Prize management system, prize storage unit, and prize management method in prize storage unit

Abstract

To provide a prize management system, a prize storage unit, and a prize management method in a prize storage unit capable of reducing a burden related to the prize management.SOLUTION: A prize storage unit 1 included in a prize management system 100 includes a storage area 2C for prizes P. The prizes P are stored in the storage area 2C through an entry and exit port 2A, and the prizes P are taken out from the storage area 2C through the entry and exit port 2A. The prize management system 100 includes an imaging part 19 for imaging the storage area 2C, determination means for determining taking-out of the prizes P from the storage area 2C on the basis of a result of imaging by the imaging part 19 at a plurality of timings, and a management part for managing stocks of the prizes P in the storage area 2C on the basis of a result of the determination by the determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a prize management system, a prize storage, and a prize management method in the prize storage.

Background Art

[0002] The game medium processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a prize management device that is installed together with a prize exchange counter in a game parlor and performs an exchange process between game media such as pachinko balls and prizes, and a prize payout device that pays out special prizes. General prizes other than special prizes are stored in a dedicated prize shelf and taken out by a store clerk in the game parlor and handed over to game players.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of prizes taken out from the prize shelf by a person's hand like general prizes, currently, it is necessary for a store clerk to regularly check the inventory of prizes in the prize shelf, update the inventory every time prizes are taken in or out, and be present when the store clerk hands over prizes to game players. Therefore, the burden on the store clerk for prize management is large.

[0005] This invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a prize management system, a prize storage, and a prize management method in the prize storage that can reduce the burden related to prize management.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention provides a prize management system including a prize storage with a prize storage area, an imaging unit that images the storage area, a determination means that determines the removal of prizes from the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at a plurality of timings, and a management unit that manages the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the determination result of the determination means.

[0007] Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the determination means identifies the number of prizes taken out from the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at a plurality of timings.

[0008] Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the determination means identifies the types and numbers of prizes taken out from the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at a plurality of timings.

[0009] Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit is set to cover all of the storage area in the prize storage.

[0010] Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the prize storage includes a plurality of the storage areas. And the imaging unit is set to cover all of the storage areas in the prize storage.

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention provides a prize storage having a prize storage area, an imaging unit that images the storage area, a determination means that determines the removal of prizes from the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at a plurality of timings, and a management unit that manages the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the determination result of the determination means.

[0012] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is a prize management method in a prize storage cabinet having a prize storage area, the method including an imaging step of imaging the storage area, a determination step of determining the removal of a prize from the storage area based on imaging results obtained by imaging the storage area at a plurality of timings, and a management step of managing the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the determination result in the determination step, thereby providing a prize management method in a prize storage cabinet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prize storage cabinet 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side. The prize storage cabinet 1 is installed, for example, in a manned or unmanned prize exchange corner in a game arcade such as a pachinko parlor. The prize storage cabinet 1 stores prizes P (see FIG. 2) such as snacks, juices, and cigarettes, which are called general prizes. The prize storage cabinet 1 includes a housing 2, a door 3 attached to the housing 2, a display operation unit 4 and a signal display lamp 5 attached to the upper surface of the housing 2 as an example of a notification unit.

[0015] Note that the left - right direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the left - right direction X of the prize storage 1, the direction substantially orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the front - back direction Y of the prize storage 1, and the up - down direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 coincides with the up - down direction Z of the prize storage 1. The left - right direction X and the front - back direction Y are included in the horizontal direction. The left - right direction X includes the left side X1 and the right side X2, the front - back direction Y includes the front side Y1 that coincides with the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and the rear side Y2 that coincides with the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1, and the up - down direction Z includes the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. In the figures after FIG. 2 where there is no illustration of the left - right direction X or the up - down direction Z, the left - right direction of that figure is the same as the left - right direction X, and the up - down direction of that figure is the same as the up - down direction Z (see FIG. 5 etc.).

[0016] The housing 2 is formed in a vertically long box shape. The housing 2 has a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, a pair of left - right side walls 13, and a rear wall 14. The top wall 11 is in a rectangular plate shape. The bottom wall 12 may be in a plate shape similar to the top wall 11 or may be a thick rectangular parallelepiped in the up - down direction Z. Each of the pair of side walls 13 is in a rectangular plate shape long in the up - down direction Z. The side wall 13 on the left side X1 is installed between the left ends of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, and the side wall 13 on the right side X2 is installed between the right ends of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The rear wall 14 is in a rectangular plate shape long in the up - down direction Z, is installed between the rear ends of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, and is also installed between the rear ends of the pair of side walls 13. An entrance / exit 2A bordered by the front ends of the top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, and each of the pair of side walls 13 is formed on the front surface of the housing 2 (see also FIG. 2). The entrance / exit 2A communicates with the internal space 2B surrounded by the top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, and the pair of side walls 13 in the housing 2. Both the entrance / exit 2A and the internal space 2B are vertically long.

[0017] The housing 2 also has one or a plurality of partitions 15. The partition 15 is plate-shaped like the top wall 11. In the present embodiment, as an example, three partitions 15 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z in the internal space 2B. Thereby, the internal space 2B is divided into a plurality (specifically, four) of storage areas 2C arranged in the vertical direction Z. In these storage areas 2C, the sizes such as the width in the left-right direction X, the depth in the front-back direction Y, and the height in the vertical direction Z may be the same or different. In the present embodiment, the sizes of all four storage areas 2C are the same.

[0018] Hereinafter, the four storage areas 2C may be distinguished by the storage area No with parentheses, such as storage area 2C(1), storage area 2C(2), storage area 2C(3), and storage area 2C(4) in order from the upper side Z1. The storage area No is an example of identification information for specifying each storage area 2C, and is described at a position that is easy to see in the corresponding storage area 2C. The portion that partitions each storage area 2C from the lower side Z2 is called a placement portion 2D. The placement portion 2D is constituted by the upper surface of the partition 15 or the bottom wall 12. A prize P is stored in each storage area 2C and placed on the placement portion 2D. The type of the prize P stored in each storage area 2C may be determined in advance, or the set position for each type of the prize P on the placement portion 2D may be determined in advance. Conversely, various types of prizes P may be randomly stored in each storage area 2C. Each storage area 2C may be provided with a heat preservation function or a cold preservation function according to the stored prize P.

[0019] The door 3 is a vertically long plate-shaped member having a size capable of closing the entrance / exit 2A of the housing 2. The right end of the door 3 is connected to the housing 2 via a hinge 16 and is rotatable around the hinge 16. The door 3 shown in FIG. 1 is in the closed position where the entrance / exit 2A is closed. A handle 3A is provided at the left end of the door 3. When the user grasps the handle 3A and rotates the door 3 in the closed position counterclockwise in plan view, the door 3 is arranged in the open position and exposes the entire area of the entrance / exit 2A to the front side Y1, so that all the internal spaces 2B are opened from the entrance / exit 2A to the front side Y1 (see FIG. 2). The housing 2 is provided with a door sensor 17 (see FIG. 3) for detecting whether the door 3 is in the closed position or not.

[0020] A store clerk or the like of the game parlor opens the door 3 to the open position and stores the prize P in each storage area 2C through the entrance / exit 2A. In this case, the entrance / exit 2A is the entrance of the prize P. As will be described later, the game player opens the door 3 to the open position and takes out the prize P from each storage area 2C through the entrance / exit 2A. In this case, the entrance / exit 2A is the exit of the prize P. In the present embodiment, the entrance / exit 2A serves as both the entrance and the exit, but the entrance and the exit may be provided separately. Note that the door 3 when rotated from the closed position to a state where there is no hindrance to the putting in and taking out of the prize P to / from the storage area 2C is in the open position at any rotation angle. Also, the entrance / exit 2A is divided into a plurality for each storage area 2C, and accordingly, a plurality of doors 3 may be provided corresponding to the plurality of storage areas 2C.

[0021] The housing 2 is provided with an electric door lock mechanism 18 (see FIG. 3) for locking or unlocking the door 3 in the closed position. As the door lock mechanism 18, an electromagnetic lock or the like can be used. In the prize storage cabinet 1 in the standby state, the door 3 is always locked in the closed position. Also, the door 3 may be biased by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring so as to always return to the closed position. Further, the door 3 may be automatically locked when rotated to the closed position. At least one of the door 3, the side wall 13, and the rear wall 14 may be configured to be transparent or translucent, for example, by being covered with glass, so that a user such as a store clerk or a game player can visually recognize the inside of the storage area 2C from outside the housing 2.

[0022] It is shown that the display operation unit 4 is fixed to the top wall 11 of the housing 2. The display operation unit 4 is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel. The display operation unit 4 may be divided into a display unit and an operation unit. The same applies to other display operation units described later.

[0023] An example of the signal display lamp 5 includes a base portion 5A fixed to the top wall 11 of the housing 2 and one or a plurality of light emitting portions 5B laminated on the base portion 5A. In this embodiment, in the signal display lamp 5 in the standby state, all the light emitting portions 5B are turned off.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the prize storage 1 with the door 3 opened. In the housing 2 of the prize storage 1, for example, an imaging unit 19 constituted by a camera or the like is provided at the upper end of the entrance / exit 2A. The imaging range of the imaging unit 19 is set to cover all the storage areas 2C inside the housing 2. For this purpose, a plurality of imaging units 19 may be provided.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the prize management system 100 including the prize storage 1. The prize storage 1 further includes a control unit 20, an issuing unit 21, a reading unit 22, a storage unit 23, and an I / F unit 24. The control unit 20 is constituted by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and incorporates a timer or the like (the same applies to other control units described later).

[0026] Each of the display operation unit 4, the signal display lamp 5, the door sensor 17, the door lock mechanism 18, the imaging unit 19, the issuing unit 21, the reading unit 22, the storage unit 23, and the I / F unit 24 is electrically connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 controls the display of the display operation unit 4 and accepts operations on the display operation unit 4 by store clerks or game players. The control unit 20 controls the light emission of the light emitting portion 5B of the signal display lamp 5. The detection result of the door sensor 17, that is, the information on the open / closed state of the door 3, is input to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 locks or unlocks the door 3 by controlling the operation of the door lock mechanism 18.

[0027] The imaging result of the imaging unit 19, that is, the image data representing each storage area 2C, is input to the control unit 20. By analyzing the imaging result of the imaging unit 19, the control unit 20 can recognize the presence or absence of the prize P in each storage area 2C, the position of each individual prize P present, and the type and number of prizes P present. The information (information serving as a template) necessary for recognizing the type of the prize P is stored in advance in the storage unit 23. Further, the control unit 20 can recognize the type and number of prizes P put in and taken out of each storage area 2C by comparing the imaging results of the imaging unit 19 at a plurality of timings such as before and after the opening and closing of the door 3. In this way, the control unit 20 and the imaging unit 19 function as an example of a detection unit that detects the putting in and taking out of the prize P for each storage area 2C. In other words, the control unit 20 functions as a determination means for determining the taking out of the prize P from each storage area 2C. With such a configuration using image recognition, the prize P can be randomly stored in each storage area 2C, so that the prize storage cabinet 1 including the storage area 2C can be simply configured.

[0028] As another example of the detection unit, a configuration using a weight sensor or a configuration using an RFID sensor can be cited. When using a weight sensor, the placement unit 2D of each storage area 2C is partitioned into a plurality of individual areas 2E in which one prize P of a predetermined type is arranged (refer to the lowermost placement unit 2D in FIG. 2), and a weight sensor is installed in each individual area 2E. The weight sensor detects the presence or absence of the prize P by detecting the weight in the individual area 2E where the weight sensor itself is installed. When using an RFID sensor, an RFID tag is attached to each prize P, and the weight sensor detects the putting in and taking out of the prize P by detecting the RFID tag of the prize P being put in and taken out. Instead of the RFID tag, a code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode may be attached to each prize P, and a sensor for reading this code may be used as a detection unit instead of the RFID sensor.

[0029] The issuing unit 21 is constituted by a printer and prints and issues receipts. The receipt issuing port 25 is provided, for example, around the display operation unit 4 (see FIG. 1).

[0030] The reading unit 22 is provided, for example, around the display operation unit 4 (see FIG. 1). Regarding the reading unit 22, a receipt (a prize exchange receipt different from the receipt issued by the issuing unit 21) on which information such as the number of game media obtained by playing a game on a gaming table such as a pachinko machine is described is issued to the player by a counting device (not shown) that counts the game media. A code representing information such as the number of game media may be described on this receipt. The number of game media may be associated with a card issued to the player. A card of a player (so-called member customer) who has registered as a member at a game parlor is sometimes called a membership card, and a card of another player (so-called general customer) is sometimes called a general card.

[0031] When the player holds a recording medium such as a receipt (prize exchange receipt) or a card over the reading unit 22, the reading unit 22 reads the number of game media and the like from these recording media. In the case of a card, for example, a card insertion slot (not shown) is provided around the display operation unit 4, and when the player inserts the card into the insertion slot, the reading unit 22 may read the card. Instead of a receipt or a card, a communication terminal such as a smartphone owned by the player can be used. When the player holds the communication terminal over the reading unit 22, the reading unit 22 may read the number of game media and the like from the communication terminal.

[0032] The storage unit 23 stores various information (the same applies to other storage units described later). In particular, the storage unit 23 stores a table T (see FIG. 4) that summarizes the inventory quantity and the like for each type of prize P in each storage area 2C. In the table T, the type (prize name) and inventory quantity of the prize P in each storage area 2C are stored in association with the aforementioned storage area No. The control unit 20 updates the inventory quantity and the like based on the detection result of the incoming and outgoing of the prize P for each storage area 2C using the imaging result of the imaging unit 19. In this way, the control unit 20 and the storage unit 23 function as an example of a management unit that manages the inventory of the prize P in each storage area 2C based on the detection result.

[0033] The I / F unit 24 is an interface for the control unit 20 to communicate with external devices other than the prize storage cabinet 1, and is connected to a network N constructed in the game store (the same applies to other I / F units described later). The prize management system 100 includes, as an example of an external device, a management device 31, a POS 32, and a prize payout device 33.

[0034] The management device 31 may be configured by being divided into a plurality of servers or the like, but in this embodiment, it will be described as existing only one. The management device 31 includes a control unit 35, an I / F unit 36, and a storage unit 37 that are electrically connected to the control unit 35. The control unit 35 may function as an example of a detection unit instead of the control unit 20 of the prize storage cabinet 1. In that case, based on the imaging result of the imaging unit 19, it detects the incoming and outgoing of the prize P for each storage area 2C. The aforementioned table T may be stored in the storage unit 37. In this case, the control unit 35 and the storage unit 37 may function as an example of a management unit that manages the inventory of the prize P in each storage area 2C based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0035] Each of the POS 32 and the prize payout device 33 can communicate with the prize storage 1, the management device 31, etc. by being connected to the network N. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the POS 32 and the prize payout device 33. FIG. 5 shows a configuration in which the POS 32 and the prize payout device 33 are integrated, but they may be arranged separately and connected to each other communicably. A display operation unit 41 is provided on the front surface of the POS 32, that is, in the front area. On the front surface of the POS 32, a card entrance / exit 32A through which a player's card is inserted and removed and a receipt issuing port 32B through which a receipt is issued are formed. The prize payout device 33 is a device that pays out a card-shaped prize Q called a special prize. On the upper surface of the prize payout device 33, a payout port 33A and a shutter 42 that opens and closes the payout port 33A are provided. When a player or a store clerk who has received a player's request inserts a card into the card entrance / exit 32A of the POS 32 and operates the display operation unit 41, the prize payout device 33 pays out the types and numbers of prizes Q desired by the player from the payout port 33A in exchange for the game media associated with the card.

[0036] When a player wishes to exchange their game media for prize P, they cause the above-described card or receipt (strictly speaking, the code described on the prize exchange receipt) to be read by the reading unit 22 of the prize storage 1 (see FIG. 1). The reading result of the reading unit 22 is input to the control unit 20 of the prize storage 1. In this case, the control unit 20 and the reading unit 22 function as an example of a reception unit that receives a request for a transaction regarding the prize P in the storage area 2C, and in particular, it is considered that a request for a withdrawal transaction regarding the retrieval of the prize P has been received. Note that the player may operate the display operation unit 4 for the withdrawal request, and in this case, the display operation unit 4 also functions as an example of the reception unit.

[0037] The control unit 20 that has received a request for a redemption transaction displays prize information regarding the types and quantities of redeemable prizes P among the prizes P existing in the storage area 2C on the display operation unit 4. Note that the type of redeemable prize P is not limited to one type, and the quantity of the prize P is not limited to one. Therefore, it may be possible to take out a plurality of prizes P in a combination desired by the player from among a plurality of types of prizes P. Further, the control unit 20 functions as an example of a permission unit that permits the taking out of the prize P from the storage area 2C, thereby releasing the lock of the door 3 by the door lock mechanism 18. Note that the control unit 20 may release the lock of the door 3 in response to an instruction from the control unit 35 of the management device 31. In this case, the control unit 35 may be regarded as an example of the permission unit.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the display operation unit 4 in a state where information regarding the types, quantities, and positions of redeemable prizes P, that is, the above-described prize information, is displayed. In FIG. 6, as an example, it shows a state where prize information indicating that any one of two confectioneries stored in the storage area 2C(1), two juices stored in the storage area 2C(2), and one cigarette stored in the storage area 2C(3) can be taken out is displayed on the display operation unit 4.

[0039] A player who has seen the display content of the operation unit 4 opens the door 3, identifies the storage area 2C for storing the desired prize P by the storage area No described in each storage area 2C, and takes out the desired prize P from the storage area 2C. Then, as described above, the control unit 20 detects the removal of the prize P from the storage area 2C based on the imaging result of the imaging unit 19 (imaging step, determination step). When the control unit 20 detects the removal of the prize P, after the detection, it functions as an example of a confirmation unit, and based on the prize information displayed on the display operation unit 4 and the detection result, it confirms whether the prize P targeted for the removal transaction matches the actual prize P taken out from the storage area 2C. In this way, in the case of a removal transaction, the player can take out the prize P from the prize storage 1 without the presence of a store clerk. In particular, for the player, it is possible to reach the prize storage 1 along the conventional flow line from the game corner where the gaming table is installed to the prize exchange corner, and freely take out the prize P from the prize storage 1, thus improving convenience. Note that the control unit 35 of the management device 31 may function as a confirmation unit instead of the control unit 20.

[0040] When the control unit 20 confirms a mismatch between the prize P targeted for the removal transaction and the prize P taken out from the storage area 2C, it may notify by displaying on the display operation unit 4 that the taken-out prize P is incorrect and prompting the return of the taken-out prize P. The player who sees this display can return the incorrectly taken-out prize P to the storage area 2C and take out the prize P that should originally be taken out.

[0041] If the door 3 is closed to the closed position while the incorrect prize P is taken out, the control unit 20 causes the light emitting unit 5B of the signal display lamp 5 to emit light in a predetermined light emission pattern, thereby notifying the signal display lamp 5 of the inconsistency. The store clerk who receives the notification, that is, the store clerk who sees the light emission of the light emitting unit 5B, can rush to the prize storage 1 and respond. With this configuration, the store clerk does not have to be present when the player takes out the prize P from the prize storage 1 during normal times, so the burden on the management of the prize P can be reduced. In addition to the notification by the signal display lamp 5, there may also be a notification by notifying the in-come (radio) carried by the store clerk.

[0042] The store clerk who rushes to the scene after receiving the notification listens to the situation from the player remaining on the spot or checks the content of the prize exchange receipt of the player, and then causes the dedicated card (ID card, etc.) for the store clerk to be read by the reading unit 22, and operates the display operation unit 4 to select a return transaction regarding the return of the prize P. Since the control unit 20 that has received the request for the return transaction releases the lock of the door 3, the store clerk or the player opens the door 3 and returns the prize P to the storage area 2C. At that time, the control unit 20 may display information regarding the storage area 2C that is the return destination and the return position in the storage area 2C on the display operation unit 4. When the control unit 20 detects that the prize P targeted for the return transaction has been returned to the storage area 2C, in the table T of the storage unit 23, the inventory count of the returned prize P is added and updated, and among this inventory count, the breakdown of the returned prize P is stored in the table T as a reference (refer to the reference for the snacks in FIG. 4) (management step). The player who has returned the prize P can take out the prize P that should have been taken out originally.

[0043] When the store clerk rushes to the scene, the player who is the party may have already left. Therefore, an image of the player who has taken out the incorrect prize P may be captured by the imaging unit 19 or another imaging unit (not shown), and the imaging data that is the imaging result may be transmitted to the management device 31 together with the content of this take-out transaction and information on the prize P taken out by mistake, and stored in the storage unit 37.

[0044] When the control unit 20 confirms the match between the prize P targeted for the retrieval transaction and the prize P retrieved from the storage area 2C, it subtracts and updates the inventory quantity of the retrieved prize P in the table T (see FIG. 4) in the storage unit 23. Then, when the player closes the door 3 and the door 3 is locked in the closed position, the current transaction ends. Note that the control unit 20 may reconfirm the match or mismatch between the prize P targeted for the retrieval transaction and the actual prize P retrieved from the storage area 2C also at the timing of locking the door 3.

[0045] A player who has retrieved the prize P that should originally be retrieved may, for example, during the business hours of the day, return the prize P through a return transaction and receive another prize having the same value. In that case, the player causes the card or the prize exchange receipt to be read by the reading unit 22 of the prize storage cabinet 1 and then operates the display operation unit 4 to select the return of the prize P. The control unit 20 that has received the request for the return transaction regarding the return of the prize P in this way causes the light emitting unit 5B of the signal display lamp 5 to emit light in a predetermined light emission pattern prior to the return of the prize P to the storage area 2C, thereby notifying the signal display lamp 5 of the mismatch. Therefore, the clerk who has received the notification can rush to the prize storage cabinet 1 and respond for the return of the prize P.

[0046] Specifically, the store clerk who rushed over after receiving the notification listens to the situation from the player or checks the content of the prize exchange receipt of the player, and then causes their own card to be read by the card reading unit 22, and operates the display operation unit 4 to select to continue the return transaction. Then, since the control unit 20 releases the lock of the door 3, the store clerk or the player opens the door 3 and returns the prize P to the storage area 2C. At this time, the control unit 20 may display information regarding the return destination storage area 2C and the return position in the storage area 2C on the display operation unit 4. If there is no designation of the return destination, the prize P may be returned to an empty space in any of the storage areas 2C. When the control unit 20 detects that the prize P subject to the return transaction has been returned to the storage area 2C, in the table T of the storage unit 23, the inventory count of the returned prize P is added and updated, and the remarks regarding the return are stored in the table T as described above (refer to the remarks regarding the snacks in FIG. 4).

[0047] After the player has finished returning the prize P, the player can take out another prize P from the prize storage cabinet 1 by means of a new withdrawal transaction. Alternatively, the player can also request the rushed-over store clerk to operate the POS 32 to have the prize payout device 33 (refer to FIG. 5) pay out a prize Q in place of the prize P. Incidentally, the combination of such a return transaction and the subsequent new withdrawal transaction may be referred to as a change transaction for changing the prize P taken out in the first withdrawal transaction.

[0048] As described above, in the withdrawal transaction, the presence of the store clerk is not required, whereas in the return transaction, the presence of the store clerk is required. Therefore, the response in the prize management system 100 differs between the withdrawal transaction and the return transaction. However, the return of the prize P and the payout of the prize Q may also be carried out only by the player without the presence of the store clerk.

[0049] In the case where a player who has requested a withdrawal transaction by causing a card or a receipt for prize exchange to be read by the reading unit 22 of the prize storage 1 leaves without taking out the prize P from the storage area 2C for some reason. If the control unit 20 does not detect the taking out of the prize P targeted for the withdrawal transaction within a predetermined period (for example, several minutes) after accepting the request for the withdrawal transaction in this way, the control unit 20 manages the prize P as an item forgotten on the table T separately from the inventory of other prizes P in the storage area 2C (refer to the number of forgotten cigarettes in FIG. 4). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the store clerk from confusing the unremoved prize P with other prizes P.

[0050] As described above, the prize management method in the prize storage 1 includes a detection step of detecting the entry and exit of the prize P with respect to the storage area 2C, and a management step of managing the inventory of the prize P in the storage area 2C on the table T based on the detection result in the detection step. In this case, since the inventory of the prize P in the storage area 2C is automatically managed by the prize management system 100 and the inventory of the prize P in the storage area 2C is automatically updated by the prize management system 100 each time the prize P is taken in or out, the store clerk of the game parlor is released from the burden of managing the prize P in the prize storage 1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden related to the management of the prize P.

[0051] The information stored in table T is inventory information (quantity in stock) of prizes P managed by control unit 20 and generated based on the history of transactions (number of forgotten items, remarks, etc.) received by control unit 20. In this case, control unit 20 functions as an example of a generation unit that generates inventory information of prize P in prize storage 1. The inventory information may also include, as part of the transaction history, the date and time of withdrawal transactions and return transactions (end date and time of transactions, etc.) and the number of prizes P related to individual transactions. The inventory information is generated when a store clerk or a wholesaler replenishes prize P in prize storage 1 or during the closing process after the game store closes. Control unit 20 outputs the inventory information by printing it by issuing unit 21 as an inventory slip or externally outputting it to management device 31 etc. by I / F unit 24. In this case, control unit 20 also functions as an example of an output unit that outputs the inventory information. Thus, since the inventory information of prize P in prize storage 1 is automatically generated and output, the store clerk is liberated from the burden of preparing the inventory information, so that a further reduction in the burden related to the management of prize P can be achieved. Note that control unit 35 of management device 31 may function as a generation unit and an output unit instead of control unit 20.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the content of the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope described in the claims. Also, the various features described above can be combined as appropriate.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0053] 1 Prize storage 2C Storage area 19 Imaging unit 20 Control unit (judgment unit) 35 Control unit (judgment unit) 100 Prize management system P Prize

Claims

1. a prize repository having a prize storage area; An imaging unit that images the storage area; A determination means for determining whether or not a prize has been taken out of the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at multiple times; A prize management system including a management unit that manages the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the judgment result of the judgment means.

2. The prize management system according to claim 1 , wherein the determination means determines the number of prizes taken out of the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at multiple times.

3. The prize management system of claim 1 , wherein the determination means identifies the type and number of prizes taken out of the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at multiple times.

4. A prize management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imaging unit is configured to capture the entire storage area in the prize storage cabinet.

5. the prize repository includes a plurality of said storage areas; The prize management system according to claim 4 , wherein the imaging unit is configured to capture all of the storage areas in the prize storage cabinet.

6. A prize repository having a prize storage area, An imaging unit that images the storage area; A determination means for determining whether or not a prize has been taken out of the storage area based on the imaging results of the imaging unit at multiple times; A prize storage facility including a management unit that manages the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the judgment result of the judgment means.

7. A method for managing prizes in a prize repository having a prize storage area, comprising: an imaging step of imaging the storage area; A determination step of determining whether or not to take out a prize from the storage area based on the image capturing results of capturing images of the storage area at multiple times; A prize management method in a prize storage facility, comprising a management step of managing the inventory of prizes in the storage area based on the judgment result in the judgment step.

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