Each machine device, game system, and notification method

Abstract

To enable efficient hailing by a game parlor employee to a game player when the game player plays a game while using a voice output function of a game machine.SOLUTION: When a game machine 20 is paired with an earphone 80 by a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) module 27 incorporated in the game machine 20 (S1), earphone connection information is notified to a management device 50 (S2). When receiving the earphone connection information, the management device 50 notifies an inter-device card processing machine 10 of the earphone connection information (S3). When receiving the earphone connection information, the inter-device card processing machine 10 displays an icon indicating that it is during use of the earphone (S4).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine, a gaming system, and a notification method that enable game parlor staff to efficiently speak to players when the players play games while wearing earphones connected to the gaming machine by wire or wirelessly. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gaming establishments such as pachinko parlors have been equipped with gaming machines. These gaming machines are equipped with speakers to heighten players' expectations of the game, and the sound enhances players' motivation to play. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine that is not only equipped with speakers, but also has a connection part (earphone terminal) on the machine frame, allowing wired connection of earphones via this connection part.

[0003] In recent years, wireless earphones have become widespread, so it is conceivable to install a wireless connection unit in the gaming machine and introduce a system that transmits sound to the player's earphones via short-range wireless communication. In this way, players can use the audio output function of the gaming machine to play while concentrating on the game. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-150255 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if a player uses the audio output function of a gaming machine while playing, it can cause problems for an amusement facility employee trying to talk to the player. For example, if an employee tries to tell a player who is concentrating on playing that "it's 15 minutes until closing time," if the player is using the audio output function of the gaming machine, the player is likely to not notice the employee's call. As a result, the employee cannot tell whether the player is ignoring the call or cannot hear it.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and aims to provide a machine device, a gaming system, and a notification method that enable gaming facility employees to efficiently speak to players when they play while using the audio output function of the gaming machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a machine device that is arranged in tandem with a gaming machine that has an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the player's outer ear and is capable of communicating with the gaming machine, and is characterized by comprising an acquisition means for acquiring usage status information indicating whether the audio output unit of the gaming machine is in use or not, and an alert means for alerting the player playing on the gaming machine as to whether it is possible to speak to the player, based at least on the usage status information.

[0008] Furthermore, in the present invention, the acquisition means acquires the usage status information from the gaming machine or a predetermined management device.

[0009] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the notification means displays information on a specified operation display unit as to whether or not it is possible to speak to a player playing on the gaming machine.

[0010] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the notification means displays information on the operation display unit as to whether or not it is possible to speak to a player playing on the gaming machine using a predetermined character string, a predetermined mark, or a predetermined icon.

[0011] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the notification means instructs a specified machine lamp to display information as to whether or not it is possible to speak to a player playing on the gaming machine.

[0012] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the audio output device is an earphone connected to an audio output terminal of the audio output section of the gaming machine by wire or wirelessly.

[0013] The present invention also provides a gaming system having each machine device attached to a gaming machine, a management device capable of communicating with each machine device, and a machine lamp that displays the status of the gaming machine, wherein each machine device or the machine lamp is equipped with an acquisition means that acquires information related to the gaming machine from the gaming machine or the management device, and an alert means that alerts the player of information as to whether or not the gaming machine has an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the player's outer ear based on the information acquired by the acquisition means.

[0014] The present invention also provides a notification method for each machine device that is arranged in communication with a gaming machine having an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the player's outer ear, and is characterized by including an acquisition process for acquiring usage status information indicating whether the audio output unit of the gaming machine is in use or not, and a notification process for notifying, based at least on the usage status information, information as to whether it is possible to speak to the player playing on the gaming machine.

[0015] The present invention also provides an alerting method in a gaming system having each machine device attached to a gaming machine, a management device capable of communicating with each machine device, and a machine lamp that displays the status of the gaming machine, characterized in that it includes an acquisition process in which each machine device or the machine lamp acquires information related to the gaming machine from the gaming machine or the management device, and an alerting process in which, based on the information acquired by the acquisition process, the gaming machine notifies the player of information as to whether or not it has an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the player's outer ear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, when a player plays a game while using the audio output function of a gaming machine, an employee of the gaming establishment can efficiently speak to the player. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overview of a gaming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the gaming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine and the gaming machine shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the device status data and card data shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the gaming machine shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the management device shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the card management data, device management data, member management data, and transfer setting data shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process for connecting earphones according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of a management device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the device management data and the number of times of use data shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of a gaming system according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a management device according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the model-specific usage count data shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, each machine device, a gaming system, and a notification method according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In this specification, "reserved balls" refers to data indicating gaming media acquired by a player through gaming, which can only be used again for gaming on the same day (before the gaming establishment's closing time). "Number of retained balls" refers to the number of gaming media acquired by a player through gaming. "Saved balls" refers to data indicating gaming media deposited by a player at a gaming establishment, which can be used again for gaming from the next day onwards (after the gaming establishment's closing time). "Saved balls" refers to the number of gaming media deposited by a player at a gaming establishment. Reserved balls are available to both regular players and member players, and are used when a gaming machine is moved, for example. In principle, only member players can use saved balls, and are used when acquired gaming media are used to play a gaming machine from the next day onwards. "Number of managed gaming machine balls" refers to the number of managed gaming machine balls available for a player to use for gaming.

[0020] Overview of the gaming system according to the first embodiment First, an outline of the gaming system according to the present embodiment 1 will be described. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the outline of the gaming system according to the present embodiment 1.

[0021] 1, in the gaming system according to the first embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) module 27 (S1), the earphone connection information is notified to the management device 50 (S2). The notification order of the earphone connection information includes the following notification orders: gaming machine 20 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 10 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 10 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 10 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 10 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → hall computer → management device 50, etc. In addition, in the case of a wired system in which a player inserts an earphone cord into an earphone jack provided on the gaming machine 20 to establish pairing, the earphone connection information is similarly notified to the management device 50.

[0022] When the management device 50 receives the earphone connection information, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 10 of this earphone connection information (S3). When the inter-machine card processor 10 receives the earphone connection information, it displays an icon indicating that earphones are in use (S4). In other words, the icon indicating that earphones are in use provides information on whether or not it is possible to speak to a player playing on the gaming machine 20.

[0023] In this way, in the gaming system according to this embodiment 1, when a gaming machine is paired with earphones, earphone connection information is notified to the inter-machine card processing machine, and the inter-machine card processing machine is configured to display that earphones are in use (information on whether it is possible to speak to a player playing on gaming machine 20), so that when a player plays while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, employees of the gaming facility can efficiently speak to the player.

[0024] <System configuration according to the first embodiment> Next, we will explain the system configuration of the gaming system according to this embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the gaming system according to this embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 2, a gaming facility is equipped with a plurality of gaming machines 20 and an inter-machine card processing machine 10 provided corresponding to each gaming machine 20.

[0025] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 is connected to a communication line, which is an in-store network, via an island controller 30. The communication line connects the island controller 30, machine lamps 40, a management device 50, a prize management device 60, and an adjustment machine 70. The gaming machine 20 is paired with earphones 80 via short-range wireless communication such as BLE.

[0026] The gaming machine 20 is a device in which game balls enclosed within the device are shot onto a game board. These game balls are physical "balls" used in the game, and are different from the "game balls" that the gaming machine 20 treats as data. The game board of the gaming machine 20 is provided with multiple prize areas (prize openings), and a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls when a game ball passes through a prize area. The game board is also provided with a predetermined number of start areas (start openings), and a predetermined lottery is held when a game ball passes through a start area. If the lottery results in a jackpot, a predetermined movable member or the like is activated, thereby increasing the probability of the game ball passing through the aforementioned prize area or another start area, thereby providing an advantage in the game. An area may also serve as both a start area and a prize area.

[0027] Each of the winning areas is provided with a winning sensor for detecting the passage of a gaming ball into the winning area, and the winning sensor detects the passage (winning) of a gaming ball shot into the winning area. The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also has a prize ball memory for storing the number of gaming balls to be awarded as prize balls for each winning area, and a gaming ball number memory for indicating the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine. The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also periodically transmits the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine to the machine-to-machine card processing device 10.

[0028] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a deposit from a player, it associates prepaid value corresponding to the amount of the deposit with the identification information (card ID) of the card stored inside the machine. This prepaid value can be used to lend game balls. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 can also accept the insertion of a card associated with prepaid value, owned balls, saved balls, etc. Then, at the end of a game, it ejects the card associated with prepaid value, owned balls, saved balls, etc. and returns it to the player. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 also transmits a history of operations such as deposits, card insertions, and card ejections to the management device 50.

[0029] When a predetermined number of game balls are shot onto the game board, the gaming machine 20 transmits out data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Furthermore, when a game ball passes through a winning area (so-called winning) and a predetermined number of prize balls are added to the game balls, the gaming machine 20 transmits safe data to the inter-machine card processor 10. Furthermore, when a special state such as a jackpot occurs during play, the gaming machine 20 transmits special prize data indicating the occurrence of such state to the inter-machine card processor 10.

[0030] The out data corresponds to the number of balls inserted, which is the number of balls inserted by the player onto the gaming board. The safe data corresponds to the number of balls won as a result of winning. The special prize data indicates the status of the gaming machine 20, such as a jackpot. Each piece of data is transmitted to the management device 50 via the inter-machine card processing device 10, and the management device 50 can obtain the operation history of the gaming machine 20 by accumulating the out data, safe data, and special prize data.

[0031] Furthermore, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphone 80 by the built-in BLE module 27, it stops audio output to a speaker (not shown) and switches to audio output to the BLE module 27. Then, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 10 of the earphone connection information.

[0032] Furthermore, if the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphone 80 by the BLE module 27 and the pairing is canceled, the gaming machine 20 stops outputting audio to the BLE module 27 and switches to outputting audio to a speaker (not shown).The gaming machine 20 then notifies the inter-machine card processor 10 of earphone disconnection information.

[0033] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts deposits, lends gaming balls, and communicates with the management device 50 and the gaming machines 20. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts bills inserted by a player, it sends a deposit notification including the deposit amount to the management device 50, thereby adding the prepaid value equivalent to the deposit amount to the prepaid value managed by the management device 50. Then, when a predetermined ball lending operation is performed, it sends a ball lending request to the management device 50, subtracts the prepaid value managed by the management device 50, and notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value, which is added to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine.

[0034] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a card, it sends a card insertion notification to the management device 50. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives the balance of prepaid value, held balls, or saved balls from the management device 50, it stores the balance. When it receives and stores the balance of held balls, it sends a held ball subtraction request to the management device 50, thereby clearing the balance of held balls (number of held balls) managed by the management device 50 to zero.

[0035] Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a held ball replay operation, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of held balls it manages, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted held balls, and adds it to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a saved ball replay operation, it sends a saved ball replay request to the management device 50, thereby subtracting a predetermined number from the number of saved balls managed by the management device 50, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted saved balls, and adds it to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine.

[0036] Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing device 10 receives a card return operation, it sends a ball addition request including the number of balls held to the management device 50, and after having the management device 50 add the number of balls held, it sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and controls the ejection of the card. Note that if a counting operation is received from the gaming machine 20 before the card return operation, the number of balls managed by the gaming machine is added to the number of balls held.

[0037] The inter-machine card processing device 10 also has a function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and an authentication key received from the management device 50. This authentication is performed during opening processing, etc., and the gaming machine 20 becomes available for play on the condition that the authentication is successful.

[0038] Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives earphone connection information or earphone disconnection information from the gaming machine 20, it notifies the management device 50 of the received information. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives earphone connection information from the management device 50, it displays an earphone in use icon, and when it receives earphone disconnection information, it hides the earphone in use icon.

[0039] The island controller 30 is a device that bundles together a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processors 10 installed on the gaming island, and relays various information to the management device 50.

[0040] When the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it manages the identification information of the inserted card (hereinafter referred to as "card ID") in association with the inter-machine card processing device 10, and transmits the prepaid value and the balance of held balls associated with the card ID to the inter-machine card processing device 10. In addition, if the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification is the card ID of a membership card, it transmits stored ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0041] In addition, when the management device 50 receives a request to subtract balls held from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it clears the balance of balls held to zero, and when it receives a request to add balls held from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it adds the number of balls held indicated in the request to add balls held to the balance of balls held.

[0042] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a ball lending request from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID and transmits ball lending permission to the inter-machine card processing device 10. When the management device 50 receives a saved ball replay request, it transmits saved ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0043] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a card ID from the prize management device 60, it notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls held that are associated with this card ID. Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a card ID from the settlement machine 70, it notifies the settlement machine 70 of the prepaid value that is associated with this card ID.

[0044] The management device 50 also acquires gaming machine IDs from the inter-machine card processing device 10 and manages the gaming machines 20 installed in its own parlor. It also acquires authentication keys for authenticating the gaming machines 20 set in its own parlor from an authentication key management center (not shown) outside the parlor, and distributes the authentication keys to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0045] The management device 50 also manages the member management data of members who have registered with the gaming establishment. Specifically, the management device 50 manages the number of balls, points, PIN number, name, etc. in association with the member card ID issued to the member.

[0046] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it transmits stored ball replay data including the balance of stored balls and the PIN number corresponding to the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification to the inter-machine card processing device 10. Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives a stored ball replay request from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it subtracts a predetermined number from the balance of stored balls associated with the card ID indicated in the stored ball replay request, and transmits stored ball replay data including the balance of stored balls after the subtraction to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

[0047] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of stored balls from the prize management device 60, it notifies the prize management device 60 of the balance of stored balls corresponding to the specified card ID.

[0048] Furthermore, when the management device 50 receives transfer setting data, it stores the received data. When the management device 50 receives earphone connection information or earphone disconnection information from the inter-machine card processor 10, it notifies the device set in the transfer setting data of the received information.

[0049] The machine lamp 40 is a device that displays various information related to games. When the machine lamp 40 receives earphone connection information from the management device 50, it displays an earphone in use icon, and when it receives earphone disconnection information, it hides the earphone in use icon.

[0050] The prize management device 60 is a terminal device for prize exchange installed next to the prize exchange counter in the gaming facility, and performs the prize exchange process for won balls, saved balls, and held balls. This prize management device 60 is connected to a card reader that reads the card ID of the card and a prize payout device that pays out prizes. When the prize management device 60 reads the card ID from a general card or a membership card, it transmits the card ID to the management device 50 and requests the remaining balance of held balls for that card ID. Furthermore, when saved balls are to be exchanged for prizes, it requests the remaining balance of saved balls from the management device 50.

[0051] The settlement machine 70 is a device that settles the balance of the prepaid value associated with the card. When a card associated with prepaid value is inserted, the settlement machine 70 transmits the card ID of the card to the management device 50, obtains the prepaid value associated with the card, and dispenses cash equivalent to the obtained prepaid value.

[0052] Next, we will explain the ball lending process in the gaming system according to this embodiment. When a player performs a ball lending operation on the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and a ball lending request.

[0053] When the management device 50 receives a message including a ball lending request, it updates the card management data by subtracting a predetermined value (for example, 5 units, which represents 500 yen when 1 unit is 100 yen) from the prepaid value associated with the card ID in the message, and sends a ball lending permission to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that sent the permission. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 that has received the ball lending permission sends an addition signal to the gaming machine 20 requesting that a number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value (for example, "125") be added to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine.

[0054] The gaming machine 20 that receives the addition signal adds up the number of balls managed by the gaming machine and transmits the added number of balls managed by the gaming machine to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 compares the sum of the number of balls managed by the gaming machine before the addition and the number of balls lent with the number of balls managed by the gaming machine after the addition, and determines whether the addition of the number of balls managed by the gaming machine was performed appropriately.

[0055] Next, the held ball replay process in the gaming system according to this embodiment will be explained. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a general card or a membership card, it sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a card insertion notification.

[0056] When the management device 50 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it notifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 of the balance of the balls held at the rate specified by the message, among the balls held associated with the card ID in the message.

[0057] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the balance of held balls received from the management device 50. Then, it sends a message to the management device 50 including information specifying the card ID and rate, and a request to subtract held balls. When the management device 50 receives the request to subtract held balls, it clears the balance of held balls specified by the card ID and rate to zero. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a request to replay held balls, it subtracts a fixed number from the balance of held balls, notifies the gaming machine 20 of the corresponding number, and adds it to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine.

[0058] When the inter-machine card processing device 10 receives a management transfer request from the gaming machine 20 to transfer its management by making the number of gaming machine managed balls of the gaming machine 20 the balls held by the inter-machine card processing device 10, it adds the number of gaming machine managed balls indicated in the management transfer request to the balls held by its own device. After that, when it accepts a card return operation, it sends a message including a request to add held balls to the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card to be discharged, an address or arbitrary identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing device 10 that sent it, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing device 10, the balance of held balls, and a request to add held balls.

[0059] When the management device 50 receives the request to add the balls in hand, it updates the balance (number of balls in hand) of the balls in hand at the rate specified by the message to the received value among the balls in hand associated with the card ID in the message. After that, the inter-machine card processing device 10 sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and controls the ejection of the card.

[0060] Next, the stored ball replay process in the gaming system according to this embodiment will be explained. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a membership card, it sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a card insertion notification.

[0061] The management device 50 transmits stored ball replay data to the inter-machine card processing machine 10, which includes the PIN associated with the card ID in the message and the balance of stored balls at the rate specified by the message.

[0062] The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the received saved ball replay data, and is able to accept a saved ball replay operation if the balance of saved balls indicated in the saved ball replay data is equal to or greater than the payout unit number of game balls in saved ball replay (saved ball replay unit number, for example, "125 balls").

[0063] When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a saved ball replay operation for the first time after storing the saved ball replay data, it requests the player to input a password and checks whether the input password matches the password shown in the saved ball replay data.

[0064] If the PIN numbers match, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sends a message addressed to the local address of the management device 50. This message includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification information that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, information for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and a request to replay the saved balls.

[0065] The management device 50 subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of stored balls at the rate specified by the message among the stored balls associated with the card ID in the message, and transmits stored ball replay data including the balance after subtraction to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0066] The inter-machine card processing device 10 receives the stored ball replay data, updates the balance of stored balls, and notifies the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the number of stored ball replay units, causing it to be added to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine. It also determines whether the updated balance of stored balls is less than the number of stored ball replay units. If the updated balance of stored ball data is equal to or greater than the number of stored ball replay units, it can accept another stored ball replay operation, and if it accepts a stored ball replay operation, it sends a stored ball replay request. For the second or subsequent stored ball replay operation, there is no need to confirm the PIN. If the updated balance of stored ball data is less than the number of stored ball replay units, it cannot accept a stored ball replay operation.

[0067] Next, we will explain the transition from held balls to saved balls during the store closing process. The management device 50 checks the balance of held balls in the card management data during the store closing process, and if there are held balls whose balance is greater than "0", it adds the balance of those held balls to the balance of saved balls and updates them. After that, the management device 50 clears the balance of those held balls to zero.

[0068] <External Configuration of the Inter-machine Card Processing Machine 10 and the Gaming Machine 20> Next, we will explain the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that accepts only paper money is shown, but it is also possible to provide a unit that can accept electronic money.

[0069] As shown in Figure 3, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is provided with a status display unit 11 that displays the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by lighting or flashing a lamp of a predetermined color, a bill insertion slot 12a that accepts various types of bills, a display operation unit 13 such as a touch panel display, and a card insertion slot 14a that accepts cards associated with a card ID.

[0070] The gaming machine 20 is provided with a gaming board, a handle 21 used to release enclosed gaming balls onto the gaming board, and a counting button 22.

[0071] The count button 22 is an operation button for transferring the management of the number of balls that can be dispensed from the gaming machine 20 to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by subtracting the number of balls managed by the gaming machine 20 and adding the corresponding number to the balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. In the open gaming machine 20 in which actual gaming balls are dispensed upon winning, this management transfer corresponds to the counting process in which the inter-machine card processing machine 10 counts the dispensed gaming balls and adds them to the balls held.

[0072] <Configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10> Next, we will explain the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a banknote transport unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a reader / writer 14, a communication unit 15, a memory unit 16, a control unit 17, and a game management unit 18.

[0073] The banknote transport unit 12 is a transport unit that transports banknotes inserted through the banknote insertion slot 12a to a banknote storage unit (not shown) while determining the denomination and authenticity of the banknotes. The display operation unit 13 is an input / output device such as a touch panel display that displays various information such as value and accepts various operations such as ball lending operations.

[0074] The reader / writer 14 is a reading unit that reads a card ID from a card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a is stored in a card storage unit (not shown) via the reader / writer 14. The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication with the management device 50 via the island controller 30.

[0075] The storage unit 16 is a storage device including a hard disk drive, a nonvolatile memory, etc. The storage unit 16 stores device status data 16a and card data 16b.

[0076] The machine status data 16a indicates the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. The machine status data 16a includes the machine ID, the gaming machine ID, the game type, etc. The machine ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the machine ID within the gaming parlor. The game type is data indicating the rate set in the machine ID. When gaming balls of multiple rates are handled within the gaming parlor, a game type name is assigned to each rate and managed, such as "Ball 1" for a 4-yen rate ball, "Ball 2" for a 2-yen rate ball, and "Ball 3" for a 1-yen rate ball. The machine ID is stored as the game type. The machine ID is a fixed game type for each section in which the machine ID is installed, or the game type may be changeable by the player.

[0077] The card data 16b is data relating to the card being used by the player. The card data 16b includes the card ID, PIN number, prepaid value, held balls, saved balls, etc. The card ID is the card ID read by the reader / writer 14. When a card is transported from a card storage section (not shown) to the card insertion slot 14a and then ejected, the card data 16b is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during this transport. Also, when a card is transported from the card insertion slot 14a to a card storage section (not shown), the card data 16b is updated with the card ID read by the reader / writer 14 during this transport. The prepaid value indicates the balance of the prepaid value that can be used for ball lending, and the held balls and saved balls indicate the respective balances.

[0078] The gaming management unit 18 is a processing unit that performs processing related to authentication and communication with the gaming machine 20. It is desirable that this gaming management unit 18 be formed on a different board from that of the control unit 17. The gaming management unit 18 has an authentication processing unit 18a, an authentication key management unit 18b, and a gaming machine status management unit 18c. In practice, by loading and executing these programs into a CPU (Central Processing Unit), the authentication processing unit 18a, the authentication key management unit 18b, and the gaming machine status management unit 18c will execute processes corresponding to each of them.

[0079] The authentication processing unit 18a authenticates the gaming machine 20 using the authentication key received from the management device 50. If the authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit 18a transmits an operation permission to the gaming machine 20. If the authentication is unsuccessful, the authentication processing unit 18a prohibits the use of the gaming machine 20. Note that even if the authentication is unsuccessful, the authentication processing unit 18a may be configured to transmit an operation permission to the gaming machine 20 if it is within a predetermined period since the last successful authentication, and not transmit an operation permission to the gaming machine 20 after the predetermined period has elapsed since the last successful authentication, and to prohibit the use of the gaming machine 20.

[0080] The authentication key management unit 18b is a processing unit that manages authentication keys. A usage time is set for each authentication key, and when the cumulative operating time of the gaming machine 20 reaches the usage time of the authentication key, the authentication key becomes unusable. Specifically, the authentication key management unit 18b uses the power-on time of the board on which the gaming management unit 18 is formed as the operating time of the gaming machine 20 to manage the usage time of the authentication key. When the authentication key becomes unusable, the authentication key management unit 18b obtains a new authentication key from an authentication key management center outside the parlor via the management device 50 and updates the authentication key.

[0081] The gaming machine status management unit 18c is a processing unit that communicates with the gaming machine 20 and manages the status of the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, transmits a request to add balls to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine when balls are loaned, transmits a request to transfer management from held balls to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine when held balls are replayed, transmits a request to add balls to the number of balls managed by the gaming machine when saved balls are replayed, receives game results such as the number of balls inserted and the number of balls paid out in the gaming machine 20, and receives a request to transfer management from the number of balls managed by the gaming machine to held balls when counted. Such communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 is encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

[0082] Furthermore, the gaming machine status management unit 18c further acquires the status set for the game, such as the current number of managed gaming balls of the gaming machine 20, start, jackpot, jackpot type, number of lotteries, etc. The time interval at which the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the status of the gaming machine 20 is preferably set shorter than the interval at which gaming balls are released (used) in the gaming machine 20. Furthermore, once the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the number of managed gaming balls from the gaming machine 20, it passes the number of managed gaming balls to the control unit 17.

[0083] The timing when the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires a new gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 is not limited to before opening. The gaming machine status management unit 18c can acquire a gaming machine ID or determine whether to replace the gaming machine 20 when the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is powered on or off, during periodic communication, when processing related to the number of gaming machine balls managed (ball lending, replay, counting, etc.) is performed, when returning from an offline state, etc. Furthermore, these timings may be used in combination.

[0084] The control unit 17 is a control unit that performs overall control of the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and has a data management unit 17a, a transfer unit 17b, and a display control unit 17c. In practice, by loading these programs into the CPU and executing them, the data management unit 17a, the transfer unit 17b, and the display control unit 17c will execute the processes corresponding to them.

[0085] The data management unit 17a is a processing unit that manages the card data 16b. When a card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits a card insertion notification including the card ID and the inter-machine card processor ID to the management device 50. Furthermore, when the data management unit 17a receives data including a value (at least one of prepaid value, held balls, and saved balls) and a PIN number from the management device 50, it updates the card data 16b with the received value and PIN number.

[0086] Furthermore, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits a deposit notification to the management device 50, which includes the amount of the inserted bill, the card ID, and the inter-machine card processor ID.

[0087] Furthermore, when a ball lending operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits a ball lending request including the card ID and the inter-machine card processing machine ID to the management device 50. If permission to lend balls is received in response to this ball lending request, the data management unit 17a instructs the gaming management unit 18 to subtract the prepaid value of the card data 16b and add a predetermined number of balls to the gaming machine managed number of balls of the gaming machine 20.

[0088] In addition, when the data management unit 17a receives an operation to replay the held balls, it instructs the game management unit 18 to subtract and update the held balls in the card data 16b and add the corresponding number of balls to the number of balls managed by the game machine 20.

[0089] Furthermore, if the balance of saved balls indicated in the card data 16b is equal to or greater than the number of saved ball replay units, the data management unit 17a displays a saved ball replay button on the display operation unit 13, making it possible to accept a saved ball replay operation. When a saved ball replay operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits a saved ball replay request including the card ID and the machine-to-machine card processor ID to the management device 50. If saved ball replay data is received in response to this saved ball replay request, the data management unit 17a updates the saved ball balance in the card data 16b and instructs the gaming management unit 18 to add the number of balls corresponding to the number of saved ball replay units to the number of gaming machine-managed balls of the gaming machine 20. Note that when a saved ball replay operation is performed for the first time, the input of a PIN is required, and a match with the PIN indicated in the card data 16b is a condition for transmitting a saved ball replay request.

[0090] In addition, when the game management unit 18 receives a request to transfer game balls from the game machine 20, the data management unit 17a adds the number of balls instructed by the game management unit 18 to the held balls in the card data 16b to update it.

[0091] Furthermore, when the data management unit 17a receives a card return operation, it sends a ball addition request including the card ID, the machine-to-machine card processing machine ID, and the remaining ball balance to the management device 50. Then, after clearing the card data 16b, it sends a card ejection notification to the management device 50 and ejects the card.

[0092] The transfer unit 17b is a processing unit that transfers information related to earphone connection. When the transfer unit 17b receives earphone connection information or earphone disconnection information from the gaming machine 20, the transfer unit 17b notifies the management device 50 of the received information.

[0093] The display control unit 17c is a processing unit that controls the display of the earphone-in-use icon. When the display control unit 17c receives earphone connection information from the management device 50, it displays the earphone-in-use icon on the display operation unit 13, and when the display control unit 17c receives earphone disconnection information, it hides the earphone-in-use icon.

[0094] Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 16 of the inter-machine card processor 10 shown in Fig. 4 will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the own device status data 16a and card data 16b shown in Fig. 4.

[0095] The own device status data 16a shown in Figure 5(a) indicates a state in which the ID of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "A101", the gaming machine ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B201", and "Ball 1" is set as the game type of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

[0096] The card data 16b shown in Figure 5(b) indicates that the ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "2015", the PIN number for replaying saved balls is "1234", and the prepaid value is "100". Note that the prepaid value here is equivalent to 100 yen per unit.

[0097] Furthermore, card data 16b indicates that, in terms of held balls, the balance of held balls for ball 1 is "990" balls, the balance of held balls for ball 2 is "0" balls, and the balance of held balls for ball 3 is "0" balls, and, in terms of saved balls, the balance of saved balls for ball 1 is "0" balls, the balance of saved balls for ball 2 is "0" balls, and the balance of saved balls for ball 3 is "0" balls.

[0098] <Configuration of gaming machine 20> Next, the configuration of the gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2 will be described. Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the gaming machine 20 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 6, the gaming machine 20 has a communication control unit 23, a performance control unit 24, a game control unit 25, a game ball control unit 26, and a BLE module 27. The communication control unit 23 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 uses encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method. The BLE module 27 is a device that pairs with earphones 80 via short-range wireless communication such as BLE, and outputs data such as audio data.

[0099] When the gaming machine 20 is started up, the communication control unit 23 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the game control unit 25 and / or game ball control unit 26, checks whether the identification information is appropriate, and if it is appropriate, establishes communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and goes into standby mode. In the standby mode, if an operation permission is received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the performance control unit 24, game control unit 25, and game ball control unit 26 are started up and the gaming machine is ready to play.

[0100] The game control unit 25 is a control unit that controls games played by the gaming machine 20. In practice, a program corresponding to the game control unit 25 is loaded into the CPU and executed to execute a process.

[0101] Specifically, the game control unit 25 controls the launch of game balls onto the game board by detecting handle operation, detects game balls that have entered the winning hole on the game board, obtains random numbers (random numbers from 0 to 65535, with numbers assigned to indicate a big win, small win, or loss within a predetermined range) using game balls that have entered the starting hole and draws lots (special and normal patterns), controls movable parts (tulips, etc.) installed on the game board, controls the display of special pattern display devices installed on the game board, detects abnormalities that may indicate fraud (the front frame is open, vibrations are detected, etc.) and notifies the higher-level device, etc.

[0102] A large number of obstacle pins are set on the game board, and game balls launched onto the game board by operating the handle fall between the obstacle pins and either enter a prize hole or a starting hole, or are ejected from the game board through an outlet hole without entering a prize. When a game ball enters a starting hole, a lottery is held, and if a jackpot is awarded, a jackpot game is played in which a predetermined prize hole on the game board is controlled to be open multiple times, and by making it easier for game balls to enter these prize holes, prize balls are awarded to the player.

[0103] Furthermore, jackpot games include bonus jackpot games that grant players a specified bonus game after the jackpot game ends. Bonus jackpot games include probability-changing jackpots and time-saving jackpots. Probability-changing jackpots and time-saving jackpots grant probability-changing and time-saving games as bonus games, respectively, after a jackpot. Time-saving games are bonus games that increase the number of draws per unit time by shortening the fluctuation time (the time from the start of the lottery process to the display of the results) of the normal pattern lottery (the lottery for opening and closing the movable member described above) and / or the special pattern lottery (the jackpot lottery resulting from the winning of a game ball described above), thereby increasing the number of draws per unit time and increasing the probability of winning a jackpot per unit time. This bonus game may also include normal pattern probability fluctuation, which increases the probability of winning a normal pattern. Time-saving games resulting from a time-saving jackpot end when the special pattern lottery has been drawn a specified number of times after the jackpot. Probability-changing games will be described later.

[0104] The game control unit 25 has a probability variation function. This function controls the random number range for the next jackpot lottery (typically by approximately 10 times) when the lottery result falls within a specific random number range for the jackpot. The probability variation game involves drawing a special symbol using this changed probability. The probability variation game continues until the next jackpot is won. The probability variation game and time-saving game may be simultaneously offered. However, to prevent unexpected losses to the gaming parlor, if a player acquires a certain number of game media after the probability variation game or time-saving game has started, the game may be stopped (the player's card may be temporarily ejected and the player may be requested to exchange for a prize or move to another machine). In this case, the gaming machine 20 counts the number of game media after the probability variation game state has begun, and when this count reaches a predetermined value, game stop control is performed, such as stopping the release of game balls.

[0105] The effect control unit 24 is a control unit that controls the effects during play, and includes an effect symbol lottery unit 24a, an effect lottery unit 24b, and an audio output control unit 24c. In practice, by loading these programs into the CPU and executing them, the processes corresponding to the effect symbol lottery unit 24a, the effect lottery unit 24b, and the audio output control unit 24c are executed.

[0106] The effect pattern lottery unit 24a performs lottery (specifically, whether to stop the display at 7, 7, 7) for effect patterns (patterns to be displayed on effect pattern display devices such as display devices on the game board) based on the special pattern lottery in the game control unit 25.

[0107] The effect selection unit 24b selects the type of effect to be performed before the result of the selection based on the effect symbols is displayed (such as a character appearing to perform a reach effect). The effect is set so that the effect selected differs depending on the main selection result.

[0108] When the earphone 80 is paired by the BLE module 27, the audio output control unit 24c stops audio output to a speaker (not shown) and switches audio output to the BLE module 27. Then, it notifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 or the machine lamp 40 of the earphone connection information.

[0109] Furthermore, if the pairing is cancelled while the audio output control unit 24c is paired with the earphone 80 by the BLE module 27, the audio output control unit 24c stops audio output to the BLE module 27 and switches audio output to a speaker (not shown).Then, the audio output control unit 24c notifies the inter-machine card processor 10 or the machine lamp 40 of earphone disconnection information.

[0110] The effect control unit 24 stores effect data for each effect. Furthermore, the effect control unit 24 controls the display of the effect pattern display device, and when an effect is executed, the effect data is superimposed on the background pattern data to display the effect. Furthermore, when the probability fluctuates, background color data different from that in the normal state is set.

[0111] The gaming ball control unit 26 is a control unit that controls the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine. In practice, a program corresponding to the gaming ball control unit 26 is loaded into the CPU and executed to execute the process. The gaming ball count management unit 26a is a management unit that manages the number of gaming balls, i.e., the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine.

[0112] Specifically, the gaming ball control unit 26 stores the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine in a gaming ball number memory, subtracts "1" from the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine each time a gaming ball is released, and adds the number of prize balls won by winning to the number of gaming balls managed by the gaming machine. Also, when the number of balls is notified by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it adds the notified number of balls to the number of gaming machine balls managed by the gaming machine, and sends a confirmation signal to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 indicating that the number has been added to the number of gaming machine balls managed. The gaming ball control unit 26 can also control the cleaning of the gaming balls (circulating balls) enclosed in the gaming machine 20.

[0113] Furthermore, the gaming ball control unit 26 periodically transmits the number of gaming machine balls managed, which is stored in the gaming ball count memory, to the machine-to-machine card processing unit 10. In this case, the gaming ball control unit 26 continues to update the number of gaming machine balls managed depending on the game status without clearing the contents of the gaming ball count memory to zero, and transmits the number of gaming machine balls managed at the time of data acquisition to the machine-to-machine card processing unit 10.

[0114] The gaming machine 20 is also provided with a counting button 22, and a signal indicating that the counting button 22 has been pressed is input to the gaming ball control unit 26. The gaming ball control unit 26 detects the pressing of the counting button 22, and if the time from when the detection signal rises to when it falls is less than a certain time, it sends a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processor 10 along with data on the number of gaming machine balls managed in increments of a certain number (for example, 100 balls per operation). Then, it subtracts (invalidates) the number of balls that have been transferred to the inter-machine card processor 10's management from the number of gaming machine balls managed. Furthermore, if the pressing of the counting button 22 is detected and no fall is detected for a predetermined time or more after the detection signal rises, it sends a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processor 10 along with data on the number of gaming machine balls managed in increments of a certain number (for example, 200 balls per 5 seconds) each time the detection signal remains high for a certain time. Then, the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing device 10 is subtracted (invalidated) from the number of balls managed by the gaming machine. When subtracting from the number of balls managed by the gaming machine, possible methods include decrementing the value to be subtracted from the value of 1 stored in memory, or updating the value stored in memory with the value after the subtraction and deleting or logically deleting the value before the subtraction to invalidate it, but there are no particular limitations as long as the value after the subtraction can be identified.

[0115] The game control unit 25 and the game ball control unit 26 are each configured on a separate board. The game control board on which the game control unit 25 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control unit 26 is configured each have their own unique ID. The gaming machine 20 combines the ID of the game control board and the ID of the game ball control board and uses this as the gaming machine ID.

[0116] <Configuration of management device 50> Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the management device 50 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52, and has an external network communication unit 53, a store network communication unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a control unit 56.

[0117] The display unit 51 is a display device such as an LCD panel or display device. The input unit 52 is an input device such as a keyboard or mouse. The external network communication unit 53 is an interface unit for data communication with an authentication key management center (not shown) via an external network. The store network communication unit 54 is an interface unit for data communication with the island controller 30, prize management device 60, and settlement machine 70 via communication lines within the gaming store.

[0118] The storage unit 55 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory, and stores card management data 55a, device management data 55b, member management data 55c, and transfer setting data 55d.

[0119] The card management data 55a is data that associates the card ID with the balance of prepaid value and the balance of owned balls. The device management data 55b is data related to the devices installed in the gaming facility. The member management data 55c is data that associates the card ID of the member card issued to the member with the member's name, information on the balls stored, etc. The transfer setting data 55d is data that indicates the transfer destination of information related to earphone connection.

[0120] The control unit 56 is a control unit that performs overall control of the management device 50, and includes a card management unit 56a, a device management unit 56b, a member management unit 56c, a transfer setting unit 56d, and a transfer unit 56e. In practice, by loading these programs into a CPU and executing them, the card management unit 56a, the device management unit 56b, the member management unit 56c, the transfer setting unit 56d, and the transfer unit 56e will execute their respective corresponding processes.

[0121] The card management unit 56a is a processing unit that manages the card management data 55a. The card management unit 56a communicates with the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the prize management device 60, and the settlement machine 70 to update the prepaid value and the balance of the balls held that are associated with the card ID.

[0122] In addition, when the card management unit 56a receives a card insertion notification from the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 or a request for the value associated with the card from the prize management device 60, it notifies the player of the value associated with the card and the remaining balance of balls held.

[0123] Furthermore, when the card management unit 56a receives a request for the value associated with the card from the settlement machine 70, it notifies the remaining balance of the value associated with the card.

[0124] The device management unit 56b is a processing unit that manages the device management data 55b. The device management unit 56b generates and updates the device management data 55b based on the inter-machine card processor ID, the installation location, and the gaming machine ID acquired from the inter-machine card processor 10.

[0125] The member management unit 56c is a processing unit that manages the member management data 55c. The member management unit 56c communicates with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the prize management device 60 to update the balance of the balls associated with the card ID. Furthermore, when the member management unit 56c receives a member registration request, it updates the member management data 55c to add the member.

[0126] Here, the stored ball replay processing by the member management unit 56c will be explained. When the member management unit 56c receives stored ball replay request data from the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10, it deducts the balance of stored balls at the payout rate from the stored balls associated with the card ID in the stored ball replay request data by the payout unit number, and recalculates the number of stored balls that can be replayed. Then, it sends stored ball replay data including the balance after subtraction and the number of stored balls that can be replayed to the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10.

[0127] The transfer setting unit 56d is a processing unit that manages the transfer setting data 55d. When the transfer setting unit 56d receives the transfer setting data from the input unit 52, the transfer setting unit 56d stores the received data in the transfer setting data 55d.

[0128] The transfer unit 56e is a processing unit that transfers information related to earphone connection. When the transfer unit 56e receives earphone connection information or earphone disconnection information from the inter-machine card processor 10 or the machine lamp 40, it notifies the device set in the transfer setting data 55d of the received information.

[0129] Next, an example of data stored in storage unit 55 of management device 50 shown in Fig. 7 will be described. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of card management data 55a, device management data 55b, member management data 55c, and transfer setting data 55d shown in Fig. 7.

[0130] In the card management data 55a shown in Figure 8(a), the card ID "1001" is associated with a state in which the prepaid value is "0" points, the balance of the balls held for each rate is "0" balls, and the destination ID is "A101". In other words, the card with the card ID "1001" is inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with the device ID "A101", and the management of the balls held has been transferred to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Therefore, the balance of the balls held for each rate becomes zero.

[0131] Furthermore, in the card management data 55a, the card ID "2015" is associated with a state in which the prepaid value is "100" points. Furthermore, the states in which the balance of balls held for ball 1 is "30", the balance of balls held for ball 2 is "0", and the balance of balls held for ball 3 is "0" are associated with the card ID "2015". However, there is no association with the destination ID. In other words, the card with the card ID "2015" is not inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the management of the balls held is performed by the management device 50.

[0132] 8(b), the device management data 55b associates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with the ID "A101" with the following states: the installation location is "Island 1-1," the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B201," the gaming machine number is "11," the game type is "Ball 1," the model of the gaming machine 20 is "EV01," and the serial number is "a." It also indicates that this gaming machine 20 is in use.

[0133] The device management data 55b also associates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with the ID "A201" with the following states: its installation location is "Island 2-1", the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B506", the gaming machine number is "21", the game type is "Ball 3", the model of the gaming machine 20 is "DX03", and the serial number is "g". It also indicates that this gaming machine 20 is in use.

[0134] Member management data 55c shown in Fig. 8(c) indicates the name, saved balls, etc. associated with the card ID. Specifically, member management data 55c associates the card ID "2015" with the name "Takken Taro," the saved ball balance for ball 1 being "0," the saved ball balance for ball 2 being "0," and the saved ball balance for ball 3 being "0."

[0135] The transfer setting data 55d shown in Figure 8(d) associates the transfer destination "machine-to-machine card processing machine" with a setting of "○", and associates the transfer destination "machine lamp" with a setting of "×".

[0136] <Procedure for earphone connection according to embodiment 1> Next, a description will be given of the processing procedure relating to earphone connection according to the present embodiment 1. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure relating to earphone connection according to the present embodiment 1.

[0137] 9, if the gaming machine 20 is connected to the earphones 80 through pairing (step S101; Yes), it notifies the management device 50 of earphone connection information via the inter-machine card processor 10 (step S102). If pairing with the earphones 80 has not been established (step S101; No), the process returns to step S101. The device that notifies the management device 50 of the earphone connection information is not limited to the inter-machine card processor 10, and may be the machine lamp 40.

[0138] When the management device 50 receives the earphone connection information, it notifies the device set in the transfer setting data 55d of the received earphone connection information (step S103). In the transfer setting data 55d, the inter-machine card processor 10 and / or the machine lamp 40 are set as the transfer destination, but in this example, the transfer destination is the inter-machine card processor 10.

[0139] When the inter-machine card processor 10 receives the earphone connection information, it displays an earphone in use icon (step S104).

[0140] If the pairing with the earphone 80 is disconnected (step S105; Yes), the gaming machine 20 notifies the management device 50 of the earphone disconnection information via the inter-machine card processor 10 (step S106). Meanwhile, if the pairing with the earphone 80 continues (step S105; No), the process returns to step S105.

[0141] When the management device 50 receives the earphone disconnection information, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 10 of the earphone disconnection information (step S107).

[0142] When the inter-machine card processor 10 receives the earphone disconnection information, it hides the earphone in use icon (step S108) and ends the processing. Note that when the pairing with the earphone 80 is disconnected, the inter-machine card processor 10 may hide the earphone in use icon without notifying the management device 50 of the earphone disconnection information.

[0143] As described above, in the gaming system according to this embodiment 1, when a gaming machine is paired with earphones, earphone connection information is notified to the inter-machine card processing machine, so that the inter-machine card processing machine displays a message that earphones are being used (that players playing on gaming machine 20 should not be spoken to). This allows gaming establishment staff to efficiently speak to players when they are using the audio output function of the gaming machine while playing.

[0144] In the above-described first embodiment, when a gaming machine is paired with earphones, earphone connection information is notified to the management device, and when the inter-machine card processing machine receives the earphone connection information from the management device, a display indicating that the earphones are being used is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the inter-machine card processing machine or machine lamp to display that the earphones are being used when the inter-machine card processing machine or machine lamp receives the earphone connection information transmitted by the gaming machine without notifying the management device.

[0145] In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which an earphone-in-use icon is displayed on the inter-machine card processor when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the gaming machine is paired with earphones, the inter-machine card processor or machine lamp may be configured to display text indicating that earphones are in use. Furthermore, the state indicator of the inter-machine card processor or machine lamp may be changed in color, or the lighting or flashing pattern may be changed to indicate that earphones are in use.

[0146] In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the machine-to-machine card processing machine when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an intercom or employee terminal carried by the employee can be configured to notify the employee by voice that earphones are in use.

[0147] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, when a gaming machine is paired with earphones, earphone connection information is notified to the inter-machine card processing machine, and the inter-machine card processing machine displays a message indicating that earphones are being used (that players playing on the gaming machine 20 should not be spoken to). However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if earphones are being used, if the volume of the earphones is below a predetermined value, a message indicating that players playing on the gaming machine 20 can be spoken to is also possible. This is because it is possible that players have lowered the volume in order to accept calls from employees or other players. Furthermore, even if earphones are not being used, if the gaming machine is in a jackpot state, a message indicating that players playing on the gaming machine 20 should not be spoken to is also possible. This is because players are unlikely to accept calls from employees when the gaming machine 20 is in a jackpot state.

[0148] In the first embodiment, the card processor displays an icon indicating that earphones are in use when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The card processor and the machine lamp can also be configured to display operation methods related to pairing, such as the procedure for pairing the gaming machine with the earphones.

[0149] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, a configuration was described in which an earphone-in-use icon is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. If pairing is impossible due to the gaming machine itself (for example, a malfunction or the power being turned off), the inter-machine card processing machine and machine lamp can also be configured to notify this by changing the shape of the icon, displaying text, or the color of the status display unit.

[0150] In addition, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the configuration in which audio output from the gaming machine is stopped when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even after the gaming machine is paired with the earphones, the gaming machine may be configured to output an error sound or the like to notify the player of this.

[0151] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, a configuration was described in which an earphone-in-use icon is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. The inter-machine card processing machine and machine lamp can also be configured to notify the player of conditions for canceling pairing before or during pairing (for example, when the paired earphones and the inter-machine card processing machine are separated by a predetermined distance, when the paired gaming machine has not been operated for a certain period of time, when the gaming machine is turned off, etc.).

[0152] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, a configuration was described in which an earphone-in-use icon is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones, but the present invention is not limited to this. The inter-machine card processing machine and machine lamp can also be configured to notify the player that the pairing has been canceled when the pairing is canceled (for example, when the paired earphones and the inter-machine card processing machine are separated by a predetermined distance, when the paired gaming machine has not been operated for a certain period of time, when the gaming machine is turned off, etc.).

[0153] [Embodiment 2] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0154] It is also possible to configure the prize management device to display information about the gaming machine and the player who has started using the earphones when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones. In this second embodiment, a gaming system is described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with the earphones, information about the gaming machine and the player who has started using the earphones is displayed on the prize management device.

[0155] <Outline of the gaming system according to the second embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the second embodiment will be described below. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the second embodiment.

[0156] 10, in the gaming system according to the second embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE module 27 (S11), the gaming machine 20 notifies the management device 110 of earphone connection information (S12). At this time, the earphone connection information includes the gaming machine number and the card ID. The notification order of earphone connection information includes the following notification orders: gaming machine 20 → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processing machine 100 → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processing machine 100 → relay device → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processing machine 100 → machine lamp 40 → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processing machine 100 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 110, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → hall computer → management device 110, etc.

[0157] When the management device 110 receives the earphone connection information, it extracts the member information of the player from the card ID included in the earphone connection information, and generates additional earphone connection information to which the extracted information is added (S13).

[0158] The management device 110 notifies the prize management device 120 of the generated earphone connection additional information (S14). When the prize management device 120 receives the earphone connection additional information, it displays a message that earphones are being used (S15). For example, it displays "Number 11, Member, Tokkyo Taro, Audio output function usage started."

[0159] The target for generating the additional earphone connection information is not limited to members, but may also be non-member players. The display indicating that a non-member player is using earphones may display, for example, "Machine 11, General, Visitor, Audio output function in use." The notification destination of the generated additional earphone connection information is not limited to the prize management device 120, but may also be a device that can be carried by an employee, such as an intercom, smartphone, tablet, or wearable device.

[0160] Furthermore, when there are multiple players using earphones, the prize management device 120 may display a list. For example, the list may be displayed in the order of the gaming machine numbers indicating that earphones are being used, or may be displayed by superimposing information indicating that earphones are being used on a layout diagram (a so-called island diagram) of the gaming parlor.

[0161] As described above, in the gaming system of this embodiment 2, when a gaming machine is paired with earphones, information about the gaming machine and the player who has started using the earphones is displayed on the prize management device, so that when a player is playing while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, employees of the gaming facility can efficiently speak to the player.

[0162] [Embodiment 3] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0163] When earphones are available on the gaming machine, the gaming machine may be configured to display this information on the inter-machine card processing machine. In this third embodiment, a gaming system will be described in which, when earphones are available on the gaming machine, the inter-machine card processing machine displays this information.

[0164] <Outline of the gaming system according to the third embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the third embodiment will be described below. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the third embodiment.

[0165] 11, in the gaming system according to the third embodiment, at a predetermined time (for example, when opening preparations begin), the management device 210 notifies the inter-machine card processor 200 of gaming machine information of the associated gaming machine 20 (S21). For example, the management device 210 notifies the inter-machine card processor 200 to which the eleventh gaming machine 20 is associated that audio output is "possible" and the output category is "wireless." Note that the inter-machine card processor 200 may be configured to determine whether audio output is possible and the output category of the gaming machine 20 based on information acquired from the gaming machine 20.

[0166] When the inter-machine card processing machine 200 receives the gaming machine information, it displays the fact that earphones can be used, including the output type, based on the received information (S22). For example, it displays "Bluetooth available" and also displays an earphone icon. Note that if the output type is "wired," it displays "earphone jack available." The earphone icon may also differ depending on the output type. For example, if the output type is "wireless," it displays an icon of just earphones, and if the output type is "wired," it displays an icon of earphones with a cable. Note that the display that earphones can be used may be fixed on the initial menu screen, or may be displayed on a screen that changes at predetermined intervals, such as a screen saver. The display of the fixed display on the initial menu screen or the screen that changes at predetermined intervals may be selectable by a setting operation in the management device 210 or the inter-machine card processing machine 200.

[0167] As described above, in the gaming system according to the third embodiment, when earphones are available on a gaming machine, this fact is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, so that when a player is playing while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, the staff of the gaming establishment can efficiently speak to the player.

[0168] In the third embodiment, when earphones are available on the gaming machine, a message to that effect is displayed on the machine-to-machine card processor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When earphones are available on the gaming machine, a message to that effect can also be displayed on the machine lamp.

[0169] In the third embodiment, a configuration was described in which, when earphones are available on the gaming machine, a message to that effect is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When earphones are available on the gaming machine, the inter-machine card processing machine may be configured to display text indicating that earphones are available. Furthermore, the fact that earphones are available may be indicated by changing the color of the LEDs emitted by the status display unit or machine lamp of the inter-machine card processing machine, or by changing the lighting or flashing pattern.

[0170] [Embodiment 4] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0171] When a member has a history of earphone use a predetermined number of times or more, if the gaming machine on which this member plays is a model that allows the use of earphones, the system can be configured to display this fact on the inter-machine card processing machine.In this fourth embodiment, a gaming system will be described in which when a member has a history of earphone use a predetermined number of times or more, if the gaming machine on which this member plays is a model that allows the use of earphones, the system will display this fact on the inter-machine card processing machine.

[0172] <Outline of the gaming system according to the fourth embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the fourth embodiment will be described below. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the fourth embodiment.

[0173] 12, in the gaming system according to the fourth embodiment, when a membership card is inserted into the machine-to-machine card processor 300 (S31), a card insertion notification is sent to the management device 400 (S32). Note that the determination of membership is not limited to the insertion of a membership card, and may also be made by acquiring biometric information such as the face and skeletal structure of a player using an imaging means.

[0174] The management device 400 uses the card ID included in the received card insertion notification to determine whether the number of times the voice output function has been used is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (S33). For example, if the predetermined number is three and the actual number of times used is five, it is determined that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predetermined number. The period covered by the predetermined number of times may be the cumulative number of times used since becoming a member or the number of times used within a predetermined period (seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc.).

[0175] If the management device 400 determines that the number is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, it notifies the gaming machine information to the inter-machine card processor 300 (S34). Then, the inter-machine card processor 300 displays a message indicating that earphones are available for use based on the received gaming machine information (S35). Note that if earphones are not available for use on the gaming machine 20, the message indicating that earphones are available for use is not displayed. Note that the management device 400 may be configured to determine that the number of inter-machine card processors 300 or machine lamps is equal to or greater than the predetermined number.

[0176] <Configuration of management device 400 according to the fourth embodiment> Next, the configuration of the management device 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. Fig. 13 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the management device 400 according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 13, the management device 400 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52, and has an external network communication unit 53, a store network communication unit 54, a storage unit 410, and a control unit 420. Note that a description of functional units similar to those of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 7 will be omitted.

[0177] The storage unit 410 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory, and stores card management data 55 a, device management data 411, member management data 55 c, and usage count data 412.

[0178] The device management data 411 is data related to devices installed in the gaming establishment. The usage count data 412 is data indicating the number of times a customer has used the earphones.

[0179] The control unit 420 is a control unit that performs overall control of the management device 400, and includes a card management unit 56a, a device management unit 56b, a member management unit 56c, a usage count data management unit 421, and a gaming machine information notification unit 422. In practice, by loading these programs into a CPU and executing them, the card management unit 56a, the device management unit 56b, the member management unit 56c, the usage count data management unit 421, and the gaming machine information notification unit 422 will execute their respective corresponding processes.

[0180] The usage count data management unit 421 is a processing unit that manages the usage count data 412. When the usage count data management unit 421 receives earphone connection information from the inter-machine card processing machine 300, it identifies the card ID inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 300. If the identified card ID is a membership card, it adds 1 to the number of uses in the usage count data 412 corresponding to this card ID.

[0181] The gaming machine information notifying unit 422 is a processing unit that notifies the gaming machine information to the inter-machine card processing machine 300. When the gaming machine information notifying unit 422 receives a card insertion notification from the inter-machine card processing machine 300, it identifies the number of uses corresponding to the card ID included in the card insertion notification from the number of uses data 412. Then, if the identified number of uses is a predetermined number (for example, three times) or more, it notifies the inter-machine card processing machine 300 of the gaming machine information of the gaming machine 20 corresponding to the inter-machine card processing machine 300.

[0182] Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 410 of the management device 400 shown in Fig. 13 will be described. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the device management data 411 and the number of uses data 412 shown in Fig. 13.

[0183] The device management data 411 shown in Figure 14(a) associates the following states with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with ID "A101", the installation location is "Island 1-1", the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B201", the gaming machine number is "11", the game type is "Ball 1", the model of the gaming machine 20 is "EV01", the serial number is "a", the operating status is "In use", the audio output is "Enabled", and the output category is "Wireless".

[0184] Furthermore, the device management data 411 associates the inter-machine card processing machine 10 with ID "A201" with the following states: its installation location is "Island 2-1", the ID of the connected gaming machine 20 is "B506", the gaming machine number is "21", the game type is "Ball 3", the model of the gaming machine 20 is "DX03", the serial number is "g", the operating status is "In use", the audio output is "Not possible", and the output category is "-".

[0185] The usage count data 412 shown in FIG. 14(b) associates the card ID "2015" with a usage count of "5 times", and associates the card ID "2032" with a usage count of "2 times".

[0186] As described above, in the gaming system of this embodiment 4, if a member has a history of using earphones a predetermined number of times or more, and the gaming machine on which this member is playing is a model that allows the use of earphones, this fact is displayed on the machine-to-machine card processing machine. Therefore, when a player plays while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, it becomes possible for the staff of the gaming facility to efficiently speak to the player.

[0187] In the above fourth embodiment, when a member has used earphones a predetermined number of times or more, if the gaming machine on which the member plays is a model that allows the use of earphones, a message to that effect is displayed on the machine-to-machine card processing machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When a member has used earphones a predetermined number of times or more, if the gaming machine on which the member plays is a model that allows the use of earphones, a message to that effect can also be displayed on the machine lamp.

[0188] Furthermore, in the above-described fourth embodiment, when a member has used earphones a predetermined number of times or more, if the gaming machine on which the member plays is a model that allows the use of earphones, a message to that effect is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If earphones are available on the gaming machine, the inter-machine card processing machine may be configured to display text indicating that earphones are available. Alternatively, the message that earphones are available may be notified by audio.

[0189] [Embodiment 5] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0190] It is also possible to configure the gaming machine so that if a message display condition is met while earphones are being used on the gaming machine, a predetermined message is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine. In this embodiment 5, a gaming system is described in which if a message display condition is met while earphones are being used on the gaming machine, a predetermined message is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine.

[0191] <Outline of the gaming system according to the fifth embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the fifth embodiment will be described below. Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the fifth embodiment.

[0192] 15, in the gaming system according to the fifth embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE module 27 (S41), the earphone connection information is notified to the management device 50 (S42). The notification order of the earphone connection information includes the following notification orders: gaming machine 20 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 500 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 500 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 500 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 500 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → hall computer → management device 50, etc.

[0193] When the management device 50 receives the earphone connection information, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 500 of this earphone connection information (S43). After receiving the earphone connection information, the inter-machine card processor 500 displays a predetermined message if the message display condition is met (S44). Note that the inter-machine card processor 500 is not limited to a configuration in which it receives earphone connection information from the management device 50, and may be configured to receive earphone connection information directly from the gaming machine 20.

[0194] For example, if the message display condition is "15 minutes before closing," and the current time is 15 minutes before closing, the message "15 minutes before closing" will be displayed.

[0195] When the message is displayed, an "OK" button may also be displayed, and unless this button is pressed, operations (for example, lending, replaying, returning a card, leaving a seat, taking a break, calling an employee, etc.) on the inter-machine card processing machine 500 will not be accepted. Also, once the message display conditions are met, it may be possible to configure the inter-machine card processing machine 500 so that whether or not to display a predetermined message can be switched depending on the selection made by the player's operation on the inter-machine card processing machine 500 or the employee's operation on the management device 50.

[0196] As described above, in the gaming system of this embodiment 5, if the message display conditions are met while earphones are being used on the gaming machine, a predetermined message is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine. Therefore, when a player plays while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, it becomes possible for the staff of the gaming establishment to efficiently speak to the player.

[0197] In the above-mentioned embodiment 5, a configuration was described in which a predetermined message is displayed on the machine-to-machine card processor if the message display condition is met while earphones are being used on the gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the gaming machine so that a predetermined message is displayed on the machine lamp if the message display condition is met while earphones are being used on the gaming machine.

[0198] [Embodiment 6] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0199] It is also possible to configure the gaming machine so that if a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine while earphones are being used, a predetermined message corresponding to this remote control operation is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine. In this sixth embodiment, a gaming system will be described in which, if a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine, a predetermined message corresponding to this remote control operation is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine.

[0200] <Outline of the gaming system according to the sixth embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the sixth embodiment will be described below. Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the sixth embodiment.

[0201] 16, in the gaming system according to the sixth embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE module 27 (S51), the earphone connection information is notified to the management device 50 (S52). The notification order of the earphone connection information includes the following notification orders: gaming machine 20 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 600 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 600 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 600 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 600 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → hall computer → management device 50, etc.

[0202] When the management device 50 receives the earphone connection information, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 600 of the earphone connection information (S53). Note that the inter-machine card processor 600 is not limited to a configuration in which it receives earphone connection information from the management device 50, and may be configured to receive earphone connection information directly from the gaming machine 20.

[0203] After the inter-machine card processing machine 600 receives the earphone connection information, if a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine 600 (S54), the inter-machine card processing machine 600 displays a predetermined message in response to the remote control operation (S55). For example, it may display, "An employee will contact you later to provide recommendations on membership registration." When the message is displayed, it may also display, for example, an "OK" or "Confirm" button, and operations on the inter-machine card processing machine 600 (for example, lending, replaying, returning a card, leaving your seat, taking a break, calling an employee, etc.) may not be accepted unless this button is pressed.

[0204] The device used to operate the inter-machine card processing machine 600 is not limited to a remote control, and may be any device portable by the employee, such as a smartphone, tablet, or wearable device. Furthermore, when an employee provides cigarettes or coffee (a so-called cart service), the inter-machine card processing machine 600 may display a predetermined message in response to the remote control operation. For example, it may display, "Your order has been received. Your coffee has just been brought to you."

[0205] As described above, in the gaming system of this embodiment 6, when a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine, a predetermined message corresponding to this remote control operation is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, so that when a player plays while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, the staff of the gaming facility can efficiently speak to the player.

[0206] In the sixth embodiment, a configuration was described in which, when a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine, a predetermined message corresponding to this remote control operation is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the machine so that, when a remote control operation is performed on the inter-machine card processing machine, a predetermined message corresponding to this remote control operation is displayed on the machine lamp.

[0207] [Embodiment 7] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0208] It is also possible to configure the inter-machine card processing machine to stop audio output when earphones are being used on the gaming machine. In this embodiment 7, a gaming system will be described in which the inter-machine card processing machine stops audio output when earphones are being used on the gaming machine.

[0209] <Outline of the gaming system according to the seventh embodiment> An outline of the gaming system according to the seventh embodiment will be described below. Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the seventh embodiment.

[0210] 17, in the gaming system according to the seventh embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE module 27 (S61), the earphone connection information is notified to the management device 50 (S62). The notification order of the earphone connection information includes the following notification orders: gaming machine 20 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 700 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 700 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 700 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → inter-machine card processor 700 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → management device 50, gaming machine 20 → machine lamp 40 → relay device → hall computer → management device 50, etc.

[0211] When the management device 50 receives the earphone connection information, it notifies the inter-machine card processor 700 of the earphone connection information (S63). When the inter-machine card processor 700 receives the earphone connection information, it stops audio output from a speaker (not shown) (S64).

[0212] The inter-machine card processing machine 700 is not limited to a configuration that stops audio output when earphone connection information is received from the management device 50, but may be configured to stop audio output when earphone connection information is received from the gaming machine 20. In other words, the inter-machine card processing machine 700 is configured to determine whether to stop audio output and then stop the audio output. Whether audio output from the speaker is stopped may be switchable depending on the selection made by a player's operation on the inter-machine card processing machine 700 or an employee's operation on the management device 50.

[0213] As described above, in the gaming system of this embodiment 7, when earphones are being used on the gaming machine, the audio output is stopped in the inter-machine card processing machine, so that when a player is playing while using the audio output function of the gaming machine, the employees of the gaming establishment can efficiently speak to the player.

[0214] In the seventh embodiment described above, a configuration was described in which audio output from the inter-machine card processing machine is stopped when earphones are being used with the gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the machine lamp to stop audio output when earphones are being used with the gaming machine. Furthermore, when the inter-machine card processing machine or the machine lamp has stopped audio output, the display of the inter-machine card processing machine or the machine lamp may be configured to display a message that makes it clear that audio output has been stopped. Specifically, this may involve displaying text (e.g., "Audio guidance stopped" or "In silent mode") or a mark (e.g., a diagonal line through the microphone logo), or changing the color of the LED or changing the light emission pattern, such as lighting up or flashing.

[0215] [Embodiment 8] Incidentally, in the above embodiment 1, a configuration was described in which, when the gaming machine is paired with earphones, an icon indicating that earphones are in use is displayed on the inter-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0216] The number of times earphones are used on gaming machines can also be counted by model. In the eighth embodiment, a gaming system that counts the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model will be described.

[0217] <Outline of gaming system according to embodiment 8> An outline of the gaming system according to the eighth embodiment will be described below. Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the outline of the gaming system according to the eighth embodiment.

[0218] As shown in FIG. 18, in the gaming system according to the eighth embodiment, when the gaming machine 20 is paired with the earphones 80 by the built-in BLE module 27 (S71), the earphone connection information is notified to the management device 900 (S72).

[0219] When the management device 900 receives the earphone connection information, it tallies the number of times the audio output function has been used by model (S73) and stores the number of times the function has been used in the model-specific usage count data. This model-specific usage count data can be used to understand the earphone usage needs for each model.

[0220] <Configuration of management device 900 according to embodiment 8> Next, the configuration of a management device 900 according to the eighth embodiment will be described. Fig. 19 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the management device 900 according to the eighth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 19, the management device 900 is connected to a display unit 51 and an input unit 52, and has an external network communication unit 53, a store network communication unit 54, a storage unit 910, and a control unit 920. Note that a description of functional units similar to those of the management device 50 shown in Fig. 7 will be omitted.

[0221] The storage unit 910 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory, and stores card management data 55a, device management data 55b, member management data 55c, and model-specific usage count data 911. The model-specific usage count data 911 is data indicating the number of times earphones have been connected and used for each model.

[0222] The control unit 920 is a control unit that performs overall control of the management device 900, and includes a card management unit 56a, a device management unit 56b, a member management unit 56c, a usage count data management unit 921, and a display control unit 922. In practice, by loading these programs into a CPU and executing them, the card management unit 56a, the device management unit 56b, the member management unit 56c, the usage count data management unit 921, and the display control unit 922 will execute their respective corresponding processes.

[0223] The usage count data management unit 921 is a processing unit that manages the model-specific usage count data 911. When the usage count data management unit 921 receives earphone connection information from the inter-machine card processor 800, it identifies the model of the gaming machine associated with this inter-machine card processor 300. Then, it adds 1 to the number of uses in the model-specific usage count data 911 corresponding to the identified model.

[0224] The display control unit 922 is a processing unit that controls the display of the model-specific usage count data 911. When the display control unit 922 receives a display instruction for the model-specific usage count from the input unit 52, it displays the contents of the model-specific usage count data 911 on the display unit 51. Note that the display control unit 922 may be configured to be able to output data such as the model-specific usage count data 911 as a file (for example, in CSV format) based on a predetermined operation by an employee of the gaming establishment.

[0225] Next, an example of data stored in the storage unit 910 of the management device 900 shown in Fig. 19 will be described. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the model-specific usage count data 911 shown in Fig. 19.

[0226] The model-specific usage count data 911 shown in FIG. 20 associates the model "EV01" with a usage count of "35 times," and the model "DX03" with a usage count of "23 times."

[0227] As described above, the gaming system according to the eighth embodiment is configured to count the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model, so that when a player plays while using the audio output function of a gaming machine, the staff of the gaming establishment can efficiently speak to the player. Furthermore, by counting and analyzing the data, it is possible to obtain an effect of understanding to what extent the audio output function of the gaming machine is being used by the player.

[0228] In the above eighth embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the management device acquires earphone connection information from the machine-to-machine card processing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. The management device can also be configured to acquire earphone connection information from devices such as machine lamps, relay devices, hall controls, etc. Furthermore, the device that acquires and tallys the earphone connection information is not limited to the management device, but may be a prize management device (POS) or an employee terminal (tablet), etc.

[0229] Furthermore, in the above-described eighth embodiment, a configuration for counting the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the system to count the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model after dividing members into general customers and members. Even for the same member, the system may be configured to count the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model after dividing members into preferred members (so-called VIPs) and non-preferential members set by the gaming establishment. It may also be configured to count the number of times earphones are used on gaming machines by model, based on various member information or member game information such as gender, age, address, number of visits in a specified period, investment amount, number of prize exchanges, number of acquired media acquired through games, and number of saved game media currently held. Furthermore, the system may be configured to count the number of times by gaming machine specifications (for example, medium type and light-middle type for pachinko, ART type and normal type for slots, etc.) or manufacturer.

[0230] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, a configuration in which earphones are paired one-to-one with a gaming machine has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The earphones can also be configured to be paired simultaneously with multiple devices / terminals, such as gaming machines and mobile terminals. In this case, the earphones can simultaneously output audio from the gaming machine and the mobile terminal.

[0231] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention has been described as being applied to a gaming system related to a smart pachinko machine that uses gaming balls as gaming media, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be configured to be applied to a gaming system related to a smart pachislot machine. Note that the gaming machine is not limited to a smart pachinko machine or a smart pachislot machine, and may be a gaming machine that can pay out gaming media to the outside.

[0232] Furthermore, the configurations illustrated in the above embodiments are merely functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of the devices can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc. [Industrial Applicability]

[0233] The machine devices, gaming systems, and notification methods of the present invention are suitable for enabling gaming establishment employees to efficiently speak to players when the players use the audio output function of the gaming machine while playing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0234] 10 machine-to-machine card processing machines 11 Status display section 12 Banknote transport section 12a Bill insertion slot 13 Display operation section 14 Reader / Writer 14a Card slot 15 Communications Department 16 Memory section 16a Device status data 16b Card Data 17 Control Unit 17a Data Management Department 17b Transfer section 17c Display control unit 18 Gaming Management Department 18a Authentication processing section 18b Authentication key management unit 18c Gaming Machine Status Management Department 20 Gaming machines 21 Handle 22 Count button 23 Communication control section 24 Production Control Unit 24a Design lottery section 24b Production Lottery Section 24c Audio output control unit 25 Game control unit 26 Game ball control unit 26a Game Ball Management Department 27 BLE modules 30 Island Controller 40 lamps 50 Management device 51 Display section 52 Input section 53 External Network Communication Section 54 Store Network Communications Department 55 Storage section 55a Card Management Data 55b Equipment Management Data 55c Membership Management Data 55d Transfer setting data 56 Control Unit 56a Card Management Department 56b Equipment management department 56c Membership Management Department 56d Transfer Settings 56e Transfer Unit 60 Prize Management Device 70 Payment machine 100-unit card processing machine 110 Management device 120 Prize Management Device 200 card processing machines 210 Management device 300 card processing machines 400 Management device 410 Storage section 411 Equipment Management Data 412 Usage data 420 Control Unit 421 Usage Data Management Department 422 Gaming Machine Information Notification Department 500 card processing machines 600 card processing machines 610 Remote Control 700 card processing machines 800 card processing machines 900 Management device 910 Storage section 911 Number of uses by model 920 Control Unit 921 Usage Data Management Department 922 Display control unit

Claims

1. Each machine device is provided in a communicable relationship with a gaming machine having an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device attached to the outer ear of a player, an acquisition means for acquiring usage status information indicating whether or not the audio output unit of the gaming machine is in use; a notification means for notifying information as to whether or not it is possible to call out to a player playing on the gaming machine based on at least the usage status information; Each stand device is characterized by comprising:

2. The acquisition means 2. Each machine device according to claim 1, wherein the usage status information is acquired from the gaming machine or a predetermined management device.

3. The notification means 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined operation display unit displays information indicating whether or not it is possible to call out to a player playing on the gaming machine.

4. The notification means Each machine device as described in claim 3, characterized in that information as to whether or not it is possible to speak to a player playing on the gaming machine is displayed on the operation display unit using a predetermined character string, a predetermined mark, or a predetermined icon.

5. The notification means 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine instructs a predetermined machine lamp to display information indicating whether or not it is possible to call out to a player playing on the gaming machine.

6. The audio output device 6. The individual machine devices according to claim 1, wherein the individual machine devices are earphones connected to the audio output terminals of the audio output units of the gaming machines by wire or wirelessly.

7. A gaming system having each machine device attached to a gaming machine, a management device capable of communicating with each machine device, and a machine lamp that displays the status of the gaming machine, Each of the platform devices or the platform lamps is an acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the gaming machine from the gaming machine or the management device; a notification means for notifying, based on the information acquired by the acquisition means, information as to whether or not the gaming machine has an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the outer ear of the player; A gaming system comprising:

8. A notification method for each machine device that is communicably connected to a gaming machine having an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on a player's outer ear, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring usage status information indicating whether or not the audio output unit of the gaming machine is in use; a notification step of notifying information on whether or not it is possible to call out to a player playing on the gaming machine based on at least the usage status information; A notification method comprising:

9. A notification method in a gaming system having each machine device attached to a gaming machine, a management device capable of communicating with each machine device, and a machine lamp that displays the status of the gaming machine, an acquisition step in which each of the machine devices or the machine lamps acquires information related to the gaming machine from the gaming machine or the management device; a notification step of notifying the player of whether or not the gaming machine has an audio output unit that outputs audio to an audio output device worn on the player's outer ear, based on the information acquired by the acquisition step; A notification method comprising:

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