoring camera 30-1 via the camera controller 50 to perform zoom imaging of this gaming machine as the gaming machine to be imaged. The patrol camera 40 then enters Area 1, which is the periphery of the gaming machine to be monitored, and transmits its position information within Area 1 to the monitoring management device 70 via the recording and playback device 60. The monitoring management device 70 then instructs the monitoring camera 30-1 via the camera controller 50 to perform wide-area imaging of Area 1 (see Figure 6A).

[Specifying the image capture target of the monitoring management device]
8 is a flowchart showing an example of an imaging target designation process executed by the surveillance management device 70. The imaging target designation process is executed for each surveillance camera 30, and enables designation of an imaging target gaming machine that is the target of imaging by each surveillance camera 30. The imaging target designation process may be repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals (e.g., several hundred milliseconds or several seconds) using a timer interrupt or the like.

The surveillance management device 70 first determines whether there is any fraudulent event information regarding a gaming machine in the area monitored by the surveillance camera 30 that has been designated as the gaming machine to be imaged (S100). If there is no fraudulent event information (the result of S100 is "NO"), the processing from step A107 onwards is executed. If there is fraudulent event information (the result of S100 is "YES"), the gaming machine to be monitored (described above) identified by the fraudulent event information is set as the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (S101). Note that the gaming machine to be imaged may be changed depending on the determination result of step S103, described below, etc.

Next, the surveillance management device 70 executes a position information analysis process to analyze the position information of the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (= the gaming machine to be monitored) and the position information of the patrol camera 40 (S102), and determines whether or not the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (= the gaming machine to be monitored) is located in the vicinity of the patrol camera 40 (S103). Naturally, in step S103, it may also be determined conversely whether or not the patrol camera 40 is located in the vicinity of the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (here, the gaming machine to be monitored).

Specifically, the monitoring management device 70 first determines the gaming machine to be monitored, identified by its gaming machine number in the fraudulent event information (i.e., the gaming machine to be monitored that may have been the subject of an imaging incident), as the gaming machine to be imaged by the monitoring camera 30, and acquires location information regarding the location of the gaming machine to be imaged (i.e., the gaming machine to be monitored) on the map. The monitoring management device 70 also acquires location information regarding the location of the patrol camera 40 on the map from the positioning-based location information included in the imaging information from the patrol camera 40, or from location information corresponding to the gaming machine number recognized from the captured image in the imaging information. The monitoring management device 70 may then determine that the gaming machine to be imaged by the monitoring camera 30 is located near the patrol camera 40 if the distance on the map between the gaming machine to be imaged (i.e., the gaming machine to be monitored) located in the same aisle and the patrol camera 40 is less than a predetermined value. For example, the predetermined value is the distance between adjacent gaming machines or several times that distance. Alternatively, simply, if the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (= the gaming machine to be monitored) and the patrol camera 40 are in the same area, it may be determined that the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 is located near the patrol camera 40. Furthermore, the surveillance management device 70 may compare the gaming machine number recognized from the image captured by the patrol camera 40 with the gaming machine number of the gaming machine to be imaged (= the gaming machine to be monitored), and if both gaming machine numbers are from gaming machines in the same area or are adjacent to each other, it may be determined that the gaming machine imaged by the surveillance camera 30 is located near the patrol camera 40.

If there is no gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 in the vicinity of the patrol camera 40 (the result of S103 is "NO"), the surveillance management device 70 does not change the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 from the one set in step S101, and designates the gaming machine to be monitored identified by the fraudulent event information as the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 (S104). Then, the surveillance management device 70 instructs the surveillance camera 30 via the camera controller 50 to perform an imaging operation (first operation) using zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1 to capture at least the gaming machine to be imaged (= the gaming machine to be monitored). Thereafter, the imaging target designation process ends.

When the surveillance management device 70 determines that there is a gaming machine to be imaged near the patrol camera 40 (the result of S103 is "YES"), i.e., when it determines that the patrol camera 40 has arrived near the gaming machine to be imaged, it determines whether the surveillance camera 30 is in normal operation (S105). If the surveillance camera 30 is in normal operation (the result of S105 is "YES"), it ends the imaging target designation process. If the surveillance camera 30 is not in normal operation (the result of S105 is "NO"), it instructs the surveillance camera 30 to perform normal operation (a second operation different from the first operation) (S106), and ends the imaging target designation process.

As mentioned above, in normal operation, the surveillance camera 30 captures images in one specific imaging mode, either wide-area imaging or peripheral imaging 2, or performs zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1 by sequentially switching between gaming machines to be imaged within the monitored area according to a predetermined time schedule or predetermined program. Therefore, normal operation here is different from the operation (first operation) of performing zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1 of the monitored game and/or its surroundings.

In this way, when the surveillance camera 30 determines that the gaming machine being imaged by the surveillance camera 30 is located in the vicinity of the patrol camera 40 (or the patrol camera 40 is located in the vicinity of the gaming machine being imaged by the surveillance camera 30), it can change the gaming machine being imaged to one operating normally, and can specify a gaming machine other than the gaming machine being monitored as the gaming machine being imaged by the surveillance camera 30. The surveillance management device 70 can then instruct the surveillance cameras 30 that can image the gaming machine being monitored to operate normally, capturing images within a predetermined range that includes at least the gaming machine being imaged (zoom imaging, peripheral imaging 1, 2, wide-area imaging range). Therefore, while the patrol camera 40 is responsible for capturing images of the gaming machine being monitored or its surroundings, the surveillance camera 30 can also capture images of gaming machines that the patrol camera 40 is not responsible for capturing, allowing the surveillance cameras 30 and patrol cameras 40 to be effectively utilized as surveillance resources.

The imaging target designation process is executed repeatedly, so if the patrol camera 40 moves from the vicinity of the monitored gaming machine to another location while the surveillance camera 30 is operating normally (the result of S103 is "NO"), the surveillance camera 30 will capture an image of the monitored gaming machine that has left the surveillance of the patrol camera 40 (S104), and the surveillance camera 30 can take over monitoring the monitored gaming machine that is prone to fraud immediately after it has left the surveillance of the patrol camera 40.

Note that if the normal operation of the surveillance camera 30 is wide-area imaging, the processing of steps S100 to S106 corresponds to the situation in which fraud is determined in Figure 6A and the situation in Figure 7(C).

If there is no fraudulent event information regarding a gaming machine in the area monitored by the target surveillance camera 30 (the result of S100 is "NO"), the surveillance management device 70 executes an image information analysis process to analyze the image information captured by the patrol camera 40 (S107). Then, it determines whether the information to be captured, i.e., the gaming machine number (gaming machine identification information) of any gaming machine, is present in the image captured by the patrol camera 40 (S108). If the gaming machine number as the information to be captured is not present in the image captured (the result of S108 is "NO"), the imaging target designation process is terminated, and there is no change to the gaming machine to be captured by the surveillance camera 30.

If the gaming machine number, which is the information to be captured, is present in the captured image (the result of S108 is "YES"), the monitoring management device 70 determines whether the location information of the patrol camera 40 indicates that it is moving, i.e., whether the patrol camera 40 is currently moving (S109). If the patrol camera 40 is currently moving (the result of S109 is "YES"), the imaging target designation process is terminated, and there is no change in the gaming machine to be captured by the monitoring camera 30.

If the gaming machine number is present in the captured image (the result of S108 is "YES") and the patrol camera 40 is stopped (the result of S109 is "NO"), the surveillance management device 70 either excludes the gaming machine (target gaming machine) corresponding to the gaming machine number present in the captured image of the patrol camera 40 from the gaming machines to be captured by the surveillance camera 30, or instructs normal operation (S110). This allows the gaming machine to be changed to one other than the gaming machine whose gaming machine number appears in the captured image of the patrol camera 40, and a gaming machine different from the one captured and monitored by the patrol camera 40 can become the gaming machine to be captured by the surveillance camera 30. This reduces or eliminates the occurrence of capturing the same gaming machine by both the surveillance camera 30 and the patrol camera 40, allowing for more effective use of the surveillance camera 30 and the patrol camera 40. For example, the surveillance camera 30 can zoom in and capture images of the gaming machines in the area in sequence, excluding the gaming machine corresponding to the gaming machine number present in the image captured by the patrol camera 40.

Next, the monitoring management device 70 again determines whether the location information of the patrol camera 40 indicates that it is moving, i.e., whether the patrol camera 40 is currently moving (S111). If the patrol camera 40 is not currently moving (the result of S111 is "NO"), the processing of step S111 is repeated and the device waits. If the patrol camera 40 is currently moving (the result of S111 is "YES"), the gaming machine excluded in step S110 is re-designated as a gaming machine to be imaged by the monitoring camera 30 (designated for image capture) (S112). As a result, if the patrol camera 40 moves to another location, the monitoring camera 30 can again image the gaming machine that has fallen out of the monitoring of the patrol camera 40, allowing the monitoring camera 30 to take over monitoring of gaming machines that are prone to fraud immediately after they have left the monitoring of the patrol camera 40. The imaging target designation processing then ends.

The above imaging target designation process allows the gaming machine to be imaged by the surveillance camera 30 to be designated based on the location information of the patrol camera 40 without requiring manual input of information, thereby enabling effective use of the surveillance camera 30 (monitoring resource). For example, if a store staff member carrying a patrol camera 40 (portable imaging device) is detected near the gaming machine to be monitored, the camera can infer that fraud has occurred and immediately designate a gaming machine other than the gaming machine to be monitored as the gaming machine to be imaged for the surveillance camera 30 (fixed imaging device) in the area where the imaging trigger occurred. The surveillance camera 30 in the area where the imaging trigger occurred is then instructed to capture the gaming machine to be imaged and/or its surroundings, enabling effective use of the surveillance camera 30 (monitoring resource).

In the imaging target designation process of FIG. 8, if a gaming machine to be monitored (S101) identified by the fraudulent event information is present, the monitoring management device 70 can notify store staff of the gaming machine to be monitored by voice or other means via communication means (wireless communication means) such as an intercom device (intercommunication device). This allows store staff and the patrol camera 40 they carry to quickly reach the vicinity of the gaming machine to be monitored, shortening the time lag between the issuance of fraudulent event information and the instruction to normal operation of the monitoring camera 30 (S106). Furthermore, if a gaming machine to be monitored (S101) identified by the fraudulent event information is present but the patrol camera 40 spends only a short time in the vicinity of the gaming machine to be monitored (i.e., the time for which the determination result of S103 is "YES" consecutively is short), the monitoring management device 70 can issue an alert (warning) to store staff by voice or other means via communication means (wireless communication means) such as an intercom device, and may also record the issuance of the alert.

[Actions and Effects of the Embodiments]
The gaming center system 100 according to the above embodiment includes a monitoring management unit capable of instructing the operation of a fixedly installed imaging device (e.g., the monitoring camera 30). The fixed imaging device is capable of capturing images of one or more of a plurality of gaming devices (e.g., gaming machines corresponding to gaming machine numbers 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 in area 1) installed in a predetermined area (e.g., area 1). The monitoring management unit (e.g., the monitoring management unit 150 including the monitoring management device 70 and the hall computer 10) recognizes gaming devices within the predetermined area that may have been subject to an imaging trigger (cause of imaging) based on game information (e.g., door opening signal, winning ball signal, special prize signal) output from each gaming device or the detection results of a status change detection unit (e.g., a status change detection sensor) capable of detecting status changes in each gaming device. The monitoring management means can instruct the operation of the fixed imaging device based on gaming device identification information (e.g., gaming machine number) that can identify the installation location of the gaming device to be monitored and portable imaging device position information (e.g., position information obtained by positioning, gaming machine number in the captured image) that relates to the location of the portable imaging device (e.g., patrol camera 40, wearable camera). For example, the monitoring management means can instruct imaging conditions such as the orientation and imaging magnification of the fixed imaging device, and/or the gaming device number of the gaming device to be imaged that is the target of imaging by the fixed imaging device.

With this type of gaming center system 100, monitoring resources (monitoring resources: fixed imaging devices and portable imaging devices) can be effectively utilized based on the gaming device identification information (e.g., gaming machine number) of the gaming device to be monitored and portable imaging device location information regarding the location of the portable imaging device (e.g., patrol camera 40) without requiring human input of information.

In addition, because portable imaging devices are carried by store staff and can be moved around freely, they can be used as a surveillance resource to patrol and monitor the gaming facility. For example, portable imaging device location information can be obtained using images captured by the portable imaging device while patrolling and the measured locations, and gaming device identification information for gaming devices to be monitored can be obtained using gaming information (gaming data) output from each gaming device and collected by the surveillance management means. By analyzing and processing the gaming device identification information and portable imaging device location information of gaming devices to be monitored, the surveillance management means can control fixed imaging devices (e.g., surveillance cameras 30) as surveillance resources to be directed toward locations where increased surveillance is required. In this way, surveillance resources can be utilized more effectively.

In addition, in an embodiment, when the monitoring management means determines, based on the gaming device identification information and portable imaging device location information of the gaming device to be monitored, that the gaming device to be monitored is in the vicinity (surroundings) of the portable imaging device (e.g., patrol camera 40) (or when it determines that the portable imaging device is in the vicinity of the gaming device to be monitored), it instructs a fixed imaging device (e.g., surveillance camera 30) capable of capturing images of the gaming device to perform an operation that enables it to capture images of a gaming device other than the gaming device to be monitored.

Therefore, when a gaming device to be monitored is located near the portable imaging device, the portable imaging device can capture images of the gaming device to be monitored, while the fixed imaging device can capture images of gaming devices other than the gaming device to be monitored, allowing for effective use of the monitoring resources of the portable imaging device and the fixed imaging device. Furthermore, when a gaming device to be monitored is not located near the portable imaging device, the fixed imaging device (e.g., surveillance camera 30) can capture images of the gaming device to be monitored.

In addition, in an embodiment, if the monitoring management means determines, based on the gaming device identification information and portable imaging device location information of the gaming device to be monitored, that the gaming device to be monitored is in the vicinity (surroundings) of the portable imaging device (e.g., patrol camera 40) (or if the portable imaging device is determined to be in the vicinity of the gaming device to be monitored), it can designate a gaming device other than the gaming device to be monitored as the gaming device to be imaged. The monitoring management means then instructs a fixed imaging device (e.g., surveillance camera 30) capable of imaging the gaming device to capture an image within a predetermined range that includes at least the gaming device to be imaged (e.g., instructs zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1). For example, the monitoring management means can designate a gaming device other than the gaming device to be monitored as the gaming device to be imaged in accordance with a predetermined time schedule or a predetermined program, and instructs zoom imaging or peripheral imaging 1 to capture at least the gaming device to be imaged.

In this way, when it is determined that a gaming device to be monitored is in the vicinity (surroundings) of a portable imaging device (e.g., patrol camera 40), the surveillance management means can designate a gaming device other than the gaming device to be monitored as a gaming device to be imaged by a fixed imaging device (e.g., surveillance camera 30). Therefore, when a gaming device to be monitored is in the vicinity of the portable imaging device, the portable imaging device can capture images of the gaming device to be monitored, while the fixed imaging device can capture images of gaming devices other than the gaming device to be monitored, allowing for effective use of the surveillance resources of the portable imaging device and the fixed imaging device. Furthermore, when a gaming device to be monitored is not in the vicinity of the portable imaging device, the fixed imaging device can capture images of the gaming device to be monitored.

In addition, in an embodiment, when the monitoring management means determines, based on the gaming device identification information and portable imaging device location information of the gaming device to be monitored, that no portable imaging device is present in the vicinity of the gaming device to be monitored, it designates the gaming device to be monitored as the gaming device to be imaged, and instructs the fixed imaging device to perform a first operation to at least image the gaming device to be imaged. For example, the first operation is an operation to zoom in and image the gaming device to be monitored.

Therefore, if there is no portable imaging device near the gaming device to be monitored, a fixed imaging device can be used as a monitoring resource to capture images of the gaming device to be monitored.

In addition, in an embodiment, when the fixed imaging device is imaging the gaming device to be imaged and it is determined based on the portable imaging device location information that a portable imaging device is present near the gaming device to be imaged, the monitoring management means instructs the fixed imaging device to perform a second operation different from the first operation. For example, the second operation is wide-area imaging within a specified area, or an operation of sequentially zooming in and imaging gaming machines within a specified area according to a specified time schedule or a specified program.

Therefore, if a portable imaging device is present near a gaming device to be imaged, the portable imaging device can capture images of the gaming device to be imaged in place of the fixed imaging device. This allows the fixed imaging device to perform a second operation that is different from the first operation of capturing images of the gaming device to be imaged, thereby making effective use of the fixed imaging device as a monitoring resource.

In addition, in an embodiment, the monitoring management means acquires an image of the area around the gaming device contained in an image captured by the portable imaging device, performs image recognition of the gaming device identification information in the acquired image, and uses the gaming device identification information as portable imaging device location information.

This means that location information for a portable imaging device can be obtained from images captured by the device without using a positioning system, leading to cost savings.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of its technical concept, and it is clear that these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, it is possible to combine multiple embodiments and multiple variations. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent in meaning and content to the claims.

10 Hall computer 20 Gaming information collection device 21 Gaming information collection device 30 Surveillance camera (fixed imaging device)
40 Patrol camera (portable imaging device)
50 Camera controller 60 Recording and playback device 70 Monitoring management device 80 Monitoring monitor 100 Gaming center system 200 Gaming device (gaming machine)
201 Gaming device (gaming machine)

Claims (5)

In an amusement facility system having a monitoring management means capable of instructing the operation of a fixed imaging device,
The fixed imaging device
Capable of capturing images of one or more of a plurality of gaming devices installed in a predetermined area;
The monitoring and management means
Based on the game information output from each gaming device or the detection result of a status change detection means capable of detecting a status change of each gaming device, a gaming device to be monitored that may have been the subject of an image capture within the predetermined area is recognized;
An amusement facility system characterized in that the operation of the fixed imaging device can be instructed based on gaming device identification information that can identify the installation location of the gaming device to be monitored and portable imaging device position information regarding the location of a portable portable imaging device. The monitoring and management means
When it is determined that the gaming device to be monitored is located in the vicinity of the portable imaging device based on the gaming device identification information of the gaming device to be monitored and the portable imaging device location information,
2. The gaming center system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed image capturing device capable of capturing an image of the gaming device to be monitored is instructed to perform an operation to capture an image of a gaming device other than the gaming device to be monitored. The monitoring and management means
When it is determined that the portable imaging device is not present in the vicinity of the gaming device to be monitored based on the gaming device identification information of the gaming device to be monitored and the portable imaging device location information,
2. The gaming facility system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming device to be monitored is a gaming device to be imaged, and the fixed image capturing device is instructed to perform a first operation of at least capturing an image of the gaming device to be imaged. The monitoring and management means
When the fixed imaging device is imaging the imaging target gaming device, if it is determined that the portable imaging device is present in the vicinity of the imaging target gaming device based on the portable imaging device position information,
4. The game center system according to claim 3, wherein a second operation different from the first operation is instructed to the fixed imaging device. The monitoring and management means
acquiring an image of the vicinity of the gaming device included in the captured image taken by the portable imaging device, and performing image recognition of gaming device identification information in the acquired image;
4. The gaming center system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming device identification information is used as the portable imaging device position information.