Management system

Abstract

To provide a management system capable of providing useful information to a player.SOLUTION: A system has a management server which can communicate with a plurality of game machine, or a portable terminal machine through a communication network, and the system can confirm the number of stored balls by an operation of the portable terminal machine. The system identifies a game machine on which a game is played using game media (stored balls) stored in a stored ball information storage part, and the management server transmits game result information of the game machine on which a game is performed using the game media (stored balls) with the number of stored balls, to the portable terminal machine, with respect to a request of stored ball confirmation from the portable terminal machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 73

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention , Pipe relates to a management system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines such as pachislot machines and pachinko machines A management system is known that includes a management means capable of communicating information regarding a pipe and a gaming device provided for a gaming machine.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] The present invention Capable of updating information regarding gaming value aims to provide a management system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following configuration. (I) A management system comprising management means capable of communicating information related to a gaming machine via a communication network with an external information device, and a gaming device provided for the gaming machine, wherein the gaming device As a result of the game in the gaming machine, the player has comprises count value control means capable of executing control according to a count value of the amount of gaming value, and the management means comprises information storage means capable of storing information related to gaming value, reception control means capable of executing control to receive predetermined information from the information device, transmission control means capable of executing control to transmit the information stored in the information storage means to the information device that is the transmission source of the predetermined information based on the predetermined information received by the reception control means, update control means capable of updating the information stored in the information storage means, and as information that can be stored by the information storage means, gaming value amount information corresponding to the amount of gaming value is provided, and the update control means can update the gaming value amount information without being conditioned on receiving the predetermined information from the information device, The transmission control means includes a transmission restriction control means capable of restricting the transmission of information to the information device until the update of the information stored in the information storage means by the update control means is completed. The gaming device can execute predetermined control that enables the use of gaming values in the gaming machine, and can prevent the execution of the predetermined control during a period in which the transmission of information to the information device is restricted. Based on the predetermined information received by the reception control means, the transmission control means can execute control to transmit the information stored in the information storage means to the information device that is the transmission source of the predetermined information without passing through the gaming device. A management system characterized by the above. (II) The management system according to (I) above, The update control means can update the information stored in the information storage means within a predetermined period. When the transmission restriction control means receives the predetermined information from the information device during the predetermined period, it can restrict the transmission of information to the information device until the update of the information stored in the information storage means by the update control means is completed. Characterized by the above.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, Capable of updating information regarding gaming value It becomes possible to provide a management system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] <First Embodiment>

[0024] [Explanation of the Management System According to the First Embodiment]

[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, an overview of the management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to include various devices such as a hall computer 100, a gaming machine 10, a sand device 20, an island end counting device 400, a POS 500, and a hall management terminal 600, which are arranged in a hall store.

[0026] The hall computer 100 of the management system 1 receives a predetermined request from smartphones 700 (700a, 700b) owned by hall members (users) of the hall store via a network 50 composed of, for example, the Internet and a wireless public line network, and transmits various information corresponding to the request thus received to the smartphone 700 via the network 50. A hall member is a player who expects to play on the gaming machine 10 in the hall store.

[0027] The hall computer 100 of the management system 1 also accumulates and manages the gaming information of players who play games using the gaming machine 10 in the hall store. For example, it manages the gaming media obtained by the player as stored balls, stored medals (or, held balls, held medals), or manages the operating status of each gaming machine 10. Further, the hall computer 100 controls devices such as the POS 500 so that the player can exchange prizes desired by the player according to the value of the gaming media obtained by the player.

[0028] The hall computer 100 further includes a hall DB 150, in which tables for storing various data necessary for realizing the management system 1 are stored.

[0029] The gaming machine 10 is, for example, a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine. By playing games using these, a player acquires game media (pachinko balls or medals). In this specification, for the sake of convenience, either type of gaming machine may be described. In such a case, the game media will also be described as the game media corresponding to the gaming machine. However, even in such a case, the present invention is not limited to either type of gaming machine.

[0030] The gaming machine 10 is connected to the hall computer 100 and transmits information regarding the gaming situation and the number of game media to the hall computer 100 as described above. The sand device 20 is also connected to the hall computer 100 and, in response to the operation of the player, performs lending of game media by a membership card, control of held balls and stored balls, control of counting, etc.

[0031] In the first embodiment, one sand device 20 is associated with one gaming machine 10, and each is connected to the hall computer 100. However, for example, it can also be configured such that information transmitted from the gaming machine 10 to the hall computer 100 is performed via the sand device 20.

[0032] The island end counting device 400 is a device that counts the number of balls (medals) acquired by the player and is arranged at the end of an "island" where a plurality of gaming machines 10 are collectively arranged. In addition to such an island end counting device 400, as a sand device with a counting function for each unit and other counting devices, they can be arranged at various locations within the hall store. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the counting device is incorporated into each sand device 20 and arranged as the island end counting device 400.

[0033] The POS500 is installed at the counter or the like of the hall store, and the staff of the hall store operates this POS500 to handle prize exchanges for players. For example, the receipt issued by the above-mentioned island end counting device 400 is received from the player and read into the POS500 (or the counted value, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls of the gaming medium transmitted from the sand device 20 by the membership card or the like presented by the player are read), and prizes of corresponding values are provided to the player.

[0034] In this way, in the hall store, due to the function of the POS500, exchanges are made between the over-the-counter prizes (general prizes) and special prizes arranged at the over-the-counter prize display corner of the hall store.

[0035] The hall management terminal 600 is arranged in the hall store, and predetermined operations such as setting operations are performed by the administrator or the like of the hall store.

[0036] Also, in the first embodiment, predetermined information is transmitted from the management system 1 to the smartphones 700 (700a, 700b) owned by the hall members of the hall store, but other portable terminal devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, feature phones, tablet terminals, and mobile PCs may also be used.

[0037] Also, in this embodiment, the membership card distributed to the players who play games in the hall store is, for example, a contactless IC card equipped with a contactless IC chip based on the short-range wireless communication standard (NFC: Near Field Communication). The sand device 20 and the POS500 can identify the card (the player of that card) by reading the unique ID of the player's contactless IC card with a contactless IC card reader or the like.

[0038] Note that the configuration of the management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and a similar system can be constructed with various other configurations. For example, the hall computer 100 can be divided into a plurality of computers according to functions and the like. Further, the management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be constructed in each hall store, and data can be transmitted and received between the plurality of management systems 1 to achieve cooperation between the hall stores regarding predetermined functions and services. Such cooperation can be realized not only between hall stores with the same operator but also between hall stores with different operators.

[0039] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the gaming machine 10 and the sand device 20 used in the management system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the gaming machine 10 with the sand device 20 installed beside it. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the sand device 20. Further, in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 10a is shown as a pachislot machine, and the gaming machine 10b is shown as a pachinko machine.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the sand device 20a is installed beside the right side of the gaming machine 10a, and the sand device 20b is installed beside the right side of the gaming machine 10b, respectively. Each sand device 20 (20a, 20b) is installed corresponding to the adjacent gaming machine 10 (10a, 10b). Further, each gaming machine 10 and the sand device 20 are communicably connected to the hall computer 100 that manages the system of the entire hall, sales, gaming status, and the like.

[0041] Hereinafter, the gaming machine 10a and the sand device 20a will be described, and the description of the gaming machine 10b and the sand device 20b will be omitted. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the front surface portion 21 of the sand device 20a, there are provided an LED (light-emitting diode) portion 31, a card insertion slot 32, a bill insertion slot 33 into which bills can be inserted, an operation unit 34 composed of a touch panel LCD (liquid crystal display), a camera 35, a non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, a medal (game medium) payout tray 37, a speaker cover 38, a medal (game medium) counting insertion port 39, and the like. The card insertion slot 32 is an insertion slot capable of receiving an information card issued by, for example, a hole card issuer (not shown). The LED portion 31 is composed of a full-color LED 31A and an infrared LED (infrared light-emitting diode) 31B.

[0042] By inserting an information card (for example, an IC card) or a bill of a predetermined amount into the card insertion slot 32 or the bill insertion slot 33, the player can receive the lending of medals as game media necessary for the game. Also, by holding a non-contact IC card over the non-contact IC card reader / writer 36, the player can receive the lending of medals necessary for the game.

[0043] Upon receiving the insertion of an information card or a bill, or the presentation of a non-contact IC card, the sand device 20a counts the number of medals corresponding to the amount of the inserted value medium by a payout hopper provided inside and pays them out from the medal payout tray 37. Also, when the sand device 20a receives the insertion of an information card with the number of available medals written thereon, it counts the number of medals corresponding to the number of medals written on the inserted information card by a payout hopper provided inside and pays them out from the medal payout tray 37. The player can play a game on the gaming machine 10 by inserting the medals paid out from the medal payout tray 37 into the medal insertion port 11 of the gaming machine 10a.

[0044] Here, in addition to the membership card described above, the contactless IC card includes other portable terminal devices such as a smartphone 700 with a built-in contactless IC chip, a mobile phone, a PDA, a feature phone, a tablet terminal, and a mobile PC.

[0045] Also, in the gaming machine 10a, medals are paid out to the medal payout tray 12 according to the result of the game. The player can scoop up the medals from the medal payout tray 12 and count the medals by inserting them into the medal counting insertion port 39 of the sand device 20a. The sand device 20a counts the medals inserted from the medal counting insertion port 39 by a counting hopper provided inside. In this way, since the sand device 20a is installed beside the gaming machine 10a and has the function of counting the medals paid out from the gaming machine 10a according to the result of the game, it is also called each unit counting device.

[0046] In the case of the gaming machine 10b (pachinko machine), pachinko balls are introduced into the counting insertion port of the sand device 20b. For example, when the player performs a predetermined operation to drop the pachinko balls paid out to the upper tray to the lower tray as a result of the game, the pachinko balls fall onto a guide tray attached below the lower tray. The guide tray guides the pachinko balls that have fallen from the lower tray to the counting insertion port provided in the sand device 20b. The pachinko balls introduced into the counting insertion port are counted by a counting unit provided inside the sand device 20b.

[0047] The counted result is recorded on the information card inserted from the card insertion slot 32, or stored in the hall DB150 provided in the hall computer 100 or in the membership card which is a contactless IC card. Also, the sand device 20a may be provided with a printer to print the counted result on a receipt. Information such as balance data may be stored in the information card or the contactless IC card.

[0048] The medals counted in the counting hopper are discharged from the discharge port provided at the bottom surface portion of the sand device 20a to the conveying conveyor and recovered. In a place where the conveying conveyor is not provided, a storage box for storing medals may be installed at the lower part of the sand device 20a, and the medals may be discharged to this storage box.

[0049] In the case of the gaming machine 10b (pachinko machine), the pachinko balls counted in the counting unit are discharged from the discharge port provided at the back surface portion of the sand device 20b and recovered. Further, a fractional supply unit is provided on the back side of the sand device 20b separately from the counting path of the pachinko balls thrown in from the counting insertion port, and is adapted to receive fractional pachinko balls from the outside. By this supply unit, a constant amount of fractional pachinko balls is always stored, and if necessary, they are paid out from the fractional payout port to the guide tray.

[0050] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation unit 34 of the sand device 20a will be described. The operation unit 34 includes a display 34a and a touch panel type operation button 34b. The operation button 34b is displayed as an image imitating various buttons, and receives the operation of the player according to the image. Specifically, the operation button 34b is displayed as an image imitating the operation buttons 34b corresponding to various processes such as "return", "lend", "count start", "hold ball payout", "count stop", "store ball", "service", "store ball payout", etc. The player can execute the desired process by touching the operation button 34b corresponding to the desired process.

[0051] For example, the operation button 34b for "lending" is the part to be operated when one wishes to lend medals by inserting an information card into the card insertion slot 32, holding a contactless IC card over the contactless IC card reader / writer 36, or inserting cash into the bill insertion slot 33. The operation button 34b for "counting start" is the part to be operated when counting medals by inserting them into the medal counting insertion port 39. The operation button 34b for "counting stop" is the part to be operated when stopping the counting after starting the medal counting. The operation button 34b for "return" is the part to be operated when returning the inserted information card. At this time, remaining balance information, held medals or stored medals, and, if necessary, a card ID are written on the information card.

[0052] By inserting an information card or a bill of a predetermined amount into the card insertion slot 32 or the bill insertion slot 33, the player can receive a loan of medals as game media necessary for the game. Also, by holding a membership card (contactless IC card) over the contactless IC card reader / writer 36, the player can receive a loan of medals necessary for the game.

[0053] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the configuration of the gaming machine 10 will be described. Here, as a representative of the gaming machine 10, the gaming machine 10a which is a pachislot machine will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the gaming machine 10a. The gaming machine 10a includes a main control circuit 250, a sub-control circuit 280, and peripheral devices (actuators) electrically connected thereto. The main control circuit 250 has a microcomputer 260 installed on a circuit board as a main component. The microcomputer 260 is composed of a main CPU 261, a main ROM 262, and a main RAM 263.

[0054] The main ROM 262 stores a control program executed by the main CPU 261, data tables such as an internal lottery table, and data for transmitting various control commands (commands) to the sub-control circuit 280. The main RAM 263 is provided with a storage area for storing various data such as internal winning lottery roles determined by the execution of the control program.

[0055] The main CPU 261 is connected to a clock pulse generation circuit 252, a frequency divider 253, a random number generator 254, and a sampling circuit 255. The clock pulse generation circuit 252 and the frequency divider 253 generate clock pulses. The main CPU 261 executes a control program based on the generated clock pulses. The random number generator 254 generates random numbers within a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 65535). The sampling circuit 255 extracts one value from the generated random numbers.

[0056] A switch or the like is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 260. The main CPU 261 receives the input from the switch or the like and controls the operations of peripheral devices such as the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R. The stop switch 312S, which is a stop operation detection means, detects that each of the three stop buttons 312L, 312C, and 312R has been pressed by the player (stop operation). Also, the start switch 310S, which is a start operation detection means, detects that the start lever has been operated by the player (start operation).

[0057] The medal sensor 290S detects that the medal received at the medal insertion port 11 (see FIG. 2) has passed through the selector. Also, the bet switch 332S detects that the bet button has been pressed by the player. Also, the settlement switch 334S detects that the settlement button has been pressed by the player. Also, the door sensor 335S detects that the door of the cabinet has been opened.

[0058] Peripheral devices whose operations are controlled by the microcomputer 260 include the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R, the 7-segment display 314, and the hopper 350. Also, a circuit for controlling the operations of each peripheral device is connected to the output port of the microcomputer 260.

[0059] The motor drive circuit 272 controls the driving of the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R provided corresponding to each reel 320L, 320C, and 320R. The reel position detection circuit 270 detects a reel index indicating that the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R have rotated one revolution by an optical sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, corresponding to each of the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R.

[0060] The stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R have a configuration in which the momentum is proportional to the number of output pulses and the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle. The driving force of the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R is transmitted to the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R via a gear having a predetermined reduction ratio. Each time one pulse is output to the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R, the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R rotate at a constant angle.

[0061] The main CPU 261 manages the rotation angle of the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R (mainly, how many symbols the reels have rotated) by counting the number of times pulses are output to the stepping motors 271L, 271C, and 271R after detecting the reel index, and manages the positions of each symbol arranged on the surfaces of the reels 320L, 320C, and 320R.

[0062] The display unit drive circuit 315 controls the operation of the 7-segment display 314. Also, the hopper drive circuit 352 controls the operation of the hopper 350. Also, the payout completion signal circuit 353 manages the detection of medals performed by the medal detection unit 351 provided in the hopper 350, and checks whether or not the number of medals discharged from the hopper 350 to the outside has reached the payout number.

[0063] The sub-control circuit 280 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 250, and performs processes such as determination and execution of production content based on commands transmitted from the main control circuit 250. The sub-control circuit 280 basically includes a sub-CPU, a sub-ROM, a sub-RAM, a rendering processor, a drawing RAM, a driver, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an audio RAM, and the like.

[0064] The sub-CPU controls the output of video, sound, and light according to the control program stored in the sub-ROM in response to the command transmitted from the main control circuit 250. The sub-RAM is provided with a storage area for registering the determined production content and production data, and a storage area for storing various data such as internal lottery data transmitted from the main control circuit 250. The sub-ROM is basically composed of a program storage area and a data storage area.

[0065] In addition, the sub-ROM stores production data for performing light-based production in a light-emitting production device (not shown). The sub-CPU causes the lamp 362 to emit light by outputting this production data based on a command from the main control circuit 250. The sub-ROM also stores production data for performing production by means of sound effects and images. The sub-CPU outputs this production data based on a command from the main control circuit 250, thereby outputting sound effects from the speaker 364 and displaying production images on the liquid crystal display device 360.

[0066] Here, an interface 264 is connected to the main control circuit 250, and the main CPU 261 transmits predetermined information to the hall computer 100 via the interface 264. For example, the main CPU 261 transmits accumulated information such as pachinko ball / medal input information and payout information to the hall computer 100. The pachinko ball / medal input information is, for example, the number of pachinko balls / medals inserted into the gaming machine 10a for gaming within a certain period. Also, the pachinko ball / medal payout information is, for example, the number of pachinko balls / medals paid out and the number of bonus occurrences. After the main CPU 261 transmits these accumulated information to the hall computer 100 last time, until the next transmission, these accumulated information are stored in the main RAM 263 and transmitted to the hall computer 100 at a certain timing. After the main CPU 261 transmits to the hall computer 100, it resets the accumulated information up to that point. Note that it is also possible to configure to transmit the accumulated information etc. to the sand device 20a, and have this sand device 20a transmit to the hall computer 100 at a predetermined timing as necessary.

[0067] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the configuration of the sand device 20a will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sand device 20a. The main CPU (central processing unit) 40 reads out the control program stored in the ROM (read only memory) 41 and executes processes such as medal lending. Various data related to the processes are stored in the RAM (random access memory) 42.

[0068] The main CPU 40 stores, as balance data, the amount data read from the information card via the information card reader / writer 22 or the amount data read from the contactless IC card via the contactless IC card reader / writer 23 in the RAM 42. Based on this balance data and the operation result output from the operation unit 34, when the amount specified by the player is smaller than the balance data, the main CPU 40 counts and pays out the specified amount of medals in the payout hopper 45, and updates the balance data by subtracting the amount of the medals paid out from the balance data. Note that the main CPU 40 can drive the payout hopper 45 by controlling the drive circuit 43.

[0069] The operation unit 34 also displays a button for returning the information card. When the player operates this operation button, the main CPU 40 returns the information card inserted in the information card reader / writer 22 from the card insertion slot 32 (corresponding to the card insertion slot 32 shown in FIG. 3).

[0070] Also, the main CPU 40 stores, as balance data, the banknote discrimination result output from the banknote discriminator (bill validator) 24 in the RAM 42. Based on this balance data and the operation result output from the operation unit 34, when the amount specified by the player is smaller than the balance data, the main CPU 40 counts and pays out the specified amount of medals in the payout hopper 45, and updates the balance data by subtracting the amount of the medals paid out from the balance data. Note that the main CPU 40 can drive the payout hopper 45 by controlling the drive circuit 43.

[0071] Also, the main CPU 40 uses the infrared LED 31B of the LED unit 31 as a monitoring projector, reflects the infrared light from the infrared LED 31B with the player, and images this with the camera 35. The main CPU 40 stores the image captured by the camera 35 in the RAM 42, and based on this image, detects the presence or replacement of the player. This detection process is performed constantly. When the state of the player changes to a non-detection (away from the seat) state and the information card inserted from the card insertion slot 32 remains inserted, or when there is a remaining balance in the amount data of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 33 (corresponding to the banknote insertion slot 33 shown in FIG. 3), the main CPU 40 can issue a warning sound or warning voice through the speaker 48 to draw the attention of the player who is about to leave the seat. As the warning voice, a voice such as "You have forgotten your card" is issued.

[0072] As described above, the main CPU 40 is configured to perform non-contact communication with the non-contact IC card via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 23. This communication method is, for example, an electromagnetic induction method with a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz. The main CPU 40 counts the number of medals corresponding to the amount data read from the non-contact IC card via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 23 by the payout hopper 45, pays them out from the medal payout tray 37 (corresponding to the medal payout tray 37 shown in FIG. 3), and rewrites the remaining balance data of the non-contact IC card.

[0073] Also, the main CPU 40 is configured to communicate with the hall computer 100 via the interface 47, and periodically transmits to the hall computer 100 the number of pachinko balls / medals paid out by the information card or non-contact IC card, etc., and the number of pachinko balls / medals stored in the information card or non-contact IC card, etc.

[0074] In addition, the main CPU 40 periodically captures the face image of the player via the camera 35 and stores it in the RAM 42. When the main CPU 40 compares the previously stored face image with the currently stored face image and determines that they are not of the same person, it determines that the player has changed and performs corresponding processing.

[0075] As described above, the gaming machine 10 is connected to the hall computer 100 so as to be able to transmit predetermined information, and the sand device 20 is connected to the hall computer 100 so as to be able to transmit and receive predetermined information therebetween. The hall computer 100 receives accumulation information (input and payout gaming medium number information) related to the number of gaming media such as pachinko ball and medal input information and payout information from the gaming machine 10, and further receives winning information indicating the winning status and operation information related to the operation of the gaming machine. In addition, the hall computer 100 receives information (moved gaming medium number information) related to the movement of pachinko balls and medals between the information card and the non-contact IC card from the sand device 20, and further, in some cases, receives face image information composed of the face image of the player acquired by the camera 35 and the face image analysis result.

[0076] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the configuration of the hall computer 100 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the hall computer 100.

[0077] The hall computer 100 includes a main CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an external storage device 104, a display 105, and an interface 106.

[0078] The main CPU 101 reads out and executes the control programs stored in the ROM 102 and the RAM 103. For example, the main CPU 101 manages the information of hall members, manages the number of stored medals and balls and the number of held medals and balls for each hall member, executes processing for managing the gaming status and the like of each hall member, and controls the display 105.

[0079] The display 105 is configured to display game data managed by the hall computer 100 or to notify of the occurrence of fraud or anomalies. This display 105 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display device.

[0080] The hall computer 100 is communicably connected to the gaming machine 10, the sand device 20, the island end counting device 400, and the POS 500 via the interface 106. The control program for implementing the present invention is stored, for example, in the external storage device 104 and loaded into the RAM 103. Further, the control program can also be provided from other devices via the interface 106 or from other external devices via a network including the Internet.

[0081] The external storage device 104 stores a hall DB 150, which stores information on hall members, information on stored medals and balls, and the like.

[0082] Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the configuration of the island end counting device 400 will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the island end counting device 400. The main CPU 401 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 402 and executes medal counting processing. Various data related to the processing is stored in the RAM 403.

[0083] When the player operates the operation unit 405 to instruct the start of the counting process, the main CPU 401 drives the counting hopper 407 by controlling the drive circuit 406 and counts the medals put into the counting hopper 407 by the player. The counting result is printed by the printer 404 and output as a receipt. The operation unit 405 is, for example, a small display (touch panel type display device), and the printer 404 is, for example, a thermal printer.

[0084] The main CPU 401 transmits the counting result to the whole computer 100 via the interface 408. Also, the main CPU 401 can control the speaker 409 to issue a warning sound or warning voice when the player's operation is inappropriate or the like.

[0085] Alternatively, the island end counting device 400 may be configured to be provided with a non-contact IC card reader / writer or the like, and store the counting result in a predetermined storage medium.

[0086] Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the configuration of the POS 500 will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the POS 500.

[0087] The POS 500 includes a main CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, an information card reader / writer 504, a non-contact IC card reader / writer 505, a barcode reader 506, a player-side display 507, a keyboard 508, a store-side display 509, and an interface 510. It can also be configured to include a speaker.

[0088] The main CPU 501 reads and executes the control programs stored in the ROM 502 and the RAM 503. For example, the main CPU 501 executes a prize exchange process in the whole store. The control program can also be provided from other devices via the interface 510 or from other external devices via a network including the Internet.

[0089] The main CPU 501 reads the receipt printed by the island end counting device 400 or the like with the barcode reader 506, and thereby obtains the counting result (the number of game media acquired) necessary for prize exchange. Also, when the counting result is registered on the information card or the non-contact IC card, the main CPU 501 can also obtain the counting result (including the number of game media held) via the information card reader / writer 504 or the non-contact IC card reader / writer 505.

[0090] The player display 507 is configured as a touch panel display that can be operated by a player, and the store display 509 is configured as a touch panel display that can be operated by a hall staff member. The player display 507 and the store display 509 can also be configured as a single display.

[0091] The main CPU 501 receives information about prizes (general prizes and special prizes in stock at the hall store) and other items for prize exchange specified by the staff via the store's display 509 or keyboard 508, and in response, transmits information about the number of prizes in stock and the player's gaming medium to the hall computer 100 (connected via interface 510).

[0092] Furthermore, if a speaker is provided, the main CPU 501 can control the speaker to emit a warning sound or warning voice when the player's operation is inappropriate.

[0093] Next, the configuration of the hall management terminal 600 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the hall management terminal 600. This hall management terminal 600 is a terminal installed in a hall store and connected to the hall computer 100, and predetermined operations are performed by the manager or staff of the hall store.

[0094] The hall control terminal 600 includes a main CPU 601, a ROM 602, a RAM 603, an external storage device 604, a display 605, a keyboard 606, a mouse 607, and an interface 608. It may also include a speaker.

[0095] The main CPU 601 reads and executes the control programs stored in the ROM 602 and the RAM 603. For example, the main CPU 601 executes setting processes related to predetermined items and transmits them to the hall computer 100 via the interface 608. The control programs can also be provided from other devices via the interface 608 or from other external devices via a network including the Internet.

[0096] The main CPU 601 displays on the display 605 a screen or the like for making settings related to predetermined items, receives instructions from the administrator of the hall store or the like via the keyboard 606 and the mouse 607, and transmits the instruction contents to the hall computer 100. Also, the display 605 can be configured as a touch panel display capable of touch operations. In that case, the setting process is performed by the touch operation of the administrator of the hall store or the like.

[0097] Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the configuration of the smartphone 700 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the smartphone 700. The smartphone 700 includes a main CPU 701, a ROM 702, a RAM 703, a camera 704, a wireless communication antenna 705, a GPS antenna 706, a display 707, a microphone 708, a speaker 709, and a sensor 710.

[0098] The main CPU 701 reads and executes the control programs stored in the ROM 702 or the RAM 703. For example, the main CPU 701 executes an application or a web browser downloaded via an external network, exchanges data with the hall computer 100 via a network such as the network 50 shown in FIG. 1, and executes each function of the management system 1 of the present embodiment.

[0099] The camera 704 is a small imaging device built into, for example, the smartphone 700, and the imaging element is composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like. The captured image (video or still image) captured by the camera 704 through the operation of the hall member is stored in the RAM 703 or the like under the control of the main CPU 701 and is used by a program as needed.

[0100] The main CPU 701 communicates with the mobile phone base station via the wireless communication antenna 705, transmits and receives call data to make a call with other devices, browses the web pages provided from other terminals via the Internet, and controls the transmission and reception of data related to SNS communication. Further, the main CPU 701 uses the wireless communication antenna 705 to realize wireless LAN communication with the wireless LAN access point and perform data transmission and reception via the Internet (the antenna used for wireless LAN communication is basically different from the antenna for communicating with the mobile phone base station, but here it is collectively referred to as the "wireless communication antenna").

[0101] Also, the main CPU 701 receives signals from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) via the GPS antenna 706 and detects the position of the smartphone 700. The position information obtained by such detection processing is stored in the RAM 703 or the like under the control of the main CPU 701 and is used by a program as needed.

[0102] The display 707 is composed of, for example, a touch panel LCD, and displays various screens for the hall member to instruct the functions to be executed by the smartphone 700 and input necessary information.

[0103] The microphone 708 and the speaker 709 perform audio input and output under the control of the main CPU 701, and enable voice calls by the mobile phone by performing audio signal processing under the control of the main CPU 701.

[0104] The sensor 710 is an acceleration sensor, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, etc. For example, in the case of an acceleration sensor, it can detect the inclination and movement of the smartphone 700.

[0105] Explanation of the configurations of other mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, feature phones, tablet terminals, and mobile PCs is omitted. Basically, they have the same configuration as the above-described smartphone 700.

[0106] Also, the smartphone 700 can be configured to incorporate a contactless IC chip. The internal data of the contactless IC chip is read by a reader such as a contactless IC card reader / writer. For example, the unique ID (IDm) that can identify the contactless IC chip and the data written in the storage area of the contactless IC chip can be read non - contact. Also, if necessary, data can be written non - contact into the storage area of the contactless IC chip.

[0107] [Functions of Each Device]

[0108] Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the functional overview of the hall computer 100 will be described. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the hall computer 100. The hall computer 100 realizes the functions of the storage ball entry management function, the storage ball movement management function, and the empty information provision management function of the management system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, it includes a hall member management unit 111, a storage ball management unit 112, a reception control unit 113, a judgment control unit 114, a calculation control unit 115, a transmission control unit 116, a storage ball movement control unit 117, a gaming machine management unit 118, a reservation management unit 119, and a network I / F unit 120. Each of these functional units is controlled by the main CPU 101 shown in FIG. 7. The hall computer 100 has functions of a conventional hall computer such as prize exchange processing and inventory management, but here, it will be described centering on the functions related to the present invention.

[0109] In addition, the hall computer 100 stores a hall DB 150 in the external storage device 104, and the hall DB 150 includes a hall member information table 151 that stores information about the hall members of the hall store, a saved ball management table 152 that manages the number of gaming media held by hall members by instructing them to save medals or saved balls, a held ball management table 153 that manages the medals and balls held by hall members, a ball entry pattern setting management table 154 that stores the entry pattern settings in the saved ball entry management function, a saved ball movement history management table 155 that stores the history of saved ball movements in the saved ball movement management function, and a gaming machine management table 156 that stores the status of each gaming machine and is referenced in connection with the vacancy information provision function.

[0110] The hall member management unit 111 manages information about hall members of the hall establishment and controls logins to the management system 1 from the smartphones 700 operated by the hall members. The hall member information is stored in a hall member information table 151.

[0111] When a hall member instructs that gaming media acquired by playing on a gaming machine be held as saved balls, the saved ball management unit 112 updates the held ball management table 153, and updates the saved ball management table 152 by moving the number of gaming media stored in the held ball management table 153 to the saved ball management table 152 at a predetermined timing after the business hours of the day are closed, and manages the number of these gaming media for each hall member and for each lending rate.

[0112] The reception control unit 113 controls to receive information from the smartphone 700 of the hall member. For example, in the stored ball entry management function, it receives authentication information and lending rate information (such as the lending rate information of the entry destination) from the smartphone 700 of the hall member. In the stored ball movement management function, it receives authentication information, confirmation request information (an instruction for requesting the quantity of one's own stored medals and stored balls), authentication information of other mobile terminals (authentication information regarding the hall member at the movement destination), and movement request information (an instruction for requesting the movement of game media to the hall member at the movement destination). In the vacant information providing function, it receives authentication information and vacant information request information (an instruction for requesting information regarding a vacant gaming machine).

[0113] In addition, the reception control unit 113 receives pachinko ball and medal insertion and payout information (insertion and payout game media quantity information), winning information indicating the winning status, operation information regarding the operation of the gaming machine, etc. from the gaming machine 10. Also, from the sand device 20, it receives information regarding the movement of pachinko balls and medals between an information card and a contactless IC card (moved game media quantity information) and the face image information of the player.

[0114] Furthermore, the reception control unit 113 receives reservation request information (an instruction for making a reservation for a vacant seat) for making a reservation from the smartphone 700 of the hall member.

[0115] The determination control unit 114 makes a predetermined determination based on the information received from the smartphone 700 of the hall member. For example, in the stored ball entry management function, it determines whether the hall member holds stored balls.

[0116] The calculation control unit 115 calculates the number of game media based on predetermined information. For example, in the stored ball entry management function, it calculates the number of game media at the entry destination according to the received lending rate information. In the vacant information providing function, it calculates the number of game media according to the lending rate of the vacant gaming machine.

[0117] The transmission control unit 116 controls to transmit the information calculated by the calculation control unit 115 and the like to the smartphone 700 of the hall member. For example, in the stored ball entry management function, it controls to transmit the number of gaming media at the entry destination calculated by the calculation control unit 115 to the smartphone 700. In the stored ball movement management function, it controls to notify the smartphone 700a of the hall member at the movement source and the smartphone 700b of the hall member at the movement destination about the movement of the stored ball. In the empty information providing function, it controls to transmit the number of gaming media corresponding to the empty seats calculated by the calculation control unit 115 to the smartphone 700.

[0118] When the transmission control unit 116 performs a push notification to the smartphone 700 or the like, for example, the application started on the smartphone 700 or the like needs to register the authentication code associated with the application, the device identification information for identifying the smartphone 700 or the like, etc. with the external push notification server at a predetermined timing and make an association. When transmitting information from the management system 1 to the smartphone 700 or the like, the transmission control unit 116 transmits a message to the external push notification server by specifying the device identification information, and thus a push notification is received on the smartphone 700.

[0119] In such a case, the transmission control unit 116 does not directly transmit a message to the smartphone 700. However, in this specification, the process of transmitting information to the smartphone 700 via another device such as the external push notification server is also defined as the process of transmitting information to the smartphone 700 by the transmission control unit 116.

[0120] The stored ball movement control unit 117 controls the movement of stored balls according to the instructions of hall members regarding the stored ball movement management function. For example, based on the confirmation request information received by the reception control unit 113, it identifies its own stored ball information, identifies the stored ball information of the hall member at the destination from the authentication information of other mobile terminals received by the reception control unit 113, and controls at least a part of the gaming media identified by its own stored ball information to be moved to the gaming media of the hall member at the destination based on the movement request information received by the reception control unit 113.

[0121] In addition, the stored ball movement control unit 117 stores the history of the movement of gaming media among hall members based on the confirmation request information in the stored ball movement history management table 155.

[0122] The gaming machine management unit 118 determines the available status of the gaming machines based on the input and payout gaming media number information received from the gaming machines 10 and the sand device 20 and the operation information regarding the operation of the gaming machines by the reception control unit 113, and stores the determined available status of each gaming machine in the gaming machine management table 156.

[0123] When reservation request information is received by the reception control unit 113, the reservation management unit 119 updates the gaming machine management table 156 to reserve the designated gaming machine. In addition, the reservation management unit 119 manages the scheduled game start time designated by the hall member and performs control such as canceling the reservation when a predetermined time has elapsed from the scheduled game start time.

[0124] The network I / F (interface) unit 120 connects to the network and controls data transmission and reception with the other party's computer. Here, the network may be configured as a network including the Internet (since the same applies to the network I / F units of other devices, the description of the subsequent network I / F units will be omitted).

[0125] Next, referring to FIG. 13, the functional overview of the hall management terminal 600 will be described. FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the hall management terminal 600. The hall management terminal 600 includes a login management unit 611, an entry pattern setting management unit 612, a display control unit 613, and a network I / F unit 614.

[0126] The login management unit 611 authenticates the administrator (or staff) of the hall store, who is a user of the hall management terminal 600, by card reading, ID input, and password input.

[0127] In the stored ball entry management function of the present invention, when setting the entry pattern as the hall store, the entry pattern setting management unit 612 displays an entry pattern setting screen on the display 605 according to the operations of the administrator of the hall store or the like, and stores the specified entry pattern in the entry pattern setting management table 154.

[0128] The display control unit 613 controls to display the entry pattern setting screen and the like on the display 605 of the hall management terminal 600.

[0129] Next, referring to FIG. 14, the functional overview of the smartphone 700 will be described. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 700, mainly showing the functions related to the management system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0130] The smartphone 700 includes a stored ball entry management unit 721, a stored ball movement management unit 722, and an empty information providing management unit 723 as application function units that are functions related to the management system 1. Such application function units are realized by, for example, a program (for the management system 1) downloaded via a network from another server or the like.

[0131] The smartphone 700 further includes a mail management unit 724, a display control unit 725, and a network I / F unit 726.

[0132] The stored medal input management unit 721, regarding the stored medal input management function, in response to the operations of the hall members who are users of the smartphone 700, transmits authentication information (such as member ID and password) and lending rate information (such as the lending rate information of the input destination) to the hall computer 100, and further transmits confirmation request information (an instruction for requesting the quantity of one's own stored medals and stored medals) to the hall computer 100 in response to the operations of the hall members. Also, the stored medal input management unit 721 receives the number of gaming media at the input destination calculated by the calculation control unit 115 of the hall computer 100 from the hall computer 100.

[0133] The stored medal transfer management unit 722, regarding the stored medal transfer management function, in response to the operations of the hall members who are users of the smartphone 700, transmits authentication information (such as member ID and password), confirmation request information (an instruction for requesting the quantity of one's own stored medals and stored medals), authentication information of other mobile terminals (authentication information regarding the hall members at the transfer destination), and transfer request information (an instruction for requesting the transfer of gaming media to the hall members at the transfer destination) to the hall computer 100. Also, the stored medal transfer management unit 722 receives transfer notification information for notifying that the stored medals have been transferred to other mobile terminals from the hall computer 100.

[0134] The availability information providing management unit 723, regarding the availability information providing management function, in response to the operations of the hall members who are users of the smartphone 700, transmits authentication information (such as member ID and password) and availability information request information (an instruction for requesting information regarding the available gaming machines) to the hall computer 100. Also, the availability information providing management unit 723 receives the number of gaming media corresponding to the available seats calculated by the calculation control unit 115 of the hall computer 100 from the hall computer 100.

[0135] The email management unit 724 is implemented by a general email application, and displays emails sent to the hall member's email address, and controls the sending of emails from the hall member's email address to a specified email address in response to the hall member's operation. For example, with regard to the stored ball transfer management function, when the hall computer 100 sends email notification information to the hall member from whom the balls have been transferred (or the hall member to whom the balls have been transferred) that notifies the other mobile terminal device, the email is controlled to be displayed on the smartphone 700 of the corresponding hall member.

[0136] The display control unit 725 controls the display 707 of the smartphone 700 to display input and instruction screens that can be operated by the hall member who is the user of the smartphone 700, as well as screens that display information received from the hall computer 100, for the saved ball entry management function, saved ball movement management function, and available information provision management function.

[0137] For example, with regard to the stored ball entry management function, it controls to display a screen received from hall computer 100 showing the number of gaming media at the entry destination; with regard to the stored ball transfer management function, it controls to display transfer notification information received from hall computer 100 notifying that stored balls have been transferred to another mobile terminal device; and with regard to the vacant information provision management function, it controls to display a screen received from hall computer 100 showing the number of gaming media according to the vacant machine.

[0138] Configure Table

[0139] The hall member information table 151 shown in Figure 15(A) stores information about hall members of a hall store, and in this example stores hall member ID, unique ID of hall member card (contactless IC card), name, address, password, email address, etc.

[0140] The stored ball management table 152 shown in FIG. 15(B) manages the number of game media held by a hall member operating the operation unit 34 (see FIG. 4) (for example, a touch operation of the operation button 34b corresponding to the process of "storing balls") in business operations prior to the current day. In this example, the stored ball management table 152 stores the hall member ID and further stores the quantity for each lending rate. The lending rates are four types in this example: pachinko (lending 4 yen, lending 1 yen) and slot machines (lending 20 yen, lending 5 yen).

[0141] Note that in this example, the stored ball management table 152 stores the quantity of game media in each area corresponding to the four lending rates for each hall member. However, the stored balls can be managed in various other forms, such as managing them in different tables for each lending rate.

[0142] The held ball management table 153 shown in FIG. 16(A) manages the number of game media held by a hall member operating the operation unit 34 (see FIG. 4) (for example, a touch operation of the operation button 34b corresponding to the process of "storing balls") in business operations on the current day. In this example, the held ball management table 153 stores the hall member ID and further stores the quantity for each lending rate. The lending rates are four types in this example: pachinko (lending 4 yen, lending 1 yen) and slot machines (lending 20 yen, lending 5 yen).

[0143] The entry pattern setting management table 154 shown in FIG. 16(B) stores the entry patterns in the stored ball entry management function for each hall member and each hall store. In this example, the entry pattern setting management table 154 stores the ID and pattern NO, and further stores the priority for each lending rate. The lending rates are four types in this example: pachinko (lending 4 yen, lending 1 yen) and slot machines (lending 20 yen, lending 5 yen).

[0144] Hall members can set the entry pattern using their own smartphones 700. In this case, the ID is set to the hall member ID. Administrators of the hall store, etc. can set the entry pattern using the hall management terminal 600. In this case, for example, "0000" is set as the ID.

[0145] In setting the entry pattern, a plurality of patterns are predefined in advance, and hall members and hall stores can select a desired pattern from among them. In this example, multiple patterns can be selected and each pattern can be displayed. Pattern 3 can set the allocation priority of the lending rate. In this case, depending on the setting, a priority of 1 to 4 is set in association with each lending rate.

[0146] The stored ball movement history management table 155 shown in FIG. 17(A) stores the history of moving stored balls to other hall members for each hall member. The stored ball movement history management table 155 stores, in this example, the hall member ID, the destination (hall member ID of another hall member), the lending rate, the movement quantity, and the movement completion date and time.

[0147] The gaming machine management table 156 shown in FIG. 17(B) stores the availability status and reservation status for each gaming machine. The gaming machine management table 156 stores, in this example, the gaming machine ID for identifying the gaming machine, the type (type of pachislot machine or pachinko machine), the table number, the lending rate, the availability status, the last operation date and time, and the reservation information. Here, the availability status is determined from the number of inserted and paid-out gaming media information and operation information received from the gaming machine 10, the number of moved gaming media information and face image information received from the sand device 20, etc. "0" represents the available state, and "1" represents the operating state (in use).

[0148] Also, the reservation information includes the ID (hall member ID who made the reservation) and the scheduled game start time set by the person making the reservation.

[0149] [Process of storing the acquired gaming media as stored balls]

[0150] Next, with reference to FIG. 18, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, the flow until the game media acquired by the game on the gaming machine are stored as stored balls will be outlined.

[0151] Note that this flow represents an example of the flow when the game media acquired at the hall store are counted and stored as stored balls by the sand device. Also, in FIG. 18, the operations and processes in each of the gaming machine 10, the sand device 20, and the hall computer 100 are shown in chronological order for each device.

[0152] First, as shown in FIG. 18, in step S101, the player plays a game on the gaming machine 10. If the player acquires game media here, the player operates the sand device 20 to give a count instruction for the game media, and after further checking the number of game media displayed on the sand device 20 as the count result, the player performs an operation for a stored ball instruction (step S102). At this time, the sand device 20 transmits the counted number of game media to the hall computer 100 together with the hall member ID and the lending rate (step S103).

[0153] The hall member ID is read from the member card when the player has the sand device 20 read the member card, which is a contactless IC card. However, instead of the hall member ID, the unique ID of the member card or the like may be transmitted. Also, if the lending rate can be specified as a result of the gaming machine 10 being specified based on other information (for example, the network address of the sand device 20, etc.), it is not necessary to transmit it from the sand device. Note that such a game by the player and the (counting / storing as stored balls) operation can be repeated a plurality of times within a day.

[0154] When the hall computer 100 receives the hall member ID, the lending rate, and the number of game media from the sand device 20 (step S104), the hall computer 100 updates the stored ball management table 153 according to the hall member ID and the lending rate. That is, the received number of game media is added to the quantity stored at the corresponding lending rate for the corresponding hall member ID (step S105).

[0155] After that, the hall computer 100 moves the number of gaming media stored in the holding value management table 153 for each hall member ID to the lending rate corresponding to the corresponding hall member ID in the stored value management table 152 by a process executed after 0:00 am (or at a predetermined timing after the end of business on the same day) (step S106). By this process, the gaming media acquired by the hall member will be stored.

[0156] [Stored Value Transfer Management Function]

[0157] In the first embodiment, a stored value transfer management function is provided that allows a hall member to convert their stored value managed for each lending rate into the stored value of another lending rate by operating their own smartphone 700.

[0158] First, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 20 and the diagrams showing the screens of the smartphone 700 shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, the stored value transfer management function (pattern 1) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be briefly described.

[0159] Also, in FIGS. 19 and 20, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100 and the smartphone 700 are shown in chronological order for each device.

[0160] As shown in step S111 of FIG. 19, when a hall member inputs their hall member ID and password into the smartphone 700 and instructs "stored value transfer", the smartphone 700 transmits authentication information including the input hall member ID, password, etc. and function instruction information representing the instruction of "stored value transfer" to the hall computer 100 (step S112). This function instruction information includes stored value confirmation request information that requests to confirm the number of gaming media stored by the hall member.

[0161] FIG. 21(A) shows a login screen 801 displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700. In this example, the login screen 801 has an authentication information input section 801a arranged at the upper part, and below it, a button 801b for instructing the transfer of stored balls into the hall, a button 801c for instructing the movement of stored balls, and a button 801d for providing vacancy information are arranged. Here, when the hall member ID and password are respectively input into the member ID input area and password input area arranged in the authentication information input section 801a, and the button 801b for instructing the transfer of stored balls into the hall is selected by a touch operation or the like of the hall member, the above-described instruction of "transfer of stored balls into the hall" is given.

[0162] Next, when the hall computer 100 receives authentication information and the like from the smartphone 700, it checks these pieces of information (step S113). For example, the hall computer 100 refers to the hall member information table 151 and checks the consistency of the hall member ID (or the unique ID of the member card) and the password.

[0163] In step S114, it is determined whether the user is a regular hall member. If it is determined that the user is not a regular hall member (NO in step S114), an error message to that effect is edited and sent to the smartphone 700 (step S115). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it controls to display this on the display 707, but these processes are omitted.

[0164] In step S114, if it is determined that the user is a regular hall member (YES in step S114), in step S116, it is determined whether there is an instruction for transferring stored balls into the hall. In the case of a different instruction (NO in step S116), control is performed to perform other functional processes. In the case of an instruction for transferring stored balls into the hall (YES in step S116), in step S122, the stored ball management table 152 is referred to, and the stored ball information corresponding to the authentication information is acquired.

[0165] When there is no stored ball information corresponding to the authentication information (NO in step S123), that is, when it is determined that there are no stored balls for the hall member, a message indicating that there are no stored balls is edited and sent to the smartphone 700 (step S124). When the smartphone 700 receives this message, it controls to display this on the display 707, but these processes are omitted here.

[0166] When it is determined that there are stored balls for the hall member (YES in step S123), refer to the stored ball management table 152, and acquire (calculate) the number of gaming media stored by the hall member for each lending rate (step S125), and send the calculated number of gaming media for each lending rate, which is the calculation result, to the smartphone 700 as gaming media number information (step S126).

[0167] In step S131 of FIG. 20, when the smartphone 700 receives the above gaming media number information from the hall computer 100, it displays a stored ball confirmation screen according to this gaming media number information (step S132).

[0168] The stored ball confirmation screen is, for example, the stored ball confirmation screen 802 as shown in FIG. 21(B). In this example, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part of the stored ball confirmation screen 802, and below that, a stored ball display section 802a for displaying the stored balls of the logged-in hall member for each lending rate is arranged, and below that, an entry designation button 802b is arranged.

[0169] Next, in the stored ball confirmation screen 802, it is determined whether or not an entry designation instruction has been given from the hall member (step S133), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such a repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the back button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0170] When an entry designation instruction is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S133), an entry designation screen for making an entry designation is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 (step S134).

[0171] The entry specification screen is, for example, an entry specification screen 803 as shown in FIG. 22(A). In this example, on the entry specification screen 803, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the upper part, and below it, an entry specification section 803a including an area for specifying the lending rate of the entry source and an area for specifying the lending rate of the entry destination (each by a pull-down menu or the like) is arranged, and a next button 803b is arranged below it.

[0172] In step S135, when the hall member specifies lending rate information (the lending rate of the entry source and the lending rate of the entry destination), the entry specification screen 803 as shown in FIG. 22(B) is displayed. On such an entry specification screen 803, it is determined whether or not the hall member has selected the next button 803b (an instruction to transition to the next screen) (step S136), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such a repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the back button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0173] When an instruction to transition to the next screen is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S136), conversion request information for requesting the entry of the game medium, that is, converting the number of game media (entry quantity) of the lending rate specified for the entry source to the quantity (entry destination quantity) corresponding to the lending rate specified for the entry destination, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S137).

[0174] When the hall computer 100 receives the conversion request information in step S138, in step S139, it refers to the stored ball management table 152 and calculates the number of game media when the number of game media of the lending rate specified for the entry source is converted according to the lending rate specified for the entry destination.

[0175] Next, the hall computer 100 transmits the calculated game medium number information, which is the calculation result, to the smartphone 700 in step S140. When the smartphone 700 receives the game medium number information from the hall computer 100 (step S141), it displays an entry confirmation screen for finalizing the entry (step S142).

[0176] The entry confirmation screen is, for example, the entry confirmation screen 804 as shown in FIG. 23. In this example, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the upper part of the entry confirmation screen 804. Below it, an entry content display section 804a is arranged, which displays a guide message indicating that entry is to be made with the following content, the lending rate and the number of game media (entry quantity) of the entry source, and the lending rate and the number of game media (entry destination quantity) of the entry destination. Below that, an OK button 804b is arranged.

[0177] Next, in the entry confirmation screen 804, it is determined whether or not an entry confirmation instruction has been given by the hall member (step S143), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the back button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0178] When an entry confirmation instruction is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S143), the entry is finalized, that is, conversion confirmation information for finalizing the conversion of stored balls with the entry content displayed in the entry content display section 804a of the entry confirmation screen 804 is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S144).

[0179] When the hall computer 100 receives the conversion confirmation information in step S145, in step S146, based on the conversion confirmation information, coin-in is performed, and finally, the coin storage management table 152 is updated. For example, when the hall member ID = "U001" holds 330 medals with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) and an instruction for coin-in confirmation is given on the coin-in confirmation screen 804 in FIG. 23, 328 medals with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) are converted into 410 pachinko balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko). Accordingly, the coin storage management table 152 is also updated (the number of medals with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) becomes -328 (remaining 2), and the number of pachinko balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) becomes +410).

[0180] After that, a message indicating that the coin-in is completed is sent from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700, and the smartphone 700 displays the message on the display 707.

[0181] The above-described coin-in instruction described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 23 is a pattern (pattern 1) in which, after the hall member confirms the quantity of his / her stored coins, the lending rate of the coin-in source and the lending rate of the coin-in destination are simply specified without specifying the quantity of the gaming medium. In this case, when the management system 1 of the present embodiment performs the conversion of the gaming medium from the lending rate of the coin-in source to the lending rate of the coin-in destination, the calculation is well-divided (that is, no rounding off of fractions that would be disadvantageous to the hall member is performed), and the quantity of the gaming medium is calculated so that the number of gaming media with the lending rate of the coin-in destination is maximized.

[0182] In the present embodiment, various patterns of the above-described coin-in instruction can be set. Here, with reference to FIG. 24, an example of various patterns of the coin-in instruction will be described.

[0183] In the example shown in FIG. 24, several patterns are developed regarding the method of specifying lending rate information (for example, lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko), lending rate = 5 yen (slot), etc.) and the method of specifying the number of gaming media (for example, the number of gaming media at the entry source (entry quantity), the number of gaming media when entering the entry destination (entry destination quantity)). For each of these patterns, it shows how to identify the entry source and calculate the number of gaming media. In FIG. 24, "○" described in the column of the method of specifying lending rate information indicates that the lending rate is specified, and "-" indicates that the lending rate is not specified. Similarly, "○" described in the column of the method of specifying the number of gaming media indicates that the number of gaming media is specified, and "-" indicates that the number of gaming media is not specified.

[0184] The pattern indicated by NO = "1" in FIG. 24 is a pattern where both the entry destination and the entry source are specified for the lending rate information, and there is no specification for the number of gaming media. This pattern corresponds to Pattern 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 19 to 23.

[0185] In this pattern, in calculating the number of gaming media, the maximum quantity that can be converted without a remainder is calculated as the entry quantity from the specified entry source to the specified entry destination, and the quantity converted from the entry quantity is calculated as the entry destination quantity. For example, in the above Pattern 1, there are 330 medals with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot), but when converting to pachinko balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), 328 medals are used so that no remainder occurs, and the pachinko balls with a converted lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) become 410 balls.

[0186] However, even when a remainder occurs during such conversion, it can be controlled so that the maximum number of gaming media is converted. For example, when converting 330 medals with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) to 412 pachinko balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), a remainder of 2 yen occurs in terms of monetary value. Compared with the above-mentioned neat conversion, 2 more pachinko balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) are converted.

[0187] Here, the existence of the 2 yen, which is the generated remainder, is deleted from the stored ball management table 152 as a disadvantage to the hall member. Also, it is possible to control such that this remainder of 2 yen is exchanged, for example, at a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) and 2 balls.

[0188] The pattern indicated by NO = "2" in FIG. 24 is a pattern in which both the entry destination and the entry source are specified for the lending rate information, and further, the number of gaming media (entry quantity) of the entry source is specified. This pattern can be considered to be specified when a hall member uses at least a part (designated by the hall member) of the gaming media of a specific lending rate currently held by the hall member in the gaming machine 10 of another specific lending rate.

[0189] In this pattern, in calculating the number of gaming media, based on the number of gaming media of the designated entry source, the number of gaming media of the entry destination at the designated entry destination is calculated. When a remainder occurs, as described above, it can be automatically adjusted to a good number of gaming media, or even if a remainder is generated, the entry of the designated number of gaming media can be performed as it is (either one can be selectively executed).

[0190] The pattern indicated by NO = "3" in FIG. 24 is a pattern in which both the entry destination and the entry source are specified for the lending rate information, and further, the number of gaming media (entry destination quantity) of the entry destination is specified. This pattern can be considered to be specified when a hall member wants to play using the number of gaming media designated in the gaming machine 10 of another specific lending rate with the gaming media of a specific lending rate currently held.

[0191] In this pattern, in calculating the number of gaming media, the number of gaming media of the entry source required for the number of gaming media of the designated entry destination is calculated. When a remainder occurs, the same processing as in the above NO = "2" can be performed. Also, when there is no number of gaming media of the entry source required for the number of gaming media of the designated entry destination, an error message can be displayed, or the maximum number of gaming media can be presented and a guidance message can be displayed.

[0192] The pattern indicated by NO = "4" in FIG. 24 is a pattern in which, for the lending rate information, the borrower is specified, and furthermore, the number of gaming media of the borrower (borrower quantity) is specified. This pattern can be considered to be specified when a hall member wants to play a game using any of the gaming media currently held for the number of gaming media specified by the gaming machine 10 at a specific lending rate.

[0193] In this pattern, in specifying the lending rate of the lender, one or a plurality of (lender) lending rates are specified based on the number of gaming media of the specified borrower's lending rate. In such specification of the lending rate, determination can be made according to a preset borrowing pattern. For example, the lending rate is specified based on the number of gaming media of the specified borrower's lending rate and the borrowing pattern set by the player or the hall store. Also, a plurality of candidates can be shown according to the borrowing pattern, and control can be performed so that the hall member selects from among them. Note that the borrowing pattern and the setting of the borrowing pattern will be described in detail later.

[0194] On the other hand, in calculating the number of gaming media, based on the borrowing pattern, the number of gaming media of the lender required for the number of gaming media of the specified borrower is calculated for each of the specified lender's lending rates. When a fraction occurs, the same processing as in the above NO = "2" can be performed. Also, when there is no number of gaming media of the lender required for the number of gaming media of the specified borrower, the same processing as in the above NO = "3" can be performed.

[0195] The pattern indicated by NO = "5" in FIG. 24 is a pattern in which, for the lending rate information, the borrower is specified and the number of gaming media is not specified. This pattern can be considered to be specified when a hall member wants to play a game on the gaming machine 10 at a specific lending rate using any of the gaming media currently held.

[0196] In this pattern, when specifying the lending rate of the borrower, one or more (borrower) lending rates are specified based on a predetermined pattern. In specifying such a lending rate, a determination can be made according to a preset borrowing pattern. For example, the lending rate is specified based on the borrowing pattern set by the player or the hall store. Also, according to the borrowing pattern, a plurality of candidates can be shown, and control can be performed so that the hall member selects from among them.

[0197] On the other hand, in calculating the number of gaming media, from one or more lending rates of the borrowers specified based on the borrowing pattern, for the lending rate of the specified lender, the maximum number of gaming media that can be converted (respectively) is calculated as the number of gaming media of the borrower, and the total number of gaming media converted from the calculated number of gaming media is calculated as the number of gaming media of the lender. When a fraction occurs, the same processing as in the above NO = "2" can be performed.

[0198] The pattern shown by NO = "6" in FIG. 24 is a pattern in which the borrower is specified for the lending rate information, and further, the number of gaming media of the borrower (borrowing quantity) is specified for the number of gaming media. This pattern can be considered to be specified by the hall member when the hall member wants to play a specific quantity of the gaming media of a specific lending rate currently held on the gaming machine 10 of any lending rate.

[0199] In this pattern, in calculating the number of gaming media, according to the lending rate of the lender specified based on a predetermined pattern, the number of gaming media of the lender corresponding to the number of gaming media of the specified borrower's lending rate is calculated. The predetermined pattern is specified based on, for example, the gaming machine 10 recommended by the hall store, the gaming machine 10 recommended according to the specified borrower's lending rate and the number of gaming media, etc. When a fraction occurs, the same processing as in the above NO = "2" can be performed.

[0200] The pattern indicated by NO = "7" in FIG. 24 is to interactively input by the hall member on the smartphone 700 regarding the lending rate information (borrowing source and borrowing destination) and the number of gaming media (borrowing quantity and borrowing destination quantity), and to simulate in real time the lending rate information specified by the conditions and the calculated number of gaming media (the "Δ" in the columns of the lending rate information and the number of gaming media in FIG. 24 indicates that input can be made at any time). This pattern can be considered to be adopted when the hall member ponders over what kind of gaming machines 10 to use and how many gaming media to play with using the number of gaming media of the lending rate currently held.

[0201] In this pattern, in specifying the lending rate of the borrowing source, if the hall member makes a designation, it shall follow the designation. Also, if there is no designation, one or more (borrowing source) lending rates are specified so as to satisfy the conditions of the number of gaming media of the borrowing source and the number of gaming media of the borrowing destination designated by the hall member.

[0202] On the other hand, in calculating the number of gaming media, if the hall member makes a designation, it shall follow the designation. Also, if there is no designation, after specifying one or more (borrowing source) lending rates so as to satisfy the conditions of the lending rate and the number of gaming media designated by the hall member, the number of gaming media regarding each lending rate is calculated. Here too, when a fraction occurs, the same processing as in the above NO = "2" can be performed. Also, when there is no number of gaming media of the borrowing source necessary for the number of gaming media of the designated borrowing destination, the same processing as in the above NO = "3" can be performed.

[0203] So far, we have described the patterns related to various types of stored ball imports with reference to FIG. 24, but these are just examples. In the management system 1 of the present invention, various other designation methods can be adopted. For example, in the pattern of FIG. 24, the number of gaming media at the import source and the number of gaming media at the import destination are designated. Instead of such a designation, it is possible to make a designation in terms of currency value (e.g., 5,000 yen, etc.). With such a designation, the hall member can intuitively grasp the value of the gaming media for which the import is made. The stored ball import management function of the management system 1 performs the stored ball import process by converting the designated currency value into the number of gaming media at the lending rate.

[0204] Next, with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a stored ball import management function (pattern 2) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be outlined.

[0205] The stored ball confirmation / import designation screen 805 shown in FIG. 25 is, for example, another screen shown on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 when the hall member ID and password are input to the authentication information input section 801a on the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A), and the stored ball import instruction button 801b is selected by a touch operation or the like by the hall member.

[0206] In this example, on the stored ball confirmation / import designation screen 805, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the top, and below that, a stored ball display section 805a for displaying information on the number of gaming media held by the hall member as stored balls (stored ball information) for each lending rate is arranged. Also, in this stored ball display section 805a, below the number of gaming media displayed for each lending rate, import instruction buttons for designating the lending rates for which import is possible are respectively displayed.

[0207] For example, 9,000 balls are displayed as the stored balls at a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko). Here, it can be seen that this hall member holds 9,000 pachinko balls at a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) as stored balls. And under such a display of the number of gaming media, three input instruction buttons for designating the input destination of the gaming media (to which lending rate the gaming media is to be input) are arranged. Here, the three input designation buttons are, for example, an input button to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), an input button to a lending rate of 5 yen (slot machine), and an input button to a lending rate of 20 yen (slot machine).

[0208] Similarly, for the lending rates of 5 yen (slot machine) and 20 yen (slot machine), the number of gaming media at that lending rate and three input instruction buttons for designating the input destination of the gaming media are arranged.

[0209] However, in this example, since there are no stored balls for a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), the corresponding input instruction button is not displayed.

[0210] Here, when the input instruction button 805b corresponding to the gaming media with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) is selected by a touch operation or the like of the hall member, the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the input quantity designation screen 806 shown in FIG. 26(A). The input instruction button 805b shown in FIG. 25 instructs to input the gaming media with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko).

[0211] In the input quantity designation screen 806 of FIG. 26(A), in this example, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the upper part, and below it, an input section 806a of the number of gaming media including a guide message indicating that the input is from a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) and an input area for inputting the number of gaming media of the input source for performing the input is arranged. Also, below the input section 806a of the number of gaming media, a next button 806b for transitioning to the next screen is arranged.

[0212] Here, when a hall member inputs "2000" into the game medium number input area of the game medium number input unit 806a and selects the Next button 806b by touch operation or the like, the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the entry quantity confirmation screen 807 shown in FIG. 26(B).

[0213] In the entry quantity confirmation screen 807 of FIG. 26(B), in this example, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the upper part, and below it, an entry quantity display unit 807a including a display based on the specified entry quantity and a message for confirming entry is arranged. Further below it, a confirmation button 807b for finalizing the entry is arranged. In the entry quantity display unit 807a, regarding the lending rate of the entry source (= 1 yen (pachinko)), the number of game media after entry and the number of game media decreased by the entry (i.e., the entry quantity, shown in parentheses) are calculated and displayed. Below it, regarding the lending rate of the entry destination (= 4 yen (pachinko)), the number of game media after entry and the number of game media increased by the entry (i.e., the entry destination quantity, shown in parentheses) are calculated and displayed.

[0214] In this example, since an instruction is given by the hall member to enter 2000 balls from a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), the number of game media with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) as the entry source decreases by 2000 balls from 9000 balls to 7000 balls, and the number of game media with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) as the entry destination increases by 500 balls from 0 balls to 500 balls, which is displayed.

[0215] Here, when the hall member selects the confirmation button 807b by touch operation or the like, the ball storage entry thus specified is executed, and the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the entry completion screen 808 shown in FIG. 27.

[0216] The entry completion screen 808 in FIG. 27, in this example, displays the hall member ID logged in at the top. Below it, there is an entry result display section 808a that displays a guide message indicating that the entry has been completed and the number of gaming media held by the hall member for all lending rates. Further below, a return button 808b is arranged. By touching and selecting the return button 808b, the hall member can transition to the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A) or a menu screen (not shown). Here, the hall member can grasp the current (after entry) number of gaming media based on the number of gaming media for each lending rate shown in the entry result display section 808a.

[0217] So far, the stored ball entry management function (Pattern 2) described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27 has the entry source and the entry destination specified for the lending rate information, and the number of gaming media (entry quantity) of the entry source is specified, corresponding to the pattern indicated by NO = "2" in FIG. 24.

[0218] Next, with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a stored ball entry management function (Pattern 3) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be outlined.

[0219] The stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 809 shown in FIG. 28 is, for example, another screen shown on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 when the hall member ID and password are entered in the authentication information input section 801a on the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A) and the stored ball entry instruction button 801b is selected by a touch operation or the like by the hall member. It is a screen similar to the stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 805 shown in FIG. 25.

[0220] In the stored ball display section 809a of the stored ball confirmation / entry destination specified screen 809, in this example, 10,199 balls are displayed as the stored balls with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko). It can be seen here that this hall member holds 10,199 pachinko balls as stored balls with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko). And below the display of such the number of game media, three entry instruction buttons for specifying the entry destination of the game media (which lending rate to enter the game media) are arranged. Here, the three entry destination specified buttons are the entry button to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), the entry button to a lending rate of 5 yen (slot machine), and the entry button to a lending rate of 20 yen (slot machine).

[0221] In the stored ball display section 809a, in the same way as the case of the above-mentioned lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko), for the lending rates of 4 yen (pachinko), 5 yen (slot machine), and 20 yen (slot machine) as well, the number of game media of the lending rate and three entry instruction buttons for specifying the entry destination of the game media are arranged.

[0222] Here, when the entry instruction button 809b corresponding to the game media with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) is selected by the touch operation or the like of the hall member, the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the entry quantity specified screen 810 shown in FIG. 29(A). The entry instruction button 809b shown in FIG. 28 instructs to enter the game media with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko).

[0223] The entry quantity specified screen 810 in FIG. 29(A) has the same configuration as the entry quantity specified screen 806 in FIG. 26(A). In this example, the hall member inputs "10199", which is all the number of game media held regarding the lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko), into the game media number input area of the game media number input section 810a, and then selects the Next button 810b by touch operation or the like. Then, the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the entry quantity confirmation screen 811 shown in FIG. 29(B).

[0224] In this example, the entry quantity confirmation screen 811 in FIG. 29(B) has the hall member ID logged in displayed at the top, and below that, an entry quantity display section 811a that includes a display based on the specified entry quantity and a message for confirming entry is arranged. Further below that, a confirmation button 811b for finalizing the entry is arranged. In the entry quantity display section 811a, for the lending rate of the entry source = 1 yen (pachinko), the number of game media after entry and the number of game media decreased by the entry (i.e., the entry quantity, indicated in parentheses) are calculated and displayed. Below that, for the lending rate of the entry destination = 4 yen (pachinko), the number of game media after entry and the number of game media increased by the entry (i.e., the entry destination quantity, indicated in parentheses) are calculated and displayed.

[0225] However, here, it is not the "10199" itself, which is the number of game media specified by the hall member, or the maximum number that does not generate a fraction, but is automatically adjusted to the lending unit of the entry destination. The lending unit for each lending rate is, in this example, 200 balls (currency value of 200 yen) when the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), 125 balls (currency value of 500 yen) when the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko), 200 sheets (currency value of 1000 yen) when the lending rate = 5 yen (slot), and 50 sheets (currency value of 1000 yen) when the lending rate = 20 yen (slot).

[0226] Therefore, in this example of storing balls for entry, the "10199", which is the number of game media with a lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko) specified by the hall member, is adjusted to the 200 yen unit, which is the lending unit of the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko). 10000 balls become the object of storing balls for entry and become 2500 balls at a lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko).

[0227] At the bottom of the entry quantity display section 811a, a guide message indicating that the entry quantity in storing balls for entry has been automatically adjusted to the lending unit is displayed.

[0228] Furthermore, as a result of performing coin insertion into the destination, the recommended value of the insertion quantity can be set (for example, in the game medium quantity input area of the game medium quantity input unit 810a) so that the number of game media at the lending rate of the destination becomes the lending unit of that lending rate. For example, when considering coin insertion from a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), if the number of game media at a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) is 10199 and the number of game media at a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) is 249 before coin insertion, the recommended value of the insertion quantity is set to "10004". If coin insertion is performed as it is, the number of game media at a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) after coin insertion becomes 2750 balls (= 249 + 10004 / 4), and this quantity is an integer multiple (22 times) of the lending unit of 125 balls.

[0229] Note that, up to this point, the coin insertion management function (Pattern 3) described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29 has the source and destination of insertion specified for the lending rate information, and the number of game media (insertion quantity) of the source is specified, corresponding to the pattern indicated by NO = "2" in FIG. 24.

[0230] Next, with reference to FIG. 30, a coin insertion management function (Pattern 4) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be outlined. The coin insertion management function (Pattern 4) is controlled in the same way as the above-described coin insertion management function (Pattern 3) so that coin insertion is performed in the lending unit of the destination.

[0231] The insertion quantity designation screen 812 in FIG. 30(A) has the same configuration as the insertion quantity designation screen 810 in FIG. 29(A). In this example, the hall member designates coin insertion from a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 5 yen (slot), inputs the number of game media "249" held for the lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) of the source in the game medium quantity input area of the game medium quantity input unit 812a, and selects the Next button 812b by a touch operation or the like. Then, the display 707 of the smartphone 700 transitions to the insertion quantity confirmation screen 813 shown in FIG. 30(B).

[0232] In this example, on the admission quantity confirmation screen 813 in FIG. 30(B), the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the upper part, and below it, an admission quantity display section 813a including a display based on the specified admission quantity and a message for confirming admission is arranged, and further below it, a confirmation button 813b for determining the admission is arranged.

[0233] However, here, "249", which is the number of gaming media with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) specified by the hall member, amounts to 996 yen in currency units, and it does not reach 1000 yen, which is the lending unit of the lending rate of 5 yen (slot) for the admission destination, so it is not possible to perform the stored ball admission.

[0234] Therefore, in this stored ball admission management function (pattern 4), at the uppermost part of the admission quantity display section 813a, a guide message indicating that a minimum of 250 balls are required at a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) for admission to a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) and that the stored ball admission specified by the hall member cannot be executed is displayed, and below it, as an alternative to the stored ball admission, a guide message indicating that it is possible for admission from a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) is displayed. Further below it, the number of gaming media in the case of performing the stored ball admission from a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) to a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) is calculated and shown as a simulation result.

[0235] In this way, in the stored ball admission management function (pattern 4), when the stored ball admission specified by the hall member cannot be executed, it is controlled to indicate that fact and present an alternative to the stored ball admission.

[0236] Note that the stored ball admission management function (pattern 4) described with reference to FIG. 30 also has the lending source and the lending destination specified for the lending rate information, and the number of gaming media (admission quantity) of the lending source is specified, corresponding to the pattern indicated by NO = "2" in FIG. 24.

[0237] Next, referring to FIG. 31, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a stored ball entry management function (pattern 5) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be outlined. The stored ball entry management function (pattern 5) is controlled in the same manner as the above-described stored ball entry management function (pattern 3) so that stored ball entry is performed in units of lending destinations.

[0238] The stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 814 shown in FIG. 31 is, for example, another screen shown on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 when the hall member ID and password are entered in the authentication information input section 801a on the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A) and the stored ball entry instruction button 801b is selected by a touch operation or the like by the hall member. It is a screen similar to the stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 805 shown in FIG. 25 and the stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 809 shown in FIG. 28.

[0239] In the stored ball display section 814a of the stored ball confirmation / entry designation screen 814, in this example, 10,199 balls are displayed as stored balls with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko). From this, it can be seen that this hall member holds 10,199 pachinko balls as stored balls with a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko). Then, below the display of the number of such game media, three entry instruction buttons for designating the entry destination of the game media (which lending rate to enter the game media into) are arranged. The three entry designation buttons are, here, an entry button to a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko), an entry button to a lending rate of 5 yen (slot), and an entry button to a lending rate of 20 yen (slot).

[0240] In the stored ball display section 814a, in the same manner as in the case of the above-described lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko), for lending rates of 5 yen (slot) and 20 yen (slot) as well, three entry instruction buttons for designating the number of game media of that lending rate and the entry destination of the game media are arranged.

[0241] However, in this case, in the stored ball display unit 814a, considering the number of game media "249" for the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko) and the lending unit for other lending rates, it is impossible to transfer balls to the lending rates of lending rate = 5 yen (slot) and lending rate = 20 yen (slot). The transfer instruction buttons for instructing the transfer of stored balls to such impossible lending rates are made non-displayed in advance, and only the transfer instruction button 814b for instructing the transfer of stored balls to the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko) where the transfer of stored balls is possible is displayed.

[0242] Next, with reference to FIGS. 32 to 34, a stored ball transfer management function (pattern 6) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be outlined.

[0243] The transfer designation screen 815 shown in FIG. 32(A) is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, for example, when an instruction for transfer designation is given by a touch operation or the like of the transfer designation button 802b by the hall member on the stored ball confirmation screen 802 shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0244] In this example, the transfer designation screen 815 has the hall member ID logged in displayed at the upper part, and below it, there is a transfer designation section 815a including an area for designating the lending rate of the transfer source (by a pull-down menu or the like), an area for designating the lending rate of the transfer destination, and a game media number input area for inputting the number of game media (transfer destination quantity) when transferring to the transfer destination. Below that, a next button 815b is arranged.

[0245] Here, when the hall member designates the lending rate of the transfer source and the lending rate of the transfer destination as shown in FIG. 32(B), and further inputs "200" balls as the transfer destination quantity in the game media number input area, and then selects the next button 815b by a touch operation or the like, a transfer confirmation screen 816 as shown in FIG. 33 is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0246] The entry confirmation screen 816 shown in FIG. 33, in this example, displays the logged-in hall member ID at the top, and below it, there is an entry content display section 816a that displays a guide message indicating that entry is to be made with the following content, the lending rate and the number of gaming media (entry quantity) of the entry source, and the lending rate and the number of gaming media (entry destination quantity) of the entry destination. Below that, a confirmation button 816b is arranged.

[0247] As described above, in the stored ball entry management function (pattern 6), on the entry designation screen 815, the number of gaming media based on the lending rate of the entry destination, that is, the number of gaming media (entry destination quantity) at the lending rate of the entry destination that increases due to the stored ball entry, is designated, and the number of gaming media of the entry source required to achieve that entry destination quantity is calculated and displayed when the entry confirmation screen 816 is displayed. Note that on the entry designation screen 815(B), instead of the entry destination quantity that increases as the number of gaming media of the entry destination, it can also be configured to designate the total number of gaming media of the entry destination that the hall member ultimately wants to achieve.

[0248] Here, when the hall member selects the confirmation button 816b by a touch operation or the like, an entry completion screen 817 as shown in FIG. 34 is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, and there, a message 817a indicating that the stored ball entry process has been completed is displayed. The hall member then selects the back button 817b by a touch operation or the like to transition to the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A) or a menu screen (not shown).

[0249] Note that the stored ball entry management function (pattern 6) described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 34 has the entry source and the entry destination specified for the lending rate information, and the number of gaming media (entry destination quantity) of the entry destination is specified, corresponding to the pattern indicated by NO = "3" in FIG. 24.

[0250] The entry completion screen 818 shown in FIG. 35 is a modified example of the entry completion screen 817 shown in FIG. 34. Similar to the entry completion screen 817 in FIG. 34, the entry completion screen 818 in FIG. 35 displays a message 818a indicating that the stored ball entry process has been completed. Further, at the lower part thereof, a remaining game medium number display section 818b that displays the number of game media remaining after the stored ball entry at the lending rate of the entry source is displayed.

[0251] Also, further below that, an entry instruction button display section 818c is displayed, which arranges an entry instruction button that displays the number of balls when storing balls at a lending rate of 1 yen (pachinko) and an entry instruction button that displays the number of sheets when storing balls at a lending rate of 20 yen (slot) for the number of game media displayed in the remaining game medium number display section 818b, and a return button 818d is displayed at the lowermost part.

[0252] In this way, when there are remaining game media at the lending rate of the entry source due to the stored ball entry, an entry instruction button that displays the result of simulating the number of game media when entering at another lending rate is displayed, and by the hall member touching and operating or the like to select the entry instruction button, the remaining number of game media can be instructed to enter as shown on the entry instruction button.

[0253] Also, as described above, when there are remaining game media after the stored ball entry at the lending rate of the entry source, the lending rate of the entry destination can be determined randomly or according to a predetermined rule, and the entry instruction button to the entry destination can be set in the entry instruction button display section 818c.

[0254] Next, with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a stored ball entry management function (pattern 7) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be schematically described.

[0255] The ride-in designation screen 819 shown in FIG. 36(A) is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, for example, when an instruction for ride-in designation is given by a touch operation on the ride-in designation button 802b by a hall member on the stored ball confirmation screen 802 shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0256] In this example, the ride-in designation screen 819 has the logged-in hall member ID displayed at the top, and below it, there is a message prompting the specification of the lending rate and the number of gaming media, an area for specifying the lending rate of the ride-in destination by means of a pull-down menu, etc., and a ride-in designation section 819a including a gaming media number input area for inputting the number of gaming media (ride-in destination quantity) when riding into the ride-in destination. Below that, a next button 819b is arranged.

[0257] Here, when the hall member designates the lending rate of the ride-in destination as shown in FIG. 36(B), further inputs "3000" balls as the ride-in destination quantity in the gaming media number input area, and then selects the next button 819b by a touch operation or the like, a ride-in confirmation screen 820 as shown in FIG. 37 is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0258] In this example, the ride-in confirmation screen 820 shown in FIG. 37 has the logged-in hall member ID displayed at the top, and below it, there is a guide message indicating that the ride-in is to be carried out with the following content, a designated content display area for displaying the designated lending rate and the ride-in destination quantity (i.e., lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko) and "3000" balls), and a ride-in content display section 821a including a ride-in quantity display area and a remaining quantity display area for displaying the number of gaming media (ride-in quantity) and the remaining quantity to be ridden in for each lending rate of the ride-in source. Below that, a confirmation button 821b is arranged.

[0259] In this way, in the stored ball transfer management function (Pattern 7), on the transfer destination screen 819, the number of gaming media based on the lending rate of the transfer destination, that is, the number of gaming media at the lending rate of the transfer destination that increases due to the stored ball transfer (transfer destination quantity) is specified. In order to realize the transfer destination quantity, the number of gaming media of the transfer source required is selected, calculated, and displayed from the lending rates of a plurality of transfer sources when the transfer confirmation screen 820 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 37, in order to realize "3000" balls as the transfer destination at a lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko), a lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko) and a lending rate = 20 yen (slot) are selected as the lending rates of the transfer source. For the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), 9000 balls are stored and transferred (to the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko)), and for the lending rate = 20 yen (slot), 150 sheets are stored and transferred (to the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko)).

[0260] As for the transfer source, which lending rate and how many gaming media are transferred to the transfer destination can be determined by a predetermined transfer pattern. For example, it can be determined according to the order of predetermined lending rates, the order of the number of gaming media held, etc. Note that on the transfer designation screen 819(B), instead of the transfer destination quantity that increases as the number of gaming media of the transfer destination, it can also be configured to specify the total number of gaming media of the transfer destination that the hall member finally wants to achieve.

[0261] Here, when the hall member selects the confirmation button 821b by a touch operation or the like, the stored ball transfer process is performed with the content displayed on the transfer content display section 821a.

[0262] Note that the stored ball transfer management function (Pattern 7) described with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37 has the transfer destination specified for the lending rate information and the number of gaming media of the transfer destination specified, corresponding to the pattern indicated by NO = "4" in FIG. 24.

[0263] The entry confirmation screen 822 shown in FIG. 38 is a modified example of the entry confirmation screen 820 shown in FIG. 37. Regarding the entry confirmation screen 822, on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, due to the screen size, only a part of it may be displayed. However, the hall member can scroll the entry confirmation screen 822 up and down by operations such as swiping to view all the information. Here, for the sake of convenience, all parts of the entry confirmation screen 822 are displayed simultaneously.

[0264] Similar to the entry confirmation screen 820 in FIG. 37, the entry confirmation screen 822 in FIG. 38 includes an entry content display section 822a that displays the specified lending rate and the number of entry destinations (i.e., lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko) and "3000" balls). However, the entry source display area that displays the number of gaming media to be entered (entry quantity) and the remaining quantity for each lending rate of the entry source is shown in multiple according to multiple patterns of ball storage entry. Here, the hall member can check one checkbox from the multiple patterns and select the confirmation button 822b by a touch operation or the like to execute the ball storage entry according to the checked pattern.

[0265] In the example shown in FIG. 38, Pattern 1 is a pattern in which the lending rates of the entry sources are selected as lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), lending rate = 5 yen (slot), and lending rate = 20 yen (slot). For the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), 9000 balls are stored as ball storage entry; for the lending rate = 5 yen (slot), 328 pieces are stored as ball storage entry; and for the lending rate = 20 yen (slot), 68 pieces are stored as ball storage entry. This is in accordance with the pattern of selecting the lending rates of the entry sources in the order of 1 yen (pachinko) -> 4 yen (pachinko) -> 5 yen (slot) -> 20 yen (slot).

[0266] Pattern 2 is a pattern in which the lending rates of the lender are selected as lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko) and lending rate = 20 yen (slot machine), and 9000 balls are stored for the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), and 150 sheets are stored for the lending rate = 20 yen (slot machine). This follows the pattern of randomly selecting the lending rate of the lender.

[0267] Pattern 3 is a pattern in which the lending rates of the lender are selected as lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), lending rate = 5 yen (slot machine), and lending rate = 20 yen (slot machine), and 5230 balls are stored for the lending rate = 1 yen (pachinko), 330 sheets are stored for the lending rate = 5 yen (slot machine), and 256 sheets are stored for the lending rate = 20 yen (slot machine). This follows the pattern of selecting the lending rate of the lender in the order of 20 yen (slot machine) -> 5 yen (slot machine) -> 4 yen (pachinko) -> 1 yen (pachinko).

[0268] In this way, when the lending rate and the quantity of the borrower are specified, multiple patterns of storing balls are shown, so that the hall member can select a preferable borrowing pattern while comparing it with other patterns according to the status of their stored balls and future game plans.

[0269] In the example of the borrowing confirmation screen 820 shown in FIG. 37 and the borrowing confirmation screen 822 shown in FIG. 38, one or more methods of storing balls are displayed according to a predetermined borrowing pattern. Such a borrowing pattern can be set by the hall member himself / herself on the borrowing pattern setting screen 823 shown in FIG. 39.

[0270] The entry pattern setting screen 823 is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 by selecting the entry pattern setting function from the menu screen (not shown). In this example, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the top, and below it, a guide message indicating that it is determined according to the entry pattern checked by the entry source, and an entry pattern display section 823a for displaying a plurality of entry patterns (entry pattern 1 to entry pattern 6) are arranged, and below that, a setting button 823b is arranged.

[0271] In this example, entry pattern 1 is an entry pattern that selects the lending rate of the entry source in the order of 1 yen (pachinko) -> 4 yen (pachinko) -> 5 yen (slot machine) -> 20 yen (slot machine). Of course, if there is no number of gaming media required for the corresponding lending rate or if it is the same lending rate as the entry source, the entry from that lending rate is skipped. Such skipping is also performed in the following entry patterns.

[0272] Entry pattern 2 is an entry pattern that selects the lending rate of the entry source in the order of 20 yen (slot machine) -> 5 yen (slot machine) -> 4 yen (pachinko) -> 1 yen (pachinko), and entry pattern 3 is one in which the hall member directly designates the order of the lending rates.

[0273] Entry pattern 4 is an entry pattern that assigns in order from the lending rate with the largest number of gaming media, and entry pattern 5 is an entry pattern that assigns in order from the lending rate with the oldest saving time (the hall computer 100 can grasp when and for which lending rate the hall member saved balls by means of a game situation management table (not shown) that manages the game situations for each hall member). Entry pattern 6 is an entry pattern that randomly selects the lending rate.

[0274] Hall members can select a desired entry pattern by checking the check box on the entry pattern setting screen 823 (in the case of entry pattern 3, enter the rental rate), and when the setting button 823b is selected by tapping, etc., the setting content will be stored in the entry pattern setting management table 154. Here, hall members can select multiple entry patterns. When multiple entry patterns are selected, multiple stored ball entry methods will be displayed according to the selected entry patterns, as shown in the entry confirmation screen 822 in FIG. 38.

[0275] Note that such entry pattern settings can also be made by the administrator of the hall store, etc. using the hall management terminal 600. For example, when there is no entry pattern setting for the corresponding hall member or when certain conditions are met, the entry pattern of the hall store can be preferentially applied.

[0276] Also, in the case of stored ball entry, the rental rate of the entry source is selected according to the entry pattern as described above, and entry is preferentially performed from the gaming media of the selected rental rate. However, in order to perform stored ball entry without a remainder, a process of adjusting the number of gaming media to be entered is performed across multiple rental rates. Therefore, there may be a case where the gaming media of a lower-priority rental rate is used even if the gaming media of a higher-priority rental rate remains.

[0277] Next, with reference to FIG. 40, the stored ball entry management function (pattern 8) performed by hall members operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be briefly described.

[0278] The entry designation screen 824 shown in FIG. 40(A) is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 when an entry designation instruction is given, for example, by a touch operation of the entry designation button 802b by the hall member on the stored ball confirmation screen 802 shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0279] In this example, on the entry specification screen 824, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the top, and below it, there is a guide message indicating that the lending rate of the lender is to be specified, and an entry destination lending rate specification area 824a for specifying the lending rate of the entry destination by means of a pull-down menu or the like is arranged. Below that, a next button 824b is arranged.

[0280] Here, when the hall member specifies the lending rate of the entry destination and selects the next button 824b by a touch operation or the like, an entry confirmation screen 825 as shown in FIG. 40(B) is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0281] In this example, on the entry confirmation screen 825 shown in FIG. 40(B), the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the top, and below it, there is a guide message indicating that entry is to be made in the following entry pattern, a specified content display area for displaying the specified lending rate (i.e., lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko)), an entry source display area for displaying the number of game media to be entered (entry quantity), the number of game media based on the lending rate of the entry destination (entry destination quantity), and the remaining quantity for each lending rate of the entry source, and an entry destination total display area for displaying the total of the entry destination quantities. An entry content display section 825a including these is arranged, and below that, a confirmation button 825b is arranged.

[0282] Here, the entry quantity in the entry source display area arranged in the entry content display section 825a can be appropriately input by the hall member. In response to the input of the entry quantity, the entry destination quantity and the remaining quantity displayed in the entry source display area of the entry content display section 825a, and the value displayed in the entry destination total display area change.

[0283] In this way, in the stored ball entry management function (pattern 8), on the entry destination screen 824, only the lending rate of the entry destination is specified, and by the hall member entering the entry quantity in the entry content display section 825a, the method of storing ball entry is determined. Therefore, the hall member can interactively determine from which lending rate and how much gaming medium to enter, and how much gaming medium of the entry destination to set, while looking at the number of gaming mediums and the remaining quantity of each lending rate.

[0284] After that, when the hall member selects the confirmation button 825b by a touch operation or the like, the stored ball entry process is performed with the content displayed in the entry content display section 825a.

[0285] Note that the stored ball entry management function (pattern 8) described with reference to FIG. 40 is one that interactively designates the lending rate information (entry source and entry destination) and the number of gaming mediums of the entry source (entry quantity) as appropriate, and basically belongs to the pattern indicated by NO = "7" in FIG. 24.

[0286] Next, with reference to FIG. 41, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a stored ball entry management function (pattern 9) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be outlined.

[0287] The stored ball display / entry designation screen 826 shown in FIG. 41 is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, for example, when an entry designation instruction is given by a touch operation of the entry designation button 802b by the hall member on the stored ball confirmation screen 802 shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0288] In this example, the stored ball display / entry designation screen 826 has the hall member ID logged in at the top, and below that, a guide message prompting to press the confirmation button after entry designation, an entry destination lending rate designation area for designating the lending rate of the entry destination by a pull-down menu, etc., and an entry destination designation section 826a including an entry destination quantity designation area for designating the number of gaming mediums (entry destination quantity) after entering at the lending rate of the entry destination are arranged.

[0289] Further below, for each lending rate of the borrowing source, there is provided a borrowing source display area that displays the number of gaming media to be borrowed (borrowing quantity), the number of gaming media based on the lending rate of the borrowing destination (borrowing destination quantity), and the remaining quantity, and a borrowing destination total display area that displays the total of the borrowing destination quantities. A borrowing content display unit 826b is arranged, and below it, a confirmation button 826c is arranged.

[0290] Here, the borrowing destination lending rate designation area and the borrowing destination quantity designation area arranged in the borrowing destination designation unit 826a can be appropriately designated by the hall member. Further, the borrowing quantity in the borrowing source display area arranged in the borrowing content display unit 826b can also be appropriately input by the hall member. According to these designations and inputs, the values displayed in other areas change.

[0291] In this way, in the stored ball borrowing management function (pattern 9), on the stored ball display / borrowing designation screen 826, the method of storing ball borrowing is determined by appropriately designating the lending rate information (borrowing source and borrowing destination) and the number of gaming media (borrowing quantity and borrowing destination quantity). Therefore, the hall member can interactively determine how many gaming media to borrow from which lending rate and how many gaming media to set for which borrowing destination while looking at the number of gaming media and the remaining quantity of each lending rate.

[0292] Thereafter, when the hall member selects the confirmation button 826c by a touch operation or the like, the stored ball borrowing process is performed with the content displayed in the borrowing content display unit 826b.

[0293] Note that the stored ball borrowing management function (pattern 8) described with reference to FIG. 41 is one that appropriately and interactively designates the lending rate information (borrowing source and borrowing destination) and the number of gaming media (borrowing quantity and borrowing destination quantity), and corresponds to the pattern indicated by NO = "7" in FIG. 24.

[0294] So far, some patterns of the stored ball transfer management function have been described. However, the stored ball transfer management function of the present invention can be realized in various other patterns. Also, here, the stored ball transfer is made possible between all lending rates, but it can also be limited to transfers within the same gaming machine type or to specific lending rates (one-way or two-way).

[0295] Also, the above-described stored ball transfer management function provided by the management system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is basically performed by operating the smartphone 700 owned by the hall member, but it can also be executed in the sand device 20, POS 500 installed in the hall store, and other devices in the hall store that can be operated by the hall member.

[0296] [Stored Ball Transfer Management Function]

[0297] In the first embodiment, a stored ball transfer management function is provided that allows a hall member to move their stored balls, which are managed for each lending rate, to the stored balls of other hall members by operating their own smartphone 700.

[0298] First, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 42 and 43, the diagrams representing the screens of the smartphone 700 shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, and the diagram shown in FIG. 46, a stored ball transfer management function (Pattern 1) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be outlined.

[0299] Also, in FIGS. 42 and 43, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100, the smartphone 700a of the source that instructs the transfer of the stored balls, and the smartphone 700b of the destination that receives the transferred stored balls are shown in chronological order for each device.

[0300] As shown in step S161 of FIG. 42, when a hall member inputs the hall member ID and password into the smartphone 700a and instructs "transfer of stored tokens", the smartphone 700a transmits authentication information including the input hall member ID and password, etc. and function instruction information indicating the instruction of "transfer of stored tokens" to the hall computer 100 (step S162). This function instruction information includes stored token confirmation request information that requests to confirm the number of gaming media stored by the hall member.

[0301] The input of the above member ID and password and the instruction of "transfer of stored tokens" are performed by the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A). The login screen 801 is a screen displayed on the display of the smartphone 700a here. As described above, the login screen 801 has an authentication information input section 801a arranged at the upper part, and below it, a stored token loading instruction button 801b, a stored token transfer instruction button 801c, and an empty information providing instruction button 801d are arranged. Here, when the hall member ID and password are respectively input into the member ID input area and password input area arranged in the authentication information input section 801a, and the stored token transfer instruction button 801c is selected by a touch operation or the like of the hall member, the above-described instruction of "transfer of stored tokens" is performed.

[0302] Next, when the hall computer 100 receives authentication information etc. from the smartphone 700a, it checks these information (step S163). For example, the hall computer 100 refers to the hall member information table 151 and checks the consistency of the hall member ID (or the unique ID of the member card) and the password.

[0303] In step S164, it is determined whether the hall member is a regular hall member. If it is determined that the hall member is not a regular hall member (NO in step S164), an error message to that effect is edited and transmitted to the smartphone 700a (step S165). When the smartphone 700a receives this error message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0304] If it is determined in step S164 that the user is a legitimate hall member (YES in step S164), it is determined in step S166 whether or not an instruction to transfer stored balls has been given. If a different instruction has been given (NO in step S166), control is exercised to perform other function processing. If an instruction to transfer stored balls has been given (YES in step S166), the stored ball management table 152 is referenced in step S172 to identify the self-authentication stored ball information corresponding to the authentication information.

[0305] If the result of checking the content of the identified self-authentication stored ball information shows that there are no stored balls (NO in step S173), a message to that effect is edited and sent to smartphone 700a (step S174). When smartphone 700a receives this message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted here.

[0306] If it is determined that stored balls exist as a result of checking the contents of the identified self-authentication stored ball information (YES in step S173), the identified self-authentication stored ball information is sent to smartphone 700a (step S175).

[0307] In step S176, when the smartphone 700a receives the self-authentication stored ball information from the hall computer 100, it displays a stored ball confirmation screen in accordance with the self-authentication stored ball information (step S177).

[0308] The saved ball confirmation screen is, for example, saved ball confirmation screen 830 as shown in Fig. 44(A). In this example, saved ball confirmation screen 830 displays the logged-in hall member ID at the top, and below that is placed saved ball display section 830a, which displays the logged-in hall member's saved balls by lending rate, and below that is placed transfer designation button 830b.

[0309] Next, in step S191 of FIG. 43, it is determined whether an instruction for specifying a transfer has been given from the hall member on the stored ball confirmation screen 802 (step S191), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such a repeated determination can be terminated by selecting the return button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0310] When an instruction for specifying a transfer is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S191), a transfer designation screen for specifying the transfer is displayed on the display of the smartphone 700a (step S192).

[0311] The transfer designation screen is, for example, a transfer designation screen 831 as shown in FIG. 44(B). In this example, the transfer designation screen 831 has the logged-in hall member ID displayed at the upper part, and below that, a member ID input area for inputting the transfer destination hall member ID (i.e., other authentication information) representing the hall member to whom the stored balls are to be transferred, a lending rate designation area for designating the lending rate of the stored balls at the source (by means of a pull-down menu or the like), and a transfer designation section 831a including a game medium number input area for inputting the number of game media to be transferred are arranged, and a next button 831b is arranged below that.

[0312] In step S193, when the hall member designates the transfer destination hall member ID (other authentication information), the lending rate information, and the number of game media, the transfer designation screen 831 as shown in FIG. 45(A) is obtained. The content of the transfer is to transfer 2000 balls of game media with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) from the hall member ID = "U001" to "U002".

[0313] On such a transfer designation screen 831, it is determined whether the next button 831b has been selected (an instruction to transition to the next screen) by the hall member (step S194), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such a repeated determination can be terminated by selecting the return button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0314] When an instruction to transition to the next screen is given by touch operation or the like by a hall member (YES in step S194), movement request information for moving the gaming medium, that is, moving the specified number of gaming mediums at the lending rate of the specified source of movement to the stored balls of the hall member specified as the destination, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S195).

[0315] When the hall computer 100 receives the movement request information in step S196, in step S197, it checks whether the hall member ID specified as the destination exists. If other authenticated stored ball information cannot be identified (NO in step S197), a message indicating that the stored balls of the hall member at the destination cannot be confirmed is edited and transmitted to the smartphone 700a (step S198). When the smartphone 700a receives this message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0316] If other authenticated stored ball information can be identified (YES in step S197), based on the received movement request information, the content of the stored ball management table 152 is updated (step S199). Specifically, based on the movement request information, the specified number of gaming mediums at the lending rate of the specified source of movement is added to the other authenticated stored ball information (that is, to the destination), and the number of gaming mediums at that lending rate is subtracted from the self - authenticated stored ball information (that is, from the source of movement).

[0317] Next, in step S200, a transmission instruction is given to transmit movement notification information to the hall member corresponding to the other authenticated stored ball information (the hall member at the destination). Based on this transmission instruction, the movement notification information is transmitted to the smartphone 700b. This movement notification information is transmitted to the hall member at the destination and is consequently received by an application or the like running on the smartphone 700b used by the hall member at the destination.

[0318] In step S201, when the smartphone 700b receives the movement notification information transmitted from the hall computer 100, in step S202, based on the movement notification information, the movement notification information is displayed on the display of the smartphone 700b. The movement notification information includes, for example, a message such as "There has been a movement of 2000 balls (lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko)) from U0001."

[0319] Also, after step S200, a transmission instruction is given to the hall computer 100 to transmit movement completion information to the hall member at the source of movement, and based on this transmission instruction, the movement completion information is transmitted to the smartphone 700a. (Step S203). In step S204, when the smartphone 700a receives the movement completion information transmitted from the hall computer 100, in step S205, based on the movement completion information, a movement completion screen is displayed on the display of the smartphone 700a.

[0320] This movement completion screen is, for example, the movement completion screen 832 as shown in FIG. 45(B). In this example, the movement completion screen 832 has the logged-in hall member ID displayed at the top, and below that, there is a movement completion display section 832a that includes a message indicating that the transfer of stored balls has been made to the hall member at the destination, and a movement stored ball display area that represents the lending rate and the number of gaming media of the transferred gaming media. Below that, a return button 832b is arranged.

[0321] Also, after step S203, based on the received movement request information, the hall computer 100 updates the content of the stored ball movement history management table 155 (step S206). In the stored ball movement history management table 155, for example, the hall member ID at the source of movement, the hall member ID at the destination of movement, the lending rate and the number of gaming media at the source of movement, and the movement completion date and time, etc. are stored each time a stored ball movement instruction is given.

[0322] FIG. 46 is a diagram showing how the stored ball management table 152 is updated according to the stored ball movement instruction shown in FIGS. 42 to 45. FIG. 46(A) shows the content of the stored ball management table 152 before the update. In this example, for example, the stored balls for hall member ID = "U001" are 9000 balls for 4 yen (pachinko), 0 balls for 1 yen (pachinko), 330 pieces for 20 yen (slot), and 256 pieces for 5 yen (slot), and the stored balls for hall member ID = "U002" are 0 balls for 4 yen (pachinko), 30000 balls for 1 yen (pachinko), 0 pieces for 20 yen (slot), and 0 pieces for 5 yen (slot).

[0323] Here, when the hall member with hall member ID = "U001" gives an instruction to move the stored balls from his own stored balls (lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko)) to the hall member with hall member ID = "U002" for 2000 balls as shown in FIG. 45(A), the stored ball management table 152, as shown in FIG. 46(B), shows that the stored balls for hall member ID = "U001" are 7000 balls for 4 yen (pachinko), 0 balls for 1 yen (pachinko), 330 pieces for 20 yen (slot), and 256 pieces for 5 yen (slot), and the stored balls for hall member ID = "U002" are 2000 balls for 4 yen (pachinko), 30000 balls for 1 yen (pachinko), 0 pieces for 20 yen (slot), and 0 pieces for 5 yen (slot).

[0324] In this way, due to the stored ball movement instruction by the hall member with hall member ID = "U001", 2000 balls with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) of the hall member with hall member ID = "U001" are moved to the number of game media with a lending rate of 4 yen (pachinko) of the hall member with hall member ID = "U002".

[0325] Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 47 and the diagram representing the screen of the smartphone 700 shown in FIG. 48, a stored ball movement management function (pattern 2) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be schematically described.

[0326] Further, in FIG. 47, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100, the source smartphone 700a that instructs the movement of the stored balls, and the destination smartphone 700b that receives the moved stored balls are shown in time series for each device.

[0327] FIG. 47 shows the processes from step S211 to step S220, which is a modified example of process C that is the processed part surrounded by the dotted rectangle in the flowchart shown in FIG. 43. Therefore, for the stored ball movement management function shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 42 and 43, by replacing the part of process C with the flowchart of FIG. 47, the stored ball movement management function of pattern 2 is realized.

[0328] On the movement designation screen 831 shown in FIG. 45(A), when the Next button 831b is selected by a touch operation or the like and an instruction to transition to the next screen is given, movement request information for moving the gaming medium, that is, for moving the specified number of gaming media at the specified lending rate of the source to the stored balls of the hall member designated as the destination, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S211).

[0329] When the hall computer 100 receives the movement request information in step S212, in step S213, it checks whether the hall member ID designated as the destination exists. If other authenticated stored ball information cannot be specified (NO in step S213), it edits a message indicating that the stored balls of the hall member at the destination cannot be confirmed and transmits it to the smartphone 700a (step S214). When the smartphone 700a receives this message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0330] If other authenticated stored ball information can be specified (YES in step S213), destination information including the name of the hall member corresponding to the destination is acquired from the hall member information table 151 and transmitted to the smartphone 700a (step S215).

[0331] When the smartphone 700a receives the destination information in step S216, in step S217, it displays a destination confirmation screen on the display of the smartphone 700a.

[0332] This destination confirmation screen is, for example, the destination confirmation screen 833 as shown in FIG. 48. In this example, the destination confirmation screen 833 has the logged-in hall member ID displayed at the top, and below that, a message indicating confirmation of the transfer of stored balls for the name of the destination (the name of the hall member with the hall member ID = "U002"), and a transfer confirmation display section 833a including a transfer planned stored ball display area showing the lending rate and the number of gaming media of the gaming media planned to be transferred is arranged. Below that, an OK button 833b and a cancel button 833c are arranged.

[0333] In such a destination confirmation screen 833, it is determined whether or not the hall member has selected the OK button 833b (an instruction to confirm the transfer of stored balls) (step S218), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the cancel button 833c or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0334] When an instruction to confirm the transfer of stored balls is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S218), the destination confirmation information is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S219).

[0335] The hall computer 100 that has received the destination confirmation information from the smartphone 700a updates the contents of the stored ball management table 152 based on the transfer request information received in step S212 in step S220 (step S220). Specifically, based on the transfer request information, the gaming media of the designated lending rate at the transfer source are added to the other authenticated stored ball information (that is, the destination) by the designated number of gaming media, and the number of gaming media of that lending rate is subtracted from the self-authenticated stored ball information (that is, from the transfer source).

[0336] With the configuration of such a stored ball movement management function (Pattern 2), the hall member at the source of movement can give an instruction for moving the stored balls after confirming the name of the hall member designated as the destination, thereby reducing the risk of providing stored balls to an unexpected hall member. Also, at this time, it is possible to reconfirm the lending rate and the number of gaming media for the object of movement.

[0337] Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 49 and the diagram showing the screen of the smartphone 700 shown in FIG. 50, a stored ball movement management function (Pattern 3) that a hall member performs by operating a smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be outlined.

[0338] Also, in FIG. 49, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100, the smartphone 700a of the source that instructs the movement of the stored balls, and the smartphone 700b of the destination that receives the moved stored balls are shown in time series for each device.

[0339] FIG. 49 shows the processes from step S231 to step S248, which is a modified example of process C, which is the processed part surrounded by a dotted rectangle in the flowchart shown in FIG. 43. Therefore, for the stored ball movement management function shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 42 and 43, by replacing the part of process C with the flowchart of FIG. 49, the stored ball movement management function of Pattern 3 is realized.

[0340] On the movement designation screen 831 shown in FIG. 45(A), when the Next button 831b is selected by a touch operation or the like and an instruction to transition to the next screen is given, movement request information for moving the gaming media, that is, moving the gaming media at the lending rate of the designated source of movement to the stored balls of the hall member designated as the destination by the designated number of gaming media, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S231).

[0341] When the hall computer 100 receives movement request information in step S232, it checks in step S233 whether the hall member ID specified as the destination exists. If other authentication stored credit information cannot be identified (NO in step S233), it edits a message indicating that the stored credit of the hall member at the destination cannot be confirmed and sends it to the smartphone 700a (step S234). When the smartphone 700a receives this message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted here.

[0342] If other authentication stored credit information can be identified (YES in step S233), it acquires destination information including the name of the hall member corresponding to the destination from the hall member information table 151 and sends this to the smartphone 700b (step S235).

[0343] When the smartphone 700b receives the destination information in step S236, it displays a destination approval screen on the display of the smartphone 700b in step S237.

[0344] This destination approval screen is, for example, the destination approval screen 834 as shown in FIG. 50(A). In this example, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part of the destination approval screen 834, and below that, there is a message prompting approval of credit transfer for the name (name of hall member ID = "U002") specified as the destination, and a movement approval display section 834a including a movement planned credit display area showing the lending rate and the number of gaming media of the gaming media planned to be moved is arranged. Below that, an approve button 834b and a do not approve button 834c are arranged.

[0345] In such a destination approval screen 834, it is determined whether there is any response (selection of the approve button 834b or the do not approve button 834c) from the hall member (step S238), and this determination is repeated until such a response is received. Note that such repetition of determination can be terminated by selection of the back button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0346] When there is a response from the hall member on the destination approval screen 834 through touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S238), the destination approval information is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S239).

[0347] When the hall computer 100 receives the destination approval information in step S240, in step S241, it determines whether the destination approval information indicates approval or nonapproval. If it indicates nonapproval (NO in step S241), a message indicating nonapproval from the hall member at the destination is edited and transmitted to the smartphone 700a (step S242). When the smartphone 700a receives this message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0348] If the destination approval information indicates approval (YES in step S241), the destination approval confirmation information including the name of the hall member corresponding to the destination is transmitted to the smartphone 700a (step S243).

[0349] When the smartphone 700a receives the destination approval confirmation information in step S244, in step S245, the destination approval confirmation screen is displayed on the display of the smartphone 700a.

[0350] This destination approval confirmation screen is, for example, the destination approval confirmation screen 835 as shown in FIG. 50(B). In this example, on the destination approval confirmation screen 835, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part, and below that, for the transfer of stored balls to the name of the destination (the name of the hall member with hall member ID = "U002"), a message indicating that approval has been received from the destination and a message indicating confirmation of finally performing the stored ball transfer, and a transfer confirmation display section 835a including a transfer planned stored ball display area showing the lending rate and the number of gaming media of the gaming media planned to be transferred are arranged. Below that, an OK button 835b and a cancel button 835c are arranged.

[0351] On such a destination approval confirmation screen 835, it is determined whether or not the hall member has selected the OK button 835b (an instruction to confirm the transfer of stored game media) (step S246), and this determination is repeated until such an instruction is given. Note that such repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the cancel button 835c or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0352] When an instruction to confirm the transfer of stored game media is given by a touch operation or the like by the hall member (YES in step S246), the approval confirmation information is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S247).

[0353] The hall computer 100 that has received the approval confirmation information from the smartphone 700a updates the contents of the stored game media management table 152 based on the transfer request information received in step S232 in step S248 (step S248). Specifically, based on the transfer request information, the game media of the specified lending rate at the transfer source are added to the other authenticated stored game media information (i.e., the destination) by the specified number of game media, and the number of game media of that lending rate is subtracted from the self-authenticated stored game media information (i.e., from the transfer source).

[0354] With the configuration of such a stored game media transfer management function (pattern 3), the hall member at the destination can grasp and approve the fact that the transfer of game media is instructed by the hall member at the transfer source before the transfer. Therefore, the hall member at the destination can reject the transfer of stored game media that they do not remember.

[0355] Also, in many cases, the hall member at the destination and the hall member at the transfer source communicate with each other in advance via SNS or the like before performing the transfer of stored game media. Therefore, if the destination approval screen 834 is not displayed on the smartphone 700b of the hall member at the destination even though the hall member at the transfer source has instructed the transfer of stored game media, it can be grasped (before confirming the transfer of stored game media) that there is a possibility that the hall member at the transfer source has incorrectly specified the destination of the transfer of stored game media.

[0356] Furthermore, similar to the case of Pattern 2, the originating hall member can check the name of the hall member designated as the destination before giving an instruction to transfer the stored balls, thereby reducing the risk of providing the stored balls to an unexpected hall member. Also, at this time, it is possible to reconfirm the lending rate and the number of gaming media to be transferred.

[0357] So far, with reference to FIGS. 42 to 50, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, the outline of the stored ball transfer management function performed by the hall member operating the smartphone has been described. However, the function can also be realized by various other variations.

[0358] For example, in the above example, by specifying the lending rate of the origin, the number of gaming media was configured to be transferred to the destination at the same lending rate as the specified lending rate. However, it is also possible to transfer the gaming media to a different lending rate at the destination. In that case, naturally, the number of gaming media to be transferred is converted based on the lending rate.

[0359] Also, in the originating hall member, it is possible to configure such that the destination, the lending rate of the destination, and the number of gaming media (the number of gaming media to be transferred) that increases at the lending rate of the destination are specified, and according to the specification, the number of gaming media at the lending rate required is calculated from the stored balls of the origin and transferred. In this case, at the origin, it is also possible to present several patterns regarding which lending rate to transfer how many gaming media.

[0360] Also, it is possible to control to limit the hall members who can be the origin or destination of the stored ball transfer to specific hall members, for example, according to the stored ball situation, the gaming situation, etc.

[0361] Furthermore, when the hall computer 100 is connected to the hall computer 100' of another hall store and can access the stored ball management table 152' managed in the other hall store, it is also possible to configure to give an instruction to transfer the stored balls across the hall stores.

[0362] Also, in the above example, after the movement of the stored balls, the movement history of the stored balls is configured to be stored in the stored ball movement history management table 155. By referring to this stored ball movement history management table 155, it is possible to display the history information regarding the movement of the stored balls to hall members, managers of hall stores, etc.

[0363] Also, regarding the movement of the stored balls, an upper limit on the number of movements and an upper limit on the number of movement times can be set within a predetermined period. When there is an instruction for moving the stored balls by a hall member, by referring to the stored ball movement history management table 155, if the number of movements or the number of movement times exceeds the upper limit, it is possible to control so that an instruction for moving the stored balls cannot be given.

[0364] Note that in the stored ball movement management function of the management system 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the movement notification information to be sent to the hall member at the destination of movement and the movement completion information to be sent to the hall member at the source of movement are each sent to a dedicated application executed on the smartphone 700 (for example, by means of a push notification or the like), and the content of the information is displayed on the display of the smartphone 700. However, such movement notification information and movement management information may each be sent by email, and the smartphone 700 may be controlled to receive and display these by means of an email application.

[0365] [Available Information Provision Management Function]

[0366] In the first embodiment, an available information provision management function is provided that enables a hall member to display, on the smartphone 700 in association with the stored ball information of the hall member, etc., the available information of the gaming machine 10 in the hall store by operating his / her own smartphone 700.

[0367] First, with reference to FIG. 51, a function for managing the state of each gaming machine 10, which is realized by the available information provision management function of the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, will be outlined.

[0368] As shown in FIG. 51, the hall computer 100 acquires the number information of inserted and paid-out game media from the gaming machine 10, and acquires the number information of moving game media and face image information from the sand device 20.

[0369] Here, the number information of inserted and paid-out game media is accumulated information regarding the number of game media, such as the insertion information and payout information of pachinko balls and medals, as described above. From such insertion information and payout information, it is possible to acquire the time when pachinko balls or medals were inserted and paid out, and the number of game media. In addition, the winning information includes information on the time and number of jackpot occurrences, and the operation information includes information regarding operations on the gaming machine 10.

[0370] The number information of moving game media includes information regarding the movement of pachinko balls and medals between an information card and a contactless IC card, as described above. For example, information such as information on the lending of pachinko balls or medals using an information card or a contactless IC card, and information stored in an information card or a contactless IC card when counting and storing balls are included in these.

[0371] The face image information is information including the face image of the player acquired by the camera 35 of the sand device 20 and the face image analysis result.

[0372] From these information acquired from the gaming machine 10 and the sand device 20, it is possible to grasp the respective operating states of the gaming machine 10. In addition, the number information of inserted and paid-out game media, the number information of moving game media, and the face image information are accumulated in the gaming machine 10 and the sand device 20 for a predetermined period, and then transmitted to the hall computer 100. By shortening this accumulation period, it becomes possible to grasp the operating state closer to real time.

[0373] When the hall computer 100 acquires the number information of inserted and paid-out game media from the gaming machine 10, and the number information of moving game media and the face image information from the sand device 20, based on this information, it determines the availability information indicating whether each gaming machine 10 is in an available state.

[0374] For example, when there is no input or payout of gaming media (determined based on the information on the number of input and payout gaming media) and no use of information cards or contactless IC cards (determined based on the information on the number of mobile gaming media) for a predetermined period, the hall computer 100 determines that the gaming machine 10 is in an idle state.

[0375] In addition, for example, when there is no input or payout of gaming media and no use of information cards or contactless IC cards for a predetermined period, and the player is not seated on the seat (determined based on the face image information), the hall computer 100 can also determine that the gaming machine 10 is in an idle state. In addition, based on the information on the number of input and payout gaming media, the number of mobile gaming media, and the face image information, or including information other than these information, the idle state of the gaming machine 10 can be determined in various ways.

[0376] The hall computer 100 stores the idle information regarding each gaming machine 10 thus determined in the item "idle status" of the gaming machine management table 156 and updates it in real - time or at a timing close to real - time during business hours. In this example, in the item "idle status", "1" indicates in use and "0" indicates an idle state. When the item "idle status" changes to the idle state, by storing the date and time in the item "last operation date and time", it is possible to grasp when the gaming machine 10 has not been in operation.

[0377] Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 52 and 53 and the diagram showing the screen of the smartphone 700 shown in FIG. 54, in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, a free - information - providing management function (pattern 1) performed by a hall member operating a smartphone will be outlined.

[0378] In addition, in FIGS. 52 and 53, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100 and the smartphone 700 are shown in chronological order for each device.

[0379] As shown in step S261 of FIG. 52, when a hall member inputs the hall member ID and password into the smartphone 700 and gives an instruction of "availability information provision", the smartphone 700 transmits authentication information including the input hall member ID and password and availability information request information indicating the instruction of "availability information provision" to the hall computer 100 (step S262).

[0380] The input of the above-mentioned member ID and password and the instruction of "availability information provision" are performed through the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A). The login screen 801 is a screen displayed on the display of the smartphone 700 here. As described above, the authentication information input section 801a is arranged at the upper part of the login screen 801, and below it, a ball storage entry instruction button 801b, a ball storage movement instruction button 801c, and an availability information provision instruction button 801d are arranged. Here, when the hall member ID and password are respectively input into the member ID input area and the password input area arranged in the authentication information input section 801a, and the availability information provision instruction button 801d is selected by a touch operation or the like of the hall member, the above-mentioned instruction of "availability information provision" is given.

[0381] Next, when the hall computer 100 receives the authentication information and the like from the smartphone 700, it checks these information (step S263). For example, the hall computer 100 refers to the hall member information table 151 and checks the consistency of the hall member ID (or the unique ID of the member card) and the password.

[0382] In step S264, it is determined whether the user is a regular hall member. If it is determined that the user is not a regular hall member (NO in step S264), an error message to that effect is edited and transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S265). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0383] In step S264, if it is determined that the user is a regular hall member (YES in step S264), then in step S266, it is determined whether there is an instruction to provide vacancy information. In the case of a different instruction (NO in step S266), control is performed to execute other functional processes. In the case of an instruction to provide vacancy information (YES in step S266), in step S267, the gaming machine management table 156 is referred to, and vacant gaming machines in a vacant state (that is, gaming machines 10 for which the item "vacancy status" is "0") are identified.

[0384] Next, based on the information of the identified gaming machines 10, the hall computer 100 edits and generates vacancy information (step S268), and transmits the generated vacancy information to the smartphone 700 (step S269). When the smartphone 700 receives the vacancy information (step S270), based on the received vacancy information, a vacancy information display screen is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 (step S271).

[0385] The vacancy information display screen is, for example, a vacancy information display screen 840 as shown in FIG. 54(A). In this example, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part of the vacancy information display screen 840, and below it, a vacancy information display section 840a that displays the machine numbers of the gaming machines 10 that are currently vacant in the hall store for each rental rate is arranged, and below that, a stored ball information display instruction button 840c is arranged.

[0386] The machine numbers displayed in the vacancy information display section 840a are each selectable. For example, when a hall member selects a machine number display area 840b that displays the machine number "4" by a touch operation or the like, gaming information including the input and payout records of pachinko balls and medals and winning information in the gaming machine 10 corresponding to the machine number, and map information indicating the position in the hall store are displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0387] Also, when displaying the machine numbers in the vacancy information display section 840a, each machine number can be positioned on the map of the hall store.

[0388] Next, in step S272, it is determined whether or not an instruction to display stored ball information has been given by a hall member on the vacancy information display screen 840 (whether or not the stored ball information display instruction button 840c has been selected) (step S272), and this determination is repeated until this instruction is given. Note that such repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the return button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0389] When an instruction to display stored ball information is given by a touch operation or the like by a hall member (YES in step S272), authentication stored ball information request information for requesting authentication stored ball information, which is information regarding the stored balls of the logged-in hall member, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S273).

[0390] When the hall computer 100 receives the authentication stored ball information request information in step S274, in step S291 of FIG. 53, it specifies the lending rate of each available stand (the gaming machine 10 in the available state) provided to the smartphone 700 as vacancy information. Next, in step S292, it refers to the stored ball management table 152 and calculates gaming medium number information representing the number of gaming media corresponding to the specified lending rate for the logged-in hall member.

[0391] As a result of calculating the gaming medium number information, it is determined whether or not there are stored balls of the hall member (step S293). If there are no stored balls (NO in step S293), an error message to that effect is edited and transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S294). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0392] As a result of calculating the gaming medium number information, if it is determined that there are stored balls of the hall member (YES in step S293), in step S295, the gaming medium number information, which is the calculation result, is transmitted to the smartphone 700.

[0393] When the smartphone 700 receives the game medium number information (step S296), it displays a stored ball information display screen on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 based on the received game medium number information (step S297).

[0394] The stored ball information display screen is, for example, the stored ball information display screen 841 as shown in FIG. 54(B). In this example, on the stored ball information display screen 841, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part, and below it, a stored ball information display section 841a for displaying the stored ball information of the hall member for each lending rate is arranged, and below that, a return button 841b is arranged.

[0395] In the stored ball information display section 841a, for the lending rate of the available stand displayed in the available information display section 840a of the available information display screen 840 in FIG. 54(A), it shows how many game media of that lending rate the hall member is holding. Since there was no available stand for the gaming machine 10 with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) in the available information display section 840a of the available information display screen 840, the display regarding the number of game media with a lending rate of 5 yen (slot) is not shown in the stored ball information display section 841a of the stored ball information display screen 841.

[0396] In this example, when the hall member has no stored balls for all lending rates, it is processed as an error in the determination of step S293 described above. However, if there are stored balls at least for one lending rate, the stored ball information display screen 841 is displayed. Therefore, even if there are no stored balls for all lending rates with available stands, if the hall member is holding game media at the lending rate of the gaming machine 10 with no available stand, the stored ball information display screen 841 is displayed, and in the stored ball information display section 841a, "0" for stored balls is displayed for all the displayed lending rates.

[0397] However, in such a case, for any available machine, it is also possible to control to display an error message assuming that there is no stored credit for the corresponding rental rate. Also, as shown in the stored credit information display section 841a of the stored credit information display screen 841 shown in FIG. 54(B), even if there is stored credit for other rental rates, but when the stored credit for the rental rate = 4 yen (pachinko) is "0", it is also possible not to display the display related to this rental rate = 4 yen (pachinko) (because there is no stored credit for using this available machine).

[0398] Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 55 to 57 and the diagrams representing the screens of the smartphone 700 shown in FIGS. 58 to 60, the free information provision management function (pattern 2) performed by the hall member operating the smartphone in the management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be outlined.

[0399] Also, in FIGS. 55 to 57, the operations and processes in each of the hall computer 100 and the smartphone 700 are shown in time series for each device.

[0400] As shown in step S311 of FIG. 55, when the hall member inputs the hall member ID and password into the smartphone 700 and "free information provision" is instructed, the smartphone 700 transmits authentication information including the input hall member ID and password and free information request information representing the instruction of "free information provision" to the hall computer 100 (step S312).

[0401] The input of the above-mentioned member ID and password, and the instruction of "providing vacancy information" are performed by the login screen 801 shown in FIG. 21(A). The login screen 801 is a screen displayed on the display of the smartphone 700 here. As described above, the authentication information input section 801a is arranged at the upper part of the login screen 801, and below it, the button 801b for instructing the transfer of stored balls, the button 801c for instructing the movement of stored balls, and the button 801d for instructing the provision of vacancy information are arranged. Here, when the hall member ID and password are respectively input into the member ID input area and password input area arranged in the authentication information input section 801a, and the button 801d for instructing the provision of vacancy information is selected by a touch operation or the like of the hall member, the above-mentioned instruction of "providing vacancy information" is performed.

[0402] Next, when the hall computer 100 receives authentication information and the like from the smartphone 700, it checks these pieces of information (step S313). For example, the hall computer 100 refers to the hall member information table 151 and checks the consistency of the hall member ID (or the unique ID of the membership card) and the password.

[0403] In step S314, it is determined whether the user is a regular hall member. If it is determined that the user is not a regular hall member (NO in step S314), an error message to that effect is edited and sent to the smartphone 700 (step S315). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it controls to display this on the display, but these processes are omitted.

[0404] In step S314, if it is determined that the user is a regular hall member (YES in step S314), in step S316, it is determined whether there is an instruction to provide vacancy information. In the case of a different instruction (NO in step S316), control is performed to perform other functional processes. In the case of an instruction to provide vacancy information (YES in step S316), in step S317, the gaming machine management table 156 is referred to, and the vacant gaming machines in the vacant state (that is, the gaming machines 10 in which the item "vacancy status" is "0") are specified.

[0405] Next, based on the information of the specified gaming machine 10, the hall computer 100 edits and generates vacancy information (step S318), and transmits the generated vacancy information to the smartphone 700 (step S269).

[0406] Next, in step S319, the lending rate of each empty stand (gaming machine 10 in an empty state) is specified. Next, in step S320, with reference to the stored ball management table 152, for the logged-in hall member, gaming medium quantity information representing the number of gaming media corresponding to the specified lending rate is calculated.

[0407] Next, the vacancy information generated in step S318 and the gaming medium quantity information which is the calculation result of step S320 are transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S321).

[0408] When the smartphone 700 receives the vacancy information and the gaming medium quantity information (step S322), based on the received vacancy information and the gaming medium quantity information, a vacancy information display screen is displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 (step S323).

[0409] The vacancy information display screen is, for example, a vacancy information display screen 842 as shown in FIG. 58. In this example, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the upper part of the vacancy information display screen 842. Below it, a vacancy information display section 842a for displaying the stand numbers of the gaming machines 10 that are currently in an empty state in the hall store for each lending rate is arranged. Further below it, a stored ball information display section 842c for displaying the stored ball information of the hall member for each lending rate is arranged. At the lowermost part, a return button 842d is arranged.

[0410] The table numbers displayed on the vacancy information display section 842a are each selectable. For example, when a hall member selects a table number display area that displays the table number "4" by a touch operation or the like, game information including the input and payout results of pachinko balls and medals and winning information in the gaming machine 10 corresponding to the table number, map information indicating the position in the hall store, etc. are displayed on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0411] Also, the display of each rental rate displayed on the vacancy information display section 842a is also selectable, which will be described in detail later.

[0412] The stored ball information display section 842c shows how many gaming media of the rental rate of the vacant table displayed on the vacancy information display section 842a the hall member holds. In this example, since there is no vacant table for the gaming machine 10 with a rental rate = 5 yen (slot), neither the vacancy information display section 842a nor the stored ball information display section 842c displays the gaming machine 10 with a rental rate = 5 yen (slot) or the number of gaming media.

[0413] In step S341 of FIG. 56, it is determined whether or not the hall member has selected the display of the rental rate on the vacancy information display screen 842, and this determination is repeated until this selection is made. Note that such a repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the return button or a predetermined interruption operation, which is omitted here.

[0414] When the hall member selects the display of the rental rate by a touch operation or the like (YES in step S341), authentication stored ball information request information for requesting authentication stored ball information, which is information regarding the stored balls of the logged-in hall member, is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S342). This authentication stored ball information request information includes rental rate information indicating the selected rental rate.

[0415] The selection for the display of the lending rate on the vacancy information display screen 842 is made by, for example, selecting the location indicated by the arrow 842b shown in FIG. 58 through a touch operation or the like of the hall member. In this example, the lending rate = 4 yen (pachinko) is selected.

[0416] When the hall computer 100 receives the authenticated stored ball information request information from the smartphone 700 (step S343), it re-edits the vacancy information based on the received lending rate information (step S344). Next, in step S345, the number of game media information is calculated from the authenticated stored ball information based on the selected lending rate information.

[0417] Next, the vacancy information re-edited in step S344 and the number of game media information which is the calculation result in step S345 are transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S346).

[0418] When the smartphone 700 receives the vacancy information and the number of game media information (step S347), it displays an updated vacancy information display screen on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 based on the received vacancy information and the number of game media information (step S348).

[0419] The updated vacancy information display screen is, for example, the vacancy information display screen 843 as shown in FIG. 59. In this example, the logged-in hall member ID is displayed at the top of the vacancy information display screen 843. Below it, a vacancy information display section 843a is arranged which displays the vacancy information of the gaming machine 10 for the selected lending rate and a vacancy display instruction button for viewing the vacancies of other lending rates. Further below it, a stored ball information display section 843d which displays the stored ball information of the hall member regarding the selected lending rate is arranged. At the bottom most part, a return button 843e is arranged.

[0420] Regarding the available information display screen 843, on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, due to the screen size, only a part of it may be displayed. However, the hall member can scroll the available information display screen 843 up and down by operations such as swiping to view all the information. Here, for the sake of convenience, all parts of the available information display screen 843 are shown simultaneously.

[0421] Here, in the available information display section 843a, the stand number display area 843b that displays the stand number "102", which is an available stand for the selected rental rate (= 4 yen (pachinko)), is selectable. When the stand number display area 843b is selected, as shown in FIG. 59, further, selectable map display buttons and reservation buttons are pulled down and displayed.

[0422] Also, in this example, an available stand display instruction button 843c for transitioning to the display of available stands with a rental rate of 1 yen (pachinko) and a rental rate of 20 yen (slot) is displayed, and an available stand display instruction button for transitioning to the display of available stands with a rental rate of 5 yen (slot) that has no available stands is not displayed.

[0423] On the other hand, in the stored ball information display section 843d, the quantity of stored balls held by the hall member for the selected rental rate (= 4 yen (pachinko)) (in this example, "0 balls") and the number of playable game media that can be transferred when transferring from other rental rates (the transfer destination quantity based on the rental rate of the transfer destination) are displayed, and transfer buttons for instructing the transfer are arranged respectively.

[0424] On the available information display screen 843 in FIG. 59, it is determined whether the map display button has been selected following the selection of the stand number display area 843b (step S349). If it is determined that the map display button has been selected (YES in step S349), the smartphone 700 transmits map information request information for requesting map information to the hall computer 100 (step S350).

[0425] When the hall computer 100 receives map information request information from the smartphone 700 (step S351), in step S352, it refers to a map information table (not shown) that stores the map information of the hall store, and acquires and edits the map information regarding the table number of the designated empty table (for example, the map information around the empty table, etc.).

[0426] Next, the hall computer 100 transmits the edited map information to the smartphone 700 (step S353). When the smartphone 700 receives this map information (step S354), in response to the received map information, it displays a map information display screen on the display 707 of the smartphone 700 (step S355). Although the map information display screen is not shown here, the displayed map information is, for example, the information shown in the map information display section 844b of the empty table reservation screen 844 in FIG. 60 described later.

[0427] When it is determined that a selection other than the map display button has been made (NO in step S349), in step S371 of FIG. 57, it is determined whether the reservation button has been selected. When it is determined that the reservation button has been selected (YES in step S371), the smartphone 700 displays an empty table reservation screen on the display 707 (step S372).

[0428] The available table reservation screen is, for example, the available table reservation screen 844 as shown in FIG. 60. In this example, on the available table reservation screen 844, the hall member ID logged in is displayed at the top, and below it, there is a message indicating that a reservation is to be made for the gaming machine 10 of the selected table number, a gaming machine information display area for displaying the rental rate and table number of the gaming machine 10 to be reserved, a gaming start scheduled time input area for inputting the scheduled gaming start time, and a reservation information display section 844a including a message indicating that the reservation will be canceled when a predetermined time has elapsed from the scheduled gaming start time. Further below that, a map information display section 844b representing map information showing the position of the gaming machine 10 to be reserved together with the arrangement of gaming machines and the like around that gaming machine 10 is arranged, and at the bottom most part, a reservation button 844c for making a reservation instruction for the available table is arranged.

[0429] Regarding the available table reservation screen 844, on the display 707 of the smartphone 700, due to the screen size, only a part of it may be displayed. However, the hall member can scroll the available table reservation screen 844 up and down by operations such as swiping to view all the information. Here, for the sake of convenience, all parts of the available table reservation screen 844 are shown simultaneously.

[0430] Here, in the gaming start scheduled time input area of the reservation information display section 844a, for example, the hall member can input the scheduled start time of the gaming machine 10 that he / she intends to reserve. Also, in the map information display section 844b, the display position of the displayed map information can be changed, enlarged, or reduced by the touch operation of the hall member and the like.

[0431] In step S373, it is determined whether a reservation instruction has been given from the hall member on the available table reservation screen 844, and this determination is repeated until such an instruction is given. Note that such a repetition of the determination can be terminated by selecting the return button or a predetermined interruption operation, but this is omitted here.

[0432] When it is determined that a reservation instruction has been given (YES in step S373), the smartphone 700 transmits reservation instruction information including the hall member ID, the number of the vacant seat, the scheduled game start time, etc. to the hall computer 100 (step S374).

[0433] When the hall computer 100 receives the reservation instruction information from the smartphone 700 in step S375, it refers to the gaming machine management table 156 based on the received reservation instruction information and checks whether a reservation is possible (step S376). For example, if a reservation is not possible for reasons such as a reservation has already been made by another hall member (NO in step S376), it edits an error message to that effect and transmits it to the smartphone 700 (step S377). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it controls to display it on the display 707, but these processes are omitted.

[0434] When a reservation for the gaming machine 10 is possible (YES in step S376), the gaming machine management table 156 is updated based on the received reservation instruction information (step S378). For example, the hall member ID of the reservation instruction information is set in the item "ID" of the reservation information of the corresponding gaming machine 10, and the scheduled game start time of the reservation instruction information is set in the item "scheduled game start time".

[0435] When the hall computer 100 updates the gaming machine management table 156 in step S378, in step S379, it transmits reservation completion information indicating that the instruction based on the received reservation instruction information has been completed to the smartphone 700.

[0436] When the smartphone 700 receives the reservation completion information from the hall computer 100 (step S380), it displays a reservation completion screen (not shown) indicating that the reservation has been completed based on the received reservation completion information (step S381).

[0437] In step S371, if it is determined that the reservation button has not been selected (NO in step S371), it is determined whether an entry button for instructing entry to another lending rate has been selected in the stored ball information display section 843d of the available information display screen 843 shown in FIG. 59 (step S382). If it is determined that an entry instruction has been given (YES in step S382), conversion confirmation information including the lending rate information of the entry source, the lending rate information of the entry destination, and the number of gaming media at the entry source or the entry destination is transmitted to the hall computer 100 (step S383).

[0438] When the hall computer 100 receives the conversion confirmation information from the smartphone 700 (step S384), based on this conversion confirmation information, it calculates the number of gaming media consumed (required) at the entry source (i.e., the entry quantity) and the number of gaming media increased (made available) at the entry destination (i.e., the entry destination quantity), and updates the corresponding hall member's stored ball management table 152 based on the calculated gaming media number information (step S385). Although omitted here, when the update of the stored ball management table 152 is completed, the hall computer 100 transmits entry completion information indicating that the entry has been completed to the smartphone 700, and the smartphone 700 that has received this entry completion information displays an entry completion screen (not shown) on the display 707 of the smartphone 700.

[0439] In step S382, if it is determined that no entry instruction has been given (NO in step S382), the process returns to the determination in step S349 of FIG. 56.

[0440] In addition, the hall computer 100 further refers to the gaming machine management table 156 at a predetermined timing, refers to the reservation information in which the results of the reservation instructions given by each hall member are stored, checks whether the scheduled game start time of the reservation information exceeds the current time by 10 minutes, and if it does, deletes the corresponding reservation information in the gaming machine management table 156 as if the hall member has canceled the reservation, and makes the gaming machine 10 available for reservation by other hall members.

[0441] In addition, when the gaming machine 10 for which a reservation instruction has been given is to be used by a hall member, the hall computer 100 deletes the corresponding reservation information in the gaming machine management table 156 and updates the value of the item "availability status" to "1" indicating in use. Note that the hall computer 100 can determine that the gaming machine 10 is being used by the hall member by reading the hall member's membership card or the like from the gaming machine 10 or the sand device 20.

[0442] So far, with reference to FIGS. 51 to 60, the free information providing management function of the management system 1 according to the first embodiment has been described. However, these are merely examples, and the free information providing management function of the present invention can be realized by various other configurations.

[0443] For example, when selecting the free information providing instruction button 801d on the login screen 801 in FIG. 21(A) to display free information on the display of the smartphone 700, a hall store may be selected from among a plurality of hall stores linked by the interconnection of the computer systems. Further, the candidates for the free information to be displayed can be limited to specific gaming machines 10 (for example, limited by specifying a rental rate, an island number, an area in the hall store, a floor of the hall store, a range of table numbers, etc.).

[0444] <Second Embodiment>

[0445] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0446] The basic configuration of the management system 1 in the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the management system 1 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, and the functions of the hall computer 100 and the databases stored in the hall DB 150 shown in FIG. 12 are partially different.

[0447] FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram showing the functions of the hall computer 100 and the types of tables stored in the hall DB 150 in the management system 1 of the second embodiment.

[0448] By executing the program stored in the ROM 102, the main CPU 101 of the hall computer 100 functions not only as the hall member management unit 111, the stored ball management unit 112, the reception control unit 113, the determination control unit 114, the calculation control unit 115, the transmission control unit 116, the stored ball movement control unit 117, the gaming machine management unit 118, the reservation management unit 119, and the network I / F unit 120, but also further functions as a communication management unit 121, a specific control unit 122, and a transmission regulation setting unit 124.

[0449] The communication management unit 121 manages the communication status with the smartphone 700 via the network I / F unit 120, and in this communication management unit 121, it is detected whether a communication failure has occurred.

[0450] When the specific control unit 122 receives request information from the smartphone 700, it specifies the information necessary to create the information to respond to the request from the smartphone 700. For example, when the reception control unit 113 receives stored ball confirmation request information that requests to confirm the number of gaming media stored by the hall member, the specific control unit 122 performs a process of specifying the stored ball information corresponding to the authentication information among the stored ball information stored in the stored ball management table 152 based on the stored ball confirmation request information and the authentication information received together with this confirmation request information.

[0451] The transmission regulation setting unit 124 sets a state to regulate the transmission control by the transmission control unit 116 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the second embodiment, although details will be described later, during the period from the start to the completion of the update control of the stored ball information by the stored ball management unit 112, the transmission regulation setting unit 124 performs a setting to regulate so as not to transmit the information responding to the request information from the portable terminal.

[0452] FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing the flow of the communication failure detection process executed in the communication management unit 121 (main CPU 101).

[0453] The communication management unit 121 monitors the communication status (step S2000). When a communication failure is detected (YES in step S2002), it stores a "1" in the storage area of the RAM 103 that becomes the communication failure flag (step S2004) and ends this process. When a communication failure is not detected (NO in step S2002), it determines whether the communication failure flag is "1" (step S2006). If the communication failure flag is "1", it stores a "0" in the communication failure flag (step S2008) and ends this process. If the communication failure flag is not "1", it ends this process. That is, when a communication failure occurs, the communication failure flag becomes "1", i.e., on, and when no communication failure occurs, the communication failure flag becomes "0", i.e., off.

[0454] Figure 63 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stored ball addition process executed in the stored ball management unit 112 (main CPU 101).

[0455] First, in the process of step S2100, the stored ball management unit 112 determines whether the preset addition time has been reached. If it is determined that the addition time has been reached, it sets a "1" in the area of the RAM 103 used as the update flag (step S2102) and transfers the process to step S2104. If the stored ball management unit 112 determines that the addition time has not been reached, it transfers the process to step S2104. The addition time is set, for example, at 0:00 am between after the business hours of the hall and before the start of business on the next day.

[0456] In the process of step S2104, the stored ball management unit 112 determines whether the update flag is "1". If it is determined that the update flag is "1", it transfers the process to step S2106. If it is not determined that the update flag is "1", it ends this process.

[0457] In the process of step S2106, the stored ball management unit 112 stores the copy data of the stored ball management table 152 in a predetermined area of the RAM 103. That is, the stored ball management table before update is temporarily stored. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S2108.

[0458] In the process of step S2108, the stored ball management unit 112 updates the data of the stored ball management table 152 by adding the number of game media stored in the held ball management table 153 to the number of game media stored in the stored ball management table 152. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S2110.

[0459] In the process of step S2110, the stored ball management unit 112 calculates the difference between the number of stored balls in the updated stored ball management table and the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table before update, and stores the difference number in association with the authentication information in the updated stored ball management table 152. Specifically, in the stored ball management table 152 of the second embodiment, in the stored ball management table 152 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 15, an item for storing the difference number of stored balls before and after update for each rate is provided in association with the authentication information, and the difference number of that item is updated every time the stored ball addition process is executed.

[0460] In addition, when a player inserts a membership card into the sand device 20 to play a game, the acquired game media are counted by the sand device 20, and the counting result is stored in the holding value management table 153 as the number of holding values. Therefore, the difference in the stored values before and after the update is equal to the number of game media (holding values) stored in the holding value management table 153. However, there may be cases where the difference in the stored values before and after the update does not equal the number of holding values. For example, in some halls, when storing holding values in the membership card at the prize counter, the stored values transferred to the membership card may not be available for same-day re-gaming or prize exchange. Examples of storing holding values in the membership card at the prize counter include moving all the game media (holding values) of a non-membership card to the membership card at the prize counter, or moving the remainder left after exchanging for a prize to the membership card. In this case, since the holding values are stored in the membership card, the number of holding values stored in the holding value management table 153 is "0". On the other hand, the number of stored values transferred to the membership card at the prize counter on the same day cannot be used for the same-day games or prize exchange, so it is necessary to manage them separately from the number of stored values stored in the stored value management table 152. Since the number of stored values transferred to the membership card is added to the stored value management table 152 at a predetermined timing after business hours, the difference in the stored values before and after the update is the number of stored values transferred to the membership card at the prize counter. Thus, the difference between the number of stored values in the updated stored value management table and the number of stored values in the pre-updated stored value management table may not match the number of holding values added at the time of update. Therefore, as in the second embodiment, by taking the difference in the stored values before and after the update, it becomes possible to obtain an accurate increase in the stored values. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S2112.

[0461] In the process of step S2112, the stored value management unit 112 performs a process of clearing the number of game media stored in the holding value management table 153. In addition, the pre-updated stored value management table stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 103 in the process of step S2106 may be deleted in the process of step S2112. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S2114.

[0462] In the process of step S2114, the stored ball management unit 112 performs a process of setting "0" in the update flag. When this process ends, this process ends.

[0463] That is, during the process of adding stored balls, while the stored ball management table 152 is updated and the held ball management table 153 is cleared, the update flag becomes "1", that is, on, and otherwise it becomes "0", that is, off.

[0464] Next, with reference to FIG. 64, the flow of processing in the management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be outlined.

[0465] The player can request confirmation of stored ball information at any timing by operating the smartphone 700.

[0466] First, the player operates the smartphone 700 to launch an application for confirming stored ball information and displays the login screen 1801 shown in FIG. 65(A). In this example, the login screen 1801 has an authentication information input section 1801a arranged at the upper part, and a send button 1801b and a cancel button 1801c arranged below it. Here, the player inputs the hall member ID and password into the member ID input area and password input area arranged in the authentication information input section 1801a respectively, and selects the send button 1801b by a touch operation of the user or the like, so that the authentication information, that is, the hall member ID and password, is sent from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100 (step S2212).

[0467] When the hall computer 100 receives authentication information and the like from the smartphone 700, it checks these pieces of information (step S2213). For example, the hall computer 100 refers to the hall member information table 151 and checks the consistency of the hall member ID (or the unique ID of the membership card) and the password (step S2214).

[0468] In step S2214, it is determined whether the user is a regular hall member. If it is determined that the user is not a regular hall member (NO in step S2214), an error message to that effect is edited and sent to the smartphone 700 (step S2215). When the smartphone 700 receives this error message, it displays the error message on the display 707.

[0469] If it is determined that the user is a regular hall member (YES in step S2214), the hall computer 100 sends authentication permission information to the smartphone 700.

[0470] When the smartphone 700 receives the authentication permission information, it displays the menu screen 1802 shown in FIG. 65(B) (step S2216). In this example, on the menu screen 1802, a stored ball confirmation button 1802a, a stored ball loading instruction button 1802b, a stored ball movement instruction button 1802c, and a vacancy information providing instruction button 1802d are arranged from top to bottom. When any one of the stored ball loading instruction button 1802b, the stored ball movement instruction button 1802c, and the vacancy information providing instruction button 1802d is selected by a touch operation or the like of the user, function instruction information corresponding to each button is sent to the hall computer 100 (step S2217). The function instruction information includes request information such as a request to confirm stored ball information and a request for lending rate conversion due to loading of stored balls. For example, when the stored ball confirmation button 1802a is selected by a touch operation or the like of the user, stored ball confirmation request information for requesting browsing of stored ball information is sent to the hall computer 100.

[0471] When the host computer 100 receives request information from the smartphone 700, it checks the status of the communication failure flag (step S2218). If the communication failure flag is "0" (NO in step S2218), the process proceeds to step S2220. If the communication failure flag is "1" (YES in step S2218), information indicating that a communication failure has occurred is transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S2219). The smartphone 700 that has received this information performs a pop-up display 1802m indicating that a communication failure has occurred, as shown in Fig. 66(A).

[0472] In step S2220, the host computer 100 determines whether the request information is a ball storage confirmation request. If it is determined that the request information is not a ball storage confirmation request (NO in step S2220), the host computer 100 performs another function process corresponding to the function instruction information (request information) from the smartphone 700 (step S2221). If it is determined that the request information is a ball storage confirmation request (YES in step S2220), the process proceeds to step S2222.

[0473] In step S2222, the host computer 100 checks the status of the updating flag. If the updating flag is "1" (YES in step S2222), transmission restriction is performed. Specifically, the transmission restriction setting unit 124 performs a setting to restrict the control of the transmission control unit 116 so that the ball storage information is not transmitted from the host computer 100 (step S2223). Then, information indicating that the transmission of the ball storage information in response to the ball storage confirmation request is restricted is transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S2224). The smartphone 700 that has received this information performs a pop-up display 1802n indicating that the server is being updated, as shown in Fig. 66(B).

[0474] When the update flag is "0" (NO in step S2222), it is determined whether or not transmission is restricted (step S2225). If transmission is restricted (YES in step S2225), the transmission restriction by the transmission restriction setting unit 124 is released (step S2226), and then the process proceeds to step S2227. If transmission is not restricted, the process proceeds to step S2227.

[0475] In step S2227, the hall computer 100 refers to the stored ball management table 152 and creates current stored ball information based on the number of stored balls corresponding to the authentication information and the difference in the number of stored balls before and after the update. Then, the created stored ball information is transmitted from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 (step S2228).

[0476] The smartphone 700 that has received the stored ball information displays the stored ball information 1803a as shown in FIG. 65(C) in steps S2229 and S2230. The stored ball information 1803a includes the number of stored balls 1803b stored in the updated stored ball management table 152 and the difference 1803c in the number of stored balls between the previous stored ball management table 152 and the updated stored ball management table 152. The stored ball information 1803a is displayed for each lending rate. In the example shown in FIG. 65(C), in 1-yen pachinko, it can be seen that the current stored balls are 9000 balls and the stored balls increased by 5000 balls in the previous day's game. Also, in 4-yen pachinko, it can be seen that the current stored balls are 0 balls and the stored balls decreased by 2500 balls in the previous day's game.

[0477] According to the second embodiment configured as described above, when the player operates the smartphone 700 to transmit ball storage confirmation request information, and the hall computer 100 receives the ball storage confirmation request information from the smartphone 700, the hall computer 100 transmits to the smartphone 700 the number of balls it holds, as well as the difference between the number of balls before and after the update. As a result, the player can confirm the number of balls via the smartphone 700, and can also grasp how much the number of balls has changed due to the previous day's game or how many balls have been used in the current day's game. In this way, it becomes possible to provide more detailed ball storage information to the game players.

[0478] Also, when the hall computer 100 receives ball storage confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 while the update control of the ball storage management table 152 is in progress from start to completion, the transmission of the self-authenticated ball storage information and the difference from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 is restricted. Therefore, the hall computer 100 can prevent the process based on the ball storage confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 from being performed simultaneously with the update of the number of balls. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the processing load on the hall computer 100 side. Furthermore, after the update control is completed, it becomes possible to transmit the self-authenticated ball storage information and the difference from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700. As a result, in the hall computer 100, the update process is performed with priority over the process due to receiving the ball storage confirmation request information, and the player can know more accurate self-authenticated ball storage information and the difference via the smartphone 700.

[0479] Also, when the hall computer 100 detects the occurrence of a communication failure, communication failure information is transmitted from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 that is the source of the request information. Therefore, the player can grasp that a communication failure has occurred on the hall side and refrain from transmitting request information from the smartphone 700. For this reason, during the occurrence of a communication failure from the smartphone 700, the transmission of request information from the smartphone 700 is reduced, and it becomes possible to reduce the processing load on the hall computer 100 corresponding to the request information from the smartphone 700. In particular, according to the second embodiment, when the hall computer 100 detects the occurrence of a communication failure, the transmission control of the stored ball information is restricted, so that even if the hall computer 100 receives request information for confirming the stored balls from the smartphone 700, the transmission control of the stored ball information is not executed. In this way, it becomes possible to reduce the control burden on the hall computer 100 side.

[0480] In addition, according to the second embodiment described above, since the update control of the stored ball management table is executed at a preset addition time, the calculation of the difference between the number of stored balls in the updated stored ball management table and the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table before the update is performed based on the number of stored balls immediately before the update of the stored ball management table and the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table immediately after the update. However, the timing of the update control of the stored ball management table is not limited to the preset addition time. For example, after the player finishes the game, the gaming medium is counted by the sand device 20, and the counting result is associated with the membership card and stored in the possession management table 153 of the hall computer 100. Then, the update control may be performed at a predetermined timing until the next visit to the hall across the day. However, in order to provide accurate stored ball information to the player via the smartphone 700, it is desirable that the update control is performed at least at the timing when the hall computer 100 receives the request information for confirming the stored balls from the smartphone 700. In this case, the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table before the update does not necessarily have to be the one immediately before the update, and any data can be used as long as it is the data between after the game ends and until the hall computer 100 receives the request information for confirming the stored balls from the smartphone 700.

[0481] By the way, according to the second embodiment, as described above, the update of the stored ball management table 152 by adding the number of balls held in the held ball management table 153 to the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table 152 is performed at a preset addition time from after the end of business in the hall until before the start of business on the next day. On the other hand, the update by subtracting the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table 152 is performed every time a player operates the sand device 20 to pay out game media within the range of the number of stored balls. That is, the addition process of adding the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table 152 by addition is performed once a day outside business hours, and the subtraction process is performed in real time.

[0482] However, when receiving a stored ball transfer from another player, or even if it is a stored ball transferred from the held balls at the prize counter on the same day, in a hall where prize exchange or replay is possible, addition of stored balls may be performed during the business hours of the hall, just like when transferring from held balls to stored balls. That is, addition of stored balls may also be performed during business hours. In this case, performing the addition and subtraction processes of the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table 152 in real time makes it possible to convey the stored ball information to the player more accurately. However, on the other hand, the processing load on the hall computer 100 increases, increasing the possibility of errors.

[0483] Therefore, instead of performing the addition process of the number of stored balls in the stored ball management table 152 in real time, a modification example of the second embodiment described below is to perform the addition process when receiving a stored ball confirmation request message from the smartphone 700.

[0484] The modification example of the second embodiment further stores a stored ball addition number management table 157 in the hall DB 150 shown in FIG. 61 as shown in FIG. 67. As shown in FIG. 68, the stored ball addition number management table 157 stores the addition number in association with each lending rate in association with the hall member ID.

[0485] For example, when receiving the hall member ID, lending rate information, and stored coin addition number information from the POS500, as shown in FIG. 68, the stored coin addition number is stored in the storage area of the stored coin addition number information corresponding to the hall member ID and the lending rate.

[0486] Then, when the hall computer 100 receives the stored coin confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 of the player with the hall member ID, it moves the stored coin addition number information corresponding to the hall member ID in the stored coin addition number management table 157 to the stored coin management table 152 and performs the process of adding it to the stored coin number in the stored coin management table 152. After this process, the storage area of the stored coin addition number management table 157 that stored the stored coin addition number information of the hall member ID is cleared. Furthermore, the hall computer 100 refers to the stored coin management table 152 before the update (addition) and the stored coin management table 152 after the update (addition), and creates the stored coin information based on the stored coin number corresponding to the authentication information and the difference in the stored coins before and after the update (addition) (step S2227 in FIG. 64). Then, the created stored coin information is transmitted from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 (step S2228 in FIG. 64).

[0487] FIG. 68 shows the contents of the stored coin management table 152 and the stored coin addition number management table 157 before and after the addition process. For example, assume that a player with the hall member ID "U002" inserts bills into the sand device 20, receives the payout of lent balls, and plays the game, and as a result, obtains 3000 held coins. Then, the player goes to the prize counter with the membership card together with the non-member card associated with the 3000 held coins and says "store all" to transfer the number of game media of the non-member card to the membership card. At this time, as shown in FIG. 68(A), the addition number "3000" is stored in the stored coin addition number management table 157 in association with the hall member ID "U002".

[0488] After that, assume that a player with the hall member ID "U002" operates the smartphone 700 and sends request information for confirmation of stored balls to the hall computer 100. The hall computer 100 that has received this request information updates (adds) the stored ball management table 152. After the update, as shown in FIG. 68(B), the added number "3000" is added to the stored ball number "0" stored in association with the hall member ID "U002" in the stored ball management table 152, and the added number "3000" stored in association with the hall member ID "U002" in the stored ball addition number management table 157 is set to "0".

[0489] After that, from the hall computer 100, the stored ball number corresponding to the authentication information, the difference in the stored balls before and after the update, and the stored ball number stored in the current stored ball management table 152 are transmitted to the smartphone 700 that is the transmission source of the stored ball confirmation request information.

[0490] According to the modified example of the second embodiment configured as described above, by transmitting the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100, the player can confirm the increase or decrease in the number of stored balls due to the previous day's game and the current number of stored balls. On the other hand, when the hall computer 100 receives the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700, it updates the stored ball management table 152 by adding the number of stored balls. Here, since not all card members perform the stored ball confirmation using the smartphone 700, as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of updates of the stored ball management table 152 when the hall computer 100 updates the stored ball management table 152 at the timing of receiving the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700, compared to updating it in real time when the number of stored balls is added. As a result, it is possible to reduce the processing load on the hall computer 100. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of errors due to an increase in the processing load of the hall computer 100. Note that in the modification of the above-described second embodiment, the update of the stored ball management table 152 by adding the number of stored balls is performed at the timing of receiving the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700. However, the update of the stored ball management table 152 by subtracting the number of stored balls may also be performed at the timing of receiving the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700. The subtracted number of stored balls can be obtained arithmetically, for example, by storing in the RAM 103 for each card member ID the number of times the payout button for the stored balls of the sand device 20 has been operated from the previous update until the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 is received.

[0491] <Third Embodiment>

[0492] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0493] The basic configuration of the management system 1 of the third embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the management system 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, and the functions of the hall computer 100 shown in FIG. 12 and the databases stored in the hall DB 150 are partially different.

[0494] FIG. 69 is an explanatory diagram showing the functions of the hall computer 100 and the types of tables stored in the hall DB 150 in the management system 1 of the third embodiment.

[0495] The main CPU 101 of the hall computer 100 executes the programs stored in the ROM 102 to function as a hall member management unit 111, a stored ball management unit 112, a reception control unit 113, a determination control unit 114, a calculation control unit 115, a transmission control unit 116, a stored ball movement control unit 117, a gaming machine management unit 118, a reservation management unit 119, a network I / F unit 120, a communication management unit 121, a specific control unit 122, and a transmission regulation setting unit 124.

[0496] The communication management unit 121 is the same as the communication management unit 121 in the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 62, and manages the communication status with the smartphone 700 via the network I / F unit 120.

[0497] When the specific control unit 122 receives request information from the smartphone 700, it specifies the information necessary to create reply information for the request from the smartphone 700. For example, when the reception control unit 113 receives stored ball confirmation request information, the specific control unit 122 performs control to specify the stored ball information corresponding to the authentication information among the stored ball information stored in the stored ball management table 152 based on the stored ball confirmation request information and the authentication information received together with this confirmation request information. Further, when the specific control unit 122 receives stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700, it performs control to specify the gaming machine 10 on which the player specified by the hall member ID corresponding to this confirmation request information played games using the gaming media obtained (payout from the sand device 20) within the range of the number of stored balls stored in the stored ball management table 152.

[0498] Note that the stored ball management unit 112 executes the stored ball addition process shown in FIG. 63, similar to the second embodiment.

[0499] As shown in FIG. 69, the hall DB 150 includes a hall member information table 151, a stored ball management table 152, a held ball management table 153, an entry pattern setting management table 154, a stored ball movement history management table 155, a gaming machine management table 156, a gaming machine-specific game information management table 158, a gaming machine-specific game information history management table 159, a sand-specific lending / payout information management table 160, and a member-specific stored ball usage game history management table 161.

[0500] The hall member information table 151, the stored ball management table 152, the held ball management table 153, the entry pattern setting management table 154, the stored ball movement history management table 155, and the gaming machine management table 156 are as described in the first embodiment.

[0501] In the game machine-specific game information management table 158, game information for each game machine 10 on the business day is stored. As game information, for a pachinko machine, it corresponds to the start count of the identification symbol variation due to a start winning and the number of jackpot occurrences, etc., and for a pachislot machine, it corresponds to the start count of reel rotation, the number of jackpot occurrences, the number of AT occurrences, etc. FIG. 70 shows an example of the game machine-specific game information management table 158, in which the start count, the number of inserted media, the number of paid-out media, the number of jackpot occurrences, etc. are stored in association with the game table ID.

[0502] In the game machine-specific game information history management table 159, past game information for each game machine 10 is stored in association with the date. The game machine-specific game information history management table 159 accumulatively stores game information for each game machine 10 for the past several days by moving the data in the game machine-specific game information management table 158 before the start of business on the next day.

[0503] The sand lending / payout information management table 160 stores the content implemented by the sand device 20 in association with the time at that time. When the sand device 20 performs operations such as paper money insertion, card insertion, lending button operation, payout button operation, card return button operation, and counting of game media, it sends that fact to the hall computer 100. The hall computer 100 updates the sand lending / payout information management table 160 based on the information from the sand device 20. FIG. 71 shows an example of the sand lending / payout information management table 160, in which it is stored that a player with a hall member ID of U001 inserted a membership card into the sand device 20 at around 12:20, then performed two stored ball payouts, two ball counting operations, paid out 125 balls from the held balls, and then returned the membership card from the sand device 20 at around 12:42.

[0504] As shown in FIG. 72, the member-specific stored credit usage game history management table 161 stores the game table ID of the gaming machine on which games were played using stored credit, the game date, and the number of jackpot occurrences of the gaming machine, in association with the hall member ID. The member-specific stored credit usage game history management table 161 extracts, from the sand-by-lending / payout information management table 160, the game table ID of the gaming machine on which games were played using stored credit from the end of business to before the start of business on the next day, extracts the number of jackpot occurrences from the gaming machine-specific game information management table 158 based on the extracted game table ID, and stores these extracted game table ID and number of jackpot occurrences in a cumulative manner in association with the game date. In FIG. 72, the data for July 12, 2016 is the data for that day, and this data is accumulated in the member-specific stored credit usage game history management table 161 on the next day.

[0505] Next, with reference to FIG. 73, the processing flow in the management system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described.

[0506] The player can request to check the game history using stored credit at any timing by operating the smartphone 700.

[0507] First, the player operates the smartphone 700 to display the login screen shown in FIG. 75(A), enters the hall member ID and password, and sends them to the hall computer 100. Then, by receiving an authentication permission from the hall computer 100, the menu screen shown in FIG. 75(B) is displayed on the smartphone 700. The processing up to this point is the same as the processing in steps S2212 to S2217 in FIG. 64.

[0508] According to the menu screen 1802 shown in FIG. 75(B), from top to bottom, a stored ball confirmation button 1802a, a stored ball transfer instruction button 1802b, a stored ball movement instruction button 1802c, an empty information provision instruction button 1802d, and a stored ball usage game history button 1802e are arranged. And by selecting any one of the stored ball transfer instruction button 1802b, the stored ball movement instruction button 1802c, the empty information provision instruction button 1802d, and the stored ball usage game history button 1802e through a touch operation or the like of the user, the request information corresponding to the selected button is transmitted to the hall computer 100.

[0509] In step S2217, the request information transmitted from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100 is received by the hall computer 100 in step S2220.

[0510] In step S2220, it is determined whether the request information of the smartphone 700 received by the hall computer 100 requests a stored ball confirmation. If it requests a stored ball confirmation (YES in step S2220), the stored ball management table 152 is referred to, and stored ball information is created based on the number of stored balls corresponding to the authentication information. Then, the hall computer 100 transmits the created stored ball information from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 (steps S2227, S2228).

[0511] The smartphone 700 that has received the stored ball information displays the stored ball information 1803a (steps S2229, S2230). Thereby, the player can confirm the number of stored balls via the smartphone 700.

[0512] Also, in step S2220, when the request information of the smartphone 700 received by the hall computer 100 does not request a stored ball confirmation (NO in step S2250), the process proceeds to step S2231. Specifically, in the smartphone 700, when the menu screen shown in FIG. 75(B) is displayed and a button other than the stored ball confirmation button 1802a is selected, on the hall computer 100 side, the process of step S2231 is executed.

[0513] In step S2231, the hall computer 100 determines whether it has received request information requesting a stored ball usage game history from the smartphone 700. If it is determined that the request information requesting a stored ball usage game history has been received (YES in step S2231), the process proceeds to step S2232. If it is determined that the request information requesting a stored ball usage game history has not been received, processing is performed based on other function instruction information (request information) from the smartphone 700.

[0514] In step S2232, the hall computer 100 executes a game result information transmission process. The game result information transmission process will be described with reference to FIG. 74.

[0515] In step S2241 shown in FIG. 74, the hall computer 100 that has received the game history confirmation request information requesting a stored ball usage game history from the smartphone 700 determines whether this confirmation request information is for today's data. If it is determined to be for today's data (YES in step S2241), the gaming machines that have conducted games using stored balls are specified from the sand-by lending / paying-out information management table 160 (step S2242). If it is determined not to be for today's data (NO in step S2241), the process proceeds to step S2246.

[0516] Specifically, in the smartphone 700, when the menu screen shown in FIG. 75(B) is displayed and the player selects the saved ball usage game history button 1802e, the saved ball usage game history screen 1804 shown in FIG. 76(A) is displayed. In FIG. 76(A), by selecting either "Today" or "Past", the hall computer 100 executes the game result information transmission process. In FIG. 76(A), when "Today" is selected, confirmation request information for requesting the saved ball usage game history for today is transmitted to the hall computer 100, and when "Past" is selected, confirmation request information for requesting the saved ball usage game history for the past several days is transmitted to the hall computer 100. If it is determined to be for today (YES in step S2241), the gaming machines that have played games using saved balls are identified from the sand-by-loan / payout information management table 160 (step S2242).

[0517] Next, in step S2243 shown in FIG. 74, the hall computer 100 obtains from the sand-by-loan / payout information management table 160 the time period (the time period from when the membership card is inserted to when it is returned) during which the gaming machine identified as having played games using saved balls played, and arithmetically obtains the total number of saved balls paid out during that time period and the total number of balls discharged (the number of balls held acquired) counted by the counting function of the sand device 20.

[0518] Next, in step S2244, the hall computer 100 extracts from the sand-by-loan / payout information management table 160 the game result information of the gaming machine identified as having played games using saved balls on the day from the gaming machine-by-game information management table 158.

[0519] Then, based on the total number of saved balls obtained in step S2243, the total number of counted discharged balls, and the game result obtained in step S2244, the hall computer 100 creates result information in response to the game history confirmation request information, and transmits this result information to the smartphone 700 (step S2245).

[0520] In step S2246, the hall computer 100 extracts the gaming machines that have played games using saved medals and the gaming results for several days from the member-specific saved medal usage gaming history management table 161, and transmits them to the smartphone 700 (step S2247).

[0521] The smartphone 700 performs screen display based on the result information from the hall computer 100 (steps S2233 and S2234 in FIG. 73). For example, in FIG. 76(A), when "Today" is selected, confirmation request information for requesting the saved medal usage gaming history for today is transmitted to the hall computer 100, and the content of the saved medal usage gaming history screen 1804 switches to the display of the saved medal usage gaming history for today. In the case of the saved medal usage gaming history for today, for example, as shown in FIG. 76(B), the number of saved medal uses, the increase in the number of held medals, and the current jackpot count are displayed. In FIG. 76(A), when "Past" is selected, confirmation request information for requesting the saved medal usage gaming history for today is transmitted to the hall computer 100, and the content of the saved medal usage gaming history screen 1804 switches to the display of the saved medal usage gaming history for the past. In the case of the saved medal usage gaming history for the past, for example, as shown in FIG. 76(C), the date, the machine number, and the jackpot count are displayed.

[0522] In this way, the player who is a hall member can view the gaming history of playing games using saved medals via the smartphone 700. Therefore, in the case of today's gaming history, it is possible to judge the victory or defeat in the game based on the number of saved medal uses and the increase in the number of held medals, and then it is possible to check whether the jackpot count is increasing. Also, in the case of the past gaming history, the player himself / herself can check the machines with a high or low gaming frequency.

[0523] According to the third embodiment configured as described above, when the hall computer 100 receives the ball storage request information from the smartphone 700, the hall computer 100 transmits to the smartphone 700 the number of stored balls and the game result information of the gaming machine that has played a game using the stored balls. As a result, the player who has transmitted the ball storage confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 can confirm the self-authentication ball storage information, that is, the number of gaming media (number of stored balls) deposited in the hall, via the smartphone 700, and can also confirm the game results of the gaming machines that have played games using the stored balls. Thereby, the player can obtain useful information for formulating a game strategy. In this way, it becomes possible to provide useful information to the player.

[0524] Further, according to the third embodiment, when the hall computer 100 receives the ball storage confirmation request information from the smartphone 700, the hall computer 100 transmits to the smartphone 700, as game result information, information including the subtraction information of the number of stored balls and the addition information of the number of balls held in the authenticated ball storage information. Thereby, the player can know, via the smartphone 700, in addition to the subtraction information of the stored balls as a result of the game using the stored balls, the addition information of the balls held on the previous day that become the stored balls.

[0525] Also according to the third embodiment, since the game result information about the gaming machine on which the game has been played by using the stored balls is stored in the game history storage unit of the hall computer 100 over multiple days in association with the authentication information, the player can confirm the game results of the gaming machines that have played games using the stored balls in the past multiple days. Thereby, the player can further obtain useful information for formulating a game strategy.

[0526] <Fourth Embodiment>

[0527] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0528] The basic configuration of the management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the management system 1 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 69, except that the databases stored in the hall DB 150 are partially different.

[0529] FIG. 77 is an explanatory diagram showing the functions of the hall computer 100 in the management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment and the types of tables stored in the hall DB 150.

[0530] Similar to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 69, the main CPU 101 of the hall computer 100 has functions as the hall member management unit 111, the stored ball management unit 112, the reception control unit 113, the determination control unit 114, the calculation control unit 115, the transmission control unit 116, the stored ball movement control unit 117, the gaming machine management unit 118, the reservation management unit 119, the network I / F unit 120, the communication management unit 121, the specific control unit 122, and the transmission regulation setting unit 124.

[0531] Here, the transmission regulation setting unit 124, similar to the second embodiment, sets a state in which the transmission control by the transmission control unit 116 is regulated when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the fourth embodiment, although details will be described later, while a membership card is inserted into the sand device 20, the transmission regulation setting unit 124 performs a setting to regulate the transmission of information in response to the request information from the mobile terminal.

[0532] As shown in FIG. 77, the hall DB 150 includes a hall member information table 151, a stored ball management table 152, a held ball management table 153, an entry pattern setting management table 154, a stored ball movement history management table 155, a gaming machine management table 156, a gaming machine-specific game information management table 158, a gaming machine-specific game information history management table 159, a sand-specific lending / paying-out information management table 160, a member-specific stored ball usage game history management table 161, and a prize application management table 162.

[0533] The hall member information table 151, the stored medal management table 152, the held medal management table 153, the entry pattern setting management table 154, the stored medal transfer history management table 155, and the gaming machine management table 156 are as described in the first embodiment.

[0534] The gaming machine-specific game information management table 158, the gaming machine-specific game information history management table 159, the sand-specific lending / withdrawal information management table 160, and the member-specific stored medal usage game history management table 161 are as described in the third embodiment.

[0535] The prize application management table 162 stores prize exchange application information applied via the smartphone 700. The prize exchange application information corresponds to the prize name, the application number assigned each time an application is made, the number of game media required for exchange, and the like.

[0536] When the hall DB 150 receives the prize exchange application information via the smartphone 700 of the card member, the hall member ID of the player who made the application, the application date, and the prize exchange application information are stored in the prize application management table 162 in an associated manner. At this time, the stored medal count corresponding to the hall member ID in the stored medal management table 152 is subtracted by the number of game media required for the prize exchange due to the prize exchange application. Then, the player who made the application can receive the prize by telling the staff at the prize counter the application number. At this time, the prize exchange application information and the information related thereto are deleted from the prize application management table 162, or stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 103 as application history information.

[0537] In addition, when a player requests cancellation, the number of game media required for the prize exchange stored in the prize application management table 162 is added to the stored medal count corresponding to the hall member ID in the stored medal management table 152, and the prize exchange application information and the information related thereto are deleted from the prize application management table 162.

[0538] FIG. 78 is a flowchart showing the member card insertion management process executed in the hall computer 100.

[0539] The hall computer 100 communicates with the sand device 20 and executes the member card insertion management process when it receives either the card insertion information or the card return information transmitted from the sand device 20.

[0540] The card insertion information is transmitted from the sand device 20 when a member card is inserted into the sand device 20, and the card return information is transmitted from the sand device 20 when the member card is returned from the sand device 20.

[0541] Next, the member card insertion management process will be described.

[0542] First, in step S2121, the hall computer 100 determines whether it has received the card insertion information. If it determines that it has received the card insertion information, it sets information to turn on the card insertion flag in the storage area that functions as the card insertion flag in the RAM 103 (step S2122) and ends the member card insertion management process. If it determines that it has not received the card insertion information, the hall computer 100 determines whether it has received the card return information (step S2123). If it determines that it has received the card return information (YES in step S2123), it determines whether "ON" is set in the storage area that functions as the information transmission restriction flag in the RAM 103 (step S2124). The information transmission restriction flag will be described later. It is a flag that is turned on when the transmission control setting unit 124 is set to restrict the transmission control of the transmission control unit 116, and is turned off when it is not set.

[0543] When the information transmission restriction flag is on (YES in step S2124), the hall computer 100 performs a process of releasing the transmission control restriction for the transmission control unit 116 to enter a restriction release state (step S2125). After setting information to turn off the information transmission restriction flag in the storage area that functions as the information transmission restriction flag in the RAM 103 (step S2126), the hall computer 100 transmits restriction release suggestion information indicating that the transmission restriction has been released to the smartphone 700 (step S2127). That is, when the membership card is returned from the sand device 20, if the information transmission restriction flag is on, the restriction release suggestion information is automatically transmitted from the hall computer 100 to the smartphone 700 of the player who owns the membership card inserted into the sand device 20.

[0544] In the fourth embodiment, as the information transmission restriction flag, there are two types of information transmission restriction flags: a flag indicating that the transmission of stored ball information in response to the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 is restricted, and a flag indicating that the transmission of conversion information of stored balls by stored ball carry-in or exchange information of stored balls by prize exchange is restricted. When these processes are completed, the process proceeds to step S2128.

[0545] When the information transmission restriction flag is not on (NO in step S2124), the process proceeds to step S2128. In step S2128, the hall computer 100 sets information to turn off the card insertion flag and ends the membership card insertion management process.

[0546] That is, after the hall computer 100 receives the card insertion information, the card insertion flag is turned on until the card return information is received. After the hall computer 100 receives the card return information, the card insertion flag is turned off until the card insertion information is received. The information transmission restriction flag is set in association with each sand device 20, and the on / off information of the information transmission restriction flag is stored in the RAM 103 in association with the sand device 20 that has transmitted the card insertion information or the card return information.

[0547] Next, with reference to FIG. 79, the processing executed in the management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0548] In FIG. 79, since the processing of steps S2212 to S2217 is the same as the processing of steps S2212 to S2217 in FIG. 73, the description thereof will be omitted. When the processing of step S2217 ends, the processing proceeds to step S2250.

[0549] In step S2250, when the request information of the smartphone 700 received by the hall computer 100 requests a stored ball confirmation (YES in step S2250), a stored ball / held ball information transmission process is executed (step S2252).

[0550] FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stored ball / held ball information transmission process executed in step S2252 shown in FIG. 79.

[0551] First, in step S2260, the hall computer 100 determines whether the transmission restriction setting flag is on. If it is determined that the transmission restriction setting flag is on, the processing proceeds to step S2261. If it is determined that the transmission restriction setting flag is not on, the processing proceeds to step S2268. The transmission restriction setting flag is set by the hall staff performing an input operation on the hall computer 100. When restricting the transmission control of the stored ball information, information indicating that the transmission restriction setting flag is on is stored in the storage area used as the transmission restriction setting flag in the RAM 103. When not restricting the transmission control of the stored ball information, information indicating that the transmission restriction setting flag is off is stored in the storage area used as the transmission restriction setting flag in the RAM 103.

[0552] In step S2261, the hall computer 100 determines whether the card insertion flag is on. If it is determined that the card insertion flag is on, the process proceeds to step S2262. If it is determined that the card insertion flag is not on, the process proceeds to step S2268.

[0553] In step S2262, the hall computer 100 determines whether an information transmission restriction flag indicating whether the transmission of stored ball information is restricted is on. If it is determined that the information transmission restriction flag is on, the stored ball / held ball information transmission process ends. If it is determined that the information transmission restriction flag is not on, a setting process is performed to set the control state to restrict the transmission control of the stored ball information in the transmission control unit 116 (step S2263). After setting the information transmission restriction flag to "on" (step S2264), restriction suggestion information indicating that the transmission of the stored ball information is restricted is transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S2265), and the stored ball / held ball information transmission process ends.

[0554] In step S2268, the hall computer 100 creates stored ball information and transmits it to the smartphone 700. The stored ball information in the fourth embodiment includes the number of stored balls, the number of held balls, and the increase in the number of held balls. The number of stored balls can be obtained from the stored ball management table 152, the number of held balls can be obtained from the held ball management table 153, and the increase in the number of held balls can be calculated for each gaming machine 10 where the game was played from the data in the sand-by-loan / payout information management table 160. Specifically, the difference between the sum of the counting medium numbers (the counted values of the sand device 20) in the data of the hall member ID corresponding to the stored ball request information in the sand-by-loan / payout information management table 160 shown in FIG. 71 and the sum of the held ball payout numbers is the increase in the number of held balls. When this process ends, the stored ball / held ball information transmission process ends.

[0555] As shown in FIG. 82(C), the smartphone 700 that has received the stored ball information displays a stored ball information confirmation screen 1803 (steps S2253 and S2254 in FIG. 79). Thereby, the player can confirm the number of stored balls via the smartphone 700.

[0556] Also, in step S2250 shown in FIG. 79, when the request information of the smartphone 700 received by the hall computer 100 does not request confirmation of the number of stored balls (NO in step S2250), the process proceeds to step S2255.

[0557] In step S2255, a process is performed to determine whether the request information of the smartphone 700 received by the hall computer 100 is either stored ball input or prize exchange. If it is determined that it is either stored ball input or prize exchange, the process proceeds to step S2256. If it is determined that it is neither stored ball input nor prize exchange, a function process corresponding to the request information from the smartphone 700 is performed.

[0558] In step S2256, the hall computer 100 performs a stored ball input / prize exchange information transmission process.

[0559] FIG. 81 is a flowchart showing the flow of each process in the stored ball input / prize exchange information transmission process.

[0560] First, in step S2270, the hall computer 100 determines whether the transmission restriction setting flag is on. If it is determined that the transmission restriction setting flag is on, the process proceeds to step S2271. If it is determined that the transmission restriction setting flag is not on, the process proceeds to step S2280.

[0561] In step S2271, the hall computer 100 determines whether the card insertion flag is on. If it is determined that the card insertion flag is on, the process proceeds to step S2272. If it is determined that the card insertion flag is not on, the process proceeds to step S2280.

[0562] In step S2272, the hall computer 100 determines whether an information transmission restriction flag (hereinafter referred to as the conversion / exchange information transmission restriction flag) indicating whether the transmission of conversion information of stored balls by stored ball entry or exchange information of stored balls by prize exchange is restricted is on. If it is determined that the conversion / exchange information transmission restriction flag is on, the stored ball entry / prize exchange information transmission process ends. If it is determined that the conversion / exchange information transmission restriction flag is not on, a setting process is performed to set the restriction state in which the transmission of conversion / exchange information is restricted (step S2273). After turning on the conversion / exchange information transmission restriction flag (step S2274), restriction suggestion information indicating that the transmission of conversion / exchange information is restricted is transmitted to the smartphone 700 (step S2275), and the stored ball entry / prize exchange information transmission process ends.

[0563] In step S2280, the hall computer 100 creates stored ball entry information or prize exchange information transmission (conversion / exchange information) and transmits it to the smartphone 700. When this process ends, the stored ball entry / prize exchange information transmission process ends.

[0564] Returning to FIG. 79, when the smartphone 700 receives the reply information transmitted from the hall computer 100 by the process of step S2256, a screen display is performed based on the reply information (steps S2257, S2258).

[0565] Next, the display screen of the smartphone 700 in the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0566] First, a login screen shown in FIG. 65(A) is displayed, the hall member ID and password are input and sent to the hall computer 100, and when authentication permission information is received from the hall computer 100, a menu screen shown in FIG. 82 is displayed. The menu screen shown in FIG. 82(A) is obtained by adding a prize exchange button 1802f to the menu screen shown in FIG. 75(B). In the menu screen shown in FIG. 82(A), by selecting and specifying the stored coin confirmation button 1802a, as shown in FIG. 82(B), the screen switches to a screen for specifying a lending rate. In the screen shown in FIG. 82(B), for example, by specifying the button for 4 yen (pachinko), as shown in FIG. 82(C), the number of stored coins, the number of held coins, and the increased number of held coins are displayed.

[0567] FIG. 83 is an example of a prize exchange screen displayed when an operation of specifying the prize exchange button 1802f is performed. FIG. 83 is an example when all the stored coins and stored medals for each rate shown in FIG. 65(C) are exchanged for special prizes having a valuable value. For example, when all 256 stored medals of the 20 yen slot in FIG. 65(C) are exchanged for special prizes, the player is informed that there are 2 medium prizes, 2 small prizes, and 6 remaining. Then, when the player performs an operation of specifying the application button corresponding to the 20 yen slot, it is registered in the hall computer 100, and an application number is returned from the hall computer 100. By informing the hall prize counter staff of this application number, it becomes possible to receive special prizes.

[0568] FIG. 84(A) shows an example of a screen displayed on the smartphone 700 when the smartphone 700 receives the restriction suggestion information transmitted from the hall computer 100 by the processes of step S2265 in FIG. 80 and step S2275 in FIG. 81. In the fourth embodiment, when, with a membership card inserted into the pachinko machine 20, a request for ball storage confirmation, ball storage entry, or prize exchange is transmitted from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100, character information 1802g reading “Currently, access from the outside is restricted. Main information regarding ball storage confirmation, ball storage entry, or prize exchange can be obtained by operating the service button of the operation unit.” is displayed as an image.

[0569] FIG. 84(B) shows an example of a screen displayed on the smartphone 700 when the smartphone 700 receives the restriction release suggestion information transmitted from the hall computer 100 by the process of step S2127 in FIG. 78. In the fourth embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 78, when the information transmission restriction flag is on, the restriction release suggestion information is transmitted from the hall computer 100. Thus, when, while the player has inserted a membership card into the pachinko machine 20, a request for ball storage confirmation, ball storage entry, or prize exchange is transmitted from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100, in other words, on the condition that the screen of FIG. 84(A) has been displayed, the screen of FIG. 84(B) can be shown.

[0570] When the smartphone 700 receives the restriction release suggestion information from the hall computer 100, it performs a push notification. By launching the application in response to this push notification, character information 1802h reading “The access restriction has been released.” is displayed as an image as shown in FIG. 84(B). On the screen of the smartphone 700 shown in FIG. 84(B), by deleting the character information 1802h, a menu screen is displayed, enabling the player to perform designated operations on each of the buttons 1802a to 1802f.

[0571] When the player tries to access the hall computer 100 by operating the smartphone 700, the regulation suggestion information and the regulation release suggestion information are used to eliminate part of the dissatisfaction when the player cannot immediately confirm the desired information. They are for suggesting the cause (not a communication error but a regulation due to reasons in the control process) and the situation to the player who doesn't know how long the regulation will be imposed. For example, when a player sees the character information 1802g "Currently, access from the outside is restricted..." shown in Fig. 84(A), they can grasp that the reason for no reply lies on the side of the hall computer 100, that is, implicitly, it suggests that they should operate the operation unit 34 (see Fig. 4). Also, when a player sees the character information 1802h "The access restriction has been lifted" shown in Fig. 84(B), they can know that the update process has ended on the side of the hall computer 100 and it is currently in an accessible state.

[0572] In the fourth embodiment configured as described above, while the membership card is inserted into the sand device 20 and the specific information of the player stored in association with the membership card is being read, that is, while the membership card is inserted into the sand, the hall computer 100 restricts the transmission of lending rate conversion information or prize exchange information in response to a request from the smartphone 700 to convert stored balls into a desired lending rate (transfer of stored balls) or exchange for prizes. As a result, the hall computer 100 does not need to execute the process of transmitting information in response to the conversion / prize exchange request information, and the concentration of processing in the hall computer 100 due to access from the sand device 20 and the smartphone 700 is reduced. The hall computer 100 can manage the stored ball information in a state where errors are less likely to occur in response to access from the sand device 20 and the smartphone 700.

[0573] Also, in the fourth embodiment, it becomes possible to impose restrictions on the transmission of stored ball information in response to the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700. As a result, the hall computer 100 no longer needs to execute the process of transmitting information in response to the stored ball confirmation request information and the conversion / prize exchange request information, and the access to the hall computer 100 from the sand device 20 and the access from the smartphone 700 reduce the concentration of processing in the hall computer 100, and it becomes possible to manage the stored ball information in a state where errors are less likely to occur with respect to the access from the sand device 20 and the smartphone 700.

[0574] Also, in the fourth embodiment, while the control for reading the hall member ID of the player from the membership card is being performed in the sand device 20, regulation suggestion information suggesting that the transmission control to the portable terminal in the hall computer 100 is restricted is transmitted from the hall computer 100, so that the player can confirm that the stored ball confirmation etc. via the smartphone 700 is not possible.

[0575] Also, in the fourth embodiment, when the control for reading the hall member ID of the player from the membership card in the sand device 20 ends, such as when the membership card is returned from the sand device 20, regulation release suggestion information suggesting that the regulation imposed on the transmission control to the smartphone 700 is released is transmitted from the hall computer 100, so that the player can confirm that the membership card has been returned via the smartphone 700 and that the stored ball confirmation etc. has become possible. Further, when the regulation release suggestion information is not transmitted to the smartphone 700, since there is a possibility that the player has forgotten to return the membership card from the sand device 20, it becomes possible to confirm the return of the membership card based on the presence or absence of the transmission of the regulation release suggestion information.

[0576] In the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 77 to 84, when a membership card is inserted into the sand device 20, even if the hall computer 100 receives request information for confirmation of stored balls, or request information for carrying in stored balls or exchanging prizes from the smartphone 700, the hall computer 100 does not transmit stored ball information or conversion / exchange information. However, the fourth embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, transmission of either the request information for confirmation of stored balls or the request information for carrying in stored balls or exchanging prizes may be restricted. Further, on the menu screen of the smartphone 700, transmission of reply information for all request information transmitted to the hall computer 100 by operating the buttons 1802a to 1802f may be restricted.

[0577] <Fifth Embodiment>

[0578] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0579] The basic configuration of the management system 1 according to the fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the configurations of the management systems 1 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 69 and the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 77, except that the databases stored in the hall DB 150 are partially different.

[0580] FIG. 85 is an explanatory diagram showing the functions of the hall computer 100 and the types of tables stored in the hall DB 150 in the management system 1 according to the fifth embodiment.

[0581] The main CPU 101 of the hall computer 100 has functions as the hall member management unit 111, the stored ball management unit 112, the reception control unit 113, the determination control unit 114, the calculation control unit 115, the transmission control unit 116, the stored ball movement control unit 117, the gaming machine management unit 118, the reservation management unit 119, the network I / F unit 120, the communication management unit 121, the specific control unit 122, and the transmission restriction setting unit 124, in the same manner as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 69 and the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 77. Further, in the fifth embodiment, the hall computer 100 has a function as the position specifying unit 123.

[0582] The location specifying unit 123 specifies the location of the smartphone 700 that transmitted the stored ball confirmation request information or the conversion / exchange request information, based on the GPS information transmitted together with the stored ball confirmation request information or the conversion / exchange request information from the smartphone 700.

[0583] In addition to the functions of the first embodiment, the determination control unit 114 determines whether or not the location of the smartphone 700 specified by the location specifying unit 123 is within the hall.

[0584] The transmission regulation setting unit 124, as in the second embodiment, sets to a state in which the transmission control by the transmission control unit 116 is regulated when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the fifth embodiment, although details will be described later, when the determination control unit 114 determines that the location of the smartphone 700 is not within the hall, the transmission regulation setting unit 124 is set to regulate the transmission control of the authenticated stored ball information when the reception control unit 113 receives the stored ball confirmation request information from the smartphone 700 thereafter.

[0585] As shown in FIG. 85, the hall DB 150 includes a hall member information table 151, a stored ball management table 152, a held ball management table 153, an entry pattern setting management table 154, a stored ball movement history management table 155, a gaming machine management table 156, a gaming machine-specific game information management table 158, a gaming machine-specific game information history management table 159, a sand-specific lending / paying-out information management table 160, a member-specific stored ball usage game history management table 161, a prize application management table 162, and a request information reception history management table 163.

[0586] The hall member information table 151, the stored ball management table 152, the held ball management table 153, the entry pattern setting management table 154, the stored ball movement history management table 155, and the gaming machine management table 156 are as described in the first embodiment.

[0587] The game machine-specific game information management table 158, the game machine-specific game information history management table 159, the sand-specific lending / paying-out information management table 160, and the member-specific stored ball usage game history management table 161 are as described in the third embodiment, and the prize application management table 162 is as described in the fourth embodiment.

[0588] In the request information reception history management table 163, each time the hall computer 100 receives request information (function instruction information) transmitted from the smartphone 700, the reception date of the request information transmitted from the smartphone 700, the hall member ID transmitted together with the request information, and the type of the request information are cumulatively stored in association with each other.

[0589] Also, in the fifth embodiment as well, similar to the fourth embodiment, the member card insertion management process shown in FIG. 78 is executed. After the hall computer 100 receives the card insertion information, the card insertion in progress flag is turned on until the card return information is received, and after the hall computer 100 receives the card return information, the card insertion in progress flag is turned off until the card insertion information is received.

[0590] Next, with reference to FIG. 86, the process executed in the management system 1 according to the fifth embodiment will be described.

[0591] In FIG. 86, the processes of steps S2212 to S2217 are the same as the processes of steps S2212 to S2217 in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 79, so the description thereof will be omitted. When the process of step S2217 ends, the process proceeds to step S2300. Here, in step S2217, GPS information indicating the position of the smartphone 700 is transmitted from the smartphone 700 to the hall computer 100 together with the request information. Note that turning on the GPS function may be set as a condition for performing stored ball confirmation or the like on the smartphone 700, and when the GPS function is not turned on, a part of the various services provided via the application may be restricted.

[0592] In step S2300, the hall computer 100 performs a process of determining whether the received request information of the smartphone 700 is any one of request information for requesting ball storage confirmation, request information for requesting ball storage entry, and request information for requesting prize exchange. Note that the request information for requesting ball storage confirmation will be referred to as ball storage confirmation request information, and the request information for requesting ball storage entry and the request information for requesting prize exchange will be collectively referred to as conversion / exchange request information.

[0593] If it is determined that the information is ball storage confirmation request information or conversion / exchange request information, the process proceeds to step S2301. If it is not determined that the information is ball storage confirmation request information or conversion / exchange request information, a function process corresponding to the function instruction information from the smartphone 700 is performed.

[0594] In step S2301, the hall computer 100 performs a process of determining whether the ball storage confirmation request information or conversion / exchange request information via the smartphone 700 from a player who is a target of access rejection. If it is determined that the player is a target of access rejection, a process of transmitting a message indicating that fact to the smartphone 700 which is the transmission source of the request information is performed. If it is not determined that the player is a target of access rejection, the process proceeds to step S2302. Note that the player who is a target of access rejection is set in the member card unauthorized use determination transmission process of step S2304 described later.

[0595] In step S2302, the hall computer 100 determines whether the card insertion in progress flag is on. If it is determined that the card insertion in progress flag is on, the process proceeds to step S2303. If it is not determined that the card insertion in progress flag is on, the process proceeds to step S2305.

[0596] In step S2303, the hall computer 100 stores the reception date of the ball storage confirmation request information or conversion / exchange request information, the hall member ID, and the type of request information in the request information reception history management table 163. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S2304.

[0597] In step S2304, the hall computer 100 executes a membership card unauthorized use determination transmission process.

[0598] FIG. 87 is a flowchart showing the flow of the membership card unauthorized use determination transmission process.

[0599] First, in step S2320, the GPS information transmitted together with the stored ball confirmation request information or the conversion / exchange request information is acquired, and it is determined whether the position of the GPS information is different from the position of the hall (step S2321). If it is determined that the position of the GPS information is different from the position of the hall, the hall member ID transmitted together with the GPS information is registered in the access rejection target list as an access rejection target (step S2322), and suggestion information indicating that access to the smartphone 700 that is the transmission source o...

Claims

1. A management system comprising management means capable of communicating information related to a gaming machine via a communication network with an external information device, and a gaming device provided for the gaming machine, wherein the gaming device includes count value control means capable of performing control according to a count value of the amount of gaming value possessed by a player as a result of a game in the gaming machine, and the management means includes: information storage means capable of storing information related to gaming value; reception control means capable of performing control to receive predetermined information from the information device; transmission control means capable of performing control to transmit the information stored in the information storage means to the information device that is the source of the predetermined information based on the predetermined information received by the reception control means; update control means capable of updating the information stored in the information storage means; and is provided with: As information that can be stored by the information storage means, gaming value amount information corresponding to the amount of gaming value is provided, the update control means can update the gaming value amount information without the condition of receiving the predetermined information from the information device, the transmission control means includes transmission restriction control means capable of restricting the transmission of information to the information device until the update of the information stored in the information storage means by the update control means is completed, the gaming device can perform predetermined control that enables the use of gaming value in the gaming machine, and can prevent the predetermined control from being performed during a period in which the transmission of information to the information device is restricted, the transmission control means can perform control to transmit the information stored in the information storage means directly to the information device that is the source of the predetermined information without passing through the gaming device based on the predetermined information received by the reception control means, characterized in that it is a management system.

2. The update control means can update the information stored in the information storage means within a predetermined period, and when the predetermined information is received from the information device during the predetermined period, the transmission restriction control means can restrict the transmission of information to the information device until the update of the information stored in the information storage means by the update control means is completed, characterized in that it is the management system according to Claim 1.

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